My very first acting role came when I was about 16 or so as the lead in a very small production of a church musical, the name of which I have completely forgotten, done in or around Keller, Texas. At the time, I had previously viewed, from afar so to speak, the auditions that took place in the same church. I was sitting in on one of them and for some reason I started singing along. Those in charge stopped, turned around…and immediately asked me if I would be the lead in the play. (I really wish all my auditions were so easy.) In reality, I beat out like, what, three other people? Big deal. But hey, it was a great experience. The second was several years later in October, 2006 as an ensemble member in a small production of “Annie” at the Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater. Martin Charnin, the writer of the play, attended and said he really enjoyed it.
Did you study acting
I think I have always wanted to be an actor/singer/performer but had always lacked the courage to really try it. I remember one example of my shyness (before trying out for the role in the production of Annie that I previously mentioned) being that I once had a job as a janitor, I forget exactly where. Anyway, one of my duties was to vacuum the hallways and various offices. So, while the vacuum was running, thinking it would mask my voice, I sang. In actuality people could still hear me and I got quite a few very good compliments from various people over time. It made me think. Another similar example was after a performance of “Love, Sex and the IRS” I had many people come up to me and heartily congratulate me on my talent and one, in particular, expressed his desire to be able to “do what you do” as he said. Well, when you get fairly consistent and positive feedback you start to believe things are possible. In truth, I have never truly studied in the formal sense. All my experience has been on the job. That is not to say I that I don’t know very well that I NEED to study and really learn SO many things. But life is what it is and I do what I believe I can while still fulfilling my duties and responsibilities as a father, husband and everyday guy holding down the necessary job needed to survive while I try and build my reputation and career as best I can.
What acting technique do you use
Well, obviously, this is directly related to my response to the former question. And, again, in truth, I have no idea. At 41 years of age now I haven’t ever had any formal training. It is not easy to balance what you MUST do with what you WANT to do. More often then not they conflict. It is difficult to find the time and money for acting classes and whatnot. So, just like anyone else, I am trying to do the best I can. I am me and not anyone else so I cannot let the “If you’re a SERIOUS actor you’d…” BS get to me. I have never had any illusions about where I want to be as an actor and where it is possible to be. I am a supporting, character actor AT BEST. I want to WORK. I want to have a reputation as reliable, talented and easy to work with; a team player. I couldn’t care less about the fame and whatnot. A bit more money I’ll gladly take…but if I could maintain my current lifestyle, with a slightly higher bump in funds as it were, AND with much more consistency of course, SOLELY from acting and singing, I would consider myself successful. I am still learning and I do whatever I feel will best suit whatever project I am doing at the time.
What wrong impressions do actors hold about acting
First and foremost acting is NOT lying. It is truly TRUTH. Everyone is an actor to some extent or other. Anyone can be evil, kind, sad, angry or whatever. So, in my opinion, every actor is always playing a version of themselves…just with heightened levels of whatever trait is necessary to make the character believable to themselves and the audience. Sir Anthony Hopkins, Johnny Depp, Marlon Brando and several others have said similar things. The bottom line is that you have to act like you’re not acting…but do it naturally. Yeah, easy right? Also, it is often quite subjective. That is why one actor gets cast over another as the other simply was or was not what the director or casting director envisioned the character to be…oftentimes even though the actor that wasn’t cast performed well in the audition. In my case, the fact that I live in Brazil is what kills many possibilities of me being cast for a role, independently of the fact that I have received several very good reviews of my acting talent from various independent sources around the world. You just have to truly love doing it. I love the fulfillment of the work, the teamwork, the energy and bittersweet comfort of being on set. Nothing else I have ever done comes close to the level of satisfaction I receive from being an actor and singer.
Do you take courses to improve your craft
In truth, I know I should. Though I want to, I don’t. For better or worse that is where I am in my life at the moment. A dream of mine would be to audition for RADA or The Actors Studio and, if possible, study in their respective programs. But, time will tell.
What acting books do you read
I haven’t really read any books on acting, per se, but I often read articles about acting and I love to watch episodes of The Actors Studio as well as meet and talk to and with any actors, directors etc. I may come in contact with. Really, as I said before, everything I have done and am doing is very much “on the job” and real world, for better or worse.
When you’re offered a role, what do you do next
I try to research the character as much as I can with whatever resources I may have or that I can find. I like to rehearse as much as possible. That is what I like more about the stage than TV or Film. I generally focus on memorizing my lines with little emotion so that I can get the muscle memory down and done and understand what I am saying and then I begin to add emotion and whatnot based on what I might get from the script and/or how things go in rehearsal and/or any direction I might be given. I do not like to be so “set in stone” in or on something so as to be inflexible when on set and at the moment the scene is being done.
How do you take a character in a script to a honest, believable and breathing person
A good example of how I, personally, do this is one gig I had in San Diego, CA as a player in a dinner theater company called The Dinner Detective. I was never the lead role, the Detective, though it was offered to me, because improv scares me to death and I always felt much more comfortable as one of the actors that pretends to be a guest but is really part of the show. I’d show up, mingle with the other guests before the show and, the thing was, I always approached it as myself. I would use a different name and occupation etc., of course, but my wife was always real, my daughter etc. For instance, one of the roles I played was that of a movie/film producer. So, when asked about projects I had worked on or was working on I’d talk about my real past projects or recent ones, if any, and give those asking the real websites etc., if possible, and then proceed to intertwine reality with fiction. I believed it because most of it was true and it seemed to work really well.
How do you stay fresh on set
Well, that is tough, especially between scenes with the set changes and whatnot. Being that I tend to be high-strung and nervous to an extent, I try to fall asleep on set, if given a long enough time between scenes. Not full-blown passed out but just really drowsy. As far as between takes I just try to keep re-evaluating what I did, how I did it, think about how I can make it (the lines and physical movements) as easily repeatable as possible, both for myself and guided by any direction I might get and then I try to keep going deeper until the director says that he or she is happy. At that point I completely forget everything. I am the worst judge of whether or not what I am doing is right, though I will make suggestions sometimes and/or ask questions to clarify any confusion might be dealing with or if something strikes me as odd for the scene or character as I see it and to find out if I am going where the directors wants me to go.
Describe a memorable character you played
One character I played years ago, whose name I forget, in a film called Friends Forever, (2007-8?) was a Nazi soldier. I had a very small part in the film and I had two lines in German. I have since forgotten them but it was interesting because while on set I constantly received “compliments” on how frightening I was in character. The smile in the photo (attached) belies that fact but I guess I looked “Nazi” German enough to be convincing.
Explain one creative choice you took on set
One of my most recent projects, Cidade do Sol might offer an example. Though, in truth, I cannot think of any other. Anyway, being that there were three languages on set (English, Portuguese and Creole – with the latter I was of no help at all – I consulted with the director, Guto Aeraphe, on several occasions, to correct and/or substitute and make more natural the English in my lines as well as others. I also helped coach the actor who plays Kenet, and others, on his actions and the pronunciation of his lines in English and the meaning of what he was saying. Does that suffice to answer the question?
What do you want most from a director
Trust. They cast me for a reason, right? So, believe that I can deliver. And be honest with me, of course. If you don’t like something, tell me and explain to me why. Also, know that if I am asking questions or making suggestions it because I have valid reasons, at least until you can show me where I might be misunderstanding something, for what I am asking about and/or suggestion. I am trying to be collaborative; to understand how I can best serve as one of the many tools the director has on set.
What actors do you long to work with
So many…so many I’ll never have the opportunity or luck to work with. Clint Eastwood sticks out as one for sure as I would love to work with him since he is both an actor and director. Kevin Costner is another simply because I can see some, just a few, minor similarities with me in him and his life and what little I understand about his approach to acting. He also kind of reminds me of my father. He is also a director, so that is very cool, too. I would be happy to work with anyone I admire and who is better than me (too many to list, of course) simply because I can’t imagine a better training ground.
Why
Well, as I mentioned, they have a unique understanding of both sides. Not, mind you, that I have any interest in being a director. A producer, maybe. But, aside from that, there are, of course, so many talented people I’d love to work with.
What advice would you give to actors
I, personally, find it rather interesting that you included “around the world” because that very thing seems to be what is limiting me most. I live in Brazil and am trying to make some headway in a business that is often dominated by Hollywood in the U.S.. I am confident in saying that my life, in general, and the lives of my wife and daughter, are all much better here than in the U.S. However, Hollywood, is, unarguably, the “mecca” every actor aspires to. The most I can hope for I think is to try to get to a greater level of success here in Brazil. Hollywood is a nut I will continue to try to crack but with the very real understanding that it is highly improbable. However, as to this question, specifically, let me refer you and the reader back to the last three lines of QUESTION #4.
Briefly write about your career
Well, my very first acting gig (after I truly began to endeavor to begin making a career of it in 2007) came as the role of “Sackhead” in a short film called Stink Meat. This started me off on a line of roles that, more often than not, were bad, evil, antagonistic types. As I mentioned, I have played a Nazi but I have also played businessmen, politicians, doctors, scientists and many others. My career thus far has been rather varied and continues to grow as such though, of course, it has consistently reaffirmed itself as on the level of supporting characters, which is awesome because that area seems to be where the most consistent and long-term work can be had.
