Connor McLean, writer, director and producer of Greensboro
www.onelifeproductions.org
Finding passion
It all started in acting, but for years I didn’t realize writing was more important to me because, as much as I enjoyed going into the worlds and experiencing characters, I kept doing the thing where I wanted to see lines differently. I wanted to see the stories differently. I wanted to see the characters do something else.
And I felt like there were roles I was really getting and others that never really felt natural to me. I was uncomfortable with my acting.
Going to college in Santa Fe, N.M., and seeing the harsh reality of the business and the competition, coming from GTCC’s drama department to that, I fell out of love with acting. It wasn’t fun anymore. Then I realized I could create my own worlds. I realized I had been writing stories and doing that since before I can remember — at least according to my mom.
Writing is my favorite focus because it is the starting point. The directing and producing thing followed because I wanted to see the things I was doing get made. One Life Productions (his company) came out of, “Do this now. What are you waiting for?”
Writing topics
I want to get away from a lot of formula conflicts. I love family and talking about love, but it is not what I want to tell a story about. If you have the opportunity to put something out there, you have a chance to do more than “Will they end up together or not?”
One of the biggest things I like to write about is absurdity in direct contrast to the reality and the tragedy that we exist in today. I have been an activist for most of my adult life, and I have a frustration about what I can and can’t do, but I don’t want to get caught up in the profound seriousness of being constantly involved that I forget about my humor, which is probably the most important thing to me.
His next production ('Die Capital! When Lions Reclaim the Parade’)
Absurdity born out of tragedy. A lot of people would consider it to be dark humor. It’s a comedy but not a lighthearted comedy. It’s a collaboration with two 30-minute plays, a contemporary dance number, a dramatic interpretation and a musical performance.
I do vocals. We are not an actual band, but we wrote a song. A friend, who is a cinematographer, made a film that will go along with the song in motions and sensations.
A constant theme of the night is absurdity in the face of the tragedy of the society we exist in. (It’s) about mixing absolute beauty with frustration.
The first show, “Joseph of the Office,” is mocking the drudgery and mundane existence of the office lifestyle. The second show, “James the Lion,” is about a serial killer who kills people who kill animals — like hunters and butchers.
The dances are about war. The first sequence is about soldiers being recruited and the way they are treated during their time in service.
The second dance sequence is about all of the things that happen to them when they come home.
Happiness emerges from tragedy
I truly think that some of the most profound happiness can come out of tragedy. I hit some pretty serious depression in my youth. It started with politics and getting burned out and not knowing what to do. I am a vegan, so I have a strong passion about animal rights, but that was the beginning. Then it turned into environmental and then to human issues, globalization and capitalism. Then I went to college and learned even more. I was constantly at protests and organizing meetings and trying to get involved.
I blame myself. I was playing the martyr, and before I knew it I was cooked. I became depressed, angry, reclusive. I went through the drug phase big time. I had a huge problem. I ruined my college career. I was asked to leave.
How he turned hIs life around
I had nothing but love and support. My family. People coming through for me. And when the shift did happen, when my parents gave me the ultimatum, it happened big. I hate calling it a rebirth, but it was, in many ways, an awakening for me. Only in the depths of despair can you really have the great stuff. I have had a lot of bottoms, lows, issues and seeing myself come out of that has proven to me that it’s all worth it.
Discovering cycling
I moved to Pasadena, Calif., for a while. I didn’t have a car, so I bought a bike from a guy, and that’s how I got around. At the bottom of the L.A. mountains, I fell in love with it (cycling). It was really freeing and one of the earliest moments in my adult life where I had that simple innocence. Now, it’s a part of my mental health. It’s a way for me to focus. I try to go every day or at least every other day.
As told to Erin McClanahan Rainwater. Contact her at eringrey718@yahoo.com.
