I first met Lavrenti in New York at the Lee Strasberg Institute. It was 2007 and we were in our early twenties in a city idolized as the mecca for artists. While at Strasberg, we were cast in a play that offered us an unconventional introduction to improvisation and movement-based theatre. Neither of us really knew what it was, and it's hard to say whether anyone else involved knew much better, but we made the best of it. It was a vessel for experimentation, and why not? We had nothing to lose since the only critics were our peers. Which, in retrospect, can be encouraging and shitty all at the same time.
Despite receiving mixed reactions for our show "E-Dating," we made strong friendships navigating the frustrating charm of New York theater. He's been a close friend and companion in our journey as actors from New York to Los Angeles, and I'm proud to say that his new film "The Mad Ones" (Produced by Aniruddh Pandit, Saurabh Kikani and Jefferson Dutton) is among one of his best performances in an also wonderfully-executed film. It follows three run-of-the-mill office workers who are frustrated with their place in the system and in life. It's about clarifying the difference between artistic freedom and laziness, the difference between a hard-working individual and a "phony" (a la "Catcher in the Rye"), and that the answers to those questions are the meaning people give them. It's funny as hell, but according to Lavrenti it's not a dramedy... so then what is it? Well, if I were to place it in another arguably arbitrary category, I'd call it an Existential Comedy. Really, it's a angsty tongue-in-cheek look at our culture that puts our idea of creativity into perspective. When it comes out, I hope many people get to see this refreshing film. Nice work, buddy.
And keep an eye out for my "cameo" appearance. I sneak in there like a ninja!
Despite receiving mixed reactions for our show "E-Dating," we made strong friendships navigating the frustrating charm of New York theater. He's been a close friend and companion in our journey as actors from New York to Los Angeles, and I'm proud to say that his new film "The Mad Ones" (Produced by Aniruddh Pandit, Saurabh Kikani and Jefferson Dutton) is among one of his best performances in an also wonderfully-executed film. It follows three run-of-the-mill office workers who are frustrated with their place in the system and in life. It's about clarifying the difference between artistic freedom and laziness, the difference between a hard-working individual and a "phony" (a la "Catcher in the Rye"), and that the answers to those questions are the meaning people give them. It's funny as hell, but according to Lavrenti it's not a dramedy... so then what is it? Well, if I were to place it in another arguably arbitrary category, I'd call it an Existential Comedy. Really, it's a angsty tongue-in-cheek look at our culture that puts our idea of creativity into perspective. When it comes out, I hope many people get to see this refreshing film. Nice work, buddy.
And keep an eye out for my "cameo" appearance. I sneak in there like a ninja!
