Forget what you're used to seeing...
We’re starting a series on interviewing the actors of Greyscale, starting with Aaron Kruse, who played the runaway brother of Dan Canton (Roger), and Aaron took a moment to sit down and answer a few questions about his background, the auditioning process, and what it’s like acting in film as opposed to theater.
So, Aaron… what got you interested in acting?
Aaron Kruse: Well, I started doing some stage and theater when I was two years old. And started out from there. As well as few dance productions at my church in Glenn Ellyn, IL.
Wow, two is a pretty early age… how did that happen?
AK: Well it was mainly the productions that our church put on. We had a friend, Diane Belz who choreographed the most of the productions and the plays, and thats also where I learned to dance which led me into stage and then acting.
So do you prefer acting on stage or in front of a camera?
AK: Well, in many ways it’s completely different acting on stage and then film. On stage most of your movements have to be overdone and loud, which helps in acting I suppose because it teaches you to speak up and break out a bit more in the way you speak; And theater can be absolutely terrifying before you get on stage; And then when you’re on stage its a lot less nerve wracking. It can be alot of fun. Film is a bit more calm, but more in depth. And every flinch is seen.
Do you have someone that you would you say is your biggest inspiration for acting?
AK: Hmm, Well. If I had to say it would be a few… Robin Williams has amazing in-depth acting the way he is able to just walk around the room and make you laugh. And then a second later make you cry… and that he has not one fear of getting out there and taking chances.
A second tie would be Robert Downy Jr. He seems to be able to read a script and just make it sound so natural and add so much color and feeling to a character. So those two would have to be the ones that stand out the most.
So tell us how you heard about Greyscale and what the audition process was like?
AK: Well my brother and I received a e-mail saying that there was this movie being made in Tulsa called Greyscale, and that they were holding auditions. The auditions were only three days away and my brother Justin was looking at the Greyscale site and was looking at the cast page. There was a role for Roger Canton which seemed to suit us both. I really was just going for the experience of auditioning and didn’t think I was going to get the part.
Were you surprised when you were asked to come for callbacks and then later offered the role?
AK: I was thinking that my brother Justin would probably get it cause he had a more recent acting experience. At this time I wasn’t currently doing any acting or stage, but thought if nothing else it would be good experience. And also I was looking at any possibilities that Daros might have had any crew openings such as grips.
Call backs were kinda exciting… To hear that they wanted to see you again and that you didn’t bomb the first audition, and that maybe there was a possibility of getting the role.
The call backs were actually less stressful then the audition. And that was when the Assistant Director came up to me and said that we would like to have you and your brother as part of the crew, and a few days later I heard that I landed my first role in the movie Greyscale.
So, when the night came to film your scene, how did you prepare for the role of someone who was a runaway?
AK: That night was actually more stressful then the callbacks. I got the role, but was I going to be able to pull it off in the way that got the role in the first place? I spent a few minutes thinking and praying that I wouldn’t fail and that it would a good and believable performance. Because again it’s way different then theater. In theater, if you mess up you never see your self mess up… In a film, for eternity you can watch yourself failing at acting, again, and again.
In fact it was kinda fitting. The first thing I did on stage I was two years old was at a church. And then my first film was on stage at a church that was not that different from the one I started out on.
Do you have any pointers out there for actors going to auditions?
AK: Well I’m not a master at auditions yet but the best I can say is to make sure you take a deep breath, project from you diaphragm, know your script, and add a few words in of your own to make it sound natural and a try to look relaxed.
And look at every audition as a experience. You might even land a role.
Well Aaron, thank you for your time and we’re definitely looking forward to seeing your performance!
AK: Thank you, Its fun talking about this . As well as my first interview.
