In an exclusive interview, Flickering Myth sat down with Hollywood actor/producer Philip Adkins to talk about his latest film The Summoning, with Eric Roberts, set for release January 10th, 2017.
FM: You have been an actor in Los Angeles for a while now, was it always your dream to be an actor? How did acting come about for you?
It really was. I have always been happy when I am acting. I do have other interests, but nothing has made me feel more alive, more excited than acting. I love portraying a character. I love having the ability to affect and influence the audience’s emotions and state of mind (If your production is good enough). Acting came about through high school. I took an elective drama class and was hooked. I never had so much fun at doing anything before.
FM: I understand you were born in Chicago. How does living in Chicago compare to living in Los Angeles? Did you make the Move to Hollywood to follow your acting ambition?
Well, Chicago is much colder than Los Angeles weather wise. The opportunities for work acting wise are a lot smaller. There are a lot less TV shows that are shot in Chicago than Los Angeles. It’s a great place if you are interested in the Theater very much like New York is. It’s also good if you’re starting out. The acting classes are incredible for building a foundation training wise (which is what you need to sustain a long-term career). However if you want to be a professional actor on a professional scale, you have to relocate to Los Angeles. I absolutely relocated to Hollywood to pursue my acting ambitions. I knew if I wanted a concrete chance at a long-term career I had to.
FM: What or who inspired you to become an actor?
I always had fun acting. Just the happiness I experienced doing it made me want to do it professionally. I love it. There are actors that I looked up to and still do (Denzel Washington, Robert Downey Jr, Gary Oldman, Meryl Streep, Will Smith, Brad Pitt Anthony Mackie). However it’s the happiness and satisfaction that keeps me going. The enjoying of the process, doing the work is what inspires me. That is what makes me want to do it and continue doing it.
FM: Have you had any formal training to become an actor? If so, how important is training for you as an actor?
Yes. Absolutely I have had formal training. I have trained in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. I attended Steppenwolf theater company and training center for young actors (Chicago), New York Academy for Dramatic Arts (New York City), Aaron Speiser Acting Studio in Los Angeles, and I am currently studying privately with Jeannie Hartman also in Los Angeles.
I think training is very very important. You have to know what you are doing. You are an important part of the film. You cannot just wing it. Well, you could and I’m sure there are some actors who haven’t had any formal training but then you’re not a real actor. You’re not really an artist. You have to know how to develop a character, Their relationship to the other characters, What they want out of the script, Their obstacles whether it’s internal or external. The discoveries too. You also need to know how to perform actions if necessary. If you’re playing a soldier, you have to know how to shoot. If you’re playing a pitcher, you have to know how to throw all the different kinds of pitches. If you’re playing a piano player, you have to learn how to play the piano. You kind of have to become the person you’re portraying.
There is a lot of work involved in being an actor. You shouldn’t fake it. Overall, it is all a team effort. I don’t want to belittle anyone’s position. You have to have a good director too. They have to be able to guide you to get the best performance out of you to make it as real and believable as possible.
The DP has to get the right shots to capture the essence of the film and mood. You need a good editor to piece the story together and capture the best takes and a good composer to choose the right music that sets the mood and emotion of the film. Everyone is important. It’s like a basketball team. Everyone has to play their position in order to win.
FM: Your most recent movie 4am Gas Station Muzak was well received at various film festivals, can you tell us a little bit about that movie?
Sure, it’s a fantasy. It has Amin Joseph (Baywatch, The Gambler, Call Me King) starring in it as well as Academy award-winner Jose Yenque (Traffic). It was written by Jaime Zevallos who is one of the leads in The Summoning as well.
It’s a game of chess played by God and the devil. God and the devil play chess with a young man who is down on his luck. Everything that has can go wrong in his life goes wrong. They throw various obstacles and options at him to see what kind of choice he is going to make. It was a lot of fun to make that film. We shot in Santa Clarita in the desert. Had a great time. It was nominated at Queens World Film Festival, it won at In Depth International Film Festival and is currently on iTunes for purchasing.
FM: Your most recent film The Summoning is due to be released worldwide Jan 10th. Can you tell us a bit about the film and your character?
Sure. The film is about a young college student who lives in a house that has been built on a slave burial ground. She is experiencing paranormal activities while at home. While in the process of trying to figure things out, she stumbles upon an unsolved murder case involving a law student, his wife a huge real estate owner and his son.
I portray the young college student who is murdered by the real estate owner’s son. His name is Clayton Ward. He’s very smart, confrontational and chooses his words carefully. He’s courageous as well. He isn’t afraid to stand up to the big guy. He and his wife, played by Stephanie Minchew, confront the real estate mogul after learning about what they are up to. There are a lot of twists and turns, but in the end, he and his wife pay for their curiosity.
FM: The movie has quite the international cast. What was it like working with some of the other actors?
It was a blast. It is incredible how well prepared these actors are. Everybody was ready and willing to do whatever it took to bring this script to life. I was really impressed by how prepared and professional the actors were. I learned a lot and I grew a lot.
FM: Do you have a particular genre of film that you prefer? If so can you explain?
No. I like everything. I don’t think that it is the genre that makes a great film, it’s the script and the team behind it that brings it to life or fails to. I’ve seen films of each genre that I love. Seven Pounds (drama), Safe House (action) Dumb and Dumber (comedy), Beasts of No Nation (war) and What Dreams May Come (fantasy). For me it’s all about the script and the people behind it.
FM: Are there any actors or directors you’d like to work with in the future? Any actors you’d like to play alongside?
Yes, of course. I would love to work with Antoine Fuqua, Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Will Smith, Anthony Mackie, Elijah Wood, Oscar Issac, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman. Then again, what actor doesn’t want to work with them? They’re the greats. I know that is pretty much a typical answer that any actor would give, but that’s how I feel. I’d love to work with them all.
FM: Do you go to the cinema much? Any films you have enjoyed lately?
I am a huge film buff. I try to go to the movies once every two weeks. I’ve seen a lot of movies. The last films I enjoyed the most were Fences, Bleed For This and Ex Machina. They all moved me emotionally. I like to check out flicks that entertain, educate and emotionally touch me.
FM: What is up next for you? Are you working on anything new?
Yes. I’m currently filming a series called Ventura Boulevard. It’s a comedy about two cops that struggle to get along while monitoring a high-profile target. It will be presented to Amazon.
FM: Finally, any advice you would give to any actor or aspiring filmmaker, who is trying to break into the entertainment industry?
I would say that the biggest challenge for actors is getting enough opportunity to work. This is something that happens for various reasons. My advice to all the actors out there is to begin producing. Begin creating your own work, your own opportunities. Stop waiting for someone to give you something. Become a leader. Sometimes if something isn’t working you don’t have to change the plan, you just have to change the strategy. Take control, It’s worth it. Three years ago, I wasn’t producing, I was blaming my then agent. I began producing and look at me now, I’m talking with you. Take the Plunge!!!
As far as filmmakers go, I’m still learning/growing but I will say that one thing that I do see is that many films don’t move me. I go I watch it and go back to life. I’m not moved. I’m not impressed. Create something that leaves an impression on the audience. A piece of art. Make it touch their hearts. Move them, make them think about what they saw. That would be my advice.
Our thanks to Phil for taking the time to do this interview, as well as Liz Rodriguez from EMR Media for helping us with the interview. Catch Phil in The Summoning out on all digital platforms including: iTunes, Amazon and VUDU etc. from January 10th, 2017.
