I am Matthew Tarricone. Like most actors, it started in school. I was in middle school when they announced the school was putting on a production of The Wiz. I was a class clown and show boat,and involved in the musical department, specifically chorus. The chorus was running the production and suggested I audition. I sang the second verse to Candy Rain, by Immature (I’m a music nut!), and was offered the role of The Wiz. On opening night, I remember going through the hair and makeup, and I had a cold face on, presenting nerves of steel. Inside, I was falling apart. Next thing you know I was behind the curtain awaiting my debut. The curtain drew and I started with the song, “SO YOU WANTED TO MEET THE WIZARD!” My nerves were immediately suppressed with excitement. I knew I was on to something.
LIVELove Trailer from Rob Levy on Vimeo.
It was years later while taking an intro to acting class in college where I realized I had the ability to move the audience. I was instructed to perform a monologue in front of the class. My character was a paraplegic, talking about suicide, and the affects it would have on his family. He had everything going for him before his accident that put him in a wheelchair. It was a very emotional scene, something that I fell completely into, like a blackout. When the scene ended, and the lights came up on the class, my peers were crying. That was such a feeling of accomplishment. I touched them, it was real. I was hooked.
My first real acting gig (paid) was for investigation discovery. I was working in software in the DC area, and my manager suggested I get back into acting (she sensed the itch). I went in for a supporting role. During the audition, I treated like I treat most interactions with women, with charm, and classy flirting. I was asked to read for the lead, and three days later I was offered the role. That’s what moved me to NYC, to pursue acting on a more serious level.
Today I live in Greenwich Village, and work in Business Intelligence Software. My job is very flexible and supportive with my acting, and I pursue opportunities at every chance. That was a mouth full…
Mad about a Boy
Did you study acting
This is the best advice I can give to any actor, “When you play it safe, you sacrifice your performance of its authenticity.” – Matthew Tarricone. There was a time my brother asked why I wanted to be an actor. My brother is one of the greatest influences on my life. My response was, “I want to take people down an emotional roller coaster. I want them to know, that someone out there, knows what they’re going through, and maybe what I show them can be some kind of release.”
My first acting education began in college. 101 and 102 type courses. It was great to get the skill set of preparation for roles. The research for character development, the learning of lines without expression (learn them rout), and keeping it real.
When I arrived in NYC, I googled the top acting classes in NYC. I applied to the Acting Studio, run by James Price. They practice the Meisner technique. Acting is doing, and you work off your scene partner. i adapted to this method very quickly, and loved the constructive criticism from the instructors. Some thought it was harsh, but to me, it was necessary. How else would you learn. It was a way to separate the good and bad habits, and align your focus. Acting to me can be very therapeutic. I sometimes say, I feel more comfortable in someone else’s skin…. said Hannibal once
Ribbons
What acting technique do you use
Meisner approach is my go to. That was the foundation that was laid out at the Acting Studio that stuck. I can read a scene and in my mind, this is how I see it. But to be authentic, it can come out different every time. Elements in a scene shift with the way you hear a line, because the level of emotion affects you differently. I don’t like to plan for beats. My memorization process is learning lines rout. No emotion, no punctuation. That comes out in the scene. Think of a scene as a boat in a river. The lines are the boat, the current is the scene. Lines don’t change, let the emotion of the scene, and whatever gets thrown at you dictate how they come out.
What wrong impressions do actors hold about acting
Acting is not representing certain emotions and cues at specific times within the script. Acting is getting to a point where you are feeling what you are supposed to be representing. If you are “acting” an emotion, then you are not successfully acting. The paradox with the art of acting is the word itself. Acting is not what an actor wants to be doing with a role. The true art of acting is getting in the depths where you meet the character and give yourself to the character and feel what the character is feeling. You are fully connected with the story. You are not acting to please an audience.
LiveLove
Do you take courses to improve your craft
Absolutely. There are so many outlets available for training. Whether it’s workshop, school, YouTube, reading. There’s no excuse not to continue to hone your craft. If you’re serious ,you will. If it’s something you love, you want to get to know it, in every way. Preparation is key to a great performance. Know your lines inside and out (that’s your number one responsibility). We should all be renting space in the hundred plus studio spaces in the city to rehearse.
How do you keep fit as an actor
I’m somewhat of a headcase, diagnosed as an outgoing introvert. Maybe that’s why I’m comfortable acting, because I get to be someone else for a change. I keep fit mentally by preparation. I spend a lot of time reading James Patterson books…. murder mystery novels. They really get my imagination going. In addition, I spend a lot of time creative writing. Writing is certainly a sacred passion of mine and helps to release some stress in my life. Physically…. I mean I work out. Not avidly, but maybe four days a week. I’ve been blessed with sound genetics, so I can pretty much eat what I want and am left with a Greek God physique… Moving on
When you’re offered a role, what do you do next
For starters, I’ll call my actor buddies and rub it in their face that I’m going back to work. That’s a given, gloating. Second, I call the writer and discuss rewrites, before even reading it….. when all that fails, I read the script. Just Kidding. On a serious note, I do read the script several times, while taking notes on things that stuck out to me, or areas I need to delve further into. I will read a script several times over the course of preparation and filming. Without a doubt, I know it inside and out before the first day begins. When I receive my shot schedule, I plan sessions with my scene partner that I’m working with in that film to rehearse the scenes for that week. Renting a space is in order, or my apartment ( I live alone). A lot of times also, the director will plan rehearsals to go over together, and it becomes a coaching session.
StainLess
How do you take a character in a script to a honest, believable and breathing person
First, is comprehension. Fortunately, I’m a solid reader. It helps also when you have access to the writer to review his take on the character. Upon gaining my understanding, I apply a history to the character, a psychology, and reasons for his actions. Even understanding where one in from in the world, for example purposes, one being from the south versus NYC. These two individuals were raised in completely different environments. Slow bible belt v. Concrete jungle. Understand the areas to which your character derives, though you’re generalizing, it’s usually a safe base to start with.
How do you stay fresh on set
Treat it like work. End of the day, it’s a job. Stay hydrated, stretching, ect. Depending on the scene really. Emotional scenes I like to be alone between takes, or even breaks for moving camera and lighting. I go to music a lot to reset my mood, or take me back to a place.
Describe a memorable character you played
The most recent character I played hit home for me. It was an indie feature film, LiveLove, directed by Rob Levy, Civil Films Production. I was fresh out of a relationship that pretty much destroyed me at the time. Really dark period for me (hopeless romantic, that masks it with profane humor). The character, Chris, was also fresh out of a relationship, when he meets a woman. To his surprise, he begins to fall for her. She’s different from the other women he’s experienced, certainly his ex. It was so memorable for me because it really became, as I’ve mentioned before, therapeutic to come to work. In a sense, that film brought me back to life. So, thank you Rob and Elena.
Explain one creative choice you took on set
I was filming a scene for an episode of Forbidden, on Investigation Discovery (if you’re an up and coming actor, you know ID). I was playing a playboy Cyber Hacker, Albert Gonzalez. In this particular scene, I was getting hot and heavy with a prostitute of sorts in a hotel room before being rudely interrupted by the police. The actress and I had met 30 minutes before filming started, with our clothes off, and you could tell she was a bit nervous. This was showing on camera. The director decided to make a lense change, and the actress left the room to clean up her makeup.
The director turned to me and said, we need to get this girl into it. I said, “Let me see what I can do.” I went to where the actress was getting her makeup done and asked to have a word. When I began to speak, I spoke as Albert. “Here’s the deal. You’re beautiful. But that only goes so far. I have the money to buy beautiful, but that’s not what I bought you for. I’m paying for you to bring me ultimate pleasure. Otherwise, hit the road, and I’ll find someone else. Do you think you can bring me that when you come back in the room?” Her look went from shock to complete sexual drive and domination…. Needless to say, she delivered…. and then the cops burst in!
What do you want most from a director
Some freedom. I take the craft very seriously, actually the entire process of creation. I like to be involved in the entire creative process, to a certain extent. If things are up for debate, I like to provide my two cents. More often than not, I surprise many with my angle. Also, I like to be directed as well. If I’m not giving you, the director, what you think you should be seeing, explain your vision, and let’s get there. We’re all artists in the room, creating our masterpiece, let’s work together to get there.
Ribbons_Set
What actors do you long to work with
I think Tom Hardy. He seems to bring the performance out of you, or just scare the shit out of you, either way, something electric is happening on that screen. The man is so diverse, it’s incredible. I think he could light a fire under my ass (sounds like a night out at the Box).
What advice would you give to actors
This is the best advice I can give to any actor, “When you play it safe, you sacrifice your performance of its authenticity.” – Matthew Tarricone
