Have you ever heard of Arkie Kandola? I ask because as someone who works in the film industry, I happily talked about my interview last week while chatting with some BG in Whistler on a Netflix series being made out there. If you’re as curious as those folks were about who Arkie is, allow me to explain in a quick simple way as there’s probably a lot of curiosities right now. Arkie Kandola has been acting for years. He has been in productions like Prison Break, Siren, The Twilight Zone (from just a few years ago), Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Our Big Punjabi Family, and even a feature film Easter Sunday. But there’s lot more on his IMDB/resume. I won’t be getting into all of these roles but I did talk a lot with him. After all, he got two now, and they’re pretty exciting. In two different types of series, Chicken Sisters, and How to Die Alone. So if you’re like those folks from BG who are curious to know how the interview went, start reading on. Learn more from this now while you can because Arkie is making it big already. Who knows what publication will interview him next?
HNMAG: Congratulations on two upcoming roles in series for this Fall! What motivates you to be so productive in getting roles like these?
Arkie Kandola: (laughs) I like that. To be honest, I’m just fortunate to be a part of 2 amazing shows that are lead by amazing show runners. Annie Mabane in Chicken Sisters and Natasha Rothwell with How to Die Alone. I think with any actor or entertainer, it’s just putting yourself out there. I’m very fortunate to be able to have a repoire with casting directors, agents, in and out of Vancouver. They keep me busy so I think what motivates me is pushing forward and getting better.
HNMAG: How to Die Alone looks pretty humorous and even kind of dark and disturbing. Did you have all kinds of fun on set?
Arkie Kandola: It was by far (and no disrespect to Chicken Sisters) my favourite set to be on. The cast and crew are just phenomenal and we just shot that on location. We shot it in Toronto so traveling for work is always a fun time too. With Conrad from How to Get Away with Murder, and Jocko Simms from New Amsterdam, just an amazing cast and to be on location when you don’t have to go home at night. You get to spend a lot of time offset, so I think what we were able to do with the chemistry on set when we weren’t recording was the magic that happens behind the camera.
HNMAG: What about your role in Chicken Sisters? Who do you play in that?
Arkie Kandola: I am fortunate to play a character named Gordo, and he is a camera op for a reality show called Kitchen Clash. We come to town, to settle the dispute between one family that has two rival fried chicken restaurants in a small town. I get to play a loving cameraman.
HNMAG: Besides these, you’ve been getting roles since 2013. What was one of the most interesting roles you ever did?
Arkie Kandola: I think they’re ALL interesting. Especially when you don’t know what to expect, going into a production. I’ve been fortunate enough again to be a part of actor and principle roles so I didn’t do a lot of background. Just to be on set with a new creative team and a new vision each time, I think it’s all been exciting, but if I was to pick something that was a vital moment for me. I was casted on a movie called The Confirmation.
Arkie’s role in that movie was as and the best thing about it was that he got to work on a film with someone he really looked up to in his childhood: Clive Owen. Sharing screen time with someone you always admired is an amazing feeling, that lets you know how dreams do come true. I experienced something similar myself, but that’s an off-topic story for no time at all. Well, maybe a future article. Maybe…
HNMAG: Now you also work as a producer. How did you get into producing?
Arkie Kandola: I think producing was a part of the evolution of just being in film and TV. I think having that opportunity to have friends and a school of trust that have been in production, I think it was just inevitable. Growth in the industry, you know there’s going to be a matter of time where they say, “Arkie, you’re too old to be in front of the camera, it’s time for you to retire.” so I think it was something that I see myself doing for the projectors of my career.
HNMAG: For producers breaking into the business, what would you recommend in terms of first steps?
Arkie Kandola: I think definitely being passionate is something that you have to be in this industry, and definitely have a story that you want to tell. There’s going to be a million no’s before you get a yes. Sometimes you get that yes right away, but it’s gotta be driven to make sure you’re able to dedicate your life to telling the story.
HNMAG: And how long have you been producing?
Arkie Kandola: 6 years.
HNMAG: You’re also working on making a feature with your partners called The Book. What is it about?
Arkie Kandola: The Book is a great story of a family that comes from Healers that travel from India to New York. It takes place in 1984 and then the present day is 1999 in New York City. It’s about this girl named Simeran Rye who goes on her journey through medicine being her family past and wanting to be a doctor but she understands that there’s so many side effects from pharmaceutical medicine.
When Simeran discovers all the healing properties in a book, she journeys her way back to India to unlock all the healing powers. I can’t wait to see what it’s like when there’s finally a release.
HNMAG: Are there any scripts you’ve come up that you’d really like to get done?
Arkie Kandola: Not personally, I haven’t gotten to the writing space. My first love was basketball and I was a great shooter. I understood being part of a team, you have to know your role and I was a great shooter. I knew I wasn’t going to over dribble, rebound, or run up and down the court because I wasn’t a runner. If you pass me the ball, I would shoot my shot. I also knew if I wasn’t open, I would pass the ball. That’s the same for any production or any team or creative space. You just want to be a good teammate. I’m just focused on knowing what my strengths are and relying on people to have different strengths in different areas, to be a great teammate for me.
HNMAG: And how did you and your partners form BMA Films?
Arkie Kandola: This is a GREAT question. My partners are Brandon-Jim McClaren and Max Tomlin. We didn’t want to waste too much time on the name so we just came up with BMA films. We were just focused on getting the story out, so we were able to raise some money for pre-production and go spend a month in India walking the journey of the story. The script has a lot of authenticity in it, like Brandon being a great actor, he didn’t want to take any shortcuts in this story and we definitely didn’t.
HNMAG: How do you balance the two different jobs without getting overwhelmed?
Arkie Kandola: The Book is obviously the passion project and y’know, the pandemic has definitely shifted the way that we produce films. Just being able to have productions that want me a part of their story has kept me busy. I think theatrical releases for feature films was a big way of getting money back to investors, so now it’s just learning the game again. It’s like re-learning the system of how we are able to produce a film of that magnitude or nobody’s losing money.
HNMAG: What would your dream role be?
Arkie Kandola: That’s easy, co-starring alongside Seth Rogen in anything he wants me to star in with. I’ll even do background with Seth Rogen, I’ll go backwards. He is such a mentor and role model in just the field of being a local Vancouver actor. Seeing the way he started off in a show called Freaks and Geeks, then being able to pivot into the writing side of things. If you are a student of Film and TV, how can you not be a fan of Seth Rogan?
HNMAG: How does one go about starting and managing their own film company like you and your partners?
Arkie Kandola: I think it’s just partnering up with people that know more than you. I definitely am not the most educated in the production side but partnering up and making sure that I have my role and I’m sticking to my role and know what my responsibilities are to the production team. Seeing people’s strengths is a big part of any organization. No different than any company, be it Apple or in Amazon.
Like I said, there’s more to Arkie as indicated on his IMDB page, so check it out. I certainly had a good time talking to him and when he learned I was based in Vancouver he was amazed. He said if he ever swings by here again, he’d love to hang out and chat with me, maybe even share a meal from a local restaurant. Van Food is always appetizing, and I look forward to seeing if he ever shows up here for another production.