I was always the class clown growing up, my family moved around a lot when I was a kid. So I attended probably too many different schools, there was no stability, but comedy was my stability. At every new school where I had to be the new guy all I cared about was making all the other kids laugh. Eventually as I got older I had the opportunity to take some acting classes and perform comedy onstage. I knew right at that moment, about 10 years ago, when I first started taking acting classes and doing live comedy that I was in love with being a performer and entertaining people. I instantly learned from that first time jumping into it that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I fell in love with entertaining a crowd and portraying different characters. My passion has driven me to stay committed to being a performer against all odds and through adversity, I’m going to keep doing this no matter what tries to get in my way, I don’t let anything hold me back from my dreams.
Steve Benetier as “Terrance Tarintino” in Hollwood in the Hood
Did you study acting
I studied acting with several different teachers, studios and workshops over the years. I believe you can always keep learning new things as a performer so I do my best to stay active and take new classes with new teachers as often as possible. I took some improvisational courses with some more well-known improv schools in NYC and LA such as The Upright Citizens Brigade and The Groundlings. I also studied drama at the Los Angeles Theater Academy, this was an amazing experience because every day you’re working on scenes and challenging yourself to get better.
What acting technique do you use
Every actor and actress is going to find their own style which works for them best. Personally I like to draw from memories of past experiences and draw feelings and emotions from these to bring my character to life. I also like to let the character become me, to move and even think like this character outside of the scene, play, or film I’m working on. I utilize the Meisner technique which stated, “Live truthfully under given imaginary circumstances.” However I also do like to delve deeper beyond this and when the circumstances are right use method acting.
What wrong impressions do actors hold about acting
I think the #1 wrong impression about this is people who pursue it solely for glamour, fame, and fortune. It’s very important to focus on the journey instead of the destination. Would performers like to do work that reaches millions of people? Yes, of course, but the love of performance is what must always come first. We do this because we love it, and everything else that happens is just a side effect of the love.
Do you take courses to improve your craft
Dewayne Boyd and Any and all Improve classes I can sign up for. As well as connect with Talent Managers Wendy Wright and Amy Jo Berman and other Talent Scouts. When money is funny You can also try Youtube which offers tons of acting classes, improve classes and lectures form the best of the best. As well as ways to better improve your acting techniques
What acting books do you read
I really enjoyed the book “Stanford Meisner: On Acting.” What’s also been really helpful for me is to just read entire plays. Not just one scene, but the whole play in its entirety from well-respected and notable playwrights in the world of Theatre. August Wilson, Neil Simon, and William Shakespeare are all great writers and some of my personal favorites. To delve so deeply inside a characters backstory gives you a greater sense of responsibility and weight as an actor to bring that character to life. Picking up books from legendary coaches such as Meisner and Stanislavski is very helpful, but I really feel studying as many plays as you can is essential.
How do you keep fit as an actor
Stagetime, Stagetime, and more Stagetime. It’s important to stay healthy physically and mentally as an actor. As performers our body and voice is our instrument, nothing helps you develop more though in my opinion then putting your work out there onstage in front of audience or on set for the camera. You can take all the classes in the world, but actually performing in a live show or in front of a camera is the best way for actors to stay in shape and hone their craft.
When you’re offered a role, what do you do next
I read the script many times and of course rehearse as often as possible. Nothing feels better than to get on your feet and just immediately jump inside the work. I also let the role resonate with myself for a while, this process does take a little longer. I let it sink in so I can truly understand the essence of who it is I’m bringing to life and what their backstory is.
How do you take a character in a script to a honest, believable and breathing person
I start to perform thoughts, actions, and lifestyle choices like this character. Also something really helpful for me has been music. I ask, what kind of music would this character listen to? I then bump it on full blast while rehearsing lines or running and exercising to that style of music. I also like to go with my cast mates or scene partners to discuss the essence of the character and even improvise conversations off set as this character to let their essence grow and come to life.
How do you stay fresh on set
Improv, Improv, and more Improv. I love to speak with other actors on set in between takes and during downtime in character in improvised dialogue to really keep the shoot fresh, fun, and exciting. I read the entire scene in the movie “Goodfellas” when Joe Pesci starts saying to Ray Liotta “you think I’m funny? What do you mean funny? Funny how? Do I amuse you?” ..was in fact an improvisation scene. The director Martin Scorsese and others weren’t expecting it, but it turned out to be one of the most classic moments in the film and in that genre of cinema.
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Describe a memorable character you played
One of the more memorable characters I played was “Terrance Tarintino” in a show called “Hollywood in the Hood” not too long ago in summer 2014. He was a crazy maniacal film director that went to the hood to recruit real gangsters for as he liked to say “the most urban gangster movie of all time.”
Explain one creative choice you took on set
I played an illegal arms salesman recently and the director suggested I play the character more “sleazy.” I used this direction to play up the villainous quality of the character by laughing like more of a sleazy guy and just finding more genuine enjoyment in the illicit and illegal activity this character was portraying.
What do you want most from a director
I love to work with directors who are passionate about their material. Directors not afraid to take risk are the type of artists I really love to collaborate with. Directors with a unique vision and fresh idea not afraid to try something new. Not just American directors either, I’d love to branch out and work with talented international directors from all over the world.
What actors do you long to work with
I’d really love to work with Jim Carrey and Daniel Day Lewis.
Why
I’d love to work with Jim Carrey because he’s been a tremendous inspiration to me as a performer ever since I was a kid and he’s a living comedy legend. I’d love to work with Daniel Day Lewis because the man is unstoppable, he truly transforms into a character more powerfully than most other actors alive. I even heard when working on a film he will literally become a character for up 6 months so intensely that he has to spend a significant amount of time away from friends and family because it’s damaging to his personal relationships. That’s the type of commitment and transformation so powerful it’s mind blowing, imagine not even being able to talk to friends and family because you’ve literally become a different person, it’s taking method acting to a new level.
What advice would you give to actors
Do it because you love it and do your best work possible to move the audience with something profound they’ll keep with them for a long time.
Briefly write about your career
Steve Benetier has performed in comedy shows at the Comedy Store, Hollywood Laugh Factory, Hollywood Improv, Flappers Comedy Club, and many other venues across Los Angeles, New York, and Las Vegas. Plus he has acted consistently in many live theatrical productions all over Los Angeles. Besides Theater, Steve has starred in multiple independent films such as: “Blood Roulette”, “The God of Death”, and more. Steve trained in improvisation at The Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade, and studied drama at the Los Angeles Theater Academy.
