Actor Tim Stein chatted about being a part of the digital age, the vertical drama space, and he offered his advice for hopefuls that wish to go into acting.
American author, speaker, and leader John C. Maxwell once said: “Dreams don’t work unless you do.” This quote applies to Tim Stein.
Daily motivations as an actor
On his daily motivations as an actor, Stein remarked, “I am driven by the creative process, and exploring different ranges of emotions. That’s a big motivator… and putting them on display in the context of the character.”
“Also, outside of the technical things, being on set and being able to connect with people is what motivates me,” he noted.
“I’m a very personality-driven and relationship-driven person so in between takes, I love engaging with the crew and other cast members, and just exploring the community on set,” he elaborated.
“It’s very exciting because each day is different too. Even though you have the script, and things can become structured and consistent, you never know what you are going to walk into on the actual day,” he said.
“From the script’s perspective, you have new scenes every day. There are new people and there are new faces every day. It’s just fun to be thrown in that mix, and that’s rewarding for me,” Stein acknowledged.
“My background is sales, so I get a lot of gratification out of connecting with people and understanding different personalities, and that drives me forward,” he said.
“Also, I like exploring different emotions and bringing them out. That’s a really rewarding process because it shows emotional intelligence,” he added.
The digital age
On being an actor in the digital age, Stein said, “I’ve only ever been a part of the digital age. I don’t know what the analog days were like at all. I don’t know what it was like to be working as an actor when there was no social media… when things were very mysterious, and there was a mystique to them.”
“It is interesting to see how social media plays an effect in someone’s likeness, or how much they are in demand,” he said.
“I know a lot of these platforms are looking for actors who have large social media footprints, and I’ve seen a direct correlation between talent being cast based on their followers count,” Stein observed.
“For me, I’m grateful because my social media is pretty robust and authentic,” Stein said. “I have a good amount of engagement there, so I feel that has helped me.”
“I think my personality is always shining on my social media platform,” he noted. “I will always stay true to myself.”
“I’ve always used the digital media as a way of expressing myself, and I’m never going to change or deviate from that path to adhere to somebody else’s standards,” he explained.
Vertical drama space
On being a part of the vertical drama space, Stein said, “It’s a new space, so it’s exciting to be a part of something new. I’ve been doing acting for a year now. It has been a challenge in the sense that I had to learn how to do a lot of volume in a short period of time. Overall, it has been a fun process.”
“I feel like I’m working a muscle that I wouldn’t ordinarily work in terms of volume, and my ability to digest dialogue and turn a character on and off is pretty good right now,” he said.
Stein continued, “As far as the actual industry is at large, it’s exciting to work with different platforms that are trying to pioneer new paths, and work on different types of projects and scripts.”
“I am always bringing grounded performances, so I want to make the most out of them,” he said.
“The vertical space is exciting to be a part of, and I’m grateful to be here,” he said. “I’m fortunate for the work, which is consistent.”
“It’s fun to connect with other actors who are excited about the vertical space, and I like the community,” he elaborated.
“When I am on set, I’m very invested in the people in my surroundings, and I like that the vertical space is building a community as a whole, in general, which is cool,” he added.
Kyle ‘Kiki’ Fragnoli
Stein had great words about working with fellow actor Kyle “Kiki” Fragnoli. “There are very few people who are as earnest as Kiki,” Stein said. “Kiki is a very good listener and he is easy to build rapport with, and friendships with, because he is actively listening to you when you talk to him.”
“I am happy that I was able to meet Kiki; he is just a friend who is open to listening to whatever you are dealing with, so he is a person that other people should mirror. Kiki is a leader and someone who can take from and contribute to others,” he elaborated.
Advice for young and aspiring actors
For young and emerging actors, Stein stated, “I would say to trust your instincts because your instincts will guide you, and if you can, focus on building relationships. It is important to bring forth a good performance, but don’t be too focused on your performance.”
“If you can just rely on instinct, and then work on other technical skills through coaching or through other forms of learning, then you can really create a good performance ability,” he explained.
“Work on your relationships, and conduct yourself with professionalism. Be hungry, and don’t let the industry standard guide you,” he said.
“Create your own standard, and follow your own path. In my opinion, the two biggest things are to form relationships and trust your instincts,” Stein underscored.
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Stein revealed, “Surrender.”
Success
On his definition of the word success, Stein said, “Success is waking up every day and knowing that you are being yourself, and you’re not putting on a mask to impress someone, or even impress different variances of yourself.”
“I think success means being in the present moment, and leading an authentic life. That is the only true measure of success. Also, the love that you have around you is a direct correlation to your success,” he explained.
“If you have loving friends and family, that is success to me. So, authenticity and being surrounded by different variations of love, is my version of success,” he added.
Message for his fans
For his dedicated fans, Stein said, “Thank you for the support. I don’t view myself as somebody who should have the support that I do because I am self-critical and self-deprecating, but I’m grateful that people gravitate towards me, and appreciate the authentic version that I give them.”
“I’m always grateful for that, because it’s a reminder that my instinct is something I can keep relying on because I’ve always led with instinct, so if that is my natural inclination, and people are drawn to that, then that’s a validating thing for me,” he concluded.
To learn more about actor Tim Stein, follow him on Instagram.
