Junior’s Cave Golden Isles Online Magazine is proud to present an amazing interview with a dynamic rising star. Meet American Theater, TV, and Film actor, Brandon Ruckdashel who is building up quite an impressive resume with great projects such as Co-Ed Confidential and his breakout role as Riley on The Lair. Learn about Ruckdashel’s passion for acting, his vision for what direction he will take with acting, and his long-term goals for his career in this chic spotlight. Enjoy!
Isaac: I would like to give you a BIG thank you for agreeing to interview with our publication. I hope that 2011 is going well for you so far. What do you believe has been your biggest/greatest accomplishment in 2010 for your career?
Brandon: Thank you, Isaac. 2010 was definitely a busy year. I'm most proud of Changing the Game, a feature I shot down in Philly with Tony Todd. He was really great to work with and the director, Rel Dowdell, is a true visionary. I also need to do a big shout out to my friends at Ron-N-Ron for providing my amazing wardrobe for the film. Talk about two guys who can really make a guy look like a million bucks.
Isaac: As an American Theater, TV, and Film actor, you have portrayed so many wonderful characters. How important is it for you to continue to gain roles that challenge and inspire you as an actor?
Brandon: I love challenging roles. I have always had the pleasure of being given roles that push me as an actor and directors who enjoy pushing me even further. They really let me loose on Co-ed Confidential and I was able to hone a lot of the comic timing that I was taught by my mentor Jerry Zucker. Talk about a director who really puts his trust in the talent he brings on board his projects.
Isaac: You are building up quite a resume. One of your recent roles that we enjoyed you in was in the TV series Co-Ed Confidential as Zach. How did you prepare for such a great role and what was some of your fondest memories about this show and your role?
Brandon: I was called and offered the role on a Friday, signed my contracts and picked my 450 page script up on Monday, and flew to Miami on Friday. I had to learn one of the best lessons for an actor to learn, when to act. I read through the script and circled 2 scenes in which I'd really focus and develop the character. Otherwise, we were literally shooting so out of sequence I didn't know what scene I was in let alone episode.
Michelle was really a treat to work with. She's really good at flying by the seat of her pants and letting me play around a bit. We have some truly comic scenes together in both seasons we worked together.
I think my fondest memory is my solo brunches on Sundays out by the pool at our hotel. I'd get up early and order before anyone else was up and the hotel cat would sit in my lap, lapping up the leftover cream from my coffee at the end of my meal.
Isaac: Would you be interesting in working on another series and if so what type of series would it be?
Brandon: I've always been attracted to provocative work. I love what Starz has been doing, also HBO and Showtime are definitely in my sights. Two of my favorite series are ROME and of course CALIFORNICATION so you can probably guess what I'd be attracted to.
Isaac: Those cable channels that you have mentioned do make so great shows. It would be fun to see you featured in a TV series from any of those channels.
Isaac: Name two of you favorite series and/or roles that you worked on and why were you attracted to each of the series and the roles you played?
Brandon: As you mentioned earlier, I play Zach on Co-ed Confidential. I love playing Zach; he's the college guy I wish I would have been. Sex and Drinking, I think he's one of the only characters you never see in class. My breakout role was as Riley in The Lair on HereTV!. Doing this show was like a crash course in acting for the camera. I arrived on set, found out I had prepared the wrong scene. Was barely off book when we were called to set, from makeup, and the director said "I'm going to do 2 mediums, 2 close-ups, and a dolly." I being more of a film guy thought that this would take about half a day at least. I was wrong. Fred Olen Ray literally shot exactly what he said he was going to and I was on my way home in 15 minutes. Talk about terrified, until I saw the final product… that is the magic of editors.
Isaac: When did you get the “acting bug” and why are you so compelled to act?
Brandon: I was 16 and my first lead in a musical was Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar. I was lucky, EC Glass where I went for high school, had an amazing theater program and a really visionary teacher in the form of Mr. Ackley. Every night I walked out on that stage to start the show with "Heaven on Their Minds" and I could hear my voice echoing back from the cavern that was our auditorium. I know it seated over 2,000 people (I get in trouble occasionally for misstating the size), but we were practically sold out every night so it really made my head spin. I don't think we knew how good we had it back then.
That was the start of the bug for me, I went to NC School of the Arts for the summer after that and it was sealed. I've never looked back. I'm compelled to act because, especially in today’s age, we need people who are willing to take risks and balance out the conservative pull from parts of our culture.
Isaac: What do you want to achieve with your acting in the long run?
Brandon: I'd be lying if I didn't reference fame and fortune. Behind every actor is just someone who wants to be noticed in some way. On the realistic side, I'd love to have a career in which I am allowed to create and eventually not worry about money in the long term.
Isaac: What are some current and/or upcoming projects you are working on that you can let our readers know about?
Brandon: I'm currently developing my first play entitled "Exposure." It's based around my first 6 months out in LA and really dives head first into what it's like as an actor in Hollywood.
Isaac: This sounds like this will make a great amazing play. I cannot wait.
Isaac: What advice do you have for others who are just getting their start in the entertainment business?
Brandon: Audition, audition, audition. It's all a numbers game. It doesn't matter if you have an agent, a manager, or you’re going it alone. You are responsible for getting you work. Like I told an acting class a few months back, there's not a ton of money in this when you are getting started, so have FUN! Enjoy the lifestyle.
Isaac: Leave us with some final thoughts and/or wisdom….
Brandon: Hold true to yourself and do what you really want. You only live once, why not live it well.
