On Set at Below World's End

Have a look behind the scenes at the first movie I've ever been in.

I am NOT an actor. Period, full stop. I’ve never acted before in my life. But a few months ago, my friend Tyrel Ventura, the son of former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, asked me if I would be in HIS movie. Governor Ventura was a major action actor in the 1980s, and Ty has been a behind-the-camera guy for years. He told me that he was going to make a movie at the southern tip of the Baja peninsula in Mexico and that he wanted me to be in it. I protested, of course, but Ty said that he had written the part specifically for me, that I had acted every day that I was I the CIA, and that it would be easy for me. So I agreed.

I flew to Los Cabos, Mexico two weeks ago and was picked up in an SUV that took me 35 miles on dirt roads worse than anything I had been on in Afghanistan, Pakistan, or Yemen. We finally arrived at Villa del Faro, a completely off-the-grid and self-sustained “eco resort.” Villa del Faro is owned by a lovely group of former hippies, now well into their 70s, who will soon rent the facility to a corporation. In the interim, it belongs to us for the duration of the filming.

The story of Below Worlds End is one of the world’s richest man, an Erik Prince type, who lives at a fabulous beachfront mansion. He’s estranged from his only child, a daughter, and unbeknownst to anybody but himself, he’s dying of cancer. He reaches out to the US’s most popular progressive podcaster and the most popular conservative podcaster, invites them to Villa del Faro, and pits them against each other to tell his story. He’s not an easy man to get along with. And it’s unclear what his goal actually is with the podcasters.

As I said, I’m not an actor. But everybody else in the production is. The billionaire is played by Jeff Fahey, who starred in Lost, Lawnmower Man, Silverado, and other big productions. The podcasters are played by Waverly McCollum (the Minneapolis stage) and David Backhaus (Priest, Gigli, ER,) and the billionaire’s wife is played by Iva Hasperger (Cold Case, CSI, General Hospital.)

The two cameramen and the sound engineer have all been nominated for Emmy Awards for their respective work on Netflix’s Murder Mountain and National Geographic Channel’s Life Below Zero. Professionals all.

We finish filming the movie on Friday. The time has flown by and I’ve learned a lot. I’ve also been told that I’m a pretty fair actor! But I had to actively practice my “resting bitch face.” It’s not my nature to frown. All the time. In the end, we’re hoping that the film is picked up by Netflix or Amazon Prime by spring. So keep your eyes open for it! In the meantime, enjoy some behind-the scenes shots.

Best regards,

John