Shant Kiraz
CUT TO: APARTMENT LIVING ROOM – MIDNIGHT
CYRUS ZOGHI, 27, has been pursuing acting for the last 10 years. He has
garnered multiple jobs in film and MOdeling.
THE BULL (TB)
What made you want to
pursue a career in acting?
CYRUS
Well, it’s very cliche, but I’ve
wanted to act since I was a little
child. I was born in Iran, and when
I was eight or nine years old I moved to
Sweden with my family. I just
wanted to prove it to myself that
I could do it.
TB
How did the Pierce College acting
classes benefit you?
CYRUS
I thought I was a good actor until
I entered a class. I had never
really acted with another person.
I just knew I could. But as soon as
I’d done it, it was natural. Because,
how hard is it to interact?
TB
Where did you meet your wife?
CYRUS
I met her at Pierce College, Music
161, electronic production.
TB
So you’ve been pursuing acting
since you came to California?
CYRUS
I came in around ’01, I could tell
you that “since I came here I’ve
been on it”, I just haven’t been able to.
Money for headshots, money for classes,
money for workshops. When I did have money,
I went to workshops left and right.
TB
How has the recession affected your
acting life?
CYRUS
I haven’t been able to afford going
to auditions. They are very important
because they give you the opportunity
to show yourself off in front of casting
directors and agents.
TB
Can you give some advice on people
who want to enter the entertainment field?
CYRUS
Find the realness in you. Developing
yourself is the most important thing.
A lot of acting is yourself, people make
the misconception that as soon as you put
the person on stage, he has to be somebody
else, but the best actor is himself.
TB
Where are you currently working?
CYRUS
I work in a an adult day care
center, named The Golden Age. I’m
taking care of senior citizens, and
giving back to the community. We
bring them here in the morning,
make sure they are okay and give
them a physical inspection, blood
pressure and check cholesterol.
TB
Why did you decide to work there?
CYRUS
I believe that I have a strong bond
with the elderly and they really
like me. I feel that a lot of jobs
are shallow and soulless. Not everybody
is okay with doing this. So I really
wanted to help out with my community,
so I chose to work here.
INT. DARKLY LIT BEDROOM – NIGHT
JONATHAN KOONTZ, 27, has been pursuing acting for over eight years. He dropped out of
Pierce in 2004 for financial reasons and currently holds multiple bartending jobs and a voice acting gig.
One of which, is a notably famous role on the web as ‘Rogue’ in Bang Zoom’s “Manga Minutes.”
TB
How many jobs are you currently
working?
JONATHAN
Three: A voice acting job and two
bartending jobs, those are on the weekend.
TB
How has the recession affected your
acting and social life?
JONATHAN
Recessions never affect poor
people. It just doesn’t. I mean,
you were poor before the recession,
and you’re poor after.
TB
What made you want to
attend Pierce?
JONATHAN
It was close to where I live
and was convenient. ‘Junior college,
here’s 10 dollars I’m going
to get my learn on!’
TB
How long did you attend pierce?
JONATHAN
About two years, I don’t remember,
maybe four years. It’s been so
long, I don’t even know.
TB
What made you want to drop out and why?
JONATHAN
The unit prices were getting
higher. And I just wasn’t good at
anything else but theater.
TB
Are you happy with the
decision of dropping out?
JONATHAN
Well, who’s happy being poor? It is
what it is. I can’t say that I’m
sad about it. I can’t say that I’m
happy about it. It’s just one of
those things.
TB
Are you thinking about returning
to Pierce?
JONATHAN
Just for theater. I don’t care
about graduating or anything, I
just want to start performing again.
TB
What made you want to pursue a
career in acting?
JONATHAN
Because being a security guard
sucked and you really cant get
anywhere in life being a security
guard. People don’t respect you.
TB
What intrigues you about acting?
JONATHAN
Being somebody that I’m not. Every
actor has somebody inside themselves
that they bring out. I get to bring
out different parts of me.
TB
What’s your method of acting?
JONATHAN
What I found that works for me is
just bring whatever emotion I have
onto a line. I’m more like Meisner,
I react. I’m more of a reactor
than a actor.
(beat)
TB
Is there any advice you can give to
struggling actors?
JONATHAN
If you want to play it safe, play
it safe, me, I’m not that kind of
person. I just dove in headfirst into
the water and I don’t regret it.
This is the life I chose. I’m
eating s*** because of it. I wont
suggest anything to anybody, do
what you want. Think about what’s
going to make you happy.
END
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