Exclusive Interview

Sandey Grinn

Written by: Katherine B.

Modamag.com: What are some of your most memorable acting experiences?

Sandey: Actually, without even trying to relate this to Judeism, my   first "stage" experience happened to be at my cousin Glenn's Bar Mitzvah. I was five and remember standing on a  chair in front of the 600+ guests singing "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" into a mike. And I remember that   the whole thing felt like heaven to me. I've had a lot of   memorable acting experiences in my life, some good and some  not so good, but it seems that the first time something  happens it remains formost in your mind. For example, years   after that Bar Mitzvah, at the Rennaissance Faire (in   California), I was backstage waiting to go on while Robert  Shields, the mime, performed. He finished his act and got a  huge standing ovation. As he passed me coming off stage, he  said "life is a thief" and kept right on walking. Although  I've never been quite sure what he meant by that, I knew there and then that I wanted that experience I just saw him have; I wanted to bow on that stage and have everyone in the   audience stand and applaud. The next year, I was performing  on that same stage with my comedy troupe, Cock and Feathers,  and on the second weekend of the faire, at about 12:57 in the afternoon on a Saturday, we finished our show, ran up stage as we always had, and then turned to see about 800 people standing and cheering. I immediately started to cry. I couldn't help myself. It was an absolute dream come true.

Modamag.com: What did we see you in?

Sandey: I can't be sure you've seen me in anything (!) but some have come to know me as Thomas Jefferson Kincaid, the commissioner's son, on Kung-Fu, The Legend Continues, while their children probably know me better as Bill der Beaver on Hallmark's Children's Show, Zoobilee Zoo. In addition to other television appearances, I have also been in a number of commercials and have worked on both television and film as a puppeteer.

Modamag.com: What do you think of the show biz industry?

Sandey: I wish more attention and energy was spent towards creating quality work, risking and striving to stretch the boundaries of what is beautiful and profound, but like it or not, show business is a business, and it's motivation is, like any other industry, earning a buck.

Modamag.com: How did you become an actor? What did you go through?

Sandey: I went to plays and musicals with my Mom as a child, I wrote, I read, in school I took every drama class I could, I appeared in every play that I was accepted in, I took classes outside of school, I read every play I could get my hands on, I studied up on movies and saw (and see) as many as I could (and can) and never lost my dream.

Modamag.com: What advice would you give to an aspiring actor?

Sandey: If there is anything else in the world that you can do instead of acting, for God sakes, go do it. This is a fickle business with very little chance of longevity and no guarantees. I understand how appealing the life of a movie or tv star must seem, but that group, the "stars", make up LESS THAN 1% of the total of actors out there. In the Screen Actor's Guild, only 10% of it's membership are working. Simply stated, that means that 90% of the professional actors in America are unemployed. So, if someone is mildly interested in pursuing an acting career, they really shouldn't. But, if you know with certainty that that there is absolutely nothing else in the world you want to do aside from perform, then go for it, and never, ever give up your dreams. 

Modamag.com: Do any plays you write surround Jewish themes? Were you  influenced by your Jewish roots?

Sandey: When the writer of "The Sixth Sense" was asked if his Indian culture influenced his writing, he laughed and admitted that he hadn't consciously intended it to, but aspects of the spirituality he was raised up in certainly have made their way to the screen. I mention this because, while I have only once written a scene specifically about Jews ("Birthday" from Couples, a Comedy 1992), I am sure that my points of view, and resultantly the points of view of my characters, borrow much of their philosophical roots from my Jewish upbringing.

Modamag.com What inspires you to write (your plays)?

Sandey: Each play has its own origin and inspiration. For example, my most recent work "Picklehaus" was started after a rather painful break up, and the first draft was almost as painful to read as the ended romance. But as my heart healed, the message and theme of the piece was able to find it's way to the page and now I have a romantic musical comedy (!) I can be proud of.

Modamag.com: What is most challanging about auditions?

Sandey: Letting them go after you leave. If you commit to doing your absolute best AT the audition, you can avoid doing the audition you wanted to do in the car on the way home. Walk into the casting office knowing that decisions are being made about you immediately, and act accordingly. You get one shot, maybe two, but you have to make each one count. And not somewhere in the middle of the reading. From the first word on, you have to OWN whatever part it is you're going for. You want to be so good that casting is left with no choice but to hire you. Do that and then, when it's over, after you've left the office (or studio or theatre), let it go. If they call you back, great. If not, you're energy should already be focused on the next one, and the next, and the next...

Modamag.com: What is most Challanging about acting? About the profession?

Sandey: Getting the job. About acting once you've been hired? As Spencer Tracy said when asked his advice on acting "Don't get caught doing it." Be real, even if you're playing a tree. You have to know that the character is you and you are the character. If you don't believe that what you're doing is totally and completely real, that the character's motivations, actions and reactions are in reality yours and yours alone, how could you possibly expect an audience to buy it?

The frustrations of the business are many and great. The temptation to doubt yourself and to question your goals is ever present. But even greater are the rewards of a job well done; whether on stage or screen. I am happiest when working, and cannot think of one single thing I would rather be, or do. If you're not absolutely certain that an actor is all you want to be, congratulations. You have many options and I'm sure you'll be fine. But If you feel the same way I do, then I wish you all the luck in the world.