When film-minded friends get together on a project, the results can be hilarious and a dream come true, according to 91原创 actor, Jason Burkart.
Burkart is known for his role as Little John in TV芒鈧劉s Once Upon a Time, but for the newly launched feature film, Jackhammer, he played someone just a bit wilder.
芒鈧揑 had a blast playing Frederick,芒鈧� Burkart said.
Frederick is a stripper and part of the world of egotistical colleague Jackhammer (Mike Hanus). Julius (played by Guy Christie) is a shy struggling actor who gets sucked into the male stripping industry by Jackhammer, who happens to be his brother.
芒鈧揑 just tried to play Frederick elegant,芒鈧� noted Burkart when discussing the contrast between Burkart芒鈧劉s own body type and the typical look of a male stripper.
芒鈧揑 just went in there owning it. I tried to own that contrast.芒鈧�
The film was released in early September and is now available through a variety of VOD (video on demand) channels including iTunes, Shaw, and Bell or visit the movie芒鈧劉s site at https://www.reelhouse.org/feature/jackhammer.
芒鈧揙ur movie is available in everyone芒鈧劉s home,芒鈧� Burkart said.
Although created in 2013, it took time to release the movie due to the team芒鈧劉s desire to explore distribution offers.
芒鈧揥e made this movie on our own, with our own money,芒鈧� said Burkart. 芒鈧揟hen we went out and looked for a distributor... If we took the offers [of distributors] we芒鈧劉d be in exactly the same place. The movie would be on iTunes. [This way] we still own the rights.芒鈧�
Hanus, Burkart, Christie, and others wrote the comedy which also offers cameos and special roles by Pamela Anderson, Jamie Kennedy (Malibu芒鈧劉s Most Wanted), Nicole Sullivan (MADtv and King of Queens), and Robb Wells (Ricky from the Trailer Park Boys).
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s kind of a dream come true,芒鈧� commented Burkart of the process. 芒鈧揧ou surround yourself with who you want to work with. We picked who we wanted to work with.芒鈧�
芒鈧揘ot bad, for a first film, to get those kinds of people in it,芒鈧� he added.
When asked about how Anderson, another B.C. native, got into the project, Burkart explained, 芒鈧揝he was awesome and really supporting of what we were doing.芒鈧�
Mutual acquaintances connected the filmmakers with Anderson, they pitched her with the idea and she came on board during filming. It was a process Burkart says was easier because of the flexibility the group had in controlling the production.
芒鈧揙n a bigger budget movie you don芒鈧劉t have that freedom,芒鈧� he said. 芒鈧揌ere you have a voice.芒鈧�
Burkart has already written two other scripts, is working on two more, and noted his friends and Jackhammer co-workers are also working on scripts.
芒鈧揃etween us all we芒鈧劉ll have a script to work on,芒鈧� he said. 芒鈧揥e learned a lot and came a long way with our first movie.芒鈧�
Obviously the process was enjoyable for the film crew and actors.
芒鈧揑t was a lot of fun, we芒鈧劉re all friends. We were able to make a film with our buddies,芒鈧� Burkart said. 芒鈧揥e had the freedom to joke around and goof around and it was great.芒鈧�
Keep an eye on Burkart on big and small screens everywhere.
