A couple of week’s back I happened to come across a rather gifted actor on YouTube. Being an avid member of YouTube myself, I was sent by a third party a viral video aptly titled "This is Your Brains on Drugs." I was told that it would be a hilarious but it contained a very serious and real message. What I wasn't prepared for was the caliber of creativity and actual talent that I would be viewing. It was here that I was introduced to David Skyler. An up and coming fresh face that is making his debut performance in Tim Sullivan's (2001 Maniacs) Driftwood.

The film is about the hard knock lives for young troubled teens facing daily abuses at a youth correctional camp. The movie stars Rick Ullman (Phil of the Future), Talan Torriero (Laguna Beach) and "Diamond" Dallas Page. The movie is set to be released sometime in late 2006.

So, I talked with the budding young actor and got a glimpse into the life on the set and beyond. To get some insight into "Doing time at Driftwood."

Mooviees!: Thank you David for taking the time out to do this interview with us. Driftwood is your big screen debut, right? How did you enjoy working on your first film?

DS: Yes, Driftwood is the first, "Feature Film" I have worked on, although I have done several small student films and miscellaneous things on the side. This film is definitely an experience I will remember for a long time, as I was very nervous about being "In Character" day in and day out for 30 day's straight! I thought, O geez, how am I going to pull this one off! But, overall, everything turned out amazing and the atmosphere was creative and supportive to me.

Mooviees!: Tell me about your character?

DS: KC is a kind of ”Oddball" in the group if I could be so bold, he plays the stoner who is sent to treatment after he failed his drug test for the football team. He is tall, lanky, and clumsy, he's kind of abnormal in the way he say's and does things, just kind of, "Out there".

I know some of the major traps that people get caught in when playing stereotypical characters like a stoner, jock, etc. So, when I saw the script my first thought was to play him like he's dazed, sleepy, "I don't care" and then I remembered "O, wait he's not stoned! He's in treatment, duh!” So, I thought to myself, okay, and well, “what does a stoner act like when he’s not stoned”?

I thought that this character would probably be even more animated and a little bit strange, which is why I say he's kind of abnormal and over the top almost. It kind of opens up your mind and your body after you experience getting high many times. Also, he is even MORE over the top, because he is trying to impress all of his friends in the treatment so he can survive.

Mooviees!: How did you enjoy working with Tim Sullivan? Did you get a chance to see his previous film 2001 Maniacs before starting work on this film?

DS: Tim is a wonderful director, he knew before the film even started that the cast should bond, because we are like a gang of loyal friend's, stuck in this horrible situation. He created that atmosphere for us as friends, not actors to become close and get to know each other. When the film began shooting he gave us all creative freedom and let us explores our characters on film. Which I think is kind of amazing considering you have a couple of new actors that you are taking a chance with and you don't know how they’re going to be.

He was very trusting of all of us and took all of our considerations into account. He knew how to make us feel like friends instead of the usual Directors: Behind Camera; Actors: In front.

Also, yes, I was invited to a screening of 2001 maniacs before the film was made. I think that was the turning point with me that gave Tim so much validity. I knew after I saw, "Giuseppe Andrews" (One of my favorite young actors by the way) in 2001 Maniacs that Tim really knew what he wanted and what he was doing.

Mooviees!: What was the atmosphere like working with the other guys (cast mates) on set?

DS: Wow, I mean what a close knit experience that was! It was like a very small village where you lived next door to everyone and knew everything about them. Haha, it was kind of funny in a way, everyone was always together. But, everyone was very supportive and gave a lot to the other actors which were a rewarding experience. I had a close connection to Shahine Ezell because he was my friend in the script and he was also very supportive off screen, I think he's an excellent actor and that he will go very far.

Mooviees!: What about the character and script drew you to it? Is this script an adaptation?

DS: What really drew me to the character, "KC" is that I think what happens with so many other actors, he relates so closely to the life I've had. He is a pure soul stuck in a scary place. I have been there as well, as I too have been to treatment. It was one of the most devastating and horrible experiences of my life.

I was sent to a lockdown treatment facility in Utah for 4 months and all I have to say is, "These places should be SHUT DOWN". These are a bunch of misplaced teenagers that are in there because their parent's don't know what to do with them or they just don't want to take care of their children. It's very sad, and also, you are mixed with juveniles who are waiting to go to jail or who have been on and off the streets their entire life. This can be a horrible combination that causes fights, the staff beat the kids up, and the kids are put under MAJOR emotional abuse.

So, I think that's really what Tim wanted when he wrote this script. He had met a kid that ended up in one of these place's until he turned 18 and I think the message he wants to get across is that these facilities are not okay and that they shouldn't exist. So, it is an adaptation in the sense it's based on "real-life" treatment centers experiences, which were very visceral but also, has a horror twist of lost souls that stay stuck in these places, which I too believe are real.

Mooviees!: Has Driftwood debuted any trailers and/or screenings at any film festivals or conventions this year? If so, where? And what was crowd reaction to the movie?

DS: Yes, I think it had a screening, or maybe a couple snippets are of the film at the Comic Con in San Diego. And there have been 2 trailers that have been released on the internet; one is a teaser trailer (which you can see on YouTube.com ) and the other one that just came out is the theatrical trailer and that is on iFilm.com and myspace.com/driftwoodthemovie.

Mooviees!: David, how long have you been acting and what was your first acting role?

DS: I have been acting professionally since the age of 9. My 1st role was for the music video "Broken Home" by "Papa Roach" where I re-enacted the singer, Jacoby Shaddix in his youth. It was directed by Marcos Siega.

It's about the abuse that he endured by his mother and father. Working on the set was a very spiritual experience for me and was very emotional for everyone involved. The music video was taken off Mtv 2 weeks after its premiere for having too much graphic imagery. It also was nominated for an Emmy for "Best Short-Form Music Video".

Mooviees!: What are your long-term acting goals? Do you think directing and screenwriting could be in your future?

DS: My long-term acting goals. I WANT TO BE FAMOUS AND FILTHY STINKING RICH! No, I'm just kidding' around. I actually would love to be more of a working actor than a well-known household name. I would like to be able to play small character roles in indies; I like dark characters that have something beautiful about them. I like creeping people out! It's very fun and I really know how to connect to a tortured soul that still has hope.

I am not much of a director or screenwriter even though I enjoy learning about them and I try to take in as much as I can behind the scenes. I have been known to do any kind of work I can on films such as a gaffer or cameraman just to learn. If anything, I like editing very much. I really respect Cinematographers and people that have the eye to capture light on film, I find it beautiful. My girlfriend Melissa Rodwell is a Photographer and I learned so much from watching her capture a moment.

Mooviees!: Whose work are you enjoying these days?

I admire Crispin Glover and Steve Buscemi very much for this same reason. They both have a beautiful charisma on camera but also are very low key and don't need to be the star.


Mooviees!: I found you on youtube.com. Do you feel that that the internet has given you more exposure than you would receive without it? If so, do you feel that the exposure is advancing you toward a positive end?

DS: YouTube has been my creative outlet. I would say that it has given me way more exposure than I ever would have thought. I shoot all of my videos by myself and I work the camera and play 2 or 3 different characters talking to each other and then I edit it. I really think that YouTube and Myspace are two places that actors and other artists can go to share their ideas and art with the world.

Also, everyone is very respectful and have good constructive criticism. I rarely ever get negative comments about my work. This is a new age and it is definitely the start of a technological revolution. I would say it's the peoples turn to speak!

About the exposure, it has given me a great chance to really get out there and have people see me for who I am. I definitely think it has helped me. I have already received offers to collaborate with other people and somebody even built my site DavidSkyler.net for free! It's been amazing, the random acts of kindness and support I have gotten from being on youtube! O, and of course there would be Mooviees.com and this interview as well I guess!

David Skyler's next film will be Oranges due out in 2007. He's currently in pre-production on the R. O'Donell film Finch and Lily.

-She'ry DeNae McKee