By U.S. Praveen | 8 Apr 2024
Before moving to the United States, I was on the verge of committing to sign on as a guards officer with the army. However, a series of serendipitous events prompted me to take a different path altogether.
During my junior year at university, a good friend from school urged me to explore modeling or acting, seeing potential in me that I hadn’t recognized in myself. His persistence led me to apply to several agencies, and two took me in. Once there, I auditioned for a commercial spot and the rest, as they say, fate would have it. I secured my first commercial spot.
The confirmation that this is what I’m meant to do came swiftly when the same production house invited me back for subsequent projects, solidifying my belief that this was my true path. I knew I had found my calling. I never looked back and onwards I went.
After that, the floodgates opened and I went on to do many more commercials, with each one having a wider reach than the previous. I went from doing commercials for local businesses and the local government, to international campaigns such as Guinness for St. Patrick’s Day and international travel for AirNZ. Transitioning from local to international commercials, allowed me to expand my reach while honing my craft with each opportunity.
Having established myself as a commercial actor, venturing into television and film felt like a natural progression for me. That’s when an industry contact referred me to the show-runners of “Vettai 5” for ‘Vasantham’ and subsequently casted as a series regular. It was a blast working on that show because I not only acted alongside my childhood idol, we collaborated like two artists. That was a truly pivotal, “Welcome to the big leagues” moment for me. These actors weren’t just idols to me now, they were my fellow colleagues, so to speak. It was surreal.
Having done screen acting, I felt like the next step was stage acting. So, I made the move to New York City.
I remember how I was faced with many initial uncertainties when I started acting here in the city. I was unsure of the process for what kind of monologues I would need to have ready or how the headshots should even look like.
Despite all that, the city’s vibrant energy and supportive community quickly made me feel at home. I’m thankful I met amazing people along the way who shared their guidance with me and showed me ropes as I navigated the intricacies of the NYC acting scene. It was a wonderful feeling, running around the city with my headshots and pockets full of hopes.
Living in the US/NYC
I don’t know if there’s a city more prominent in modern day history like NYC. It has always been New York or Nowhere to me.
I felt right at home.
I think it’s got something to do with the grid system and being from Singapore. Our transit system is way more complex and I think that helped assimilate into the city.
Living in NYC has been an experience unlike any other. Every day brings new possibilities and connections that can happen just from living here and experiencing day to day life, from the thrill of auditions and performances to chance encounters and meeting all sorts of people — you never know who you might bump into.
One late night, while I was walking back to my previous apartment in Harlem, I heard someone call my name. It just so happened that I had already removed my contact lenses and didn’t bring my glasses with me, essentially leaving me walking home blind and unable to make out who the owner of the voice was right away.
I curiously went up to the unknown person to get a closer look and to my surprise, it was the founders of ‘The Chekovians’, a NYC based theater group devoted to producing Anton Chekov’s works!
We had a small chat before heading our separate ways. Two weeks later, they reached out to me because they had seen my work on stage and asked me to be a part of their production that season, thinking I would be a great fit. I was thrilled to join them because I love Anton Chekov’s work and the directors are a treat to work with too.
Opportunities are aplenty here. You always have to have your ears open and eyes peeled —glasses or no glasses.
Reflecting on Best NYC moments
Reflecting on my best NYC moments, it’s hard to choose just one. I don’t even know how I can narrow them down. However, this has definitely got to be one of those moments: when I was cast in an Off-Broadway musical directed by Rimli Roy at the American Theater of Actors.
On the commute each day, I would alight at 34th street and walk down Broadway and pass through the Theater District, passing by the Winter Garden theater or my dream theater to perform at, the Belasco Theatre, to get to my ‘office’ of the season. It truly is a wonderful experience.
Just being so close to everything about acting is a constant reminder that New York is a bucket list destination for many folks around the world, and that I have made this my home and I am on my journey in pursuit of my dreams.
What I miss about Singapore
THE FOOD. Absolutely the food and my friends and family back home.
Also, the coffee shop culture. Oh, how I miss lepak-ing (chilling) at the coffee shop, and drinking out of a plastic takeaway drink bag. I remember when I was cast in a show, during the early rehearsals the director had us do a ‘cultural item’ exercise and we had to do a mini ‘show and tell’ about what the item meant to us and you guessed it, I did drink out of that plastic bag. That’s what’s great about living abroad and working as an actor. I find solace in the ability to share a part of me through my art.
That said, the journey may be marked by occasional moments of homesickness. I’ve had to miss some of my best friends’ weddings and special moments, which can be a poignant reminder of the challenges of folks leaving their home, trying to make their mark on the world.
Making a mark may mean many things to many people. I still don’t know what that is, actually. But for me, what a ‘mark’ is changes as I change through the years, but for now, I would like to start an ensemble theater company highlighting the lives of everyday people. Similar to what the ‘Group Theater’ accomplished in the 1930s. Whether it’s in the US or in Singapore only time will tell.
Want to meet others like Praveen?
Meet Praveen
U.S. Praveen is an actor known for his work on Vasantham’s ‘Vettai 5’ and the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway musical ‘Ramaavan A Musical’. He is currently working on a Hulu series ‘Dying for Sex’ starring Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate. U.S. Praveen is also a graduate of the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Inst. conservatory program.
Connect with him here.
