C. J. DeVaan
C.J. DeVaan is an actor, writer and producer based in the Twin Cities and a 2000 graduate of Moorhead State University. Aside from onscreen roles, C.J. is known for a wide variety of theatrical performances, most notably for his portrayals as characters such as Dracula, Van Helsing, Defense Attorney Stevens from The Night of January 16th, Jefferson Cope from Agatha Christie’s Appointment With Death, and Captain Philip Lombard from Christie’s And Then There Were None.
He has a varying genre range of independent Film (feature/short) and Television credits including A Show Down at the O.K. Cinema (2007), The Five Stages of Fear (2008), IceBreaker (2009), Dracula: Hall Monitor (2010), Shattered Glass (2012), All Suspects (2013), Watch Over Me (2014) and The Just (2015).
C.J. has recently completed the filming of home invasion horror Lake Runs Red, of which he plays the main 'antagonist' Bruce. Lake Runs Red centres around two college girlfriends who go take a trip to their parent's secluded northern Minnesota lake cabin to prepare for their final exams. However, unfortunately for them, an uninvited visitor stops by, and he isn't there to study.
SN: Firstly, I’d like you to take us back to the beginning of your career. Tell us a little about your background and explain how you first got into acting.
CJ DEVAAN: I have always geared towards the presentational. I think, early on and at a very young age, I was never affected by fear, peer pressure, or nervousness. I was always willing to throw caution to the wind and go for it. I even got the lead in the kindergarten play! It wasn’t until I met my high school English teacher/drama director that I began to realize that acting and performing was my true calling. Knowing what you want in life at a very young age is an emancipating feeling. Thankfully I found my path and I haven’t stopped since! Around 2007, I decided I wanted to transition my career from theater performance toward film acting. My thinking was a stage play is over once the curtain falls, but an iconic performance on a DVD or Blu-Ray will be around forever.
SN: What specifics do you look for in a character when taking on a new role?
CJ DEVAAN: I look for a variety of roles as I feel my talents are actually quite versatile. From drama to comedy, I think I have it covered. It is very important to find grounded characters, so that I can fully immerse myself in them. What do they sound like? Do they need a dialect? Is it high-pitched or lower? How do they walk? It's important for me to be able to create a character that is memorable and to find the small nuances needed to keep me in character. For "Lake Runs Red," I feel like there was a strong collaboration between my professional input, the makeup department, and the producers. I had so many projects going on in the summer, that I decided my bearded look would be the best for all of them, so that’s where Bruce’s beard comes from (sorry for the spoiler!) I decided his voice should be lower-pitched and commanding when he actually speaks, so I tried to consciously use a lower voice register for him. Also, I have kind of perfected a growl in my throat when I am angry. The character's rage and animalistic qualities can really be felt throughout the performance and I felt Bruce definitely would have some harsher qualities that I wanted to convey.
SN: You’re starring in the forthcoming home invasion horror Lake Runs Red. Tell us about your character Bruce, and his role in the film.
CJ DEVAAN: I don't' want to be too coy. But in "Lake Runs Red," the Bruce character has more to him than meets the eye. I think at first glance, he's clearly the villain. The marketing certainly makes it look like that. But is he? Is he really so bad? Rough around the edges may be the most apt description. I guess it depends on character perspective and context. Bruce certainly inserts himself into the story in a pretty violent and impactful way. I think the core story really revolves around the question, what makes a home? Is it family? Friends? Circumstances? Regardless of Bruce's intentions, I feel that he certainly lacks mental stability, while still being able to maintain a level of smooth charisma and calculation. He's strong and determined, while also emotionless and lacking empathy. In terms of achieving his life goals, nothing is going to stand in his way... nothing. He's a box of contradictions, which is terrific fun (and challenging) to play, and perhaps what attracted me most to the character.
I don't want to give too much away... but in the original script, it takes some time for Bruce to actually make his first appearance in the narrative. But when he does, it’s explosive and volatile. I would argue that he's certainly the catalyst for upsetting the status quo for the other characters. Bruce's obsession with the protagonists of the film irrevocably changes their lives. And as you know... obsessions can lead to dangerous and exciting circumstances.
SN: I’ve heard from a lot of different actors about how great it is to play the ‘bad guy’. What is it for you personally that makes this so appealing?
CJ DEVAAN: I've played the bad guy in several theater productions, and loved it. And I suppose, within a particular context, the Bruce character in "Lake Runs Red" has villainous qualities. He's certainly being perceived as the antagonist. Whether or not he actually is, I'll let the "Lake Runs Red" fan base decide.
What makes it so entertaining to play the villain is you can kind of ad lib things because these are characters that are unbalanced, so the rules of motivation do not always apply. Villains have the freedom to truly “play” and "chew the scenery" as opposed to the protagonists, who have more structured rules to follow. Also, to be a realistically frightening and engaging experience for the audience, you HAVE to get the villain right, or none of it works. And I relish the challenge of complicated characters! Whether it is Dracula, or Snively Whiplash (which I basically played in a stage melodrama), you need an actor who is strong enough to be believable and who can afford to be risky with his/her choices.
SN: Tell us about how you were cast in the role of Bruce.
CJ DEVAAN: I originally saw a notice for open auditions for a film called "Panic" (Lake Runs Red's original working title) on Facebook... or maybe it was a casting website. There were only two roles in my age range, “Bruce” or the “Liquor Store Clerk" (which was a much smaller role). The descriptions were interesting and visceral. It was enough to pique my interest, so I submitted my information. Jason Riesgraf, the film's director and originator, e-mailed me and asked me to come in for an audition on Father’s Day 2014. Father’s Day is an emotionally special day for me, because I'm a single father and my daughter means the world to me. Auditions were held at the Mixed Blood Theater, a well known experimental venue in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis. Not realizing that they'd been struggling to find the right actor for this role, I threw myself into my audition. I really went for it with everything I had. My goal was to knock their socks off. Jason, as well as J. Dan Moores (casting director), were blown away and loved what they saw! Not long after, I was cast in this tremendous role of Bruce.
SN: What was it like to work with the wonderful Lauren Morris and Kaci Wegleitner?
CJ DEVAAN: I went into this project not knowing anyone except the cinematographer, Mike Ascher. While I entered the project with strangers, I leave the project with lifelong friends. It's been special. Lauren Morris brought an almost unlimited amount of energy and enthusiasm to "Lake Runs Red." She never questioned what was asked of her, just went full speed ahead like a locomotive. Kaci Wegleitner had more of a laid-back, polished quality to her character that made she and Lauren polar opposite foils, and was fun to see play out on film. I think there was a clear chemistry at work between my character and their characters. It was definitely an electric feeling as we worked. Jason, the film's director, deliberately kept me away from the production set until the back-half of principal photography to create an emotional distance between my character and Lauren/Kaci. As a result, I think they both kept their distance from me the first weekend I was on set, but by the end of principal photography, we were a close family! I have enjoyed keeping in touch with them beyond this project. I’ve seen Kaci on the sets of an ABC series and at auditions for several independent films. Lauren, who is a college student majoring in theater, has been busy with a couple stage plays at her university, and I have had the privilege of seeing them. It’s really inspiring to see her expand her horizons. Seeing her onstage gave me a weird sense of pride, even though I have had nothing whatsoever to do with her talent.
SN: What can audiences expect from Lake Runs Red?
CJ DEVAAN: I think audiences will find that "Lake Runs Red" has some interesting surprises. I love how the producers have successfully married disparate elements of a thriller, crime mystery, and slasher film into one tight home-invasion package. The performances were certainly engaging. I want audiences to fall in love with these characters, which is going to make it all the more pulse-racing when characters begin to fall victim to the film's horror and thriller plot elements. I want them to WANT to turn away, but be unable to. It's a home-invasion horror after all. People are going to be able to relate to this family. Maybe they will have had some experience in the past about being home-invaded, and maybe this will bubble that back to surface. I don’t want to traumatize anyone, but it is my hope they will definitely be uncomfortable when they leave. Not grossed out... but certainly terrified and impacted emotionally. Maybe they won’t be able to go to bed that night without having to check the doors and windows. That would be fine with me. But by and large, I hope they are entertained. The director, Jason Riesgraf, has described my performance to others as "iconic." That's certainly what I was going for. I hope my peers in the performance community sit up and take notice of me as an actor.
SN: Tell us about some of the most exciting and some of the toughest moments you personally had whilst filming Lake Runs Red.
CJ DEVAAN: My most exciting moment was working on the pivotal climax scene. It was one of the last scenes we shot, so emotionally, it was a rollercoaster for all of us. J. Dan, Mike, and Jason, were really open to the actors' input and collaboration. Helene, Kaci, and I came up with some really terrific ideas for that scene and pitched them to the producers. A lot of our ideas were used in that climax scene, which made us all really proud. I think all three of us are pleased with the intensity of how well that scene projects on film.
My toughest moment was definitely a sexually charged scene in the film. It was cheeky, no doubt. The producers don't want me to spoil it though! GAH, I wish I could say more. Let's just say I was NOT looking forward to filming that scene AT. ALL. It was important scene for Jason and I think it was an important scene for the character. So I did man up... and gave it everything I had. The editors mentioned to me several months later at the cast/crew party, that the scene turned out better than they had ever expected.
All the other scenes were a little on the unnerving side just because I didn't know anyone or how they worked or how they would react. But, when you get right down to it, we all had read the script and knew what was coming, so it wasn't like they didn't know WHY I was there.
SN: If you could work with any actor, director, producer etc. Who would it be and why?
CJ DEVAAN: No question, Jack Nicholson. I love the energy and the commitment he brings to all his roles. I don’t care what anyone says; his characters are VERY varied! I think I could learn so much from him if I wasn’t a gushing idiot about his roles as Jessup from “A Few Good Men” or The Joker in “Batman”. I love that he can be an intimidating gangster (“The Departed”), or an unlovable curmudgeon who becomes a lovable curmudgeon (“As Good As It Gets”).
I was just watching the second “Avengers” movie and thinking how awesome it would be to work with Joss Whedon with his sense of humor, and seeing how it is to work on an action movie with so many elements going on at once. I don’t know how those actors do it. I’ve always wanted to know what it’s like to work in front of a green screen, or to know what it is to act to a CGI character you’re not really seeing…
SN: What are some of your proudest moments of your career so far?
CJ DEVAAN: I've appeared on ABC in two prime time episodes recently, which has been exciting for me career wise. I've also held starring and supporting roles in several independent films. I have played Dracula twice and Van Helsing once onstage. I had an incredibly complex character in a play that was running at the same time “Lake Runs Red” was filming. In the play, my character went from an ex-con who was threatening everyone, to a jilted lover, to reluctant drag queen. Talk about arc! I've also gotten a taste behind the camera as well. I produced a film that was nominated for several awards at a Minneapolis short film festival called Z-Fest Film Festival. I've also been fortunate enough to work with Michael Madsen on a short film, as well as having been on set with Jason Segal, Jesse Eisenberg, Greg Kinnear, Dennis Hayspert, and Justin Long in the indie film work I have done. But what has been REALLY exciting is getting my daughter excited about working, reading and auditioning as well!
SN: What can you tell us about some of your upcoming projects?
CJ DEVAAN: We've got a few small pickup shots on "Lake Runs Red" to do this summer. I'm growing my beard back out just for that! I've also got some theater work booked at a major Minneapolis performance festival here in June. I also just filmed a concept trailer for a film called “The Dating Game” which will begin principle photography in the fall. That film is going to be more of a comedy and I'm looking forward to stretching my range with that one. Beyond that there are some script ideas of my own that I've started writing. I think that sometimes to get the best roles, you have to take matters into your own hands (Good Will Hunting) and I feel like writing a screenplay could potentially be a multi-faceted platform for my creative talents. I'm also busy helping my daughter with her auditions, which as a father, is such a wonderful experience for the both of us.
SN: If you could step back in time and meet your younger self, what advice would you give him?
CJ DEVAAN: Work. Work. Work. Audition like a mad man. No role is too small or too big. Maybe take more interest in your body. Always, always practice professionalism. Be nice and don't burn bridges. Take risks with your performance and your career.
SN: Is there anything else that you would like to talk about that I haven’t mentioned?
CJ DEVAAN: Behind the cameras, this film wouldn't have even been possible without the creative tour de force provided of J. Dan Moores, Mike Ascher, and Jason Riesgraf. Stephanie Riesgraf (Jason's wife), Tiffany Shaw, John Vang, BobKat Productions, and Katie Triplett also were essential to making "Lake Runs Red" a reality. The fact that we’re doing this interview at all is due to the tremendous marketing and social media that “Lake Runs Red” is doing... and that is all due to Jeff Fuller. Acting can’t be done in a vacuum (well, it can, but it sucks), so my performance is nothing without Lauren, Michael, Troy, Helene, and Kaci.