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Trevor: What first sparked your interest in acting and storytelling? Will: Ever since I was young, I've had a propensity for performing, whether it was being silly, making people laugh, or telling stories. Performing was always a way of expressing myself, but it wasn't until Trevor that it really took shape. When I came to Trevor, I initially focused on sports, but teachers like Laurie Roth and Emmett Smith really supported me and invited me into the creative arts. Ms. Roth encouraged me to try dance, and then suggested I take an acting class with Mr. Smith. That was my first real foray into anything creative at school, and it changed everything. There was a moment in my junior or senior year when I had to choose between focusing more on sports or exploring the arts, and I felt incredibly supported to experiment and try something new. That freedom was a highlight of my time at Trevor. Trevor: What drew you specifically to film and television as your creative medium? Will: I've always been drawn to unique storytelling and the relationship performers have to a story. One of the first plays I saw in New York was Hedwig and the Angry Inch in a small black box theater, and I was mesmerized by what they were able to do with such limited resources. That led me to experimental theater, reading more, and eventually writing. I wrote my first play in college, a one- act that was performed in New York City, and it was one of those moments when I realized, "Wait, I can do this." That feeling of being in control of your creative destiny was powerful. Trevor: How has your journey evolved from actor to producer? Will: Early in my career, working on projects such as The Sopranos was incredible, but it also set a high bar. I realized how much I loved acting and would continue to pursue it, but I also wanted to fill my creative needs in other ways through writing and producing. Now I'm involved in close to 20 projects in various stages of development. It's a tough business, so moments of validation really matter. Being nominated for film industry awards is special, and so has been running into fellow alumni from the North Carolina School of the Arts; they shared such kind words and told me I'd become a bit of a legend there. In an industry that isn't always validating, those moments stay with you. Trevor: What part of the creative process do you find most rewarding? Will: Any project where I feel Alumni Profile Will Janowitz '98 University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Drama Actor, Writer, and Producer From a black box theater in Manhattan to film sets and development rooms across the industry, Will Janowitz '98 has built a career driven by curiosity, taking creative risks, and a belief in the power of story. At Trevor, encouraging teachers helped him see himself as an artist. Whether acting, writing, or producing, Will is drawn to projects that center unique voices and unexpected perspectives. With a career that spans television, film, and theater, he continues to follow the same instinct that first drew him to experimental theater: finding compelling stories and telling them in fresh, meaningful ways. Will returns to Trevor during the 2003-04 school year to present on acting. TREVOR DAY SCHOOL / 63 INSIDE TREVOR TREVOR TRANSLATES FEATURE AR TICLES ALUMNI

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