R Liesje introduced her partner Andy Smith. Andy is a multi faceted person with a versatile career. Originally from Manhattan New York who followed a women to Montreal.
Andy acknowledged technical support from Liesje to prepare this presentation.
Who is Andy Smith?
Actor - Writer - Partner - Father
Andy has 3 children. The oldest boy lives in Toronto. His other son and daughter live in Nova Scotia.
Over 30 years ago Andy moved to Canada, first to Montreal then to Halifax for about 20 years.
Andy shared his past through a few short videos.
He was raised in a cradle of love and kindness from both grandparents and mother and father. The family had a sense of humour, finding the funny parts of life. He learned to express himself in music. He grew up in New York. Andy has a passion for studying people, to watch what makes them tick. He is a keen observer of people and this has helped in his career as an actor.
Formally he studied English.
His father was in sales.
Andy and Liesje have created some comedic Youtube shows: Vern 'n Charlene and Friends.
Andy is able to tap into a wealth of a fertile imagination.
He is a writer of Books with Heart.
Zayde's Arcade is taken from childhood memories and stories. Andy's grandfather had a penny arcade on Coney Island. Zayde's Arcade is a coming of age story in Coney Island, a young man of 16 meets a girl but not everything goes smoothly. Andy remembers the arcade as constant noise and lots of people.
Andy and Liesje have had book signings at Chapters and Barnes and Nobles.
At age of 45 Andy had a midlife crisis that took him into acting. First with local community theatre, working up to extras, silent on camera, to speaking parts. He has 2 agents, one in Halifax and one in Toronto. He enjoys comedy and has been in:
Trailer Park Boys
Haven
Beach Girls
Call Me Fitz
Also commercials for Coca Cola and Atlantic Film Festival.
Also voice actor.
He has a podcast he hosts 'Eternal Child'.
In Nova Scotia to pay the bills he had his own tour company and Ghost tours.
In these pandemic times, the film business is getting re-started, taking numerous safety precautions. He enjoys live theater but does film and TV for the money.
Andy said he was always a clown. He enjoys acting and pretending to be someone else. He has no formal acting training, but has taken private lessons.
R Clay thanked Andy for his very interesting presentation and sharing he personal story.