Part Two
“THE REAL HOLLYWOOD”
and the critically acclaimed film
“ABEL’S FIELD”
Interview
For those of you who missed Part One True Strength with Kevin Sorbo, here is the
Alex: In your Book True Strength: My Journey from Hercules to Mere Mortal–and How Nearly Dying Saved My Life.
you are very candid about Hollywood. Moreover, I see a theme of mentorship running through your life but I will touch on that in Part Three A WORLD FIT FOR KIDS!
True Strength by Kevin Sorbo! |
Alex: What do you see as the biggest misconception about the acting industry in Hollywood?
Kevin Sorbo:
"The biggest misconception…the biggest misconception is that Hollywood is fair and Hollywood is tolerant."
You know what it is, it is weird! It is run by a bunch of “suits”. You know in reality they don’t care about there actors. They can pretend they do, they love the industry of it all, they love the business of it all, but on the flip side of it all there a lot of frustrated people on the other side of the camera. There are a lot of people successful in the industry on the other side of the camera that were failed as actors. But they were smart, they were clever, they were cunning, and they worked their way up the ladder. And I think there is, I think there is a begrudging held toward actors that have success. You need actors to make your movies and make your industry.
But you know, Alfred Hitchcock
called actors, "a bunch of cows”!
So you know it’s weird! So I think envy is a big problem in Hollywood for everything. And it runs at all different levels. But on the flip side if I do any bitching and whining and moaning about the industry, and I try to keep it to a minimum, friends will say well why are you in the business? The reality is I love it! I love being on set, I love the creation of something out of nothing. I admire writers. Writers to me have the most difficult job in Hollywood. I have been fortunate but then again I made my own fortune. I worked my ass off. I got lucky but I had 13 years of doors being slammed in my face. So perseverance is the key!
Alex: ABEL’S FIELD is get rave reviews from media and fans, and of course, you are the Executive Producer and main character in this film, Could you please tell us a bit about the movie and your role in it and directing or producing Abel’s Field?
http://www.abelsfield.com/ |
Kevin: I started my production company about 6 years ago and this is one of the first projects that came to my production house. I met with the Director and the Producer Gordie Haakstad and Tore Knos. They sent me this material earlier and I loved the script. And I spent the next 3 and half years raising the money for it. Tore and I worked very hard with every connection we had and ahh you know, we finally got the money together, about a 2 million dollar budget. You know it is one of those things again. The economy fell apart 5 or 6 years ago and But you know I just loved the character, I loved the guy that I got to play, Because it is about redemption, and I think a lot of people can relate to the fact that if they have any kind of faith in their lives whatsoever, I think that we have all done things in our lives that we know that God has forgiven us for but maybe we have a hard time forgiving ourselves for. I think a lot of times we are our own worst critics. And we have a hard time forgiving ourselves for things we have done. And this guy, basically, has been wandering in his own desert trying to find redemption within himself. And I think people, will relate to that.
Alex: Absolutely yes! Is this character Abel similar to yourself?
Kevin:
"You know, I think every actor brings
something of themselves to the role they play."
And you know what I liked about the character that I could kind of relate to is I like being around people but I have no problem being on my own. And this is a character that is really on his own. And I can relate to that loner status that he had. You know maybe it is because I was brought up on Client Eastwood Spaghetti Westerns who was just a guy on his own all the time.
You know I am not going to go as far as Richard Nixon and say, "I don’t like people!" and which isn’t…isn’t a really good quality for a President. Hahaha...
Alex: Hahaha. I totally understand where you are coming from.
Kevin: But you know I understand what he said. I get it. Because there are lots of times that I dislike…you know like Greta Garbo stated, “I want to be alone”. I have no problem doing that and I think we all have to find that down time for ourselves to unwind. And sort of put life in perspective, you know? For me, it’s midnight starring up at the stars.
Alex: Yes, true. Great references by the way with Nixon, Client Eastwood, and Greta Garbo. Ha ha ha…love it! Nixon hahaha great!
Alex: Biggest challenge as an Executive producer?
Kevin: It really just comes down to finding the financing. The budget is the biggest problem.
Alex: Right.
Kevin: You know I learned a lot on Andromeda because I was the Exec. Producer for all 5 seasons of it. And to be able to spend time with people that knew what they were doing on the other side of the camera which was a great education for me.
Alex:Wow. That sounds like such an amazing experience!
Kevin: Yes, and you know I can think I have an idea or something but to actually sit in on a meeting and discuss casting, discuss the writing, discuss how you are going to break up the budget for each department, from wardrobe to hair to props to whatever. It was interesting and it really made me recall my marketing and advertising business majors, you know? And it made me go, “Oh Great! My college education isn’t wasted. Excellent!” OK, hahaha…
Alex:Hahaha…
Celebrity English is proud to present the final installment of the Kevin Sorbo feature LINK A World Fit For Kids!
You will see more of the mentoring, educational,
and political side of Kevin Sorbo!
Also, check out the critically acclaimed film Abel’s Field!
Already out on DVD, this is a fantastic weekend movie for the whole family! Enjoy!
Kevin Sorbo's Official Website
Language Learning Section
Part Two Vocabulary Boost – Business Expressions
Find the following High Frequency Vocabulary expressions from Kevin Sorbo’s interview Answers. Then, try to write down the meanings or ideas for each word. Next, try to guess the meaning from the context for the words you don’t know. Then ask a friend or classmate about the words you don’t know. Finally, check out the expressions on the Internet. However, just in case, the answers are below. Just roll your cursor over the black area to the right of the Business Expressions.
From Kevin Sorbo's Answers:
It is run by a bunch of “suits”. = the industry is manged or owned by a group of executives or high level businessmen. Usually a Negative meaning; suits are people that are very detached, cold, unfeeling. They only care about the business aspect not the people involved and often are not able to do what the workers do.
and they worked their way up the ladder. = to advance; to make progress in a process or structure; to increase their level in a company or industry.
industry = any general business activity; commercial enterprise.
why are you in the business? = why are you a part of your business industry? In this case, why are you a part of the movie industry?
I worked my ass off. = slang; to work very very hard at something.
I had 13 years of doors being slammed in my face. = I had 13 years of people refusing me in a rude manner.
And it runs at all different levels. = and it occurs at all different levels of the industry or business.
perseverance = the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult. The action or condition or an instance of persevering; steadfastness.
Executive Producer = Executive producers oversee the film making in regards to film finance. They liaise with the line producer and report to production companies and distributors.
Director = a film director is a person who directs the making of a film. Generally, a film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects, and visualizes the script while guiding the technical crew and actors in the fulfillment of that vision.
production company = a production company provides the physical basis for works in the realms of the performing arts, new media art, film, television, radio, and video.
my production house. = another name for a production company.
raising the money. = to gather together; collect money for a specific purpose; to get funding.
connection = business connection. A person you have a relationship or association with.
a 2 million dollar budget. = an amount of money available for spending that is based on a plan for how it will be spent. How the 2 million dollars will be spent between departments.
The economy = the process or system by which goods and services are produced, sold, and bought in a country or region. In this case Kevin means the American economy.
fell apart = to fall apart = to break down; collapse.
a hard time = a difficult time period.
I get it. = I understand it.
perspective = a way of thinking about and understanding something (such as a particular issue or life in general).
biggest challenge = greatest test of ability, skill, or strength of (someone or something).
It comes down to finding the financing. = It comes down to finding the financing. = In essence the money provided by someone or something.
sit in on a meeting = to attend a meeting.
how you are going to break up the budget for each department, = 'break up' casual business language for allocate.
marketing major = major = college/university concentration in marketing. Marketing is the action or business of promoting and selling products or services.
advertising major = major = college/university concentration in advertising. Advertising is the activity or profession of producing advertisements for commercial products or services.
and they worked their way up the ladder. = to advance; to make progress in a process or structure; to increase their level in a company or industry.
industry = any general business activity; commercial enterprise.
why are you in the business? = why are you a part of your business industry? In this case, why are you a part of the movie industry?
I worked my ass off. = slang; to work very very hard at something.
I had 13 years of doors being slammed in my face. = I had 13 years of people refusing me in a rude manner.
And it runs at all different levels. = and it occurs at all different levels of the industry or business.
perseverance = the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult. The action or condition or an instance of persevering; steadfastness.
Executive Producer = Executive producers oversee the film making in regards to film finance. They liaise with the line producer and report to production companies and distributors.
Director = a film director is a person who directs the making of a film. Generally, a film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects, and visualizes the script while guiding the technical crew and actors in the fulfillment of that vision.
production company = a production company provides the physical basis for works in the realms of the performing arts, new media art, film, television, radio, and video.
my production house. = another name for a production company.
raising the money. = to gather together; collect money for a specific purpose; to get funding.
connection = business connection. A person you have a relationship or association with.
a 2 million dollar budget. = an amount of money available for spending that is based on a plan for how it will be spent. How the 2 million dollars will be spent between departments.
The economy = the process or system by which goods and services are produced, sold, and bought in a country or region. In this case Kevin means the American economy.
fell apart = to fall apart = to break down; collapse.
a hard time = a difficult time period.
I get it. = I understand it.
perspective = a way of thinking about and understanding something (such as a particular issue or life in general).
biggest challenge = greatest test of ability, skill, or strength of (someone or something).
It comes down to finding the financing. = It comes down to finding the financing. = In essence the money provided by someone or something.
sit in on a meeting = to attend a meeting.
how you are going to break up the budget for each department, = 'break up' casual business language for allocate.
marketing major = major = college/university concentration in marketing. Marketing is the action or business of promoting and selling products or services.
advertising major = major = college/university concentration in advertising. Advertising is the activity or profession of producing advertisements for commercial products or services.
See you soon! Alex Graham
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