Interview with Harley Wallen Actor, and Producer
Multi award-winning filmmaker and actor Harley Wallen has starred in over 40 feature films and TV shows with legendary stars such as Tom Sizemore, Tara Reed and John Savage among many others.
Harley started his journey as a Martial Artist early with Judo at age 7 and is now a 5th degree black belt. Harley also spent time learning other arts (Jiu-Jitsu, Tae Kwon - Do black-belts as well) and Mixed Martial Arts. His other love at a young age was dance as he was an outstanding break dancer in his teen years. His sheer talent and skill is what landed him his first opportunity in acting as a dancer at the syndicated Swedish TV cult hit 'Solstollarna'! Soon after, Harley realized he was bitten by the acting bug. Harley then moved from Sweden to the United States to boldly pursue his dreams. After a short stint these plans got sidetracked by business opportunities as Harley climbed various career ladders. After returning to acting It wasn't long before the roles started coming and the growth he had experienced in the business world started happening to him in the acting world. After the film incentives ended in Michigan, he decided to start making films of his own. Not having a film school background with only limited experience, he decided to go online to further his education in filmmaking and took several more classes and seminars in acting. Finally in 2016 Harley and his wife Kaiti formed the film production company 'Painted Creek Productions'. The one thing he really takes pride in is his commitment to the character he is playing regardless the size of the role or the paycheck. Harley is now writing, producing, acting and directing and has found his life's purpose. Outside of your bio from https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6136445/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm can you tell my readers about yourself? Meaning your bio says bitten by a show bug. What drew you into the entertainment industry?
That’s truly it I really got a taste of acting and process and fell in love with it! It was so incredibly intriguing to me that I had the capability of almost forgetting myself and becoming someone else in between action and cut. I love it, it is some thing I don’t think I could ever get enough of!
Most people have a story that they want their friends to know or people to know about them. What is that one story Harley, that you would say makes you . Well, you?
I think what you need to know about me first and foremost is that my family comes first and I learned that from my mom who always leads by example and both her and my dad had exemplary work ethic and that’s also something I highly value because much in life is about choices and making the right ones is so important. The unique thing is having the structure, the work ethic and also the creative side is a tremendous combination in the film industry and for me in general, I think it grounds me and when you look at my management team I’m surrounded by people just like that in Joe Williamson my manager at The Williamson Management Company, he’s an incredible man that has bec a very close friend. My east coast manager Bennie Taylor with Jon Tomus talent who’s always looking for opportunities for me and my wife and partner Kaiti Wallen, I couldn’t do this without her!
So Harley, please tells about some of you’re current films like Eternal Code starring Scout Taylor Compton (Rob Zombie’s Halloween),Richard Tyson ( Kindergarten Cop),Billy Wirth (Lost Boys)& Mel Novak (Bruce Lee’s Game Of Death),Abstruse starring Tom Sizemore (Black Hawk Down),& Dennis Haskins (Saved By The Bell),and Agramon’s Gate?
I’m really excited about both and to see them both doing so well here and internationally is really exciting! I love the premise of Eternal Code so much because of how we get to wrestle with moral issues and seeing several characters deal with it. Scout’s character for instance is someone with a lack of patience that end up with the job of “baby sitting” the kidnapping victims and we see the madness build of her not being able to handle the situation, she was simply fantastic to work with! Richard has become a friend after us now having worked together on several projects, he can still pull off Hamlet yet also be the guy you love to hate on screen! I have really enjoyed working with Billy and seeing him likened to Clint Eastwood In reviews of Betrayed then seeing the loving husband who is willing to give it all for his family in Eternal Code, such a true artist! I’ve had the pleasure of working twice now, hopefully more to come, with Mel and I really enjoy it, first off I’ve been able to cast him in roles much closer to himself as strong moral characters and he’s always so dedicated and digs deep into his characters, be sure to watch for him in “Ash and Bone”! Tom is such a beast in screen, you simply can’t deny him and that’s still there, both with him and Corbin Bernsen it seems almost effortless to pull of magic on screen! Dennis and I have now worked on 4 features together and I love that I’ve been able to cast him so close to what he’s known for in “Bennett’s Song” and “A Bennett Song Holiday” but then seeing him in both “Abstruse” and “Enigma” was a big thrill for me!
Tell us about your upcoming films,A Bennett Song Holiday starring Corbin Bernsen (Psych),& Dennis Haskins (Saved By The Bell),Ash And Bone starring Jamie Bernadette (I Spit On You’re Grace:Deja Vu) & Mel Novak (Bruce Lee’s Game Of Death),& you’re new tv Series Tale Of Tails?
I have to say I am really excited about both films but they are about as far apart as any two stories could possibly be... “A Bennett Song Holiday” is the kind of film that could become a holiday favorite on TV, it’s warm, it’s welcoming and it’s diverse and such a feel good classic experience. If you don’t get warm and fuzzy from watching just even the trailer you should get your heart checked, haha! It’s such an ensemble and Corbin was undeniably good! Now on the other hand “Ash and Bone” is a haunting horror thriller that moves with incredible performances on both sides of the screen. Jamie Bernadette has an amazing capacity to make you feel her fears, she takes us for an amazing ride in the film and I can’t wait for people to experience it, it’s by far my best work yet!
Harley, when you are reading a script. How many formal edits do you demand your scripts to have before going forward with a movie? Meaning first edits, professional edits, etc?
It depends on the script I have been at double digit rewrites and I’ve gone with version 2.0. The most important thing is getting it right and having enough good eyes poking at it before production. But what I have learned in this writing process is that we all have our strengths and it’s important to put egos aside and capitalize where we are strong!
So you have done a variety of films, both producing and acting. Which is the funniest for you?
I have to admit that although I have been told I am excellent at producing it will still never compete for me with my first love acting or directing which has become something incredibly special to me that I truly love! As far as fun there’s no competing with Acting, it is simply amazing to let go of oneself and live as someone else in bits ‘n pieces on screen!
Harley, the lockdown has everyone reading, writing, and watching movies. Can you provide a list of what you have been doing? Meaning I tend to find new books or movies from suggestions given and well seems like I might be stuck for another few months inside.
For me the lockdown had a lot of positive with it we were in the middle of shooting a TV series “Tale of Tails” as we shut down. Self quarantining gave us incredible family time at a very key time with our young children (5 & 7). But because my wife is not just my wife but also my business partner it allowed us to do a lot of work to prepare us to finish the TV series strong when things opened up. We were also lucky to have two films in post production that I was able to dedicate time to. I also developed and co-wrote additional scripts and stories. I was quite productive all while having the best time with my wife & kids!
Harley, the classic question: what charity do you work with? And can you provide links to it?
I have always been active in my church “Kensington” but currently after college-writing “Finding Nicole” and with my own background of growing up in a household with domestic abuse I’ve become more involved there through “The Enough Initiative” and I’ve had a closer attachment to “Celebrate Recovery”... these things have a tendency to kind of follow along with the themes of the films I am involved with such as Adoption with the Bennett Song movies and Trafficking with Betrayed etc..
In dreaming can you describe what your dream movie, or role or who you would like to work with would be?
There are so many talented people that it is very hard to say who I would work with but some of my absolute favorites that I look up to are Jodie Foster, Robert De Niro, Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington but so many more. I actually don’t mind that a majority of the time I am somewhat typecast a villain or some form of strong authority figure, but I think it is because I have so far had the variety of also playing a loving father or a love interest etc mixed in with those opportunities. I used to say my dream role was to play a role like James Bond but I’m not sure anymore. I just want to sink my teeth into a role that I’d love to express that was relevant and timely..
What one question do you wish I had asked and well what is the answer?
The only thing I am somewhat dying to talk about is this TV series that we have created independently and how excited I am and how much I believe this could be something special!
But there’s so much to talk about it almost would be another full interview so maybe we should save “Tale of Tails” for next time..
I really appreciate you taking the time I truly enjoyed it!
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