Australian actor Paul Ashton recently completed filming on the feature film “Serial Buddies,” an indie comedy labeled “the first serial killer movie of all time,” produced by Maria Menounos and directed by Keven Undergaro. In it he plays one of the two main roles and acted alongside characters such as Christopher Lloyd, Christopher McDonald and David Proval. It was an experience and an opportunity that seems a long way from Wagga Wagga, the small town in Australia where Paul grew up.
Ashton began acting at the young age of seven performing with Louise Blackett’s Theater Workshop. It was just a natural inclination at the time, and she had no idea what a big role acting would play in her life in the future.
He comes from a creative group, although his parents are in medicine (an orthodox, an alternative, a lively combination, he assures me), his three brothers are also artists. One of her sisters, Alexa Ashton, is also a successful actress. He starred in ‘Home and Away’ and, like Paul, has worked for the prestigious Bell Shakespeare Company.
Asked about his family’s thoughts on his career choice, Ashton was quick to state: “My family is very supportive. I think my dad would have preferred that I had finished my law degree before going to drama school, but never once did my parents try to stop me from doing what I love to do. They have been there supporting and giving 100% and they are proud of the paths we have all chosen. “
After his family moved to Canberra when he was 12, Ashton watched a school production of Tom Stoppard’s ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’. It fueled his love of performing on stage, and soon after he saw the first Bell Shakespeare Company production, it was ‘Hamlet,’ and he knew this was what he was destined to do.
EARLY INFLUENCES
In discussing early influences, Paul points to Rob Sitch, the Australian actor and director who was a part of “The Late Show” and who, with his colleagues, went on to produce some of Australia’s most beloved films, notably “The Late Show. Castle “.
Other early influences included Baz Lurhmann, Kenneth Branagh, Anthony Hopkins, John Cleese, Mike Myers, Jim Carrey, Michael Winterbottom, Ben Kingsley, and Kate Winslet. He trained at the VCA Drama School in Melbourne, where teachers like Lindy Davies, Tanya Gerstle and Leisa Shelton, and directors Peter Evans and Brian Lipson also had a great impact on him during those formative years.
But consider that John Bell, who created the renowned Bell Shakespeare Company, made a great impression on him. Paul recalls: “Seeing his productions every year in Canberra and meeting him and some of the other actors as a teenager was really inspiring for me. I was a drama nerd in its purest form; I used to get his autographs. Dream of mine. to work for them. “
In a true turning point in his career, John Bell came by and saw Ashton play Orlando in As You Like It in his last year of drama school (Paul had written a letter inviting him to join him, and he was surprised when he received a call Bell’s assistant confirming the dates). He worked for Bell’s company a year later, a dream come true.
Earlier that year, Paul had been cast in the role of Ben on the award-winning Australian show “The Secret Life of Us.”
They would spend four years living and working in Sydney before Hollywood called. During this time, Ashton was also the frontman of the popular local indie rock act, Minder.
Reflects on that time: “I moved to Los Angeles, like many of my compatriots because it is the center of the global entertainment industry and offers the most diverse range of opportunities possible. That diversity attracts me and I think it is a better fit for me as actor “.
In an interview at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Ashton shared with me his thoughts on his new life in the mecca of the entertainment business.
SIT DOWN:
Bobbi -Q: Paul, what is one of the main differences between being an actor in Los Angeles and Australia?
Paul -A: Without a doubt the first thing you discover when you arrive is the scale of it. The size of the city itself is a good indicator, there are so many people and it is very competitive. It can be difficult to know where to start. You go from knowing most of the people in the industry and most of the people who know you, to not knowing anyone and, in a way, starting over.
But there is a real sense of possibility and that anyone has a chance. There is a ‘yes’ attitude that underpins much of the American psyche, and I really respond to that.
Bobbi-Q: How did you get the role in “Serial Buddies”?
Paul- A: I got the part by auditioning. Casting director Jen Cooper had seen some of my work last year and called me to read for the part. They didn’t think I was the right fit for Gregory at first, but luckily I won them over.
Bobbi -Q: Was the character easy for you to play?
Paul -A: There were certain parts of Gregory that I had to work very hard on: he has a very dark past and was damaged by years of abuse and neglect.
But his quirkiness and physique were a lot of fun to take on, and in that sense, it was easier. But he was demanding at all times and I had to push myself as an actor to get there.
Bobbi-Q: What acting technique do you use? Are there essential elements for success?
Paul-A: I don’t work with any specific technique. Certainly my training had a great influence on the way I approach my work and, over the years, I have adapted the principles I learned to something more of my own.
Elements that I think are essential? Nothing new: script research and analysis, using your imagination and understanding your character’s point of view. And then the most important thing is to play the moment.
Bobbi-Q: What was it like working with the cast of “Serial Buddies”?
Paul-A: I felt extremely privileged to work with a long list of well established and very talented actors.
We had a core group of guys who were a pleasure to hang out with on set. The other 3 guys have a comedy and improv background, so there was always a lot of laughs, lots of innovation and creativity when the cameras were shooting.
Work with an iconic actor like Christopher Lloyd. Playing my dad! It was wild and undoubtedly the highlight of his career. He was a gentleman and it was a pleasure working with him. And Chris McDonald too? No way. Comic genius right there. We had a lot of fun doing our scene together.
And to top it all, having Hal Rudnick as Gary, my perfect Gregory.
Bobbi-Q: What characters or roles would you like to see yourself playing?
Paul-A: I love both comedy and drama, and I never want to restrict myself to just one genre or form.
Bobbi-Q: What are you currently doing?
Paul-A: I am currently in post-production on a short film that I made before shooting “Serial Buddies.” It’s called “Champion” and I plan to enter it at the Tropfest in Australia early next year. It was a script that I wrote, directed and produced.
Other than that auditioning and entertaining lots of friends from Australia!
Bobbi-Q: What is your goal for this next year?
Paul-A: Keep challenging myself to be better. Of course, I’d love to see “Serial Buddies” hit the submission deadline for Sundance and then of course get in, although that’s out of my hands now. That would make it a good year. And I want to start working on my next self-designed project. I’m just not sure what it’s going to be yet.
Bobbi-Q: How do you have fun and relax?
Paul-A: Spending time with friends, going to the movies, exercising, playing music, doing yoga and when I can ski.
Bobbi -Q: Are you married, single or dating?
Paul-A: Single, but open to meeting someone.
Bobbi -Q: In which city did you live here before?
Paul-A: I lived in Sydney before I moved here, but my family lives in Canberra, so that’s my home. Mom and Dad have a beautiful house there, a big garden in the back and the place is full of amazing organic and biodynamic foods and healthy life-affirming things. My mother is an alternative medicine practitioner and my father is a doctor, so it’s always interesting.
Bobbi -Q: Tell us about your music.
Paul-A: I played music since I was 5 years old. I started with the piano, and later I also played the viola and the guitar. I played in the orchestras at my school and sang in the choirs at my school. Music has always been there as something I did. But it wasn’t until I learned to play guitar at 18 that I started writing and playing a bit on my own. Before moving to Los Angeles, I was actually part of an independent rock band in Sydney. I wrote a ton of songs over the years and a friend suggested that we form a band together, so we did.
In fact, I am going to give my first concert in Los Angeles in a month. Just some low-profile acoustic originals. It should be fun.
Bobbi -Q: What ‘original music’ are you providing for the movie “Serial Buddies”?
Paul-A: There is a song in the movie that Gregory sings to his father. I was trying to find a tune for him so I knew what he was doing when we filmed it. It became a little more than what was on the page. I liked the sound so I recorded it and sent it to Keven. He loved it, so we arranged it and recorded with the genius of musician Giulio Carmassi. It should appear in the movie now, which is great.
Bobbi-Q: Tell me about these YouTube video blogs that you posted while filming “Serial Buddies.” That was original, why did you do it?
Paul-A: They were just a way of documenting / blogging about the weather on set so that there would be a fun record of it, and so that anyone, including my friends and family, could have a behind-the-scenes peak. And to try to make the name of the film known a bit. With independent films, everything helps.
Bobbi -Q: Do you have any special thanks to give to someone in your life?
Paul-A: Where do I start? First of all, my parents. They are the most generous and supportive people I know. Even outside of taking care of our family. And my brothers too, just wonderful people who have helped me shape who I am. I also have an extraordinary group of friends dating back to my early days at Wagga Wagga. They know who they are and we are still in regular contact, and they have always believed in me and that’s a weird feeling.
Oh, and of course Steven Waugh, the greatest Australian cricket captain of all time. The greatest inspiration of my life.
Paul Ashton lives in Los Angeles, CA and is a writer, director, actor, musician, and stage actor.
It is run by the Prodigy Talent Group.