Jared Abrahamson didn鈥檛 know what to expect when the director of his latest film, Hello Destroyer, suggested he apply for the Toronto International Film Festival鈥檚 Rising Star program.
鈥淚 thought it might just be Hollywood kind of fluff鈥� but a good way to promote the film.鈥�
After he was selected (along with fellow honourees Grace Glowicki, Mylene Mackay and Sophie Nelisse) and made the pre-presser rounds, however, the 麻豆传媒映画resident said he realized that 鈥渋t鈥檚 an artist program, made by artists. It鈥檚 got soul to it.鈥�
The TIFF Rising Star 鈥減regame stuff鈥� included a shopping spree (鈥淚 don鈥檛 even own a suit, I鈥檓 as blue collar as it gets!鈥�), and a sit-down for some industry advice from super-agent Michael Levine. The main event taking place during the festival consists of seminars with casting directors, media training and one-on-one meetings with directors: valuable networking in a tough business.
So far the experience has been amazing, says Abrahamson. 鈥淚t just solidified this path that I鈥檓 on.鈥�
That path began in Flin Flon, Manitoba, a mining town of 5,500. Abrahamson was working in the mine, had spent two years in the ground. A friend headed to 麻豆传媒映画first to pursue acting and told Abrahamson he should try it. 鈥淚 love working in the mine, I got nothing against it,鈥� says Abrahamson, 鈥渂ut I just had to do something.鈥�
Flin Flon is the home of hockey Hall of Famer and former Philadelphia Flyer Bobby Clarke. That history weaves nicely into Abrahamson鈥檚 role in Hello Destroyer, written and directed by Kevan Funk. Abrahamson stars as Tyson Burr, a junior hockey player whose life is shattered after an incident of on-ice violence. The coaches who hollered for results, his teammates and his host family all kick him to the curb amid the media scrutiny, leaving Tyson alone and with dwindling options. The film will have its world premiere at TIFF and will also screen at the 麻豆传媒映画International Film Festival, which runs Sept. 29 to Oct. 14.
Abrahamson鈥檚 own hockey career was brief. 鈥淎ll鈥檚 I wanted to do was fight.鈥� So his dad took him out of hockey and put him in taekwondo. Abrahamson did a little bit of wrestling in school, he says, and some boxing in the backyard with his buddies. But it was all leading to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Abrahamson had three amateur fights and two professional bouts under the name Wolfblood; it鈥檚 a career he stuck with even while he was attending 麻豆传媒映画Film School and after he started booking regular acting gigs (the actor says he never had injuries to the face, luckily). 鈥淭he plan was to keep fighting, do a movie, a show, fight鈥� cycle it,鈥� he says.
As his acting career took off he found he had to choose. Friend and mentor Sal Ram, who runs an MMA program out of Port Coquitlam and who 鈥渕olded me as a man,鈥� pointed out that Abrahamson could do more for himself and for his family by pursuing acting. 鈥淗e just said, 鈥楲ook, you got this opportunity. Yoou could be a fighter, it鈥檚 an honourable life but it鈥檚 not a glamourous life鈥欌�� there鈥檚 no longevity.鈥�
What would Abrahamson say to kids who want to play hockey, football or MMA, with the risks of serious injuries?
鈥淚 say go for it, 100 per cent鈥� you can鈥檛 double up if you don鈥檛 roll the dice.鈥�
Contact sports are hard on the body but great for the character, he says, pointing out that it prepared him well for the cutthroat world of acting. 鈥淗ow could I be nervous going into an audition if I could go into a cage in my 20s and fight men in their 30s?鈥�
Roles in TV movies and shorts, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Fear the Walking Dead followed. In addition to Hello Destroyer Abrahamson has theNetflix series Travelers, plus feature films Gun, Hollow in the Land, Detour and Never Steady, Never Still coming out.
His dream opportunity? Working with Martin Scorsese.
鈥淓ventually I gotta get in with Marty,鈥� Abrahamson says, 鈥渆ven if it鈥檚 a longshot, I鈥檒l keep calling鈥� maybe eventually he鈥檒l hear me.鈥�
Now Abrahamson calls 麻豆传媒映画home. When he鈥檚 in town he likes to head to Lynn Canyon, his favourite spot in the city.
鈥淲here else are you able to step right outside the city and get lost in the woods?鈥� Back when he was training for fights he鈥檇 jog nine kilometres from the Seabus terminal up to Grouse Mountain and then tackle the punishing Grouse Grind.
But the actor is grounded. He still has one foot back home and talks to his friends back in Flin Flon every day.
鈥淎ll the guys working in the mine, they love this,鈥� says Abrahamson. 鈥淚t鈥檚 rare, it doesn鈥檛 happen to us鈥� they鈥檙e just laughing all the way.鈥�
