There are times as a co-star on television, you get to work alone with the two “A-listers” in your scene. As the portrait painter for James Spader’s character and that of Brian Stokes Mitchell’s, I was very lucky to be cast in this role (I had two names listed, Caio and Polpetto, but they called me Polpetto on set.) Even though I speak some Italian, the production even had an Italian coach for me so my pronunciation was believable to an Italian’s eras! And they spread out my two scenes over eight days, which allowed me to be paid for the week and a day, very generous of them.
The Blacklist
Jon Freda
Jon is an award winning actor, screenwriter and playwright. His films include Luc Besson’s The Family with Robert De Niro, Run with Eric Roberts, and recently Big Time Adolescence with Jon Cryer. He received best actor award in Sisyphus’ Supper at the Take Two Film Festival in New York City, which premiered at Cannes Film Festival. His TV credits include The Blacklist, and Law & Order SVU. Jon is also the co-producer/actor in 50 To Death, and award winning web series about three boomers jousting with the 21st Century. His New York theater credits include George Tabori’s Mein Kampf, and Imagine Dat! a solo show about Jimmy Durante, and regionally in Over The River and Through The Woods, and Breaking Legs. Among his writing credits, his screenplay, Who Wants To Marry My Husband, was produced and distributed as a feature film by Echelon Entertainment Group. He also co-wrote with Letty Serra, the eleven times awarded screenplay, Say Nothing, about the untold story of Italian incarceration in an American concentration camp in Maryland during World War Two, and won three screenplay awards for his thriller feature script, Sparks. His sci-fi comedy musical Alien Adventure The Adventure won four awards at the Midtown International Theatre Festival In New York City. Weekly, Jon teaches the Improvisation Workshop at the SAG-AFTRA Conservatory in New York City. Prior to acting, Jon served as a naval officer, taught undergraduate and graduate students in psychology, was a research psychologist for the government, and had a private practice in clinical psychology. He has a PhD in experimental and organizational psychology, and a postdoc PhD. in clinical psychology. Jon also consults as an executive presentation coach with Harrison Monarth, a New York Times best-selling author and owner of Gurumaker.
Comments are Closed
