This week’s episode of The Steve & Kathy Show is jam-packed with great comedy plus an on-location interview with our friend and actor Stelio Savante. On set for the film “What if?” our production team captured interviews with Stelio plus producer Dallas Jenkins and actors Kevin Sorbo of Hercules and John Razenberger of Cheers.
Although he's South African, Stelio has only played a South African once in his career. His roles have been American, Russian, Italian American, Bosnian/Serbian, Greek, German, and Ecuadorian among other nationalities.
Stelio’s TV credits include the sci-fi program “Starship Troopers 3 Marauder,” “Law and Order,” “Ugly Betty" and "All My Children." His movie credits include "My Super Ex Girlfriend,” with several works in post-production and soon to be released including “What if,” “Finding Hope Now” and “Invictus.”
Taking the stage with TV greats like Ed Asner, Katherine McPhee, John Hawkes, Stelio played the lead role in “110 Stories,” performed at the Geffen Playhouse in LA this past February. Funds for the all-star performance benefited the Red Cross for the Haiti disaster.
Savante’s latest project is a big South African feature film. Stelio replaced Barry Pepper for his role in the film called “A Million Colors,” that was taped on location in South Africa. He’s got numerous other TV and film projects in development and pre-production, so you’ll want to watch for those upcoming! Find out more here: http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=121278,1,22.
Here’s more from Stelio so you can get to know this up and coming actor!
S&K: What is your vision for your acting career? Where do you want to go and why?
Stelio: To work with the best directors and actors in films that make a difference. Film and television are the most powerful mediums in the world. As a storyteller I have the opportunity to give people some form of escape for roughly two hours (depending on the film) and hopefully somehow inspire or entertain them. I want to do this at the highest level because I love the craft and continue to take chances with every role I play. Taking those risks is exciting.
S&K: What has been your favorite part to play? Why?
Stelio: Bolivar Arellano in “110 Stories.” The play was based on 9/11. The material was literally taken from first hand eye witness accounts of that day. It opened my eyes to what I take for granted in my life. This story needed to be told and I really connected with the role of Bolivar. He and I have become good friends. It's a role I need to play at least once a year or so and has become part of me.
S&K: You’ve been involved in various “faith-based” projects. If you could speak to the faith-based TV and film production teams and actors, what would you say to them?
Stelio: To make sure that they study their craft in order to create a good product and make the film/show for as wide an audience as possible. I find with faith based projects that way too often artistic integrity is compromised. Once that happens it's difficult to be taken seriously and no one watches your product the second time around because first impressions are everything. I'm all for films that have a very strong message. But you want people to see that film and that message and if the quality of the product is not good, then we've missed an opportunity. I encourage them to watch great films, great performances and [read] great writing. Learn what made them great and then apply some of that to their product.
S&K: What do you think the future holds for faith-based TV and films?
Stelio: We know the audience is there from films like The Passion, Fireproof, Saving God, etc. But for every one of those films, there are also 15 or 20 faith based films that never see the light of day. No distribution, no theatrical release. It's up to faith based film-makers to improve or raise their standards and if they can do that, then [the] future is bright. The more diverse an audience that they can attract; the bigger the chances that [audiences] will want to see more films with this kind of message. The opportunity is there but it needs to be seized with quality rather than quantity.
S&K: Thanks, Stelio, for taking the time to interview with The Steve & Kathy Show during this busy time in your career!
Stelio: Thank you. It was a pleasure to have you come and visit on set [“What if?”]. Thanks for all your support and the awesome team at The Steve & Kathy Show!
View Stelio’s website for TV and movie clips and upcoming projects: http://sites.google.com/site/steliosavante/
Stelio’s new reel: http://www.motionbox.com/videos/4c98dab41a1be1c5c4
