Australian Actor Paul Ashton on His New Movie, “Serial Buddies” and His Shift to Hollywood

Australian actor Paul Ashton lately wrapped shooting the aspect film “Serial Buddies,” an indie comedy labeled as “the 1st serial killer-buddy movie of all time,” created by Maria Menounos and directed by Keven Undergaro. In it he performs 1 of the two starring roles, and carried out opposite the likes of Christopher Lloyd, Christopher McDonald and David Proval. It was an encounter and option that looks a considerably cry from Wagga Wagga, the small town in Australia exactly where Paul grew up.

Ashton started out performing at the youthful age of seven carrying out with Louise Blackett’s Theatre Workshop. It was only a natural inclination at the time, and he had no thought of the huge job performing would engage in in his lifetime in the long run.

He hails from a artistic great deal – while his moms and dads are both of those in drugs (a person orthodox, 1 option – a lively mix he assures me) his three siblings are all artists also. A person of his sisters, Alexa Ashton, is also a profitable actor. She starred in ‘Home and Away’ and like Paul has labored for the prestigious Bell Shakespeare Company .

In inquiring him about his family’s views on his profession selection, Ashton was fast to condition: “My family members is particularly supportive. I consider my Dad would’ve most well-liked it if I’d finished my regulation diploma ahead of heading to drama university, but by no means once have my moms and dads tried to quit me from doing what I appreciate to do. They’ve been there supporting and giving 100% and are proud of the paths we have all picked.”

Right after his relatives moved to Canberra when he was 12 many years aged, Ashton noticed a college creation of ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’ by Tom Stoppard. It galvanized his love for doing on stage, and soon after he observed the initially at any time Bell Shakespeare Corporation creation – it was ‘Hamlet’ – and he realized this was what he was destined to do.

EARLY INFLUENCES

In speaking of early influences, Paul notes Rob Sitch, the Australian actor/director who was component of “The Late Exhibit” and who with his colleagues, went on to produce some of Australia’s greatest-loved films, most notably “The Castle.”

Other early influences involved Baz Lurhmann, Kenneth Branagh, Anthony Hopkins, John Cleese, Mike Myers, Jim Carrey, Michael Winterbottom, Ben Kingsley and Kate Winslet. He skilled at VCA Drama Faculty in Melbourne, the place academics these types of as Lindy Davies, Tanya Gerstle and Leisa Shelton, and administrators Peter Evans and Brian Lipson also had a major affect on him through those formative several years.

But he sites John Bell – who created the renowned Bell Shakespeare Business – as creating a especially significant effect on him. Paul remembers: “Watching their productions each yr in Canberra, and meeting him and some of the other actors as a teenager was truly inspiring for me. I was a drama nerd in its purest variety – I utilized to get their autographs. It was a dream of mine to get the job done for them.”

In a legitimate profession defining minute, John Bell came and watched Ashton participate in Orlando in As You Like It in his last 12 months of drama college (Paul experienced written a letter inviting him to arrive together, and was shocked when he obtained a contact from Bell’s assistant confirming the dates). He worked for Bell’s organization a yr later – a aspiration appear accurate.

Before that same year, Paul experienced been solid as the role of Ben on the award successful Australian demonstrate “The Secret Lifestyle of Us.”

It would be 4 many years of dwelling and performing in Sydney right before Hollywood identified as. For the duration of this time, Ashton also was the frontman for common area indie rock act, Minder.

He demonstrates back to that time, “I manufactured the shift to Los Angeles, like so numerous other of my compatriots for the reason that it is the centre of the world leisure field and delivers the most various vary of options achievable. That variety appeals to me, and I believe is a much better fit for me as an actor.”

In a sit-down interview at The 4 Seasons Resort in Beverly Hills, Ashton shared his views with me about his new existence in the mecca of the entertainment business enterprise.

SIT DOWN:

Bobbi -Q: Paul, what is one of the major differences involving getting an actor in Los Angeles versus Australia?

Paul -A: Undoubtedly the initial issue you learn when you arrive is the scale of it. The sheer dimensions of the metropolis by itself is a superior indicator, there are just so quite a few individuals and it truly is so aggressive. It can be hard to know where by to begin. You go from realizing most people today in the marketplace and most folks figuring out you, to being aware of no just one and in a way, commencing yet again.

But you will find a serious feeling of probability and that anyone’s acquired a shot. There is a ‘yes’ mindset that underpins significantly of the American psyche, and I actually react to that.

Bobbi- Q: How did you get the part in “Serial Buddies?”

Paul- A: I obtained the purpose by auditioning. Casting Director Jen Cooper had seen some of my perform last calendar year and she called me in to go through for the job. At very first they didn’t assume I was correct for Gregory, but the good news is I received them over.

Bobbi -Q: Was the character straightforward to participate in for you?

Paul -A: There ended up certain elements of Gregory I had to do the job very tough on – he has a really dark past and was broken from yrs of abuse and neglect.

But his flamboyance and physicality have been a large sum of fun to take on, and in that sense, came extra easily. But he was demanding at all moments and I had to extend as an actor to get there.

Bobbi-Q: What performing strategy do you use? Are there features that are crucial to achievements?

Paul-A: I do not do the job with any specific procedure. Definitely my teaching experienced a big influence on how I technique my work, and over the several years I have tailored the concepts I realized into much more of my personal point.

Components that I consider are necessary? Nothing new – investigation and script analysis, making use of the creativity and comprehension the place of view of your character. And then, most importantly enjoying the minute.

Bobbi-Q: What was it like doing work with the cast of “Serial Buddies?”

Paul-A: I felt incredibly privileged to work with a lengthy listing of effectively recognized and really talented actors.

We experienced core group of men that had been a joy to commit time with on set. The other 3 guys all have comedy and improv backgrounds, so there were being often a great deal of laughs, with plenty of innovation and creativity when the cameras were rolling.

To get the job done with an iconic actor like Christopher Lloyd. Playing my dad! It was wild, and a career spotlight for guaranteed. He was a gentleman and a pleasure to function with. And Chris McDonald far too? No way. Comedian genius suitable there. We experienced a great deal of enjoyable accomplishing our scene alongside one another.

And to prime it off – to have Hal Rudnick as Gary, to my Gregory-excellent.

Bobbi-Q: What figures or roles do you want to see by yourself taking part in?

Paul-A: I really like equally comedy and drama, and in no way want to prohibit myself to just 1 style or form.

Bobbi-Q: What are you currently doing?

Paul-A: I am at this time in article-production with a limited movie I designed right before I shot “Serial Buddies.” It’s named “Champion” and I am arranging on getting into it into Tropfest in Australia early next yr. It was a script I wrote, directed and produced.

Other than that, auditioning and entertaining loads of friends from Australia!

Bobbi-Q: What is your aim for this upcoming calendar year?

Paul-A: To continue on to challenge myself to be much better. Of study course, I would love to see ” Serial Buddies” make the submission deadline for Sundance and then of system get in – even though that is now out of my arms. That would make it a great year straight up. And I want to start doing the job on my next self-devised undertaking. I’m just not absolutely sure what it is going to be but.

Bobbi-Q: How do you have pleasurable and chill out?

Paul-A: Investing time with close friends, going to the films, doing exercises, enjoying songs, yoga, and when I can- snowboarding.

Bobbi -Q: Are you married, single, or relationship?

Paul-A: Single, but open to assembly a person.

Bobbi -Q: What town did you live in prior to in this article?

Paul-A: I lived in Sydney just before I moved here, but my spouse and children is dependent in Canberra, so that is residence truly. Mum and Father have a lovely property there, major back garden out the back again, and the spot is total of astounding organic and natural and biodynamic food stuff and daily life-affirming nutritious matters. My mum is an option medicine practitioner, and Dad’s a medical professional, so it can be often appealing.

Bobbi -Q: Tell us about your audio.

Paul-A: I played songs considering the fact that I was 5. I started out on the piano, and then afterwards also performed the Viola and guitar. I played in my university orchestras and sang in my college choirs, Music’s just generally been there as anything I did. But it was not till I taught myself the guitar at the age of 18 that I begun creating and taking part in on my individual a bit. Right before going to LA I essentially was component of an indie rock band in Sydney. I would published a bunch of tracks in excess of a couple of yrs and a mate proposed we begin a band together so we did.

I’m in fact enjoying my first gig in LA in a month’s time. Just some low vital acoustic originals. Should really be exciting.

Bobbi -Q: What ‘original music’ are you offering for the film “Serial Buddies?”

Paul-A: You will find a track in the movie that Gregory sings to his father. I was seeking to appear up with a tune for it – so I knew what I was executing when we shot it. It produced into a tiny much more than what was on the webpage. I appreciated the seem of it, so recorded and sent it to Keven. He liked it and so we arranged and recorded it with genius musician, Giulio Carmassi. It need to surface in the film now, which is good.

Bobbi-Q: Notify me about these YouTube video blogs you posted though filming “Serial Buddies”. That was primary, why did you do it?

Paul-A: They were just a way to document/blog about the time on established so that there was a enjoyable file of it, and so that any person , together with my pals and family, could have a peak driving the scenes. And to try and get the title of the film out there a bit. With indie movies, every tiny bit will help.

Bobbi -Q: Do you have any exclusive many thanks to give anyone in your existence?

Paul-A: Wherever do I commence? Initially and foremost my mother and father. They are the most generous and unconditionally supportive people I know. Even outside the house of hunting soon after our family. And my siblings too – just fantastic men and women who’ve aided shape who I am. I also have an extraordinary group of friends stretching appropriate back again to my early times in Wagga Wagga. They know who they are, and we are continue to in contact routinely, and they have generally thought in me and that’s a unusual feeling.

Oh, and of course, Steven Waugh – the best Australian cricket captain of all time. The supreme inspiration of my daily life.

Paul Ashton life in Los Angeles, CA and is a author, director, actor, musician and stage performer.

He is managed by Prodigy Expertise Team.