Published: May 23, 2010 6:13 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., BGS, MBA (Juniorscave.com)
JC Interview Exclusive (Celebrity Interview with Host/Creator of "Bridge The Gap" (a new Reality/ Travel Series) (May 2010 Edition) Chris Bashinelli
Chris Bashinelli
Chris Bashinelli who creates, produces, and hosts a wonderful and important Reality/ Travel Web-Series which is aimed to make a difference in how humans understand and appreciates different cultures shares his new vision with our Webzine. Bashinelli explains in this informative and insightful online conversation with our Webzine how his decision to leave acting opened up a door to a project that is forever changing his world. Please join me in this online conversation as Bashinelli reveals his true passion in life. Enjoy!
Isaac: Hi Chris, it is a pleasure to speak with you in this format. I want to thank you for allowing us to interview you. What can you tell our readers about growing up in Brooklyn, New York?
Chris: Brooklyn is really the melting pot of the city. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no other place I’d rather be from. I mean c’mon, what’s cooler than to say you’re from Brooklyn? I think my dad put it best in a story he once told:
All of my friends and I used to hang out on “the block”. There was a Korean, a Jew, an Italian, a polish guy, a Muslim, a Greek and a Russian. One day we were all sitting on my stoop and my Muslim friend said something to my Korean friend that he could not believe! My Korean friend turned to my Russian friend and Said “Walla?” (you swear?)… to which the Russian replied, “Walla to Alla!” (I swear to God).
- Brooklyn’s the only place where a Muslim can ask a Korean something and the Korean can communicate with a Russian in Arabic.
Isaac: When did you get the "acting bug"? What attracts you to performing and being an actor?
Chris: I got the acting bug when I was in high school. My friend Chris Dekki kept telling me to audition for the high school plays until I finally did. I knew from early on that acting was my thing….. or at least performing in general…. I always liked being the center of attention, and I’m not proud of that at all. Now I’m trying to steer clear of acting because I went in it for the wrong reasons. I went in it because I thought it was what I was supposed to do. When I went to Africa, my priorities shifted and now I’m just into being myself on camera and hanging out with people around the world…. I think that’s entertaining enough.
Isaac: You are only 22 years old and have already been featured in a ton of film and TV projects spanning from MTV to The Sopranos. Name one of your favorite projects you worked on and why?
Chris: Without a doubt, the most fun I had was filming the sopranos. It was a surreal experience. There I am hanging out with AJ (Robert Iler) and in front of a crew of about 50 people.
- The month before I was heartbroken because I audition for David Chase for a recurring role on the Sopranos and lost it to my friend Matt Sauerhoff. However… I stuck with it and my manager got me another audition with David…and I booked it!
- The best (and worst) experience was messing up my first line… “Jeff’ I’ll clean it up”….. We did 9 takes of it! Afterwards, the director just got fed up and said we had to move on. I had to throw a glass bottle and hit an exact spot on the porch, which I kept missing… until I finally hit the camera and glass exploded onto the DP. Eventually we got it, but the line is horribly acted.
Isaac: You received your B.A. in Theatre arts from Marymount Manhattan College, where he graduated Cum Laude. How important was it for you to attend school to learn more about your craft? What do you think you have taken away from your experience at Marymount Manhattan College that you are applying to being an actor?
Chris: What I took away from Marymount Manhattan College is that you should really listen to your teachers. If I would have stayed in school and studied hard….I would have been a much better actor. Instead, I rushed off to book gigs and I wasn’t good enough to stay in the game. Boom! I lost my agent and my manager in the same week…
- After that, I went to live in Africa for a month… and now I’m pursuing my real passion- hosting. So I guess the real lesson is follow your gut….. but also use logic.
Isaac: What is the most rewarding part about being able to recreate a character?
Chris: We have a stress creators living in NYC, or at least a lot of us do. Unless you’re a monk…. Or a bikram yoga instructor… you probably have a lot of stress. People deal with that stress in a lot of ways. Many people deal with their stress by working out, or having sex, or doing drugs, and some with creating art. When I was an actor, I was able to release all of those emotions…. Fear, hurt, love, rejection, anger…. In a character- and then after you do it, you feel amazing. It’s a tough place to get to though… where you are truly living and breathing another character… which is why I’ve only “really” acted a handful of times.
Isaac: How do you prepare for a film role?
Chris: I have no idea. I switch it up every time. Sometimes I would learn my lines while surfing… sometimes I lock myself in my room for hours…. Sometimes I do no preparation at all and it works out the best. Most importantly: I train, learn the lines, study the connections, and then let everything go right before they say “action”.
Isaac: How do you handle rejections when you do not receive a part that you have worked so far to pursue? What do you learn from the experience?
Chris: Rejection is a non issue for me, except with girls, I’m really horrible in that arena. After watching my father die from cancer, there’s not too many things or people that can hurt my feelings.
Isaac: One project you are involved with, "Bridge The Gap" (a new Reality/ Travel Series), where you serve as producer and host, is such an awesome project. What can you tell our readers about this wonderful and important project and what originally attracted you to want to be a part of this project?
Chris: Bridge the Gap is a web series about sustainable development and cultural exchange. It’s about finding out what we and people in developing nations share…. And what is different and interesting about our lives. People everywhere have the same needs, wants a desires. When you pierce our skin, we all bleed the same color. It’s about time there was a program that humanized people in developing nations and showed that at the end of the day we’re all alike.
- This year I’m traveling to Tanzania and Pine Ridge, South Dakota, to the poorest Native American Reservation in the U.S.
Isaac: Let's talk about your new mission in life; one that I really admire you for doing.
Chris: The way I see it: there’s 3 billion people living below the poverty line and 3 billion people living within and above their means. All I want to do is to create entertaining content, captivating the attention of millions and connecting viewers with practical ways they can improve the quality of life for individuals in impoverished areas worldwide.
Isaac: I read online in your bio that you are an avid surfer and spend your vacations mountain biking the red rocks in Moab, Utah. What are some other activities you enjoy doing when you are not working?
Chris: I work like a mad man…. Probably 70-80 hours a week. Poverty doesn’t sleep. I love surfing… I love hosting…. And I love working out… I hate going to bars…. I love hanging out with the 79ers on the block.
Isaac: Where can fans access more information online about you and "Bridge The Gap"?
Chris: Follow your heart. “Step outside yourself” Learning what your passion TRULY is might be the hardest thing in the world, but once you find it, you’re golden. There will always be a lot of haters, but as long as you are ok with yourself, you’ll never need outside approval.
