Your upcoming movie The Night Monica Came Back
- in a few
words, what is it about, and what can you tell us about your character in
it?
It's about a group of friends who attend a reunion 20 years after a
rather miserable camping trip. However, the reunion is soon darkened as
events unfold. My character Herbert is a bit of a nerd and doesn't
generally socialise in large groups. What did you draw upon to bring Herbert to life, and
how much of Chris Dudley can we find in him, actually? I've
tried to build the character from the ground up, so there is very little
of me in Herbert, aside from the fact I can't think of anything worse than
attending a reunion. With The Night Monica Came Back
being a horror comedy, are these genres
that actually appeal to you, both as an actress and as a viewer?
I
do really enjoy comedies, horror not so much. I don't enjoy being scared
out of my wits, I much prefer to watch something I can laugh at. In acting
terms, I would love to do a horror, because you have so many avenues in
which to explore a character, in comedy, you only really have one. You
need to be funny. Horror acting, you could be killed, or be the killer, a
raging psychopath or a calm and unnerving character. There's so many
options with horror. I just don't enjoy watching them, hah. Shooting
The Night Monica Came Back
was actually part of an "actors'
bootcamp" - so do talk about the bootcamp for a bit, and how did you
get involved with it even? The boot camp was brilliant.
Intense, but brilliant. It really brought home how vulnerable you are to
your own feelings and emotions and past experiences. If you bottle those
up, eventually you will succumb to them and they will prevent you becoming
the best possible character you are trying to portray. As well as
preventing you progressing both as an actor and as a human being. It also
highlighted how important a good diet and regular exercise is for an
actor, because you never know how long you will be shooting a scene for.
If you can't run for very long or are not as athletic as the character you're trying to become, you may lose the role, or worse, keep the role but
portray it very badly, which is no good for you and no good for the film.
The Night Monica Came Back
also stars horror veteran Laurence R. Harvey from Human Centipede 2
- so what was working with him like?
Laurence is amazing. I
learnt so much from him, just by watching him on set, how he prepared
himself, and then speaking to him throughout, I gained a lot from that,
personally and as an actor. Would definitely want to work with him again. Any
future projects you'd like to share? I have a few projects
of my own that are in pre production. No set dates for when filming will
commence, but they should be done and ready for summer 2017. What got you into
acting in the first place, and what can you tell us about your education
on the subject? I did a few stage productions in high
school, etc. I'm not going to give the whole cliché of this is what I've
always wanted, etc. I loved drama, I loved performing, but then you grow
up and you've got people in your ear, you need to do this, you need to do
that. Well I've done that and gotten nowhere for 10 years. So, 6 months
ago I saw an ad for an acting academy and I thought, you know what, I'm
going to audition. If I get in, happy days, if I don't, at least I gave it
a go. 6 months later I've got 5 IMDb credits, worked with Laurence R
Harvey, got my own projects I'm working on and for the first time in an
absolute age, I'm genuinely happy. Northern Star
Acting, the training
academy are incredible. Not just because the coaches are amazing people
and actors, but because they teach you the other sections that you never
really thought about. The marketing side, your own mindset, creating and
developing a character. And literally tons of other stuff. If any aspiring
actors out there are looking for a training company, Northern Star
Acting is the only name you need.
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How would you describe yourself as an
actor? Ooh, tough one. Willing. I will try anything. I have
no fear. I have the philosophy that you only get out what you put in. So
I put everything in. No holding back. There are no roles I'm afraid to do,
lead role, supporting, crazy killer, guy next door, weirdo on the train,
nerd, gangster. I could play anything and everything and I'm willing to do
anything and everything associated with that role. Actors (and indeed actresses) who inspire you? Tom
Cruise has been a massive inspiration for me. To stay on top of his game
for so long, you have to have that extra, something. He has that. Other
major influences would include Tom Hanks, Adam Sandler, Gerard Butler,
Kate Beckinsale, Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Will Smith and a ton of others. Your
favourite movies? How long have you got hah, Top Gun,
A Few
Good Men, Forrest Gump, The Green Mile, Bruce
Almighty, Harry Potter
(series), The Lord of the Rings (series), Transformers,
Happy Gilmore,
Hotel Transylvania, Cars, Toy Story, Fast and Furious (series). There's a
lot, hah. ... and of course, films you really
deplore? I don't have any really that I don't like, I've
not seen every film ever made, so there may be some in the to-watch list,
but, I don't see a film title and think oh no, not that one. Your website, Facebook, whatever else?
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Feeling lucky? Want to search any of my partnershops yourself for more, better results? (commissions earned) |
The links below will take you just there!!!
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My
web address is
www.chrisdudleyofficial.com
and you can find me on Facebook, Chris Titch Dudley. Anything
else you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? Erm,
just a huge thank you to everyone at Northern Star
Acting and Laurence R
Harvey. Until next time. Thanks
for the interview!
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