It all started with a bang for me… mostly because the doctor had no idea how fast I wanted into the world - butterfingers. I was born in Victoria General Hospital, Victoria, British Columbia and hit the ground running …. eventually. At any rate, it was obvious that the Payne household was to welcome an athlete in the making. I climbed, crawled, kicked, pushed, pulled and threw everything (including a few tantrums)! The mayhem didn’t stop there as my brother Josh and sister Cathy who were of equal athletic prowess. Et voila, the Payne family unit!
As a family one of our favorite hobbies was to move. Not only were all three kids born in different places, but that trend carried on until individual freedom had been achieved. The number of times we moved is a double digit - enough that I can’t recall exactly which double digit. I wish it were something cool like witness relocation or army brat, but the truth is my Dad is a workaholic and each time his new boss discovered that he was, he got a promotion. Each promotion he got pretty much meant a new town. It made for some serious family bonding and inspired wild creativity when it came to fun. And, of course, it also created a level of competition and healthy sibling rivalry almost beyond comprehension. Although my sister was obviously the prodigy, my brother and I held our own! School years would have been far more difficult if we weren’t so wrapped up in one upping each other … that and teaming up when the situation called for it! With our parents keeping a very watchful eye on our academics and us keeping a watchful eye on our athletics, the school years plotted around the Canadian countryside were not too shabby.
As all mothers do, my Mom Dinny believed that the source of the sun was somewhere in the vicinity of my very low back. God bless her. I did my best to meet her expectations by getting Honor Roll grades throughout my scholastic career (not including University…we’ll get to that!) and securing prominent positions on every sports team offered. This all added up to the prestigious title – Jock Nerd! What can I say – kids are cruel.
You would think that the time consuming pursuit of maintaining this great title would eliminate me from mischief. Okay so it did… for the most part, however, in my defense, I did get sent to the principal’s office my fair share…. both times sucked. Actually it was far more than that and very often for trying to earn the other more prestigious title - class clown. An actor is born! Did I mention kids are cruel.
Somewhere in the middle of all this came a fascination with girls. It was a hectic time. I grew like a weed and unfortunately shared the same physique as that damn weed. My voice got lower, I got 18 facial hairs, and a couple of things dropped – except my grades. All this happened in a blessed small town atmosphere. Although small town living wasn’t my favorite at the time, I grew accustom to it … like fungus does to a rock. Looking back, however, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
This crazy circus ride of growing up did create a long lasting impression (and 72 stitches… we’ll get to that!). It also ingrained a resourcefulness and self-reliability that remains true to this day. My wife made me type that.
On a more serious note, my crossing the threshold into manhood did have some adversity. At 17 years old in the middle of a high school basketball tournament, my right lung decided to fully collapse. I had suffered a spontaneous pneumo-thorax that required a full thorocotomy. That is how I got my 72 stitches. The scar it left behind is a permanent reminder of my first real life lesson. When you fear losing everything you quickly realize what matters. The perspective I gained is invaluable.
This newfound sense of self helped me transition to life at university in Calgary. I made the university volleyball squad with an athletic scholarship. I received my high school academic scholarship. I drank it all before the end of the first semester. Ahhh, life on my own! I lived in residence on campus - the ultimate recipe for procrastination. Residence meant an instant group of friends all having the same experience. It was like a very fast boat with no one at the helm. It was far too easy to find someone to do something with, that was other than what you were supposed to be doing. Bye-bye studying and honor roll. Hello cramming and the letter B! Volleyball gave me confidence and residence gave me life long friends. It was the first time I called it - the time of my life.
Life had other plans for me before I was to take my next step in life. While I was working in the Yukon doing geological exploration for a company out of Whitehorse with my amazing friend Steve Ironside, I was in an explosion. A faulty incinerator that was a ticking time bomb decided it was time for my second real life lesson. The explosion enveloped me in flames briefly as it pushed me back from the incinerator. I ran just short of a mile back to base camp and into the manager’s tent. Immediately a small plane that could land on our make shift runway was routed to us and I was sent to the make shift showers fed by an Arctic stream to ease the burns. The fire got both legs, both arms and a flash burn to half my face. After 3 hours had passed I was finally arriving at the hospital in Whitehorse in the full fetal position physically, but maintained a clear head. After enough morphine to drop a horse my body relaxed and the doctors began to work. I took that time to ask the doctor if he had everything under control and then instantly went into a 4 day ‘coma’. I awoke to see my Mom and Dad through the observation glass of my intensive care room. Tears began to pour. It was the scariest experience in my life to date. I suffered second-degree burns to 40% of my body. For two weeks I pondered the meaning of my life and tried to rationalize what had happened. I took solace in listening to music, which has been a constant companion throughout my life as I searched my soul for answers. Finally, I arrived at the conclusion that my life is simply a culmination of all the choices I have made and I had another distinct choice to make – stand and fight or fold my tents. The only limits I would have in life are the ones I set for myself. Life lesson number two reminded me of the first lesson and taught me who I am and what I am made of … It also made me realize that I would have to accept that my ass would have to hang out of those silly hospital gowns until the bandages came off my hands!! If those lessons hadn’t kept my pride in check the drafty gown would have!
I returned to University three months after the accident. I was determined to play volleyball again despite the doctors originally telling me that I wouldn’t be able to due to complications from the burns. I healed far beyond their expectations and even found my way into a medical book as a case study. I say visualization and a whole lot of love from friends and family did the trick… No idea what they said as I never read the article! And for the record I hope what they say about scars building character is true. I returned to the volleyball team inspired to actualize my full potential. I had to wear special garments while I trained and played which were basically super thick leotards (from butt less gowns to leotards! - rough). I played in our first annual pre-season tournament and won an All-star award. I was back!
Now I would have graduated from university if volleyball hadn’t continued to call me away. It seems as though I blinked and found myself playing professionally in Holland. It was a phenomenal eye opening experience. I was having the time of my life…again! But after one year I felt the need to move again, as was ingrained in me through my childhood. Before I left for the greener forests and far warmer beaches of Australia I read what has become my favorite book of all time – The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
In Australia I met up with my brother who had already been making his entrepreneurial mark by establishing photographic concessions on most of the Whitsunday resort islands. I joined the team at second in charge. Nepotism has its privileges. My brother trained me in the ways of a photo guru and I became a professional photographer and printer. The two of us intended to grow the company very specifically to the point where we could step away and pursue our cinematic dreams. The Payne brothers were on a mission. In the meantime, we created entertainment shows for the islands, a stand up routine and generally worked every creative muscle we had! The business grew rapidly with my brilliantly business minded brother at the helm. It was time consuming as well as a rewarding journey. After nearly four years, my brother and I decided one of us should pursue the cinematic dream via a different route. Since I had the business mind of a squirrel the choice was obvious. Again I found myself packing to move to a new venue – London, England.
London is a very big and very busy place, not to mention extremely expensive! I immediately began to work in a pub as an assistant manager which is where I masterminded my return to Canada. The plan involved getting an agent in the UK and landing some gigs that would give me credibility in Canada. Easier said than done. I hit the pavement every day looking for a reputable agent and any semblance of blue sky. Neither seemed to exist. However, I learned that hard work and a little networking… and a small helping of ‘right place, right time’ could equal the break you need. I read an article for an agent that specialized in athletes while I was at a gym. The gentleman on the treadmill next to me was holding the paper. I asked if I could borrow it and we got to talking only to discover that he had recently signed with them. A meeting at the agency quickly followed and I was away only one and a half short years after stepping off the plane. Well the auditions trail lead to a commercial or two and then to a larger scale agent and I realized the plan was working. I was taking classes, reading books, and doing improv in order to stay the course. I landed roles as the ‘big American guy’ in some independent features until the day arrived for me to return home.
O’ Canada! I returned to Calgary, which was the city I knew best. I used my brief time there to determine whether my career as an actor would take me east or west. It was an easy decision in the end, as I have loved Vancouver since childhood and I am allergic to winter - and yes we lived there at some point in my youth! I felt instantly grounded upon arriving at the home of the Vancouver Canucks – the greatest hockey team in the league!
After living numerous places around the world, I knew deep in my heart that this is home.
The first step was to get an agent and I hit the jackpot signing with Richard Lucas at Lucas Talent Inc. I have had the honor of studying with some amazing teachers such as Christianne Hirt and Gina Chiarelli and continue to do so with pleasure. I have teamed up with some amazing friends who are fellow actors and we have vowed to make our own productions. So far the journey in Vancouver has allowed me to focus on my career, grow as a human being and not have to suffer horrible winters. I have however grown gills and my feet are now webbed, but I am home. And the career accomplishments continue to grow with the amazing team around me. |
