From hobby to profession, actor and content creator Zachery Renauldo gained millions of views on TikTok by bringing to life characters and stories inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, a classic tabletop RPG game. With a unique approach that blends humor, cinematic storytelling, and improvisation, he became a reference by making the nerd universe more accessible and fun. In addition to his online success, Zachery also stands out in acting with roles in productions such as Blackout and Manifestation, and promises to expand his projects into higher production formats, combining his passions for acting and storytelling.
Zach, you became a TikTok sensation with your Dungeons & Dragons content . What was the reaction like when your videos started getting millions of views? What surprised you the most about this viral journey?
Honestly, I thought it was a total fluke! That first Dungeons & Dragons video I followed a TikTok Trend and I figured, âWell, sometimes people go viral, itâll happen.â But then I made another videoâand it did really well. Then another. And, well, the rest is history.
If you had told me even two years ago that Iâd be supporting myself by doing something Iâd considered just a hobby, I wouldâve been shocked. I still remember waking up one day and realizing that my full-time job was making content about the nerdy things I love. It was a surreal moment.
Many people may have played D&D, but youâve managed to turn it into something unique on social media. What do you think makes your style of play so captivating to the public?
I think a lot of creators lean into the common clichĂ©s of Dungeons & Dragonsâthings like âI cast Fireballâ or âThe bard seduces the dragon.â But to me, that misses the heart of what tabletop role-playing games are really about: collaborative storytelling.
With my background in filmmaking, I focus on telling relatable and overexaggerated content based on what it actually feels like to gather around a table with your friends and roll dice. I think that sense of connection is what resonates. Whether someoneâs actively playing right now or just remembering their old group, people see my content and go, âYeah, thatâs what itâs like.â
You mentioned that self-talk is an important part of your content. Can you tell us a little more about how playing D&D allows you to connect with that more creative and improvisational side?
One of my favorite parts of TTRPGs is seeing a new player âget itââthat moment when the world clicks for them. Iâve seen it happen in the funniest ways: like a player throwing a rock at a peaceful dragon and getting roasted, or discovering a nursery hidden in a goblin camp. Thereâs this spark, this reawakening, where people tap into a part of their imagination they havenât used since childhood.
Iâve always had an overactive imagination, and putting those ideas to paper takes time. But when I can gather some friends and say, âWeâre doing a fantasy Wild West game where we ride dragons instead of horses,â and theyâre all immediately on boardâthatâs an incredible feeling. Itâs like giving life to the wildest corners of my brain and having people join in.
In addition to being a TikTok star, you are also an actor and have appeared in projects such as “Blackout” and “Manifestation”. How do these two aspects of your career connect and influence each other?
I originally moved to LA to become an actor. I went through the grindâauditioning, not hearing back, rinse and repeat. It wasnât until the 2023 writersâ strike that I finally said, âIâm done waiting for permission,â and started making my own content.
Even as Iâve stepped away from traditional acting, Iâve kept those storytelling instincts aliveâplaying four different characters in a skit, each with their own voice and personality. At some point, Iâd love to level that up and make higher-production skits where those two worldsâacting and content creationâreally come together.
You did a special activation at San Diego Comic Con with big names like Johnny Stanton and Bran Cutler. What did this mean to you, and can the public expect more from this collaboration?
It was incredible! Johnny is a good friend of mine, and being on the SDCC stage with him and Bran was such a surreal experience. Since then, Iâve done collaborations with Critical Role, MoistCr1TiKaL, and a few Magic: The Gathering channels. And yes, thereâs definitely more on the way!
On your social media, youâre known for making D&D seem more accessible and fun. What tips would you give someone whoâs just starting out in the game to make it easier and more fun to enter the world?
The best part of being a Dungeon Master is that you get to build a world and tell a story with your friends. My biggest piece of advice? Create a world that youâre excited about. Donât stress about what it âshouldâ be. If youâre passionate about your settingâwhether itâs high fantasy, space cowboys, or something totally weirdâyour friends will pick up on that energy and help bring it to life.
When youâre not creating content or acting, you still find time to play Dungeons & Dragons with friends. How do these gaming sessions impact your creativity and well-being outside of work?
I play a lot of Dungeons & Dragonsâover five games a week. I run one and play in the other four. These games are vital to both my creativity and fighting against burnout. Being a player and being a Dungeon Master feed different parts of my brain.
When Iâm a player, I get to sit back and notice the little thingsâkind of like being a passenger in a car after always being the driver. You start noticing details along the way that youâve never seen before, even on a familiar route. That shift in perspective helps me bring new depth to the games I run.
As a Dungeon Master, I take things more seriously. I have dreams of creating an actual play seriesâkind of like a high-production radio dramaâand I want to be the kind of storyteller whoâs ready when that opportunity comes. DMing is an absolute blast, but itâs also a craft Iâm always sharpening, with the hope that someday Iâll be telling big, beautiful stories on cameraâwith my friends right there beside me.
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