We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicholas Logan and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Nicholas, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I think the world gives you signs and you have to be honest and open enough to read them. Acting is maybe the most irresponsible and uncertain career to pursue. You are constantly having job interviews and being rejected. I spent over a decade not really getting anywhere. (Which I don’t recommend for everyone!) I’ve seen a lot of people pursue this path to the point of destructive delusion. You don’t need to judge yourself but you do need to be honest with yourself. I started a few different careers and every time I would begin one, all of a sudden I’d get an acting job that would take me away from it. The signs kept telling me to keep going. At the same time I really love acting and I’m decent enough at it and have a lot of great training where I was ready when opportunities were presented. Even if at times I too was delusional. The Great Gerald Freedman my Dean at NCSA said this when we arrived at school. “Welcome and congratulations. Before we get started I want to say this. If you don’t have to be an actor, do something else. If you don’t know what that means, do something else.”. I thought I knew what that meant then but I really know what it means now. As usual he was right. Acting is just something I have to do. I read the signs, stayed mostly honest with myself and didn’t give up. Now with a lot of hard work, personal growth and support from family and friends I am able to call Acting my profession.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m just very excited for projects I’ve completed and am about to start being out there. Was so proud to be asked to be a small part of ‘Dopesick’ by Danny Strong. His work on that had real world effects. We are now seeing the Sackler family start to get the public prosecution they deserve. Way to go Danny! Looking forward to getting started on this film for Paramount next week. It’s a Western set in the 1870s. It’s been fun exploring how the violence of the civil war could breed violence in someone already bent away from society. We begin filming next week. Also looking forward to seeing a film I completed recently for A24 about bootcamp. I play a drill instructor and they gave me a lot of freedom to play and improv with my scenes. Interested to see how that turned out because I had a blast. Lot of great performances in it. Also ‘Summoning Sylvia’ a really fun heartfelt film that I was lucky enough to do with my dear friend from NCSA Wesley Taylor and his wonderful writing/directing partner Alex Wyse. Those two are going to be very successful. As well as a really interesting beautiful film called Every Man For Himself that I was able to do during the height of the pandemic with Gary Gardner who is an incredible writer and director. He made the impossible possible. Can’t wait to see all of these and find out what’s on the horizon and who I will play next.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d have to take them to a Hawks Game, I love basketball and that venue. They did such a great job with it. We’d also have to get some Varsity, Hot Chicken at Hattie B’s, rent a movie for later from Videodrome and go see something at the Plaza or Landmark Midtown Art Cinema. Ice cream from Butter and Cream in Decatur and pizza at Ammazza or Fellini’s. The list is long. Probably go to Ponce and get a burrito from Minero and stop in at Elk Head to buy some clothes and then get some more clothes and play the ring game at Chubbies. After all this food we’d have to either go for a run at Piedmont Park or take the bikes to the Silver Comet Trail. Oh and a Latin/Asian food Tour on Buford Highway. Maybe watch a game at Kirkyard Pub in Kirkwood. To name a few favorites!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Martha Logan and Scott Kowalczyk my incredible, supportive parents who have always believed and supported my pursuit even when it looked like it was going nowhere. My brother Hank. Robert Beseda, my teachers from the old days at NCSA, Terry Schreiber, Bill Esper, Thom Milam Rick Estimond of the People Store. My Manager Alex Burditt of Authentic Talent. And of course my fiance Jazmine Barnes who can be found in this series. She is my rock my reader and always loves and believes in me.
Other: You can check me out on IMDB! I’m not a big fan of social media.
Image Credits
Logan Fahey Logan@faheyfoto.com