Left: Blazer, shirt and trouser, all by Louis Vuitton; watch by Gucci
tie by Ermenegildo Zegna; ascot by Tom Ford
Right: Suit by Louis Vuitton; shirt by Calvin Klein;
tie by Dunhill; cigarettes by Dunhill Fine Cut
1. Can you tell us about your background? How did you get into acting and modeling?
I was basically an only child. My parents are academics and I totally wasn't, so, growing up, I felt the need to rebel. When I was about 14 or 15, my mom remarried. Her new husband had four kids and they were much younger than me. Luckily, my stepsiblings and I got along very well and we remain very close.
I got into acting because I wasn't interested in academia. I was skipping school at one point on a train to New York. I ran into a acting teacher on the train I had had as a senior in High School. He said to me, "Gabriel, what are you doing?" I said, "I don't know." He said, "No, no, no, what are you doing with your life?" I said, "I really have no idea, I got terrible SAT scores, I clearly wasn't going to college." He said, "Why don't you check out this book by this teacher that I studied with, he has this school in NYC. You should try to have an interview with him. You are a bit young but go anyway. " So, I went to NY's Neighbourhood Playhouse and met with Sanford Meisner. Because of my really colorful adolescence, the school thought that I had potential in the dramatic arts. I was accepted and from then on, I didn't think about pursuing anything else. I studied with Sanford for two years. Afterwards, I found an agent, got my first commercial and then my first indie picture which went to Sundance.
With modeling, someone at L'uomo Vogue saw some stills of the indie picture I was in. They approached me to see if I would be interested in being featured in a fashion story for the magazine. The photographer was Deborah Turberville. I basically forgot about it after it was shot. A call to my acting agent followed to see if I might be interested in getting a modeling agent for runway work. They answered all my questions and it sounded great. Within a week, I was doing all the men's shows in New York, from Calvin Klein to Marc Jacobs. I was offered to go to Europe as well but the acting side of things is progressing very well, so my acting agent told me to focus on my acting career. My first go at modeling only lasted about eight months to a year—it was a whirlwind but in that time, I got to work with all the major photographers from Richard Avedon and Mario Sorrenti to Mario Testino. I received a very quick education on the fashion world.
2. Who was your favorite photographer out of all the greats you had the opportunity to work with?
Obviously, working with Mr. Avedon was a great modeling moment for me. He is such a legend in the business.
Belted trench coat and tie, both by Brioni;
suit and shirt, both by Tom Ford; gloves by Louis Vuitton
3. You are now signed with DNA Models. What's the motivation to get back into modeling?
I was introduced to Chris Forberg , who was at IMG then but is now an agent at DNA. Chris is a great supporter of films and has a great knowledge of the film world. I met Chris and went off and did more films and television.
There were no specifics plans for me to come back to the East Coast at all since my acting career has kept me quite busy on the West Coast. Recently, I received an offer to be in a film that was going to be shot in NYC called Zerosome, so I decided to come back to the East Coast to be in the film.
After Zerosome had wrapped, one of the people I worked with put me in touch with Chris, who told me to come by to see him at DNA. I paid a visit and felt I was home again. The memories of modeling all came back to me then and there. Chris asked me if I was interested in doing some fashion work and I said, absolutely! It was so much fun the first time around so why not?
The way I look at life, if a door opens, keep walking through it until the door is no longer open anymore, and then you find another path. As of right now, the journey allows me to be in New York which is a city that always inspires me. After being in Los Angeles for a nearly a decade, I really need that influx of energy, creativity and excitement again that New York can provide. Additionally, I felt like since I have gained so much more life experiences, I think I would make a better subject to photograph now versus when I was much younger. It's been a gift that I have been given this second chance at modeling, so I am looking forward to it.
4. So many models would like to follow your path to become a actor after modeling. What advice would you give them? Does having good looks help break a model into the entertainment business much more easily?
I think acting is a natural transition from modeling. It all revolves around working with cameras and being comfortable in front of the camera. One thing you instinctually need to have as an actor is you have to find your light, learn how to dance with the camera. Models sort of have that innate ability to do that. If you come from a modeling background, at a certain point, you get tired of being silent and you want your voice to be heard.
In terms of advice, I would say get a good teacher you really love, study really hard, learn to be the best actor you can. A lot of people find themselves falling into it or they are just naturally gifted. For me, I found that I wanted to learn my craft and the history of the profession. My desire has always been to be a working actor. To be able to lose myself and immerse into a character.
If you have your looks going for you already, it's that much easier to break into the business. But, you have to ask yourself, do you want to be an actor, a movie star, or a personality? There's all kind of options now for being a public figure. If you want to be a star, I think it is important for people to have an image of who you are, and you have to stick to that image from role to role to a certain degree. It is something I have never done. A lot of times people will come up to me and say, you look familiar, but they cannot pinpoint where they have seen me. Generally, four out of five times, it is from a character I have portrayed in a film. I am happy to be in a position where I can do what I love and have total anonymity with my personal life. I wouldn't want my private life be public...that side of fame is kind of scary to me.
Body fragrance by Tom Ford/Italian Cypress/Eau De Parfum
5. You have already built up an impressive stats as an actor. Of all the films you have done so far, which are your favorite and least favorite roles to date? Can you tell while you are making a film whether it is going to be a hit or miss?
I think of every film I have made as a journey or education. Whether the film was well or badly received, it doesn't really matter to me. I always value the living and traveling, being exposed to other cultures and seeing other parts of the world I haven't been in to be the heart of the matter. Through making films, I have built a lot of lifelong friendships, so that's also something I value as well.
There were a few films I considered special, like working with iconic German director, Wim Wenders and Sam Shepherd on Don't Come Knocking—the folowup to Paris, Texas. My co-stars were Sam, Jessica Lange, Sarah Polley, Tim Roth, and Fairuza Balk. That was a master class for me. Not to mention the amazing beauty of Butte, Montana, where we shot the film. The Bourne Identity series was special; it was thrilling to be involve in a huge kind of studio picture. Another experience would be working with Alan Parker in The Life of David Gale with Kate Winslet, Kevin Spacey, and Laura Linney.
You can never tell if a film is gonna be successful as you are making it. A film's success is totally dependent on the editing process. At a certain point as an actor, unless you are a co-producer, you do your job and then you walk away. You have to let it go. Film is really an editor/director's medium. Stage is really an actor's medium.
6. Your resume is quite ecclectic—from the Bourne series and I Shot Andy Warhol to American Virgin and Josie And The Pussycats. How do you decide which roles to take?
Funny, someone once said they were trying to make sense of the trajectory of my career, the characters and the films I have done in my career to date and compared me to shaking a eight ball. For me, each role I have taken on is a challenge in its own right. My taste are a bit all over the map. Was it all planned? Not particularly. Have I taken everything that came my way? No. Basically, I enjoy each of the roles I have taken. I have no regrets!
Left: Leather jacket, belt and pullover, all by Brioni;
jeans by American Apparel
Right: Shirt, belt and tie, all by Brioni; jacket by Bottega Veneta;
boots by Louis Vuitton; jeans by Tom Ford
7. Could you tell us your experience working with Paul Schrader in Dominion: Prequel To The Exorcist? Was it disappointing not to have seen the film released?
It was an amazing experience working with director Paul Schrader. We shot for four/five months in Marrakesh, East Africa, and Rome. I was working with Stellan Skarsgard, who is one of my favorite actors and I learned so much from him and obviously from Paul as well. We shot the entire film from beginning to end and it was pulled. I don't think that has ever happened before. It is a matter of taste. The studio wanted something commercial and horror whereas Paul's version was more exstistential. The studio wanted me to shoot the second version, directed by Renny Harlan but at that point in time, I was already committed to the Bourne series. I just couldn't go back and reshoot the entire film. Paul's version of the film has become a underground favorite—Roger Ebert gave the film a very nice review and if you search hard enough, you can find it.
8. What was it like working with Kate Winslet, Kevin Spacey, and Laura Linney in The Life Of David Gale? What is your personal view of the death penalty?
Working on this film was really amazing and intimidating. My costars are obviously three very celebrated actors. I was sort of like the low man on the totem pole in that equation. As far as I am concerned, I just want to hold on to my end of the bargain. The bulk of my involvement on the film was with Kate Winslet. Kate and I would sort of work together every single day. The time I am with Kevin and Laura overlaps but I got to appreciate and love them as actors as well. Most of the time I spent making this film was with Kate. She is hilarious. Maybe people know this about her already but she has a wicked sense of humor. She can tell a really dirty joke and get everybody on the floor laughing. She was a big support for me and she really helped me get through that experience and made it into something I will never forget.
I am always a believer giving people a chance to rehilbilitate their lives. I think unfortunately the prison system doesn't really concentrate on helping people to reinvent themselves. It is more about punishment and keeping people locked up. I don't know...I never had to lose someone I love in a murder. Perhaps I might have a different view towards it, but generally, I am an advocate for life, for giving people a second chance.
Left: Turtleneck, trouser and shoes, all by Bottega Veneta;
jacket by Dunhill; cape by Salvatore Ferragamo;
scarf by Louis Vuitton
9. Your upcoming films are Psych 9 and the just completed Zerosome. Could you tell us about the characters you portray in both films? How did you prepare for the roles?
It differs from movie to movie. Psych 9, for example, is a psychological thriller/horror film. I am playing the boyfriend who might be innocent or who might not be who he appears to be. I can draw from my own life experiences for certain aspects of that. I do a lot of my own work/research on the script before the actual filming. The film, Zerosome, to sum it up into three words is sex, drugs and politics in a loft in Tribeca post-9/11 and how the characters all spiral downwards from all that is surrounding them. I portray a drug counselor, who is addicted to drugs. How do I prepare for a role like that? I was fortunate enough to have met the man I was portraying in the film and he gave me a lot of insights. There were certain physical characteristics about the way he was that I have observed that I have decided to use for the portrayal and incorporate into the character in the movie.
10. What are your future goals besides acting and modeling?
To be able to direct and produce films—Because you can oversee a total vision of the piece.
11. Bonus Question: What's your motto in life?
A direct quote from Kate Moss—Never complain, never explain.
Exclusive Performance for
www.johntancasting.blogspot.com
by actor/model Gabriel Mann
from the forthcoming
motion picture "Zerosome"
MUSIC:
Turn Into by Yeah Yeah Yeahs—
From the Interscope Records/CD "Show Your Bones"
