Meet Patrick Stack | Actor, Writer & Producer

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

Hi Patrick, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
Yes…I heard a casting Director say this once and it made quite an impression because it is 100% true: “Your Network is your Net Worth”. I am not sure there is another profession where success is so reliant on who you know. All of the professional qualities a creative person might have mean nothing unless they have built up a contact list of reputable people who have gained a well earned status in the business. This is a never ending activity as this contact list shifts over the years and your ability to sustain a career depends of navigating those shifts. Thousands of people possess the same talents as you but your ability to manage and grow your network has a direct impact on your ability to work in the entertainment industry.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was floundering freshman year in college and my mother suggested I take an acting class. I was always extraverted, liked being the class clown, and performed in a number of bands while in jr. high and high school . I was comfortable being on stage. But it never occurred to me that this might be a career path. Being an actor became the goal and I moved to NY and studied with Bill Esper who at that time was the most respected teacher of the Meisner Method. The leap from the comfortable confines of being a theater major in college to the real world of professional acting was miles long. There is no real road map to navigating all that’s needed to learn the “business” side of show business. That is why I developed a work shop called “All The Right Moves” to highlight the fact that we are all in sales, no matter what our job description is. I think its critical to know that a career in the arts needs to be managed the same way a person who sells office supplies goes about their work. Build a strong network of professional and personal connections, earn their trust and believe that if you give those people what they need…when THEY need it…, you will get what you need. Its not the other way around.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a former member of the Groundlings, LA’s most infamous Comedy Troupe, I always suggest to out of town friends that they take in a show. The theatre is close to Hollywood where there is always great people watching. I am a huge fan of walking along Abbot Kinney in Venice, a hike up Temescal Canyon off of Sunset Blvd., a walk on the Strand starting in Manhattan Beach, a leisurely drive up Pacific Coast Highway to get a sense of Old School So Cal and pick a different ethnic food to have every night because Los Angeles has so much to offer. My favorite Italian restaurant is Cafe Pinguini in Playa del Rey. Favorite sushi is Bar Haramah in West, LA.

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?
Many people have helped along the way but I owe so much to my late friend Brian Dennehy. He was instrumental in jumpstarting my acting career and for introducing me to a lot of influential people in the business. He was extremely generous, always willing to help and to listen, and was a exceptional actor. I learned so much about the craft by watching him and learning how to approach the work and to approach the business.

Website: outofpocketfilms.com

Instagram: @renoroyale