Darrin Brown (Dwayne) Interview by Natalie Earl

NE: Was Darrin Brown a bully in real life?

DB: If you believed that I was a bully it meant that I did my job as an actor. In real life I was more friendly and outgoing.

NE: Were you friends with George Chaker (Nick) and Michelle Johnson-Murray (Tabi)?

DB: We were friends but not in a close way. I spent most of my time with Pat Mastroianni (Joey), Anais Granofsky (Lucy) and Stacie Mistysyn (Caitlin). I saw Rebecca Haines (Kathleen) last night at a club, she told me that you also interviewed her for Degrassi Legacy.

NE: How did you find out about the Degrassi Web Ring?

DB: Well Anais is the one who told everybody about the Degrassi web sites. But later I did a search engine check with the word "Degrassi". I read a lot of the back issues of Degrassi Digest and really liked Degrassi 2005: The New Class.

NE: What have you been up to lately?

DB: I studied television and film at Ryerson College and I am currently an Assistant Director.

NE: How did being in front of the camera help you prepare for behind-the-scenes work?

DB: Acting was good training for behind the scenes. As an assistant director you deal with every department of production. When you first start out as a trainee, it is your job to coordinate the actors. Having been an actor myself it could relate to their needs and responsibilities. However the shows I work on are a lot higher budget than Degrassi. Because Degrassi was non-union (non-ACTRA), they did not practice the standard union procedures. We never got the star treatment.

NE: How were you paid on the show?

DB: Comparatively, we were not paid as much as American actors with the same level of popularity. We were not ripped off or anything, I mean we did read our contracts. But now that I have experience in the industry, I know that we were underpaid. Playing With Time could not afford to pay more because of their tight budget. Linda managed the finances and she made smart business decisions. I respect her. I would have done the same thing had I been in her position. It was necessary to keep the show on the air. In a way it is good that we did not get too much money or attention. It kept us hard-working and humble. Plus acting was a lot more fun than your typical teenage job like flipping hamburgers.

DB: 75% to 80% of Canadian Entertainment is imported from the United States. It is rare that a Canadian series become hit, even more miraculous if the show receives fame outside of Canada. We were hoping for more perks like more money, better treatment, and star recognition. In Canada Degrassi was a prime time show (Monday nights at 8:30 p.m. on CBC) but in the United States it was not as recognized. Possibly because of the stigma associated with American Public Television. However, In certain demographics such as Chicago, Boston, and Miami, the show was very popular. In Israel the show is so popular that the actors get mopped

NE: Why didn't they have a Degrassi University or Degrassi-type "Melrose Place"?

DB: Well Liberty Street tried to be like Melrose Place. If we wanted to, we could have dragged Degrassi on for a few more years. But we did not wan to runt it into a soap opera. We'd end up mixing and matching the characters just to create story lines. The only time Degrassi had romance scenes was to illustrate an issue (pregnancy, AIDS, abortion). We covered everything by the second season of Degrassi High. It was that CBC demanded a closure because "One Last Dance" did not wrap up the story lines.

NE: Did the cast members appreciate their celebrity status?

DB: Although we were dedicated to our work, there was a lot of joking and playing. It wasn't until the third series, when people started going nutty for the show, that we really appreciated what we had.

DB: A group of us would hang out at Lime Ricky's at Eaton Center (Canada's Largest Mall) to see what kind of excitement we could stir. It was a double-edged sword. Some fans would scream and cry with happiness. But Degrassi bashers would insult, even become abusive. Jealous boyfriends would harass Pat when their 17-year-old girlfriends were fawning over him. Sometimes we just wanted to be regular teenagers.

NE: How were you selected to play Dwayne on Degrassi?

DB: I auditioned for the second season of Degrassi Junior High. There was an open call for new characters and they needed a school bully. Playing With Time sent out fliers to junior highs and high schools around Toronto. Degrassi's methods were more unorthodox than other television shows. The workshop process was very unique. 25 to 30 people would audition and then it would get narrowed down.

DB: The producers had specific characters in mind but they also wanted some that were organically grown: developed out of the actor's true personality. I thought that I was terrible at my audition. I had no idea how to act but I guess they saw something in me. The people who did not get chosen for speaking roles were asked to stay on as extras The one thing that I found admirable is that the extras were treated with the same respect as the lead actors.

NE: Were the students at your real high school jealous of your position on Degrassi?

DB: I attended Forrest Hill, it was a tight community. I had known all of my classmates since age 5 and many are still my friends today. I brought my two best friends to the show as extras. On the Degrassi set we all hung out together. There were no real cliques or divisions.

NE: How did you feel about Dwayne become an AIDS victim?

DB: I was the happiest person in world to get AIDS. At the rehearsals, we would sit around this table and read through the script. Everybody hoped that his or her character was mentioned in the first scene. Because whoever was in the first scene would be staring in that episode. The more lines you had, the more you got paid. Linda Schuyler was a former high school teacher so she treated us like students. We had the scripts lying face down on the table and we were not allowed to turn them over until she gave us permission.

DB: In between seasons we would do workshops. We were given a conflict and asked to improvise the situation. Most of the actors would try to predict how their charters would handle the situation. However I went about my improv in a different way. I forgot about "Dwayne" and let my own creative flow; it was a very powerful interpretation. The AIDS episode was shot in two parts. The second week I was miserable to be around. I let the theatrical emotions and anger take over me. It carried over to home.

DB: Dwayne was not always tough and hard. In "Bad Blood" people see that Dwayne, the dumb nutcase, had a sense of humor could handle Joey. The only fault with that episodes is that Dwayne's character was complex and developed; yet Joey had not evolved from his two-dimensional stenotypes. After catching AIDS Dwayne because friendlier but the transition is not instant, he can still be a prick.

NE: Do you watch the Degrassi reruns on Showcase?

DB: I don’t really watch Degrassi reruns . . . been there . . . done that. At best I will glance at it for a quick chuckle.

NE: What can you tell me about the other actors?

DB: Pat and Stacie are both in Los Angeles. Siluck Saysanasy (Yick) moved to Vancouver because there is more work over there for Asian actors. Stephan Brogren (Snake) went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Anais went to New York University film school. She keeps quitting acting to become a produce films but parts keep coming her way (Fast Tracks, Le Femme Nikita). Sara Ballingall (Melanie) was in Washington D.C. for awhile. Neil Hope dropped off the face of the planet. Maureen McKay (Michelle) is married. She is so beautiful now, she was cute on the show but she became a knockout in her 20's. Byrd Dickens (Scott) does electrical work in films. Michael Carry (Simon) is a grip

 

NE: Did you go though a withdrawal period when Degrassi ended?

DB: I went through a little withdraw but it was because I missed acting on a daily basis, not so much that I missed Degrassi. Auditions were depressing, there was no guarantee that I would get the job. I missed having a set work schedule and a goal to focus on. There is not a lot of work for character actors in Canada, like America they have stereotypes of what a leading man should look like.

NE: What school was used to film the "Borden High" segments of Degrassi?

DB: They were filmed at the Earl Haige High School for the Performing Arts. People seemed shocked that Degrassi was not filmed entirely on DeGrassi Street. That was just an illusion. We had to use whatever location was available. Mark Aaron Polger describes the set location well on his website.

NE: What are your favorite Degrassi memories?

DB: Filming the "Bad Blood" scenes with Pat. The typical Degrassi episode had a main plot, one or two sub-plots, and then a "teaser" plot that would pay off several episodes down the line. The sub-plots for "Bad Blood" (Michelle and BLT) were complete within a few days. So the next week and a half revolved around Deayne and Joey's scenes. We had no stand-ins and no fight coordinator, which is unheard of for lead actors. Pat and I were absolutely untrained about throwing punches. We worked six twelve-hour days with no breaks except lunch.

DB: We were so exhausted that we became giddy and careless. For the last scene we could not keep it together. We were giggling like 13-year-old girls. We had to abuse ourselves to keep serious; we punched the walls to stay focused. I still have bruises on my hands from the punches. The scene looks great but it was a fabrication of bits and pieces. We never did a scene all the way through. In one scene I give Joey this serious, concentrated look, it is supposed to be very dramatic. The first time I gave him that stare he freaked out, he asked if I was going to kiss him. To this day I can give him that look and he will crack up hysterically.

DB: The first rehearsal for "Bad Blood" we lacked a stunt coordinator so we had to improvise six or seven fight scenes. Pat punched me in the nose and it bled all day. The blood that you saw on camera was real. I threw out Pat's back on the toilet paper dispenser--which would have been removed had PWT provided a stunt coordinator. Our saving grace was Kevin May, who helped us choreograph the punches in a half speed rehearsal.

NE: Do you have any fun facts about Degrassi?

DB: We never had trailers. They converted two of the classrooms into a boys' and girls' changing area. Everybody changed in the same room. The stars did not get special trailers.

*****Author's Note: Darrin was kind enough to share his resume.

EDUCATION

1989-1992 BACHELOR OF APPLIED ARTS - RADIO & TELEVISION ARTS

Ryerson Polytechnic University, Toronto

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Second A.D.: "Dreamers"-TV Pilot-Verite’ Films

1st: Kevin May

Third A.D.: "The Corruptor" - Feature Film - New Line Cinema

1st: Jeff Authours 2nd: Eric Potechin

"Earth: Final Conflict , #22 - Destruction" - Syndicated Series

1st: Joanne Tickle 2nd: Trevor Fisher

"Universal Soldier II & III" - Mini Series-Catalyst/Showtime

1st: David Vaughan 2nd: Rob Fowler

"The Third Twin" - Mini Series - Pebblehut/CBS

1st: David Vaughan 2nd: Rob Fowler

"Un-Titled Tony Danza Project" - MOW - Disney/ABC

1st: Jeff Authors 2nd: Michael Burke

"Rescuers" - Cable Movies - Showtime/Paramount Pictures

1st: Steve Montgomery 2nd: Kristie Sills

"Scrooge" - Cable Movie - USA Network/Power Pictures

1st: Laurie Mirsky 2nd: Eric Potechin

"Rose Hill" - MOW - CBS/Hallmark Hall of Fame

1st: Tony Lucibello 2nd: Grant Lucibello

"Lessons in Love"(daily)- MOW - NBC/Power Pictures

1st: Bill Spahic 2nd: Grant Lucibello

Trainee A.D.:

"Evidence of Blood" - Cable Movie - Showtime/MGM/Dufferin Gate

1st: Laurie Mirsky 2nd: Eric Potechin

"Rescuers" - Cable Movie - Showtime/Paramount Pictures

1st: Steve Montgomery 2nd: Stewart Young

"Jack Reed V" - MOW- NBC/Kushner Locke

1st: Laurie Mirsky 2nd: Eric Potechin

"North Shore Fish" - Cable Movie - Showtime/Dufferin Gate

1st: Laurie Mirsky 2nd: Nancy Hughes

"Talk to Me" - MOW - ABC/Pebblehut

1st: Laurie Mirsky 2nd: Grant Lucibello

"Trilogy of Terror II" - Cable Movie - USA Network/Power Pictures

1st: Laurie Mirsky 2nd: Grant Lucibello

1st: Tom Willey 2nd: John Lawson

"Satie" -TV Movie- Rhombus Media/A&E

1st: Jennifer Jonas 2nd: Trent Hurry

"The Planets" -TV Movie- Rhombus Media/A&E

1st: Jennifer Jonas 2nd: Leonard Farlinger

RELATED EXPERIENCE:

LIVE TELEVISION:

FLOOR DIRECTOR - Molson Indy 1995 - Global Television

ASST. TECH. PRODUCER - Molson Indy 1995 - Global Television

AUDIO ASSISTANT - Provincial Election Special - Global Television

FLOOR MANAGER - NBL Basketball - Channel 10 Melbourne

FLOOR DIRECTOR - "WHAT" - TV Ontario

FLOOR DIRECTOR - Molson Indy 1994 - Global Television

TVA - NHLPA 4 on 4 Hockey Challenge - Global Television

TVA - Molson Leaf Hockey 1993-1995 - Global Television

GRIP DEPARTMENT

3rd Grip - "Forever Knight" - 2nd unit

3rd Grip - "Remember Me" - MOW - Grosso Jacobson/CBS

Key Grip - "Memory Project" - Music Video

Dolly Grip - "Discovery Channel Promos"

Key Grip - "WHAT" - TV Ontario

Dolly Grip - "1994 Santa Claus Parade" - Global Television

GRIP- dailies on various productions including:

"Wharf Rat" "Goosebumps"

"Gatorface" "James Mink Story"

"Picture Perfect" "Escape Clause"

"Gridlock" "Forever Knight"