Interview: Actor John F. Kennedy
Local actor John F. Kennedy keeps busy on stage and screen. In demand on stage and a new movie in the works.
He recently took the time to talk to me on his upcoming productions.
MCL: You've been involved in Buffalo theater and movie productions for awhile. When and how did it start?
JFK : In 2001 I did my first professional play at the New Phoenix Theatre. "The Night of the Iguana". Before that I was working in L.A. as a professional extra in major motion pictures and television programs. I was also working as a non-union lighting electrician.
MCL: Who are your mentors in these fields?
JFK: I would have to say Richard Lambert, Mike Lodick (on a technical side) has been inspiring and good friends to me since I started theatre in Buffalo. Most of my mentors when in school are now passed away, but I've had the pleasure of working with the likes of Martin Sheen, Mark Walburg, and George Clooney to name a few. Wolfgang Peterson was an interesting director to observe when I was working on "The Perfect Storm"'
MCL: What were some of your favorite roles? Why?
JFK: Some of my favorite roles in theater were Billy Pilgrim in "Slaughterhouse 5", Chet in Cowboys 2", Big Mac in "On the Waterfront". I gotta say being a sheriff deputy on "X-Files" was pretty cool. The roles were all well written and allowed me to put it all out there as an actor. When acting I feel like I can explore parts of my own personality that I probably wouldn't on an everyday basis.
MCL: You've also delved into playwriting. How did that start?
JFK: Many of my experiences as a teacher in Buffalo school has inspired me to write my first play due to the nature of poverty. The thing I see these kids go through were so heart wrenching that I just had to write about them. To give a voice to those who are never heard. I hope to complete another play in the next year when I find the time.
MCL: How does it feel to see and hear your play on stage?
JFK: When I saw these actors performing "Peoples" with the lines I wrote. The experiences told by my former students and telling the story which invoked tears of many in the audience caused me to think there might be something to the piece. The whole experience made very humbled and proud.
MCL: What motivates you as an actor? What parts of you seek out?
JFK: I think the quality of writing is the biggest motivation for me to be interested in a part. I have confidence in the choices of most directors who think I would fit a part.
MCL: You've been working on a movie project. Want to talk about it?
JFK: At the Allentown Art Festival almost three years ago I ran into Greg Sterlace who know I was involved in local theater asked if I could help him to contact Bryan Patrick Stoyl for a lead part in an upcoming film project about Mark David Chapman. He couldn't do it, due to scheduling issues, so I asked Greg if I could give to it a try He agreed and now we have all the shooting completed and it is now I'm the post production phase. Most of the project was shot in WNY but a portion of it was shot in NYC.
MCL: What is your role in the movie?
JFK: This film delves into the psychological issues Chapman has and his obsession with the book "Catcher in the Rye". Chapman actually thought he was Holden Caulfield. This is the psychosis the film bases it's POV on, so there is a series of Chapman's fantasy acted out as him as Holden throughout the film.
MCL: Were you involved with the writing and directing?
JFK: I did write one scene from the film and as the Chapman character we would with the original script to make better sense of the story. Greg and his wife Paula (who dressed everyone) shared in directing and Emil Novak did the cinematography.
MCL: Do you have a release date and a location?
JFK: There has yet to be a release date but I will announce the premier date on Facebook. Marketing will be decided as we hope to submit the film to festival circuit.
MCL: Finally ... Promote yourself. What else is coming up for John F. Kennedy for 2016?
JFK: I will be appearing in two upcoming theatrical productions "Of Mice and Men" and "The Judgement at Nuremburg" both at New Phoenix Theatre.
MCL: Thank you , John.
For more information on John F. Kennedy's Theater work:
http://www.newphoenixtheatre.org/
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