As part of our efforts to give you a glimpse into our story and characters before they finally make it into the final film, we’re conducting interviews with our cast and crew to get their insight into roles in this film and their careers in general. This week, meet the Pete Finn. The man who instigated and led on the whole assault on Cherry that fateful night. Cherry definitely takes note as she tells Brandon that Pete gets it “last… and worst…” Pete is played by master comedian and improv artist Dave Buckman. We wanted to find out how such a nice guy becomes this huge sleazebag and how his comedy/improv skills apply to dramatic material. Here’s what we asked and what he had to say:
1. How would you describe your character Pete Finn?
He’s a creep. He’s a loser. He’s lost his moral compass. But, on the positive side, he can build a mean meth lab with his bare hands.
Dave Buckman as Pete Finn with Director Kyle Day
2. Are there any famous movie or TV characters you are drawing on for inspiration?
Pete has been following the wrong people for so long he has no idea what is right or wrong. So, in that case, I would say Ben Linus on Lost was good touchstone for finding how to justify hurting innocent people and on how to take a good beating.
Also, Sgt. Meserve (Sean Penn) in Casualties of War was a good example of how someone can act out the evil that Pete does and feel justified.
3. Dave Ward described you as a Master Improv Artist. How do you, if at all, use this talent differently in drama versus comedy?
I think the general principles are the same. Staying in the moment in any particular take… Listening to your scene partner closely, paying attention to any different inflections in their line reading and responding with the appropriate emotion. As far as drama goes, I am learning how to turn off the cynical side of me that listens for the joke or the game of a moment. My natural instinct is to find humor in dark moments, but I don’t think humor is appropriate for any of my scenes in this film.
4. What’s your dream acting role?
I would love to do anything that will allow me to do make enough money to take care of me and my family for a while. As far as content goes, I love comedy. It’s where I am most comfortable.
I’d love to be in a Dazed and Confused type sprawling character study.
I’d love to do an improvised comedy film for Christopher Guest.
I also think I could get an Oscar for the Ron Jeremy biopic.
5. What the most annoying thing a director can do when directing an actor?
To not know what he/she wants when they show up to work. Not manage their time well. If a director hasn’t organized his day and he ends up wasting my time…it can get to me and my performance.
6. How did you get into acting?
I’ve always loved the attention of being on stage. I’ve been in plays since high school. And when I got to college, I found improv comedy which I’ve done in Chicago, Amsterdam, Washington DC and Cleveland and now in Austin for the past 17 years. It’s been my passion for so long. I’ve also directed a ton of sketch shows and plays, so I’ve been very involved in live production and only recently branched out to films.
7. What are some of your favorite movies?
Stripes is my #1. I know it by heart.
I love Silence of the Lambs, Scarface, Goodfellas, Sullivan’s Travels; I love anything by Scorsese, the Coen Brothers, Christopher Guest and anything by The Marx Brothers.
8. Do you prefer playing heroes or villains?
Oh, Villains definitely. I love being the comedy asshole. That’s such an important aspect to a good comedy. And villains in dramas are so much more complicated and deeper than the hero.
Make a Wish By Dave ward; Starring Dave Buckman (Sadly, embed is not working 
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9. In “Make a Wish“, why did All Star Billy Meyers screw over that kid? Wasn’t that kind of a dick move?
Of course it was. Billy is a dick. He had to screw over that kid. Why would he come to his senses minutes before pitching in the World Series. Being an extravagant self-centered jerk has gotten him this far, why would a sick kid change his mind today? It wouldn’t. He’d rather lie to anyone than change one fiber of his being.
10. What are some of your favorite projects you’ve done in the past or some upcoming projects you are excited about? (Provide links so we can help pimp out your previous work 
I’m directing a sketch show at ColdTowne Theater called Shanty Town Lake that plays Fridays at 8pm. We developed it through improv over the past couple of months, Second City style:
Also, starting April 3, my improv group, The Frank Mills, starts a weekly show at ColdTowne. Every Saturday night at 11pm, we are on a bill with a really great troupe, Midnight Society. We’ve won several awards for our shows, and I’m excited to change the notion of what some people who think they know what improv is. Lots of people think improv comedy is “Whose Line is it Anyway?” The Frank Mills are the exact opposite of that style of comedy.
