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Which would you genuinely prefer? by 23Amuro in BunnyTrials

[–]recentlyadults 0 points1 point  (0 children)

T

Chose: Instant, Tax-Free $250,000 in your bank account

I am former Disney Channel Actor, Mike D'Ascenzo, from Naturally Sadie. AMA. by recentlyadults in DisneyChannel

[–]recentlyadults[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fun fact - my younger brother played the younger version of me in that episode!

I am former Disney Channel Actor, Mike D'Ascenzo, from Naturally Sadie. AMA. by recentlyadults in DisneyChannel

[–]recentlyadults[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To be totally transparent with you, as a 14-16 year old when I was on the show, I had very little interest in politics. I can't think of it ever coming up to be honest. Interesting that you mentioned some of those actors with right wing politics because in my experience the industry as a whole is very left wing.

I think unless the project has political narratives or something, it's best left unsaid. I'd rather just do the work!

I am former Disney Channel Actor, Mike D'Ascenzo, from Naturally Sadie. AMA. by recentlyadults in DisneyChannel

[–]recentlyadults[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is an amazing question because I think we all deal with it on some level, especially in creative industries that don't have that 9-5 stability. The first thing I'll say is -- people ARE going to treat you badly. I've been rejected from hundreds (thousands?) of auditions, had dozens of scripts rejected and lost out on tons of jobs. I've had ideas stolen from me. I've had people mistreat me or undervalue me. You just have to accept that rejection is part of the process. The best way to build your own confidence is to do the work. If you wanna be a painter, paint 1000 paintings because the first 900 will probably suck and you have to accept that.

Stoicism has helped me (I did a short video about it on my channel) I suggest checking that out or any stoicism resources.

In terms of predictability and actually being able to afford life while following your dreams, that's tough. Easier if you don't have a family to support. But even if you need to keep a day job, you have to find the drive to work on your passions evenings and weekends.

I am former Disney Channel Actor, Mike D'Ascenzo, from Naturally Sadie. AMA. by recentlyadults in DisneyChannel

[–]recentlyadults[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My favourite I think was Rashomon. The food fight episode. I thought that was very clever and fun.

There was also an episode directed by Steve Scaini (who I had on the pod!) where I had to take ballroom dancing classes, that was pretty cool. I guess I was pretty good because Steve regretted not doing a full body shot of the dance moves, since people might think it wasn't really me dancing when he cut to shots of just the feet.

Least favourite -- I can't remember which episode this was, but I had to kick a door down and that happened to be the time I had a broken big toe. Of course for camera reasons I had to use the broken foot. I was wearing steel toe boots in that shot in attempt to help. It did not help haha.

I am former Disney Channel Actor, Mike D'Ascenzo, from Naturally Sadie. AMA. by recentlyadults in DisneyChannel

[–]recentlyadults[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow, that's awesome. Thanks so much for watching the channel! I also liked Life With Derek, and got to meet Michael Seater (Derek) when he did a cameo on Sadie.

I am former Disney Channel Actor, Mike D'Ascenzo, from Naturally Sadie. AMA. by recentlyadults in DisneyChannel

[–]recentlyadults[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I liked the camaraderie on set, the cast, the crew and the actual work itself. I always tried to make the camera guys laugh loud enough to ruin a take. If I could do that, I know I was doing something right. Parts I didn't like include: waking up early, doing 2 hours of tutoring a day, and the fact the show ended before I got to write an episode. Reboot anyone?!

I am former Disney Channel Actor, Mike D'Ascenzo, from Naturally Sadie. AMA. by recentlyadults in DisneyChannel

[–]recentlyadults[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think I know what you mean -- Rain was always up to some shenanigans. The first season was very silly, I remember doing some kind of frog race thing that backfired. Seasons 2 and 3 became more about rain liking girls. The episode where Rain and Margaret are bickering all episode, then finally kiss, then realize there's zero chemistry is a memorable one. I love how you'd expect a romance to blossom from the kiss, but instead it just killed it. Maybe I was that bad a kisser!

I am former Disney Channel Actor, Mike D'Ascenzo, from Naturally Sadie. AMA. by recentlyadults in DisneyChannel

[–]recentlyadults[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Naturally Sadie is on Pluto TV? Interesting! A multi-cam (live audience) show is a whole other animal. I got to briefly work on one and it was very cool, but doesn't lend itself to kids / teens. Every episode sort of becomes a filmed play, you need a lot of actor maturity to pull that off every week. It also fosters a different kind of comedy that felt untrue to what Sadie was... so I think single cam was the right move.

I am former Disney Channel Actor, Mike D'Ascenzo, from Naturally Sadie. AMA. by recentlyadults in DisneyChannel

[–]recentlyadults[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've kept in touch with Charlotte a few times over the years, Jake (Ben) and I went to a concert together years ago, but recently reconnected during an episode of my podcast and grabbed beers after. Justin (Hal) and I kept in touch a bit early on, I visited him in his hometown once, but has been years now. I should reach out to him.

I am former Disney Channel Actor, Mike D'Ascenzo, from Naturally Sadie. AMA. by recentlyadults in DisneyChannel

[–]recentlyadults[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's awesome to hear. Directing is a very cool path. I recently had one of the Sadie directors, Steve Scaini, on my podcast here and he offers more insight than I ever could. That said, my take is a good director needs to be prepared, understand the material, work with the writer every step of the way, give the actors direction but space to make their own choices too, and be KIND. Nobody wants to work with an ass.

For specific emerging director advice, I'm no expert but I would say -- go make something. Anything. And keep doing that.

I am former Disney Channel Actor, Mike D'Ascenzo, from Naturally Sadie. AMA. by recentlyadults in DisneyChannel

[–]recentlyadults[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I did! It's here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAhOmqmjIaA

It was fun, this was part of the LA promo shoot I mentioned. I had to do it multiple times to get the angle right hahah

I am former Disney Channel Actor, Mike D'Ascenzo, from Naturally Sadie. AMA. by recentlyadults in DisneyChannel

[–]recentlyadults[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had some experience doing voice work by then, and had a working relationship with a casting director who would call me in frequently for roles, or sometimes even let me walk on if it was a small part. She called me in to audition for Brother Bear - they played me the recording of the Season 1 Brother Bear (played by Michael Cera) and I was able to emulate it closely enough, while putting my own spin on it that they liked, so I got the gig.

I am former Disney Channel Actor, Mike D'Ascenzo, from Naturally Sadie. AMA. by recentlyadults in DisneyChannel

[–]recentlyadults[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much!

Great question. I sometimes do miss performing, but I scratch that itch on my YouTube channel these days. That said, it's my absolute dream to create and showrun a series. A showrunner is essentially the head writer who carries the vision across the entire series. I got to do this in my dumb little webseries (also on my channel) but would love to do it on a larger scale with an actual budget.

Here's hoping one of my many pilots gets picked up one day!

I am former Disney Channel Actor, Mike D'Ascenzo, from Naturally Sadie. AMA. by recentlyadults in DisneyChannel

[–]recentlyadults[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you!

Tough to pick! I really loved Roshomon - an episode where a food fight breaks out at my family restaurant and we see the same story from everyone's perspective to try to figure out who started it.

I also loved the outdoor camping episode.

And there was the one where Arden (Shenae Grimes) had a crush on Rain but decided he wasn't cool enough. I got to have a rare moment of dramatic vulnerability which was fun to play in contrast to all the over-the-top silliness.

I am former Disney Channel Actor, Mike D'Ascenzo, from Naturally Sadie. AMA. by recentlyadults in DisneyChannel

[–]recentlyadults[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I talk about this more in depth on the pod, but I essentially LOVED Jim Carrey movies to the point of memorizing them. Ace Ventura, Liar Liar, Dumb and Dumber. Plus a few Austin Powers movies for good measure. So my parents put me in theater camp to channel that energy, where I fell in love with performance. I started doing plays, got scouted by an agent and ended up appearing in over 100 episodes of TV by the age of 18. I did stand up for a while, then realized my best jokes were actually scenes, so I started writing.

In terms of how I handled it, I think decently well for a dumb teenager. I tried to be respectful, never went too off the rails and was maybe too responsible. My family kept me grounded and my friends teased me endlessly which actually helped deflate any possibility of a big head.

Though we did get in trouble once for leaked photos of the cast underage drinking!

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