So, I looked at your IMDb before this, because… that’s what you do. It said you have an enormous amount of projects coming up.
Yeah, I just try to work as much as possible. Because we do things that sometimes take a long time to come out, or maybe it doesn’t perform as well as you’d like it to. I had to learn years ago to detach myself to a certain degree. When I was younger, I was a bit pickier. I was still finding my way, so I was trying to control my career. Then I reached a point, maybe about 10 or 15 years ago, where it became more important… it’s not about how people saw me or how great the movies perform, but to really just focus on my craft. Really learn to act. Become a better actor. That became the sole driving force behind everything I do. So, for me to do that, which is one of the pieces of advice that Randy Quaid gave to me, strangely enough, while working on Independence Day, he said, “Kid, work as much as you can. Take whatever they give you. It’s not your job to like everything you get, but if you’re great in everything you do, you’ll work.”
It hit me. It was very poignant, very on the level. I learned that from Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin, too. I had a very poignant moment where I’d done Independence Day with them. It was a very successful film. Then when they did Godzilla, they kind of got tore apart for it. I remember them talking about it and what Roland had said was one of the wisest things I’d ever heard in my life. It could go to actors. It could go to plumbers, and it could go to anybody. He said, “Look, Dean, we did the best we could. That’s all we can do. We did the best we could, and it fell short. We’re not going out and saying we’re geniuses, but if we work really hard at doing this and we keep doing this, we’re going to become craftsmen one day.”
That’s when it hit me. I want to be a craftsman! That’s all I want to do. I’m going to fail, and that’s okay. Because I’m afraid of failing, so let me not be afraid of failing anymore. Then that brings me full circle to John Cassevetes’ motto, which is, “Dare to fail.” You’ve gotta put yourself out there.
“I started taking all these different jobs. Jobs that I didn’t think were right for me, characters I didn’t think fit me. I challenged myself.”
So, I started taking all these different jobs. Jobs that I didn’t think were right for me, characters I didn’t think fit me. I challenged myself. I dared to fail. I’ve certainly stumbled and fallen a few times. Not ashamed of it in the least, I can say now. It motivates me and empowers me to go from job to job. I feel that when I do romantic comedies or a musical. I did this musical with Anthony Rapp, a movie called Open House back in 2002. We had this incredible cast of characters. So I work with these amazing actors, doing a real estate musical, a ridiculous indie film. It enriched me as an artist and as an actor. I also got the opportunity to work with such incredible people that I wouldn’t have got the chance to work with had I not been open to doing that.
Then I started doing television, movies, videos, whatever. If I’m not busy, as an actor, I should be out there practicing my craft. I’m not a movie star, and I’m okay with that. I came out here to be an actor. Really, truly. So, for me to continue to do that, I must challenge myself. I must take whatever comes my way and do the best I can with it. I’d love to be on a series. I like steady work. I like the camaraderie and family-building.
The few times that I’ve done guest spots in shows, I’ve shown up and fell in love with the camaraderie on set. These people have been together for years, and they love each other. They have this way of working that was very smooth. For me, there’s a lot to be said about that. Without being too long-winded, I’ll say, I’ll do little movies, I’ll do little indies. I’m not averse to any of those things either. It’s just really about getting out there. That is where I thrive.
When you were talking about craft, it reminded me of this… I can’t remember what ’70s talk show it was (pretty sure it was Dick Cavett). I saw a clip of it. Marlon Brando actually said a similar thing. He said, “I’m just a worker. I’m a craftsman, etc.” I think that’s an amazing point of view to have on what you’re doing. The fame ebbs and flows, so if you’re doing what you love, you’re already set.
Yeah, the fame ebbs and flows, and true happiness doesn’t come from fame. It feels like it can. Adulation can be uplifting, and you can get a high from that. Many of my friends have been going through this lately, having regrets about what they did or didn’t do. I’ve found that really, peace of mind comes from being present in the moment. Wherever you’re at and whatever you’re doing. So this idea of where we’ve come from or where we’re going falls to the wayside in everyday wellness and being. As an artist, I need to stay balanced, so I’m more open and apt to do them when things come my way. Keeping that in mind, it’s just trying to have a healthy perspective in living life and being happy with what we have, especially in this day in age in the middle of a raging pandemic. Be thankful for the simple things.
I’m such a geek, but it really is like when Gandalf says…. it almost brings tears to my eyes, but he says it when Frodo is like, “I wish none of this happened!” and Gandalf says, “Of course, but these things are not for you to decide. All that you have to do is decide what to do with the time that’s given to you.” That is really what life is about. He also said to Frodo, “It’s in the small things.” It’s in a smile. It’s in being able to take a breath and breathe freely. To be able to walk, to be able to see, to be able to hear. It comes down to the most basic human needs. If you have these things, you really kind of have everything.
Understanding this can free and liberate you as an individual in anything you do—any walk of life. If I can remember that and carry that over, maybe I can help give people what I continuously find in movies, music, television, magazines, and speaking with you and others. I always have these discoveries and happy accidents, happy discoveries. It happens because I believe I’m open to them.
