FILM ACTOR NICK VLASSOPOULOS SHARES HOW HIS FAITH WAS 'UNDER FIRE'
Nick Vlassopoulos in his role as firefighter Tom Hatcher for the motion picture "Faith Under Fire." Inset: from left, Philip Vlassopoulos, Angela Boes and Nick Vlassopoulos.
This article dedicated to Philip Vlassopoulos (February 4, 1939 - March 12, 2018), beloved father of Nick, and
to Shawn Lynn Holland (Aug. 16, 1963 - Jan. 21, 2013), sister of "Faith Under Fire" producer, Melissa Kerley.
to Shawn Lynn Holland (Aug. 16, 1963 - Jan. 21, 2013), sister of "Faith Under Fire" producer, Melissa Kerley.
▶ INTERVIEW BY KRISTEN COLLIER
Creative Motion first met Faith Under Fire lead actor, Nick Vlassopoulos in April, 2018, at an Ann Arbor church shoot with Dean Cain, for this, the first movie both Cain and Kevin Sorbo appear in together since “God’s Not Dead.” But Vlassopoulos (Spider-Man 3, Crossing Jordan, My Big Fat Greek Life) who plays the newly widowed fireman, Tom Hatcher, had more to focus on than just his lines. Or acting as a hurting father of a young girl, played by Tenley (Christmas Coupon, The Holden Family Plan), in this film based on Gary Wayne Allison’s novel There Is A Season.
Vlassopoulos, a Detroit native, had only just recently lost his own beloved father at the time of this shoot so serious in tone. CM wondered how the lead actor’s perspective had changed in the almost year-and-a-half since playing the grieving fireman. Since Vlassopoulos has experienced more than most what it truly means to have your faith tested in the fire.
CM recently caught up with this extremely busy and hard-working actor to find out if his perspective had changed, how life looked for him right now, and what it was really like to have your faith under fire.
CM: How did Faith Under Fire provide a different environment away from challenges that were going on in your life? Was it therapeutic, or make it harder, since you'd just lost your father??
NV: Faith Under Fire, as well as my own personal experience, showed me that when there is tragedy in someone’s life, God will place the correct people in your life (friends, family, strangers, people from the ministry), to help you cope and show overwhelming love and support in your time of sorrow.
CM: You just returned from Greece, where your family is from. How did that trip impact you?
NV: I have visited Greece many times since my roots are there. It was nice to get away and relax for the first time in three years, and to see family.
CM: How do you look back upon this past year-and-a-half since you shot the movie, with everything that's gone on in your life? What sort of lessons has God taught you in this?
NV: This past year-and-a-half has had a lot of ups and downs. From losing my father - which was very devastating to me - to landing this role in Faith Under Fire, which was a role I dreamed about for years. Perhaps it was God’s way of comforting me during this difficult period? I like to think it was. I think God taught me that there will be grief, but healing will come, and better days again.
CM: What doors has God opened recently, or what are you currently working on?
NV: Currently, I’m focusing on my restaurant, the Apollo Coney Island, in Sterling Heights, and my side business of rebuilding homes in Detroit. I’m just about finished with my latest project and hope to have it on the market in September. From the acting side, I’m waiting for “Faith Under Fire” to release and then hoping to use that as a calling card for future projects.
CM: What was it like working with Dean Cain and Kevin Sorbo? Did you learn anything from them?
NV: I’ve worked with Dean Cain twice now. He’s a true professional. Great guy. Always positive. Gave me great notes and encouraging feedback. Which, from an actor’s perspective, is always great to hear from someone of his stature. Really down to earth. I would have to say the same about Kevin. We talked about Greece a bit and his visit there. Hercules was big in Greece and he spoke highly of the Greek people and how great they welcomed him when he went for a visit. The entire time I worked with Dean and Kevin, I felt like we were friends for a long time. Hard to say that about people you work with for years, let alone two famous Hollywood actors. I’m hoping to work with them both again in the future.
Faith Under Fire is the debut release from Generation Courage, a movie production company owned by Melissa Kerley, that donates all proceeds to charity. The Melanoma Research Foundation is the beneficiary of this freshman GC project directed and produced by prolific filmmaker Joel Paul Reisig, who has over 30 films under his belt.
The film is co-produced by Dean Cain and Kevin Sorbo. Associate producer, Sheeba Jacob, from Texas, will be flying in for the red carpet premiere in Novi, MI, September 14, which will be covered for CM via a live stream courtesy of Tricia Harmon (Live With Tricia). Greg Morrison (SuperHouse Pictures) is a producer, Crystal Creek Media’s Daniel Knudsen (Christmas Coupon, The King’s Messengers) is director of photography, with music by Todd Maki.
Creative Motion first met Faith Under Fire lead actor, Nick Vlassopoulos in April, 2018, at an Ann Arbor church shoot with Dean Cain, for this, the first movie both Cain and Kevin Sorbo appear in together since “God’s Not Dead.” But Vlassopoulos (Spider-Man 3, Crossing Jordan, My Big Fat Greek Life) who plays the newly widowed fireman, Tom Hatcher, had more to focus on than just his lines. Or acting as a hurting father of a young girl, played by Tenley (Christmas Coupon, The Holden Family Plan), in this film based on Gary Wayne Allison’s novel There Is A Season.
Vlassopoulos, a Detroit native, had only just recently lost his own beloved father at the time of this shoot so serious in tone. CM wondered how the lead actor’s perspective had changed in the almost year-and-a-half since playing the grieving fireman. Since Vlassopoulos has experienced more than most what it truly means to have your faith tested in the fire.
CM recently caught up with this extremely busy and hard-working actor to find out if his perspective had changed, how life looked for him right now, and what it was really like to have your faith under fire.
CM: How did Faith Under Fire provide a different environment away from challenges that were going on in your life? Was it therapeutic, or make it harder, since you'd just lost your father??
NV: Faith Under Fire, as well as my own personal experience, showed me that when there is tragedy in someone’s life, God will place the correct people in your life (friends, family, strangers, people from the ministry), to help you cope and show overwhelming love and support in your time of sorrow.
CM: You just returned from Greece, where your family is from. How did that trip impact you?
NV: I have visited Greece many times since my roots are there. It was nice to get away and relax for the first time in three years, and to see family.
CM: How do you look back upon this past year-and-a-half since you shot the movie, with everything that's gone on in your life? What sort of lessons has God taught you in this?
NV: This past year-and-a-half has had a lot of ups and downs. From losing my father - which was very devastating to me - to landing this role in Faith Under Fire, which was a role I dreamed about for years. Perhaps it was God’s way of comforting me during this difficult period? I like to think it was. I think God taught me that there will be grief, but healing will come, and better days again.
CM: What doors has God opened recently, or what are you currently working on?
NV: Currently, I’m focusing on my restaurant, the Apollo Coney Island, in Sterling Heights, and my side business of rebuilding homes in Detroit. I’m just about finished with my latest project and hope to have it on the market in September. From the acting side, I’m waiting for “Faith Under Fire” to release and then hoping to use that as a calling card for future projects.
CM: What was it like working with Dean Cain and Kevin Sorbo? Did you learn anything from them?
NV: I’ve worked with Dean Cain twice now. He’s a true professional. Great guy. Always positive. Gave me great notes and encouraging feedback. Which, from an actor’s perspective, is always great to hear from someone of his stature. Really down to earth. I would have to say the same about Kevin. We talked about Greece a bit and his visit there. Hercules was big in Greece and he spoke highly of the Greek people and how great they welcomed him when he went for a visit. The entire time I worked with Dean and Kevin, I felt like we were friends for a long time. Hard to say that about people you work with for years, let alone two famous Hollywood actors. I’m hoping to work with them both again in the future.
Faith Under Fire is the debut release from Generation Courage, a movie production company owned by Melissa Kerley, that donates all proceeds to charity. The Melanoma Research Foundation is the beneficiary of this freshman GC project directed and produced by prolific filmmaker Joel Paul Reisig, who has over 30 films under his belt.
The film is co-produced by Dean Cain and Kevin Sorbo. Associate producer, Sheeba Jacob, from Texas, will be flying in for the red carpet premiere in Novi, MI, September 14, which will be covered for CM via a live stream courtesy of Tricia Harmon (Live With Tricia). Greg Morrison (SuperHouse Pictures) is a producer, Crystal Creek Media’s Daniel Knudsen (Christmas Coupon, The King’s Messengers) is director of photography, with music by Todd Maki.
