Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Gage.
Hi Austin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up quickly in Ohio to parent my mentally disabled mother. My father was in and out of jail, so I met him, but never knew him.
My mother left for the bar regularly, so I watched six to seven hours of television daily. The show families I watched were my family.
We lived off food stamps and mom always stressed over money. Although we were poor, I had a wealth of joy as a child.
But then, I was raped by a babysitter. My joy dimmed. It was like a flick of a switch. Everything went dark…
One of the hardest parts was discovering what happened to me. My class watched “the movie” in fifth grade of how babies were made. I survived and thrived. In every season and struggle, I’ve been blessed. When I contemplated suicide, lost my grandmother, lost to addiction, lost my temper with my mother, I had a higher power from which to draw to right my wrongs.
I’m an actor, survivor, fighter, achiever, overcomer, and a channel for God. I’m here in Los Angeles because a theatre director saw me after a tutoring session at school and said, “You’re going to be in THE WIZ!” I was on stage as a munchkin, but I felt mighty with the lights, makeup, and audience. I felt alive; I was seen. I’m in Los Angeles today because of the sacrifice my grandparents made to aid in my education: academically, musically, theatrically, artistically. They cultivated the artist I am. I’ve grown to love myself completely. I have security in knowing that my child self approves of what I pursued. He’s a pretty cool kid.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The first few months were challenging: moving to a city I had never been to, living with 25 others in an artist community, navigating the traffic, the parking, finding a job, making friends, learning about how to be a working actor. My degree is in Media Production, not acting, so I felt like a fraud in some way. It’s a miracle that I’ve been here for three years, but I vividly remember thinking: “It’s about longevity.” Thinking about the end game gave me peace of mind. It’s a process, a journey, a lifelong pursuit. It hasn’t been smooth the whole way through, but it’s been nice and steady. I’ve moved over seven times in the last three years, done background, student films, indies, commercials, music videos, web series, podcast, voiceovers, photoshoots, readings, writing, directing, producing, etc. I’ve surrendered to trusting the journey.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an actor. Trained at Ivana Chubbuck, Howard Fine, Margie Haber, Groundlings, and Tasha Smith Actors Workshop, acting is my first passion. I have 6+ years of piano training, 4+ years of voice training as a Baritone/ Bass Singer, 3+ years of competitive swimming. I hold a BFA in Media Production with a double major in English Literature-Creative Writing from The University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. I’m certified in Screenwriting and Directing for Film & Television from Cincinnati’s Digital Media Collaborative. I am a WV State Champion Poet. My poetry books available on Amazon.
How do you define success?
Success is where your passion and soul’s purpose align; it is selfless and sacrificial for it operates for the highest good. It is not what the world gives; it is how the soul lives in connection, growth, and generosity. It’s not about getting, but giving back to the collective with what you have. It is to live from a place of steadfast joy, to share kindness, to shine a light in someone’s shadow, to give someone hope to live another day. Success is not how good of a person one can be but how freely loving one can live. A good spirit that serves gives one fulfillment. Success is life, strife, the acceptance of struggle, the power of love, and the courage to overcome. My most successful moments have been and will always be making someone smile, laugh, feel loved, good, empowered, strong, one of a kind. Reflection on why we are here, how we are here, how long we have, and what we have to say and do is the start of success. Achievement is in the action.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.austinmgage.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamaustingage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/austin.gage.56
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AustinG301/videos
