Role Reversal with David John Clark

We have a true 'role reversal' in this episode with my very good friend, fellow actor and my first EVER guest on the show, Eva Grzelak playing host and turning the interview onto me.

We discuss my journey to becoming a 'late bloomer actor', starting at kindergarten  in Adelaide and heading west on a trip around Australia, that ended 14 years later.

We delve into my early years as an 'extra' in Sydney in the mid to late 1990's, including an exciting appearance alongside Natalie Portman in Star Wars 'Attack Of The Clones'.

And the big moment when I decided that I wanted to be an actor, not just an extra.

And we end the episode with some nuts and bolts discussion on auditions, and how whether one gets a role or not can come down to the smallest of issues/reasons. And also, how to look at all the positives that come from getting called in for an audition. 

We also touch on 'typecasting', is it good or bad, wanted or not.

Thank you very much Eva for jumping onboard and playing host for this role reversal episode. Love ya work.

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Transcript

Eva Grzelak: 1:47

Welcome listeners to the Late Bloomer Actor podcast. My name is Eva Grzlak. I will be your fill-in host for this month's episode As, unfortunately, Mr David John Clark, your Late Bloomer podcast host, is temporarily unavailable. However, it is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to our ultra-extra very special guest, Mr David John Clark the actor. Mr David John Clark was born in May 19, in Adelaide, South Australia, and spent most of his childhood travelling around the country with his parents and younger siblings We'll get back to that in a minute. Getting his first taste as an actor in the booming 90s movie industry in Sydney, he got a small role in the Star Wars Attack Of The Clones, in which he personally received direction from George Lucas. You've had training with actors Ink, Jeff Seymour of the Real Life Actor, and you've gone on to become a well-known and respected actor in the South Australian film and television industry, featuring in independent productions including Antaries, the Rebecca Duncan classic Frequency and the upcoming web series Blood City. David is your teacher, doctor, father figure or enforcer type, but can draw on his life experiences with naturalistic style in character development. David is also a competitive bodybuilder and has competed in several Australian state championships. David John Clark, welcome to the podcast.

David John Clark: 3:19

Hey, thank you for having me Yeah.

Eva Grzelak: 3:22

Thank you. Thank you, it is an honour to be able to fill in whilst your regular host is unavailable.

David John Clark: 3:28

I have no idea where he is. He said he set this all up, so we're going to go down, pat, but he's dumped us.

Eva Grzelak: 3:34

Well, you can sort that out when he comes back. I'd just like to go through your bio again just to reflect back, so I'm going to ask you you spent most of your childhood travelling around Australia in a caravan. How long did you travel around for?

David John Clark: 3:50

Oh, we left Adelaide. Just after I finished Kindie, Mum and Dad bought a Viscount and we turned left at Port Augusta and went Kept on driving, Kept driving. So I went up the West Coast And it was approximately 14 years later. We finished in Alice Springs when I started year 10.

Eva Grzelak: 4:11

Wow. So did you do homeschool during that, or do you play in and out of schools?

David John Clark: 4:14

No, so we went from a year in each town, essentially all city or wherever we went. So Mum and Dad chose a spot. Mum was a nurse, so she was able to get a job at the hospital. Dad did anything, so they went somewhere and we did a year of school in there And then we packed up and went to the next place.

Eva Grzelak: 4:30

Did you draw from any experiences from that? Was there any big takeaways? Big takeaways that sounds great, Big takeaways when you're 14 years old. But what was most impactful for you during that experience growing up?

David John Clark: 4:42

Well, it's one of those things because you don't know any difference. So you know, most people lived in a house and had the same friends and went to the same school all their lives And that's what they did. They didn't know any difference. And the same as me, i'd never done that. So I didn't know about going to one school or living in a house. So it didn't really take anything away because that was my life, is what we just did. So but in hindsight, as an adult, i could look back and see positives and negatives of that positives being. I got to see some amazing parts of Australia before they put in the two lane bitumen highways. You know it was always four wheel drive tracks in no one, there, skinny dipping with your family because there's just no one else around. And now you can't. Now there's freeways into most of these places and thousands of tourists. What?

Eva Grzelak: 5:29

a great time to be.

David John Clark: 5:30

So, and I've seen Australia, i haven't seen the world. But a lot of people say I've been to Paris, i've been to London and I've been here, i've been to the bungalow, bungalow national park. No, is that? so That's a, that's a benefit.

Eva Grzelak: 5:43

Amazing experience. So when growing up, like during that time, were you sporty, were you interested in the arts, was what was your No, it was pretty boring.

David John Clark: 5:53

I say that Growing up. no, i think I tried. I was like I was like my wife a lot. I just tried sports but was never good at them but had fun if I was playing sport. But no, i never played any competitive sports. Bodybuilding didn't start till I was a late teenager. I don't recall doing any drama whatsoever at school, whether that was by choice or or just not available.

Eva Grzelak: 6:19

So how did you transition into acting? How did that come into your life?

David John Clark: 6:23

When I, when I moved to Sydney so it was at 90s, 94, 95. I had a mate of mine who was he was based up in Alice Springs with me because I was at working at Pine Gap up there and he was on a term posting So and I was one of the first full times we've got there. So I needed out of the northern territory, so I transferred to Sydney and he used to do extra work in Sydney And he showed me all the stuff he used to do And it sounds like funny, i'd great. So I just signed up with this acting agency that was extras only, yeah, and, and did that. So even then I've said this before I said if only I decided then that I wanted to be an actor, how, how different things might be today, because that was we're talking 22 years ago. So I just did extra work in Sydney. So that was my introduction to acting.

Eva Grzelak: 7:13

How about that? Sorry, Well, I jumped the gun a little bit there, So we'll just backtrack. How did you go from 14 years on finishing traveling? you know the country with your family. How did you get from there to Pine Gap?

David John Clark: 7:26

OK, so we finished, so we we'd lived in Alice Springs when I was in grade three, so it was one of our stops And then finished in Alice Springs And I think we went Queensland. Then, yeah, we went Queensland, mount Isa, grade five, then I skipped a year, cairns, grade seven, and then back to Adelaide for grade eight, and then I think we went back to the northern territory, did Catherine for year nine And then mum and dad said let's go back to Alice Springs for senior high school. We need to give you some, you know, lay you down a little bit. So we went back to Alice Springs and I did year 10, 11 and 12 there with the vision to being an Air Force pilot. She said that when you asked the question But all my life I wanted to be an Air Force pilot.

Eva Grzelak: 8:12

Yeah, that was going to be my next question, but say thank you.

David John Clark: 8:14

So all my life? yeah, i wanted to be an Air Force pilot. My grandfather was in the Air Force And I don't know why or where that came from, but I always want to be a pilot And I applied. They flew me down to Adelaide for interviews and everything like that. It was all doing good. But then, year 12, cresston burned Excuse the pun. No, that's all right. And I didn't get the grades required. So all of a sudden, at the end of year 12, i had a C grade average on my year 12 certificate and no visions of, or no doors or nothing. So now, what do I do? So I think I was working at Kmart. I went full time as well as working as a kid when I was just a high school. No, i went full time there And then an advert came up for jobs at Pine Gap, for the particular service and government agency that did the security there. Dad said, oh, you'll love it there. They got computers Just back before we had computers and had Apple computers apparently. So, oh, that sounds cool. So I applied. There was 500 applicants and I was number two. Oh my gosh. So I was finally good at something.

Eva Grzelak: 9:19

So so Stop putting yourself down.

David John Clark: 9:23

So that's so I started out there. I did a couple of months in Canberra for training And then I think I did two and a half years at Pine Gap before transferring to Sydney.

Eva Grzelak: 9:34

And then you got into doing some Yes.

David John Clark: 9:37

So I worked at Sydney Airport in Sydney.

Eva Grzelak: 9:40

Yeah.

David John Clark: 9:40

In the same same job and then did extra work in the when it rocked up.

Eva Grzelak: 9:46

So You mentioned that Star Wars attacked the clones. That was not, obviously not your first one, but one that was quite significant for you. Yeah, because you received personal direction from George Lucas. Yes, what was that direction?

David John Clark: 10:02

That direction. Well, i remember the scene was they'd set it all up. So we know Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen were walking towards the cameras. So yeah, one side of the room, the other side of the room, they just got off a shuttle freighter and were walking across the apron to get onto a spaceship. So in the setup that we had, we're at the Fox Studios. It was a big warehouse and it was all green screen. So everything was green screen the roof, the walls and everything Other than the ground we were standing on, which looked like an apron, you know a metal apron. I was playing a freighter captain, so I had a sidearm and you know, harrison Ford sort of looked at me space sort of stuff And another guy that was with me and we were carrying a box. So we knew what we were doing already. But then George came over and says hey guys, all right on action. I want you guys to start walking. You're going to go from here to over there carrying a box and just chatting to each other about your next mission or something. You're good with that, all right, yep, and we did it.

Eva Grzelak: 11:03

He asked you to feel good with that. Yes, george Lucas.

David John Clark: 11:08

Now I will tell you what. I think I've said this story before and you'll love this, but everyone knew Star Wars was being made and everyone wanted to get on it. So I rang up the agency and I said hi, david, hey, i'm good. What's the chance of getting on Star Wars? I'd really love to get on. Is there any cause? what's happening? I said, excuse me, they're really looking for weird looking people. I look at people with just people with strange looks and different looks, because it's that sort of picture. Oh, okay, well, i'll take those are positive then that I haven't been called. So two days later they called me and said we need you on Star Wars. And I've gone now, confused.

Eva Grzelak: 11:44

Complex, So but it was brilliant.

David John Clark: 11:47

So funny because there's people, some people playing the aliens And if you're a background they're not an actual actor. The masks and everything aren't as good quality as the proper one, so they pull them over their face and I like that And it's funny because then they go action and everyone does their thing and then they go cut and then these people coming up from the dark with little tubes of oxygen which they stick up the nose of the mask and inside all you hear is Oh because I couldn't breathe inside the mask. What an experience.

Eva Grzelak: 12:17

How many days we on set for that?

David John Clark: 12:19

That was, i think, two.

Eva Grzelak: 12:22

Two days or Star Wars glorious.

David John Clark: 12:24

Awesome, and just because there's so many other things happening at the same time, he's just people everywhere and people wearing costumes and everything like that. So, and Natalie Portman was 24 years old, natalie Portman.

Eva Grzelak: 12:38

Oh my gosh, of course, and she still looks amazing and still performs amazingly, I should say So okay you were 24, then What happened in between then and when you first started To get back, because you had about a 20 year gap? Yeah, acting.

David John Clark: 12:54

So I did, you know, my stuff in Sydney, Just all extra work and that like never thought about doing any acting or doing courses or putting myself up there. And then, after I met my wonderful wife and we married, we married. We married here, but we were still in Sydney. So we married here, had a honeymoon in Fiji, it was beautiful. And then 2001, a little rug wrap came on that you just met, but it's not so little anymore. So we put in for transfer to Adelaide. So in 2001, in June so just before 9-11, we transferred to Adelaide and started living here. And I think sometime early after we got here I said you know, i've got to find an acting agency and sign up as an extra again, which I did, and I have mentioned this story before, but this is why there was a big gap probably. So I've gone into an agency I never mentioned which agency it is And I remember I called them and said I want to sign up And I said you come in at this time, we'll have a chat here. I was sitting on their couch and their foyer and the agents come out and she's looked at me and she's gone. We don't have a place for you here And I know, oh, okay, and then she's gone back in her room. Okay, So I've left. So whether she thought I was there to be an actor and clearly I wasn't, she didn't think I was suitable or whatever, i don't know. But so I walked out there and then it was. I think it was 10 years later, when Russell Crowe was doing his filming here for Gallipoli or the Gallipoli movie, i should say. I said I should go back into it And I walked into Actors Inc in the city and signed up there as an extra and did their. They introduced me to a course. Well, i had to do their initial course to say this is what we expect of you on set. We'll take a photo of you and all that sort of stuff. Hey, if you're interested, we've got this. We do four terms of study here for acting, if you're interested. What the hell? Yeah, might make me higher on the extras ladder, and that's when the bug hit. So I was on with Jackie Garbyshire. She was on the course with me and we sort of connected big time there. We were both in the same boat and we just loved it and did all four terms.

Eva Grzelak: 15:15

That's fantastic.

David John Clark: 15:16

The rest is history, as they say.

Eva Grzelak: 15:19

So what was that moment? What was that spark that made you go? yeah, i've got bug. This is what I wanna do. Can you remember specifically what it was, or was it just the process of learning that made you go? I'm actually kind of digging this.

David John Clark: 15:31

I remember and I've said it before, instead of in my promos I talk about, instead of being the actor in the background, watching the actors do all the work, when I did my first real acting, so in front of everyone, and I was the one everyone was watching. that's when I knew this is cool, i'm being someone else, I'm doing something else, i'm playing another character, and that's when and I was having fun with it.

Eva Grzelak: 15:57

And you kept on with your education. So not just the long-term actors, but also Greg Atts, jeff Seymour, stage Milk what others are of note that you really took something away from. Who else have you worked with?

David John Clark: 16:10

I take something from everyone. I've done a lot of casting directors. Thea McLeod I've done a few times now, so she does majorly with neighbors and everything like that and she's just awesome. She's coming back to Adelaide, i think, in May so. I'm going to try and get Connor in to do what I've class with her. Yeah, because I've talked about this before I can't do a three-year degree, so I try and do as much as I can without being doing too much. Sometimes, you get oh, i've got to do another one, i've got to do another one. I'm not getting any work, so maybe I need to do another class. So I sort of pick and choose.

Eva Grzelak: 16:49

That's how you equate it, like I'm not getting any work so I've got to do another class Sometimes.

David John Clark: 16:54

Yeah, when you have those downs. We've talked about this before when you're on that down slope. You think why am I on the down slope? Why is nothing happening? Why do I suck? Sort of thing and you go well, maybe I need to do another class. Yeah, and I've spoken to people who have taught me. Greg Upps is a huge mentor and a real big help, especially when I'm on those down low and he says look, you've got what it takes. It's a tough industry and that's what I try to tell people. It is a tough industry. It's not necessarily you. Some people go their whole careers and never make it.

Eva Grzelak: 17:27

And that's something, as actors, we've got to keep remembering. It's nothing personal, exactly Nothing that like because we don't get a gig or somebody doesn't like what we do, or it's not personal and it's really hard as actors, i think and also there's a bit of empathy we carry with us I'm not sure if that's the right term, but as actors we are quite sensitive to criticism. I suppose everybody's sensitive to criticism but as actors it is the worst kind of profession to be in, on an emotional level, definitely. So yeah, it's nothing personal.

David John Clark: 18:05

Such small things that you didn't get it, And I put a post on Facebook recently because I auditioned for The Stranger.

Eva Grzelak: 18:11

I saw that post. It's a fantastic comparison.

David John Clark: 18:13

Yeah, that's why I put the photo of me, because I clearly had the look of the show. All the characters had that same sort of dark, broody, broody, dark and handsome, mysterious look. And then if you look at the actor and apologies, i've forgotten his name straight off hand he's a New Zealand actor that got my part very similar looks. He was a lot older and a lot more weathered, which I saw that in the character initially anyway. So it was great that I actually called what the outcome was. So maybe I should be a casting director, but and that can be the big and for that that was a pretty senior role in a big production. So when productions come down, you know that it's all about money and getting names and stuff like that. So you've got to start off somewhere. But even for those small 20-worders or one-liners, that's how tough it can be. You can just be down to the smallest minute detail that you don't fit in with the main lead that you're going to get on.

Eva Grzelak: 19:11

And not just a physical experience as well. It could be like just a little bit of experience that he may have had before he was on this, so he knows how to do this, or he people would and like you're saying, like if it's a known actor, but then also if it's an unknown actor, because I think actors and productions also want to discover the next big thing too. So they're looking for that quality, not saying that you know you don't have it because you can do, but But it is. Yeah, it's not personal And you're right, it could be just that one little thing And the one positive thing. Well, there's many positive things we can take away from Not a failed audition I won't call them failed auditions but from those experiences. You did get seen, you did get into the room. You learned something from that experience, whether it's like, oh okay, well, i did it that way, i might not do it this way, or you learned some extra lines like that's helping you improve with your learning, you have an agent that could get to the audition. Or, if you don't work with an agent, that you were able to get an audition in the room, is it just thinking of those little small wings?

David John Clark: 20:25

Look at the positives of the gifts And it's the biggest thing. As I say, getting in the room is the hardest part really is really the hardest part. And if you've been accepted and come in the room, especially if you get a callback, something's happening, something's really really good there and you've got to walk away with that as a positive. And I've told Nium, as other actors, about looking at it that way. I had a friend who auditioned as a Starlight Captain and she didn't get it And I went through all the positives. I said, well, look what you've just done, look at it, all the people who applied, look what you did and how far you made it. That's the positives of what you've got as a takeaway. Don't look at the negatives of what you need to change. Move forward with that. So that's how I try to do it now. When I get on those downslopes and realise just keep pushing through.

Eva Grzelak: 21:12

So do you have anything on that note? Do you have anything that you do to distract? Like, do you try and distract yourself after you've done the audition or when you get that news that you didn't get it? not that anybody tells you that you didn't get a role, you just work it out for yourself. But do you have anything to take away from those moments that could be perceived as negative?

David John Clark: 21:32

Next, During an audition. I'll just say next. I'll show you, just before we started, my spreadsheets where I record everything. So I go in. Put the audition in date time, cast and director outcome safe.

Eva Grzelak: 21:44

That's great.

David John Clark: 21:45

Next and move on. So it's just one of if you can't really dwell on it, because your mental health will go south real quick, especially if you're looking at it in a negative way. So it's just, it's just a job. Treat an audition as a job, the same as if you've been on set. So once you've done, you're done. Thank you very much. And it's a good way to approach auditions too If you walk in professional, like you've got somewhere else to be afterwards. Good morning, great to meet you. Thank you very much. Are you ready? Action done, happy, need anything else? Nice to meet you, thank you very much. And we'll get the door. Then you look professional, you look like you've done it before and you know what you're doing. And you walk away and you go well, i'm done. Now It's the decisions out of your hands, so you can't change other people's decisions.

Eva Grzelak: 22:28

So no, that's great advice. Just winding it back again. Sorry, you decided to get back into acting, pursuing that again. Obviously, you had a young family with you. What was the support like that you got when you made that decision? I mean, obviously, kelly's amazing.

David John Clark: 22:46

I'll give you that $10 afterwards. Okay, thanks, yeah, no, never did they ever doubt what I was doing? The only time ever, i think. Kelly asked me once, when I was going to set up my Facebook page, for acting. She says oh, already. You know, it was the only time. Don't get too far in yourself. I think was it, but every step that I've taken, they've always had, i've always had their back, that's fantastic They've always had my back. I've always had their support And Kelly's fantastic and she does all my self tapes as much as she hates hearing her own voice like we all do anyway. But if I ask her to do a self tape and she'll help me as a reader and the boys love it and obviously Conor's following in the footsteps as well now. So he's good because he's young, so he just does it, and when I have those moments I think I just suck. You guys know you're talking shit, dad.

Eva Grzelak: 23:38

Does he have those moments as well?

David John Clark: 23:41

I think so, yeah, yeah. So he hasn't had a lot of stuff yet, but everything he's done has been so positive that it's just positive, it's great. So he's done it. He's got a mate. That's done getting into directing. Now He's done a couple of films with him and he just has so much fun with it and that's what's good. But when we knew he had it, he had that ability. I always called him it's like a showman, essentially, so I always called him Robbie Williams.

Eva Grzelak: 24:10

He was that sort of outgoing personality when he was shown there.

David John Clark: 24:14

I said you should get in. Acting, you're great. This was when I was just starting and he always said no, no, i don't want to. I think it was a bit of shyness. Didn't want to put himself out there, so I never pushed it. We joked at times. When he came out and did something silly, i said see you should be in acting No, i don't want to. So we didn't push it. We never pushed it until one day something happened at school and I think it made him look at himself and decided that he needed to do something for himself and he says, oh, i might do some of those classes, cool. And he has a look back.

Eva Grzelak: 24:45

Has he asked for any advice from you or have you given him any advice?

David John Clark: 24:49

Yeah, i think we work quick pro quo sort of thing. So I actually asked him for as much advice as I give him sort of thing, because he just he just knows it. He'll pick up. He used to read the scripts with me, so read for me, and I'll be still trying to learn. He said, okay, all right, we'll do a take and he puts the script down. He's read it once, really So youth of today. We work really good together and we've done a couple of films together. We did the 48 hour film challenge together.

Eva Grzelak: 25:20

How was that for you First of all, what made you two decide to do that together? and then, how was the experience?

David John Clark: 25:27

I just to get to make something together, and I think the previous 48 hour film challenge I was on, i'd put my name out there with a group and what happened? I think on the Thursday beforehand or no, i think it was even on the Friday once they got all their things, they rang me and said, oh, we decided we don't need you, which is not how the 48 hour film challenge works. You can't go and get a bunch of people and then write your story and say, okay, we'll pick who we want. So if you want people on board, then you make the story work around, and then the tree I don't know that's. I don't take any negatives away from them. That was just unfortunate. So I missed out because obviously I didn't put my hand up with anyone else because I committed to them. So this that time I said, hey, conor, let's go and make our own. So we did and you've made some stuff now. Yes, so being on the other side of the camera and having that responsibility of making everything work and editing, especially in a 48 hour film challenge, and that commitment, was scary shit. So, but we had fun. We finished early, we didn't have any major glitches filming. Maybe I thought we'd lost all the footage once when we were editing it.

Eva Grzelak: 26:36

Oh no, that feeling.

David John Clark: 26:38

So I was getting quite angry then, but it worked really well. I had Stephen Walker send us a voice over to do the newsreaders. That was good. A friend of ours, aidan Hendry, who does my promo music for the podcast, he did the music for it, so we didn't have to worry about any copyright. Kelly played a character on there that met one. I had to have the character name So she played that. It was good. That's a whole family did and I think we got a really good laugh at the festival when they played it because the credits rolled and it's starring David Clark, connor Clark, edited by Connor Clark and David Clark, including Kelly Clark and Ron Clark and Aidan Clark, because they all made something.

Eva Grzelak: 27:17

That should be inspiring in itself, i think, just not just having that family support. and even if you don't have the family support, you can surround yourself with good people to help you get rid of all the problems.

David John Clark: 27:28

And you can make something. Just go and make it because they do so. You need to go and make your own stuff. You get yourself out there.

Eva Grzelak: 27:35

How satisfying was it when you finished the project. Awesome, and it worked.

David John Clark: 27:40

And you watched it and you actually enjoyed watching it yourself. So we all watched some stuff and, oh my god you might be involved in. I just got a really wish I hadn't done that film.

Eva Grzelak: 27:49

Is that available anywhere at the moment to watch?

David John Clark: 27:51

online. It is on.

Eva Grzelak: 27:52

YouTube. So what are they put on YouTube?

David John Clark: 27:55

Well, i can go to David Clark, actor on YouTube, and it's one of those films. or, sam, if that's a pretty, you get a lot of, a lot of films, but it is on.

Eva Grzelak: 28:05

YouTube under Sam Great, now let's go to my next lot of questions. We met on Rebecca Duncan's frequency 2017?. Probably Yes. It's hard to say That was a comeback for you or was that one of the first student production?

David John Clark: 28:31

That was my first student production And I'm just trying to think it was around the same time as I did What Remains. So it was one of those. It was one of my first lead support role sort of thing, even though I didn't have too many lines other than the big ending at the end Spoiler alert, spoiler alert. So, yeah, no, that was one of my first to be my first with Rebecca Duncan.

Eva Grzelak: 28:57

Yes, i know we've talked about it before. like Rebecca, set the standard for us for student films, because I think she set the standard for student films. Did I say student films?

David John Clark: 29:07

No, you said, set the standard for us for student films. Oh for us. Well, no for students No 100%.

Eva Grzelak: 29:12

Check out Rebecca Duncan's work for sure. She is amazing and, yeah, she did set the standard for us. Do you have a type then? going from that, you were cast as a big, burly, strong, tough guy, what do they? call it tough guy, strong man. Has that been a type, or is there a type that you've kind of fallen in with roles that you've been put up for audition or taken on in the independent scene?

David John Clark: 29:39

I try not to. But yeah, naturally I do get that the bigger guy, i get the father figure type of guys a lot, but I like to laugh that all my dad scenes are always a bad dad. So I'm always playing a bad dad to bad husband for some reason.

Eva Grzelak: 29:58

Which, by the way, he's not a bad dad. He's not in real life.

David John Clark: 30:02

That's $20, are you now? Thanks, yes, and I used to play a certain role type that was the same as my career. That was what I always get auditions for which I don't complain about. I mean, it's funny because I always laugh that I got into acting to do something different and then they wanted me to do what I've been doing for 31 years, and we can't mention that because I'm not letting me mention my employer, but So most of my I was characterised as that, so to speak. So fortunately, or unfortunately, i can't do any of those roles now. So it's good, because now we can tell casting directors you need to find other work for them.

Eva Grzelak: 30:42

So What would you like to do, like if you could? I mean, i know they say, as actors, we should brand ourselves to our type. Is there a type you prefer to brand to, or do you just want to go for everything?

David John Clark: 30:56

I'll go anything that suits me, which I know that makes it broad. But I What do you think suits you? Well, i've been told Greg Apps tells me that I'm really good with the loner type actor other than actor, the loner character, the guy that's been beat down all his life and doesn't have a good network of friends, and stuff like that William H Macy characters, that sort of stuff The person that you don't expect to beat anybody, but in the story he is the character for good or bad. He's either taking out revenge on people because he's been so beat down all his life or he's coming out of his shell and making it So that's. I do like that sort of stuff where I can have that chain from the start of the story, from wherever I was as a person or a character, to a different outcome, whether that's a good outcome or a bad outcome.

Eva Grzelak: 31:56

Very good How it's so expanding on that, what would be your dream role? I hate this question. All right. Next question. No, no. Next question.

David John Clark: 32:06

They always say when you're running a show, they say you've got to get your guests to say great question. I love that question, so I No, no, no. I hate that question in that it's It's like saying who's your favourite child Dream role would be a lead role where they're paying me. But no, i think it goes exactly what I just said, something where my character on screen. People are either just hating because he's such a He's the bad guy, or rooting for you because he's been downtrodden so much, and then you can see him fighting and fighting, or fighting for other people. I do like that role of being someone that draws everyone in and takes them somewhere, which is why I'd love to get on something like Walking Dead or a post-apocalyptic show where that's what the storylines are about finding your right people and sliving And hopefully a long-term role.

Eva Grzelak: 33:04

Yes, yes.

David John Clark: 33:07

So film tell.

Eva Grzelak: 33:08

On that film television theatre. Do you have a preference? I love being in front of the camera.

David John Clark: 33:13

So film or TV? These days, I don't think there's much difference between both, because films, films are films. Yeah, films are great TV or especially all your series now with Netflix and that they are just essentially longer films, really, aren't they? That's true in production value as well as going up on TV, definitely. I mean, you've got your Walking Dead and they continue to be there. They continue on and on and on for season after season like a standard TV show and you're breaking bads. But there are so many streaming shows now that are six, eight episodes, so it's essentially a mini-series or a major mini-series. So, yeah, that's. I'd be happy to do any of that, because that's The storylines are just fantastic.

Eva Grzelak: 33:59

So Okay, amazing, we spoke about walking auditions. What are your thoughts on self-tapes And how do you approach them?

David John Clark: 34:08

Well, self-tapes is all we do now. Most of my training for the last couple of years has been self-tape directed, so I started out with the audition technique, which is Greg App. So he teaches you how to audition. So he didn't teach you how to act, that's someone else's domain. He says He teaches you how to audition, how to do a self-tape So he does all the technicals in your first course and how to set it up lighting, camera angles, etc, etc. But how to make your character work and stand out in an audition, which can be a completely different technique to being on set, yeah, I think that's.

Eva Grzelak: 34:46

It's good that there's that clear distinction. Okay, doesn't tell you how to act and how to develop your character, but how to audition, and I think that's lost on a lot of people, particularly those starting out as well. What do you perceive to be your biggest strengths as an actor?

David John Clark: 35:02

In auditions or just period?

Eva Grzelak: 35:04

Let's say both, if you like.

David John Clark: 35:08

I would have to say my biggest strength would be I just keep going, i'm not giving up, and I'm fortunate because I don't have to rely on acting as a career. So if so many actors they want to become an actor and to make Well, everything you do, you have to make money. I don't need to be an actor to make money So, but I don't call it a hobby. I've always treated it professionally. So my strengths are that I just I take the downs and learn from them, or don't learn from them, but I continue to move on and keep pushing on. And I reckon another big strength would be supporting other actors.

Eva Grzelak: 35:48

You are Yes, 100%, and I'm on the receiving end of that. Thank you very much. You've been amazing support for me in the good times and the bad times.

David John Clark: 35:57

So many actors think It is such a tough industry that you think You've got to fight for yourself And you do this networking and all that sort of stuff. But it can be such a small thing that people say, Oh, why are you sharing that on Facebook When that's a role you can apply for? I said, Well, if it's my role, if.

Eva Grzelak: 36:13

I'm the actor for it. I'll get it.

David John Clark: 36:15

It doesn't matter, but the chances are that it might not be my role. But if I don't share it, then someone else won't see it, and they might. They might be the actor, they might make that story so damn good that it would have been fantastic production. But they didn't apply for it because they didn't know. So they've gone with someone else. So they'll do a great job, but in the end I would never have got it because it wasn't my role. So I don't have a problem.

Eva Grzelak: 36:39

I must applaud you, though, for that attitude as well, because I think it's unfortunately it's prevalent. I applaud you for creating a community like a community that's inclusive of all of us, no matter our age, race, creed, you know.

David John Clark: 36:56

Background Where are we going from? We're going, yeah, exactly.

Eva Grzelak: 36:59

For all of us, but not only just with this podcast, which has been a fantastic learning curve for not just me but, i'm sure, a lot of other listeners but also Facebook groups that you are that person that we can call on and get advice from, and so bravo to you though, for just making the South Australian acting scene a nicer place.

David John Clark: 37:22

And it is, and it's about having information, having someone that you can lean to and get something from. And I think the biggest thing that I've got out of being that person on my Facebook group is helping a couple of female actors who had issues with going to auditions, where there was questions about what they had to do, talking, nudity and being alone with the cast and, in particular cases, the filmmaker And they've reached out to me for advice And whether that was going to go South or anything like that. I was able to give them the right advice And I think I actually went with one actress too on audition. That's great So and it was it was me, her and the filmmaker And so she felt a lot more comfortable and made so much more sense. So and you see, i always share with people make sure that they're not screwing themselves over not working for free. When you're working for a commercial situation, when there's a company's making money and profits and they calling for unpaid actors, that's just. That sort of stuff's not on.

Eva Grzelak: 38:24

And I'd want that as well on your Facebook group. So I'm going to. there are quite a few active Facebook groups out there that aren't monitored for that type of content. So it's great that I mean this is you do a lot. You do a lot And I don't think people recognise that It's not just producing this podcast, but monitoring the Facebook site, plus taking care of Europe, korea and that spreadsheet that you do. Oh, my gosh, he's got time for that Plus your full-time job, plus you're looking after a family. You sound like a woman. No, i can't.

David John Clark: 38:52

There we go.

Eva Grzelak: 38:53

I haven't played, yet No applauded to you, thank you. So what areas would you like to improve in? And I'm not going to say what areas you suck at- because, I don't think that's something anybody should be looking at in that context, but areas that you would like to improve or you'd like to learn more about.

David John Clark: 39:13

Definitely my confidence on screen, being able to make a character look like it's actually real. I still struggle to go from that Yeah, you can tell someone's acting or trying to remember their lines And that would probably be my biggest one is not being 100% off script, so to speak. So you're always thinking, not having that natural flow. So being able to make the character pounce on screen that makes people want to watch. Like if you walk down the street and you see a boyfriend, girlfriend arguing, it's as much as you want to sit there and watch, but you can watch And it's real life And that's what you sort of want people to do. That authenticity And I've had that I've obtained, that I've had people say, love that you did in that self tape or whatever. So it's there. It's about making it work every time And then having that kind of and being in the right spot, that then you can you get the role, yeah. So I mean, we're both the same, we've both had numerous independent roles and fantastic fun And the stories are great and they look great. It's about transferring that over to a real world page area where you're going to be seen, yeah, etc.

Eva Grzelak: 40:24

It's not about being famous.

David John Clark: 40:26

It's about consistent work.

Eva Grzelak: 40:28

Yeah, it's about being in that industry. Yeah, about being in that. Definitely, i agree with you 100%. We talked about the 48 hour project with Connor. Is there anything else you're thinking of creating? Because it is key and this has been discussed on a number of your podcasts that we, as actors create our own content, purely to stay in the game and to keep learning other facets of the industry. Is there any other content you're thinking of creating?

David John Clark: 40:56

There's always something I mean. I've got plenty of ideas. I wanted to make a TV series in the vein of shameless. I haven't got. I haven't put down story because I don't. No, let's not look at the negative of it. I've got a story that I want to make and it's about a gym community, yeah, and trying to think of how to make that work. So it's an old guy owns an old type gym and everything like that You know rusted barbells and everything like that fighting in the industry where there's all your anytime fitness is in that, and then you've got your bodybuilders and drugies and bikies and that sort of stuff. So scope for big stories and and the side stories is that his sons opened up one of those new corporate gyms and that's these fighting with him. So that's something that's a big production I'd like to do And I've I've reached out to Matchbox Pictures. Kirsty has given me some input on how to do the submissions, and so I have character. I've got characters down pat and I've started to write that stuff. It's one of those things that just sort of sits there and then you get every now and then.

Eva Grzelak: 42:03

But as long as you keep coming back to it.

David John Clark: 42:06

Yeah, i think the biggest thing is finding a team that can help you, because you can make your own stuff, and I like making my own stuff because then I don't have to rely on anyone else, because we've discussed this before There's so much stuff that everyone volunteers for And I'm reluctant to be another person that reaches out and says, oh, i want to film this, can I have a filmmaker and a cameraman? and that there's no money involved.

Eva Grzelak: 42:33

I think. I think we're in that blessed position where we have And there's quite a few other actors out there, I'm sure, where we have done those gigs for free and we have helped out on student films you know, the next generation of filmmakers coming up And we have worked with a lot of independent people. So I don't think we should be afraid to call those people and tell us them you know, would you mind working on this? Yeah, I loved working with you on this. Could you work with this rather than putting up that post asking for free labor?

David John Clark: 43:02

Yeah.

Eva Grzelak: 43:04

I don't know. For me, That's yeah, that's something, And I think I come from it. I won't post that on Facebook because I don't want those trolls going through. Oh yeah, what are you going to pay? Oh yeah, this isn't fair for us.

David John Clark: 43:17

And it is tough to get the commitment, to get the commitment.

Eva Grzelak: 43:20

It is. But I think we're in such a good community where we are, can call on favours from friends after doing so many friends. So I hope this, you know, you can chip away at it and make it a reality, because it sounds great, i think the antics in the gym from that perspective is.

David John Clark: 43:35

But, on that note, i don't want to be a filmmaker, i don't want to be primarily a content maker, i want to do acting. Yes, of course I'll make content for that, the benefit of trying to put your work out there. That's what I do, so short form stuff's better. Do the 48 hour film, make a short film, etc. My podcast was my biggest thing. That was my way of putting content out there and meeting the same gauge of So why did you start the podcast?

Eva Grzelak: 44:00

That was going to be my big question. I was going to end on. Sorry to interrupt you. No, no, I make this podcast.

David John Clark: 44:07

Because it was. I reckon it was because it was one content way that I could do that I that I knew how to run, that I didn't have to rely on anyone else, so something I could run and I can meet the goals of what I do, what I wanted. I put myself out there, meet other actors and directors and people like that through having them on board as well as sharing information. So it came back to what I did on my Facebook group. It was about making something. So I think I originally reached out on my Facebook group, said, hey, would anyone be interested if I made some videos on how to do your I am to be and how to join casting networks and how to do self tapes? and that went to. And then I think I started listening to the podcast to get other people's input into acting And I can make one of those. There you go.

Eva Grzelak: 44:54

That's great, and it's a good niche area as well for us as people who decided later in life to pursue an acting career. So what advice do you have for other listeners who are considering becoming a late bloomer actor or already are? late bloomer actors that are just you know, need to get over a little hump.

David John Clark: 45:14

Just do it I've said that before without stealing the logo from a certain shoe company with a tick. I think that's the biggest thing is you've just got it. If you, if you want to do it, you just got to do it. The scope is out there so much It's getting bigger and bigger that you can. You can Hi, and. But don't go in thinking I want to be Mel Gibson. I've never thought I'm going to be 100%, but I've treated it professionally. But you don't have to do as much as I do. You can do as much as you want, as little as you want, but if you don't do anything, you will never be that actor. And you always, always, wanted to be an actor and then, 10 years later, always wanted to be an actor And then, 10 years later you know 70 always wanted to be an actor.

Eva Grzelak: 45:53

So those people saying I always wanted to be an actor or I wouldn't start acting, what would be the first couple of steps you would recommend for them to do to get into this Is it's one thing to say and it's great advice Just do it. You're right, we should just do it. But for those people who are not quite sure how to start or how to break in, or where to put that first point in their journey, Well, so many entry points.

David John Clark: 46:13

Now you can sign up with an agency. Yes, if you're in the bigger cities it's harder, but there are lower class, lower level agencies that you can get in and you can just sign up as an extra. There are extra agencies, which is how I started. There's acting classes galore that come out of the brass riser, so to speak. So you just go and do something that gets you introduced to people and introduced to the industry and then go from there, and there's so many online things. Now we can sign up to get jobs and do student films and to do real work. So you can put your picture out there and just find your entry point and then jump on it.

Eva Grzelak: 46:54

Yeah, i think also it's key that if you can put in the effort to research, like from the starting, from where you live, researching the agents, the acting classes, what's available online, if you can put in 100% effort on that, then, 100% effort is the next step, and the next step and the next step. As long as you're putting in 100%, who said that? That's? the question Who said that on one of your podcasts? You can put it in as long as it's 100%.

David John Clark: 47:20

I'm trying to remember.

Eva Grzelak: 47:21

Answers will be in the comment, because I can't remember.

David John Clark: 47:27

But no, that's it. Just do it. And if you don't do it, then you're always going to regret that you didn't even give it a go.

Eva Grzelak: 47:33

That's true, no regrets. So I think we're getting around about that time. I don't have my glasses on so I can't see the clock over here, but I can see the big one on the wall. It's time for the fast round, right. Are you ready, mr David?

David John Clark: 47:48

Jocklar, no, i'm always the one that gets to ask these questions.

Eva Grzelak: 47:52

First one dinner with anyone living or past. Who and why?

David John Clark: 47:57

I have to be Arnold Schwarzenegger. Because, It's Arnold Schwarzenegger who I have met.

Eva Grzelak: 48:03

All right, there's a story. Fast round just turned into another half hour.

David John Clark: 48:09

I was fortunate to win a ticket to a conference he was doing in Sydney, a motivational seminar, and it was a meet and greet as well. So he did his big speech up on stage, which is just brilliant And a lot of what I've just said now. But just doing it, and don't be afraid to fail. I can hear his accent, don't?

Eva Grzelak: 48:27

be afraid to fail. I was going to try and stay away from that trope.

David John Clark: 48:32

It's what he says in his motivational speeches. And then afterwards we got to go and have a photo op, so it was very quick. I think there was a couple of hundred people that got to meet him. So you're lining up and you're getting through, and then he's there. So he's turned to me. It was my turn to come up, shake hands Hey, how are you? He says I'm good, good, thank you. Then you turn to the camera. We've got our photo. I said thank you And he says nice to meet you and walked off. So there's two things I like to say about Arnold Schwarzenegger. His hands are huge, he's so strong, but I'm taller than him. So no, definitely would love to have a dinner with Arnold Schwarzenegger, but that's another quick. That's like who's your favorite child?

Eva Grzelak: 49:16

I could, yeah, and then you'll think about it afterwards, because I know when you see that question it's like I wish. I said this, not that I said my father, because I would like to have dinner with my father again. But who would you like to work with? An actor, director or filmmaker, or three, one of each?

David John Clark: 49:38

Geez, that's another question, arnold Schwarzenegger.

Eva Grzelak: 49:44

He'll have to stand on a plinth, though.

David John Clark: 49:48

Oh, i've got this Such a tough question because you go so many great Australian actors that I would just love to have, even if it's just one liner with them. Yeah, i'm the. Says, ma'am, here's your coffee, or whatever like that. It's such a high I really couldn't call it. I mean, without being just saying Arnold Schwarzenegger all the time. Of course, i'd love to be a dual movie with Sylvester Stallone, al Pacino, oh, yes, that sort of stuff, just all the classic actors that are, just Bruce Willis, i would say Bruce Willis. And it's such a shame of what's happening with him at the moment.

Eva Grzelak: 50:30

That just made me think.

David John Clark: 50:32

It's got wrenching. You could name a dozen people. I would love to be actually directed by George Lucas again in a sci-fi thing, thinking of Antares and Thoram. Cupid did such a great job as a director And here I was all of a sudden on set in a space movie, which is such a big genre that I love to do. something like that would be fantastic.

Eva Grzelak: 50:54

Unfortunately, George Lucas has retired on a big fatwad of money. They say he's retired, but to make him that.

David John Clark: 51:01

Steven Spielberg. You know, he's almost George Lucas's brother.

Eva Grzelak: 51:03

Have you seen The?

David John Clark: 51:04

Fableman's? No, I haven't.

Eva Grzelak: 51:05

Very interesting. What are you watching now?

David John Clark: 51:10

Watching Trying to Catch Up on Walking Dead, and we're watching Last of Us, which is just brilliant.

Eva Grzelak: 51:17

Did you ever play the game? No, there was a game.

David John Clark: 51:20

Connor plays the game and he's finding it tough not to tell us what's going to come up because the show is so good, close to the game. But again, it's my favorite genre apocalypse, zombies, that sort of stuff. So excuse me, loving that, loving that.

Eva Grzelak: 51:36

Your t-shirt quote.

David John Clark: 51:38

I should even throw it at this question.

Eva Grzelak: 51:40

You haven't.

David John Clark: 51:40

That's my question I can't say just do it, because that's already taken. So if you want it, make it happen.

Eva Grzelak: 51:51

Correct. Very nice, i expect my printed shirt in the mail.

David John Clark: 51:56

I love the shirt you put in there.

Eva Grzelak: 51:57

Thanks very much, i borrowed it from the host of the Late Bloomer Actor podcast.

David John Clark: 52:02

He's a good looking bloke.

Eva Grzelak: 52:02

He's not bad. There's this guy on the cover of the book He's reading Jeff.

David John Clark: 52:06

Seymour Currently in Australia but I'm not going to be able to get down to Melbourne to see him.

Eva Grzelak: 52:12

Now I'm going to plug the Late Bloomer Actor podcast. It is a very good podcast and we'd like to see more episodes of it. If you would like to become a paid subscriber, go to the Late Bloomer Actor podcast, Buzzsprout.com The Late Bloomer Actor, Buzzsprout.com. Click on the little heart in the corner and it will take you straight to PayPal to make a contribution and become a paid subscriber. And whilst I'm talking about it, David can be thinking up some little exclusive goodies or pluses or bonuses that are available. So if you have any bonuses that you can get from being a paid subscriber now I'm putting them on the spot. No, Mr David John Clark, the actor.

David John Clark: 52:56

Eva.

Eva Grzelak: 52:58

Thank you so much for your time today. It's lovely having you here in the studio.

David John Clark: 53:01

It's been a pleasure. It's such a great podcast I've always wanted to be on it.

Eva Grzelak: 53:05

Oh, i'll let the host know your sentiments. Everybody, thank you so much for listening to the Late Bloomer podcast. My name is Eva Grzlak, here with David John Clark. Stay tuned for next month's episode. Bye.

David John Clark: 53:19

Thank you.

Eva Grzelak: 53:20

You're welcome.