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 City Confidential By Deanna Larson Paul Bellos Whose line is it anyway? Paul Bellos grew up in Pasadena, Calif., the oldest son of a first-generation Greek father and Puerto-Rican/Cuban mother. He graduated from Occidental College in Los Angeles with a degree in Sociology and Religious Studies. "I love mafia movies, babies and calling my wife at work posing as fictional characters," Bellos said. "I loathe okra, gangsta rap and sarcasm. I acquired the habit of arguing with the television set from my grandma and love a clean house." Bellos is the founder of Ideaprov, an improv theater company that trains businesses in creativity techniques and offers ongoing classes in improvisational acting (ideaprov.com). Ideaprov performs with Ed Reggi, formerly of The Second City, on April 24 at W 274 in Franklin, 274 Franklin Road. Inside Info What have you learned about life while doing improv? That failure is good. Do you suffer from stage fright? Only if I haven't warmed up enough physically. I breathe deeply and trust my acting partners. What is your favorite film? Book? Performance? Waiting for Guffman by Christopher Guest, a mockumentary on community theater. The book would be Free Play by Steven Nachmanovitch, an intense and mystical discussion on the nature of creativity, spontaneity and originality. The performance would have to be Stomp, an ensemble of percussive street dancers. What's the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you? My wife presented me with an English bulldog for my birthday seven years ago. Her name is Tara (the bulldog, not my wife). What are your influences? As far as people I know, my fellow actors here in Nashville because we are driven by the same dreams. What was your greatest opportunity? My greatest opportunity and my greatest risk was leaving a high-paying corporate career to start an improv theater company. What is the biggest rush you've ever experienced? Scuba diving in Hawaii and having a school of yellow tang part as they swam around me. I was in the fish tank. What three things do you want to do before you die? Travel across the United States and Canada in a Winnebago and visit every major league baseball park. Train 1,000 professional improvisers. Stand on the beach of Phuket Island at sunset. What would you eat for your last meal on earth? A traditional Greek meal like Ya-Ya (grandma) used to make: stuffed grape leaves, spinach pie, lentil soup and rack of lamb. Pass on the ouzo. What is your favorite memory? Going to Santa Monica Beach with my family as a young child. My Dad would say "Do Superman" and I would raise my arms over my head. Invariably, my swim trunks would drop to the sand. Does that make me an exhibitionist? |
phone: 626.200.6993 - email: contact@paulbellos.com |
