The life of an actor, whether it be that of the theater stage or film set, can be both an exciting, but also a lonely life – punctuated, of course, by moments of sheer panic and self-loathing when trying to make a decent wage following what is one’s dream. 

Actually, it often reminds me of the time when I was a competitive swimmer.  You train numerous hours, both alone, and in a group, only to wait countless hours for your big moment when you get on a platform and spring into action for what, in the end, is really only a couple of minutes, seconds even.  Months of work all summed up in one exhilaratingly spectacular, or disappointingly dull, moment in time.

Still, when that moment is truly seized – there are very few things in life that bring such intense emotion, human connection and physical accomplishment.  It feels like life, truly lived… every moment of those accumulated seconds toward intellectual and creative expression.

Even now, as I write this, I sit in my picture car in Manhattan at 9 p.m. on a Friday night, miles away from my family, on the set of Spider Man, working as a Screen Actors Guild background actor, trying to earn extra money to make ends meet in between bigger acting and production gigs.  It is a small part of the big plan of working my way slowly up the ladder.

Do I have moments of intense self-doubt as to what I’m doing in this industry and is it a waste of time and passion?  Absolutely. 

And yet, as with the film Her Telling Heart, the short, Gothic thriller adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, “The Tell-tale Heart,” which I wrote, produced through my company, Personae Entertainment, directed and acted in, I do see progress toward realizing my career goals and personal/professional passion.

Above all, I see myself as blessed that I am in touch with my dreams and, moreover, able to pursue them.  This is something that I often think, in these times, we take for granted.  In reality, it is a luxury.

So, you see, sitting on the set of Spider Man for a wrinkle in time to pay the bills is really not so bad.  I am a small part of a bigger picture on this one.  – And, during waiting times like right now, I am able to do one of my favorite things in the world: write.

Shawn Schaffer

A couple of weeks ago, I had the enjoyable experience of catching up with Capital District local, Shawn Schaffer, to discuss many of his most recent artistic and professional accomplishments.

Shawn Schaffer is a gifted cinematographer and editor in his own right, a natural talent, who learned everything he knows in the artistic and technical dimensions of his industry by doing on set and reading on his own, rather than film school.

He’s built up a variety of different experiences working on everything from shorts, to indie features, to web series, and, most recently, a feature film with real star talent (Bruce Dern and Kristanna Loken) and helmer power (Farhad Mann) – “Love Orchard” – set in the Kinderhook area of Columbia county, upstate New York.

I should add, here, that I, too, worked on that film – as Production Coordinator.  But during that time, we rarely, if ever, had enough time to sit down and talk on set and, thus, it was truly fun sitting down in front of the camera to officially discuss all we had both learned.

If you like, you can click here to watch that interview. 

GROWING UP TOGETHER

One thing that I’ve come to really cherish about being in the film industry with time is watching my colleagues and peers grow with and around me.  We might not always ascend the proverbial career ladder at the same time – or even upwards, for that matter – but eventually, when sticking with it over a course of time, we inevitably end up with some real stories to exchange and tell.

BRUCE DERN & THE 16TH MILE

I think my best story about the Love Orchard film would have to do with some great advice that honored and esteemed actor Bruce Dern gave me:

“Kid, the film industry is like a marathon – you don’t really hit your stride until you reach the 16^th mile.  Get ready, because I think you’re about to hit your 16^th mile soon.”

Bruce, I’ll hold you to that insight.  Thanks for the lovely moment and memory.

Impact with actor/producer Kevin Craig West

I'm pressed to catch up on the events this last month.  "Impact" with Open Stage Media and Proctors came my way as an unexpected and delightful opportunity from Proctor's Producer Richa Bhat Khandelwal and Proctor's C.E.O. Philip Morris, who is the Impact on the Arts Co-Host.

Philip and I have a friendly competition going on to see who can bring on the most exciting, current and inspiring Guest-from-the-Arts -- not that any artist isn't exciting and current, but rather that it's a joy finding those individuals who have yet to be "discovered" by other media formats.

Thus, my first Guest on Impact was, for me, a no-brainer.  In upstate, New York, you can't be in the indie film and professional theater scene for long without hearing the name "Kevin Craig West."

Indeed, when I first moved "up" here from Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 2007, I kept hearing about Kevin and, quite frankly, it annoyed me.

Could this guy really be all that everyone keeps on saying he is?  How in the world is he able to keep up with everything he does in the industry and still sleep?

Well, as it turns out, Kevin is also very good at slowly converting his skeptics.  Most often, he'll turn to you, unexpectedly, and offer you a chance to participate in the industry he so loves.

That is how I was given the opportunity to grow as the Programming Chair for Upstate Independents.  The former Programming Chair had resigned and Kevin asked me, "How would you like to step in as an interim Programming Chair?"

And that was the opportunity for me to stretch out in the indie film scene of upstate, New York.

Lately, I call it the six degrees of Kevin.  No one is perfect, but Kevin has done a lot for people and the good karma always comes back in one way or another.  In fact, I'd wager that my current role as a host on "IMPACT" has to do with him in one way or another.

Not that Kevin is perfect... nor that he is responsible for creating all the opportunities upstate...but his imperfections stand out as unique personality traits that he definitely knows how to creatively exploit as an actor in his best work and he's wise enough to know that positive energy sends vibes that eventually touch us all and return.

Negative vibes, on the other hand, cause a vacuum, a virtual black hole for creativity, in other words.

Quite scientific, if you think about it.  Albert Einstein would be proud.
Watch my interview with Kevin and you'll see how that all comes together and adds up.

>> watch interview 

Impact Promo

Check out our Impact Promo -- and keep watching until the end for the show times and channel!

Making an "Impact" with Proctors and Open Stage Media

I've returned to an old love and pastime of mine: interviewing personalities and creative makers in the community around me -- this time on the show "Impact."

My first interview was two weeks ago, in late October, with actor, producer, multi-talented and committed to his art, Kevin Craig West.  If you like, you can check it out on my Facebook page. 

Wow - amazing - all the catching up I need to do with social media now that I'm putting myself out there in the spotlight, again.  I'll definitely be keeping you up to date on all I'm learning as I go along -- and I definitely welcome your input.  I've got a lot to learn -- no man, or woman, is an island.  Not that I've been out on an island all this time.

Let's just say that I've been in the dark woods of a deep forest and am slowly coming out to see the forest from the trees.

And now I'm all about what this great big world -- and the community around me -- has to offer.  "Think Global, Act Local," as they say.

Stay tuned... I'll be taking you along on my journey. 

Wow - it's good to be back out of the woods.