Photo: Actor & Filmmaker Joshua Schubart

1. CA: You are the true definition of “INSPIRATION” from a tough childhood of being homeless to now a well accomplished actor, co-founder of your own production company, stuntman and the list goes on. What is the one thing that keeps you so highly focused to accomplish your goals?

Schubart: Wow, thank you so much for saying such a kind thing. If my story can help someone like me not feel alone, and that they too can succeed then I’ve won this life. As for your question, honestly, it’s never wanting to eat out of a dumpster again. Some of my worst childhood nights were fighting over stale bread, and old pizza behind a Blockbuster. A big part of my drive is knowing that I need to continue to put that life behind me, and refocus every day on how to provide a fantastic life for me and my family. I’m not embarrassed, event’s like these shaped me into who I am today, but I also know I have to keep moving forward in a positive way.

2. CA: How do you build the right team around you, and what crucial lesson have you learned when deciding who to work with?

Schubart: Coming up the way that I did, I tend to get a pretty good impression of someone in the first few minutes. I had to in order to survive. Now I certainly have more time to have conversations, and get to know folks a bit before I make any choices. I tend to gravitate towards people who share a similar drive and passion for the industry, and are always looking for ways to be explosively better. Watch out for people who talk a lot, but you don’t see them taking any action. It’s so easy to talk a bunch of shit in this industry and have no follow through. Take a hard look at their work ethic before you pull them in close.

3. CA: What advice do you have for anyone trying to get into the entertainment industry?

Schubart: You are enough.

In the beginning of your career people are going to try to tell you who you have to be in order to “make it.” There is no one like you in this world, and you bring so much to the table. Find those things that are uniquely you, and cultivate them.

There are no shortcuts.

There is no substitute for hard work and experience. If anyone offers you a shortcut based on how much you pay them. Or offer you never ending classes from a “guru”. Throw rocks at them and run away.

Failure is awesome!

You want to be failing hard, and often. It is such an incredible tool. Change what failing means to you. It’s not bad, it’s growth. You’re not embarrassing yourself, you are learning how to do everything better. How can you do things right, if you don’t do them wrong?

Try everything.

You don’t know what you will love doing. I had no idea I would end up being a multi-hyphenate member of this industry, but I will tell you it opened up my creative world more than anything else. Every time I tried something new it was terrifying, but it always made me a better artist. Understanding brings greatness.

Be curious, not judgmental.

If you are curious, and ask questions about everything, all you do is learn, and get better. You will meet so many different types of people, and encounter so many different stories in our wild and crazy world of entertainment. If you close yourself off from new experiences, conversations, ways of life, and people, how can you grow into the storyteller you are meant to be? Nothing is binary, everything is fluid and alive with magical potential. Get out there and find out why.

4. CA: Any book(s) recommendation that’s had a major impact on you?

Schubart: The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business is a great one for the entertainment industry. Sci-Fi has also played a huge role in my life. Most notably the Dune series, and Asimov's Foundation series.

5. CA: What’s next for Joshua Schubart?

Schubart: I have a few irons in the fire. I’m always working on a new audiobook, so those will be coming out steadily throughout this year. I have a feature I wrote that has some interest, and there may be some new acting work coming that I can’t talk about yet. Of course the main event for this year will be becoming a father.