Local actor looks to make it big with lead roles in indie films

David Allen, of Perkinsville, Vermont, is not letting go of a dream he has held since kindergarten — becoming a professional actor.
http://www.eagletimes.com/news/2015-11-4/Front_Page/Local_actor_looks_to_make_it_big_with_lead_roles_i.html

Local actor looks to make it big with lead roles in indie films By Cameron Paquette cameronp@eagletimes.com Perkinsville, Vermont native David Allen sits on a bench in downtown Springfield. The local actor has recently been featured in lead roles in two independent projects and hopes to continue his upward momentum toward a career in acting. — CAMERON PAQUETTE Perkinsville, Vermont native David Allen sits on a bench in downtown Springfield. The local actor has recently been featured in lead roles in two independent projects and hopes to continue his upward momentum toward a career in acting. — CAMERON PAQUETTE SPRINGFIELD — It can be difficult to find a job anywhere these days, let alone the job you’ve been dreaming of since childhood. Even so, David Allen, of Perkinsville, Vermont, is not letting go of a dream he has held since kindergarten — becoming a professional actor. The 31-year-old single father currently works a factory job to support him and his seven-year-old son, Jacoby, while he continues to perform in live theater and independent film projects. In the past year, Allen has featured in lead roles in “Elixir,” an independent film shot in Burlington, Vermont, and most recently in “And Then They Came,” a three part mini-series that will soon be available on Vimeo. The first episode of the series will be available Nov. 15 and can be pre-ordered now. “Part of why I want to do it, especially starting here, living here and being from here, is because I see so many people around here that just either don’t have dreams or give up on their dreams,” said Allen. “I want to be an inspiration to people. To show them that if you know what your dream is, don’t give up on it.” Allen says he got “the bug” for acting when he was chosen to sing the solo during a musical that he performed with his class in kindergarten at Weathersfield School. Although singing is not his forte, the positive reaction of the audience to his performance excited him. “It’s probably just because we were cute, but it was that moment that I knew that was what I wanted to do,” said Allen. After graduating from Springfield High School, Allen was accepted at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, where he honed his craft from 2002-2004. He has since performed in more than 20 onstage performances, as well as student films, independent films, live theater and TV pilots. “I want to see something that I would actually watch and enjoy,” said Allen of what he looks for in his projects. “I’m more likely to buy a movie ticket to a movie that has a good story than one that has a bunch of giant robots and stuff.” Steve Blackwood, known for his role as Bart Beiderbecke from Days of Our Lives, teaches several MasterClass acting classes in Massachusetts. As one of Blackwood’s pupils, Allen has excelled, and has been invited to be in a showcase in front of directors and industry representatives on Nov. 15. Allen hopes it could be a big break. “That could be just the exposure I need,” said Allen. “So far I’ve done all of this without an agent, without a union — climbing the ladder slowly. That would be the next step, to have an agent.” Whatever role he plays, Allen tries his best to make the characters’s emotions believable, and prefers to play parts with inner conflict rather than purely being ‘the good guy.’ He sees himself as a malleable performer, and has a particular way that he likes to get into character. “You want to be real. So, if there’s something that happens, and the script will give you a direction like you’re scared, or you’re angry — erase all of that so that when it happens you’re showing the emotion,” said Allen. “What I need to do is remove myself from the world and the fact that I am acting with mics and a boomstick and really put myself in the scene so that when the bad guy shows up, if he’s going to shoot at me, I’m going to be afraid of getting shot instead of acting afraid, because when you’re acting afraid it looks like bad acting.” Allen hopes his upward momentum continues as he aims to make the big time. “Here I am, a single dad in nowwheresville Vermont, and I’m making it happen,” he said.