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SHANT ON A ROLE . . . AND LOVING IT
North Shore Times
July 18, 2008 Friday
Australia
SHANT Sarkissian wasn't allowed to talk to Hollywood star Steve Carell
on the set of Get Smart but he did chase him up a stairwell.
The Lane Cove actor landed a small role as a SWAT officer in the movie
adaptation of hit 60s TV spy parody Get Smart soon after arriving in
Canada last year.
A motor mechanic by day, which "helps to pay the bills", he had packed
it all in after losing his mother to stomach cancer.
"It hit me hard and I realised I couldn't perform for a while,"
said Sarkissian, from a close-knit Armenian family.
"I wanted to forget everything so I packed my bags and headed
overseas."
His journey took him to Montreal and when he realised he would have
to work to survive he stumbled across an open casting for Get Smart.
After winning the role of a support lead character, Sarkissian said he
"fell in love" with acting again.
He trained for the role with a real SWAT team member, which he said
was like a crash course in becoming an agent.
"In my scene I had to chase Steve Carell up a stairwell and we had
to do eight takes running up three sets of stairs," he said.
"I ended up being saturated in sweat because the gear is so heavy,
but I thrive on action and adventure.
"It was the most fun I've ever had on a set."
But he was not allowed to talk to Carell or co-star Anne Hathaway
because he was told they had to remain in character.
"I respect that, as part of the job, plus they are trying to stay on
schedule," Sarkissian said.
When he arrived back home, he enrolled in Participate Film Academy and
will soon have a major role in a feature film produced by the school.
His goal is to make a living from acting but he is realistic about
keeping his second income as a "grease monkey".
"Being a mechanic keeps me level but in the future I would like to
produce and direct my own film," he said.
"I am basically attracted to any interesting character."
North Shore Times
July 18, 2008 Friday
Australia
SHANT Sarkissian wasn't allowed to talk to Hollywood star Steve Carell
on the set of Get Smart but he did chase him up a stairwell.
The Lane Cove actor landed a small role as a SWAT officer in the movie
adaptation of hit 60s TV spy parody Get Smart soon after arriving in
Canada last year.
A motor mechanic by day, which "helps to pay the bills", he had packed
it all in after losing his mother to stomach cancer.
"It hit me hard and I realised I couldn't perform for a while,"
said Sarkissian, from a close-knit Armenian family.
"I wanted to forget everything so I packed my bags and headed
overseas."
His journey took him to Montreal and when he realised he would have
to work to survive he stumbled across an open casting for Get Smart.
After winning the role of a support lead character, Sarkissian said he
"fell in love" with acting again.
He trained for the role with a real SWAT team member, which he said
was like a crash course in becoming an agent.
"In my scene I had to chase Steve Carell up a stairwell and we had
to do eight takes running up three sets of stairs," he said.
"I ended up being saturated in sweat because the gear is so heavy,
but I thrive on action and adventure.
"It was the most fun I've ever had on a set."
But he was not allowed to talk to Carell or co-star Anne Hathaway
because he was told they had to remain in character.
"I respect that, as part of the job, plus they are trying to stay on
schedule," Sarkissian said.
When he arrived back home, he enrolled in Participate Film Academy and
will soon have a major role in a feature film produced by the school.
His goal is to make a living from acting but he is realistic about
keeping his second income as a "grease monkey".
"Being a mechanic keeps me level but in the future I would like to
produce and direct my own film," he said.
"I am basically attracted to any interesting character."