Watching Showtime

Through this blog I’ve had the opportunity to write about some amazing shows, bring some amazing contests to readers, and turn more and more people on to the amazing shows on Showtime. Now I can add to that list interviewing an amazing actor! Don Foley spent some time working on Brotherhood, and then via a few great conversations and maybe a little begging on my part, I got the chance to interview him! Learning the ropes from a working actor is always an amazing experience, and getting the opportunity to talk to someone who came into the craft later than most, who is now working 5-6 projects a year, was a special treat! Check out what he had to say about being an actor, his time on Brotherhood, and a lot more!

You’re doing it a little different than the stereotypical aspiring actor: you live outside of Hollywood and/or New York and you entered the business later in life (read: not at 16). What fueled the desire to act, and what’s driven you do go it on a different path than some?

I always had the desire to act I think, but did not pursue it formally for a very long time. I grew up playing role playing games like “Dungeons & Dragons” where you take on a character like a Dwaven warrior, Elf wizard, etc.. and play out the role. This I guess at first was enough to sate my need to be creative and it has a lot in common with acting. But as I turned forty I was feeling like life was not given me what I needed, I felt like something was missing. So I decided to make a change and try my hand at acting. I was nervous about it and
actually started looking at voice over work first. My voice coach though nailed it right on the head when he said “You’re just looking into voice acting because you are afraid of being on stage or in front of camera.” He told me I should pursue acting for theater and film, and so I did. Thanks Peter! Since I am 40, and have all my friends and family in New England I decided that I was not just going to rush of to LA or New York until I was invited. And besides, because of the film incentive bills passed in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, many Hollywood movies and TV shows are now coming to me. This is amazing actually! A big change has happened in this area. To get speaking roles in big projects twice in one year in Boston was nearly impossible five years ago. Today it is very possible. We had 3 big Hollywood movies in this summer, and 3 more just came in this fall. This is all thanks to some people in my state house getting smart.

You’ve been in over 30 films since you decided to be an actor just three years ago! That’s a huge accomplishment for any working actor, and something many people aspire to be able to say. Despite the “rags to riches” stories that are so popular in the media (and largely untrue for most actors), what’s life really like for a working actor these days?

Actually, that bio I wrote is out of date. It is now 42 in 5 years. Most of these movies are small budget independents with budgets under $50k. I was doing about 10 a year, but things have slowed down some since I joined the SAG. I can no longer do non-union movies and most of the low budgets in this town are non-union. So now I am down to about 5-6 a year, but the projects are bigger and actually pay! It is a trade off that was hard to decide on. But in the end I think joining the union was the smart thing to do when thinking in the long term. The SAG card can open up doors, and gives you some credibility with directors and producers of big budget movies and TV shows like ‘Brotherhood’. Life as a working actor in my town is tough. I am still at the level where I have to have another part time job to make ends meet. I am hoping to that buy the end of 2008 all my income will be through acting
– at least that is the goal.

What brought you to Brotherhood and Showtime? Can you describe your two days on set?
Because of the aforementioned film incentive bills, Rhode Island became a good place to make a TV show. So in comes ‘Brotherhood’. TV shows employ many more actors during the season than a big movie, so it is great to have a TV show in the area. During the first season I only managed to get background/extra work on the show. However, by the time Season 2 rolled around I had landed a speaking role in a big budget movie in Cape Cod called “Chatham” that starred David Carradine (Kung Fu, Kill Bill), Rip Torn (MIB I & II), and Mariel Hemingway (Star 80, Superman IV). I think this gave me some more cache and I got an audition for “Joey Richard”. I guess I must have nailed it because I got the part the next day, without having to come in for call backs.

Working on the show was great! The first day of shooting was the commercial that you see 3 times during the episode. They wanted it to be seen throughout the show to give the feel that it is like one of those crazy low budget commercials that seem to be on every time you turn on the TV. I think the idea worked. I had fun shooting that and was very confident since comedy is kind of my strong suit. It was fun wearing the silly king costumes and totally hamming it up. The second day I worked on the show was 12 days later and much harder. It was the fight scene in the furniture store. This was the most challenging acting job to date. The reason being that I had to emote, look terrified, remember where to walk, try to sell that I am really getting hit, and always make sure that I am aware of where the camera is so I don’t go off frame. Because that scene is all one long take, no cuts, we had to get it perfect. Kevin and I had to do it perfect, the tech guy had to cue the commercial at the right time, the other actors had to be perfect on there lines, the camera guy has to walk at the right pace so he does not get ahead or behind the fight segment. It took like 20 takes. I was sore the next day, felt like I really got slapped around by a scary mob boss. This was the first time I ever worked with a stunt coordinator.

Who was the most interesting to work with on the Brotherhood set? Any funny/interesting anecdotes you can share? Juicy gossip the readers would be excited to know?

Well I met Kevin Chapman (Freddie Cork), Brian Scannell (Silent John), Jason Isaacs (Michael), Billy Smith (Moe, or is that Jeff?), and Brian F. O’Byrne (Colin) because they were in my scene. Later that night Jason Clarke (Tommy) stopped by to see how things were going. All the guys were really cool and friendly to me. I did not get a chance for much small talk, except I did sit in a van for twenty minutes with Brian F. O’Byrne. He was really cool and we chatted for a while. At the time I did not know who he was or that he was one of the new stars. Was cool to find that out later. In the van we talked about NY theater, which he does a lot off. Sorry no gossip to report.

What’s next for you? Any interesting projects in the pipeline we should all be on the lookout for?

Currently I am looking for an agent. This will take some time and research, I hope to have one by this time next year. The other thing on my plate is a TV pilot that is being filmed up in NH. I am cast as a series-regular and share most of my scenes with John Fiore who plays Nozzoli on ‘Brotherhood’. He is the name actor on the show. I actually can’t tell you any details because I signed a NDA saying I would not reveal the title or any details about the show to the public until after it was picked up. Also I just had some auditions for parts in some of the big movies coming to Boston. Wish me luck!

Totally off-topic, what’s one fun fact about you readers would love to know? Favorite food, childhood pet’s name, weirdest habit?

Hmm, well I guess a couple of facts about me that may seem weird is that I love CRPG’s, RPG’s and LARPS. Google ‘em to find out. The other things I like are playing Guitar and Mandolin.

Thanks so much for taking the time for the interview Don! And to the readers: stay tuned, as I’ve got at least one other actor conversation for you coming up!

Showtime, Brotherhood, Don Foley