Hick Cheramie Part 2: From Background to Lead Actor

Hold onto your seats as we leap right into an exhilarating chat with the dynamic Hick Cheramie, an actor with a story as compelling as his roles. Hick beams us up on his rollercoaster journey from being a background actor to nailing a role in Obsidian, a full feature film. He narrates the leap of faith he took to study the craft, and his first-ever stint playing an alcoholic in a wheelchair. A daunting and challenging experience that proved enlightening and pivotal for his career.

In a candid chat with our co-host, TJ, we unearth the inspirational moments that drove him to pursue principal work, buoyed by a random encouragement on set. We unpack Plaideau's experiences with stand-in and photo doubling work, the grit, the grind, and the rewarding moments. As we meander through the ins and outs of the acting industry, we underline the importance of networking and seeking advice. But it's not all serious business, we also delve into the lighter side of the industry, the humorous moments in stand-up and improv, and how they can coax out the laughter bug within us. Join us for this riveting episode, packed with laughter, insights, and a hint to a surprise guest!

Transcript

Tj: 0:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm TJ.

Plaideau: 0:02

And I'm Plato.

Tj: 0:03

And you're listening to Nola film scene with TJ and Plato.

Plaideau: 0:08

We're back with part two of talking with Hick Cheramie. I had asked him a question, so we left you on a cliffhanger and here's what I asked him. So we talked about how you started in background and doing stand in, like a lot of us. When was the switch to I want to lie, when was your first class? That kind of change?

Hick Cheramie: 0:25

I was on the set of a movie as a recurring feature. Each of these things is a huge leap right. When you got away from doing extra work and you were like I want to study acting, that's big right. It's a big thing to take on. It's a dream that we have and we hold on to when we manifest it as much as we can. But when it's time to take action, we really see what we made up right, and that could be scary. It could be a scary thing. But I was filming this film, both of you. I know Brian does, Kaleb Naquin? Yeah, all right, Kaleb's like dude, when are you going to start studying to be an actor? You really need to study to be an actor. You could do this. I was so scared man, I had been told by other people. I was like, well, let me give it a shot, right? So I took some classes with Jim and after that I started meeting people. You know networking is very important for us and it's key to a lot of opportunities that open up for us. I was lucky enough just to be around some really great people who gave me these opportunities.

Hick Cheramie: 1:26

I did a 48 hour film project and then I had some other people doing a lot of independent work. You know, I just studied with Jeremy London. I was doing independent work. What happened was is there was a casting call for this is an independent film. It was called Obsidian and it was a casting call on Facebook. The director was Erica Summers. I had no demo reel. I had no, I had taken a few classes and I went ahead and submitted for it. She wanted me, like she wanted me, and it was a very challenging thing for me because I had never been in a film. I'm sorry, I don't even think it was October. I think I'm out of it. I actually the 48 hour project yeah, dude, no, obsidian was the first thing I ever did. Obsidian was the first thing I ever did because after Obsidian is when I did the 48 hour film project, I did Tales of the Natchez Trace Western, which was also independent, actually, of sitting. It was the first thing I ever did.

Hick Cheramie: 2:25

So I had not acted, except in Jim's class and Erica Summers gave me an opportunity. Erica Summers gave me an opportunity and I read the script. It was a very challenging role as this guy the character was an alcoholic and I kind of got thrown into it because it's like I seen it. I submitted, she saw my head shot and she like took a chance. Dude, I literally showed up on set with a few classes from Jim. I had the experience of being a background actor standing in a feature of a recording actor and I got thrown into a full feature film. And it was a character who was an alcoholic, he was in a wheelchair and next thing you know I'm doing this film with Olivia Peck and Henry Frost and Tom Proctor.

Hick Cheramie: 3:17

My first day on set, my first scene was Tom Proctor torturing me and the dude flew from the West Coast. Eric is like oh yeah, I'm picking up Tom Proctor from the airport we had out to location and we shooting your scene and I'm like shit, I don't even know what I'm doing. And I was fortunate enough that Tom Proctor he's a larger than life person in person and then on the screen it's even. He was in a. I can't say all the stuff he was in. He's done a lot of stuff. This is a working actor and he was an amazing stuntman back in the 80s and he's pulled some records for these different stunts. I did that first scene with him and spending time with Tom that they everybody, like I said earlier, brings something to you and Tom brought some to me that day. And Tom brought me some confidence. I did the whole film. We won some awards. Again I'm getting picked up by Distributor. I've done so many interviews with that film in the past few years.

Hick Cheramie: 4:19

And that was my first film. And then next thing, you know, I was doing an independent Western. Until I was in a match of Trace. I was doing a 48 hour project. I was doing other independent films, music videos I mean two like really cool music videos and in that time I continued to study Tracy Kilpatrick, Jeremy London and taking different intents from different casting directors and it just organically happened. But I forgot that I was like just thrown into obsidian with no, I guess, long-term formal training. I see it now. I did great on some real intense scenes that I'm comfortable with. But I see some of the opening scenes with me in it and I'm like, uh, dude.

Plaideau: 5:00

Like we all are harshest critics. Oh.

Hick Cheramie: 5:03

God the director was very happy with what I did. I'm very proud of the film because it was my first film and to get thrown into a full feature film and it wasn't like I had a small part. You know, this was like a main character that had to carry a role. This character, who's an alcoholic, a drug addict, he's honoree, he's a smart ass and he's in a wheelchair, and then he takes us to the drug and he can walk again and he gets real emotional. And I was also in there with Frank Wilson and some really talented people and yeah, that's why I got kind of connected with, like Henry Frost and then Olivia Peck.

Hick Cheramie: 5:36

I got to work with Olivia First time. I got to work with Olivia, which I did not know while filming that. How funny Olivia was. I felt like she was more serious while we're filming that movie because I spent a lot of time with her and I saw her singing like to the Little Mermaid when it came on TV and stuff. But when I first watched Todds! dude I died. She is one of the funniest people. Her timing is freaking impeccable. That's where I got to meet Olivia Next thing. You know, I'm doing something for her with this next project, Henry and I we talked. He's in New Jersey now. In fact he was working on a big project. He's doing things up there and there may be a possibility for me to go up there and do some stuff with him. So you meet people and that's how it kind of started. You know, I don't think I ever planned to be where I'm at now. I wanted to, but it kind of just happened.

Plaideau: 6:23

You didn't know where the door was and all of a sudden it was opening and you're on the deep end of the pool.

Hick Cheramie: 6:27

Yeah, I guess the decision was made that they all walked into Jim Gleason's class. I just wasn't sure if that's what I would be, but that is the decision you took the step from just staying around his background to I want speaking parts.

Plaideau: 6:40

You didn't say I'm gonna have it, you know, but that was your first step.

Hick Cheramie: 6:44

Yeah.

Plaideau: 6:44

And the decision made.

Hick Cheramie: 6:45

Yeah, totally yeah, and I think it all bowed down to me taking advantage of opportunities that I was really lucky. There's something in the industry that gets us a long way and it's our character, it's our work ethic and our professionalism. And I've been invited to participate in so many amazing projects because someone said, oh man, he's really easy to work with, he's on time, he's serious about what he does, he's kind, he treats everyone kind. I'm not blowing my head up or anything, but I think our wall, our character has a lot of All of those things were accurate.

Plaideau: 7:23

Yeah totally.

Hick Cheramie: 7:24

It has a lot to do, I think, with why people want to work with us. Nobody wants to work with an asshole man. I've seen it. I've seen people who are hard to work with you want to always be professional. Anybody who wants to get into this industry I highly suggest. It's a very ruthless industry but it's a very loving community and I feel that who we are will get us where we need to be. Our character will get us where we need to be. Our walk says a lot about us outside of what we are able to bring to the table as an actor and a character. So be professional, be kind, be helpful, be selfless, stay humble, and I think those things get us a long way.

Plaideau: 8:08

Yeah, I agree If it starts with background and then speaking parts. If you're an asshole, that gets around, Gets around quick.

Hick Cheramie: 8:15

Oh yeah.

Plaideau: 8:15

But if you're a good person, too, that gets around. It may take a little longer for people to hear that, because bad words spread faster, but people will know.

Hick Cheramie: 8:23

I remember I had this production assistant on a really big project that I did. In fact, I got my eligibility. I had worked with her before and she saw how hard I worked and she saw how professional I was. She saw I was a very punctual entity and got things done in a timely manner and it was always, in other words, reliable. And I remember the day I signed that contract my first site contract and I remember posting about it. It was a very emotional moment for me because it's something that we all want, it's something we all strive to get, and I remember signing it and my hand was shaking. And I remember signing it and you never know who's watching you. We just never know.

Hick Cheramie: 9:08

And when I went in I posted about it, that production assistant went underneath and she was head production assistant and she's did bigger things in film. She went tell me how deserving I was of it and how proud she was of me and that I was deserving and that I was a hard worker and that I never thought this about this person. And this person saw this or whatever. She was just a person that I worked with. So it's very important how we carry ourselves. It goes a long way and people see you and people watch you. And we talked about that community. It's a tight-knit community. Word gets around quickly about who you are. So be professional, you know, always be kind to crew, to to other actors, to extras. To Be kind to yourself and you'll be kind to others, that's right.

Plaideau: 10:01

Not just the people who can help you exactly everybody you know with no motives man.

Hick Cheramie: 10:05

That's great advice.

Tj: 10:07

Well, I think that's all the time we have for this evening. Hick, I really want to thank you for coming on. You've offered some really great insights.

Hick Cheramie: 10:13

It's really nice sitting down with you. Well, thanks for having me, man. I appreciate the conversations. Hopefully we get to see each other soon in person on set.

Plaideau: 10:26

I want to see in person, but I want to see you working together.

Hick Cheramie: 10:29

I want to have a burger with you, man, and Brian wants to film a damn movie, laughing.

Plaideau: 10:32

Yes, I'll film you. We talked so long, my light burnt out.

Hick Cheramie: 10:45

See, actors are really poor.

Plaideau: 10:52

You want to share any social medias If you want people to contact or follow you.

Hick Cheramie: 10:57

Yeah, it's share me on Facebook Hick Cheramie on share me and Hick Cheramies IMDB and Cheramie underscore Actor on Instagram. But reach out, you have an acting question. Reach out. There are these two young guys in Tennessee have been helping these kids are getting their career started, and dude they bombard me, laughing. They send me questions all the time. You know, and when I can get to them, I get to them and If I'm not available, ask other actors. Like that's how we got to where we are? We just didn't all know it. We had to ask. Can't tell you the amount of people enough texted like what does this mean? What does that mean? Like, don't be ashamed like we. You have to learn.

Tj: 11:32

Yeah, that was a really good question taking. I know one another and we know each other's background stories and how we got started from moving from background into principal work. He has an extra step. He did stand in work. That's something I haven't done. I did background and then started doing principle.

Plaideau: 11:50

Yeah, I did a little bit stand in work. I was also a photo double which is, to describe it to the folks out there. If you look like the star, but then they don't need the star's face. So if it's a close-up you need the star's face. Well, if the camera doesn't move after they yell, cut and then the star is going to be down the road, well, you just see the back of his head. The star can go to their trailer, get their refreshments, get ready for the next scene, and then you get to go wander around and be in the heat, over in the rain or whatever the Right and then. So when I did that job, I was also that actors stand in sometimes and make up my stand in. Experience was different because I didn't have to memorize any lines and, for what I've heard, sometimes the stand in has to learn the lines and run them while they're doing the blocking, while they're checking out the cameras and stuff. Had you, have you seen that happen?

Tj: 12:40

Not personally no.

Plaideau: 12:42

I got you, I think, tasting that, because it was a week and a half on set for me and that's when. That's when it bit me. I was like, oh, this is nice. It was hard work, it was hot, it was August in New Orleans.

Plaideau: 12:51

12 right now a day is on a good day, then one time we got rained out. You know people scrambling and and even when you just sitting around because as a stand in your team to actors, a team one, okay, we need team two, and you go do your thing, the actors go to their trailer and all right, team one, and you switch out and sometimes you're just waiting nothing to do, and that's definitely not exhausting. It's not ditch digging, but that way it's on you too. You know you're pushing me working a second job. That was. I actually fell asleep in the chair and one of the stars took a picture of me and shared it. Don't be like, oh, that's so unprofessional. Well, I'm working, like you know, 20 hour days, seven days a week. This time, you know it catches up to you.

Tj: 13:31

Yeah, for sure.

Plaideau: 13:32

So that's how I got inspired to take the step up. Tj, what was your moment of

Tj: 13:36

inspiration? Good question. I was working on a TV show. I kind of hate that we can't talk about the specifics right now. That was the change for me. They called me up and asked me if I could be background in this scene. They wanted a rough looking character, long hair, long beard. So I was picture picked by the director and this was only a handful, maybe the third or fourth time I had done background. I didn't really think about doing principal work at that point. I just didn't think that I could get into it, didn't really know what it would take to get into it.

Tj: 14:10

And between scenes, one of the actors you know, there's the unwritten rule that the background workers aren't supposed to engage with the principal actors because they have lines to remember, they may have an emotion that they need to hang on to and they just don't want to be I don't want to say bothered. But they have a job to do, just like we have a job to do Background. The job is to not be noticed and you're not supposed to be interrupting and bugging the principal players. But one of the day players was really cool and he's have you ever done any talking on screen before? And I said no, he said you ought to really think about it. You've got a great look, give it a shot.

Tj: 14:49

And I asked him what it would take and he told me. He told me the steps and I started following those. I started taking acting lessons and followed all the other steps and started pursuing that dream. Yep, and were it not for his encouragement that day, if I say who it was and if I say who the other day player was that encouraged me, it'll be pretty obvious what it was. So maybe in an episode down the road I can talk a little bit more about it. I just want to be mindful and respectful of the strike and not not give up too much information. But two actors encouraged me to get into it. I started doing it and haven't looked back. I love it. I'm enjoying what I do Excellent.

Plaideau: 15:31

Yeah, our next guest actually has a lot of experience with acting and strikes. She's been in the business for decades and she said you could mention what you were in. You just can't talk about a plot and we just don't know. And we're going to be more safe than sorry, cause, if we said it before, with talking to Hick, it's like to imagine working your butt off for me four years, I think yours is the same, and we're almost to that level. We're getting so close and then to just be, I don't think they'd black ball us, but if you become a scab, you could be, and I think that's more like we went and took a job on a struck company. That's why we're being extra careful, probably being silly in some ways, but it's worth it to be. You know to be safe, cause it's our dream. I couldn't hear the last thing you said.

Tj: 16:16

Apparently, you have to turn your microphone back on.

Plaideau: 16:20

We need to leave that in, which leads me to my question. I wanted to ask you we've dropped an intro episode and our first episode and now this is the second part, so, but it's really one interview, so we've got an episode under our belt, how are you feeling? Are you excited, are you scared? This isn't worth it. You don't know yet what's going on.

Tj: 16:37

That's a great question. Glad you asked me that because, yeah, it's worth it! It was a lot of work on the front end but I love it. I'm having a blast sitting down talking to people hanging out with you, talking about the different episodes that we're planning out. Yeah, it's worth it and I'm excited. We had some pretty good downloads, I'm gonna say, since the first two episodes that have dropped already and the amount of work that goes into it. It's getting easier. It's smoothing out, smoothing out, smoothing out.

Plaideau: 17:09

Yeah. It's getting easier to say that for next episode.

Tj: 17:12

Yeah, smooth on the next episode. We're, how to say, smoothing out.

Plaideau: 17:17

We're trying to talk for a living and we don't do it too good yet.

Tj: 17:21

Yeah, I. It's definitely worth it. I'm having a good time and I think it's going smooth. How about you? How do you feel?

Plaideau: 17:28

I have the easy part. I just have to come here and run my mouth, and that's I was born to do that. I'm quick-witted, you can tell by that. I just came up with that. But also, like saying, with your stuff, with the computer, and you know, and both of us involved with the acting and coming up with ideas and ideas for shows, and hey, we should do this. And you know, we talked about some other things. You know, maybe some surprises down the way, not limiting ourselves to just the film scene, but that is our focus. There's also no love, there's also music, there's also other entertainers we could talk to. I'm happy, I'm excited, want to do more.

Tj: 17:58

Yeah, same here. We have some really good guests lined up. I don't want to spill the beans on them yet, make sure that they get locked in, but we have some pretty good shows in store coming up and I agree. I'm glad we're doing this and I appreciate the compliment about that editing. It's work, but it's fun. I like doing it. So, Brian, tell me, is it what you expected once we got going with getting things planned and getting guests lined up and actually sitting down and talking to some people, is this what you expected?

Plaideau: 18:31

I have to say yes, I listen to a lot of podcasts. I like when I go to work, when I'm driving, I put on the podcast while I'm cleaning I'm a janitor and on the graveyard shift and I like the stories of it, whether it's an interview or there are podcasts that are just like plays, like old radio plays, and I've had a little bit of experience not only Scheduling in my normal life but like doing a short film and I would be the guy and I wouldn't say casting, but I'm like Coordinating. Okay, we're gonna shoot on this day. Well, I can get seven of our eight people, but this last person's our principal. You can't get that principal. So now you got to move it to another day. Now you got to coordinate with all the people and it's always a pain in the ass.

Plaideau: 19:03

This is yeah bad where my friends call me the celebrity, right, you know, because during the pandemic I reached out to Brad Sherwood and other people from whose line is it? Anyway? I'm Mark Decarlo, who was Jimmy Neutron's dad, and said hey, you want to come join us on zoom and talk improv? And they did. You know what I mean. I thought of our teacher. David Hamilton says I hassle sweetly, so I'll ask and I'll push, and then when I get resistant, like, okay, no problem. I think all those skills have led up to us a skill, but whatever you want to call it, as we'll see next week, we've got a comedian and star from the 90s and she's still doing stuff today. I hate to, you know, throw her back to decades past and we had a few laughs, might have had a few snorts too.

Tj: 19:45

Yeah, I Haven't laughed. You always wonder if a comedian is funny off-camera, behind the scenes. You never really know, right, she's not doing stand-up comedy so much anymore, but you still wonder. Yeah, cuz I remember her shows. I remember her stand-up from improv, was it? Even if we can even say right yeah, and others too. And you wonder the yeah? There's no doubt. Yes, she is funny. I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. I'm taking improv classes and those are always funny. There's always something funny that happens. But this guest was hysterical.

Plaideau: 20:27

My ribs were hurting and my face was hurting when we were done your face was killing me, and with that I think we can end it.

Tj: 20:32

Thanks for joining us.

Plaideau: 20:33

We will see you next time with that surprise guest you.