Take One Press

For Zach Schnitzer, acting has never been about chasing fame. It’s about finding people who inspire him, building a creative community, and telling stories that leave audiences seeing themselves a little differently.

During a recent conversation with Take One Press, the Chicago-based actor and filmmaker reflected on his artistic philosophy, the collaborative spirit driving a new generation of independent filmmakers, and why the most meaningful performances often come from characters quietly carrying burdens no one else can see.

“I love having a little home base or ensemble of people that I can work with and feel comfortable around,” Schnitzer said, explaining that his favorite projects have always been those created alongside close friends. Whether adapting a play, writing roles for one another or producing original work, that sense of collaboration has become the foundation of his career.

That philosophy extends beyond his own work. Schnitzer believes independent filmmaking is entering an exciting new era, particularly for Generation Z creators.

“I think it’s a really exciting time for Gen Z,” he said. “We’re all entering the film world… it’s sort of opening this door for a lot of young people to be forced to make things with each other.”

Rather than seeing those limitations as obstacles, he views them as opportunities to create more authentic stories. According to Schnitzer, the self-awareness and cynicism that often define his generation have become part of its artistic voice, shaping films that feel distinctly modern while remaining deeply personal.

When it comes to choosing roles, Schnitzer isn’t searching for perfect heroes or larger-than-life personalities. Instead, he’s drawn toward people struggling to communicate what they’re feeling.

One perspective that has shaped his approach is living with Crohn’s disease, an invisible disability that has influenced how he thinks about character.

“So much of what I love in a character is when they are quietly suffering, and they have to pretend not to be suffering,” he explained. “I feel like everyone’s always suffering all the time. Every human is dealing with something.”

For Schnitzer, acting isn’t simply about portraying emotion, it’s about understanding how people carry unseen experiences while trying to navigate everyday relationships. Those emotional complexities are what make characters feel real, regardless of whether the story takes place in an ordinary neighborhood or under extraordinary circumstances.

He also credits one stage production with fundamentally changing the way he approached performance.

While portraying King Leontes in Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale during college, Schnitzer discovered a new level of confidence as a performer.

“I found my way back to being super confident in my vulnerability on stage,” he recalled. “I was able to be confident in my decisions as an actor and really take up space.”

That experience opened the door to playing characters far removed from his own personality, allowing him to embrace everything from cocky high school athletes to emotionally vulnerable young men.

Throughout the conversation, Schnitzer repeatedly returned to one central idea: empathy.

Asked what he hopes audiences take away from his performances, his answer had little to do with recognition or accolades.

“I hope people can see some part of themselves, or someone they know, in the characters that I play,” he said. “We’re just offering the audience an opportunity to feel things that maybe they didn’t let themselves feel.”

It’s a philosophy that reflects his broader view of cinema. Whether audiences leave a theater reconsidering a relationship, reflecting on an apology left unsaid, or simply understanding another person’s perspective a little better, Schnitzer believes that’s where storytelling finds its greatest purpose.

As both an actor and filmmaker, he’s equally inspired by artists who effortlessly balance humor with emotional honesty. Richard Linklater sits high on that list, with Dazed and Confused remaining one of his favorite films, while performers like Steven Yeun, Jesse Plemons and Daniel Kaluuya continue to influence the kind of work he hopes to create.

For Schnitzer, great performances aren’t measured by how loudly a character speaks, but by how truthfully they live within the story.

And if his own career continues on its current path, one built on collaboration, curiosity and genuine human connection, that authenticity will likely remain at the center of everything he creates.