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Though most people misquote (and overuse) the famous F. Scott Fitzgerald line – it actually goes, “I once thought that there were no second acts in American lives, but …” – even the novelist would certainly not know what to make of Chris Gaunt.
Just over two years ago, the Queensbury resident and Syracuse-area native, then in his mid-50s, said goodbye to a 32-year career as a bigwig for a “very, very large, $80 billion company” to pursue a new passion: acting in, producing and writing movies full-time.
“I have no illusions of grandeur,” says Gaunt, 57. “This is a tough industry, but I’ve never had more fun. It’s really been an incredible journey or a second act or an act two, whatever you want to say, as a middle-age guy that had the opportunity, fortunately, to work his tail off in big business America and do well. And I’m very, very grateful for that.”
And next comes the first indication that his decades climbing the corporate ladder was the perfect, if unlikely, training ground for his new creative career.
“I will tell you, though, when you make that decision – I’m one of those guys that dives into the deep end right away. And that’s the way I’ve always been. I went from one incredibly competitive, intense environment to another,” he says. “Learning the process from the ground up and really grinding it out, day in and day out. Gosh, for the last 26 months or so it has been nonstop, dawn to dusk.”
He’s not kidding. Fresh off “retirement,” he and his wife of more than 30 years hit the road, literally. With his kids grown and out of the house, and two dogs as traveling companions, the couple went from audition to audition. “I started applying for and auditioning for every single thing I would have the privilege of getting asked to audition for. And I viewed it as privilege because it’s so competitive.”
He went out for -- and booked -- student films, commercials, short films, music videos and finally feature film work. Meanwhile, he created profiles on every acting portal he could find, even when his “resume” listed everything but movie credits.
Throughout a freewheeling and energetic conversation, Gaunt returns time and again to lessons learned, not just as a high-powered suit, but also as lifelong, self-described “sports junkie.” These Type A traits, integral to both business and athletics, were the tools he utilized to take on the notoriously tough entertainment industry, especially at a time others in his position would have had at least one eye on retirement.
He says that “movies and this industry is the thing that most closely replicates or represents being on a competitive sports team. I mean, you’re forced, in a good way, to excel very quickly, you’re forced to ramp up. It’s not a playbook, but in this case it’s a script or a production.”
“It really is a meritocracy,” he says at another point. “You have to earn your job each and every time up at the plate.”
“I refuse to be outworked. I refuse to be outhustled.”
“Do what you think you can’t.”
“Feedback is a true gift. Take it whether you agree or not.”
“I’m managing my career exactly the way I would manage as a CEO of a company. It is a business.”
When it comes to the stress of auditioning, he says “Because I was in a corporate environment where you had to learn to be thick-skinned to take rejection, you heard no a lot more than yes. It’s a football term, ‘you buckle your chinstrap,’ and you go onto the next audition.”
What might come off as corporate-speak, inspirational platitudes or a just-do-it sports mentality flat on the page is anything but when spoken by Gaunt. His passion is unmistakable, and his sincerity and, yes, humility, are ever-present.
That passion right now is primarily focused on the movie he’s spent a good portion of his “second act” working on, the social media thriller “Follow Her.” It was filmed in New York City and the Hudson Valley--opening scenes were shot in Saugerties and Kingston and Woodstock provided accommodations, catering and other aspects of the production.
Conceived by lead actress-screenwriter Dani Barker, the movie was inspired by her own online interactions. She plays an aspiring actress who gains fame as a social media celebrity secretly filming the often-disturbing Craigslist encounters she initiates. She answers one hard-to-pass-up ad, but soon finds herself trapped in a dangerous situation, with the whole world watching.
The director, Sylvia Caminer, is an Emmy Award-winning producer and director of numerous Travel Channel shows hosted by Samantha Brown. In addition to Barker the cast includes well-known actor Mark Moses (“Platoon,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Mad Men”) and Australian Luke Cook (“Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”). The cinematographer, Luke Geissbuhler, has extensive credits, including the original "Borat" and this year's sequel, as well as Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 11/9." Gaunt came on as an actor and associate producer at around the same time, and just recently was bumped up to executive producer.
And here’s where the humility comes through. Each strain of the conversation that pertains to him, he carefully weaves back to someone else. Caminer, whom he had previously met on another project, is “such a good person and a good director.” He says they were “swimming in the same lane.” The cast is very talented, the crew are so hard-working, even when they are not being recognized or recognized enough. About Caminer and Barker together, he says, “I never met two more dedicated and talented creators.”
Before long, however, it’s time for his business side to appear. “Follow Her,” shot beginning in March 2019, is finished except for post-production work. As with most things in 2020, a global pandemic negatively impacted completion. That’s why the filmmakers started a crowd-funding site. Investors can donate online at https://wefunder.com/followher and learn more about the film. Gaunt says either way, the film is “D-O-N-E” in January, with a spring or summer released expected, either in theaters, streaming, on demand or some combination.
Beyond that, he has plans to work again with Caminer and Barker. He and his wife are working on a comedy screenplay. And then there are the constant auditions.
But true to form, he doesn’t allow the focus to linger on himself for too long. He praises his “extremely supportive” family, especially his wife Kathie. He shines a spotlight on three local filmmakers – Logan Rando, Shane Alden and Lora Lee Ecobelli – who he says he owes much to.
Sincerity, and a taste of that love of all-things-movies since childhood? Sure, you can hear it in his voice as he recounts a recent day’s work he spent with 80’s teen movie icon Diane Franklin (“The Last American Virgin,” “Better Off Dead,” “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure”). “What a wonderful person,” he says. “She’s been in the industry for over 40 years, and her passion was like the first time she walked on set. She was engaged, she was passionate, she was helpful, she was instructive in a good way, she was all in. It was amazing; I’ll never forget that experience.”
Thanks for circling back to the idea of passion, Chris Gaunt. After all, it’s what propelled him to his successful second act. “I’m not a quitter. It’s that passion. It sounds corny, but it’s what fuels me.”
C.J. Lais Jr.