Interview with R.I. Actor-Dancer-Filmmaker John Joseph Gomes

Providence, RI is tantalizingly close to New York City. But it is still very difficult to "make it" in the Big Apple. There is also a large contingent of multi-talented artists in Rhode Island. Instead of going to the city and living in alleys, eating out of garbage cans, younger generations are taking matters into their own hands in Rhode Island. They are creating their own opportunities.

Never get a chance to play the lead in the college play? Or perhaps you are looking to experiment with new types of theatre? Go found your own theatre company! Want to get into filmmaking? Grab a camera and just start shooting! Their ability to take that life-changing "leap of faith" is most admirable. I recently had the opportunity to interview one of these "new" adventurers, John Joseph Gomes.

1) John, I first became aware of your work as a stage actor. What made you decide to pursue acting? And what drives you to perform?

Honestly, I'm not sure. It's something I've always wanted to do. When I was younger, I would watch TV with kids my age in shows like Silver Spoons and Different Strokes and think to myself "I want to do that". I was cast as Charlie Brown in a play in 5^th grade and haven't stopped acting since.

What drives me to perform is that I love it pure and simple. I stayed away from it for about 4 years after my mother died and I was in a relationship. I did the occasional play here and there but didn't work as consistently as I am now. I didn't realize how much I had missed it until I got back into it regularly.

2) What has been your favorite stage role so far? Is there role you have not played yet that you want to?

This sounds a little PC but every part I play is my favorite at the time. I've had the opportunity to play so many different characters that it's difficult to say which one is my absolute favorite. That being said, I really enjoyed playing Jeffrey in Jeffrey and Ali Hakim in Oklahoma.

There are many roles I have yet to play that I'd love to do. Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, Stanley in Streetcar Named Desire, The Witch in Into the Woods, Sweeney in Sweeney Todd are just a few. And also any play by August Wilson.

3) You are also a dancer and a dance teacher. Where did you learn to dance? What types do you teach? Do you prefer musical shows so you can use your dance background?

I learned to dance when I was around 14 years old and was enrolled in the Young People's School for the Performing Arts that was being run by Bernard Masterson out of Salve Regina College at the time. Bernard was all about us being well rounded performers so we took classes in acting, voice, stage make-up, and dance. I had danced before that but that was the first time I had ever had any formalized training. It sort of changed my life and opened up a whole new avenue for me.

I teach hip-hop and jazz dance. And although I enjoy doing musicals a lot, I actually prefer to do a nice straight drama. Strong dramatic roles are harder to come by.

4) Do you sing also?

I make noise. LOL. I do sing. It's not my strongest talent but thanks to my amazing singing teacher, Stacey Geer, I sound better than I ever have. I'm well on my way to becoming a viable, old school triple threat.

5) You recentlyjumped feet firstinto the world of film, with very little experience. What drove you to start storytelling in the film format?

I wanted to do films with gay characters but where that element wasn't necessarily the focal point of the storyline. There are so many films made where gay characters are just used as comic relief or asexual sidekicks or neighbors that I find it a bit tiring. I wanted my characters to be in situations where they were real and honest but happened to be gay. I'm hoping it brings a balance to gay characters in local films. I don't know if I'm succeeding but I'm trying. My desire to tell these stories was stronger than my fear of doing films with no experience in doing them. I've been very lucky to be able to work with amazing actors and put together fantastic crews to help carry me and guide me along in areas where my ability was lacking. I've also got great support from some film makers in the community like Mike Messier and Richard Griffin. I still make mistakes but I'm getting better.

6) Is there one art form that makes you feel more fulfilled than another?

Acting is very full filling. I love dancing, singing, writing and filmmaking but I'm an actor first and foremost.

7) You also just began hosting a cable access show, interviewing other artists. Are you bucking forRenaissance Man ofthe decade?What drove you to this additional outlet? I'm amazed that one person would have such a drive to seek so many different artistic outlets.Does it just come organically to you? Or are you striving toward aspecific goal or goals?

Renaissance man of the decade? Can I get that on a plaque? LOL

The talk show is like my love letter to the arts community of RI. I've had so much support doing what I do that I wanted to talk to other artists about their experiences both positive and negative. We have so many amazingly talented artists in this state that I wanted a format to focus on them and hopefully bring in an audience to watch it that will want to go out into the community and experience the wonderful art these people are creating.

I guess it's organic. One thing is just a natural extension of the other to me. Acting to dance to writing to filmmaking to the talk show all seemed to flow naturally in my life. I don't have any specific goals. If someone had said to me 10 years ago that I'd be a filmmaker, I would have told them they were crazy and yet here I am doing just that. My main goal is to do good work.

8) Who do you look up to in the greater artistic community? Who were/are your influences? Does anyone else in your family have artistic talents?

Well Bernard Masterson, who passed away several years ago, was someone I looked up to greatly and was a big influence on me. Wanda Shell, who ran Theater for Emily and I worked with when I was a teenager, was also a huge influence. Rose Weaver is someone I also respect and admire.

My dad wanted to be an architect when he was growing up so he's a fantastic artist. My mother, who passed in 1997, took dance lessons with her sisters when she was younger and danced in with a tap troupe She also danced in a Rockettes type dance company when she was a teen. She used to try to teach me how to do the time step in our kitchen. My cousin Richie Gomes is a singer and has had several bands. There was always music and dancing and laughter in my family growing up.

9) Any hints or advice to students just out of school who are trying to find their place in the artistic world?

Wow, that's a hard question. I would tell any artist to just be honest when creating their art. Audiences can tell when something is forced or not true to the artist. And don't let anyone tell you that something can't be done. If you believe in it and it's true to you do it. It may be difficult but fight for it if you have to. Don't get too caught up in the disappointments. And the biggest is please be respectful of other artists.

Gomes will be performing in New York City this summer in an Off-Off Broadway production of Lenny Schwartz's new play, "Fidelity". For more information on that show go to: www.planetconnections.com