We recently connected with Trinity Johnston and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Trinity , so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?
I’m not gonna lie, it’s hard. But I’ve been dealing with it for so long that I’ve learned how to handle it. When I was eight years old and played Alice in Alice in Wonderland at a professional theater in Austin, my entire third grade class came to the production. At one point during the show I had to crouch down next to some of the audience members. I’ll never forget one of my classmates leaning over and saying something rude to me. I had to stay focussed since I was in the middle of a scene, but it really threw me and hurt. I was eight. This happens to me still to this day. My classmates will yell out of their cars something about me being in Austin High…and make fun of it. I’m not sure why people are haters just because I’m an actor. Why would anyone really care what I do? I guess because I’m in the spotlight more than others? They see my shows, films, and social media. I’ve always felt a little different since that third grade experience. But here’s what I do. I focus on the people who matter in my life and put everything into my passion, acting. My directors, cast members, crew, coaches, friends, and my parents all cheer me on. They see my love being on set and know this is where I’m supposed to be. They lift me up and embrace my dreams. I have so many cheerleaders, including fans who love my projects and always say the nicest things to me. The haters should focus on their own passions and put their energy there.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I started acting at five years old when my mom put me in a theater summer camp. I got the role of Ms. Hannigan in the musical Annie. I loved it because I made new friends with the cast, I was able to use my imagination and become someone I’m not, and I also liked having an audience be entertained by us. Acting made me feel alive. At home I was watching shows on the Disney channel and asked my mom how I could get on tv. She knew I was serious because I wouldn’t stop talking about wanting to act all the time, so that’s when she got me an agent in Austin. I continued doing local theater, including landing a lead role in a professional show at ZACH Theater, and began filming short films in and around Austin. In total I’ve filmed 18 shorts. My most recent film called My Soul to Keep I also helped produce. It’s a psychological thriller and a role that pushed me out of my comfort zone since I had to go to some dark places. I enjoyed the process of truly becoming my character and telling a very important story regarding mental health in teens. Recently I’ve been working on a series called Austin High for my YouTube channel. I play the Mayor’s daughter, Aria. We filmed and released season one and two during the pandemic. This summer we are filming season three and I’m excited about the changes that will happen with my character.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I have learned that hard work and determination is the key to being successful. In this industry you hear ‘NO’ all the time, without ever knowing why you didn’t book the part. It can be soul crushing if you let it. You have to have thick skin and go to the next audition. I train with several acting coaches, ask a ton of questions, listen to any feedback I can get, and make the changes. I miss hanging with my friends and social outings because I put acting first. I treat it like an olympic sport which takes sacrifice. But the reward of booking a project and being on set is worth it for me. So I guess the three qualities to focus on would be…hard work ethic, have thick skin, and train like an olympic sport.
When someone asks me about how to become an actress and any advice, I tell them to get involved in local theater camps, school theater, and find acting workshops. Now with zoom, there are a ton of Los Angeles acting coaches and casting directors who do online training and classes. Train, train, and train some more. Also, the industry is tough! You have to be ok with rejection. Don’t take the no’s personal, it happens most of the time. Enjoy the process because nothing is guaranteed.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
I have several obstacles. Covid was a big one because our industry came to a standstill. I’m under 18yrs old, but look older and production would rather cast an 18yr old who looks younger because of multiple reasons. And I live in Austin, not LA where more filming takes place. My mom always told me, “Don’t wait for the opportunities, make them.” So during the pandemic I started a YouTube channel and began creating my own content. My first videos were just silly challenges that I filmed with my acting friends. Then my mom and I decided to make scripted content and we wrote a series called Austin High. My character is the Mayor’s daughter and goes through all the ups and downs of a high school student. We have filmed and posted two seasons and this summer we are filming season three. It’s been an amazing process and I’ve enjoyed not only acting in the series, but learning more behind the scenes while producing as well. Not only did we make Austin High, but my mom helped me with a short film called My Soul to Keep that was also filmed during the pandemic. I told my mom I’d love to play a darker role who has to dig deep with her emotions. My mom wrote a psychological thriller and we gathered a cast and crew to help us make it happen. Last year we had a screening at Alamo Drafthouse for 200 people. By creating my own content, I’ve been able to keep pushing myself as an actor and have learned the behind the scenes of the business as well. This has led me to want to go to film school for directing. If I just sit back and wait for opportunities to come to me, it might never happen. If you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://trinityjohnston.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/trinityjohnston123
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TrinityJohnston
Image Credits
Ruben Caballero Isaac Rowry Kelly Johnston
