Q. What have you been working on lately?

I starred in a feature entitled 'Indigo' and my new TV show that will rock your socks off - “Manifesto.”

Q. How did you get started?

In college I studied Theatre, Film and Communications. I started out as a writer and actor doing sketch comedy, theatre and quickly started doing local indie films in Kansas City, before I shuttled off to L.A.. I came out here all fresh from K.C. (Kansas City) knowing only my Uncle, who is an A list stunt coordinator. I did the usual things, became a street hustler, got strung out on crack and became a whipping boy to an A-list studio exec. No, really - I did the usual things - got impressed by the glitz, did a few days of extra work, got my Union card, fell in love with a Valley Girl, all that crap. Within my first year here, I was attached to star in what could have been a huge film called ‘Firecracker’ starring Dennis Hopper and Debbie Harry. It was both a great and eventually maddening and depressing experience that lasted nearly a year. All the actors left the project (mostly at the request of the director!?#). The film was eventually made, but didn’t have near the success it could/potentially should have. The scenario allowed me/my manager to promote myself well and I was on a talk show, got profiled in this book ‘Nearly Famous,’ and lots of other craziness.

Q. Was it hard?

Yes. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Hands down, no joke. And I’ve tried a lot of hard things. Like skateboarding on ice, international banking, riding motorcycles at 4 years old, stuff like that. I would have totally brought ‘Jackass’ to ‘a whole notha level.’

Q. What motivates you?

A lot of things, mainly people who chase after their dreams with abandon, people who follow their beliefs to the point of sacrifice, that kind of thing. Sacrifice me if I’m wrong, but I think humans kid themselves when they say ‘I’m only human.’ What does that mean? Like you’re inadequate or something? Like there’s no hope? Personally I don’t believe any type of animal is superior to any other type of animal (including humans, goats, rats or bunnies) but I feel we do our selves a great disservice when we insult ourselves. Stand up for your species, people. And respect the others.

Q. What is your main goal?

My main goal is to develop my company into a rousing experiment in thought provoking entertainment. My goal is also to unite humanity for their own sake, that is to create an organized anarchic state. My work in social justice continues to be a main a goal in my life and my new show 'Manifesto' is a marriage between film and social justice.

Q. What do you recommend for people getting in the industry?

Test it all out. Decide what you want to do, and hone your laser beam in on that goal. Embrace the chaos and let purpose be your guide. (Sorry, in my mind I’m writing a story about a motivational speaker right now.)

Q. Why do you believe people fail in this industry?

Lack of persistence, lack of knowledge, lack of confidence, and lack of product. It is a business. And if you don’t have a packaged product to sell, well it can be hard. I’m not exactly pro-capitalism, but if you want to eat… first people have to consume you, your product, so wrap yourself up in shiny paper. And bows and shit like that. And then mail yourself to your relatives for Christmas. Wait, I got off track there somewhere…

Q. Can you think of an actual example where someone failed?

Sure, I can think of lots of failures. That's the easy part. Mainly they are sad stories of people packing up and heading back to Fredonia, much worse for wear. I have seen young directors freak out and have nervous breakdowns, actors who did manipulative things and stabbed themselves in the back, ended up destroying a project. But - my point is not that these people are failures, they’re not. In fact, I can think of no other business where people who ‘failed’ have the opportunity to try again. I know execs who are ex-cons, ex-junkies, and born again Christians. Hollywood, although mean, like your older brother, will allow you to work again. If you were working in the first place, that is.

Q. Can you tell us your professional pet peeve? What do industry people do that just ticks you off?

Lying. Need I say more?

Ok, there's a #2. This professional pet peeve applies to this or any other business. That pet peeve is the educational side of things. The “classes.” There are a lot of great teachers and there are a lot of bad teachers. I did my duty to weed them out. What I found is that most of the great teachers are working with themselves only, or with an esteemed group. I found little to no value in any of the big operations. I tried my hand at the Actor’s Studio - it’s a great atmosphere and people are serious - but I found their criticism to be overboard and at times, for many actors, there is a lack of honest support. I finally ended up with Lisa Dalton of The Michel Chekhov Studio West (who sadly recently moved to Texas but does intensives in L.A. sometimes, just google her).

Beyond acting classes there are the ‘casting director workshops’ which came under scrutiny some time ago. If you are new in town and you find a good group like actorsite, go. Meet all the CDs at least once or twice and do your best work. Then follow your own path, preferably via some sort of representation (manager/agent/your cousin ted). Some people spend their food money on these workshops and it just kills me.

Q. Now, feel free to drop Mad Knowledge on people, anything you think they should know about this business.

Just like the rest of life, I think it's best to do what you love. If you love turtles, make a film about them, because you are going to make the best GD turtle movie ever and people are going to respond to that. If you’re an actor, find what you love to do. Then do it. Write your own film if you need to and shoot it with your grandma’s vhs camera. People will be blown away. Just make something, because those mistakes and successes are going to teach you how to make films and how to tell a story. Some film schools do that too, but people usually learn more from mistakes than from school.

I’m very pro-actor. But I’m also pro-director. My point is that most actors (smart ones) have a lot to bring to the table. A lot of ideas, good ideas. I felt early on that I wasn’t being listened to as an actor, even when my ideas were obviously going to work better than what was in ‘the script.’ So I became a director and that has been a great experience. I think actors make great directors for obvious reasons. On the other hand there are great directors who will take in actor’s good ideas and use them when they can. They are often the best directors.

Thank you Scott. Until next week. TCC