Se7en Questions with Writer and Actor
Justin Hosking
Who are some artists or some of the works
that inspired you to get started in your field? Of today’s current artists, who do you draw inspiration from?
Edward Norton’s performance in Primal Fear really inspired me to venture into the world of acting. It blew me away and I thought I’d love to try that. Philip Seymour Hoffman’s early work was also really influential on me and choosing to become an actor. I’m not a musical theatre performer, but I did see a production of Rent many years ago, and I thought “they’re having a ball. Imagine getting paid to do that?”
There are so many great artists today. I get inspiration from Daniel Day Lewis, Emma Thompson, Elisabeth Moss, Damon Herriman, Hugo Weaving, Mark Rylance, and they’re just the actors. Vocalists like Lana Del Rey and Hannah Reid, musicians like John Coltrane and Mark Knopfler, and painters like Gottfried Helnwein and Eugene Von Guerard.
What have thus far been some of the negatives of being an indie artist in your field?
Just the lack of money paid to artists is really tough. We seemed to be the last people paid more often than not. Money isn’t everything that’s for sure, but it is necessary. Australia has a small arts industry so money is tight everywhere. The lack of regular work means often we’re under a lot of financial pressure and this anxiety can ripple in to all areas of life.
What have thus far been the positives of being an indie artist in your field?
I had a theatre company for a number of years and the freedom to choose our own work and perform them was really liberating. Consequently, we learned a massive amount, as well all really grew as artists. I haven’t shot any really big budget films – yet – but the freedom and collaboration in the independent film scene really fosters relaxed creativity which I think is really important to the artist in performing at their best.
What have been your favorite completed projects to work on up to this point? Can you tell us a little bit about them?
I co-wrote, produced and acted in a short film recently, which I really enjoyed, called After Silence. Being involved from the writing stage all the way through to the end of post was really exciting and creative. I learnt a lot. The film really evolves greatly throughout the process and I loved being so involved. Usually I’m just the actor so I don’t get to be part of the bigger picture.
I’ve been in numerous plays which I loved. Usually because the play was either great and/or the character I played was really challenging and rewarding. But a play in particular called A Number by Carol Churchill was a really satisfying performance experience.
What projects are you currently working on or have planned for the near future?
I am part of a theatre actors’ ensemble called Red Stitch in Melbourne, Australia. So we are constantly planning, programming, casting, acting and doing everything else it takes to run a theatre company. My wife recently gave birth to our second child, so acting in theatre for the next few months is out of the equation. But I’m scheduled to shoot a feature in the coming months here. A small cast and crew in country Victoria, shot over a couple of weeks. A really interesting and quirky script, so I’m looking forward to that.
Where do you see yourself in a few years and what would it take for you to consider your career a success?
Good question. Working more regularly in film and television would be great. Need to feed the kids. So that would be the ideal. But what is success? It depends on where your values are I guess, or what’s most important to you. Fame is a form of success, financial stability is a form of success, inner satisfaction and meaning is another form of success. I’d take a little from all to be honest.
If you couldn’t do this anymore, what career path do you think you would have followed and why?
Probably a psychologist. I started studying psychology after high school but I gave it up. The older I get the more it interests me. Alternatively, I’d have liked to be an AFL football scout/recruiter. I enjoy watching Aussie Rules Football in all its forms. From juniors to professionals. I think I would have enjoyed the opportunity to spot young talent and try and help them to reach the professional ranks.
