CAVIN GRAY
Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Cavin Gray, actor, producer, and film-maker extraordinaire! I have personally be watching his career and life literally since the day he was born. Yes, the resemblance isn't a coincidence, Cavin is my incredibly talented and inspiring younger brother. I wanted to introduce you to his name and his face so you might be inspired by his story. This guy is on his way to major motion pictures and has already accomplished so much in his career. I am proud to call him my brother and even happier to call him my friend.
What has always amazed me about Cavin is his positivity, tenacity and endless pursuit of his dream. In a world where aspiring actors are around every corner, Cavin has already turned his aspirations into a sustainable career and is on track to achieve even greater things in the months and years to come. He has acted in numerous commercials for some very recognizable names such as: Cox Communications, Southwest Airlines, and Hyundai, and he is currently on air in a commercial for the Arizona Lottery. However, Cavin says his favorite commercial he has participated in was a spot he did for YogurtMart a couple years ago. In YogurtMart, Cavin helped write, produce, film, edit, and act in the commercial and it's obvious how much fun he had in creating it.
For the last 12 years, Cavin has been making a name for himself in Phoenix, Arizona, acting in numerous commercials, doing improv with Jesterz and Crosseyed Comedy, teaching improv classes at Waymaire Studios and producing award-winning commercials for Wal-Mart. But in the fall of 2013 Cavin packed up his camera and moved his career to Los Angeles where he promptly signed with a commercial talent agency, auditioned for and got a commercial for the Arizona Lottery, which is currently running, and joined an improv troupe. You can see him at his first California improv debut on February 21st at Spectacles Improv.
Cavin has also been featured in a number of independent films such as Parallax, a short, 22 minute film that has won multiple awards at film festivals across the country including the 2012 Phoenix Film Festival Winner for Best Arizona Short film. Go to Netflix and you can rent his first feature film, Deadfall Trail, in which he plays a spirited young kid who joins his friends on a camping trip that goes terribly wrong.
There is literally not enough room in this post to share everything Cavin has done, but you can get a snapshot by viewing his latest commercial reel. But the thing you need to know most about Cavin is that he is achieving his dream everyday, and it is possible to attain the impossible - he is living proof of that. As an actor, he has encountered numerous naysayers over the years who told him he should choose another career, or that he couldn't make a living as an actor - he didn't let that stop him - and because of his persistence he has accomplished one goal after another.
"What I love most about what I do is the feeling of accomplishment," said Cavin. "I LOVE, love, love being able to work on a project, whether producing, filming, editing, acting or otherwise, and get done with that project and think, wow, all that hard work culminated in this end result."
Cavin says that ultimately he would like to work in big budget feature films or on a TV show. "I think about my little brother and he has TV shows he watches religiously," said Cavin. "I’d love to be on a show he watches religiously. But ultimately, I'm just very thankful to be able to do this and happy I can use my talents and passion to make a living."
So if you ever wonder if your dreams seem too big to achieve, just think about Cavin and remember that his persistence and hard work have paid off in allowing him to make a living pursuing his dream, and follow him in his career to ultimate stardom. And if you are looking for some great laughs and incredible talent for your next church or family function, give him a call at 623-980-5105 and book his family-friendly improv troupe, Crosseyed Comedy, for side-splitting laughs the the whole family can enjoy.
FELTED FAMILIARS
With Valentine's Day just around the corner I wanted to introduce you to Erin Nix, who I have been proud to call a friend for 16 years and counting. She creates adorable felted creatures and thrives on custom orders of beloved pets among other requests.
We bonded initially over our love for animals. I remember being amazed at her collection of live creatures back then: two cats, a dog, two anoles (lizards) and an underwater frog named Aunt Bea. I had never known anyone so kind, full of joy and passionate about animals. Today, Erin has turned her love for animals into a home-based business, hand-crafting little creatures out of felt. She calls them Felted Familiars, based on Medieval European folklore that foretold of supernatural creatures that were believed to assist people in the use of magic.
"I call them “familiars” because they provide smiles and companionship as you go about the magic of your daily life in everything you do," she says. The creatures she creates are fantastic, one-of-a-kind, and take her hours, sometimes- days to create. She uses dyed sheep wool and special needles to sculpt the wool into bears, dogs and even dragons. To get an idea of the time and care that goes into each creation, watch her create a Felted Familiar and you will be amazed.
"There is something mesmerizing and invigorating about being able to sculpt animals out of wool," said Erin, who spent nine years of her life devoted to studying sheep while obtaining her Animal Behavior Science degrees from Montana State University. "To see what you can do with wool is really exciting." Erin says she loves the art of crafting the Familiars because it gives her an opportunity to run her own business and to make people smile. "I have never had a job before where I look forward to Mondays," she says. "I feel like there should always be more animal stuff in the world and I love bringing joy to people through my creations."
So if you are looking for something truly one of a kind for someone you care about, or you want to remember a beloved pet in a fun way, send Erin a picture and watch her transform your two-dimensional image into a three-dimensional keepsake. You can find her premade crafts in her Etsy shop or order custom creatures through her website: www.feltedfamiliars.com
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