Meet John Machesky | Actor & Model

We had the good fortune of connecting with John Machesky and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, why did you pursue a creative career?
I always said I would be an electrical engineer when I was growing up and asked what I would do. I was surrounded by theater my whole life, I was in the play in elementary, my best friend’s dad worked at the local theater and we would usher to see shows, and my first girl friend growing up went to the summer theater and I was parking cars there before I had my drivers license. We moved my junior year of high school so I transferred schools, the new school saw I had theater on my transcript so they threw me in another theater class (even though I had only done it to get an art credit on my transcript). At the new school if you were in theater class you had to audition for the play. I ended up getting the lead and it was amazing. When it came time to declare my major and apply to colleges I cried about it for days before deciding to try and give acting a shot, even though looking back on it I don’t know that there was much of a choice.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
So I’m an actor and filmmaker, I don’t think it sets me apart because I have so many in my community that do this but the fact I write and make my own films sets me apart from other actors. As I said though I know so many people here that do just that, though that isn’t the norm everywhere. I’m most proud of my latest film that we are submitting to film festivals like the Atlanta Film Festival. I can’t believe the passion and artistry so many people trusted me with in helping me realize my idea. I am excited to be able to share what we were able to accomplish and the story we told. I’m also excited about the next horror film we are getting ready to start in the spring.
I got where I am by putting in years of work and lots of learning and self starting. It is never easy but you get better at it. You fail quicker. As an actor you have to deal with so much rejection, if you ever hear back about what you did at all, and it can be very lonely. I learning to change how I look at it and realize it isn’t personal and it isn’t a slight on my art was a huge help. Gaining perspective from the other side of the camera helps you realize people have so many other things they are focused on that don’t include you, which is freeing.
An article on me probably isn’t the place to write this but I see my self as a conduit for other peoples wisdom, so I don’t need someone to know me as much as what I’m trying to share with them that I have learned or hopefully my story and stories I tell will help others.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve been lucky enough to play tour guide a few times in my new claimed city so I would say we have to walk the belt line and stop multiple times for food and drinks. Ten High live band karaoke is one my personal favorite things about Atlanta that I love to show to people. Though not quintessentially Atlanta, Ecco midtown is one of my favorite restaurants that I love to show off. I think at least one day you have to get out of the city and drive up to the mountains to hike or tube or see a flower garden.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My community here in Atlanta deserves all the credit for my modest success. Specifically the Kick the Ladder community here in Atlanta. Isaac Dietz came up with game/concept that film is still in it’s infancy as a creative medium and we are just now getting into a punk rock time where it is even easier for hobbyist to take their iphone and make their own films and express themselves. How the weekly film challenge works is there a special dice with different rules for the week that give you parameters that you have to make a one minute film within a week and then the community comes together and screens them at the Little five points community center on Mondays. This community has empowered me to think of myself as more of an artist than just and actor, leading me to writing and making my own short films. Also I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my high school theater teacher believing in me and pushing me to be better than I already was. Without Mrs. Barnes I wouldn’t be who I am today.

Website: www.johnmachesky.com

Instagram: jmachesk

Image Credits
Jonathon Wade Trevor Handcock Michael Finn