I guess it's usually misquoted, people usually say, "If you build it, they will come." But in Field Of Dreams, Kevin Costner's character hears "If you build it, HE will come." I guess, in a way, it actually works the way it was said originally. I'm realizing that I am a BRAND, a BUSINESS. I'm no longer just an actor with a 'B' job. I think as artists, it's hard to think of us as a business and well, to even think with a business mind. I just overheard a make-up artist on set say she'd never worked in an office. She said that the joke with her fellow Emory classmates is they're not good at math. "That's why I date Jewish men so they can figure out the tip." But what I heard was, that she's an artist, she doesn't do the 'business thing' it's not her strength. I also saw a tweet from Felicia Day today, mentioning digging up W-9's and getting credit reports and that the business stuff takes longer than the creative at times. I'm rambling a bit, there's a lot of stuff rolling around in my head lately.
One of my teachers, Richard Lawson talks about the misconception of an actor and as a character. He'd take two tapes (before digitally recording critiques at The Beverly Hills Playhouse) and hold them up. He'd say, "This is you as the actor, this is you as the character. They look identical, but they are different. You have to learn to let that character go. You created it, put it out there and now it's done." I took that literally and said, well my 'acting career' is that over there, disconnected from me, Mark, the person.
Welcome to the Christmas episode of PODCAST FROM AMERICA, with my special guest Mark Gantt, a talented actor/writer/producer/director, who I was lucky enough to speak to at the beginning of October. You can listen to the show via iTunes by clicking this link.
I’ve been following Mark’s career with interest since I met him on the set of Sony’s The Bannen Way, just over a year ago. He and his Bannen co-creator, Jesse Warren, were on day 18 of a 19-day shoot at the Lacy Street Studios in east LA, filming their ground-breaking high-production value web series, about a gangster who wants to go straight.
I blogged at the time that ‘Hollywood’s future was in Bannen’s hands‘, and after the series scored more than 14 million hits, and went on to be sold as a feature on DVD, I think they ably demonstrated that well-produced, original web shows can have clout. Their model is very new, but proves that there is another viable way that talented actors, producers and directors, who might otherwise not get the chance, can showcase their talents.
Mark’s now an authority on making shows on the web, and runs a kick-ass course on the subject – find out more at www.ganttworkshops.com.
He also has a host of projects coming up, including the episode of Suite 7 that he directed, starring Eddie McClintock and Jaime Murray, which is out now.
Inside Acting Podcast With Bannen Way's Mark Gantt
In Episode 28, Trev and AJ chat about what's been keeping them (very) busy, answer a listener voicemail, and talk about the casting process before jumping into Part 1 of a majorly kickass interview with actor/writer/director/producer — and co-creator of award-winning webseries (and now feature-length film) The Bannen Way — Mark Gantt. Total running time: 53:15.
Quick-clicks-Voltaggio-bros-BANNEN-Scream-Queens-Guild-DVD by Marc Hustvedt on December 30th, 2009
The Bannen Way continues to drum up anticipation with their latest promo video out today. This time it’s all about co-creator Mark Gantt who stars as protag Neal Bannen, aka “The Man.” We are still wondering just what kind of “research” went into this role… [Crackle]
Shooting Pilot for new second screen series for one of the big tablet companies. More info to come.
APRIL 4
Begin shooting THE NIGHT VISITOR. Produced by Mark Gantt, Directed by Jennifer Blanc-Biehn and starring Brianne Davis, Gary Cairns, Tara Buck, Jennifer Blanc-Biehn and Mark Gantt.
MARCH 1 Booked new feature film HIDDEN IN THE WOODS. They are shooting the English Language version with Michael Biehn.
FEBRUARY 18
Mark begins teaching acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. Mark began studying with Milton Katselas in 1999.
FEBRUARY 9TH
Final day of shooting on WHOA! with Taryn Southern, Linda Blair and Leslie Jordan.
FEBRUARY 4TH
First season of new digital series THE INN launches. Created by Steve Silvmeran and stars Crystal Chappell and myself. I come towards the end of this season.
FEBRUARY 1-4
Shooting great film with Joe Penna again. Very excited about this project!
JANUARY 19 - 20 Shooting pilot presentation for new digital series WHOA! Created by Scott Richter, starring Linda Blair and myself!
JANUARY 12 Shooting scenes from new feature film FINDING CALI
Begin shooting new digital series THE INN opposite Crystal Chappell (Days of Our Lives, Guiding Light, Venice the series) Created by Steven Silverman (Pretty The Series)
NOVEMBER 12
New series MERIDIAN premiers on FOURTH WALL Studio's RIDESTV and on MYSTERY GUITAR MAN'S YouTube channel - November 20th.
Created and Executive Produced by Sybil Temtchine & Steve Peros
Directed by Perry Andelin Blake
Executive Produced by Mark Gantt
Starring: Sybil Temtchine, Dennis Dugan, Frank Coraci, Eric Avari, Gwendolyn Yeo, Mark Gantt, Brianne Davis and Michael Lerner
JULY 15
Completed shooting Pilot Presentation THE PROGRAM that I produced and starred in. Created by Matt Lutz, Directed by Dylan Mulick With Robert Forster, Kate Siegel and Brett Fliesher
APRIL 28-29
Shooting project with web funny man Jon Lajoie and Roddy Piper (one of the nicest guys I've met) - Check Roddy Piper and Jon Lajoie's site.
APRIL 17
Attending AMONG FRIENDS screening at Universal City
APRIL 9
Shannen Doherty honored for Best Individual Performance from the 2012 Webby Awards in the SUITE 7 episode "Company" that Mark directed. Episode was written by Yuri Baranovsky and stars Shannen and Wilson Cleveland.
