Sitting down to talk to Brent Allen Caputo on a recent sunny Sunday afternoon, the first thing that struck me about him is that he absolutely emanates positivity and enthusiasm; not only for the career path he’s chosen, but life in general. We had exchanged e-mails earlier in the year about him working on the set of the Michael Mann film “Public Enemies“, as well as a movie called “Couples Retreat”. We’ve kept in touch since then, so when “Public Enemies” trailers started appearing on television and the film was released on July 1st, I was eager to go see it and then talk to Brent about his work. My enthusiasm was bumped up a notch when I found out that Brent had appeared on screen in a key scene. I was thrilled to finally get the chance to see “Public Enemies” this past weekend, and then to meet with Brent in person to talk about his time on the set and his career in general.
One of the things that impressed me about Brent was that he’s interested in the films he works on as a whole. He’s not the type of actor or stunt man to come in, do his part, and then tune out until quitting time. He’s fascinated by the production as a whole, and how all of the components and people come together to create a film. He shared an anecdote about a day in stunt rehearsals in which director Michael Mann grabbed a camera and got down on the ground himself, so that he could see exactly how the shot would look on film. Brent said it’s that sort of thing that impresses him; seeing a director that invested in the film, and the synergy of cast and crew combining to bring the film to life. Brent told me that after seeing the film himself, he was surprised by how much of it he was actually involved in. Although a restaurant scene where Depp as Dillinger is talking to his girlfriend is the only spot where you can actually see Brent on film, he was also involved in stunt rehearsals and in other parts of the movie as a stand in. As we talked, he told me about other major productions he’s worked on recently and how he’s moving forward in his career. Unlike some actors who think a move to a major city is a necessity to advance their career, Brent is happy to be working on projects while staying right here in his hometown. He shared that he’d like to be
“discovered while I’m living here in Kenosha, the city I was born and raised in. I’m not living ‘the dream’, I’m living MY dream.”
That dream is definitely taking Brent Allen Caputo on an exhilarating journey. His own words describe it perfectly: “there’s nowhere to go but up”!
Lisa: I finally saw the film today and loved it. Congratulations on your scene! I sort of embarrassed myself by blurting out, “Look–there’s Brent!” in the theater when that part came on. I think that having a local actor on the big screen is really exciting for Kenosha though. I also saw a preview for another movie about troubled couples that go away on an island retreat. Was that “Couples Retreat”, by any chance, the other movie you worked on? Continue reading →
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