Interviewing actor and filmmaker Austin Galante

1-. How was your childhood?

It had it's ups and downs I guess. I was loved. We were poor as shit. Like mayonnaise sandwiches poor early on, but I had a roof over my head and a warm bed. Things got a little better by highschool. I got to spend a fair amount of time with my grandparents. One of my grandma's taught me how to draw and paint. A skill I still use to this day.

2-. From what age did you decide to be a actor and filmmaker and how did you know you had the skills to go on TV?

I always wanted to be an actor. It seemed super interesting to me. But I grew up in Iowa and the opportunity for acting in movies is pretty slim plus being poor isn't conducive to paying for acting classes, headshots, etc.

Instead I started making music when I was about 13. I bought a drum machines and sampler. Eventually I ended up starting a band called Bad Fathers. We toured the country and made music for a decade. We moved out to L.A. In 2005 and that's when I got to start doing a little acting. I also started learning to produce music and we made a number of music videos. I started learning how to shoot low budget music video and that was my practice for eventually getting into film making. That helped build my editing, camera, lighting, and producing skills.

3-. Did your parents support you in the decision you made to be an actor?

I was kind of a feral latch key kid. They have been supportive in my artistic endeavors. They never went to my shows or anything, but they have always listened to me talk about the stuff I'm doing and they mostly say that sounds cool, so I would call that support. But I moved to Switzerland the week I graduated high school and I've kind of just been on my own journey ever since. When you are willing to sleep in a car to be where you want to be it's hard for anybody to tell you that you can't do something. They had suggested that I go to college but I'm mostly better at self learning and one on one learning. So I don't think I would have thrived in a college setting.

4-. What was your first appearance on the screens?

First appearance would be music videos for my band Bad Fathers, but after that extra work on shows like Ugly Betty, Bones, CSI, Life and a bunch of others. I did an Old Mutual commercial and a Hero's DVD commercial, a couple indie movies and a few random things that I forgot the names of; years ago. Then I got married and had kids so I focused on that while my kids were young. Finally about 3 years ago I decided to start making my own movies.

 5. What was the role you liked the most?

The role I like most would be Sticks in my new movie coming out this year called Sanguine Teeth on a Driftless Road. I play a vampire hunter. It's a comedy so it was a lor of fun.

6-. What do you think led you to Fame?

Decades of hard work and a lot of time learning how to do a lot of different things.

7-. What types of characters you would like to interpret?

I think I'm open to any type of character. I really like character acting. I like trying to get into a characters mind. So far the movies I've made have been comedies and the work has been more centered around finding humor in the situation. So I do look forward to getting some bigger roles that are more dramatic. But for the time being, I'm enjoying creating silly stories that make people laugh.

8-. What actresses and actors do you feel comfortable working with?

I like working with Matthew Kenner, Juan Hooks, and Douglas Montoya. There are a number of actors I feel comfortable working with But those guys are friends.

9-. In what other genres of art would you like to participate? (Works of theater, music, among others)

I also produce music, I draw, I'm a photographer, graphic design, edit, write, and pretty much anything that needs to be done in order to get a film made and released.

10-. Do you have any anecdotes that have marked you in your life and as a person?

I've lived a really varied and wild life, from being dirt poor eating at the salvation army, to having a little bit of money, touring the country to where I am now. I've woken up on a lot of living room floors, hallways, hotel and motel rooms all over the country. I lived in a crack house for a year. I never tried crack, but I lived in one, I've lived in a lot of wild places and I've seen how a lot of different types of people go about the world. I think that has given me a unique perspective on things and I will never be short on stories to tell.

11-. What has been your greatest achievement?

Well, I don't know if helping my kids survive to the ripe old age of 9 and 10 counts as an achievement, but that's been quite a journey. Besides that I think my biggest achievement is my newest movie Sanguine Teeth on a Driftless Road. I wrote, directed, produced, edited, scored and acted in it. It's wild 2 hour ride full of inappropriate humor. It is a Rated R Horror comedy about 4 black vampires on a road trip. Absolutely irreverent and deliciously dirty.

12-. What projects will you make next and which ones do you have in mind?

The movie I will be shooting this summer is a film called “What Have We Won” starring Robert Lasardo, myself, Matthew Kenner and Douglas Montoya. It is a comedy about two lovable losers who win the lottery.

13-. Would you like to make a movie in Spain?

Abso-fucking-lutely.

14-. You like Spanish cinema?

I do not watch much Spanish cinema. I like Spanish music.