Interview with Colin MacDougall

“Colin MacDougall enjoyed acting as a child: he attended a drama club around about the age of six (6), but when the building it was being held in got demolished his acting life effectively stopped for the better part of the next 15 to 16 years. It wasn’t until 2013 when Colin met a very lovely woman by the name of Casey Michaels, that his acting career re-started. Casey is a third generation, professional stunt performer for film and television and Colin says, “She re-inspired me to pursue a dream that I had lost amidst my childhood memories.” Since then Colin MacDougall has worked at learning all he can about the craft of acting and the business of being a professional working actor; taking private coaching classes and studying films and shows that he watches rather than simply watching for entertainment. Colin MacDougall started working towards getting an agent (which he now has) and also gaining experience working on a film sets as a working actor and he has not looked back.”

#showreelshareday with updated reel coming soon. #actor #actorslife #Spotlight #demo #showreel #demoreel #casting https://t.co/mSnPYzmj6Q

— Colin MacDougall (@CocoMacDougall) January 11, 2017

Did you study acting
I am always studying, for me that NEVER stops. I believe that the art of being so completely “in the moment” of a scene is something that requires practice and dedication from any actor who wants to give a performance that is entirely believable. I study acting in the form of human behaviour and the craft of storytelling in relation to human reaction. I have taken private coaching classes at Acting Coach Scotland with Tom Moriarty and Sarah-Beth Brown (both fantastic coaches) who have gone on at start their own coaching at Box Revolution where they are working to help develop your acting in all aspects of filmmaking which is pretty cool.

What acting technique do you use
I don’t use a particular technique while acting, I however use a philosophy that I took from Bruce Lee,

“Take what is useful, discard what is not and make it uniquely your own.” Bruce Lee

I take elements that work for me from different methods of acting, discard what doesn’t work for me and then take ownership of that combination and make it uniquely my method. Mark Westbrook’s ‘Mindset Technique’ that is taught at ACS first inspired me to do this. His technique is inspired by David Mamet’s Practical Aesthetics, Constantin Stanislavski’s Method Acting and the Meisner technique developed by Sanford Meisner. I have adopted a lot of Marks techniques for I agree with many of them and they work for me. I never shut out different ideas on how to develop your acting and I will always try an other method to see if any elements of it will work for me. I believe that by working in this manner it helps me to make a believable character and helps create genuine emotion for a scene.

Colin MacDougall in his role as Steiner for Storm Warrior

What wrong impressions do actors hold about acting
Personally I believe it would be wrong to think it’s just down to luck of being at the right place at the right time. You should look at it more as being equipped with the knowledge and skills coupled with knowing the right people so that you are able to be at that place at that time to be able to showcase what it is that you can offer as an actor.

I also think it is wrong to think getting that big break will make your career skyrocket. Sure getting a break is great and can help to propel you forward but that will only come as a result of hard work, planning, preparation and staying true to who you are as an individual. If you don’t then that break can just fizzle out and leave you wondering what went wrong. I think actors sometimes have the idea that becoming an overnight success actually happens. I don’t know of any actor who has done this. The masses may have come to know who Jennifer Lawrence is thanks to her roles in X-Men: First Class and The Hunger Games but she has been acting for years before these films.

Acting is not luxurious, it is a 24/7, 7 days a week job. When you are not in front of a camera or on that stage you are rehearsing, studying, networking, publicising, and auditioning as well as making time to live and be with the friends and family who have been there for you since before you decided to become an actor. It is long days and little sleep and lots of effort with sometimes zero or minimal reward or recognition but it is a life you either choose to own and dominate or you give in and give up.

Colin MacDougall in his role for Dream Finder

Do you take courses to improve your craft
Yes I take courses when I am able. I think there is always something you can learn from others and workshops or classes allow for such an opportunity. These things also allow a chance to expand your circle of contacts and network with other people in the industry.

What acting books do you read
I will be honest and say I have not read many acting books. I have the ‘Actor’s Guide to Auditions & Interviews‘ by Margo Annett and I use ‘Actions The Actors’ Thesaurus‘ by Marina Caldarone & Maggie Lloyd-Williams however I am slightly dyslexic so I prefer to watch something and study by doing it rather than reading about it if I can.

How do you keep fit as an actor
Physically I exercise at the gym or at home. It has been part of my life since I was around 6 years old. I also like to do outdoor activities and climbing the occasional mountain is always a fun way to keep fit and see the beauty of the world around you at the same time. Mentally? I like to learn. If I suddenly find I have a question to something that I have seen or even thought about then I will try to find out the answer to help satisfy my curiosity. I believe you need to stay healthy and active and always push yourself. I am a strong believer in doing the things you know you can’t do. If you never go beyond what you are already capable of then you will never progress as a person or a professional.

Colin MacDougall in his role as Tom for Incongruous

How do you prepare for a role, when you get it
First and foremost you need to know your lines! How I learn my lines varies depending on the lines in the script. First off I will read the script several times until I have a firm understanding of how the piece flows and what happens when. Then I will break it down to the individual scenes and read them several times so that I have a sound understanding of the flow of each scene. Once I have done that then I will work on learning my lines for the scenes. I would then get my scene partner and do the scene as fast as possible with them over and over again. I do this for a number of reasons. Firstly, by doing it that fast you can’t imprint any sort of intonation on your lines which should allow for you to be flexible with how you can deliver the lines when it comes to doing your performance. Secondly, it can end up being a lot of fun for you and your scene partner and I am always up for making work fun. I find that people learn things a lot better when they are enjoying it and I think line learning is no different.

I am also aware that there may be a physical preparation required for the role so I will make a point in applying whatever is needed to get to a certain physical shape or to study the physicality of the character for example does the character have a limp from an old injury or would the character have a twitch or a tick?

How do you create a character from a script into a person
I study the script. Everything you need to know to about the character should be there. The people that you interact with or know of, the places you go to or have been before. The relationships you have and how your character thinks should all be there in the script for you to analyse and absorb. For me that is one of the signs of a good script. Once you have all of this information you add in a little bit of who you are as a person and mix it in. When you know the mindset of the character you should be able to act and react in the situations the character finds themselves in with no problems.

How do you stay fresh on set
This is entirely dependant on the character and the scene you are performing. If it is a serious and/or emotional scene then I would keep to myself and keep my mind on the moment. If that means listening to a certain kind of music or I go to a separate area whilst the shot is being set up then so be it. If it is not as serious or emotional a scene I have no problem relaxing and/or having a laugh with other actors or crew that are around until I am needed again for a take. However I will always be mindful of the other actors and give them their space if they are needing it to stay fresh in the moment. Every actor works differently so it is good to be mindful of this when you are on a set, after all we are all there to do a job and you need to remain professional.

Describe a memorable character you played
I think some of the best characters I have been able to play are actually the ones I am currently filming or that I am due to start filming over the next year. There is Ardall Brecc from ‘Whiteblade’ who is a bit of a badass and a brute (principal photography for this should wrap around August this year I believe.) There is Ryllans from the movie ‘Dream Finder’ who is a mercenary but also a mentor (filming for this will be throughout 2017) and then there is Steiner from the new TV series ‘Storm Warrior’ who is the youngest of three Viking Prince’s

Explain one creative choice you took on set
There was a scene for a movie that is currently being filmed called ‘Whiteblade.’ I can’t say too much about it since it is still filming however I can say there was meant to be a small scene between my character and an other who had grown up with him. This was only meant to be a very quick scene but after talking with the director and the other actor Craig Edwards, it was agreed that it would be a great chance to show a little bit more of the relationship between the two characters. So we came up with a nice little scene on the spot and it turned out great. The director even mentioned how he thought that was one of the best little scenes he had shot so far.

What do you want most from a director
What I want most from a director would be for them to know how to get what they want from a scene whilst working creatively with the actors. Having a director that is up for enjoying the moment and seeing where it will lead is always a great blessing to have.

What actors do you long to work with
Oh now that is not something I can easily answer. I would absolutely LOVE to work with Nathan Fillion, he is a man that I know always has a laugh on set and I am pretty sure he will bring the fun side out in anyone. Working alongside Nathan is definitely one of my ultimate life goals. I also want to work with so many other actors (who doesn’t) and for so many different reasons. I would have absolutely loved to work with the late Robin Williams, his infectious enthusiasm and desire to make others laugh along with his ability to play such an emotional and serious character is something I would have given anything to witness and be a part of. I would love to work with Jeff Daniels for the diversity in the characters he has played is amazing. If you were to compare the character from ‘Dumb and dumber’ to his role in ‘The Newsroom’ you would hardly believe he was the same actor. I would love to work alongside Dame Maggie Smith, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro and Tom Hanks for I feel they would have such a wealth of experience and be so comfortable in their roles that it would be a never ending learning experience to work with them. I would also love to work with Jennifer Lawrence, she is a beautiful and naturally gifted actor who is not afraid to be exactly who she is and she has made that work for her which is always refreshing and inspiring to see.

I liked a @YouTube video from @rentheseries https://t.co/PfKfxrrXH4 Ren BTS: Meet the Cast & Crew

— Colin MacDougall (@CocoMacDougall) March 17, 2016

Why
Hahaha I’ll just stick to Nathan for this one shall I? The first time I saw Nathan Fillion act was from the TV series ‘Firefly’ (a show I absolutely love). I thought he was great then and watching him in the series of ‘Castle’ for the last number of years has only worked to solidify the fact that I want to work with this man. He seems like such a down to earth guy who clearly LOVES what he does and is so invested in the characters and the worlds that he has helped create. I think he is a very cool guy and I believe that every day on set with him would start with a smile and end with a laugh.

What advice would you give to actors
Don’t ever waste your time trying or wishing you could be like an other actor. The most amazing selling point for you is that you are NOT like any other actor. Take ownership of who YOU are and strive to become the better version of yourself. Set your goals and targets in life and your career and be sure to invest in both of them. Absolutely nothing is impossible to you if you have unshakable faith in yourself, an unquenchable thirst for improvement of self and an active mindset for taking progressive steps forward in achieving your daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and lifetime goals. Never underestimate the importance of networking and getting to know others who are working in the profession. The actors who take the time to attend functions and events are more likely to meet and become antiquated with the other people in the industry who are looking to make future productions. The more people that you take the time to nurture a relationship with, the more people will know and have a relationship with you. You could be a fantastic actor but if no one knows who you are then you will never really be seen. Make yourself be known to the other people working in your circles.

Colin MacDougall in his role as Ardell Brecc for Whiteblade

Briefly write about your career
I have been working for the last two and a half years but it has been a busy and productive time for me. The first production I was ever cast in was a short titled ‘Team 6’ where I played the role of a young, likable ass know as ‘Scott.’ This was really the starting point for me and it introduced me to a number of actors and people who work behind the camera, some of which I have worked with on several productions.

There is the production titled ‘Sunshine’ where I play the role of a cheating husband know as ‘Ryan.’ This was the first short I was cast in that was submitted to festivals worldwide and won the audience choice award for thriller at the prestigious international film festival. I have even been approached and offered roles in other productions due to directors having seen this short and liking the character I put across which is in itself an amazing honour.

I am currently filming a short titled ‘Incongruous’ for the role of ‘Tom’ in which I play a man out of place and time. I am also due to start filming in the next month for the teaser to a new TV series titled ‘Revelations’ where I am playing the role of ‘Marcus.’ Unfortunately I am not at liberty to disclose any more than that for Revelations at this moment in time.

Getting cast in ‘Whiteblade’ as ‘Ardall Brecc’ was quite a step for me for it introduced me to a number of filmmakers and actors based in central England who were all a pleasure to work with and it was the first feature films that I had been cast in.

Being cast in both ‘Dream Finder’ as ‘Ryllans’ and ‘Storm Warrior’ as ‘Steiner’ has helped to widen my network in the Northern and central England areas and has allowed for me to really sink my teeth into some interesting and complex characters. With Storm Warrior it looks like filming could be in a number of different countries which will be an amazing adventure and a great opportunity so be sure to keep an eye out for these two for sure.

I believe my career is still very much in its infancy and I am in the process of learning how to transition from comfortably crawling everywhere to steadily walking forward in the world I have become a part of.

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