Ben Platt really loves live theater—and now, that passion for the stage is on full display in “Theater Camp,” the Christopher Guest-inspired mockumentary Platt co-wrote with longtime friends and collaborators Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman, and Noah Galvin. Platt also co-stars alongside Gordon, who also co-directed with Lieberman. The film is a real labor of love, with its spotlight shining directly on the importance of spaces like theater camps for any young mind with an interest in the arts.
For Platt, working with the movie’s extensive cast of kid actors was a lesson all its own.
“It just reminds you why you're doing this in the first place, and what instilled a deep enough love of something that you were willing to be in a business that isn’t the easiest or most stable, or is certainly quite an anxiety-provoking lifestyle to choose,” Platt told us. “The purity of their excitement to be there, their raw talent and willingness to jump in—and also how deeply they looked up to all of us, and were listening to us—it makes you take a lot of responsibility and pride in the kind of artists and professionals that you are, and that you want to inspire them to be.”
On this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Platt explains what theater can teach every actor, and what making “Theater Camp” taught him about himself.
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Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ
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