There’s an S-raj Kumar in every class. You know, the class clown who won’t stop talking and drives his teachers nuts. Well, the local actor just got the last laugh.
There’s an S-raj Kumar in every class. You know, the class clown who won’t stop talking and drives his teachers nuts.
Well, the local actor just got the last laugh. On Easter weekend Kumar received a best supporting actor award in a comedy at the Los Angeles International Web Series Festival.
He is one of the leads in The Gym, a mockumentary similarly styled to The Office that turns the clubby gym culture on its head. The brainchild of writer/producer Brady Roberts, the web series is centred around four exaggerated versions of personal trainers.
The five-foot nine-inch Kumar plays Gus, the muscled trainer with solid credentials who unfortunately lacks the discipline to stay away from the fridge. Clocking in at 187 pounds, Gus is the fat trainer who’s always scarfing down cake, muffins, fried chicken and high-calorie protein bars.
Receiving the award was the highlight of Kumar’s career. Unfortunately, the cast didn’t have high hopes of winning and stayed home.
The night of the awards (The Gym also won for best comedic writing), Kumar received a text from Roberts reporting the series’ success. The following morning when the bleary-eyed Kumar read the text he was stunned.
“It was weird. I didn’t know how to react. I sat up in bed and kept going around the house saying ‘holy shit, holy shit.’ This award was a validation for me. After doing this (acting) for so long and not getting anywhere, I was doubting myself. Even though I don’t have it all, I know I’m not wasting my time.”
Born of East Indian descent in the Fiji Islands, Kumar’s family moved to St. Albert when he was small. Picking up the acting bug early in life, he joined St. Albert Children’s Theatre, but credits musical theatre instructors at Bellerose High for encouraging him to pursue his dreams.
Kumar extended his studies in a three-year film and theatre program at the Los Angeles campus of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. But, lacking a green card, he reluctantly returned to Canada after graduation.
Refusing to quit his passion, Kumar kept honing his skills, mainly in small forgettable indie films and improv groups. A break came when he received a role in Battleground, a planned television series modeled on the movie Fight Club.
“It revolved around two groups of fighters who were scheduled into bouts of street fights. My character’s name was Draken and he basically ran the whole show.”
Although a pilot and a couple episodes were shot, Battleground was never picked up.
Through connections he made, Kumar was one of 240 actors selected out of 44,000 who auditioned to take part in Wipeout Canada, a now defunct reality television series where contestants compete in obstacle-based challenges. The chosen group was sent to Buenos Aires, Argentina and he made it to the qualifying rounds.
“It was really difficult. They Vaselined everything. You fell even when you were not supposed to, but it was so much fun,” he said.
Although Wipeout was a bust, he made more connections and was approached to play the role of Gus Lombardie.
Initially, The Gym’s 10 episodes, each 15 to 20 minutes in length, were shot by Chase Media strictly as a web series posted on YouTube.
After the first season, Aggression TV in the United States picked it up. Aggression TV, now positioning to rebrand itself, promotes male-dominated content similar to Fight Television Canada.
“When it showed up on TV, people were really liking it. I’m not sure if they will pick it up for the next season, but with some awards and all the cast on board, I don’t think there are any hitches,” he said.
So does an award boost career prospects?
It turns out L.A. producers have added his name on Facebook, writers have e-mailed their congratulations and are sending scripts.
“The ball is rolling and I’m making sure it won’t stop,” Kumar said.
Kumar has also been contacted by two agencies and plans to sign on with Play Management, a Vancouver talent agency.
He’s also been tapped to read for the next X-Men movie scheduled to be filmed in Vancouver in 2014. By the end of the year, he hopes to be living on the West Coast.
In taking a breath to reflect on things, Kumar said, “L.A. is the hub of film and TV and to be recognized from the big hub where everyone around the world acknowledges it is incredible. It was so validating.”
The series can be viewed at www.youtube.com/thegymwebseries.
