Aloha Part 1 - Right Time Right Place

Many people say in the film business hard work pays off. Many also say that with acting it's hard work and luck or the right time and right place. Well, in this situation, the right time and right place led me to this -

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).

Transitions

I'm going to put this out there. My transition from the army to Los Angeles is probably the hardest transition I've ever had to make. But it was one I needed to make to pursue the career I wanted, sooner than later.

Yes.

Even more difficult then my transition into the army. Sure, basic training was miserable. But I actually found myself in a better place figuring out my life. I didn't have to worry about finding work and because I had a constant paycheck all I really had to worry about was finding new friends who could guide me on the right path. That was the transition, though. Being in the army was different.

But the transition after. That is what no one is really prepared for. Yes, the military is very oriented on helping people find work when you get out. Sure, they want to help you succeed. But what they don't really talk to you about is the psychological effects that might occur when separating.

It also doesn't help that I dislocated my shoulder a month before I was getting out.

I planned my transition with extra time to get settled and still have a flowing income for at least a month. But a shadow crept up on me I didn't see coming. I didn't even notice it's presence until nearly a month later. It was like a little voice on my shoulder I couldn't hear whispering in my ear the whole time.

Separation anxiety.

I don't think anything can prepare you for that. Not properly. Much like a death of a loved one or divorce. But on a milder scale. Yet it still creeps in. And it sucked away the productivity I had planned on the first month I was in Los Angeles. The worst part was, I didn't really have any close friends in LA to turn to when I got here. Sure, I still knew people but not the way I had close friends from where I had just been. In a sense I was starting over again and nobody I knew here really knew what I was going through.

That's because I was a creative type who had just come from the most unlikely field. The military.

Really, there aren't a lot of people who understand the military. Especially in LA. They say 1% of the population in the country has served. With that, I'm surprised how many people I meet have. Except here. Not in LA.

I fit but yet I don't. I'm a creative but I've lived in another world.

I'm just now beginning to figure my life out again. In the past four years I've suffered from separation anxiety, depression, and mental breakdowns. All of that has been military induced. I've learned a lot and much has changed about me but it has also taken it's toll.

I'm glad to be back in LA. I know my creative spark will continue to be pushed while I'm here. I'll also be around more people who share my interests.

But really, this post is for all those who serve and have served. I appreciate what you are doing. Because I have been there. I have been in your shoes. And I know how difficult it can be if and when you get out. And if you're still serving, please do so with living up to the expectation of how a soldier is meant to live.

You have my appreciation.