Jose Vargas
Hollywood Times: What made you want to be an actor?
Douglas Vermeeren: I started pretty young. In fact, probably before I even knew what acting was all about. I think what really made me what to be an actor was later in life when I really understood what was happening on the set. We were involved in creating magic. That’s when I fell in love with acting and movie making. And I’m still excited about it everyday. I feel blessed.
Hollywood Times: What kinds of things do you like to do in your spare time?
Douglas Vermeeren: I am an avid practitioner of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I totally fell in love with the sport. It’s a great way to stay fit and challenges you to be better all the time. I also love to sight see and travel. I especially love museums and art galleries.
Hollywood Times: What do you think your greatest strength is as an actor?
Douglas Vermeeren: This is a difficult question because I believe that sometimes it’s hard to see your own strengths when you try to look objectively at yourself. I think one of my strengths is my work ethic. I start early and I’m working long after others are done. To be an actor you really have to be a self starter. The vast majority of my film work is done privately when no one else is around and the cameras aren’t running. You literally have to be working on the character, your lines and the script by yourself. If you are not self-motivated you will never succeed in this business.
Hollywood Times: What do you think your greatest weakness is?
Douglas Vermeeren: I don’t know if this is a weakness but it’s a challenge. Time and focus. There’s never enough time and it’s often difficult to stay focused when there are so many other things going on around me in my career. Lately I had three movies back to back. It’s a big commitment to deliver quality work with so much coming at you. But I’m committed to that. As a result I have very little time for a social life.
Hollywood Times: What techniques do you use to find the characters that you are playing?
Douglas Vermeeren: There are a lot of great techniques out there for becoming characters. I try to learn as much about the backstory of each of the characters. Sometimes I try to find people I know in real life who are like the characters I am trying to portray. Sometimes that can be a good tool to help you to find the character enough to become them.
Hollywood Times: How was it winning the Best Actor Award for Jackknife?
Douglas Vermeeren: I feel very honoured that Jackknife has been so well received. You never think about winning awards when you are on set. You just hope that you can bring the character to life in a way that people can be emotionally moved. That’s the goal. It’s a big bonus when someone appreciates your work enough to give you an award for it.
Hollywood Times: What has been your most bizarre experience on a movie set?
Douglas Vermeeren: I had a funny experience about a year ago where I was accidentally hit in the face with a football during a scene in a Christmas movie called Homeless for the Holidays. It was supposed to hit the table I was sitting at, but it hit me smack in the face. It was totally unexpected. But I guess that tests your acting ability to keep going and that’s just what we did.
Hollywood Times: What is next for Douglas Vermeeren?
Douglas Vermeeren: Currently I am in preproduction for a unique horror film. Instead of being a found footage film which was really popular several years ago this is a project that will introduce a new genre. I can’t say too much about it. But many are already thinking that that this film, ‘The Baphomet Seance’ could become one of the scariest movie ever made. It really is quite terrifying and it my be based on a true story. After that I will be heading to Toronto to join the cast of ‘A Farewell to youth’ with Matty Cardarople from ‘Stranger Things.”
Hollywood Times: Any last words for your fans and those that are watching your movies?
Douglas Vermeeren: I want to thank everyone who has supported my career and watched the films I’ve done. I feel very blessed for the opportunities I’ve been given and a lot of that has happened because of the incredible support that I get from everyone. Thank you.
Follow Douglas Vermeeren on instagram @douglasvermeeren
