Spending Time With…Andy Gatenby ( @gatenbygas ) |

Andy Gatenby is someone I’ve known online for a little while now and having recently watched him in the upcoming film Renegades, I thought id reach out to him and see if he had a little time to take part in the Spending Time With.. series of articles that I like to do. He said yes (thanks Andy) and so I sent him over the pre prepared questions and very much looked forward to his answers.

Andy has a great role in the film Renegades where he plays Andre (Renegades is released on Digital here in the UK 30th January and on UK DVD 6th February, and is a really good movie, so do check it out) and also appeared in Nemesis (directed by James Crow) , Card Dead as well as Worlds Most Evil Killers and is a former unbeaten professional boxer. Following his retirement from professional boxing in 2014 Andy started to transition into the acting world and using his experience from the athletic world. This is serving him very well indeed in the movies he appears in.

So enough from me, Lets hear from Andy. Hes is more interesting than I am!

What was the most recent book you read?

The last book I read was called ‘There’s No Room For Jugglers In My Circus’ by Jason Cook. It was a Cushty little book as well.

Out of all the characters you’ve played, which one is the most like you?

I get to play all the fun roles in films. I’m nearly always cast as a bad guy / crook or gangster. But it’s safe to say I’m none of the above. I once played a serial killer for Sky TV on Worlds Most Evil Killers and my daughter thought that the police in America were going to arrest me. She told her mates at school that I’d killed people haha. At home I’m just a chilled geezer that’s always smiling. So nothing like any of my roles really. That’s what makes it more fun.

What is one of your most favourite locations you have filmed or performed in?

I filmed a British Gangster film called Card Dead a few years ago, and it was filmed at The Fulford’s mansion in Exeter, It was all a bit bizarre around the place but the location was beautiful. They had some mad festival on location over one of the weekends we’d had off filming and when we came back to set on the Monday. Some of them were still partying. I remember a lady rode over on her BMX and was just dancing about on her own haha. It was a fun experience for sure.

Do you remember who got your first autograph?

I was fighting on a boxing show when I was about 14 and as I was warming up, one of the kids came over and asked for my autograph. I felt great and signed it for him. As I was shadow boxing I watched him walk over to his dad, all chuft. But his dad was shaking his head laughing. And he pointed back over to me. I turned around and realised that I was warming up in front of former British Heavy weight Champion Gary Mason. I think he was still happy with mine though.

What is one film that gives you the ‘creeps’? Or scares you

Anything with Ghosts or creepy kids. They scat me out and I get myself at it after the film and think I can still see them. I’m a action or comedy man.

How do you prepare for an audition?

The first thing I do when the audition hits my inbox is celebrate it. Every single one is a lottery ticket. I visualise landing the role straight away. After this I do some sort of training, I’ll go to the gym or even do a quick home workout. Visualising getting the role the whole time. Then I go to work and start building Character and work out who I am. I learn the lines really fast. It doesn’t take me long to pick them up. Then I go to work, film with maybe 3-4 takes, edit, send to my agent and then let it go. I try to forget about it straight away. And then just do some more visualisations of my agent calling me to say I’ve landed the role.

Do you prefer day shoots or night shoots?

Either, I get a buzz off both

What’s the most difficult thing about your creative journey?

I’m all or nothing and put everything into acting, I work so hard and I’m always pushing forward. It’s far from an easy industry. And for every 1 role, there’s probably 500-1000 people suitable. I think the most difficult thing is just being in the right place at the right time.

What’s the first thing you do when you get on ‘set’

Just like when I was boxing I get a feel for my environment, I would always go over and get a feel for the ring, now I check out the set. Where we’ll be filming our scenes, and do some quick visualisations. I get my head in the game straight away and switch straight to business mode. I start getting into character and then I’m ready to rock and roll.

Lets shine a light on some of your past work. Which of your projects are you most proud of?

I’m proud of all of them. Every film I’m in, my goal is to become better and push forward. As soon as I’ve finished one I’m thinking. How can I be better for the next one. I’m never happy with just standing still. And always looking forward, having said this. My favourite film to date is Renegades. It’s got such a cool cast and it was my pleasure to stand side by side with them all. Jonathan Sothcott smashed it. I matured after shooting Renegades more so than other films. It was a great step up for me.