We had the pleasure of interviewing actor Cassandra Haswell all about their creative journey. Be sure to check it out to learn more about who they are and what they do!
1.What initially inspired you to become a creator, and how has that inspiration evolved throughout your creative journey?
I’ve been creative since i was a little kid always having an interest in Music, Movies and what not hell i think i was introduced to Content creation as young as 11 years old though fortunately you won’t find anything from back then.
But thinking back it really goes back to behind the scenes features like Doctor Who confidential or BTS on things like Lord of the Rings that exposed me in those Early Developmental years to pursue creating.
Both as a content Creator on Youtube and Twitch and As a Actor. As I’ve gotten older I continuously look to other people like myself for inspiration Especially other Queer Actors and Creatives, I can only hope I someday inspire in the same way.
2.Can you share a specific moment or experience that fueled your passion for your current creative project?
Current Project so i’ve got a couple of things going but what is at the forefront of my mind at the moment is were currently Recording for Wings of Dracula, Audio Play by David Macdowell Blue following the theme of body parts of theSupernatural i also Worked on Claws on Midgard by Des M. Astor at the very beginning of the Year, both of these projects due to be released this year with Wings of Dracula dropping in the Spring .
In both of these projects I’ve had the honor of really being able to play with Gender in a creative aspect. With my performance of Arthur Holmwood in Dracula in this interpretation we went with playing Arthur as a closeted Bisexual man which A. it was really nice to play and portray Bisexuality being Bi myself even if it does hurt my heart a little to look back in time and imagine those back in the day who are less free than LGBTQIA+ people are today ( saying that we still have miles to go in that regard but that’s a WHOLE other topic ). Playing Arthur has really made me examine my own relationship with masculinity up close and personally.
On a similar vein, playing Loki in Claws of Midgard was really nice as Loki is genderfluid and it was just so cool to play a character that has the same identity as me. As much as I love playing women, playing these diverse parts really fueled my passion to keep going.
3.What challenges have you encountered as an indie creator, and how have they shaped your approach to your work?
Oh finances easily. I work minimum wage and don’t really have a huge amount to invest back into creative endeavors; however, this has led me to think more creatively.
I’m a big fan of D.I.Y ing a solution per example the booth that’s landed me most of my VA work? That’s a piece of beaten up street furniture I gutted and have slowly been building up a booth out of it.
4.Are there any particular creators who have significantly influenced your style or approach? How do you incorporate those influences into your own unique voice?
Oh that’s a Question to which my Answer was continuously changing when I was a kid and in my teens i for sure Looked up to actors like Milla Jovovich and Kate Beckinsale Being a big fan of Resident Evil and Underworld , Van Helsing etc.
These days I try to focus on characters rather than individual people for Example for my Performance in one of the Offgoof’s on the SCP Offshoot Animated web series i took the creative choice to do a Transatlantic accent due to the shorts old fashioned style for that i took influence from Evan Peters in American Horror Story Hotel As well as Several Iterations of Albert Wesker From the Resident evil Games.
Then there are some more bizarre influences like Ira in the Dominion Podcast by Nemo Where I used some Metal Vocalist Influences to add that slight bit of Distortion I wanted for the Character influences include James Hetfleild,Alyssa white gulz and Matt heafy
Long story short i’m always asking How someone does something or utilizes certain sounds or performance styles and Yoinking it into my own toolbelt.
5. How do you navigate the balance between staying true to your artistic vision and adapting to feedback from your audience or collaborators?
Fantastic Question I think Ultimately it should always be a collaborative experience where everyone’s voices can be heard. I take notes as a way of working back and forth to find the best version of a character between me and the director/client.
I try not to take notes personally and remember directors, clients, casting etc wants you to do well and is there to guide not belittle .
6.Can you recall a memorable success story or milestone in your indie creator journey that stands out as a turning point for you?
Working on the Animation Series The Offshoot was a standout point for me. I was made aware the Series was in production by My buddy Nolan Tenholder. I found the call on the casting call club. At the time they were not looking for any specific characters that would be appropriate for me to apply to.
So I shot my shot and Applied as a general Voice actor and actually got in. This has been my first time working as a paid Voice actor on what will hopefully be a long standing series in genres im deeply passionate about I.e Science Fiction and Horror. Our team is absolutely wonderful and being welcomed into a production team like that actually wanted to pay me! Made me feel like i could actually be a professional again deeply Gratefull.
7.What role do setbacks or failures play in your creative process, and how do you overcome them to keep moving forward?
Rejection as many have heard is a major part of being an Actor both in the Booth and in front of the camera. I try my best to take a positive approach rather than viewing things as a Success or failure. Every single Audition is an opportunity to get in the room to get better at the process, meet people and make connections. Not that that comes naturally, mind we are all human but I think working on your mindset and checking in with your mental health is incredibly important as a creative/performer.
8. How do you manage your time and energy to sustain a consistent creative output while juggling other aspects of life?
Good Question! One word Naps! I work a 9-5 outside of my creative pursuits and sometimes it can be tempting to continuously burn the oil because there’s only so many hours in the day but I quickly realized coming home after a eight hour shift then working another seven hours is simply not sustainable in the long run nor is it healthy. Normally I come home, have something to eat, then take an hour nap, then I’m ready to fire off. Aside from that boring stuff like keeping a diary and having a daily todo list to manage my time, oh and make sure you get those 8 hours every night.
9.Have you found any unexpected joys or rewards in the indie creator community, and how has it contributed to your overall experience?
Oh so much! I’ve been blessed and honored to Receive such a warm welcome from everyone I’ve worked with, at least in the indie scene. It really does feel like everyone wants to lift each other up and celebrate each other. It makes me feel really lucky to be in this space.
10.If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring creators, what would it be based on your own lessons learned?
Start taking action now! Don’t wait for a certain piece of Equipment or to live in a certain area make use of what you have find the resources to learn your craft ( free workshops are a big one )
I see alot of people say oh ill start this when i get X thing but then they never do trust me once you start making actionable goals things move alot faster than you’d think
I’m not saying things like location or money are not set backs because they absolutely are but your voice deserves to be heard even more so if your from a background we don’t normally see in the media your Uniqueness your struggles your pain your difference thats what makes you a interesting Unique human being and people will see that in your art as long as you don’t give up you are never a failure.
As someone once said to me, keep going if you can. It’s hard for people like us. It’s not going to be easy but it’s important. And hell that stuck with me so it bares repeating
11. What are your thoughts on All Ages of Geek? What are some things we should change/do? What are something you enjoy about our website?
I really like how easy it is to navigate. Also the Quizzes are cute. Something to add could be embedding some of the YT videos
12. Goals for 2024?
Short Films that get into the festival Circuit , First TV role, More work in Animation and Video Games.So hit me Up if you like what I have to say
