Not that it's a reason for doing anything, but it is nice when someone offers you their gratitude. Hold the door, and you hear "thank you." Help someone carry something or get something down from a shelf, and there is usually grateful acknowledgment. It's something taught by every parent, a two-sided coin where you help people, and recognize those that help you.
While those are everyday examples, there are other instances where the stakes may be higher. A doctor saves a life, a benefactor funds an education, a stranger rescues someone from danger: each stems from the same desire to help, and the response acknowledges that effort. Then there are cases where the act is far removed from the gratitude in distance, personal connection and/or time. No matter, the response is no less sincere.
In Zach Eisen's case, the expressions of thanks occur long after the original act took place. At thirty-something, Zach is on his second career as a Director of Photography. His first began when he was four and cast in a movie, a world in which he is known by his full name of Zach Tyler Eisen: "I was the right mix of well-behaved, I could read, I could take direction." As he told me about his background, he laughed: "Oh, and I was cute. That certainly helped!"
As he got more experience he appeared in commercials, a couple of films and TV shows, eventually falling into voice acting, giving life to characters in several shows. "It worked well with my schedule. I didn't have to get pulled out of school. No hours spent on set with tutors, memorizing lines and rehearsals. I could go after school to sessions, and even make it to baseball practice. So, yeah, that was a nice balance."
Then came the roll that any actor wants, regardless of age: the lead. "Avatar: The Last Airbender" was an animated fantasy action television series that ran for three years on Nickelodeon. Set in a largely Asian-inspired world in which some people can manipulate water, earth, fire and air, Zach gave life to twelve-year-old Aang, the current Avatar and last survivor of his nation. Along with his friends Katara, Sokka, and Toph, they worked to defeat Fire Lord Ozai before he conquered their world.
A ratings success, the series received widespread acclaim, winning a slew of awards. It touched on themes not usually found in kid cartoons, from war and sexism, to class warfare and political corruption, and even indoctrination and free choice. And bringing it all to life every week was Zach.
But as much fun as it was, it was taking over his life, and he didn't want that. "The end of the Avatar series aligned with me starting high school. And I said I want to step back, just kind of take back my life." And so he walked away, set up shop behind the camera, and while not hiding from it, made acting a piece of him rather than the whole.
As these things do, though, the series recently had a resurgence. Reissued during the pandemic, its original fans rediscovered all they liked about it, and a new audience embraced it. Zach starting getting calls to appear at Comic-Con type gatherings to celebrate the series, and meet and greet the fans. At first he was a little hesitant to revisit that part of his life. But the more he met those fans, the more he started to realize what it meant to them.
"I started doing conventions back in 2023, and it's become a big part of my life." I asked him what he got from the interactions. "The series really brought joy to people. So many are there to say thank you for the memories. People say, 'It helped me through my parents' divorce,' or 'It helped me through cancer.' It's incredible." Zach knows he just played a part, but still: "I didn't write the show. I don't get recognized for my face. But I voiced it, and that's what they remember."
We all do nice things for others, and get acknowledgement for them. But for Zach the act is both removed and for strangers, which makes the gratitude that much more special. "I've had people come up to me and say 'Thank you for my childhood.' It's very cool. It's nice to be able to put a smile on people's faces like that. And it is very, very humbling."
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Marc Wollin of Bedford loves to find out what he doesn't know about people. His column appears weekly via email and online on Substack and Blogspot as well as Facebook, LinkedIn and X.
