From being part of the Arctic Monkey’s award-winning short film ‘Scummy Man,to performing at the London and Edinburgh Fringe,  Russell Shaw has and is still having a wonderful career exercising his versatility as an actor, from comedic roles to gritty roles, from short films to feature films from stage to screens, frmo voice acting to physical acting. Russell is having a blast and I managed to pin the man down (not literally, I mean by email) to take a breather to take part in the Spending Time With..series of questions.   (Thanks Russell)

 

What was the most recent book you read?

Michael Caine ‘Blowing the bloody doors off’ It’s brilliant! recommended by my good friend movie director Howard J Ford

What age would you like to be again?

27!- why you ask? I had just finished acting college with 6 distinctions and the professor of De Montfort University where I was contemplating starting a 3 year degree said to me- if you want to get into acting- get yourself out there- rather than starting a 3 year performing arts degree. . I believe that’s where the real learning starts in this business- getting out there and building your CV and contacts (my biggest regret not listening to that guy)

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

A place in Europe (not allowed to name) on the set of ‘Witch’ 2023 release!! One of the happiest moments of my life- The sets we filmed on were simply mind blowing!

Do you have any props or keepsakes from any of your films or shows?

Adventure Boyz playing the role of Simpson- I still have the grey jean shirt and blue baseball cap- I wouldn’t swap for the world

Do you remember who got your first autograph?

Release of Adventure Boyz after one of the many local cinema screenings- I remember it was a family of 4, they loved my character (Simpson) and asked if their children could have a signed autograph- special moment for me and quite surreal

Have you ever gotten someone’s autograph? Which is the most memorable for you?

Yes, Kenny Carter speedway rider back in the 80/90’s- funnily enough the film I was cast in 25/30 years later ‘Adventure Boyz’ the director Howard Ford told me his character ‘Michael Harris’ who he plays in the film, was loosely based on the speedway rider Kenny Carter- talk about synchronicity!

What is the ONE single coolest movie geek thing you own?

My Devils Tower T-shirt (Close Encounters of the third kind)

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

There are films I can never watch- A Serbian Movie, Eden Lake, Martyrs One film that gives me the creeps everytime and scares me- The Haunted TV movie 1991 About the Smurl family, they find out their house is haunted – scene in the cellar unknown voice calling out Janet- (lead character) “Janet?…. I’m in here, mum…. Janet?… I’m here, I’m over here….(voice right next to her)
Janet??…… scares me everytime- incredibly clever scene, no gore just tension, fear and the unknown

What horror film do you think was the first one you experienced?

I think it was ‘Burnt offerings’ with Bette Davis and Oliver Reed- It really had an effect on me for many years

Do you have an ‘off switch’ when not working, and how does it work?

I never usually switch off but as I have got older- I think more about balance,meditation, gratitude sharing, living in the moment much more often nowadays..

How do you prepare for an audition?

Live and breathe the lines repeat repeat, think about my character, personality traits, costume, voice, research, study.. repeat repeat……

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

Vocal exercises..

Do you prefer day shoots or night shoots?

I love both!!

If you had to make a ‘bucket list’ of people you’d love to work with, tell me one name who would be on it?

Shane Meadows

With regards to your own projects? What are you working on that you can tell me about?

Witch & Escape will soon be on the big screens later this year- I just wrapped on the short film ‘Solace of a bus stop’ about homelessness. Short film ‘Revenger’ is the next project I’m working on filming’ up in Glossop in July. (think, Dead Man Shoes)

Do you read reviews of shows that you are in?

Sometimes. I will always be proud of the reviews for my performance in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ playing the lead role of Benedick- simply because I had never performed Shakespeare before. I love getting feedback negative or positive- I soak it in like a sponge

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

Borys The Rottweiler (15 min monologue) sometimes I don’t know how I managed it ha! Playing various characters in ‘A Day in the death of Joe Egg’- Brian, bumbling doctor and the German pediatrician My character in Witch Simpson in Adventure Boyz Playing various character in Pericles prince of Tyr and my first attempt at mask work playing the creepy, Boult Being the voice of an 8 part TV series ‘Unexplained Caught On Camera shown on Really and UKTV is also up there!

Out of all the projects you’ve done, which one do people seem to ask you the most about?

Boris the rottweiler and the upcoming medieval horror fantasy ‘ Witch’ by Skylark Vision

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

Embracing & dealing with the lows…

And, the flipside. What’s the most enjoyable for you?

Being part of a project/team- whether it’s, theater, film, TV, Voice-over- best feeling in the world

If you can sit down with any one living person and chat to them for two hours? Who would you choose?

Jeremy Corbyn

You can find out more about Russell on his IMDB Page HERE