RILEY SCOTT
Riley Scott, Actor, Writer, Director, Producer, 30 years old
What is it about acting, writing that makes you want to do it?
Because I have no other options (laughs). I think for a lot of people who are creative, it never really is a choice, as you move along in your life it always feels right. It feels like this is the path for you – you are never deciding to pursue the arts, it’s just in your blood. It’s a way of life. It’s cheesy to say but a calling of sorts. But continuing to keep pursuing this life, especially when maybe the dreams you initially had aren't coming true or the path you saw for yourself is constantly diverging, that is now the bigger question to me. Why do we keep going? For me, the one day when I get to do what I love makes up for the thousands that I don’t. That high carries me through the lows. I still chase that high sometimes, which may not be the healthiest thing, but knowing that those opportunities will come, that they are coming, that I am sometimes even in them and not realizing it – that's the thing that is keeping me going.
Where do you get your faith from to keep creating?
From my friends and my family. From nature. From history. I don’t have faith in necessarily a creator, per say, which some of my best friends do and are always fascinated by where I derive faith from and what I put faith in. I’m fascinated by the topic of faith because it is such an essential part of the human experience. But to me, having faith in people, loved ones and strangers, and my surroundings and the current moment is enough for me. I think when you open your eyes to what’s in front of you or switch your perspective from looking inward to outward, you can find faith constantly around you. I personally don’t need to look upwards to something greater – because I was taught and raised on the idea that all I need is here. It’s with me every second of every day. Who knows, maybe that will change one day.
In terms of faith in staying in a volatile often discouraging industry, someone once explained to me that this world is like a que line. People can cut you, jump ahead, but many people will step out of line. If you stay in it long enough, eventually, it’ll be your turn. If Allison Janney didn’t book “The West Wing” until 40, I can hang out a little longer.
What is the drive behind your work?
Making people feel seen. That was the unconscious drive when I was consuming art as a kid, yearning for someone to put words to my feelings, making me not feel alone. I believe that’s what most people search for when interacting with art. The piece of the story that connects to you and your own life. We all want to feel seen. And to me, there’s no greater gift than allowing someone, even if it’s literally one person, to not feel alone.
I also think, as I have this wonderful creative community, another drive is wanting to collaborate. My first love was dance and that world is incredibly collaborative by nature. Rarely are you ever alone choreographing a piece just for yourself. You work with teachers, choreographers, other dancers. It taught me that the artistic experience is more gratifying when it’s shared. Nothing makes me happier than when I get to work with my friends, and now as my career grows, I want to share opportunities with the people I love. I want to write a role for them, produce their work, or lend any talent that I have to helping amplify their own talent. I have so many creative friends and this desire to bring people together. I really do believe that my success is my friends' success and my friends' success is my success.
What advice would you tell your younger self?
I would say be open to all the doors that will be open to you and be ready to receive a different path. Don't be afraid of opportunities you weren’t expecting because you have a one track mind or feel like that means you’re failing. Goals and dreams can change. They can grow. You may be missing out on other opportunities because you may feel like you don’t deserve them or you aren't right for them. Also, don’t be afraid to take up space, and put yourself out there and just be you in every room you go into. That can be really hard in LA where your creativity and talent are measured up to what you are like in person. Just because I’m not the brooding artist or the crazed actor doesn’t mean I have any less talent or value. I’m nice. I’m Midwestern for God’s sake. I can’t be brooding if I tried. I feared I didn't fit the mold that people projected on me or wanted to see, and I would tell my younger self to not try and fit into it, because the space that I take up is enough and lovely, and it’s me. Also, wear SPF every day. Even if it makes you break out.
What is your biggest failure as a creative?
I feel like a fail every day. I think my biggest failure is letting people's opinions of me influence me. That has stunted me several times, it stopped me from pursuing some opportunities and made me believe certain things about myself that are untrue. It has ruined my confidence time and time again. In turn, another failure that goes hand and hand with that, is relying on outside validation for my confidence and my worth and value. I work on it everyday. Every second. It’s a barrier I am trying to work through, but I get through it by doing and trying.
How do you overcome it?
There isn't any other option but to keep going. My grit and determination are aspects of myself that I am so grateful for because sometimes, that’s all I have to rely on – just the idea of not giving up. That has been instilled in me by my parents since day dot. I also just try to get inspired, turn on music and dance in my apartment or do a silly writing prompt, or I will see a movie and remind myself that I can do this.
Why don’t you quit?
It’s so funny because I am always oscillating between feeling like stepping away from this dream isn’t quitting and then like it would be quitting. I will look up grad programs in different countries, how to become Dian Fossey, or how join the CIA and then I realize, I don’t want to actually be in the CIA, I want to play someone in the CIA. (laughs) I think the love of getting to do what I love to do, makes it worth it. The hope is still very much alive in me and maybe when that dies, then maybe it will be time to quit. There are days when my hope is down to one percent, but it’s still there. I have never felt at zero. I am really lucky that I come from a family that supports me, so I think the day I stop feeling supported or I am at zero, could be the day I quit but as of now, it hasn’t happened. I also don’t quit because I have friends in my life who will not let me. Thank you friends.
What do you hope to create that will continue to repeat?
I hope I create things that make people laugh and I want to repeat that. I used to get caught up in wanting to create dramatic, intellectual, sweeping art, but honestly? I think that is so overrated because there is nothing more contagious than laughter. I love to make people laugh. And the world is dark and dramatic on its own, so I want to create laughs and repeat laughs. I also want to create spaces for my friends and artists that I respect to work. If I could be like Paul Thomas Anderson or a Christopher Guest who created their own ensembles almost, that would be amazing. I want to work with people I love over and over again.
What are you on the verge of?
I am on the verge of just going with it. I think in my twenties I spent so much time trying to force doors open or I had blinders on. But now in my late twenties and now that I am 30, I am on the verge of just saying yes and going with it. I am saying “yes, and …” And it doesn’t matter what shape or form it looks like. I am on the verge of knowing that any day I get to spend creating is the joy.
Even more honestly though, I am on the verge of not caring what people think. Letting go and not letting people’s opinions put me down. I am on the verge of just entering this phase of confidence and really accepting that the life of an artist is strenuous, but this is what I have chosen and this is who I am. It's hard enough so I need to let go of trying to please everybody and not letting my voice be heard and not taking up space. It’s the beauty of age. I was always mature, but I think aging and getting older is how you learn to just stop giving a shit. And I’m done giving a shit.