Credit: Noah Asanias
Dean Petriw can currently be seen starring in Home Before Dark, a new murder mystery from Apple TV+. Dean stars as Young Matt on the dark drama series that tells the true story of young journalist Hilde Lysiak.
We spoke with Dean about how the experience working on Home Before Dark has been for him, his career as a voice actor, and what else he may be working on in the future.
Read on for our exclusive interview with Dean Petriw below:
What would you say initially motivated you to pursue acting as a career?
I knew that acting could be a potential career avenue since I was only about six years old. Some of my friends I audition with had booked big roles, so it seemed more realistic I could get there too. Yet, I did not really consider it until I had this surge of being in some really good shows (Home Before Dark, StarBeam, etc.) I do see acting as a path I could continue, after college or university or some post-secondary education.
Being so accomplished at such a young age, was there anyone who influenced or inspired you?
My uncle, Adrian Petriw, is quite the successful actor and he started when he was young too. Since he kind of knew the ropes of being a young actor, I had some insight that others don’t really have. If we are talking about celebrities, I say Robert Downey Jr. and not because he plays Iron Man, or Dolittle, but he has some really good comedic timing. Like, really good, state of the art timing. That is one of his strengths that is so critical in the acting world. A great actor needs good timing.
Can you talk a little about your character in Apple TV+’s new series Home Before Dark and what attracted you to the role?
Home Before Dark looked like an amazing opportunity! Everything from the scripts to the fellow actors was phenomenal! I got the role of Young Matt, a flashback of Matt’s past for when he comes back to Erie Harbour, his hometown. My character is not exactly like the current time Matt Lisko, I’m a childish version. you can see that difference come through, but with any person, they change over time. That is what I wanted to emphasize with this role. That I’m not just a smaller version of Matt. That I’m the young version of Matt.
Home Before Dark is described as a dark crime series. What would you say viewers can expect from the upcoming episodes?
It may be a dark crime series, but it’s not all just that. There are on going love stories, heartwarming family moments, and even just stories of friendships. This is not only just a crime series. It’s more than that.
How has the experience been for you working with the cast and crew?
Incredible! Being able to see all the different perspectives of acting in this one show was a blast! There was a sense of chemistry that I had not really experienced in acting before. That chemistry made for some really good moments on and off screen that you can’t just dismiss. I’m not saying just the actors, but everyone! I’m talking hairdressers, makeup artists, interns, camera men/women, the ADs, producers, everyone there! It was fun!
In addition to on-screen acting, you’ve appeared in many projects as a voice actor. Are there aspects of the voice acting experience that you prefer over others?
Well, with voice acting you don’t have to get into wardrobe, which is a plus for me. My casual clothes are a soccer jersey and sweatpants and you probably have noticed that my film characters have never worn any of those things in a show. So it’s cool to know that when you are listening to one of the characters I voice, that I am a middle schooler, with bed head, with an old Whitecaps jersey on. I also enjoy the fact that I could record about an hour’s worth of the show in just one day, while sometimes doing a live action film you only get one scene done. So that feeling of productiveness is also different.
Home Before Dark can be seen on the AppleTV+ service. What are some of your favorite things to stream on a night in?
I would recommend “Mythic Quest, Raven’s Banquet”. I have watched the entire series, and it is pretty funny! I have also been watching a little bit of “Amazing Stories” and I’m impressed with the quality of the show!
Finally, what else are you working on? What can your fans look forward to from you next?
I can’t say much. I think the news of Home Before Dark season two has gone public, but who knows what will happen with my role. For other projects, well, I’m keeping quiet.
Thank you so much to Dean Petriw for taking the time to answer some questions for us!
Be sure to check out Home Before Dark currently streaming on Apple TV+.
Keep up to date with Dean Petriw by following him on Twitter and Instagram.
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