Page 97 - July ONLINE VERSION

Artist Profile WRITER N O A H V A N D E N B O S C H ACTOR

shot across the bow. The internet is cheaper than buying
a theater and it can reach a wider audience. I can and will
NOAH work to create a work were people get paid for work. I “When you combine the
treat the website like a gallery, but I pay my artists for their worldly exposure that my
contributions and time they spend in my interviews. They mom gave me with the en-
ALEXANDER J A C K S O N work hard and deserve respect. ergy and philosophies my

What is your first writing gig? dad instilled in me you get,
VAN den BOSCH C H I C A G O First acting gig? well... me.”
My first writing gig would maybe be 24/7 Fest at my
university. It was a festival where 7 plays needed to be Olaf role, so I was aimlessly acting its like if I were to ask
written, cast, rehearsed, and produced in a 24-hour time a normal person to change the engine on a car. It would
limit. It was an exhilarating experience. It would go on to be possible, it would be hard, and there is a good chance
being a sort of workshop I play with myself to help keep it won’t be all that great of a job. Insert the acting training,
the creativity flowing. It isn’t often, but I have from time to and its like asking a professional car mechanic to change
time writing a play, short story, poem, or screen play in un- the engine on a car. It would be possible, it would be hard,

Where are you from? der 24 hours. It isn’t always great, but I wrote a short film and there is a good chance it won’t be a good job, but you
have to pay them more.
Where are you now? What other art forms are you into? in under 6 hours that placed 4th in a short film festival. I
found about the competition on the day of the deadline
I’m from the woods just outside of Jackson, Tennessee. I’m into as many as I can get my hands on. Most of them from one of my roommates, but I didn’t let that stop me Is there a person you have played that in a
Now I live in Roger’s Park the most northern neighbor- find there way back into being represented in theatre to from submitting. My first acting gig would be the feature lot of ways mimics who you are as a person
hood in the city of Chicago. There are almost the same some capacity, but I would say directing and videography film “Lazy.” It was my first-time taking place in a project in reality?
amount of people living in just the neighborhood I live in are some of my newer interested I’m practicing and learn- outside the educational environment. It was a fantastic Yes and no. The acting training I’ve received a practice to
now as in the entire city of Jackson. ing. I’ve been exercising my hands at audio editing with
the “Chats” segments on my website Pen, Picture, & Chat. experience. Me and my co-actor from the film, Salar Arde- this day lives on principles that all roles and all characters
When did you realize a passion for writing bili, are still close friends to this day. He was the guy who are an extension of who you really are. When you assume a
role then you become the character. Now this doesn’t mean
helped me land the gig. He was the guy who believed in
and acting? Where you gather inspiration? me. In theatre its often about who you know, but some- that you have to do everything thing the character does for
I don’t think I realized anything of the sort. I work hard to Everything and anything. I connect with many things to times its about who knows you. real, but that all actions to commit to as the character need
involve passion, care, and respect in all parts of my life. I’m reach inspiration. Sometimes I’m inspired to create base on to be ones you would under the exact same circumstances
attracted to challenges and acting & writing have always memories, sometimes I work on things because of fanta- What are your latest artistic projects? would commit as well. There is a common misconception
been challenging to me. The idea that there is always some- sies and imagination, sometimes I work on things because I have recently gone live with my website “Pen, Picture, & that acting is the art of lying, but in reality, acting is the are
thing new to learn or practice in these arts makes the work someone else did it well or simple did a better job than I Chat. It’s the electronic gallery that I mentioned earlier. of telling the truth. All portrayals need to be honest to be
fun and constantly interesting. In a way it took the teach- could do, so I fill inspired to improve, sometimes I create There I practice my hand at project management as well believable.
ings from both of my parents to help me find fulfillment in becomes of unrest. as audio editing. The website itself is also a brief excursion
my work. My dad, Paul Van den Bosch, was always ada- into more journalistic/ blog writing which is always fun to How does theatre and film help produce a
mant about learning and constantly improving. He taught Why is it important for you to give “a plat- practice. As of this brief interview, I have recently finished kinder and more compassionate world?
me how to love working, which is absolutely necessary to form to artists to display their creations filming a short film that I wrote and directed. I will not go In many ways. Theatre and film both have a great habit
work in the arts. and creative contributions?” into any detail about the project, but I can say filming in a
Unrest. I’m unhappy with the way so many talented people pandemic was difficult but created an interesting challenge of making people shut up and listen for a moment. Often
My mom, on the other hand, taught me what art is. My are repressed or barred from expressing themselves for to work around. I’m looking to have the film finished with people cry out for help, equality, justice, but people refuse
to sit down and listen for reasons no deeper than it isn’t
mom is a passionate person with tastes, style, and strong completely unfair reasons. With the arts, as I imagine it postproduction by this fall, but I’ll likely try taking it to interesting to them. In other occasions, it is a great was
opinions. She exposed me to films of all genres: good is with most fields, people who have money make money festivals meaning it isn’t very likely the public will have to get a single message out without being interrupted or
ones, bad ones, high budget, low budget, foreign, etc, and people who don’t have money make money for the easy access to it.
but it didn’t stop there she would read to me when I was people who have money. This disturbs me to no end. I’ve cut short from the point. One of the most powerful affects
either of these two mediums can produce is the ability to
young and buy me any and every book I asked for. As a seen firsthand how wealth compounds itself off of the hard You played, “King Olaf” in 2012 and “Mor- see through a point of view that you wouldn’t, without the
kid anytime I would write a short story or dabble in ideas work and genius of my contemporaries. timer” in 2019; how has your acting evolved help of the play or film, normally be able to live through.
she would always be sure to read it of course, but more This can be something easy like taking you to a different
importantly she would tell me about who it reminds her of. The person who owns the theater makes more money than between these two roles?
She would give me names and idea to pursue. When you the company working in it, but what did they owner do to It has evolved in ways as to say that I was simply playing in era, or something more complex like what its like to stay
in a relationship with you husband who beats you because
combine the worldly exposure that my mom gave me with contribute to the arts? They owned the space. Many actors the role of King Olaf but was actually acting in the Mor- you have no where else to go.
the energy and philosophies my dad instilled in me you won’t even be paid but will draw in thousands of dollars. timer role. I hadn’t taken any acting courses yet with the
get, well... me. The house always gets paid. Creating this website is my
96 www.zoegracepublishing.com ZGP Magazine ZGP Magazine www.zoegracepublishing.com 97