Actor Brett Chapin chatted about his career in entertainment, his latest projects (“General Hospital” and “Mrs. American Pie”), his fitness journey, and the digital age.
‘General Hospital’
He opened up about his recent experience at “General Hospital.” “I always feel so much gratitude working on the set of GH,” he said. “The show has been on the air for nearly six decades so obviously it’s a finely tuned machine. Everyone knows what their responsibilities are and carries them out masterfully.”
“Shooting a soap opera is such a fast-paced situation and seeing the way everyone works together so cohesively is jaw-dropping,” he said. “The first day on any set can be a little nerve-racking, but the cast and crew are so welcoming and kind.”
“The work is joyous in itself but it’s always icing on the cake when you have the opportunity to work in that type of situation. There’s a certain positive energy on set and it makes me incredibly happy when I have the opportunity to share in it,” he said.
‘Mrs. American Pie’
On being a part of “Mrs. American Pie,” he said, “I just finished shooting the new Apple TV series, ‘Mrs. American Pie,’ set for release in 2023. Our cast includes Carol Burnett, Kristin Whig, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, and Allison Janney. Laura Dern is one of our producers. It’s based on Juliette McDaniel’s wonderful book, ‘Mr. and Mrs. American Pie,’ and follows Kristen Whig’s character as she navigates high society.”
“Working with these incredible performers over the last few months has been absolutely phenomenal. This show is funny, has depth and so much heart. I can’t wait to share this story with an audience,” he said.
Fitness journey
“I’m also on a fitness journey of running a thousand miles this year,” he said. “I’m almost finished and I’m so thrilled to have been able to achieve this goal. It’s been exhausting, but the real pleasure has been the journey and what I’ve learned about myself in the process. Pushing yourself daily in that way, you can’t help but learn.”
Inspirations as an actor
On his daily motivations as an actor, he said, “I love this work so much that it’s not difficult for me to be inspired, but great performances are definitely a part of that inspiration. I could watch great actors like Maurice Bernard or Maura West work all day long. They’re just on another level. There’s nothing better than seeing a performance on screen or on stage that you take with you.”
“I think that’s part of what being a great storyteller is. Having an audience take your performance with them so that it lives in their mind or maybe changes it, long after the performance has ended,” he said.
I’ve also found that just doing the work daily and taking the necessary steps can be its own inspiration because it puts you in an inspired mindset. Achieving the little win is so much more valuable than we sometimes realize at the time,” he added.
The digital age
On being an actor in the digital age, he said, “The work hasn’t changed but the process of finding it definitely has, Personally, I prefer in-person auditions but I’ve learned to adjust as necessary. These days acting isn’t just acting. It’s self-tape video editing, getting the lighting right, getting the camera angles right, and getting the audio adjusted correctly. There is so much more to think about beyond the performance itself.”
“Actors are chameleons and a good one should be able to adjust as necessary, the same way they adjust a line reading or performance. I’m excited to see what kind of advances are made in the future but equally as excited that the in-person auditions have begun to slowly start coming back. Though I think we’ve reached a point where most auditions will continue to be done online,” he elaborated.
Career-defining moments
When asked about his career-defining moments, he said, “The first time I booked a roll was inspiring because it was confirmation for me that I was on the right track but it came to me in a rather bizarre way. I happened to be walking home one day and ran into a director who I’d taken classes with in the past. He asked me to audition for a role in the show he was casting.”
“I auditioned and booked the role and it was one of the greatest professional experiences I’ve ever had,” he said. “Suddenly I was working with all these very professional actors and learning so much. It cemented this career path for me but I’ve always wondered what would’ve happened if I hadn’t been walking down the street at that time. Would he have thought of me for the role? Would I even be an actor? It just goes to show that sometimes the little decisions that we make in life can have an effect on so many bigger things.”
Advice for hopefuls
For young and aspiring actors, he said, “Study, study, study. When you think you studied enough, study some more. I don’t say that to be facetious, I say because it’s the reality of this business. So many people come to LA every year with little to no training and think that they’re going to somehow be successful and it just doesn’t work that way.”
“This is your business and needs to be treated that way. When you wake up every day, you’re at work so understand that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Great training isn’t always just found in formal classes. It can be found in books, the internet and by talking with other actors but being in some type of continual formal training is essential,” he said.
“The most important thing is to make sure that you still find joy, every single day,” he underscored. “The minute this career path isn’t bringing you an immense amount of happiness anymore is the minute to reconsider. Mental and emotional health first. The rest will fall into place with the help of your own exertions.”
Success
On his definition of the word success, Chapin said, “I think success and perseverance go hand-in-hand. Sometimes success can be just hanging on when others would let go. I’ve learned this lesson time and again over the last couple of years and I’m still learning it. It’s so easy to quit. It takes much more strength to push through when everything in you is telling you to stop and honestly I don’t even think it matters what you can do when you’re at 100 percent.”
“What matters is what you do when you just don’t feel like doing it,” he said. “Pushing beyond is what leads to success. That goes for anything in life. Keep showing up and doing the thing, whatever the thing is for you.”
“Understand that whatever type of effort you’re putting in, there’s someone out there who’s putting in just a little bit more. That daily battle we fight with ourselves is the toughest one but if you can win it, you’ve earned any success that you receive,” he added.
For his fans, he remarked, “What a journey! All of you have been so consistent through the ups and downs and I am vividly aware that you are the reason that I’m able to continue doing what I do for a living. I love talking with you and getting to know you on social media. Recently soap fans in particular have been incredibly supportive and so much fun. I’m filled with gratitude and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can’t wait to show you what’s next.”
To learn more about Brett Chapin, follow him on Instagram.
