Patrick Riviere
He played in Derek Simon’s Dollar Baby A Very Tight Place as Curtis Johnson.
SKSM: Could you start with telling me a little bit about yourself? Who are you and what do you do?
Patrick Riviere: I’ve been in the theatrical sandbox since I was 10 years old and have worn a variety of hats in the industry my entire life. I always say that highlights of my performing career have been singing with Patti LuPone and making Robert DeNiro laugh between takes on the film Being Flynn. But in truth there have been a lot of highlights including starring in the film A Very Tight Place. I have also done a lot of arts administration and was the first Industry/Professional Liaison at NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama. I’ve had my own theater companies and am also a playwright.
SKSM: When did you know you wanted to become an actor?
Patrick Riviere: Since I was 9 years old and had the chance to be the villain in a school play about teeth, I played Sir Desmond Decay and I was bit by the bug and never looked back.
SKSM: How did you become involved in A Very Tight Place Dollar Baby film?
Patrick Riviere: I saw a casting notice and submitted myself. Got a call from the director, Derek Simon and had a great audition and he cast me as Curtis.
SKSM: What do you think it is about the story that attracts people so much?
Patrick Riviere: It’s classic Stephen King. It’s twisted and of course anything that deals with a storyline where someone is trapped in a porto potty is gonna bring some interest.
SKSM: Did you have to audition for the part or was it written directly for you?
Patrick Riviere: I auditioned.
SKSM: You worked with Derek Simon on this film, how was that?
Patrick Riviere: This was Derek’s thesis film from NYU and so it meant a lot to him. He put together an incredible team and was very hands on. He knew how he wanted it to look and what it needed to be. I was lucky to work with him. He is also a writer so he had the story at the core of his direction.
SKSM: Was there any funny or special moment when they made the movie that you would like to tell me about?
Patrick Riviere: There were two. One was working with a trained dog that had to “play dead” as he was supposed to be electrocuted by an electric fence. Each time we would do the scene I’d run and kneel down and start to cry and the dog would lick my face. Now of course he’s supposed to be dead so that took some time to get him to lie still and not react to my tears. The other was, there is a scene where I am completely naked at the shoreline. It was just above freezing and they needed to get the shot at sundown. We did three takes and then I started to shake uncontrollably. They got me back to the home base and radioed that they didn’t know if they had gotten the scene and that it might not make it in the film. I told them my bare butt better made it in somewhere even if it’s when they roll credits. But the scene was kept in the film.
SKSM: Do you still have any contact with the crew/cast from that time? If so with who?
Patrick Riviere: I do have limited contact with Derek from time to time. He is very busy working on the television series Supergirl. I am also connected to some of the other cast and crew on Facebook so keep up with their adventures especially Barbara Ann Davison who played Mrs. Wilson and Christine Sciortino who was our incredible makeup and special effects director.
SKSM: What are you working on nowadays?
Patrick Riviere: I am usually trying to get my play scripts out the door and I am also the new General Manager at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater on Cape Cod, Massachusetts and I also manage programming for Provincetown Community Television. I am hoping since that I am now 50 years old that I’ve grown into type and maybe will get back to acting one day soon.
SKSM: Are you a fan of Stephen King’s work?
Patrick Riviere: I always have been a fan of horror in general but have a special place in my heart for Stephen and actually his son who wrote Horns. Gifted family. My favorites are Carrie, The Green Mile, The Stand, Salem’s Lot and It. Although A Very Tight Place ranks up there now!
SKSM: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Patrick Riviere: That I grew up in a very small rural farming community even though my family was not a farming family. I think most people assume I’m from a big city. There were less than 5000 people in my town and we had a graduating class in High School of less than 100.
SKSM: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Is there anything you want to say to the fans that read this interview?
Patrick Riviere: I hope they have a chance to see this little film and any of the other Baby Dollar projects. They are worth the look and also not a lot of folks have the opportunity to see some of these stories.
SKSM: Do you like to add anything else?
Patrick Riviere: Dream big and always be ready to take a detour. Life’s full of them and sometimes the real joy is on the side roads, and of course, you can always get back on the main route if you want to.
