Rising Star Bruce L Hart On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Entertainment Industry

An Interview With Eden Gold

Take Chances. I was appearing in an independent film, and the person in the scene decided to try some new things: acting angry, raising her voice, and making subtle changes to her dialogue delivery. I was rather set in my delivery, and I was forced to change my performance to match hers. In this case, the scene was improved. I learned that playing it safe isn’t always the road to a great scene. Risks sometimes yield rewards.

As a part of our series about pop culture’s rising stars, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Bruce L. Hart.

Bruce L. Hart is an out and proud actor/writer/producer in the indie arena. Currently, Bruce is starring in the feature film Fathers of the Bride: A Yuletide Wedding Comedy, which he co-wrote and produced with his brother, Paul A. Hart (who also directed the film), through their production company, Hart Bros. Films. Besides this film, Bruce and Paul have written and produced two other feature films; Homewrecker and Breaking the Rules (which won Best Comedy at the Texas QFest and Best Picture at the Glitter Festival in Oklahoma).

Fathers of the Bride: A Yuletide Wedding Comedy follows the story of Leo and Rich, Michelle’s two dads. Michelle is getting married but initially wants to skip the ceremony. Amidst the chaos of organizing their yearly Christmas bash, her dads persuade Michelle to opt for a grand wedding, fulfilling their own dream of the elaborate ceremony they never had. Chaos ensues, and a less-than-pleasant feud erupts between Rich and his sister-in-law, Angela, over who truly is a real family member and thus qualified to plan the wedding. Despite the ups and downs, lessons are learned, and audiences can expect a heartwarming and happy ending.

As an actor, Bruce was once dubbed an “Internet Phenomenon” due to the number of projects he’s done on streaming platforms. He has worked with numerous celebrities on the stage, screen, television, and streaming platforms, including Greg Louganis (Olympic Gold Medal Winner), Rutanya Alda (Mommie Dearest, The Deer Hunter), comedian Drew Droege (Multiple TV shows and comedy shows), Rebekah Kochan (Eating Out film series), and David Pevsner (author of the biography It’s a Damn Shame).

Highlights of some of the series he’s appeared in include Old Dogs and New Tricks, where he played Nelson Van Eddy, the show’s villain; Boystown for Canadian TV, playing Stuart, a corrupt adult entertainment producer; and Where the Bears Are, playing the younger husband of a man who stages Bear Beauty Pageants. Bruce has also appeared in a number of iconic LGBTQ+ films, including Saltwater, playing the tragic character Rich; Homewrecker, playing Collin, the same role he did in the original stage production; Open, playing one half of a couple that decides to experiment with an open relationship; and roles in TV films like Unfallen with Michael Marsden. More recently, he portrayed crazy Uncle Gary in the comedy Reveal and a deranged stalker on the CBS series I Met My Murderer Online.

Bruce’s previous production company, VanderHart Productions, produced several successful Los Angeles stage shows, including It Started with a Lie, Honey I’m Home, and Naked Deception. Deception ultimately became the feature film Homewrecker.

You can find more on Bruce & Fathers of the Bride here:

Website: fathersofthebride.com / Instagram: @fathers_of_the_bride_film_

@bruce384 / Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BruceLHart/

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series Bruce! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

Thank you so much for having me! I was born in Michigan, in a town called Midland. It was an amazing city with many opportunities to explore the arts, largely funded by the local company, Dow Chemical, where most of the residents worked. These opportunities included theatre, dance, and music. I didn’t realize until I moved away that most towns didn’t have such rich opportunities to explore the arts, but I’m grateful for the experiences we had.

One memory from 7th grade stands out: I was cast in my first comedic role in a very forgettable farce and had my first taste of making people laugh onstage. True story — my pants developed a rip in the crotch while I was performing, and one of my lines was, “He scares the pants off of me!” It brought down the house. I think it was then that I realized I had an interest in performing!

Growing up in a big family with five kids, we all dabbled in performing. And my parents were very supportive of everything we wanted to try as kids. My sister was cast in the lead role in a community theatre production of Guest in the House, playing the young girl. I remember being so impressed seeing her on stage and wondering how she remembered all of her lines! One of my brothers played the trumpet and guitar, and another brother, who also went into the film business as an editor and director, played the piano. I’m certain that having siblings involved in performing helped “set the stage”, so to speak, for my own interest in exploring the performing arts.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?

In high school, I began to dabble in playwriting. I wrote and produced a series of one-act plays with my best friend Steve Rock. These were essentially sitcom episodes featuring a couple named Doris and Roland. They were quite popular, and it was fun to write, produce, and even appear in these plays. And of course, hearing the audience laughter was the reward. I even won a small college scholarship to study theatre when I graduated from high school. After college, I hit the road and headed to California because I wanted to explore television and film acting.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

I was watching the pilot for the series Old Dogs and New Tricks and loved it! So, I wrote to the creator, Leon Acord, to tell him how much I enjoyed the writing and the ensemble. I was particularly thrilled that the stories centered around older gay men. He responded with a thank you and an invitation to lunch. To make a long story short, we hit it off; we had so much in common. Shortly after that, Leon reached out with an offer for me to appear on the series, playing a really snarky character named Nelson. As the series continued, they kept me on, and I had the chance to work with some amazing guest stars, including Olympic legend Greg Louganis and iconic film star Rutanya Alda. And it all began with a note I wrote.

As someone who works in front of (acting) and behind the camera (writing/producing) can you tell us some of the things you prefer about each as well as how each has their own challenges?

I love writing. There’s something so satisfying about the creative process — defining the characters, planning the story arcs, and then putting all the pieces together into the final script. As a producer, I’m in awe of the talented people who help bring a film together, and in the film business, there are so many! On Fathers of the Bride, we had a skilled craftsman who built sets that looked incredibly realistic — truly amazing! Behind the scenes, as a film comes together, there are numerous talented professionals: from the cinematographer and costumer to the makeup and hair artists and set decorators, and the list goes on. There’s something so satisfying about pulling everything together and working with all the experts — the synchronicity and teamwork.

Acting is equally, if not more, challenging. I find it easier as an actor when I’m working on someone else’s production. However, when I’m producing and acting in my own films, it can be daunting. I think the key when acting while producing is to try to let go of the other aspects of producing and just be in the moment. I can’t say I prefer writing or producing over acting; I enjoy them all too much to choose one over the other. And hopefully, I won’t ever have to!

It has been said that mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I made so many mistakes starting out — and I continue to do so. But I really try not to make any major blunders. I think one of my first mistakes occurred when I was appearing in a small role in a horror film early in my career. And no, I’m not sharing the title. Thank God it’s not on IMDb!

I was waiting to say my two lines, and it was taking a while for the lead actor to get his lines down. So the director called for a break in filming. During the break, I asked the director if we could do my scene since the actor they were filming clearly needed more time to memorize his lines. I won’t share what the director said to me, but I was lucky I didn’t get kicked off the production! Since then, I try to be very compassionate when I see novice actors do embarrassing things. We all have to learn somehow. I guess the lesson I learned was to understand your place in each production. Although I didn’t get fired, I came close, and I did realize that no one is irreplaceable.

Please tell us about “Fathers of the Bride” and any other interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

I always have a lot going on! During the pandemic, my brother (Paul A. Hart) and I wrote five screenplays! Fathers of the Bride: A Yuletide Wedding was the first to go in front of the cameras with my brother directing. We wrapped filming in early March and have just finished post-production and now we’re seeking distribution. I really think the story is unique.

It’s about two gay dads, Leo and Rich (played by Peter Szeliga and me), who have been together for 15 years and have raised a daughter, Michelle (played by Brooke Riley St. Johns). Michelle is getting married to her fiancé, Marc (played by Darren Deng), but they don’t want a formal wedding. As Michelle explains in a call to her dads, they just want to fly to Vegas to get married and pass on an elaborate wedding ceremony. However, Rich and later Leo decide they want Michelle to have the wedding they never had.

The film explores the idea of gay men who were in long-term relationships when the Marriage Equality law passed, enabling them to legally marry. We came up with the concept of two gay dads who got married when they had the chance to legalize their relationship but didn’t have a big commemorative ceremony. The film delves into the missed opportunities experienced by the fathers juxtaposed against Michelle and Marc’s decision to shun the tradition of a big wedding, despite always having the right to marry.

While positioned as a comedy, the film also addresses important family matters, including Leo’s sister (played by Raphaella Dreyer), who seems not to accept Rich as true family. This tension comes to a head in a rather dark moment while planning the wedding.

As the film unfolds, we explore the hard work that a ceremony actually entails and how planning it can overwhelm people who are already burdened with extreme career pressures. We included the backdrop of the annual Christmas party because it provides a great happy ending, as the family reconciles and celebrates the holiday together along with a double wedding.

As a rising star, you’ve likely faced challenges along the way. How do you stay motivated and overcome obstacles in your career?

I don’t consider myself a rising star, but I do enjoy being a working actor! Statistically, there are at least 1,000 actors vying for every available role in a production, which is quite daunting. With the film industry in a lull, it’s important to have other interests. For example, you can take classes to perfect your craft, work in theatre, or do what some colleagues are doing — creating impressive TikTok videos. Personally, I love to write. In addition to the screenplays my brother and I have written, we’re outlining other film ideas. And currently, I’m working with my friend Paul Vander Roest to develop an all-male version of the film The Women, set in a modern context hopefully for the Los Angeles area stage.

We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?

Growing up, I knew I wanted to see LGBTQ+ people represented in films and television. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much representation at the time. While it’s improving, progress is slow. However, I am seeing signs of progress and I’m encouraged by the increased diversity we’re now seeing not only in television and films but also in television commercials. In the past, commercials predominantly featured white people, especially when a “spokesperson” was involved. You almost always saw a white male as the “voice of authority” in those commercials. Now, that’s changing. And we’re seeing more women and people of color as spokespersons. And just yesterday I saw a commercial with two men kissing! Although progress is slow, representation is a vital part of validation.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?

Oh, there are more than five, but I don’t want to bore you, so I’ll try to be succinct.

1. Be on Time. My first big TV commercial audition, I was barely out of my teens. I got stuck in traffic, had trouble parking, and arrived late for my interview/audition. I kind of unloaded on the casting person, giving her my excuses. Fortunately, she was compassionate and told me this: “Outside, there are at least 100 of you waiting for this role. When you show up, you need to leave all the angst behind. You can never be late. If you have to arrive early and sit in your car, do it. This is a business of time. Be on time.” Then she let me audition, and mercifully I got the job!
2. Take Chances. I was appearing in an independent film, and the person in the scene decided to try some new things: acting angry, raising her voice, and making subtle changes to her dialogue delivery. I was rather set in my delivery, and I was forced to change my performance to match hers. In this case, the scene was improved. I learned that playing it safe isn’t always the road to a great scene. Risks sometimes yield rewards.
3. It’s Okay to Make a Mistake. On the set and even in live theatre, I’ve made a few blunders. In a film, they just stop filming, and you correct it whether it’s a line messed up or blocking. On stage, it’s more apparent, but we all do it. The first time I was on stage and forgot a line or missed one, I was so embarrassed. I think I let it color the rest of my performance that night. Since then, I’ve learned to be more forgiving of my mistakes. It doesn’t mean I’m going to give myself permission to be lazy and not learn my lines or my blocking. I’ll always be prepared, but I know there’s a possibility I’ll make a mistake (or two!).
4. Don’t Lose Your Curiosity. I love to watch other people’s films — both big budget and independent. One time, I was watching an indie film and decided I had to talk to the producer. So I went online, found his profile on Facebook, and sent him a message. Fortunately, he was very kind and friendly. My question was about the lighting in a certain scene in the film, and he ended up calling me and giving me very specific details about the scene and the lighting. Ultimately, I was able to incorporate this into the film I was working on, and it significantly enhanced the mood of the scene. Since then, we’ve remained close friends.
5. Just Because You Didn’t Enjoy It Doesn’t Mean It Didn’t Entertain Others. I have done some films and episodics that I loved doing and others not so much. Initially, if I didn’t like something I was in and someone approached me with praise, my reaction was to disparage the project. After a couple of instances like this, I realized I was killing the joy someone else had for the project. As my brother once said, “You’re here to entertain others, not yourself.” A good lesson learned. The best response is always, “Thank you so much for your support!”

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?

Stay healthy. Exercise. Drink water. Read — in my case, it’s trashy novels! And go see other people’s work. As my friend Bernard White once said, “There’s always something you can learn from seeing other people’s work.”

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

I’m increasingly disturbed by the number of unhoused people in this country. It’s unfathomable to me that we can’t solve this crisis. No one in the United States should be living without shelter. I donate money, but I’m not doing much more than that. I’d like to see a nationwide commitment to solving this problem. I do vote based on politicians’ views on this very serious issue. I’m continually alarmed to hear that most U.S. citizens are just one paycheck away from being unhoused. Unfortunately, no one has found a solution that will solve this issue, and the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing cities to jail the unhoused seems to be the default approach. There has to be a better solution.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I will always thank my family for their support and encouragement, but especially my brother, Paul A. Hart. Without his belief in my work and his collaboration on our many film projects, I doubt I would have accomplished much. In fact, when we did our first film collaboration, some of our peers weren’t very supportive and were even downright negative. But Paul reminded me that we weren’t doing what we were doing to entertain and impress our immediate friends — we were producing to entertain strangers: people we hadn’t even met who might enjoy our films.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

Don’t lose your curiosity. I’ve learned time and again that if I have questions or want to learn more about something, I need to ask questions. Yes, there’s the fear of being rejected or looking foolish, but the upside is that you might learn something amazing. I wish I could illustrate this with just one anecdote, but I can’t. I always make it my business to ask how something was accomplished or how something works, and conversely, if someone asks me about something I’m doing, I answer the question. I guess it’s called networking, but I think of it as staying curious.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)

Pete Buttigieg. To me, he is an amazingly articulate and incredibly smart man. I’d love to meet him and his husband Chasten. They continue to inspire me. Pete and Chasten are both in the public eye and in politics. and I imagine it must be incredibly hard to “represent” while trying to maintain a private life — something I’ve never had to balance in my own life. And I think they do a great job balancing it all. If we ever meet up for lunch or dinner the check in on me!

How can our readers follow you online?

Please feel free to follow me on Instagram @bruce384, or on Facebook as Bruce Hart. I actually have two pages there. One is just for fun posts and the other is for “show biz” updates. You can also find updated on my new film Fathers of the Bride on Facebook under that title and on Instagram @fathers_of_the_bride_film.

This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!

Thank you for the opportunity!

About The Interviewer: Eden Gold, is a youth speaker, keynote speaker, founder of the online program Life After High School, and host of the Real Life Adulting Podcast. Being America’s rising force for positive change, Eden is a catalyst for change in shaping the future of education. With a lifelong mission of impacting the lives of 1 billion young adults, Eden serves as a practical guide, aiding young adults in honing their self-confidence, challenging societal conventions, and crafting a strategic roadmap towards the fulfilling lives they envision.

Do you need a dynamic speaker, or want to learn more about Eden’s programs? Click here: https://bit.ly/EdenGold.