The Laughing Bum was my breakthrough acting gig.
I haven't yet landed an agent nor have I made one cent as a performer.
You may say that I haven't done much of anything, but that's not totally true.
People really responded to me in this BCIT film school production and my eyes were opened for the first time to my true potential.
The Bum was actually the first role I auditioned for and landed.
The production commenced in October 2006 and was completed shortly afterwards.
Among my eight film roles, it was the most important one.
I was the antagonist who stirred things up and sent the main character, the Mime, on his downward spiral.
Before auditioning, I read the sides and realized just how over the top the Bum was.
This was a very funny role.
I've written and I love comedy, but I'm quiet and modest in real life.
The Bum is the opposite of my real self.
Could I handle him? I prepared for the audition by not brushing my hair for a week and spreading ketchup all over my shirt.
(I first misinterpreted the Bum as a sinister violent fellow, rather than a purely comic character.
) I rehearsed the lines at length, little realizing that that wasn't going to be the important factor.
I went through the lines.
The director, Joel, seemed fixated on the laughing.
He asked me if I could turn it on and off at will.
I demonstrated that I could.
I laughed, stopped and then started again.
The four crew members and I wound up sharing a few jokes and I left.
Nevertheless, it was a surprise when Amanda, the producer, phoned me at home and gave me the role.
Ten days later, I showed on the set at a street corner next to Crescent Beach, south of Vancouver.
I was plenty nervous, despite all the home rehearsals with my girlfriend.
My main goal was not to screw up.
The mime was already strutting his stuff, being followed around by the camera.
As I moved to a public restroom to change, a crew member asked me if I had done many of these roles before.
I was evasive, figuring that the director might find out and get of me.
We had lunch.
The makeup girl plastered my face with a mud-like, grey coat.
I finally assumed my place on the sidewalk and waited for the director's signal.
We did numerous takes of the initial sequence.
It wasn't as I feared though.
The many takes were not due to a failure on my part.
At first the sound wasn't working.
Then the Mime couldn't function because he kept bursting into laughter.
"I can't look him (me) in the face and control myself", he complained.
I finally started to enjoy myself and relax..