"A very good actor said to me once, 'The only thing that matters is what happens between action and cut, the rest is horse shit.' This has its obvious flaws but essentially it encompasses acting, essentially is true and I find it helps whenever you are creating anything."
SCOTT WILLS
Before heading to drama school, actor Scott Wills had only seen a couple of plays and he admits to knowing nothing at the time about theatre or film.
It was on stage in Palmerston North that Scott got his acting start – while completing a Bachelor of Arts in English and Media Studies at Massey University, Scott acted and directed with the Massey University Drama Society. Following graduation in 1992, he attended the Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School and then returned to Palmerston North to work for a year at Centrepoint Theatre. In 1997, Scott was awarded the Chapman Tripp Best Newcomer award for his role in Mojo.
Scott's role in the film Stickmen, for which he won the Best Actor in a Feature Film award at the 2001 New Zealand Film Awards, brought him to the public's attention. He won a second Best Actor award in a Feature Film in 2009 for his role in the film Apron Strings (which was invited to the Toronto Film Festival).
Scott has also appeared in the films Boogeyman, Perfect Creature and Safehouse. His short film resume which lists some 20+ titles includes Permanent Wave, The Hole (which he appeared in and co-produced), and Ouch. Scott’s television experience includes roles in Shortland Street, Doves of War, The Cult, Underbelly –Land of the Long Green Cloud, Legend of the Seeker, Interrogation, Mataku, Mercy Peak and Love Bites.
Scott continues to work in theatre and has acted on stage throughout New Zealand. He returned to Centrepoint – and Palmerston North – in 2011 to perform in Le Sud.
"I worked professionally at Centrepoint Theatre in Palmy my first year out of Drama school and then 17 years later. First time was with the marvelous Alison Quigan, second time was with the equally marvelous Kate Louise Elliot. I couldn’t have gotten a better education first year out and coming back all those years later was just as rewarding creatively. Being away from the trappings, elitism and prejudices of Auckland or Wellington you are freer to perform - free to perform what you are not normally given and with freedom comes good work."
