Garret Clayton is a man of many talents: actor, singer, dancer, model, digital content creator, and social influencer. He chatted about his latest projects and his career in the entertainment industry.
Margaret Mead once said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” This quote applies to Garrett Clayton.
‘The Letter Men’ short film
Clayton opened up about “The Letter Men” short film, which was directed by Andy Vallentine, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Danny Vallentine.
“The Letter Men” was based on the largest collection of queer love letters from World Warr II between two men Gilbert Bradley (Garrett Clayton) and Gordon Bowsher (Matthew Postlethwaite). It tackles the subject matter of forbidden love during the early ’40s.
This short movie is a window into the untold true story of two gay men desperately in love but torn apart by World War II.
“We really enjoyed making ‘The Letter Men.’ It was great. I really loved it,” Clayton admitted.
“I feel lucky that I’ve gotten to play some real-life people, and that the project turned out well. It’s a really beautiful movie. I am surprised that nobody has made it into a full-length feature yet. We are so happy with everyone’s response to it,” Clayton elaborated.
Clayton had great words about co-writer and director Andy Vallentine and his co-lead actor Matthew Postlethwaite. “They were great, and they are very sweet. I just love Andy; his work ethic is really wonderful,” Clayton said.
“It is really nice when a director knows how to lead a set. Andy was really cool, calm, and connected, and he approached all the different aspects of the job really well,” Clayton added.
‘The Mattachine Family’
On being a part of “The Mattachine Family,” Clayton said, “It was good. I did a small cameo in it. From the time I was there, it was really fun and it was a really well-handled script. I am not surprised at all that it has such a great Rotten Tomatoes score.”
‘Teen Beach’ movies
On being a part of the “Teen Beach” movies, Clayton said, “They took up so many years of my life. It was great. It was a bit of a grueling experience because of the heat that we had in Puerto Rico. It has been really rewarding over the years because the audiences have really loved the movies.”
The digital age
On being a part of the digital age, Clayton said, “It feels like the Wild West of entertainment. With digital media, in all of its various forms, you need to be a lot more self-sufficient, and it requires a lot more grit.”
“Right now, the grit and the tenacity required to survive as an entertainer is tremendous. I encourage a lot of young people, and even a lot of my friends who have been working for years, to diversify their work as much as possible; that has been my saving grace,” he elaborated.
“There are so many ways to be successful now, as long as people aren’t snooty about where to find that creativity and that joy, I think there is a place for everybody,” he added.
Future plans
Regarding his future plans, he shared, “Right now, I am about to start a musical in May, and then, I have another on in December.”
“I have a few projects in development that would take place mid-year, and I love the content that I do online, and the people that I get to work with are so wonderful,” he said.
“Every day feels like a new page thanks to all of the opportunities that I’ve been having. So, things are changing so fast. It really takes a lot of grit and a lot of creativity each day,” he added.
Working with Jack Jerry
On working with Jack Jerry on YouTube collab videos, Clayton said, “Jerry is great. He has been a friend for a few years, and he is a very sweet guy. I enjoy working with him.”
“I get to collaborate with some incredible people, all of which have become my friends, and I enjoy my time with them,” he added.
Career-defining moments
When asked about his career-defining moments, Clayton reflected, “I feel like they are all phases. Until I was 16, I was working and modeling in Chicago and Detroit.”
“When I was 15, I did my first movie and I got into television at the same time because of the talent search, and I did that for 10 years. Then, the pandemic hit, and I got to build more of an online presence. Now, I am juggling all of those things,” he explained.
“So, getting to juggle doing online content, as well as doing film and TV, and theater projects, I really feel like I have my hands full. I feel that this year, more than over, all of these different paths are converging, and I am balancing hopping from one medium to the other,” he elaborated.
Advice for young and aspiring artists and performers
For young and emerging artists and performers, he said, “Seek opportunities safely, especially when you are starting, because not everyone has good intentions. I know I have been a victim of that.”
“Always make sure you have people you trust around you, and if you want to explore new opportunities and new places with new people make sure you are in a safe environment,” he said.
“It’s important for young people to know what they are getting themselves into. A lot of personal grit is required to make it in this industry. You have to be your biggest advocate,” he acknowledged.
“A real defining moment for me was coming out publicly and marrying my husband and getting to be a strong advocate for queer people in media. Also, getting to live authentically and let people know that there is a place for us, no matter the medium,” he elaborated.
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Clayton revealed that he is exploring “Something New.” “This phase is all about new beginnings,” he said.
Superpower of choice
His superpower of choice would be to be like “Iceman.”
“I’ve always wanted to be Iceman,” he admitted. “I’m a Pisces; I love water. I feel like I want some kind of elemental water power.”
Success
On his definition of success, Clayton said, “To me, success means freedom of opportunity, and really having more of a say in what I am doing and how I am doing it.”
Message for his fans and supporters
For his fans, Clayton said, “I feel really lucky that anybody would care at all what I am doing whether it’s on a daily basis or on a project basis. I am grateful that I have that love and support.”
“I try to make sure that I honor that kind of love, and hopefully, I make people proud when I do things,” Clayton concluded.
To learn more about multi-hyphenate artist Garrett Clayton, follow him on Instagram, and check out his IMDb page.
Source: Digital Journal / Digpu NewsTex