1) Many people dream of being an actor, what's one thing you wish you would have known before you entered this profession?
That the rough times are inevitable and happen to EVERY actor. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard stories about actors (myself included) reconsidering their careers, and then suddenly catching a break. I wish I’d known how difficult and aggravating things can get as an actor, but more importantly, how patience and perseverence will always prevail. I have a long way to go myself, and I know times will get tougher than I have ever imagined, but if I simply don’t quit, I can’t lose.
2) If you were not an actor, what would be your career and why?
When I was really young, I wanted to be a garbage man. Seriously, I used to practice by walking up and down my street with a bag collecting trash. I then went to University, wanting to be a Veterinarian, eventually aspiring to become an English professor. By chance, I discovered acting in my third year of University, and I haven’t looked back since. Today, I’d be pretty lost without acting to be honest. If I wasn’t an actor, I’d have to do something arts-related…maybe writing?
3) What is a movie that you could watch again and again?
Lost in Translation, Goodwill Hunting, Fight Club, Run Lola Run, The Departed...any of these.
4) What has been your favorite acting experience so far and why?
The day I realized that I could actually make a career from it. As I mentioned earlier, for a long time, I was quite indecisive with respect to my career path. It gave me such joy to learn that being an actor was not as far-fetched a concept as many would think, and was something I could actually do successfully.
5) What’s your dream job? It is being a cast member on a successful Television show, starring in a #1 blockbuster movie or headlining a Broadway Play?
Wow…all those would be a dream come true. I did start my career out in theatre, and that is something I hold very dearly, but my focus as of late has been acting for the camera, and I have a particular fondness for films. Tough question. Honestly, as long as I can make a living by solely being an actor, that’s a dream in itself.
6) Are you happy with the job prospects in Canada or do you feel the urge to move to the US?
Canada has been good to me so far, and being Canadian, I’d love to build my career further in this wonderful country. However, in terms of opportunity, nobody can argue that Canada’s market compares to the American one. At the same time, there’s less competition up here. It’s a bit of a numbers game, unfortunately. To answer your question, I’d say that time will tell. I do get the occasional urge to try my hand down south, but if I can live comfortably as an actor up here, that’s all I could ever hope for.
About Blood Ties
1) Were you familiar with the Tanya Huff books prior to appearing on the show?
Regrettably, no. If I had a larger role in the series, I’d probably have read the books before showing up on set. I’ve heard they’re good though, so maybe that’ll be my next read.
2) You played Ian Reddick, Coreen's boyfriend and the first character to be killed on the show. What appealed to you about this character?
It was cool to play a gothic character, because that’s quite outside my own realm, and getting violently murdered is always fun as an actor.
3) What was the interviewing process like for Blood Ties? Were you asked to act out a scene from the episode or was this more of an open casting call?
It was your standard audition. I prepared a scene from the episode beforehand, and then performed that for the casting director (the director, Allan Kroeker, was also in the room). It’s funny, I cut myself pretty badly doing the dishes that morning, so I had to get 6 stitches in my hand, and wear an arm sling. I wore that into the audition room, and I think they thought that was a character choice. I guess it gave my character some ‘street cred.’ Considering they didn’t use the sling in the episode, I like to think that wasn’t the only reason I got the part!
4) What was it like working on the set?
I had a great time. I really enjoyed working with Allan Kroeker (the director), and the cast and crew were great too. It was also nice being in the first episode, because sometimes, it’s a little strange showing up on a set where the cast and crew have been working together for years…you inevitably feel like an ‘outsider.’ For my episode, the show was still in its initial stages, so although I was the ‘new guy,’ so were most of the cast and crew, essentially.
5) Who is the first person you told that you got the role on Blood Ties?
As with most roles, I got the news from my trusty agent. Within about an hour, I found out that I booked roles on ‘Blood Ties’ and ‘Alien vs. Pedator 2.’ I had a smile on my face that day for sure.
6) Is Blood Ties the kind of show that you would watch, beyond the episode that you guest starred in?
Yeah. To be honest, I don’t watch a lot of TV, but I could see myself getting into a show like this.
7) What are your upcoming projects?
I just finished working on an episode of Smallville with Lynda Carter (aka ‘Wonder Woman’) and I’m currently in Kelowna, BC filming a couple of movies about snowboarding called Shred and Shred 2, starring Tom Green.
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