Wizard of Oz – Menning Films

Today on the UNWAVERING Actor Highlight series we are featuring the great Randy Campbell.

The role Randy played in UNWAVERING was the Preacher. Randy has a unique look and showed up to the audition with a suit and hat just like the headshot above. I didn’t have any specific type of preacher I was looking forward so I kept the role fairly open. As Randy began auditioning I pictured him preaching at a Southern Baptist church somewhere out in the country of Georgia. I loved that feel! Especially since we were going to film the baptism scene out in the country by a lake in Columbiana, Ohio.

Randy has had much involvement with local films and WGN America’s Outsiders. His charisma goes beyond the screen as he arrives mostly 1-2 hours early before every event to connect with the cast and crew members, and he is usually sitting outside of his car playing the guitar to pass the time before anyone else arrives.

Here are the questions we asked Randy:

MPF: What was your favorite part of filming for UNWAVERING?

Randy: My favorite part of filming was how EVERYONE worked together to (make/let) each individual expand themselves to their fruition. In front as well as behind camera. It didn’t hurt my ego either that a very pretty young lady trusted me not to slip & drown her. Thanks Katie!

MPF: Which actor(s) inspire you?

Randy: All actors inspire me even if they don’t have the skill to act. The love of doing & breaking beyond fear; inspiring yes.

MPF: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Randy: Favorite Movie! Hard to say, I love so many. The Hobbit animated & live action ones & Darby O’Gill & the Little People. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Stargate, Original Star Wars, E.T., Wizard of Oz original & new and so on!

MPF: What are a couple of your hobbies?

Randy: Playing guitar, writing various things, painting, T-shirt designs, anything creative actually, exploring nature & weird places, creating with my hands, expanding my talents, Construction Mechanics, auto repair & restore, and doodling.

MPF: What made you interested in acting?

Randy: Acting is in my blood from playing house as a child with the girls, or super heroes or ARMY with the guys (& girls) to kn-itching out my place in the world and adjusting to new situations as a teen to maturity. Even as a father & husband.

MPF: Favorite color?

Randy: Favorite color has always been green. Must just be muh Irish a manifesting.

MPF: Who is your favorite character in the UNWAVERING film?

Randy: …PREACHER. Just loved being allowed to give him character. Gran’dad was a Preacher in the day. Never saw him preach as but spent many a day at his side after giving it up. The Preacher came out from time to time.

MPF: Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?

Randy: Learn about everything. All is fodder for the stage. Read tech manuals, medical journals, and law books out loud. Learn to speak the jargon well even if you have no idea what it means. The better you can articulate the easier it is to land great roles. It’s easy to talk bumpkin but speaking as the educated can’t be faked. Above all else follow whats in your heart; it’s okay to be small in what you do. Sometimes it’s the small things that touch the greatest audience. There is a star placed in all of us, don’t let others dim your shine! JUST SHINE BABY SHINE!

Thank you, Randy, for your terrific performance! For information about the Grand Premiere of UNWAVERING (ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON!) be sure to sign up for the newsletter here:

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Next on our Actor Highlight series is Nicholas Baronzzi. As I was writing the script I wanted to have one of those characters who was sarcastic, arrogant, and an interrogator. The character in the Gretchen’s Lock film who has these traits is Jason. There was a lot of interest in playing this role because, let’s face it, everyone wants to get the chance to be a jerk.

When Nick auditioned he blew us away! Without any direction or explanation, other than the character description, Nick proudly presented his audition for the role of Jason. When he was finished we looked around at each other and immediately decided that he was perfect for the role. Oddly enough, Nick has a quiet demeanor in real life, but his performance for the outspoken role of Jason was fantastic!

Not only does Nick have natural acting talent he also whipped up a few original tracks that were used in the film. He is an active local music performer, blogger, photographer, and music producer. He owns and operates an independent recording studio, The Underground, in which he records and masters albums for local artists and bands. Here’s the link to his Instagram.

Here are the questions we asked Nick:

MPF: What was your favorite part of filming for Gretchen’s Lock?

Nick: Filming in the muddy Lock at night, breath and drizzle suspended in the eerie reflected light, little spiders everywhere. It was easy to forget I was surrounded by a couple dozen people.

MPF: Did you know anything about the local legends of Gretchen’s Lock before auditioning?

Nick: I think everyone who grew up in the vicinity has this vague consciousness of the legends. I live about 15 miles from the Lock. Whether uttered behind the crackling of a campfire, told in whispers on the playground, or passed down by grandparents, the stories find their way to everyone around here.

MPF: Do you believe in ghosts?

Nick: Our understanding of the universe is so young. Though I don’t put stock in the supernatural, surely the things we can explain are dwarfed by those we can’t. The world is alive with wonder; weird things happen. I’d love to have a supernatural encounter.

MPF: What’s your favorite role you’ve ever played? (Don’t worry; it doesn’t have to be your role in Gretchen’s Lock). 🙂

Nick: Definitely the role of the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz. I showed up in pajamas, threw on a lion suit, then sat and talked while people put make-up on me. On stage, I could ham it up as much as I wanted and still be in character. Caper around in pajamas and make everyone laugh: dream role.

MPF: Which actor(s) inspire you?

Nick: Leonardo DiCaprio. (have you seen The Revenant yet!?) Daniel Day-Lewis is up there, too. #mustachegoals

MPF: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Nick: 2001: A Space Odyssey, no doubt about it.

MPF: What are a couple of your hobbies?

Nick: Listening to music, making music, and helping other people make music. I’ve converted part of the garage into a private recording studio; I call it “The Underground”. I hope to move to the west coast this fall for music—or whatever else comes my way.

MPF: What made you interested in acting?

Nick: I did lights for shows as an underclassman in high school. It looked like a lot of fun, but I was a quiet kid. As an upperclassman, roles kind of just came to me; I never auditioned. Our drama program was tiny—I think it’s somehow smaller now. But, when no one else could fill the role, I stepped up. And it was even more fun than I’d imagined.

MPF: Favorite color?

Nick: I’m glad you asked. It’s blue. Cobalt blue. Night sky blue. Some teacher once told me that blue is the most popular favorite color and therefore an unoriginal, “conformist’s choice”. She was wrong. Blue is a lifestyle.

MPF: Who is your favorite character in the Gretchen’s Lock film?

Nick: Jacob. I don’t know, there’s just something about him…

MPF: Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?

Nick: Every day, people act to escape from themselves. Professional acting is the exact opposite of that.

Thank you Nick for being a stupendous jerk, haha jk! We’re so glad that you were a part of the film and you did an awesome job!

For more information about the Gretchen’s Lock film & for tickets to the ONLY local showings in Columbiana, go HERE. We’re thrilled to bring you a locally made independent film production featuring local legends and made in Beaver Creek State Park! Thank you for your support in our endeavors & we hope to see you at the Grand Premiere of Gretchen’s Lock on April 23. It’ll be a brazen good time!

Tag: Wizard of Oz

Randy Campbell | Actor Highlight | Meet the Cast | UNWAVERING

Nicholas Baronzzi | Actor Highlight | Meet the Cast | Gretchen’s Lock