Published: April 13, 2010 10:58 AM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., BGS, MBA (Juniorscave.com)
JC Interview Exclusive (Celebrity Interview with A Rising Actor) (April 2009 Edition) Bobby Rice
Bobby Rice
Our Webzine recently had the pleasure for the month of April to speak with a wonderful young and talented actor Bobby Rice about his many new adventures in Hollywood and on the Internet. The Colorado born actor was wonderful with speaking to us about his passion for acting, his love for his family, and some of the cool projects he is currently involved with. For more information on this amazing actor and his works, please read this insightful and delightful spotlight.
Isaac: Hi Bobby, How are you doing today?
Bobby: Doing great Isaac thank you and thanks for talking with me.
Isaac: I wanted to first thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to complete this online interview with our Webzine. Let's get started. What prompted you to want to pursue an acting career?
Bobby: It is my pleasure. Well, as a kid, I was in and out of acting classes or performing in some capacity. But it wasn't until college when my best friends and I started making short films that I really felt this was something I wanted to pursue. We all lived in Fort Collins, CO at the time and were going to school, two of my buddies made the decision that they were going to go to film school in CA and I decided to come with them to try my hand in acting. So looking back I was totally clueless to what I would need and how I would get there. But I was fortunate to be with great friends and we have had one hell of a time in Southern California.
Isaac: What is the one aspect about acting that you enjoy the most and why?
Bobby: Finding character. I think my training in Improv has helped me with that. I really just enjoy finding, or trying to find, the subtleties in mannerisms and speech and pose. It's fun to play a character that's really not too much like me, I enjoy the challenge. When I was researching for Buck, I talked with my coach, the great Morgan Shepard, in great detail just about turn of the century American life. Pre and post WW1 Ideals and attitudes of honor and family compared to today's standards. I like all that fun stuff when taking the stage. I really admire guys like Daniel Day-Lewis who can completely loose themselves in it. It’s fascinating.
Isaac: One of your current projects is the award-winning independent web series Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II. What can you tell our readers about this web series? How did you come to get involved in this web series?
Bobby: My first audition/ gig in Los Angeles was Star Trek Hidden Frontier. James Cawley had seen me and thought I would be good for the role of Peter Kirk. I have made many great friends from the Phase 2 family. They are fun and extremely passionate people. It's amazing what they are able to accomplish outside of the "Hollywood system". I have heard many times from many people that the episode "World Enough and Time" is one of the best Trek episodes people have ever seen. Fans tell me this! That's an accomplishment and the New Voyages/ Phase 2 guys really pull off some incredible stuff.
Promo poster for Star Trek: Phase II's Blood and Fire
Isaac: Another web series you are currently involved in with is Buck Rogers in the 25th Century where you play the lead character. How exciting is it for you to play the lead in this web series? What can fans expect from this series?
Bobby: Playing Buck Rogers is fantastic. Having Gil Gerard and Erin Grey playing my parents in the pilot is so cool. I love the character and what we have done with the story thus far. Fans can expect a retro Buck Rogers, based on the original comic strips. We plan on staying close to the look of the original concept, and making the jet packs and rocketships fly and function with CGI and green screen. It is a very fun telling of the story; the sci-fi is going to have a very steam punk feel. It’s a big responsibility and honor. The response we have had from the small bits we have released has for the most part been very positive. I think people are excited to see the original "comic strip" Buck elaborated on. I know that they want to do a theatrical adaptation of Buck as well. I think in the next couple years there will be a large revival of the name and franchise.
Isaac: What do you think you will offer to the entertainment industry that will set you apart from others?
Bobby: Well I hope I just remain myself. I always jokingly tell my friends I am selling out the moment I can. New friends, change my name and spiritual ideals, and little to no contact with my old and "poor" lifestyle. (That includes you Grandma). Actually, I am a pretty easy to please guy, so just give me a job and I'm happy! I don't go out very often, more of a pint of beer guy with my buddies and hanging with my girlfriend. Or doing Improv. I would like to think of myself as a sincere person, so I would like to bring more sincerity I guess. That and my new Star Wars Stormtrooper Adidas I just got. I bet Day-Lewis ain't got them!!!
Isaac: Elaborate a little about your background and your upbringing.
Bobby: I moved around a lot. Most of my family is from Montana where I was born. My father is in the restaurant business and that took us from Montana to Texas to North Carolina and finally to Colorado. I feel fortunate to have spent enough time in each place to make great friends and meet and see a variety of interesting people and states. I have a really unique and great family. We never had a lot of money but my parents kicked ass to always give me and my brothers and sisters everything we wanted. Lots of laughs, lots of smart asses. Christmas is always fun.
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one director in Hollywood, who would it be and why?
Bobby: Probably Martin Scorsese, or Quentin Tarantino. Both those guys know how to make movies, and I can't stop watching their films. Both seem extremely fascinating guys too. I like meeting people like that.
Isaac: How do you prepare for an audition?
Bobby: It just depends on the audition. Sometimes I will meet with my coach, if I have the full script available to read I'll go through it once or twice. You always do your homework, but a lot of variables go into it. Sometimes you’re great but just not the right height or hair or a little too old or too young. It’s funny sometimes you'll be waiting to go in the room and everyone around you kind of looks like you. Same "type" same age. So I usually try to think about what I can offer the character that these guys won't. Sometimes it works out and other times.......I'll think "Bobby what the Hell was that"? Shamefully back to my car.
Isaac: What advice do you have for others wanting to pursue an acting career?
Bobby: Keep at it. Have a lot of persistence and although expensive try to stay involved in classes or theater. As a career though, I would say get an agent. As best you can try to, it will help. Don't be afraid of smaller projects, do them and do them often. It will build your resume, you can make a reel, and looking back that's kind of how I got Buck. Have some money set aside for headshots, classes, mailings, it gets expensive pursuing this!
Isaac: What are some future projects that you are working on now?
Bobby: James Cawley and I are constantly pushing to do more with Buck Rogers. I also am supposed to do a couple films in the upcoming months, one is a bank heist indy which should be a lot of fun. Other than that enjoying myself and going out on auditions.
Isaac: You have a wonderful official website. How important is it for you to have an official website so that others can reach you?
Bobby: First of all thank you and I have to thank Zach O'Brien, Sean Akers, and especially a huge thanks to Joel Bellucci for my website over the years. Friends like these helped me out big time. Because I have trouble figuring out the cable box let alone setting up a website. It certainly helps. The site as allowed me to further promote and market myself. Pictures, video, resume, etc... The most rewarding thing has been people looking up my website and emailing. I have gotten many touching and kind and encouraging emails from all kinds of people.
Isaac: In five years....
Bobby: Working. Having fun with my wonderful and talented girl Janel. I want to see my family more, be able to make more trips to good old Colorado. (Go Broncos). Have some success and fun with Buck. And I have been considering growing a mustache. Alex Trebek had one once I think, and he seems to be doing ok. I think in five years I might be ready.
Isaac: Final thoughts from Bobby Rice...
Bobby: Final thought..... Well thanks so much for the interview. I still have a long way to go and a lot I want to accomplish so let’s do this again soon! And thanks to all of you and my best wishes. And please don't talk in movie theaters that pisses me off. http://www.bobbyquinnrice.com (last minute plug)!
