Christopher Severio

Photo Credit: Kimberly Meadowlark

Interview by The Heat Seekers

The Heat Seekers: Tell us a little bit about yourself?

Christopher Severio: Hello, my name is Christopher Severio. I’m a 30 year old aspiring actor/entertainer who happens to be a father to a little girl and I’m a total nerd. I love films, video games, and enjoy being adventurous. Why do I feel like I just described myself by posting a description on a dating site? lol. Anyways, I hope that tells you a little bit about myself even though we all have layers! Just like an onion, but hopefully we smell better.

The Heat Seekers: How long have you been acting?

CS: I’ve been acting my entire life. Just now being recognized for work that I have done but I have been studying and performing since I was a child. Whether it was in front of a camera or just family I was always creating some character or trying to entertain those around me. I enjoy making those around me feel comforted and enjoy seeing people smile. I think that’s a huge key to creating a brighter environment that you surround yourself by. Making those around you happy where you can uplift them, create an escape for your friends/family, or simply help someone in need is giving them a reason to smile.

The Heat Seekers: What made you decide to be serious about the film industry?

CS: What made me decide to be serious about the film industry was that after high school I needed to begin my own path creating my own way. I wanted to chase my dreams of doing something I loved and hopefully leave a legacy behind that not only I could be proud of but also have my children to be proud of. With that, it would show them that not only you could chase your dreams, but you could obtain anything you worked hard enough for. For me, that’s my reason I got serious.

The Heat Seekers: The Heat Seekers: Which people or books have had the most influence on your career and why?

CS: I could make a list of all the people who have influenced my life because truly I have many people to thank for what I’ve been able to do but for a select few I will mention for being the most influential to my career. The first ones would have to be my parents. My mom and my dad. Through their influence, life advice, and parenting I have been blessed to have such remarkable people by my side because of who they are and through their teachings more so as an adult than child it has opened my eyes to a greater vision of what we call life and learning of their upbringings I strive to live to be the best version of me. It has influenced my career tremendously because I know what it takes to earn, grow, fail, and to continue to keep pushing forward even when all hope is lost. The second we have to be Alan Belcher. Alan is a UFC Vet and currently just returning to competition after being away for a few years. Alan has been someone I have looked up to since a teenager watching him perform early on in his career. I began to follow him and his journey. He used to do these morning live talks on Facebook called Hustle Jitsu where he talked about masterminding, marketing, business, personal growth, and doing the damn thing. I would tune every single morning to listen to his words. They would fuel me and put a fire in me that wanted to strive to become something more. I’ve gotten to speak with him on several occasions within the past few years and to me that’s an achievement in my book, getting to share a few words with someone who influences me. One day I would love to get to train with him, as you would say it’s on my bucket list.

Photo Credit: Kimberly Meadowlark

The Heat Seekers: In your opinion, what would you say is the #1 key to success?

CS: Failure 1000% would be the #1 key to success, because without failing you can not succeed. You don’t truly understand what it means to succeed if you haven’t failed in what you’re doing or trying to achieve. You might see a glimpse of what is possible but it can just as easily be taken from you in an instant. You have to fail constantly and stand back up each time never giving in to the thought of quitting if you truly want to succeed. For some, people measure success by how much money you might have, but for me success is measured by so much more. I feel I am succeeding everytime I learn something new, I learn from my mistakes, I help some one improve their life, I’m able to motivate others, and can lead by example. I measure success by it being a constant entity to strive to obtain so that when I fail in whatever it may be I know I can still succeed because I will not quit.

The Heat Seekers: Talk about the biggest failure you’ve had. What did you learn from it?

CS: The biggest failure I’ve had was failing myself. I learned that the world doesn’t revolve around Christopher Severio. At a young age my parents tried to teach me such a lesson but for me I always learn the hard way because simply it’s the best way for me to learn. With failing myself I know what it’s like to quit, give up, and blame the world for my mistakes. I learned to hold myself accountable for my actions. I learned that the more positive energy you put in the world the more positive energy is returned. I learned that it’s okay to ask for help. I learned that helping others is more important than just helping myself because helping others is fruitful and seeing others succeed gives me warmth. Seeing others do well, climb from their depths, and watching them help others in return gives me hope for this world we live in with all the hate and negativity. Through failing myself I have learned many things and that list goes on.

The Heat Seekers: What advice can you give other individuals who want to follow in your footsteps?

CS: I would say create your own path, learn that failing is part of the journey, you are not alone, that whatever is worth having it will never come easy until you earn it, be good to others, dig deeper even at your lowest so that you can propel yourself further into what you’re meant to become, slow down to breath, and smile back.

The Heat Seekers: What does a typical day in your week look like?

CS: Oh man, my typical day of my week is crazy. I go from riding around in Lambos to hiking the peak of Mount Everest to finding the lost paintings of Dutch painter Rembrandt and that’s just a Wednesday. You should see Friday. lol In all seriousness my typical day of the week looks like having lots of meals to feast on, the gym, studying time, and spending time with family. When I have my daughter, it’s all about her. She enjoys painting, so we do that a lot. She paints on everything, even me.

The Heat Seekers: What keeps you going when things get tough in the business?

CS: I would have to say my daughter and my girlfriend! My daughter is my heart which gives me passion to love what I’m doing and I want to show her anything is possible. My girl friend is my drive and my biggest supporter. I have never had someone stand by my side like she does who believes in me more than I have in myself. She gives me the positive energy and attitude to be able to strive for more. As people would say I think she is the one! I love her very dearly!!

The Heat Seekers: Tell us about your role in “Greater” as Brandon Burlsworth. How has it affected the way you live life?

CS: Playing the role as Brandon Burlsworth was a big challenge for me because playing someone who walked this earth, you have to be specific and accurate to who that person was. With Brandon luckily he was a lot like me, but also very different from the information I was able to gather. But through learning who Brandon was with the legacy he left behind, I found my faith again that I had once lost at a younger age. Through Brandon, I was able to open my heart and feel again. I am forever thankful to him and someone I hope being able to portray him in Greater was a way that I was able to say thank you!

Christopher Severio as Brandon Burlsworth in feature film, Greater.

The Heat Seekers: What is a non-acting related thing or experience that has helped you as an actor?

CS: This would definitely have to be listening to music and writing poetry! I haven’t always been good with being able to handle my emotions, feelings, doubts, and etc. but through listening to music while writing poetry has helped me be able to express myself in ways that has been possible in my daily life. In that I take my poetry to reread my work and transfer those feelings/emotions into my work if it’s something I feel I need to pull out of myself. I remember how I felt in those moments so I’m able to harness that. I don’t always do that but it is something that helps me as an actor.

The Heat Seekers: What projects are you currently working on? (That you can talk about).

CS: I’m unable to talk about any future projects at the moment, but I am also on the grind making things happen!

The Heat Seekers: What’s your all time favorite movie and actor?

CS: Honesty I have so many favorite actors/actresses and movies that I could make a huge list. I constantly rewatch movies all the time, which I feel like the library in my head is a mass of masterpieces. I will give a few of my favorites though.

Movies: Keanu Reeves - Lake House, John Carpenters Halloween, To Kill A Mockingbird, Tombstone, The Last Of The Mohicans, The Silence Of The Lambs, The Crow, Lethal Weapon (Mel Gibson & Danny Glover), and Reservoir Dogs.

Actors: Mel Gibson, Keanu Reeves, Joaquin Phoenix, Chris Tucker, Shia LaBeouf, Leonardo DiCaprio. (This list could go on forever. lol)

The Heat Seekers: Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you?

CS: I would like everyone to know that I hope we can all come together in this world, bringing peace so that we can learn from one another in a healthy environment. Teaching younger generations to be better, so that we can all coexist with compassion and love towards one another. I love you all! I hope you enjoyed this read! If you would like to contact me here are someways you can reach me: IG: @cseverio Tik Tok: @cseverio Facebook : Chris Severio Twitter: @CSeverio

Photo Credit: Kimberly Meadowlark