So how did I get there?
Well, in 2013 I was in the Army and stationed in Hawaii on Schofield Barracks. I had not to long before finished up production on my first feature film (which I wrote, directed, and produced without any real money) and had decided to continue to pursue acting. I had reached out and landed an agent (which is much easier in Hawaii than L.A.) and was pursuing acting gigs when I could in the midst of my full time Army schedule.
At the beginning of the year I landed a local Hawaii commercial (HEMIC Orange Paint) as Painter #2 (there was originally only one painter in the original script). I was the clincher of the commercial, "We're out of orange paint." People seemed to love it. Up to this point I had no other paid work as an actor.
A few months after the commercial was released I was called in for an audition for Hawaii 5-0 to read with Rachel Sutton. In Hawaii this is one of the best auditions to have because being on that show out there is the best chance for exposure. I didn't get called back for that role.
A couple later my agent sends me another e-mail about an audition for the Untitled Cameron Crowe Project, mentioning that Cameron Crowe, the casting director, and perhaps another producer might be at the audition. Of course, I was extremely excited. I of course memorized the script very quickly (all 3/4 of a page) and felt very prepared.
I went in to the audition extremely excited (and showed up in uniform because I was auditioning for a military character) and felt very good about my audition. I didn't even care at that point if I landed the part, I had just auditioned for Cameron Crowe! That was exciting enough.
A few weeks went by and I figured I hadn't got the part since I thought those had been initial auditions. A couple months later my agent e-mails me and tells me they are seriously considering me for the part! Talk about excitement!
Shortly after that my agent contacted me again and said they wanted me for sure. I of course said yes and was very fortunate to have a very supportive command at the time who wanted to help foster my future acting career. My commander at the time, Nicholas Albright, was especially helpful in fostering the definitive possibility of making sure I could take leave to be able to shoot the movie.
I then just had to wait for five months before we actually shot my scene. We shot in November. It was a long wait (though not as long as waiting for the movie to come out a year and half later).
But Rachel Sutton and Joy Kam (my agent) were instrumental in getting me into that room in the first place.
At one point before shooting that scene I was called in for another 5-0 audition and Rachel said to me, "So Cameron was being funny and said to me 'You should try and get Ian a part on Hawaii 5-0 so this isn't his first acting gig.'" I felt like Cameron was trying to get me work!
I like to say he's like the best friend you've always had but never met. That's how nice of a guy he is. I feel blessed to have been able to work with him and Bradley.
(In my next post I'll recount my time on set).
