Hello my Neighbours. Between the years of 2012 and 2015 I spent time in Vancouver pursuing a carton the film industry. Here’s a couple of stories from my experience.

Jan -Dec 2012/2015 – Actor – While looking for work after Film School I found myself seeking an agent to help get things going. I cold called an agent off google and met him at his office.

Walking into the office it was one of those collectives where there are multiple companies in one space. When he approached he was massive, like massive, as big as an NFL line backer. He actually was a bouncer from the film Romeo Must Die a Jet Lie film. We chatted for a bit, though he wasn’t very charismatic, more burnt out kinda energy. I told him my age at the time I was in my late 20’s, though he suggested I say I was a lot younger as the industry is “ageist” and you are more likely to land a part when you are young.

To me this didn’t make sense as there are plenty of dad roles and the like.

Any who he took my info and I never heard back. This seemed to be the process with agents you would sign with them then never hear from them again. Which lead me to think do you really need an agent?

After a few of those experiences I started doing casting calls and background work. Background in BC at the time paid $10 per hour, this was before Netflix and Amazon changed the game.

I recall this one time I applied to a Student film at UBC, I went for the role of a radio announcer. (Before I jump in I should mentioned I have ADD and some learning issues around auditory responses) I walked into this big room. Sat in a chair and was given lines on a page to read. I started my performance and was stopped the director then said “ could you try it with some excitement?” Okay so I being nervous gave it another go, I read the lines. The director thanked me for my time and I left.

While walking away I felt like I nailed it and I was a shoe in for the role. Then, it clicked! I realized he said Excitement and I gave a performance as though I was externally shy and nervous haha I totally fucked that up… oh man, that must have been hilarious and awkward for them. That’s the trouble with a casting call, you are often nervous although prepared and often really want the part and sometimes it doesn’t go your way.

It reminds me of an actor I met while on my journey, Frank was a bit part actor, mostly commercials, he had lost his hair and was obsessed with getting hair treatment as he felt the industry preferred men with hair… he told me once he had an audition for a big role the Warhammer Movie and that his agent had got him the role all set up, he had studied for weeks on his lines getting into character, he was ready.

On the day of the audition Frank gave it his best, a full send, he played the bit as though he was a goblin (in Warhammer it’s mostly Orcs and Humans) after his performance the director ask if he could play the part as a human because the part he was reading for was a human… this left Frank confused and wasn’t able to deliver a performance well enough to secure a role. He was more method and changing on a dime like a trick pony isn’t as easy. He didn’t get the part and I think it left a mark, he vanished for a few years, he now has beautiful hair, and I have seen him on a few commercials as of late…

April 2012/15 – Actor – During my time I was able to land a few roles on non paid student films and several background acting projects. I was on King and Maxwell, Step Up 5, Godzilla to name a few. Each came with eye opening experiences, I learned most of the background actors were people on foreign visas who didn’t speak much English, that if the shows budget wasn’t big enough your provided lunch was shit, like Step Up 5 had better catering than Godzilla.

But I think the most important lesson was that it was like the military “Hurry Up and Wait” your call time is typically at 7am and you don’t get film until 4pm. By then you are grumpy and tired unless you are able to make good friendships.

I recall this one time while in film school we had an acting class, and there wasn’t enough people in class for everyone to have a partner, so the acting teacher offered for someone to take on a monologue a 2 pager. No one offered themselves so I jumped on the Granada, it was a challenge. I recall spending my evens in the school running around trying to remember my lines and discover ways of getting angry, the part was about this guy who caught a man with his wife or some such. I thought it would be great to put on a southern drawl accent. Days later we had to present, it was my turn and some other fellow in the class offered to be my reading partner, he just read from the paper, we did a few takes before the real performance. I am now into the role, really into it, and then there this part where I am trying to drive my point across so I slam my hand on the table but I did it without looking and damaged my hand for days… I got full points on my course but it came at a cost from then on we had this inside joke in the class “rubbing them oils” was the line…

I think if I won the lottery I would do more acting as a hobby/career it’s super tough to try it for a living though, very rare you make it to a $20million mark. Then you gotta think that $20million gets cut up 16% to your agent, 10% to your manager, Taxes and expenses…

Years later I recall seeing a classmate on the show Deadly Class .

Those were the years, wild and carefree.