Bermudian follows his acting dream in LA
Just getting to the audition can often be the hardest part about acting in Los Angeles.
It’s one of the first lessons Graham Outerbridge learned when he moved to California four years ago.
“It always seems to hit when you have somewhere to be,” said the 32-year-old. “Sometimes it is just terrible. I’ve never missed an audition because of traffic, but I’ve sure been late for them because of it. I spend one to three hours a day in traffic.”
He moved there after four years in New York City, where he had minor roles on hit series Law & Order and Guiding Light.
“LA is a town with a lot of buzz,” he said. “I moved to LA because I wanted to be in film and television, and it was becoming more and more apparent that this was where I needed to be in order to make that happen.”
He’s made commercials for Verizon and Volkswagen since moving there.
“You have got to hustle,” he said. “It is tough from the second you leave your house until you get home. You face rejection on a daily basis. The key is if you are putting in the work, then sooner or later you will find success.”
Having British roots has been an advantage. He won a role with a plummy English accent, on two episodes of The Britishers, a Downton Abbey parody by production company College Humor.
“I developed a love for British accents when I was at Saltus,” he said. “The teachers were all from different parts of the British Isles. I especially loved the accents of Alexander “Sandy” White, the math teacher who was Scottish, and Cormac Timothy, a teacher who was Irish.”
A few episodes of the show were put on YouTube. Actors wore period dress; scenes were shot “in a very cool house beside the Pacific Ocean”.
The pilot was picked up by Directv.
“Unfortunately, they didn’t go through with the series,” said Mr Outerbridge. “As for it being aired, that would depend entirely on another network really liking it and picking it up.”
He’s now back to pounding the pavements of Los Angeles, looking for new roles, and also trying to create his own opportunities.
“Now We Are Not is a short I shot last summer, that is being submitted to festivals,” he said. “It is about a couple coming to terms with ending their relationship. In this industry aspiring actors now have to produce their own work to get noticed. Websites such as YouTube, Amazon and Netflix are providing new avenues for this. That is pretty exciting.”
He and a friend, Ted Welch, have made 15 episodes of The Squirrel and Donkey Show, a version of The Odd Couple. The first episode had more than 700 views on YouTube.
“We think it’s funny,” Mr Outerbridge said.
He’s also taking lessons to improve his craft and recently took a master acting class with Hollywood star Dustin Hoffman.
“I spent the whole day with him and I learned a lot,” he said. “Dustin Hoffman is such an honest actor. You can see he gives 110 per cent to his work, and that was something he gave in his class. He was asking us to be fully present with each other and to be 100 per cent honest and not hide things and be as vulnerable as possible.”
Mr Outerbridge “did a couple of plays in high school at my mom’s urging” but didn’t get the acting bug until later. He majored in acting and minored in political science at Tufts University in Boston.
“In college, I starting taking an acting class and really enjoyed it. I did a master’s degree in fine arts in acting at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.”
He describes Los Angeles as a beautiful part of California.
“You are right by the beach and the mountains,” he said. “There is so much space to do stuff outdoors. The weather is sunny and warm for most of the year. It is very much like Bermuda except drier. It is also an amazing melting pot of different cultures. There are people from everywhere.”
The best part about the city is that the people always seem happy and friendly, he added.
“I think a lot of that has to do with the weather,” he said.
Unmarried, he lives on the east side of the city in Atwater Village, an up-and-coming neighbourhood he compared to Brooklyn, New York.
His dream is to make his entire living from acting. At the moment, he teaches the craft privately, and at John Rosenfeld Studios.
He would love to return home for a visit and work on a local production.
Visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKYObqo2bus, www.nowwearenot.com and www.youtube.com/user/Squirrelanddonkey for Squirrel and Donkey Show to learn more.
From beautiful scenery to beautiful people, Los Angeles has a lot to offer. Here are Bermudian actor Graham Outerbridge’s tips for visiting:
Best place to spot celebrities: If you want to stargaze, the best place is the ritzy shopping district Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills on the western side of LA. Don’t go on Sundays as many shops are closed.
“You are not going to see Brad Pitt walking around because he would get mobbed,” said Mr Outerbridge. “I have spotted Jason Sudeikis (Horrible Bosses) and Paul Rudd (The Little Prince).” See: gocalifornia.about.com/cs/losangeles/a/rodeo.htm.
He warned that all of Los Angeles is pretty expensive but you’ll likely find more affordable items in West Hollywood. “West Hollywood is more accessible,” said Mr Outerbridge. “There is more of a selection and more diversity. Rodeo Drive caters to a very specific demographic: the rich and famous.” See www.visitwesthollywood.com/shopping.
Favourite restaurant: For an upscale meal, Mr Outerbridge loves The Bazaar by José Andrés, in the SLS Beverley Hills Hotel at 465 La Cienega Blvd.
“It is really eclectic and the food is top quality,” he said. “They have these amazing chefs. It is a great place for special occasions.”
Favourite hotel: London West Hollywood at 1020 N San Vicente Boulevard is known for its unparalleled style, rooftop pool and sweeping views of LA. Rates vary depending on the time of year, but are around $430 a night at the moment.
The weather: Winter is nice because you get a bit of a break from all the sunshine. There is some rain, every now and again. It is not super hot. In the summer time, it gets hot but not humid.
What to see: The J Paul Getty Museum has two campuses, The Getty Villa and the Getty Center, which have amazing, art, architecture and gardens. The Getty Center at 1200 N Sepulveda Blvd, is very modern; the Getty Villa at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, is done in a Greek style. Mr Outerbridge prefers the villa.
“The Getty Villa is unbelievably beautiful,” he said. “They always have different museum exhibits. When my parents [Nancy and Stephen Outerbridge] were in town last they had a Rembrandt exhibit.” The Getty Center and Villa are always free. See www.getty.edu/museum.
He also recommended the Griffith Park Observatory at 2800 East Observatory Road. Visitors there can look through telescopes, explore exhibits and see live shows in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium. It’s also possible to enjoy spectacular views of LA and the Hollywood Sign. Admission is free. See www.griffithobservatory.org.
When to go: The weather in LA is good any time of year, but the city is a bit less crowded and cooler in winter. April is also a great time to visit as the city hosts the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. It is a great place to hear high profile artists and catch sight of the latest fashions. See www.coachella.com.
How to get there: “It’s pretty easy to connect anywhere through the East Coast,” Mr Outerbridge said. “You can connect through Boston, New York, Atlanta or Philadelphia. I’ve connected through them all.”
Hot tip: Wear sun screen.
