How’s this for a classified ad; “Wanted. Actor to film extended scenes underwater while singing. Must be able to hold your breath for very extended periods of time.” Weird? Yes. Difficult? Most likely. Worthy of rejecting? Not if you are Sebastian Sacco. Okay, maybe Sacco didn’t read a classified ad from a band looking for a lead actor for the video “Don’t Wait For Me” by the band Flawes, but when director Joe Beverly (whom Sacco had worked with on multiple films including No Place) approached the actor about it, he was still surprised by the description of the role. Even though Beverly was an admirer of Sebastian’s work, he still made the actor audition alongside other potential leads; an audition which required all potential leads to sing (at double speed) underwater, for more than a minute on a single breath. Not the type of situation one prepares for in the study of the classics with a traditional troupe. Sebastian Sacco is far from your traditional path type of actor. Though he has already been the star of such films as Tommy, The Path, No Place, and others, he had trepidation before throwing his full lot in to this art. Due to these circumstance, he has cultivated his own manner of opportunities with which to establish a foundation. “Don’t Wait For Me” is just a recent example of professionals whom have worked with Sacco recognizing both his talent and his desire to experience different forms of production. Sebastian is enthusiastic about acting and committed to his craft. When questioned as to whether a different vocation is something considerable, he emphatically states, “Never! I come from a middleclass family background. I went to a private school and thought the business world would be the best place for me as I would make my dad proud and myself rich. I realized quickly that I could never do business as I wasn’t driven by money. I’m not a materialistic person. Things are not what I’m in pursuit of or what defines me. Playing William ([Aims] in No Place) was great for me because it gave me a taste or a sense of what it would have been like if I had followed my terrible plan to go into business. I definitely made the right choice for me. A career as an actor seems quite a stretch for a middle class boy from West Sussex, the son of a Sicilian born/English reared father and native British mother. It wasn’t the type of household which favored a career reaching for the stars rather than a safer and more practical pursuit. Sacco reveals, “I didn’t tell them at first when I was going for the acting. I told them I was going for interviews in London when actually I was doing small unpaid acting jobs or castings. Eventually I had to tell them as they were concerned that I still hadn’t gotten a job. They were obviously concerned but just said, ‘If it’s what you want then do it, but go for it 110%.’ They are now very proud and loving, showing anyone who will watch the stuff I’ve been in. It’s amazing how supporting your loved ones can be once they really understand how passionate you are about something.” That passion, with which Sebastian throws himself into every production, is what makes him so magnetic on the screen. The video “Don’t Wait For Me” symbolizes the feelings of a relationship break-up. The twins (characters in the video) are decision and circumstance. It was a bad relationship but both people still do love each other. They are fearful of breaking up and the unknown element of what lies beyond this. This is what the water represents; the feeling of drowning after a break-up, not knowing if you will be ok. Sebastian relates, “Being underwater really is a great symbol for taking uncertain steps. It does feel that way, like you can’t breathe. Although figurative for the couple in the video, it was quite literal for me. Ha. The night before we filmed the underwater scene, we had been up late filming some other bits which never actually made it into the video. I couldn’t sleep that night and by the time we started filming the next day, I was pretty sleep deprived. To make things worse, we had run over schedule and didn’t start the underwater scene until 5AM. The bath was a lot smaller than the one we practiced in so my legs were squished up to my torso and the water had to be cold so as to not be too steamy. This was all fine except, I tried about three or four times to complete the entire scene but I ran out of air before I could finish. The sun was coming up and I could see it on everyone’s face; if I didn’t get this shot before sunrise… it was all for nothing. I did some long, deep breathing and told myself if I passed out under the water then I’d pass out but I can’t come up until it’s done. Luckily, I did it and managed to get one more after. On the last take, we all knew I had. It was a great moment. Joe hugged and kissed me even though I was soaking wet. I jumped into a hot shower, which made me a very happy man.” This revelation is a prime example of what it is about Sebastian that continues to make him such a sought after actor. It’s the determination and commitment, the decision to make any sacrifice of comfort or security in order to deliver the performance that he and the entire production family require. Even Sacco himself states that he is excited by taking risks, which might include making a move to Hollywood soon. He confirms, “There’s a lot more work in the US and a lot more people who want to get me through the door. London is just somewhat slow moving. I’m getting a lot of opportunities in London but, in LA it seems much, much faster. It’s a better city for serious film actors. The opportunities being offered to me in the US are amazing and I can see a stronger career in the US; the type of challenges that have always been attractive to me.”
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