Local actor hoping to break into Hollywood scene

By Tina Comeau

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

At 53 years of age, former Yarmouth County resident Michael Trask has a decision to make. Does he go to school or get a job?

Because this isn’t just any school, and he’s not looking for just any job.

Trask is an actor looking to break into the business in Hollywood…or maybe New York.

The latter stems from the fact he’s been accepted into the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts where thousands audition, but only 180 are accepted each year. The upside, says Trask, is you’re in the thick of the New York acting scene.

“A lot of times that’s where the production companies go if they’re looking for people,” he says. “If you’re an outstanding person you can really shine in the game.”

Which is where his decision comes in. Prior to finding out he had been accepted into the school, Trask (who goes by the stage name James Deen, that’s spelled with two E’s) was preparing to head to Hollywood to try and crack the upcoming pilot season. He considers himself to be ‘Hollywood material’ following his performance of a different sort.

Earlier this year Trask picked up two medals – a silver in classical and a bronze in dramatic – at the World Championship of Performing Arts, which is an international series of competitions aimed at finding aspiring performing artists.

Trask, who grew up on King Street and still considers Yarmouth to be his hometown, likens the event to the acting equivalent of the sporting Olympics.

“They auditioned thousands of people around the world. I went up against people from countries like South Africa, USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia…and out of the thousands of people they auditioned they took 500 contenders to Hollywood.”

There he had to perform monologues and speaking parts from movies, television shows, plays and commercials.

“And I had to do my speaking parts in front of top agents in the world from the Sopranos and Desperate Housewives to CSI,” he says.

Was he nervous? No, because in this business you can’t afford to be he says.

“If you are, you just blew it.”

Whatever route Trask opts to follow, he’s hoping it will have to same desired outcome – his face on the small or big screen and his name in the closing credits.