June 2, 2022 • 30 mins
One of the participants of the inaugural year of the Az-Map program, Bret Jacobs shares his beginnings as a theatre artist and how he has always been guided by mentors. He also talks about what inspired him early on to pursue this career path.
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THEME: (00:02):
Oh Imma trust the whole damn process, for the
record, till we breaking records!
Reminiscing about the past daysnow we rise and fly, journeys
to the sky, Azimuth inside mygrip, always know the way now!
Beauty fill my days now takeit day by day sound couldn't be
prouder cause y'know we alive!
ANDRÉS: (00:24):
Hi everyone.
And welcome to in-process.
Azimuth Theatre's podcast highlightingand celebrating the community
that we have here in our town.
Today we'd like to welcomemy special guest Bret Jacobs.
Hi, Brett.
BRET: (00:40):
Well, hello.
ANDRÉS: (00:42):
Well, uh, First of all, I wanted to say welcome.
Thanks for being on the show, nowyou're here as part of the first
edition of the AZ-Map program orthe Azimuth Theatre , Apprenticeship
And Mentorship Program, correct?
BRET: (00:56):
Yes, that is correct.
Yeah.
ANDRÉS: (00:57):
Can you tell us a little bit about the Az-Map program from
your, from your point of view?
BRET: (01:01):
From my point of view.
Oh, oh dear.
Uh, So I am not that proficientwith computers, so this is just an
overall learning journey with me andjust learning to do simple tasks.
So like, I've of course I've dabbleda little bit with like Google suite,
but not as much as I would like to.
(01:23):
So from at least what we're doing at themoment, it's a lot more online learning
stuff, which I am also trying to getaccustomed to I'm more of an in-person
type of learner as opposed to online.
So, yeah.
But however, I feel like I'm gettinga little bit of a hang of it.
(01:44):
Both Morgan and Sue have beenvery supportive and very nurturing
when it comes to me learning thelittle computer tricks and stuff.
So that's very helpful.
I actually made this little joke.
I'm like, oh, I'm going to givemy nickname tech issue, Brett.
But like I said, it's, I'mstarting become more, more
(02:06):
proficient with it slowly.
And I do mean slowly and so, yeah, butI find the, like all walks of life,
this journey is just starting and Iwill get more familiar with, with it.
The more I use it.
ANDRÉS: (02:21):
Totally.
Now you were talking a littlebit about your journey.
Can you give us a bit ofyour journey up until now?
What brought you to theater?
What brought you to apply for the Azimuthprogram , whatever you want to share
BRET: (02:32):
Okay so like my initial journey to like theater training or
just performing, well, maybe I shouldstart with just go from theater.
Cause I've always been like,I've always loved singing.
So even when I was younger, I wouldlove to sing around the house and
(02:53):
compete in talent shows, but I neverreally thought of theater as something
I'd enjoy until I was probably apre-teen and that I just was watching
a lot of like films and TV shows.
I grew up and a small native communitythat doesn't really, we have access
(03:15):
to live theater and I didn't really gowatch any shows um, in like the urban
areas like Edmonton, except for whenI was in my high school drama club.
And.
I realized as a person, not onlyjust as a performer, that I love
(03:35):
storytelling and that's kind ofwhat propelled me to say to myself.
'I would like to tell stories if not,by creating them in a, you know, as a
book, but being a character on stage."
So.
When I was in high school, oneof my dear friends and I still,
(03:56):
I consider her my first mentor.
Her name is Jaselyn Logan.
She started the drama club at the verysmall indigenous school in Calling Lake.
And there was severalabout a dozen or so kids.
And that went on for about threeyears up until I was in grade 11 and
(04:18):
I was in there every single year,helping to like create and even doing
choreography for certain numbers.
If, if need be, I'm not a traineddancer, but I know how to move.
I know how to dance party style too.
So I put those together andcame up with little routines.
(04:41):
So that's sort of where my journeystarted in that drama club.
And it was there where my mentor slashfriend Jaselyn she said, well, you should
maybe consider doing more with that,like doing that into post-secondary.
Initially I wasn't very onset becauseI didn't think I would you know
(05:07):
breakthrough because of where I live too.
And there wasn't very much indigenousrepresentation at that time.
So I didn't feel asconfident at that time.
So I graduated high school.
I spent a year at a first nationscollege, just in open studies
(05:27):
and I took about two years off.
Then I thought.
I should maybe try this, likeat least audition to a program.
And I did, I, I additioned to Red DeerCollege's now I believe defunct theater,
performance and creation program twice.
(05:48):
I did not get in the first time, butthe second time I did, and from there on
it was a big journey of self-discoverywithin myself, like personal as well.
And from that point on, I mean, that wasmy learning journey where I started
becoming more accustomed to learning abouttheater and certain bits of movement.
(06:12):
I thought theater was justacting before I went there.
Oh, heck no.
ANDRÉS: (06:18):
Yeah.
BRET: (06:19):
And it's all one, the most thing that I found very, very helpful is that
in order to be an artist and all, youhave to discover yourself first and I
wasn't fully there yet when I started.
Yeah, there's something.
So interesting about theater school.
(06:41):
Where it's like every morning youshow up and they're like, "hi,
you're going to confront yourself.
It's 9:00 AM welcome."
You know,
, It's like, can I, can I just get a moment please?
I mean like, like, gee, you justhad me confront myself last night.
I am tired.
All right.
ANDRÉS: (06:59):
I feel that I totally get that And, uh, I didn't really expect it to
be such explorative work about yourself.
I thought, oh, you're acting,you're doing other people.
But like, it really is like so importantto start with yourself, you know?
What was your favorite part of RDC?
BRET: (07:16):
Well, I liked the whole, I guess that was the whole part was discovering
within myself because I was a very privateperson, although I'm, as I'm extroverted,
well, not super extroverted, but nowadaysI'm very extroverted and have a certain
(07:37):
energy or way I perceive myself.
I was so shy and so quiet.
I had not come out ofmy shell at that time.
And it's just because my comfort levelbeing in such a different place in,
well, for one thing, being around likea majority of non-indigenous people is
(08:00):
very jarring for being for like the otherside of my life, being around, surrounded
by nothing but indigenous people.
It was weird, cause I- notweird, but a little jarring.
when it comes to, I guess, socialconditioning in small indigenous
communities, especially where there'sbarely any non-indigenous people, it
(08:24):
can be very jarring and sort of likea trusting issue, because there's such
a perceived notion in an indigenouscommunity nowadays, especially where
non-indigenous people are not to bereally be trusted because of the colonial
(08:44):
aspects of what other like Europeans andsuch did during you know, colonization.
So.
Like I can say a littlepersonal tidbit, an example:
My father is not very trustworthy withnon-indigenous people, at least he
always had a guard up when it came todealing with non-indigenous people.
. ANDRÉS: (09:09):
And like, that's all kind of like that, that stuff that gets passed
through generations so, you know, likethat distress comes from somewhere.
Uh, You were mentioning that upuntil kind of high school.
You also didn't really go out,come out to like the urban
cities to watch some theater.
Do you remember the first piece of theaterthat really like inspired you and made you
want to like, look at this as a career?
BRET: (09:32):
Uh, I, I do not remember the show, but I, one of our field trips
for the drama club, which we had savedup a decent amount of money with bake
sales and other ventures was , we gotto see a dinner theater at Jubilations.
So just the idea of like, Beinglike the character service as
(09:54):
well we're so like fun to watch.
And also like, mostly from what I tellour, from what the back then the, the
shows they did were mostly musicals andbecause I'm a singer and I love to dance
and, you know, acting I'm like, "whoa,this is gonna be really cool to get into!"
ANDRÉS: (10:18):
You obviously have an affinity to musicals.
It's something that like in the,in the couple of interactions we've
had, I very much noticed and enjoyed.
Do you have a favorite musical?
BRET: (10:28):
Oh, that's a tough one.
I don't really have that.
I guess I can say I.
I got to see "Mamma Mia" liveonce and that was pretty fun.
Um, Story-wise ,hmm, little, okay.
Yeah.
Hairspray.
I love hairspray and the music that comesfrom it, I actually spent summer of 2008,
(10:53):
just replaying that whole soundtrackjust on my -then CD player, dating me,
definitely of like past decades, butI played that till the cows come home.
I sang.
Well, I not very well, butmy, I think my favorite number
(11:13):
was "you can't stop the beat".
can't
ANDRÉS: (11:15):
It's a good song.
It's a hard song, especiallybecause of the breathing in it.
You're like, where do I breathe?
I know you can't stop the beat,but could I take a breath?
BRET: (11:24):
Okay, now I got to take this beat.
Okay.
Like seriously!
ANDRÉS: (11:30):
Um, where do you find that now you find your, your
inspiration for, storytelling?
BRET: (11:37):
Well, I get ideas through just watching like
bits of, I guess, programming.
I deep dive into my own, like, mind ofwhat I've experienced and especially
when it comes to certain stories I feelwould be really interesting to tell.
(11:59):
So my, I guess inspiration would be justfrom what I see and what I watch, and
maybe I'm inspired to create somethinglike um, well, I've had this idea for a
long time, but I have kind of wanted tolike, it's just the bare bones right now,
but I kind of want to write a musical oflike a battle of the boy bands, with like
(12:24):
a little bit of Twelfth night sprinkledin . Like that, that speaks to me.
Like, especially because, well, I'mnot that much of a boy band person,
but when I was a kid, I used to lovelistening to Spice Girls and maybe
a little bit of Backstreet Boys,but not as much Backstreet Boys,
because I was all about them spices.
You know what I mean?
ANDRÉS: (12:44):
Yeah (Laughs) Of course!
BRET: (12:47):
In the food, out the food, in the music, why not?!
ANDRÉS: (12:50):
Everywhere!
Just spice it up.
BRET: (12:52):
Spice up your life.
I actually, The one smalllittle tidbit about me.
I do not usually listen tomy own generation of what
was considered popular music.
I am like really far back.
Like I jam out to even songs of sharefrom like the 70's I'm into disco.
I didn't really discover that aboutmyself until I went to school.
(13:15):
So yeah.
ANDRÉS: (13:16):
Disco is just perfection.
It really is.
I don't know.
I know most people might hateit, but I find it so good.
BRET: (13:24):
I have some friends who are like,"Ugh!, what,
what, what is wrong with you?"
I'm like, "Okay.
No need to come for me.
I'm just, I'm just enjoying beingmyself and enjoying my life.
All right."
ANDRÉS: (13:36):
Anyways, I could, I could talk just about disco now.
AD: (13:47):
The “In Process” podcast is brought to you by the Canada Council
for the Arts and Azimuth Theatre'sTraversing, the Azimuth multimedia branch.
It is our aim to continue to introduceand deepen the relationships between
our community and the artists within it.
To keep this podcast going, go toAzimuththeatre.com/donate to help
with the continuation of this podcast.
ANDRÉS: (14:23):
You're here with the Az-Map program.
What are your hopes toget out of the program?
BRET: (14:28):
I really well, the one thing I will share is, as you know, many things
do inspire me, I haven't had that muchinspiration within the last few years.
So one thing to do is what's keepingme afloat is I want to tell my
stories and I'm using this programas a way to drive myself to break
(14:49):
through and tell these stories.
I have a very personal story that Iwould love to have made, but if it's not
adapted for theater, I can just put iton the back burner for whenever it's time
Well, and what I think is so lovelyabout this program is that it's pretty,
self-driven in like what you want toexplore, but it allows you to just be
able to take the time out of your day,especially with all of us trying to
(15:12):
survive, it's hard to like take time tobe like, I'm going to sit and read, or I'm
going to sit and write, you know, like allof these things that, that this program
can allow you to just like dive into.
Yeah, totally.
I mean, just there's a lot right now,just cause it's like, bam, bam, bam.
For me.
I'm going back to like, "okay.
I haven't thought about this in awhile.
(15:33):
Okay.
Maybe I should think about this.
Why aren't I thinking about this?!"
Just, and by the way, with myown like student isms, I'm very.
I get very like, "okay,this has to be done.
This has to be done.
This has to be done."
Sort of like I wouldn't sayperfectionist because I am not perfect
(15:54):
and nor is anyone ever perfect.
But I do kind of give myself a little bitof grief when I'm not doing what I feel
I'm supposed to, but that I'm workingon I'm working on that just in general.
So
ANDRÉS: (16:09):
yeah, and I mean, you're right like nobody's perfect.
But I do think that there is alevel of perfectionism that comes
from being an artist where you wantyour, your stuff to be perfect, you
know, in whatever way that means.
But I feel like working with Morganand Sue, you're gonna, you're gonna
really be able to, to find inspirationand have that mentorship and especially
(16:29):
have people on your side, who are thereto be able to help you develop what
you want to develop, you know, anddevelop into the artist you want to be.
BRET: (16:36):
Yeah, totally.
And all, as well as like I'm, Idon't know too many contacts in this
industry, at least in the Edmonton area.
So it's very helpful to, tolike for networking and such
and I'm really game for that.
I just want to, like, like I said, I'mtrying to drive and break through that
and try to, you know, use this, thisprogram as a platform to I guess flourish
(17:03):
and, you know, come out of the cocoon andshow, show my artistry, butterfly wings.
ANDRÉS: (17:09):
I know that it's, it's just started, so it's hard to
see kind of where that's headed.
But I'm really excited to see what,what does flourish from the program and,
and how you come out of that cocoon.
BRET: (17:20):
Yeah.
The one thing I willuh, don't get me wrong.
I can talk very professionally,I'm very goofy and vibey, but
I'm having a hard time trying tokeep my humor in check because I
have a very dirty humor at times.
So like, just like, oh, I should.
Oh, Nope.
Don't make that joke.
(17:41):
I'm really into likewatching RuPaul's drag race.
So I get a lot of funny if not likeoffset humor or jokes from that.
And like, and then also just to be frank,I, I laugh a lot when I watched that
show and it just, it speaks to my humor.
(18:02):
Then again, Time and place,
ANDRÉS: (18:05):
Funny thing that you mentioned, Rupaul one of my favorite questions to ask
is actually totally stolen from that show.
uh, Pretend I'm bringing out thepicture of your three-year-old self.
And I would ask Bret, what would yousay to your younger version of yourself?
What kind of advice wouldyou give to little Bret?
BRET: (18:23):
I do not get a mullet at 11 you'll regret it.
I swear.
I okay.
One thing I say that first,because I was, I watched Joe dirt,
what I was really young and Iwas like, "I want a mullet mom."
and then I'm like, looking back atthat now, like, oh dear God, you'll
(18:43):
look like a brown Billy Ray Cyrus.
That is not.
So like jokingly.
Yes, don't get a mullet, but if Iwere to be serious for a moment I
guess don't think too much.
Don't worry too much.
You have, there's a whole lotto worry throughout your life.
(19:03):
And you're always worrying aboutlittle things that probably won't
matter, or don't matter later on.
And don't shy away from showing yourcolors just because everyone else thinks
it's weird because as a young man, youwill begin to realize that there are
(19:27):
things about yourself that you shouldn'thide or you should at least deal with, and
that'll save you so much grief and likeso much time, because eventually they'll
become a time in your, in your lifewhere you'll begin to kind of self doubt.
(19:50):
And I would like to say, self-hate.
More like self-shame yourself andjust let that go and just communicate
a lot of people don't communicate.
I guess that's what I cansay to my younger self.
ANDRÉS: (20:13):
Thank you.
That was beautiful.
And, I always love asking thisquestion because every single
person that sits in that chair hassomething so different to say, and
every time I'm like, you're right.
That's beautiful piece of advice!
So thank you for sharing that.
Now I have a question for you.
What is one thing in yourlife that brings you joy?
You know, like if you've had a roughweek or a rough day, what is your go-to?
BRET: (20:34):
Well, I guess it would be a joy, but it's more, it's a hobby.
I I'm uh, a video game player.
Once I got into theater, I kind of stoppeddoing that so much, but since the pandemic
I've discovered my gaming habits againand like, Nostalgically like playing
old games that I've had before or playedwhen I was a kid is very comforting.
(20:57):
It does bring me some joy.
But another thing I really, really,really enjoy is just, I watch a bunch
of comedies that make me laugh and or ifpossible, I journal, if I can find a time
to journal and say what I mean to myself.
(21:17):
Or if it's just a small little self-talkwhere I'm like, "okay, Brett, you know,
this is what's going on right now.
It's okay.
You got to maybe just take adeep breath, inhale, exhale.
Bam.
If you need, grab a coffee.
If it's that bad, have a shot,oh, another thing that very, oh,
(21:43):
I'll just add one more thing.
Sorry to speak to.
It may not be me drinking, butmixology, I love mixing like cocktails.
That's one of my new things that Idiscovered about myself a few years ago.
ANDRÉS: (21:56):
Do you like to go out tasting?
Or do you like being the one making them?
BRET: (21:59):
I like making them, but I also just to try things that I've never
tried before and like, to be fair,they don't interest me that much,
but making gross cocktails, it soundsfunny just for people reacting to it.
Like a, what was it a one time?
One of my friends bought me aa shot called a Prairie fire
(22:24):
and oh my God, that was awful.
But the reactions, everyone aroundthe table was freaking hilarious.
So, yeah.
And actually, it's a funny thing.
You mentioned that going on from thatthis past weekend I tried to, a make
shift shot out of what is it likecinnamon whiskey and like peppermint
(22:48):
schnapps, which was like a hundredproof, which is usually 50, 50%.
Oh, that was awful.
The action of that of myself waslike, It just was too much the
whisk, the cinnamon part was okay.
But the everything else is just like,"damn, what are you doing with your life?"
(23:11):
So, but yeah going on going back tothe question, I'd say like, stuff like
that, like I enjoy entertaining myself.
Maybe not as a means of distractingmyself from what's really going on,
but to say "okay I needed that laugh.
I've dealt with whatI can deal with this."
(23:33):
Maybe go a little more into it.
Maybe I'll journal depends on the,the level of what would I call that?
It depends on the level of stress or such.
I usually get joy.
I usually try to go towards joy because.
One thing is I'm always thinking and Ican't turn off my brain, whether it be
(23:54):
thinking about, "okay, I gotta do this,I have this, I have that bill to pay.
I gotta do this.
I gotta schedule this."
And I usually don't use a plannerbecause I forget about it.
But I'm starting to be more open tothe idea just because my schedule is
now loading up a lot faster than Iwould have expected, but that's just
(24:19):
the life of an artist, I suppose.
. ANDRÉS:: It's always important to remember that as, as you start to get
busy, you have to also just like youschedule any kind of rehearsal or any
time, any kind of meeting that you.
Make sure you're scheduling yourselfa bit of time just to rest, you know?
Cause I, I feel the same way where Ineed like cartoons to relax and no matter
(24:42):
what it is, the last thing I do in myday is put on one episode of Scooby-Doo
and I can go to bed happy, you know,
that's pretty good.
Oh man.
Scooby-Doo that's I used towatch the really old one from
like the early seventies stuff.
So that.
Wow.
Sorry, I'm not trying to lecture.
(25:03):
I'm not reading you or anything.
I'm just saying like, it's been awhile since I like watched anything,
Scooby Doo all I could think ofwhen you say Scooby-Doo is a rough
bracket, I'm just like, damn.
Okay.
ANDRÉS: (25:16):
It's a good time.
I promise.
. Okay.
Now . Do you have a favorite treat?
BRET: (25:21):
It depends on what level size of treat I want to give myself.
Cause if it's like, if it's a videogame that I really want, I'll go and
buy like a, a card I could buy it onlineor usually it's online because going
to the store and buying a physicalcopy can be very expensive or I'm
(25:43):
going to chapters and spending likemaybe two or three hours there looking
for a single book that I want to buyor just going out for dinner because
I've become sort of a foodie in a way.
I never expected that of myself whereI'm just like, I want to try this food.
That's delayed.
So it just depends on the level oflike, how do I want to treat myself?
(26:10):
And always like, especially towhen when it comes to treating your
myself, it's like, oh, should I do it?
How, what level oftreating myself can I do?
Because it all depends on how muchyou're gonna spend treating yourself.
ANDRÉS: (26:28):
You said you're becoming a bit of a foodie.
What's the best thing you've tasted in thelast little while, but you still remember,
BRET: (26:34):
oh God, I had a there's this restaurant actually nearby on white
avenue called Indian fusion and theyhave the tastiest Jeera Aloo dish.
That is just, wow.
ANDRÉS: (26:48):
All right!
So as you continue to work on theAz-Map, is there like a dream project
you'd love to start developing.
BRET: (26:58):
Well, the one thing is that one musical.
I know I there's a lot of toolsfor me to start with that.
Especially cause there's a lot of people.
Well, maybe not a lot of people,but both Sue and Morgan are just
like, oh my God, especially Sue.
He's just like, I know people,I can help you with this.
Let me help you.
(27:19):
Well, I'm just paraphrasing, but I cantell by her excitement that she really
like really wants to help me with this.
And I'm totally open to that.
Cause I don't not know how to write music.
I can write a script in, you know,characters and such, but like the
other work I'm going to have tolearn through probably through this
(27:42):
program, but I would like that's maybesomething I'd like to get done because
it is within the realm of theater.
Whereas another dream project of minenot necessarily might not necessarily
be in a, for the theater median, maybethrough film or other stuff, but I'm
just trying to see if it's worth it.
(28:03):
And I have this one analogy whenit comes to storytelling for
myself, this is just for myself.
"Things that have to be told shouldbe told whether or not they seem
comfortable or not comfortable, but ifit speaks to your truth, then share it".
(28:24):
If you, if you can.
That being said, some things shouldn't beshared, if you don't feel like they are in
I'm a type of person likes to rip off theband-aid and bare all it's like rip off
this band-aid oh, there's a really bad.
"But it look at it, look at it!"
Okay.
Well, no, maybe not that, but like,you know, you get what I mean.
ANDRÉS: (28:49):
Totally.
I hear ya.
And and again, I'll just reiterate, I'msuper excited to see what you, what you
work on and, and how you develop in this,in this pilot program that's happening.
Yeah, I think that's our time.
Thank you so much forbeing a part of this Bret!
For just chatting with me forletting me get to know you better.
(29:09):
And for speaking openly and vulnerablyabout yourself and your journey.
It's been a, it's been a lovely timeand I really once more look forward
to seeing your progression and seeinghow you develop and how you come out of
this cocoon that you're in right now.
And we'll hear from you soon.
I'm assuming
BRET: (29:29):
I, I really hope so, because if you don't hear from me, then
something is definitely wrong.
ANDRÉS: (29:36):
Like you don't hear from me again, somebody just check up on me.
Okay.
BRET: (29:40):
Please do, I mean, check up on your artist, friends.
This is the PSA.
Okay.
If they aint talking something is up.
ANDRÉS: (29:50):
And with that, I'm gonna, I'm gonna log off, but thank you so much.
And and thank you all at home forlistening and we'll see you next time
for another episode of "In Process"
AD: (30:00):
Hey pal, enjoying the conversation.
Traversing the Azimuth is a brandnew branch of Azimuth Theatre
aimed at connecting artists with awider community, deepening mutual
understanding, and getting to shareeach artist's process and journey.
If you would like to continue hearingthese amazing stories, you can help out
by going to AzimuthTheatre.com/sponsorshipand sponsor Traversing the Azimuth your
(30:24):
sponsorship will go straight into payingmore artists to come and share what it
means for them to be "proudly in process."
We would also like to take thismoment to thank Canada Council
for the Arts, for their supportin the pilot of this project.
For more information onTraversing the Azimuth go to
AzimuthTheatre.com/traversing.
Oh Imma trust the whole damn process, for the
record, till we breaking records!
Reminiscing about the past daysnow we rise and fly, journeys
to the sky, Azimuth inside mygrip, always know the way now!
Beauty fill my days now takeit day by day sound couldn't be
prouder cause y'know we alive!
ANDRÉS: (00:24):
Hi everyone.
And welcome to in-process.
Azimuth Theatre's podcast highlightingand celebrating the community
that we have here in our town.
Today we'd like to welcomemy special guest Bret Jacobs.
Hi, Brett.
BRET: (00:40):
Well, hello.
ANDRÉS: (00:42):
Well, uh, First of all, I wanted to say welcome.
Thanks for being on the show, nowyou're here as part of the first
edition of the AZ-Map program orthe Azimuth Theatre , Apprenticeship
And Mentorship Program, correct?
BRET: (00:56):
Yes, that is correct.
Yeah.
ANDRÉS: (00:57):
Can you tell us a little bit about the Az-Map program from
your, from your point of view?
BRET: (01:01):
From my point of view.
Oh, oh dear.
Uh, So I am not that proficientwith computers, so this is just an
overall learning journey with me andjust learning to do simple tasks.
So like, I've of course I've dabbleda little bit with like Google suite,
but not as much as I would like to.
(01:23):
So from at least what we're doing at themoment, it's a lot more online learning
stuff, which I am also trying to getaccustomed to I'm more of an in-person
type of learner as opposed to online.
So, yeah.
But however, I feel like I'm gettinga little bit of a hang of it.
(01:44):
Both Morgan and Sue have beenvery supportive and very nurturing
when it comes to me learning thelittle computer tricks and stuff.
So that's very helpful.
I actually made this little joke.
I'm like, oh, I'm going to givemy nickname tech issue, Brett.
But like I said, it's, I'mstarting become more, more
(02:06):
proficient with it slowly.
And I do mean slowly and so, yeah, butI find the, like all walks of life,
this journey is just starting and Iwill get more familiar with, with it.
The more I use it.
ANDRÉS: (02:21):
Totally.
Now you were talking a littlebit about your journey.
Can you give us a bit ofyour journey up until now?
What brought you to theater?
What brought you to apply for the Azimuthprogram , whatever you want to share
BRET: (02:32):
Okay so like my initial journey to like theater training or
just performing, well, maybe I shouldstart with just go from theater.
Cause I've always been like,I've always loved singing.
So even when I was younger, I wouldlove to sing around the house and
(02:53):
compete in talent shows, but I neverreally thought of theater as something
I'd enjoy until I was probably apre-teen and that I just was watching
a lot of like films and TV shows.
I grew up and a small native communitythat doesn't really, we have access
(03:15):
to live theater and I didn't really gowatch any shows um, in like the urban
areas like Edmonton, except for whenI was in my high school drama club.
And.
I realized as a person, not onlyjust as a performer, that I love
(03:35):
storytelling and that's kind ofwhat propelled me to say to myself.
'I would like to tell stories if not,by creating them in a, you know, as a
book, but being a character on stage."
So.
When I was in high school, oneof my dear friends and I still,
(03:56):
I consider her my first mentor.
Her name is Jaselyn Logan.
She started the drama club at the verysmall indigenous school in Calling Lake.
And there was severalabout a dozen or so kids.
And that went on for about threeyears up until I was in grade 11 and
(04:18):
I was in there every single year,helping to like create and even doing
choreography for certain numbers.
If, if need be, I'm not a traineddancer, but I know how to move.
I know how to dance party style too.
So I put those together andcame up with little routines.
(04:41):
So that's sort of where my journeystarted in that drama club.
And it was there where my mentor slashfriend Jaselyn she said, well, you should
maybe consider doing more with that,like doing that into post-secondary.
Initially I wasn't very onset becauseI didn't think I would you know
(05:07):
breakthrough because of where I live too.
And there wasn't very much indigenousrepresentation at that time.
So I didn't feel asconfident at that time.
So I graduated high school.
I spent a year at a first nationscollege, just in open studies
(05:27):
and I took about two years off.
Then I thought.
I should maybe try this, likeat least audition to a program.
And I did, I, I additioned to Red DeerCollege's now I believe defunct theater,
performance and creation program twice.
(05:48):
I did not get in the first time, butthe second time I did, and from there on
it was a big journey of self-discoverywithin myself, like personal as well.
And from that point on, I mean, that wasmy learning journey where I started
becoming more accustomed to learning abouttheater and certain bits of movement.
(06:12):
I thought theater was justacting before I went there.
Oh, heck no.
ANDRÉS: (06:18):
Yeah.
BRET: (06:19):
And it's all one, the most thing that I found very, very helpful is that
in order to be an artist and all, youhave to discover yourself first and I
wasn't fully there yet when I started.
Yeah, there's something.
So interesting about theater school.
(06:41):
Where it's like every morning youshow up and they're like, "hi,
you're going to confront yourself.
It's 9:00 AM welcome."
You know,
, It's like, can I, can I just get a moment please?
I mean like, like, gee, you justhad me confront myself last night.
I am tired.
All right.
ANDRÉS: (06:59):
I feel that I totally get that And, uh, I didn't really expect it to
be such explorative work about yourself.
I thought, oh, you're acting,you're doing other people.
But like, it really is like so importantto start with yourself, you know?
What was your favorite part of RDC?
BRET: (07:16):
Well, I liked the whole, I guess that was the whole part was discovering
within myself because I was a very privateperson, although I'm, as I'm extroverted,
well, not super extroverted, but nowadaysI'm very extroverted and have a certain
(07:37):
energy or way I perceive myself.
I was so shy and so quiet.
I had not come out ofmy shell at that time.
And it's just because my comfort levelbeing in such a different place in,
well, for one thing, being around likea majority of non-indigenous people is
(08:00):
very jarring for being for like the otherside of my life, being around, surrounded
by nothing but indigenous people.
It was weird, cause I- notweird, but a little jarring.
when it comes to, I guess, socialconditioning in small indigenous
communities, especially where there'sbarely any non-indigenous people, it
(08:24):
can be very jarring and sort of likea trusting issue, because there's such
a perceived notion in an indigenouscommunity nowadays, especially where
non-indigenous people are not to bereally be trusted because of the colonial
(08:44):
aspects of what other like Europeans andsuch did during you know, colonization.
So.
Like I can say a littlepersonal tidbit, an example:
My father is not very trustworthy withnon-indigenous people, at least he
always had a guard up when it came todealing with non-indigenous people.
. ANDRÉS: (09:09):
And like, that's all kind of like that, that stuff that gets passed
through generations so, you know, likethat distress comes from somewhere.
Uh, You were mentioning that upuntil kind of high school.
You also didn't really go out,come out to like the urban
cities to watch some theater.
Do you remember the first piece of theaterthat really like inspired you and made you
want to like, look at this as a career?
BRET: (09:32):
Uh, I, I do not remember the show, but I, one of our field trips
for the drama club, which we had savedup a decent amount of money with bake
sales and other ventures was , we gotto see a dinner theater at Jubilations.
So just the idea of like, Beinglike the character service as
(09:54):
well we're so like fun to watch.
And also like, mostly from what I tellour, from what the back then the, the
shows they did were mostly musicals andbecause I'm a singer and I love to dance
and, you know, acting I'm like, "whoa,this is gonna be really cool to get into!"
ANDRÉS: (10:18):
You obviously have an affinity to musicals.
It's something that like in the,in the couple of interactions we've
had, I very much noticed and enjoyed.
Do you have a favorite musical?
BRET: (10:28):
Oh, that's a tough one.
I don't really have that.
I guess I can say I.
I got to see "Mamma Mia" liveonce and that was pretty fun.
Um, Story-wise ,hmm, little, okay.
Yeah.
Hairspray.
I love hairspray and the music that comesfrom it, I actually spent summer of 2008,
(10:53):
just replaying that whole soundtrackjust on my -then CD player, dating me,
definitely of like past decades, butI played that till the cows come home.
I sang.
Well, I not very well, butmy, I think my favorite number
(11:13):
was "you can't stop the beat".
can't
ANDRÉS: (11:15):
It's a good song.
It's a hard song, especiallybecause of the breathing in it.
You're like, where do I breathe?
I know you can't stop the beat,but could I take a breath?
BRET: (11:24):
Okay, now I got to take this beat.
Okay.
Like seriously!
ANDRÉS: (11:30):
Um, where do you find that now you find your, your
inspiration for, storytelling?
BRET: (11:37):
Well, I get ideas through just watching like
bits of, I guess, programming.
I deep dive into my own, like, mind ofwhat I've experienced and especially
when it comes to certain stories I feelwould be really interesting to tell.
(11:59):
So my, I guess inspiration would be justfrom what I see and what I watch, and
maybe I'm inspired to create somethinglike um, well, I've had this idea for a
long time, but I have kind of wanted tolike, it's just the bare bones right now,
but I kind of want to write a musical oflike a battle of the boy bands, with like
(12:24):
a little bit of Twelfth night sprinkledin . Like that, that speaks to me.
Like, especially because, well, I'mnot that much of a boy band person,
but when I was a kid, I used to lovelistening to Spice Girls and maybe
a little bit of Backstreet Boys,but not as much Backstreet Boys,
because I was all about them spices.
You know what I mean?
ANDRÉS: (12:44):
Yeah (Laughs) Of course!
BRET: (12:47):
In the food, out the food, in the music, why not?!
ANDRÉS: (12:50):
Everywhere!
Just spice it up.
BRET: (12:52):
Spice up your life.
I actually, The one smalllittle tidbit about me.
I do not usually listen tomy own generation of what
was considered popular music.
I am like really far back.
Like I jam out to even songs of sharefrom like the 70's I'm into disco.
I didn't really discover that aboutmyself until I went to school.
(13:15):
So yeah.
ANDRÉS: (13:16):
Disco is just perfection.
It really is.
I don't know.
I know most people might hateit, but I find it so good.
BRET: (13:24):
I have some friends who are like,"Ugh!, what,
what, what is wrong with you?"
I'm like, "Okay.
No need to come for me.
I'm just, I'm just enjoying beingmyself and enjoying my life.
All right."
ANDRÉS: (13:36):
Anyways, I could, I could talk just about disco now.
AD: (13:47):
The “In Process” podcast is brought to you by the Canada Council
for the Arts and Azimuth Theatre'sTraversing, the Azimuth multimedia branch.
It is our aim to continue to introduceand deepen the relationships between
our community and the artists within it.
To keep this podcast going, go toAzimuththeatre.com/donate to help
with the continuation of this podcast.
ANDRÉS: (14:23):
You're here with the Az-Map program.
What are your hopes toget out of the program?
BRET: (14:28):
I really well, the one thing I will share is, as you know, many things
do inspire me, I haven't had that muchinspiration within the last few years.
So one thing to do is what's keepingme afloat is I want to tell my
stories and I'm using this programas a way to drive myself to break
(14:49):
through and tell these stories.
I have a very personal story that Iwould love to have made, but if it's not
adapted for theater, I can just put iton the back burner for whenever it's time
Well, and what I think is so lovelyabout this program is that it's pretty,
self-driven in like what you want toexplore, but it allows you to just be
able to take the time out of your day,especially with all of us trying to
(15:12):
survive, it's hard to like take time tobe like, I'm going to sit and read, or I'm
going to sit and write, you know, like allof these things that, that this program
can allow you to just like dive into.
Yeah, totally.
I mean, just there's a lot right now,just cause it's like, bam, bam, bam.
For me.
I'm going back to like, "okay.
I haven't thought about this in awhile.
(15:33):
Okay.
Maybe I should think about this.
Why aren't I thinking about this?!"
Just, and by the way, with myown like student isms, I'm very.
I get very like, "okay,this has to be done.
This has to be done.
This has to be done."
Sort of like I wouldn't sayperfectionist because I am not perfect
(15:54):
and nor is anyone ever perfect.
But I do kind of give myself a little bitof grief when I'm not doing what I feel
I'm supposed to, but that I'm workingon I'm working on that just in general.
So
ANDRÉS: (16:09):
yeah, and I mean, you're right like nobody's perfect.
But I do think that there is alevel of perfectionism that comes
from being an artist where you wantyour, your stuff to be perfect, you
know, in whatever way that means.
But I feel like working with Morganand Sue, you're gonna, you're gonna
really be able to, to find inspirationand have that mentorship and especially
(16:29):
have people on your side, who are thereto be able to help you develop what
you want to develop, you know, anddevelop into the artist you want to be.
BRET: (16:36):
Yeah, totally.
And all, as well as like I'm, Idon't know too many contacts in this
industry, at least in the Edmonton area.
So it's very helpful to, tolike for networking and such
and I'm really game for that.
I just want to, like, like I said, I'mtrying to drive and break through that
and try to, you know, use this, thisprogram as a platform to I guess flourish
(17:03):
and, you know, come out of the cocoon andshow, show my artistry, butterfly wings.
ANDRÉS: (17:09):
I know that it's, it's just started, so it's hard to
see kind of where that's headed.
But I'm really excited to see what,what does flourish from the program and,
and how you come out of that cocoon.
BRET: (17:20):
Yeah.
The one thing I willuh, don't get me wrong.
I can talk very professionally,I'm very goofy and vibey, but
I'm having a hard time trying tokeep my humor in check because I
have a very dirty humor at times.
So like, just like, oh, I should.
Oh, Nope.
Don't make that joke.
(17:41):
I'm really into likewatching RuPaul's drag race.
So I get a lot of funny if not likeoffset humor or jokes from that.
And like, and then also just to be frank,I, I laugh a lot when I watched that
show and it just, it speaks to my humor.
(18:02):
Then again, Time and place,
ANDRÉS: (18:05):
Funny thing that you mentioned, Rupaul one of my favorite questions to ask
is actually totally stolen from that show.
uh, Pretend I'm bringing out thepicture of your three-year-old self.
And I would ask Bret, what would yousay to your younger version of yourself?
What kind of advice wouldyou give to little Bret?
BRET: (18:23):
I do not get a mullet at 11 you'll regret it.
I swear.
I okay.
One thing I say that first,because I was, I watched Joe dirt,
what I was really young and Iwas like, "I want a mullet mom."
and then I'm like, looking back atthat now, like, oh dear God, you'll
(18:43):
look like a brown Billy Ray Cyrus.
That is not.
So like jokingly.
Yes, don't get a mullet, but if Iwere to be serious for a moment I
guess don't think too much.
Don't worry too much.
You have, there's a whole lotto worry throughout your life.
(19:03):
And you're always worrying aboutlittle things that probably won't
matter, or don't matter later on.
And don't shy away from showing yourcolors just because everyone else thinks
it's weird because as a young man, youwill begin to realize that there are
(19:27):
things about yourself that you shouldn'thide or you should at least deal with, and
that'll save you so much grief and likeso much time, because eventually they'll
become a time in your, in your lifewhere you'll begin to kind of self doubt.
(19:50):
And I would like to say, self-hate.
More like self-shame yourself andjust let that go and just communicate
a lot of people don't communicate.
I guess that's what I cansay to my younger self.
ANDRÉS: (20:13):
Thank you.
That was beautiful.
And, I always love asking thisquestion because every single
person that sits in that chair hassomething so different to say, and
every time I'm like, you're right.
That's beautiful piece of advice!
So thank you for sharing that.
Now I have a question for you.
What is one thing in yourlife that brings you joy?
You know, like if you've had a roughweek or a rough day, what is your go-to?
BRET: (20:34):
Well, I guess it would be a joy, but it's more, it's a hobby.
I I'm uh, a video game player.
Once I got into theater, I kind of stoppeddoing that so much, but since the pandemic
I've discovered my gaming habits againand like, Nostalgically like playing
old games that I've had before or playedwhen I was a kid is very comforting.
(20:57):
It does bring me some joy.
But another thing I really, really,really enjoy is just, I watch a bunch
of comedies that make me laugh and or ifpossible, I journal, if I can find a time
to journal and say what I mean to myself.
(21:17):
Or if it's just a small little self-talkwhere I'm like, "okay, Brett, you know,
this is what's going on right now.
It's okay.
You got to maybe just take adeep breath, inhale, exhale.
Bam.
If you need, grab a coffee.
If it's that bad, have a shot,oh, another thing that very, oh,
(21:43):
I'll just add one more thing.
Sorry to speak to.
It may not be me drinking, butmixology, I love mixing like cocktails.
That's one of my new things that Idiscovered about myself a few years ago.
ANDRÉS: (21:56):
Do you like to go out tasting?
Or do you like being the one making them?
BRET: (21:59):
I like making them, but I also just to try things that I've never
tried before and like, to be fair,they don't interest me that much,
but making gross cocktails, it soundsfunny just for people reacting to it.
Like a, what was it a one time?
One of my friends bought me aa shot called a Prairie fire
(22:24):
and oh my God, that was awful.
But the reactions, everyone aroundthe table was freaking hilarious.
So, yeah.
And actually, it's a funny thing.
You mentioned that going on from thatthis past weekend I tried to, a make
shift shot out of what is it likecinnamon whiskey and like peppermint
(22:48):
schnapps, which was like a hundredproof, which is usually 50, 50%.
Oh, that was awful.
The action of that of myself waslike, It just was too much the
whisk, the cinnamon part was okay.
But the everything else is just like,"damn, what are you doing with your life?"
(23:11):
So, but yeah going on going back tothe question, I'd say like, stuff like
that, like I enjoy entertaining myself.
Maybe not as a means of distractingmyself from what's really going on,
but to say "okay I needed that laugh.
I've dealt with whatI can deal with this."
(23:33):
Maybe go a little more into it.
Maybe I'll journal depends on the,the level of what would I call that?
It depends on the level of stress or such.
I usually get joy.
I usually try to go towards joy because.
One thing is I'm always thinking and Ican't turn off my brain, whether it be
(23:54):
thinking about, "okay, I gotta do this,I have this, I have that bill to pay.
I gotta do this.
I gotta schedule this."
And I usually don't use a plannerbecause I forget about it.
But I'm starting to be more open tothe idea just because my schedule is
now loading up a lot faster than Iwould have expected, but that's just
(24:19):
the life of an artist, I suppose.
. ANDRÉS:: It's always important to remember that as, as you start to get
busy, you have to also just like youschedule any kind of rehearsal or any
time, any kind of meeting that you.
Make sure you're scheduling yourselfa bit of time just to rest, you know?
Cause I, I feel the same way where Ineed like cartoons to relax and no matter
(24:42):
what it is, the last thing I do in myday is put on one episode of Scooby-Doo
and I can go to bed happy, you know,
that's pretty good.
Oh man.
Scooby-Doo that's I used towatch the really old one from
like the early seventies stuff.
So that.
Wow.
Sorry, I'm not trying to lecture.
(25:03):
I'm not reading you or anything.
I'm just saying like, it's been awhile since I like watched anything,
Scooby Doo all I could think ofwhen you say Scooby-Doo is a rough
bracket, I'm just like, damn.
Okay.
ANDRÉS: (25:16):
It's a good time.
I promise.
. Okay.
Now . Do you have a favorite treat?
BRET: (25:21):
It depends on what level size of treat I want to give myself.
Cause if it's like, if it's a videogame that I really want, I'll go and
buy like a, a card I could buy it onlineor usually it's online because going
to the store and buying a physicalcopy can be very expensive or I'm
(25:43):
going to chapters and spending likemaybe two or three hours there looking
for a single book that I want to buyor just going out for dinner because
I've become sort of a foodie in a way.
I never expected that of myself whereI'm just like, I want to try this food.
That's delayed.
So it just depends on the level oflike, how do I want to treat myself?
(26:10):
And always like, especially towhen when it comes to treating your
myself, it's like, oh, should I do it?
How, what level oftreating myself can I do?
Because it all depends on how muchyou're gonna spend treating yourself.
ANDRÉS: (26:28):
You said you're becoming a bit of a foodie.
What's the best thing you've tasted in thelast little while, but you still remember,
BRET: (26:34):
oh God, I had a there's this restaurant actually nearby on white
avenue called Indian fusion and theyhave the tastiest Jeera Aloo dish.
That is just, wow.
ANDRÉS: (26:48):
All right!
So as you continue to work on theAz-Map, is there like a dream project
you'd love to start developing.
BRET: (26:58):
Well, the one thing is that one musical.
I know I there's a lot of toolsfor me to start with that.
Especially cause there's a lot of people.
Well, maybe not a lot of people,but both Sue and Morgan are just
like, oh my God, especially Sue.
He's just like, I know people,I can help you with this.
Let me help you.
(27:19):
Well, I'm just paraphrasing, but I cantell by her excitement that she really
like really wants to help me with this.
And I'm totally open to that.
Cause I don't not know how to write music.
I can write a script in, you know,characters and such, but like the
other work I'm going to have tolearn through probably through this
(27:42):
program, but I would like that's maybesomething I'd like to get done because
it is within the realm of theater.
Whereas another dream project of minenot necessarily might not necessarily
be in a, for the theater median, maybethrough film or other stuff, but I'm
just trying to see if it's worth it.
(28:03):
And I have this one analogy whenit comes to storytelling for
myself, this is just for myself.
"Things that have to be told shouldbe told whether or not they seem
comfortable or not comfortable, but ifit speaks to your truth, then share it".
(28:24):
If you, if you can.
That being said, some things shouldn't beshared, if you don't feel like they are in
I'm a type of person likes to rip off theband-aid and bare all it's like rip off
this band-aid oh, there's a really bad.
"But it look at it, look at it!"
Okay.
Well, no, maybe not that, but like,you know, you get what I mean.
ANDRÉS: (28:49):
Totally.
I hear ya.
And and again, I'll just reiterate, I'msuper excited to see what you, what you
work on and, and how you develop in this,in this pilot program that's happening.
Yeah, I think that's our time.
Thank you so much forbeing a part of this Bret!
For just chatting with me forletting me get to know you better.
(29:09):
And for speaking openly and vulnerablyabout yourself and your journey.
It's been a, it's been a lovely timeand I really once more look forward
to seeing your progression and seeinghow you develop and how you come out of
this cocoon that you're in right now.
And we'll hear from you soon.
I'm assuming
BRET: (29:29):
I, I really hope so, because if you don't hear from me, then
something is definitely wrong.
ANDRÉS: (29:36):
Like you don't hear from me again, somebody just check up on me.
Okay.
BRET: (29:40):
Please do, I mean, check up on your artist, friends.
This is the PSA.
Okay.
If they aint talking something is up.
ANDRÉS: (29:50):
And with that, I'm gonna, I'm gonna log off, but thank you so much.
And and thank you all at home forlistening and we'll see you next time
for another episode of "In Process"
AD: (30:00):
Hey pal, enjoying the conversation.
Traversing the Azimuth is a brandnew branch of Azimuth Theatre
aimed at connecting artists with awider community, deepening mutual
understanding, and getting to shareeach artist's process and journey.
If you would like to continue hearingthese amazing stories, you can help out
by going to AzimuthTheatre.com/sponsorshipand sponsor Traversing the Azimuth your
(30:24):
sponsorship will go straight into payingmore artists to come and share what it
means for them to be "proudly in process."
We would also like to take thismoment to thank Canada Council
for the Arts, for their supportin the pilot of this project.
For more information onTraversing the Azimuth go to
AzimuthTheatre.com/traversing.
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