A Change of Guard

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Monday, 9 March 2009

Yuman is 'slaver,' 'rapper' - actor

Kenn LaChapelle isn't a Cambodian sex slaver, but he's played one in a movie.

The aspiring actor from Yuma recently played that unique role in a movie project and is now portraying a rapper in another film project.

Those are some challenging roles, and both film projects have demanded a challenging commitment of time and energy. But the big-dreaming performer says he's loving the chance to dive into his artistic calling.

"I can't complain," LaChapelle said with a big grin. "I'm doing my thing and I'm having fun. I'm gone pretty much every weekend, but when you enjoy something, you're willing to put in the time."

Both movie projects have taken place in Phoenix.

In "Life," LaChapelle plays a bodyguard working for a Cambodian mafia
organization that kidnaps and sells child slaves. That film is currently in post-production, after which it will be sent to various film festivals around the country.

For the film "Cultivated," LaChapelle is playing Larry Love, one of four rappers experiencing the thrills and trials of sudden fame.

LaChapelle last made headlines in The Sun when won a fistful of medals at the World Championship of Performing Arts. The international event was hosted by TV personality Bob Eubanks and was held in Los Angeles. LaChapelle competed in the categories of acting, modeling and rap.

For his day job, the young performer works on computer systems for a local school district. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps. That latter experience served him well when he worked as an extra in the movie "Jarhead."

He travels to Los Angeles quite often for auditions, several of which have been for national reality shows.

LaChapelle has performed in some community theater in Yuma and has sung locally, too.

"I'm excited about what I'm doing, but I'm always wanting more. It really hurts me being in Yuma," he said, admitting that a move to L.A. may be in his future long term.

LaChapelle works for a Phoenix-based modeling agency that lines up auditions for him, but he heard about these current movie projects through friends.

"Life" was shot in downtown Phoenix at a warehouse facility that's rented out for movie projects. The director is a young woman from Cambodia.

"She wants to help the children of Cambodia," LaChapelle said, describing scenes of children being forced to fight each other in cages. "I know she really wants to bring this story to people's eyes."

The actor chuckled when asked about playing such a bad guy in a movie, but he stressed that it's all acting and it's all worth doing well.

"You've got to tell the story, regardless of whether you're the bad guy or not. I got to hold a lot of guns, drive the getaway vehicle to kidnap kids. It was actually kind of fun."

"Life" is currently a short film, but LaChapelle said the director hopes that it's enough to ignite the interest needed for a full-length feature film.

LaChapelle is still working on "Cultivated" up in Phoenix, where the feature-length film is being shot in private homes and local nightclubs. The movie is being produced by a Phoenix-based company called Omuseo. As with "Life," this film is the director's first.

"I'm playing a rapper that's all about the ladies," LaChapelle said, laughing. "But the show is actually a drama, about show business and how it can affect your life. I don't want to give too much of it away."

For filming, LaChapelle spent a full week in Phoenix and now travels up every other weekend. He's working double duty, too. That's because he's not only acting, but singing as well. He said he looks forward to his music being featured on the soundtrack for "Cultivated."

"I think it's a really great story. A lot of people think it can go very far, it just depends on the exposure it gets. I would really love to see it in a movie theater."

---
Darin Fenger can be reached at
dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.


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