EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SEAN ROBINSON
Enjoy those behind the scenes interviews with the actors? We decided to do some interviewing of our own and see what the actors had to say about life, the production, and beer...
This month, we interviewed Sean Robinson, who played Danny Feedermore in the film, as well as DC Cathro (his interview can be found here).
Tell us a little about yourself: Where were you born? Where did you grow up? Hobbies & favorite pastimes?
I was born in Pittsburgh, PA, but grew up in Manassas, VA for most of my life. Went to college in DC.
My hobbies have always kinda centered around acting. Growing up, I was always involved in plays, sometimes through school, but mostly through various community and, later, professional theatres. I don't really do theatre too much anymore, but I spend a lot of my time working on various film and video jobs. It's work, of course, but it's also how I enjoy myself. I also spend a lot of time writing screenplays, and I go to the movies all the time. Really. Like two-three times a week.
Other than that, I love working out and try to hit the gym as much as possible. I'm a big follower of mixed-martial arts, UFC and all that. I'm a wrestling fan, too, at least of the smaller, independent companies. I try to go to shows when I can. Love the beach, swimming, playing videogames now and then.
My hobbies have always kinda centered around acting. Growing up, I was always involved in plays, sometimes through school, but mostly through various community and, later, professional theatres. I don't really do theatre too much anymore, but I spend a lot of my time working on various film and video jobs. It's work, of course, but it's also how I enjoy myself. I also spend a lot of time writing screenplays, and I go to the movies all the time. Really. Like two-three times a week.
Other than that, I love working out and try to hit the gym as much as possible. I'm a big follower of mixed-martial arts, UFC and all that. I'm a wrestling fan, too, at least of the smaller, independent companies. I try to go to shows when I can. Love the beach, swimming, playing videogames now and then.
How long have you been an actor? How'd you get interested and/or where'd you get your start?
I've been an actor since I ran around pre-school pretending to be Superman, Luke Skywalker and Luke Duke. I did all the school plays when I was a little, little kid. When I was about 13 or so, I got involved in local community theatre, working shows throughout VA, MD, and DC. That continued for years, and at the same time, I got an agent as a kid, who helped me get some on-camera training and got me a good bit of paying work throughout high-school.
I studied acting in college, continuing to perform in all kinds of shows and adding writing and directing to my resume. I began to also teach acting to little kids, something that continued for years. I've worked with kids as young as 3 and as old as 18, teaching improv classes, audition techniques, storytelling and directing them in shows.
During my last couple of years in college, I focused on getting a journalism degree and sorta stepped away from the acting thing for a bit. But, shortly after leaving college, I just wasn't happy not being an actor, and I jumped full force into making a career of it.
I studied acting in college, continuing to perform in all kinds of shows and adding writing and directing to my resume. I began to also teach acting to little kids, something that continued for years. I've worked with kids as young as 3 and as old as 18, teaching improv classes, audition techniques, storytelling and directing them in shows.
During my last couple of years in college, I focused on getting a journalism degree and sorta stepped away from the acting thing for a bit. But, shortly after leaving college, I just wasn't happy not being an actor, and I jumped full force into making a career of it.
How did you get interested in Hunting Dragonflies? When you auditioned, were you excited or scared?
Little story for ya. I heard about Hunting Dragonflies from a website posting audition notices, and I thought it sounded cool. Plus, the audition was right in Frederick, MD, where I had done a show about a year earlier. More importantly, the audition was the same day I was heading up to Philadelphia for a 3PW wrestling show, and I figured it would be pretty convenient to just stop by, audition, and continue up the road.
However, my buddy and I ran into traffic along the way, and I decided I was gonna skip the audition. But, my friend, being supportive of my acting career, convinced me that we could make the show even if I did the audition and that, basically, I should give it a shot -- get in, get out, then on up to wrestling. So, I figured, what the hell, right?
So, I went in to the audition, not really even focused on it completely, and I read for the brothers, Calvin and Nat. My audition was horrible. It was not that my acting was that bad; it's just that I was so wrong for the roles of the two brothers. And I felt it in the read, too. I just felt awkward and forced. I think I maybe had one good read of a scene before I left, but when I walked out, I was sure I was never going to hear anything back. At that point, I don't think I knew that there were other possible roles I could play.
Anyway, I never got a call. For a couple of months, at least. And I forgot all about the film. Then, out of the blue, Adam calls me and offers me the part of Danny, and I was like, "Dude! I remember that audition! I had totally given up on that!"
It came at a really good time, too. I was really in need of an acting gig that would be "creatively fulfilling" or whatever. I was in need of some fun.
However, my buddy and I ran into traffic along the way, and I decided I was gonna skip the audition. But, my friend, being supportive of my acting career, convinced me that we could make the show even if I did the audition and that, basically, I should give it a shot -- get in, get out, then on up to wrestling. So, I figured, what the hell, right?
So, I went in to the audition, not really even focused on it completely, and I read for the brothers, Calvin and Nat. My audition was horrible. It was not that my acting was that bad; it's just that I was so wrong for the roles of the two brothers. And I felt it in the read, too. I just felt awkward and forced. I think I maybe had one good read of a scene before I left, but when I walked out, I was sure I was never going to hear anything back. At that point, I don't think I knew that there were other possible roles I could play.
Anyway, I never got a call. For a couple of months, at least. And I forgot all about the film. Then, out of the blue, Adam calls me and offers me the part of Danny, and I was like, "Dude! I remember that audition! I had totally given up on that!"
It came at a really good time, too. I was really in need of an acting gig that would be "creatively fulfilling" or whatever. I was in need of some fun.
Are you balding at the crown of your head? (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)
No, I am not. My matted down hair in the film creates an awkward part that, combined with the lighting, creates the illusion of a bald spot in one or two shots. I have a wonderful, thick, full head of hair.
Did you get cold on set?
I was colder during the shoot of this film than I have ever been in my life. In fact, I was never susceptible to cold before this film. I was always somebody who got hot and needed air-conditioning and never wore a winter coat and never complained about being cold.
But, during this shoot, I learned what it was to be cold. You honestly can not imagine, unless you were there. A biting, meeeeaan cold that just froze you to your core. And me, out there with one button-down shirt, no jacket, no hat, no gloves. They even rolled me in a stream once. I don't think I would have made it without DC's help, herding us into the truck, turning the heat on full blast and thawing us out between takes.
I have never been the same since this shoot. I am now susceptible to cold, and I even wear a coat in the winter.
But, during this shoot, I learned what it was to be cold. You honestly can not imagine, unless you were there. A biting, meeeeaan cold that just froze you to your core. And me, out there with one button-down shirt, no jacket, no hat, no gloves. They even rolled me in a stream once. I don't think I would have made it without DC's help, herding us into the truck, turning the heat on full blast and thawing us out between takes.
I have never been the same since this shoot. I am now susceptible to cold, and I even wear a coat in the winter.
Was this your 1st time handling guns in a film?
First time firing a semi-automatic weapon, for sure. I loved runnin around with that AK, and my experience I got shooting that thing was AWESOME.
I saw your name in the credits under "Additional Camera Operators" - did you really operate the camera?
Yup. I think I shot more of this film than anybody but Adam himself and David. Of course Adam set up all the shots for me before I shot them, but still, the experience I gained behind the camera on this set was really, really valuable. And while there's one shot I took in this film that I wish could have been a bit less jerky, there's another that I took that I think is one of the best shots in the entire movie. I loved getting a chance to be more than just an actor in this film. It gave me a much deeper connection to it.
The movie is Adam's baby, for sure, but I definitely feel like the movie's favorite uncle.
The movie is Adam's baby, for sure, but I definitely feel like the movie's favorite uncle.
Were you scared of the cows/bulls/animals?
No fear in this dojo, Mr. Lawrence. I love me some cows! The barns smelled just horrible, though. I mean, I don't know what you can expect a barn to smell like, but jeez, man, these were just BRUTAL.
What was it like acting in front of a film camera versus a video camera?
It's a difficult choice, really. Because, on the one hand, working on film is so expensive, that we really just couldn't waste any shots -- couldn't waste the film. Therefore, we almost always did shots in one take, and unless something was seriously screwed up, we kept that take. That can be frustrating, when you know you have a better take in you and you want to put your best performance out there. But, it also leads to a focus and an economy in your acting, because you know you want to do the best you can when you may only have one shot at it before your performance is committed to film. And you sure don't want to be the reason Adam's gotta spend another couple hundred dollars for a shot you f'd up.
For that reason, film made the production difficult; the camera also made a great deal of noise that made sound recording and sound-editing a major headache. I know it cost Adam a great deal of time.
But, with all that being said, you have to look at the quality of the visuals in Hunting Dragonflies to understand why it was so important for Adam to shoot this on film. The film looks FANTASTIC. It gives all of the actors' performances and the landscape itself, a beauty and depth that could NEVER be achieved on digital video. It makes Hunting Dragonflies look like a big-budget production, a sharp and visually awesome FILM.
For that reason, film made the production difficult; the camera also made a great deal of noise that made sound recording and sound-editing a major headache. I know it cost Adam a great deal of time.
But, with all that being said, you have to look at the quality of the visuals in Hunting Dragonflies to understand why it was so important for Adam to shoot this on film. The film looks FANTASTIC. It gives all of the actors' performances and the landscape itself, a beauty and depth that could NEVER be achieved on digital video. It makes Hunting Dragonflies look like a big-budget production, a sharp and visually awesome FILM.
As an actor, what kind of problems did you run into shooting an action film?
It was pretty tiring at times. Led to a lot of bumps and bruises -- especially with Megan smacking the crap outta me! And it's tough to find the happy medium between not being too over-the-top for the camera, while still conveying the tension and excitement of these pretty over-the-top action scenes. It's like, you don't wanna scream all your lines, but then again, what the hell do ya think you'd be doing if you were in a car chase with people shooting at ya?
All in all, though, it couldn't have been more fun. Action movies rule. And to get the chance to do one, when not a lot of indie filmmakers are up to the task of producing one, is a pretty big treat. That's not a knock on other filmmakers; it's just that you don't find too many independent films being made in the action genre. It was nice to get to do one.
All in all, though, it couldn't have been more fun. Action movies rule. And to get the chance to do one, when not a lot of indie filmmakers are up to the task of producing one, is a pretty big treat. That's not a knock on other filmmakers; it's just that you don't find too many independent films being made in the action genre. It was nice to get to do one.
What was your most memorable moment on set?
Well, there was doing the make-up for the shower scene... But, really, the most memorable moment was shooting the scene with DC, Chester and I up at the rocks, right before the final shootout. It was just SO cold. Actually started snowing at one point. But, you know? I think it was the first time we really bonded as a cast on this film. We shot it fairly early in production and the 3 of us and Adam really realized we were working on something special at that point. Something difficult, sure. But, something really cool.
I think it's the best acting work for all three of us during that scene. (We actually shot some of the tight close-ups much later, but the quality of work held up to the initial shoot of the scene.) We all have many other good moments, of course. But everything just gelled there shooting that scene. And it comes across that way watching the film, I think.
I think it's the best acting work for all three of us during that scene. (We actually shot some of the tight close-ups much later, but the quality of work held up to the initial shoot of the scene.) We all have many other good moments, of course. But everything just gelled there shooting that scene. And it comes across that way watching the film, I think.
How about your 2nd most memorable moment?
A tie between spending hours duct-taped to a chair while Megan beat me and being rolled in the icy waters of a stream in freezing Winter weather. These are the experiences that seperate the men from the boys. You gotta have the stuff to act under these conditions.
And, yes, I guess we all learned that I have the stuff. Right, everybody?
And, yes, I guess we all learned that I have the stuff. Right, everybody?