Welcome readers, new and old, to OneFilmFan.com and the next installment of “In Their Own Words”, where I have had the true blessing of getting to connect with and interview so many independent filmmakers, producers, writers, directors, crew, and the actors who make these projects possible. A milestone is being reached with this interview you’re about to read, as it officially becomes the 50th interview conducted for the site since its inception in January 2014! And what better way to have that number come about than with the fourth actor from the now-released, faith-based indie feature film, “Providence”, that I’ve had the honor to “meet” from this amazing project.
While this interviewee may be new to the world of on screen acting, he is far from an amateur when it comes to acting itself! Having the pedigree behind him via a talented family from Branson, MO who helped cultivate his love for the stage first, this truly gifted young man of 21 has more than enough experience already to make the transition to film be a natural progression. Filled with a sincerity of heart, deep faith, and a very profound passion for his chosen art, OneFilmFan.com is very proud to present our “Big 5-0” interview via actor Josh Allen!
One Film Fan: First tell us about Josh Allen as a person, and what started your interest in acting.
Josh Allen: Well my name is Josh Allen, and I’m 21 years old. Ever since I was one year old, my family has traveled the country and the world in Southern Gospel music ministry. I’ve enjoyed performing ever since I was little, but likely my first time to take an interest in acting was when I was 9 years old. My older brother and I would often make films together with our old camcorder, and though I didn’t realize it at the time, I had a passion for bringing characters to life on the screen and the stage. A silent passion had been born in my heart that slowly began to grow.
O.F.F.: How did you further learn the art?
J.A.: As I got older, my family started doing live productions in addition to our concerts. For 7 years, we did shows in Branson, Missouri, which also happens to be our headquarters. Again, I didn’t realize it, but slowly my skills were growing. My parents provided the necessary teachings on stage presence, projection, diction, inflection, and expression. I added to that my gifts of improvisation, comic timing, and a desire to make each performance better than the last. There was always a different way I could have delivered a line, or a more engaging way to get the audience further in on the jokes. Also, constantly being around people made me comfortable talking to just about anyone, no matter who they were or how many there were.
As far as formal training in the art of film acting, I have very little. I’m still new to the world of moviemaking and consider myself a novice, but I do desire to bring the same passion I have for a perfect performance on stage to the screen as well. I’ve been blessed to work with some actors and actresses who have been in the business a while and have graciously given me valuable knowledge on performance and the industry. I’ve taken some online lessons and read some books on the topic, but I’ve only scratched the surface of what I need to know.
O.F.F.: What was the first acting job (stage, screen, or otherwise) you received and how did that influence you as an actor?
J.A.: Well the word “job” to me means something you were hired to do. The only project I’ve done that meets that description is my latest film, “Providence”. However, since we’ll be covering that film in detail later, I’ll tell you about the first time I ever officially portrayed a character for the screen.
In the summer of 2011, my brother Caleb and his friends were trying to fundraise for their latest film project by putting together an “America’s Got Talent”-style show and have people pledge money for their favorite contestant. I was asked to be one of those contestants, not as an actor, but as a comedian. So, I put together about 5 minutes of material for a stand-up routine and rehearsed the sketch for Caleb. While he said it was chuckle-worthy and amusing, it fell short of being laugh-out-loud funny. That gave me an idea.
I thought of a routine I had seen where a stand-up comedian was purposely unfunny. So instead of rewriting my material, I changed the way I performed it. I used all the wrong inflections and said my punchlines too early to kill the jokes. I styled my hair in a ridiculous fashion and changed my voice to fit the part. Everyone loved it! Something about the unconventional approach to comedy gave the character an air of originality. It was the first time I had ever acted in an official capacity and I was absolutely hooked!
O.F.F.: When it comes to your acting, more in general, do you find you would prefer stage acting to film? Vice versa? Or both equally?
J.A.: Good question! As I’ve said already ,most of my experience is in live productions. However, I feel my passion at this point in my life and career is for film. So, I would have to say that I love both equally, but would prefer film acting to the stage. That being said, the stage does hold a special place in my heart. In my hometown of Branson, my family would do 5 live shows a week for two months straight! For me, every performance was a chance to build on to the characters I played. I had some liberty to change the lines, but my favorite part was changing my delivery. I would examine each line I had and then say it in just the right way for maximum effectiveness. This is where my love for the art of acting reached the strength to which I regard it today.
I can remember one time in particular, we had just wrapped our final show for that season. Everyone else was enjoying themselves during our wrap party. I, on the other hand, went down to the dressing rooms alone. I looked at all my costumes, reminisced about the high points of that season, and even looked into the mirror and delivered my favorite lines. Suddenly, I was so overcome with emotion at the realization that it would be another year before I got to portray these characters again–and some of them not at all–that I burst into tears. A heaviness weighed on me, I felt depressed, like saying goodbye to a dear friend. It was at this time I realized that I did not merely enjoy acting, I loved it. It was my passion.
O.F.F.: How challenging is it within the independent film world to find consistent work?
J.A.: I am speaking from limited experience, of course, but it is my impression that acting in any kind of film, independent or otherwise, is an uphill battle. There may be rare exceptions who get their big break right out of the gate and go straight to the top, but they are just that, exceptions. Film is a tough world to be a part of. It is often costly with very little return. I agree that perseverance is key; practically everyone would like to be an actor. Few are willing to put in the time and effort required to be an actor, and even fewer have the perseverance to continue even when it gets rough.
Though to me, perseverance in any profession must be directly associated with God’s will for our lives. As much as I love acting, if I were to struggle for years and eventually find earthly success, only to look back and see not one individual was affected positively for the cause of Christ, I would conclude that I was a failure. We must strive towards something worth striving towards. He has given too much to me for me to seek only personal gain in this life. Thus, my ultimate goal as an actor is to lift Christ Jesus up, both on set and on screen, so He may draw all men unto Himself.
O.F.F.: Many actors in this day and age tend to go beyond just acting, but also dive into producing, directing, writing, and other behind the camera facets of filmmaking. Do you see yourself taking that direction now or in the future?
J.A.: Actually I already do some of those things. I help write concepts for various projects, I direct and edit productions for YouTube, and I’ve even built sets for large-scale films. But as far as doing any of that in a more official capacity, I don’t see it for myself in the near future. I have several friends in the industry who can operate extremely well in every area of film including acting. However, while I have some knowledge in other areas of production, I feel that acting is where my true talent lies. But as I’ve said before, I want to be open to God’s will for my life at all times. If that includes acting, directing, or something completely separate from film, I want to follow Him no matter what.
O.F.F.: So, onto your current project, “Providence”, currently out in select AMC Theaters! What drew you to this film and/or how did the opportunity come about?
J.A.: I always look for originality in a film. Being dialogue free, “Providence” was the definition of originality. I liked the idea of it being somewhat of a throw back to the origins of cinema, but at the same time being an entirely new form of feature film.
I first found out about the Wilharms when I saw a casting call for their previous film, “The Good Book”. Unfortunately I stumbled upon it too late as the casting call had already expired and they had begun production. But I kept them on my radar and when they began their casting call for “Providence” a couple years later, I contacted them immediately about auditioning.
O.F.F.: Tell us about the character Teen Mitchell you play in it.
J.A.: At first glance, the character of Teen Mitchell is a stereotypical high school nerd who was never popular. He is studious, responsible, and moral. But, if you look at his character as a whole, Young Mitchell, Teen Mitchell, and Adult Mitchell, you can see many Christ-like traits. He is extremely patient and kind. He isn’t very proud or rude. In a way, he is the embodiment of 1 Corinthians 13. And while situations may not always go as he wants them to, he continues to hold fast to God. I found that as I studied the character of Mitchell there were many things I could learn from him, and I think other Christians would do well to learn from him also!
O.F.F.: With no dialogue present, how challenging was it to rely on straight forward dramatic acting/actions to carry your character’s story forward without speaking?
J.A.: It was definitely a new experience for me! It felt like a job for a more experienced actor, but everyone was always so encouraging. While some scenes were more difficult for me than others, overall I’d say it was more interesting than challenging. And while you don’t hear it, many scenes did call for dialogue, albeit silent dialogue. So, we would improvise our lines on the spot. We would have normal conversation while in character. I found this extremely helpful personally, and I thought is gave everything a more authentic feel.
O.F.F.: There’s a strong faith-based message present here. How did that message affect you if at all?
J.A.: Good question! As I said before, the character of Mitchell had much to teach me, and I started learning long before I first arrived on set. I’ve heard some actors say that you take part of each role you play with you after every production. Because of this, I wanted to select my roles carefully. As I learned more about Mitchell, I realized that this was a character I wanted to take with me. His devotion to the Word of God, his purity, and his servitude are all things I want in my life. So to play a character close to God, I determined to get closer to God than I was currently. This was a great experience because it strengthened both my acting, and my Christian walk.
O.F.F.: How was working with your fellow actors like Stacey Bradshaw, Rich Swingle, Juli Tapken, and Irene Santiago?
J.A.: Alas, I never got to work with the latter three. Since the story of “Providence” is told in three different parts, I never had the opportunity to work with them on set. Stacey, on the other hand, was wonderful to work with! I had seen her in other films and was absolutely thrilled when I found out she had been cast! She brought a great deal of talent and professionalism to the set, and her sweet spirit made her a joy to be around. I did get to meet Mr. Swingle and Mrs. Tapken at the red carpet premiere of “Providence” last November. They are both wonderful people, and I hope I get to work on screen with them in the future!
O.F.F.: Additionally, how about thoughts on working with director Sharon Wilharm?
J.A.: Sharon Wilharm is an extremely talented individual! She wears so many hats at once, and still manages to provide a comfortably paced environment to work in. She’s down to earth, has a good sense of humor, and it’s obvious that she loves the Lord. The same can be said for her husband Fred. I’m honored to call them friends!
O.F.F.: What other projects are on the horizon for you currently.
J.A.: Right now, nothing in the way of film is on my schedule. But that can change at any time. After “Providence”, I was blessed to have a cameo in another film produced by a friend of mine. I’m also working on several projects of my own, many of which will be available for viewing later this year. I’ve just begun this journey as an actor, and I can’t wait to see what God will do through me!
O.F.F.: Outside of acting, what other passions do you find yourself involved with in between jobs?
J.A.: I always enjoy singing with my family. I’ve traveled all my life and I never seem to get tired of it for very long. So as I’ve gotten older, I’ve taken a larger role in my family’s ministry. I supply the bass vocals for our group, as well as designing graphics and managing our social media. I try my best to stay busy.
O.F.F.: As independent cinema is becoming a little more known theatrically, it seems like an overall genre where the smaller films tend to go almost unnoticed, not promoted, or have a very short lifespan. Yet, these are projects with incredible stories, deeper characters, and filmmakers with such a heartfelt commitment to their art, it deserves to be recognized. How important is it to you to see indie cinema get bigger exposure to the greater movie going public?
J.A.: I think it’s great that more and more theaters are bringing independent releases to their screens. Whether or not independent films will continue to gain exposure, I have no idea. Filmmakers of independently funded and produced films have to fight hard for their films to be seen because of limited resources. But, they do have stories that need to be told. Independent filmmakers are not bound by the same restrictions of big companies. They can make films to niche markets. Or like true artists, make a piece that only they can fully understand. They also seem to have a strong respect for the art of film itself. So to any independent filmmaker trying to get your story told, I wish you all the best!
O.F.F.: Most interviewees seem to sense this question coming as the finale – which doesn’t stop me from asking it, of course. What is YOUR favorite film of all time? Why?
J.A.: I could think about this question for days and never have an answer. I’ve often tried to narrow it down to just one and found it impossible. I just love movies. All kinds for all different reasons. Maybe the mind blowing spectacle of “Inception”, or the carefully crafted world of “The Lord Of The Rings”, or even magnificent acting performances in classics like “It’s A Wonderful Life”, “A Face In The Crowd”, or “Mr Smith Goes To Washington”. I could go on and on and never arrive at a decision. I simply love the art of film!
Seriously, folks! How about this kid?? Humbly genuine and proud, greatly talented yet always open to further learning, dedicated to his faith and its guiding impact on life, plus simply excited and thankful for all the opportunity that has come his way, Josh Allen joins the ranks of the incredible people found in the independent film ranks who truly set examples as artists wanting to see their skills grow and the material they present be noticed and recognized, deservedly so, this reviewer might add! Saying we will be seeing more of this young man is a foregone conclusion, and we shall greatly anticipate what comes next for Josh’s, and our, enjoyment.
Want to keep up with what Josh is doing? How about these places to do just that:
“Follow” Josh on Twitter: Here
“Follow” Josh’s Facebook Page: Here
“Follow” Josh on Instagram: official_josh_allen
Check out Josh’s YouTube Channel: Here
I would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank You!!” to Josh Allen again for taking the time from a seriously busy schedule (common theme among actors, it seems! LOL) to do this interview for me and all the readers who will enjoy this wonderful insight into a quality human being! Stay tuned to OneFilmFan.com, as I will be bringing one more interview from the world of “Providence” in the future! Until next time, spread the word, and thank you for reading!
