Buckle up, even if actor\writer Steve Olson doesn’t like rollercoasters, his 5 Talkie Minutes With will be a rollercoaster of laughter! He gives the answers nobody is expecting, just have a look at the superpower he wishes had.
His latest film “Fishbowl California” just came out, and Steve plays Rodney, a man struggling to find purpose in life is enlightened by a drunk, ailing widow. Like everyone else (whether they admit it or not), also Steve has had his fair share of struggling.
Get to know this young, funny and brilliant actor and writer!
_____________________
What made you want to be part of “Fishbowl California”?
_____________________
I sincerely loved and related to the script and tone of “Fishbowl California.” I was intrigued by it instantly. I don’t think it’s a coincidence certain types of actors/writers/directors end up collaborating. I think it’s all meant to be, but it was mostly that they said, “we’ll give you money to be in a movie.” I spent all of it at Chili’s.
_____________________
Have you ever felt “stuck” like Rodney? If yes, how did you cope?
_____________________
Every day and Miller Light Tall Boys. Kidding not kidding. Rodney’s a full-blown “loser,” portrayed comedically, so they cast totally against-type, someone super cool: me. (*Crickets*). Of course, who hasn’t felt “stuck?” That’s life, if you don’t admit to that, you’re either lying, not trying hard enough or you didn’t understand the question. I think one element of feeling stuck is Rodney’s reluctance to specify his goals. He’s aimless. That’s such a common human flaw we all struggle with, struggling to define goals, whether big or small, I certainly have experienced it. It sounds cliché and obvious to suggest that people should set goals (big or small), but I think people don’t like to specify their goals because you’re specifying conditions for failure, and people don’t like to know when they fail.
_____________________
How did you connect with your character Rodney?
_____________________
In the way that uses he humor to buffer pain and fit in and wiggle out of jams. My mother Janet’s been a majorly positive female influence in my life, so I was able to relate Rodney’s relationship with my co-lead character June (played by Kat Cortez) who’s roughly my mom’s age. June and my mother share similar traits: a sharp wit, along with a blend of sort of willpower and stubbornness, which produces a lot of the humor and conflict between Rodney and June.
_____________________
What do you look for when reading a script?
_____________________
It’s a tricky thing to articulate. A good script just keeps your attention. I’m probably looking for general tones that appeal to my sensibilities, which can range from comedic to very silly to very dark. I love everything from “Ace Ventura” to Judd Apatow movies to Stanley Kubrick and David Lynch films. All of those directors’ films have influenced me majorly. I’d love the chance to play something 180 degrees from Rodney, a killer or sociopath or something in that ballpark. In regard to characters specifically, I suppose I look for something I think or hope I could do justice to.
_____________________
What’s next for Steve?
_____________________
Writing sketches & online content. I’ll be guest starring on the sitcom “Those Who Can’t“ this summer, and I’m in the film “Trouble is my Business“ starring Vernon Wells, which was just released. “Fishbowl California” released May 1 on ITunes and Amazon and all VOD platforms. Please check it out & subscribe & like & tweet & twerk. Mostly the last one.
Must have on set: Coke Zero.
Superpower: The power to push on doors that say “Push” and pull on ones that say “Pull.”
Epic fail on the job: One of my first jobs was catering. A few weeks in, I threw a dinner roll over a black-tie event at the Pasadena Convention Center. I wasn’t scheduled to work after that.
Happy place: It’s a photo finish between two places. The first isn’t a family-friendly answer, so let’s go with the 2nd, which would be my childhood backyard in Ohio on a summer day.
Favorite accent: Irish, because they sound drunk even when they’re sober.
Favorite movie then and now: Then: “Houseguest” starring Sinbad, Now: “There Will Be Blood.”
Favorite Word: Rigmarole.
Who you’d rather be (as a character): Ferris Bueller.
Favorite Emoji: ? The drooling guy’s fun because it’s sort of weird and vague, so people don’t really understand what he’s doing exactly, so I like to send it to confuse people. If someone knows why he’s drooling or what it means, please message me.
Italian movie: “Il Postino” (”The Postman”).
Favorite quote: “All generalizations are false, including this one.” – Mark Twain.
The last series you binge-watched: “American Horror Story”
What have you already crossed from your bucket list: I’d never ridden (or rode?) a roller coaster, and I had a hunch I might hate them, so I rode a few last year and found out I had psychic abilities. I hate them. But I crossed it off my list.
The most beautiful thing while filming…“Fishbowl California”: The friendships and camaraderie that were developed.
Ops! Break Time:
Snack Crush: Double Stuffed Oreo’s
Sweets or Popcorn: Sweets- Swedish Fish at the Movies
Since we are Italian… Hawaiian pizza, yay or nay? Well, I’m half Italian, so that’s nay. There are so many other good pizzas, how does an interest in Hawaiian pizza get generated, statistically? There’s probably 75 pizzas better than Hawaiian pizza, that means you have to hate all 75 of those before you choose Hawaiian. It shouldn’t exist, but it does.
Credits:
Photographer: Paulo Macedo
Stylist: Sierra Barton
Subscribe to Steve Olson on YouTube
Follow Steve Olson on Twitter
Follow Steve Olson on Instagram
Steve Olson Website
Fishbowl California on Amazon
Fishbowl California on iTunes
