We were lucky to catch up with Gustavo David recently and have shared our conversation below.
Gustavo , first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I don’t know if I have fully overcome impostor syndrome, but I have definitely developed some tools that I can use whenever I find myself with negative thoughts.
There’s a moment in my day that sometimes I have to reflect on the things that I’ve done since I started my career as an actor, that I have to specifically tell myself about how difficult it was for me to put myself in this spotlight of the world of acting and allow saying that I have done more than enough and there’s more to come, that I have to be (proud) on my path so far. Believe me, impostor syndrome is a thing that eats your good thoughts and achievements alive, making you believe that there’s nothing that you have done that’s enough, AND YOU NEED TO DO MORE…and you start drowning, suffocating. There’s no air in the big open window room that you are (ironic), everything gets smaller and that’s how the anxiety hits perfectly. I know, exhausting…it is.
But again, I battle the impostor syndrome by telling myself how enough I am, how much I studied, prepare myself and work to be the professional that I am. I write a lot, so I have different diaries for different things, so one of the dairies that I have is the -my path – diary, where I congratulate, celebrate and talk to myself about my job, even the small things I have accomplished so far, so I can always come back to it and celebrate.
And to be honest, who we think we are to mentally sabotage all the things that we have done, give you a break, we are doing what we can already. The world is too mean sometimes to be so negative towards ourselves, so, CELEBRATE YOURSELF, you are allowed to do that, I am. Breath and exist.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am an actor/ artist, working all around the world if the universe allows me every day, working with amazing and unique people and projects. Starting from theater, then ending in runaways, photoshoots, or a TV commercial where I’m working out with a crop top, and of course, doing amazing interviews like this one, which reminds me that we are only humans, carrying a soul inside our shell aka body, so we should always treat ourselves the best possible way with no exceptions and celebrate our success.
I train myself studying acting and theater back and forth (7 years) and, in the meantime, keep doing everything i can to build my world as an actor. Now that I am out n bout I am trying every day to expose myself to projects that I can be part of, emailing people to collaborate and auditioning to put myself out there every day and to not stop growing professionally. I am my only competition, which feels excellent.
I have some projects that I can’t disclose in interviews based on contracts-(believe me, l giggle of happiness by writing about this) but I do have some stuff that I started in 2023-my podcast (The Gustavo David Podcast). It’s like a little world that I create for everyone who wants to be part of, to share ideas, experiences, situations, realness and more, bringing some guests to ask them about their experiences in this world as professionals and human beings, it’s like a little voice-video dairy with some people that are in it sometimes, so people who find it interesting can feel related and heard.
I finally allow myself to be more creative and open with ideas that I have as a writer, director and photographer, dropping some cool weird things on Instagram that I definitely sometimes feel surreal, because I’ve never thought I’d be so open with my creativity on social media.
And as an actor, I want to be in everyone’s movie, short film, music video, whatever screams: love, feelings, message, meaning, tears, blood, gore, anything. I want to be part of that creation. That every director invites me in their creations and ideas. It’s my goal to keep expanding myself every day in this small world.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Humbleness (you don’t know everything)~ We have to be open to the world, to the amazing ideas, knowledge and experiences of your peers and human beings in general. Every day, it’s a lesson. If you think you know everything, you’ll be damming yourself. Keep yourself humble, work with that in your environment and you’ll definitely make real friends.
Listen (talk less)~ If you listen you’ll be able to actually respond with truthfulness and actions, the real you. As an actor, if you don’t listen, then you are just doing it, and that’s the worst thing you can do for your performance. There will be no life in it, it’s the same in real life.
Love (yes, love)~ We came into this world to love and be loved. There’s nothing without love.
In general, be YOU, bring YOURSELF to the table, and that would help you create your world. The ones who don’t like the real you, then they are out and keep going. There’s no time for dueling on things that will only take you down.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Hello friends, if you are reading this, let’s make something out of this world, something that makes people uncomfortable, to wonder why we are breathing in this world, loving, having relationships, crying… Let’s make something that means something to us. I started creating content in 2023 with a lot of hidden messages, short films, videos that have 30 seconds and more. I want to keep creating things that maybe no one would understand at first, but it would definitely ring a bell in their subconscious mind. I am an actor ready to take the wheel every day and drive myself to glory with storytelling content that directors, writers, producers are willing to take me as part of their creation. If you are out there, I’m ready to be part of your world. We can only communicate if we make art, so, hit meUp.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gustavodavid.com/en
- Instagram: @gustavodavid__
- Facebook: Gustavo David
- Twitter: @gustavodavid__
- Youtube: @gustavodavid__
- Other: The Gustavo David Podcast Tik tok: @gustavodavid__
Image Credits
Credits: Gino Rovetto Instagram: @ginorovettofoto Email: fotoginorovetto@gmail.com
