Disclaimer: Since this is the first of a monthly series, this will be a bit different. Our Hollywood North articles have always been about Canadian talent, not about the humble staff writers. I wear a lot of hats, one being a professional actor working on US productions in Vancouver for over thirty years. I have a few fun stories to share in regards to working on set. It just makes sense to start with myself.
For many years, Canada has mostly been a service industry for US film and TV productions. Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto would constantly be dressed to play New York, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco and even Maine.
Right now the tide is turning and there are some wonderful movies like Nirvana, The Band, The Show, The Movie. and Mile End Kicks where Toronto and Montreal are not just playing themselves but are essential for the plot.
The most popular TV show in the world right now is the very Canadian Heated Rivalry. Vancouver was constantly showing off it’s beauty on Family Law. Surrey BC is featured in Allegiance. Vancouver is also the setting for Wild Cards. There is a Law and Order: Toronto. Canada’s biggest city is also the home to Kim’s Convenience. Private Eyes was set in Toronto and the new series, Private Eyes: West Coast, will be set in Victoria, BC. Sullivan’s Crossing will inspire you to visit Nova Scotia, perhaps a bit more than Trailer Park Boys. Even though the town is fictional, Letterkenny is absolutely rural Ontario. Which can also be said for Schitt’s Creek. Of course, the international hit that started back in 2004, Corner Gas, proved that audiences around the world would be interested in life in Saskatchewan, as long as it was funny.
Unfortunately, most Canadian actors can’t make a living yet only performing in productions set in Canada. We have to master the standard American accent and try to get cast in US productions who are mostly shot here to save money.
A Day Player is typically a local actor who is brought in for one day of work to deliver one to five lines of dialogue.
With a monthly installment called Day Players, we will examine that very experience.
Here are some examples from my life:
In May 2000, I was cast as Inmate #4 in the Farrelly Brothers comedy Say It Isn’t So. We were shooting the scene at the mostly abandoned Riverview Mental Hospital and our holding was in a small, scary room where you can feel the tortured energy from patients of the past. I was just there one day but the lead, Chris Klein was there for at least three days. You could tell the experience was getting to him. At the end of the day though, he was running up and down the hall, so happy and excited. He was holding this cold drink and exclaiming that he had the best girlfriend in the world. She came up all the way from LA and brought him a mocha frappuccino. Her name was Katie Holmes. It’s too bad that relationship didn’t last. I would really love to see the uncut version of this movie because it seems like a lot of the best jokes landed up on the editing room floor. For example, in the scene I was in, Chris Klein’s character was involuntarily commited because he was in love with his sister. They weren’t really siblings but most characters didn’t know that yet. The nurse asked if anyone could help Gilly not want to sleep with his sister. Colin Foo suggested he kill her which the nurse did not approve of. I exclaimed “No that’s a good idea because if she was dead then he wouldn’t want to have sex with her anymore.” Danny Murphy (rest in peace) replied “I would!”
The wrap party was way better than the actual movie. We had a private party at the local amusement park, Playland. We could go on every ride, play all the game and we had a delicious, all you can eat BBQ. I approached the ride the Hellivator and it was stopped for a while. Heather Graham gave up and left. I took her seat. It was a longer ride than usual. The operator explained that he gave us more time to make up for the wait. I later asked Heather Graham if she eventually got to ride the Hellivator. She disappointedly expressed regret. Pool woman, she never got any breaks.
In 2001 I auditioned for three different roles for the movie A Guy Thing. I forgot all about it, then my agent called me to tell me that I was cast as Guy on Sofa. I had no idea what that meant. My agent explained that the role would be improvised. The scene in the script was just “Paul walks through reception.” Chris Koch, the director wanted to do something with that and felt that if he brought in some actors to fill the reception area, we could have something. I arrived early in the morning and they started with me on the couch speaking with Paul, played by Jason Lee. It seemed like Jason was not filled in with the changes. I started making stuff up about how scary our boss Ken was and hoped he would be called in before me. Jason was utterly confused and dumfounded. Later on he was so taken with the experience, that he wrote a song he played on guitar called “Shawn Bordoff.” I was on set all day but not used again until the window (last shot of the day). I was directed to go up to Ken’s office and make something up. I knocked on the door as meagerly as possible and said “Excuse me, Mr. Cooper sir, I have been outside waiting for eight hours and I was wondering if…. Ken, played by James Brolin, responded with a quick “Fuck off!” For the next take, I was asked to do something different. I came in fast and confident with “Mr. Cooper. We have not located all the body parts.”
Of course the entire scene was cut. You do see me in the background, through the window of Ken’s office for his first meeting with Paul. In the director’s commentary, Chris Koch says “Oh you see that guy on the couch, he was really good. His name is Seth.”
June 4th 2002, I was cast as Frightened Flyer in Life Or Something Like It.
My scene partner was Angelina Jolie. It was her birthday. I felt I should get her something but what do you get a rich, successful, stranger?
I guessed that she never heard of the Tragically Hip or Blue Rodeo. I made two mixed CD’s, one each of the best songs from these iconic Canadian bands.
A CD (Compact Disc) was a digital optical disc which was used to store audio, video, or computer data. It was very popular prior to 2005.
I gave her the gift and told her that her husband might especially like the Blue Rodeo album since Billy Bob Thornton was in a bluegrass band.
We were rehearsing for camera and Angelina wasn’t focused and she missed a line or two. After the rehearsal, I looked her directly in her eyes and said “Don’t worry Angelina, I’m here for you.” She laughed.
Rush was about a doctor who makes cash only discreet house calls. On the August 21st, 2014 Episode (You Spin Me Around), I was in the teaser, which is the scene before the opening credits. I was Mitch, who was lying on a BDSM bed in his underwear with a ball gag in his mouth. Mitch was passed out when Rush arrives. Rush uses a defibrillator to give Mitch’s heart a boost. Mistress Kang (Diana Bang) used a violet wand (an electric toy) not realizing that Mitch had a pace-maker. During rehearsal Mistress Kang was holding the violet wand and the power chord was just dangling. I asked the director, David Straiton, if that’s how it would be on the day (during shooting), he said it would. I suggested that they grab an extension chord and plug it in as a violet wand is not effective without power. After the rehearsal, Diana Bang took me aside and asked me more questions about BDSM and being a dominatrix. I should get credit on that show as an actor and kink consultant.
Vancouver’s longing running series was Supernatural. It ran for fifteen seasons, three hundred and twenty-seven episodes! Supernatural also used a lot of local actors. There were tons of small parts every week. I wasn’t cast until episode nineteen, season fourteen (Jack in The Box). It aired on April 18th, 2019. Although Day Players are typically just brought in for the day, hence the nickname, I had two days on Supernatural. My part was still an actor role (1-5 lines). There were two scenes in two different locations. The first scene was shot in a church a few blocks from my apartment. The next scene was at the studio. Everything was wonderful on the show. In fact, the director, Robert Singer, pointed out my performance as an example of how to transform into an angel. The shoot was in late November, 2018. At that time, there was a monthly live show at the Rio called Improv Against Humanity. Audience members were called up to play the board game, Cards Against Humanity and the winning card would be performed as an improvised sketch from local improvisers. I got called up to play and they asked me about something I was excited to share. I told them that I was finally cast in an episode of Supernatural. Almost every performer on stage, responding by saying “Oh that’s great. Yeah, I’ve been on the show at least twice.”
On September 4th 2024, I played a games Judge in Christmas With The Singhs. I was asked to come into a scene unscripted. The director, Panta Mosleh told me to stand behind the actors bobbing for apples and make a cross armed finish motion when the clock runs out. I pointed out that if I’m behind the actors, they won’t see me, so they won’t know the contest is over. I suggested I say “Time”. Panta went to check, came back ten minutes later and told me I can’t speak because I was hired as an actor (Day Player) and one more line would make me principal which would increase my pay and the movie did not have the budget for that. We did the scene that was in the script later and some of my lines were changed. One new line was “Time.” When you watch the movie on the Hallmark channel, you can hear my audio of “Time” during the apple bobbing contest that was looped over from the other scene. That’s creative movie magic!
This scene was shot just after Labour Day Weekend. Every year I attend the Montreal Fetish Weekend at that time. I had to change my flight home so I could make the shoot. I have a vibrating massage suit and my kink name is Vibrato. When I was signing out at the church for this Hallmark Christmas movie, just coming back from a weekend of fetish sin, the assistant director (AD) was trying to place me. He got it and asked “Hey aren’t you Vibrato?” Once in a while a Day Player might finally get recognized. We have to admit it, we aren’t even Almost Famous but in my case I guess I’m slightly infamous.
