Meet Chris Borden | Actor. Producer. Filmmaker. Dork.

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

Hi Chris, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
“Welcome to the jungle, baby.” – Guns n’ Roses

July 17th, 2007. Almost 15 years ago now, my LA story began with the biggest risk I’ve ever taken.

I’ve been an actor my entire life. Caught the bug in preschool and have been hooked ever since. I always knew I was coming to LA; it was only a matter of when. I’ve lived in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. Most of my childhood was spent in Colorado. I even did a stint in the Army – but that pales in comparison to the risk I took coming out to Los Angeles to pursue my dream of being a professional actor.

It was on that day, all those years ago, that I stepped off a Greyhound bus. At the intersection of Hollywood & Cherokee. With $200 in my pocket and a bag of clothes slung over my shoulder. I had one acquaintance who was going to let me couch-crash for a few days, a few leads on survival jobs, and no knowledge of the city, other than the occasional family trip to Disneyland. When I think back to that naive kid getting off a bus, it makes me laugh. A week later I went home to get my car. First lesson learned! I just knew I needed to be here.

Sometimes that is all that is needed to take that leap.

But most who come to Los Angeles will tell you, and I agree, that it’s not the coming to Los Angeles that is the hard part. It’s the staying here. This city will ask you time and time again, “How bad do you want it?” and if you don’t have an answer, welcome to the boulevard of broken dreams.

This city has taught me some of those lessons. Some I’ve learned the hard way. There have been times when it seems like a conscious decision to struggle. That struggle can become harder to justify as you get older. I’ve seen this city get the best of some of the most talented artists I’ve known, and it always breaks my heart. As artists we tend to embrace the struggle, which can leave you feeling isolated and alone. But you’re not. This is a town full of the most creative people on Earth, and no one does it alone. We rise together.

Risk is absolutely necessary for an artist. Without risk, there can be no growth. The risks I’ve taken in this town, and in my life – namely, the business of turning dreams into actionable, achievable goals – aren’t as daunting once I learned how to stack the little victories; the little victories have led to the big wins. I still get a kick out of driving down the 101, past the Hollywood sign, as I’m headed to my next project or audition. That experience still gives me chills. That is a victory. I celebrate it every time and remember that 8-year-old me would be ecstatic about all of this – and then I get back to the work of creating my next opportunity.

I’m grateful for those reminders. I’m thankful for a supportive family who cheers me on from 2000 miles away. I’m lucky to have an amazing group of friends – fellow actors, writers, producers, directors, mentors, you name it. We help to sustain each other, lift each other up, and challenge each other to be our best selves.

Yes, there are undeniable risks that come with following your heart. But what are you risking if you don’t?

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.
It’s simple. I believe in leading with kindness and love. Love of craft. Love of collaboration. Love of people. I have one goal as an actor when I arrive to set – It’s to conduct myself personally and professionally in a way that would get me invited back to set, every time. I learned long ago that part of what makes an actor successful is ability. Yes, acting ability, but sometimes even more important – the ability to show up. Often times, the best ability is availability. The willingness to show up with passion and love for what you do and to see it through until it’s done. It takes a lot of people working together to tell a story right. No one is above the production. We are all there to serve the needs of the production. That is the only way it gets done.

My passion for being on set seems to be contagious and has led to a lot of work. I am most excited about a project I’ve been working on for HBO due out this fall. I’ll also be starring in an episode of a new show for Discovery, out around the same time. These were both opportunities born from using these same philosophies.
Let the love of what you do shine through the work that you do, and it will get noticed eventually.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A few of my first survival jobs were based on a lot of Hollywood history. I have a soft spot for it. And there is still a lot of amazing history out there – you just have to know where to look! So we’ll do some LA staples like the Chinese Theatre, Lake Hollywood, Mulholland Drive, Sunset Blvd, the PCH, Hollywood Bowl, lunch at Neptune’s Net, Greystone Manor, Bel-Air, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica Pier, Fryman Canyon, Laurel Canyon and Franklin Canyon parks. We’re doing dinner at Yamashiro or celeb watching at The Smokehouse at Warner Bros. Maybe a trip to the Queen Mary or the ferry to Catalina. I am so madly in love with this city.

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?
I would not be here today if it wasn’t for my family, who have encouraged me to follow my heart my entire life. Especially my mom. I would have never made it to and from play rehearsal without her. And my dad who taught me time is a gift.
My first LA roomie, now actor and producer, Joseph Bayard. We plotted our takeover of Hollywood 15 years ago, and we are still hustling. All the members of Performer’s House, my first LA family.

The friends and colleagues I’ve worked with in various survival jobs over the years, many of whom are thriving in this industry as well. I champion their hard work. We collaborate as often as possible.

My acting teacher and mentor Mr. Alan Feinstein, who has taught me that it’s never what you think it is. Anything can happen. So many friends of mine have come through his studio, including VoyageLA-featured creators of Films by Circe, Allyson Brainard-Smith and Jenn Fernald.

My agent, James Delio and all the fam at NTA. They make it fun. Always.

My dearest friends and fellow creatives. You inspire me.

Website: www.TheActorChris.com

Instagram: @theactorchris

Other: www.imdb.me/TheActorChris