All posts in proTALK

Our website regularly features local professionals in a blog series called proTALK, asking our peer group to share not only tips and thoughts on the business, but personal anecdotes about their own life experiences and how it relates to what they do. Our hope is to inspire and give unique insight to a new generation of professionals based on our experiences.This is proTALK.

proTALK: We’ve gotten some great insight from a lot of behind the scenes professionals, editors, directors, photographers, graphic artists, how about showing some love for the talent in front of the camera? This week’s proTALK we’re focusing on a very versatile talent; actor and host in front of the lens, location manager, production coordinator behind the lens. Let’s chat with gentleman extraordinaire David Leonard and how he got started.

proTALK: We mention your behind the lens work but you have quite an impressive list of screen credits, (IMDB). How did you get your start? Or more importantly, how did the acting bug bite you?

I actually got started in acting at a very young age because my mother was an accomplished playwright so I practically grew up in and around the theater.  Back in Harvey, IL where I grew up, she put together a teen theater group that I was a member of called H.O.T.T. (Harvey’s Own Teen Theater) and that was my first foray into acting.  We performed several stage plays locally at different schools.  It honestly started as a hobby at first, but I always knew it was something I wanted to pursue further.  I was kind of a shy kid, but being on stage always seemed to break me out of my shell.

proTALK: The life of an actor is a difficult one yet rewarding as it is with any profession. How do you balance both types of behind the scenes / acting gigs?

It is indeed a challenge because my behind the scenes work pays the bills and does not always allow for me to take on acting gigs consistently, but it does occasionally present the opportunity for me to marry the two.  In other words, staying active behind the scenes keeps me abreast of audition opportunities on other shows and productions that may become available or vice versa.  Whenever I’m between jobs, I take advantage of that time off and either take an acting class or audition for everything I can.  There’s always that fine line between “having a life” and “making a living”.

proTALK: There has been a recent boom in local productions, have you had your share of work in these productions? and can you name some of your favorites?

I’ve had the privilege to work on some really cool television shows and feature films that have shot here in Chicago, mostly doing locations work.  Most recently, I worked on the pilot for the new FOX series “Empire” which was a lot of fun and I’m pretty excited about it.  “Divergent” was another really fun project simply because of all the huge set pieces and the fanfare and buzz around the book series.   That was the first time I had been on a big budget, long term shoot from start to finish and it was really cool to be a part of, not to mention it was a great look for the city.  The short lived “Boss” series was another favorite.  It was such a great show and the cast and crew were amazing to work with.

proTALK: Growing up, who influenced you and encouraged you to follow your dreams? Talk about how important that advice was.

I was fortunate to grow up with both of my parents who always supported me and taught me to believe in myself and to pursue my goals.  I inherited my creative spirit from my mom without question.  Watching her create stories effortlessly from an idea to a finished script or stage production inspired me quite a bit.  Watching some of the success she had helped me to step out and take chances as far as acting goes.  She would take me out on commercial and film auditions when I was a kid, but she was never a “stage mom”.  She didn’t force me to do anything I didn’t feel comfortable doing.  I’ll never forget when I was young she took me to an audition for the Richard Pryor biopic “Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling” and I read for the part to play Richard as a kid.  I had a bad case of nerves and I wasn’t totally comfortable with some of the language in the script so I clammed up and wouldn’t audition.  She didn’t scold me or make me feel bad…she basically told me “whatever you want to do, I will support you and if you don’t feel right about this, don’t go against your judgement…there will be other opportunities”.

proTALK: What type of advice would you give young actors now a days?

Always perfect your craft.  None of us know it all, so what does it hurt to continue learning? I’ve heard some actors say “Oh I don’t need to take classes or I don’t need theater training”…Those are tools that are only going to enhance your ability to deliver effectively on screen, so I think you’re doing yourself an injustice if you think you don’t need those things.  The other thing I would advise young actors to do is to work on their brand in addition to their skills.  “Everyone wants to act” or “Everyone wants to be a star” as they say, which is fine, but “Everyone” is not going to make it.  I think in order to sustain as an actor and make yourself standout, you have to put in the work and create a name for yourself and expand your brand by not only being a talented actor, but being a talented actor who also can write and produce their own projects.  It makes you a more valued asset in the business is you are more than just a “one trick pony”.

proTALK: How would you describe your acting ‘method’? Some actors ‘act, some ‘re-act’. What’s your style?

My acting style is really trying to live inside the characters I play.  I’ve learned to not “act” so much especially when on screen because I want the character I’m playing to come across as real as possible.  I try to create a mix of elements of my character traits and the character I’m playing.  A lot of times I would start off reading a lot of characters sort of over the top like some theater productions call for when a project/character didn’t necessarily call for that, so I had to get out of that habit.  

proTALK: What had been your most rewarding piece of work? Why?

There’s a lot of projects I’ve worked on that have been truly rewarding, but the one that I think changed me as a person and the way I approach acting was a stage production I played the lead in called “Jungle Kings”.  I played a character named “Baby Cockroach” who was a street thug who had been locked up for a decade and was trying to convince a parole board that he finally had made a change in his life and deserved to be released.  That character took me on an emotional rollercoaster and challenged me to a level I didn’t even think I could achieve as an actor.  It taught me to get out of the mindset of always “acting” because it was a stage play and to “live” and “breathe” this character so that it came off real and actually affected the people watching it.  I was already going through a rough point in my life at that time so I was able to pull some of that from experience.  It was truly a life altering experience.

proTALK: When you read a part or script, can you envision the final product? How does the role change from the time you first get a script to the time it is being portrayed on screen?

I don’t think I’ve ever been able to envision what the final product is going to be when I read a script.  I try not to put too much thought into it because I like to always keep my expectations low so that I’ll be pleasantly surprised when I do see the finished product.  I’ve read some really good scripts that have gone far beyond my expectations once I see them on the screen and that’s due to a great cast, good direction and well executed post production.  When I first get a script, I pick it apart and I make notes on how my character approaches each scene…subtle gestures they may make or how they may react to other dialogue in the script.  When I get on set, those notes definitely change based on how the other characters react or what they may throw at me which is great because it makes the scenes more natural.

proTALK: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years? What has been the most challenging part of being a working actor?

In 5 or 10 years, I see myself as a consistent working actor with a couple of my own productions under my belt.  I kind of model myself after some Hollywood actors who may not be “A List” or “household names”, but they’re constantly working and have been for years.  Getting to that stage in my career I think has been the most challenging part of being a working actor.  Transforming your passion into your paycheck doesn’t happen overnight.  You have to put in the work to make that happen.

proTALK: What is your take on the industry today? How has it changed now versus when you started?

Technology has made the biggest impact on the industry today without question…from the “internet stars” that have turned their 15 minutes of fame into a life of celebrity to the “reality TV stars” that become overnight Hollywood sensations.  Some of it I think is good for the marketplace, but with so much content at people’s fingertips every second, I feel like the days of artists having longevity with the new generation are gradually becoming extinct.  The upside to all of it is that the playing field is more level and so much new and untapped talent can get discovered without all of the red tape.

proTALK: As we perfect our craft we inevitably make some errors and learn from them in retrospect. What are some of the ‘learning’ experiences you’ve had that have made you a better artist?

Trusting myself and taking more risks is something I’ve had to learn how to do as an artist and in my personal life. When performing, an audience can tell when you’re on stage/camera and you’re thinking about the lines or how you want to deliver a line.  I’ve had to learn how to let go and trust my instincts more as an actor.  It’s something I continue to work on and perfect.

proTALK: In closing we want to say thank you for your time. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Be on the lookout for a few upcoming films I’m in including “Uncovered”, “The Vulva Chronicles” and “Do You Love Me?” including a few that I’m slated to shoot such as “Goldie” and “Not Another Zombie Movie About The Living Dead”.

Follow me on Twitter @dcapreeyo 

David Leonard

312-479-5498

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0502603/

SPI-tv Media Group regularly features local professionals in a blog series
called proTALK, asking our peer group to share not only tips and thoughts
on the business, but personal anecdotes about their own life experiences
and how it relates to what they do. Our hope is to inspire and give unique
insight to a new generation of professionals based on our experiences.
This is proTALK.

proTALK: You are currently enjoying a wonderful career at the Illinois
Center for Broadcasting experiencing first hand the work and enthusiasm of the future generation of broadcasters. We will get to that in a minute.Tell me about how you got started.

I developed a passion for broadcasting while attending St. Patrick H.S. in Chicago. In my freshmen year, St. Pat’s received from WGN-TV, two cameras, an audio board and a TV switcher along with a number of lighting instruments. WGN was going to trash the old equipment when somebody wondered if possibly a school might want the equipment. All of the equipment was old but it worked just fine. So, I became a member of the TV Club (extra curricular) and wound up spending a good time in the little studio that had a balcony that looked onto the gymnasium. We broadcast educational classes as well as basketball games and wrestling matches. I knew then I was hooked. When I went to the University of Illinois, I got a part-time job working in the TV studio on campus. Upon graduation, I looked and looked for a job but no one was hiring. I finally got a job, after a 9 month search, with WSBC-AM and its sister FM station as an audio board operator. Both stations broadcast programming in foreign languages. Both stations brokered the time, so if you could afford $65.00 per hour (which at that time was a good deal of money), you could broadcast over the 1240 AM or 93.1 FM frequency. Later on the 93.1 FM frequency was converted to a Classic Rock station known by all in Chicago as WXRT. From that first job, I wound up working for a small station in Woodstock, IL (WSTK-FM) and realized that I was not inclined to be a DJ but had a penchant for managing a station, which I did as the GM of 105.5 FM. The fancy title didn’t pay a lot but I learned enough to take that experience and cash it in when I moved from WSTK to a job at WGN. From there I worked for a number of TV stations in Rockford, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Chicago prior to becoming the Regional Executive Director for Public Affairs for the Ohio/Illinois Centers for Broadcasting.

proTALK: You’ve worked your way up through the ranks working with many many people and many, many personalities. What is your favorite aspect of the business? What is the secret to professional longevity?

The secret to longevity is the ability to adapt to new challenges. I have three different union cards: NABET (National Association of Broadcast Employees & Technicians), IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) and the DGA (Directors Guild of America). I garnered these different cards due to my ability to work in the trenches as a board operator, audio tech, camera operator, as well as a director of news and entertainment programming. I also have over 16 years of experience on the management side, so, each time I took on a new challenge, I learned everything in the business from the most basic (how to read a log) to complex and difficult positions that oversaw large budgets and at one point a staff of 21 individuals. Don’t be afraid to try something new. You might be surprised at how that opportunity will help you develop skills you didn’t even think you had and thus make you a valued employee or entrepreneur if you create your own business opportunity as I did at one point in my career as the head of my own production company.

proTALK: You have authored a book for children from your days at the Infant Welfare Society. Tell me about that and why only one? I’m sure you have other tales to tell zipping around in your head.

I use to tell my children a bed time story about a character called, “Woolly Wurm.” “Woolly” was a caterpillar who fell in love with a butterfly and longed to be able to fly….little did he know that one day he too would be a butterfly. The theme of the book is simple….when you help others (as Woolly did), you invariably help yourself. One day, while working for Angel Harvey (Exec. Producer of the Paul Harvey Show – heard for years on WGN and over 200 radio stations in America) I shared with her the story. She told me to quit looking for a publisher and do the job myself. I had just finished an assignment for Ms. Harvey as the executive producer for the audio recording and production of a CD for Paul Aurandt Harvey, her son’s classical music compositions (a task that I initially wondered if I could do). So, with funding from Angel Harvey, I secured a graphic artist for the design/layout, a printer and a distributor for the 15,000 copies that were sold at various children’s museums and museum and zoo gift shops. All of the money from the first printing went to the Infant Welfare Society. I wasn’t interested necessarily in making money for myself, I just wanted to get the book published and make a difference. I learned a great deal about print production and to my surprise, years later, my daughter, Renee, a teacher for the Chicago Public Schools, asked me if I would sign copies of the books for two of her students who approached her and asked if she was related to a Bill Natale. Jesse White, Secretary of State of Illinois, purchased 500 copies for placement in the Illinois Library system. I do have other stories and have just recently finished writing a 210 page book about a story that takes place in Chicago, immediately following the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King and the race riots that ravaged a number of our cities.

proTALK: What is the one thing that you wish young up and coming pros take away from their learning experience? What do you tell them?

Be willing to learn new things by continually reading about new technology and enrolling in on-going educational classes or projects that one can learn from video tutorials. Don’t be afraid to try something you’ve never done before. Be on time for any opportunity that comes your way and keep your commitments….your bond is your word and it is extremely important in the business world.

proTALK: What do you do to unwind? Favorite leisure activity?

I love spending time with my family, especially my oldest daughter who is just so damn smart and fun to be with; I spend a good deal of time with my son who is also in the business and he’s an outstanding audio and video tech; I love to cook; I love to read novels and well-written articles; I love to bowl; I love to play cards with my friends and siblings; I love taking my dog for a walk in the morning and evening and there is no question that I love the theater, fine cinema and outstanding TV productions that are worth taking time to watch.

proTALK: You have a son that seems to be taking up the media mantle…how does that make you feel? What kinds of learning experiences is he having that may remind you of your experiences?

My son is terrific at audio production. He has worked with me on a number of productions as well as some independent film work that he’s done without my participation. He’s also got a passion for photography and is a very good cinematographer who knows his way around computer technology (he’s built computers from scratch) that is essential in today’s media world. I’m happy that my son has these marketable skills and I hope he is able to do more film work, which is his dream.

proTALK: Getting back to the Illinois Center for Broadcasting, what is your favorite part of that gig?

The favorite part for me at ICB is having a chance to make a difference in the lives of aspiring broadcasters. Internships are very important and ofter lead to full-time employment, so, I’m always pleased when I’m able to open a door for a deserving student. Our students are great and have such a penchant to learn that working with and for them is a delight.

proTALK: Thank you for your time. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

It was a pleasure to participate in proTALK and I wish the program great success.

Sorin Brouwers

proTALK: What was your very first VO that made you say; wow…I’m legit now?

I did a series of spots for Angels baseball a few years back.  They were the ‘I love this game’ spots. Its always fun when friends call you to tell you they heard you on the radio.

proTALK:  How has technology changed your business?

I’m also a musician and composer, so I’ve always had a home studio in which to record either auditions or actual spots. Home recording technology has become so accessible over the last few years that almost anyone can set up a decent little studio with their laptops. I know some folks who use handheld recorders for auditions.  The technology is that good now. With enough tweaking, you can get a decent enough sound that can work for most auditions.

proTALK: What types of projects are you most fond of? What is on your wish list?

I’m also an actor in the three dimensional sense.  I work in television and film as well as motion capture (I’ve been a motion capture artist with Warner Bros Interactive for a few games; Mortal Kombat, MK vs DCU and Injustice; Gods Among Us), so I’m always excited about the next gig. And with a varied skill set, you never know what awaits.

proTALK: A lighting director has lights, a photographer has his cameras your tool of trade is your voice. What are some of the things you have learned about your voice since you started?

I feel like I’m always discovering little things about my voice. The big trend these days is ‘to sound natural’ and to ‘not act’. Coming from a theater background, this was initially a little tough. So, adopting a ‘less is more’ approach has helped.  And now, depending on the spot, I’ll dial back a bit for a more casual or conversational approach. But some clients still want an ‘announcer’ from time to time. Being the Voice of God can be fun too.
proTALK: Finish this sentence; ‘if I weren’t a voiceover artist, I’d be a____.’

A full time furniture maker. I make furniture out of wood in my free time and love it.  I’d love the chance to develop certain designs for market. I’d also love to compose more for film.  I’ve written a few film scores and countless theatrical sound designs, so that’s a world I’m comfortable in as well.

proTALK: What are some of the challenges in this business? What do you least look forward to?

We’re in a business where we’re always looking for work.  Having equal parts left and right brain is pretty helpful when negotiating the realities of the business. The seeming conflict between the artist and business person inside us can be the real consistent challenge.

proTALK: What is your favorite piece of gear? Mic, Console, etc.

I love this little PreSonus tube pre-amp thing. It’s simple. It just boosts and sweetens the sound, that’s it.  It’s a great, affordable, almost necessary piece of gear.  But I’m not a gear-head, so take that with a grain of salt.

proTALK: What are you doing when your not voicing? How do you unwind?

Well, I mentioned the furniture stuff and the composition stuff.  I do those things occasionally to unwind. But I love the outdoors as well and being in California affords me the option to really get out and experience some beautiful stuff.  I love hiking, exploring.

proTALK: Are you working on any personal projects?

I’m always cranking away at something or another. With bands, I’ve produced and recorded several records and toured to support them. I’ve had the pleasure of writing and directing a handful of short films recently. I also just wrapped the score on a feature and I’m really proud of it.  It should hit festivals soon. In the furniture realm, I just put the finishing touches on a three-legged chair design, using sustainable materials and inspired by an Italian $4000 chair. But right at this moment, I’m writing a bunch of funk tunes inspired by Shuggie Otis, so we’ll see how that all winds up.

Sorin’s work can be found here www.sorinbrouwers.com