Bloodbath and beyond

Interview with writer, producer, actor David Park

David Park’s early experiences in Lake Highlands — writing for the high school newspaper, taking Nancy Poynter’s drama classes and working at Premiere Video — helped shape the person he is today, a thriving writer, actor and producer. While not yet a household name, the ‘98 Lake Highlands High School grad is sinking his teeth into Hollywood. Plus, he gets paid to do fun things, which is his personal definition of success. His first feature movie, a humorous horror called “Bloodsucking Bastards” hits theaters and Video On Demand this month. From his car — idling outside a Los Angeles studio where he has a meeting later — Park talks about the new film and discusses his past, passions and plans.

Let’s start with your most-current venture, “Bloodsucking Bastards.” It feels at first like a typical workplace comedy, but it becomes atypical very quickly. Vampire takeover. All-out bloodbath. “Shaun of the Dead” meets “Office Space.” I belong to a comedy group called Dr. God [they perform all over the country and produce TV/film content] and we co-wrote and acted in the movie. It has a couple of bigger stars, like Fran Kranz, who you might have seen as the goofball in “Cabin in the Woods.” Pedro Pascal, Red Viper on “Game of Thrones,” plays the lead bad guy. It was just awesome to get him on board. He came on the heels of “GOT” [following Red Viper’s brutal fictional demise] and we shot the whole movie in 18 days. There is Joey Kern from “Super Troopers” and “Cabin Fever” and Joel Murray from “Mad Men.” Murray, who [like brother Bill Murray], is droll and hilarious, is also well known in the improv community. Female lead Emma Fitzpatrick is great and a has a real pedigree in the horror genre. I play Dave, a pushover who gets bullied around the office, a real dork with a troubled cat named Puddles. Without giving too much away, I think people will enjoy seeing a shift happen for my character who gets pushed too far.

You are on a TV show too, right?

Right. The TV show MOCKpocolypse is on AXS TV, the station owned by Mark Cuban. Neil [Garguilo] and I executive produce it, and the whole Dr. God troop is in it. It’s in the same talking-heads genre as VH1’s “Best Week Ever,” but it’s about music. There’s been two seasons and a new cycle starts this month.

Have you met Cuban?

He’s a little busy with “Shark Tank” and the Mavericks and a billion other companies for direct contact, but he is involved in every aspect of what goes on the channel.

You approach your craft from all angles — writing, producing, acting. What is your favorite of those?

It’s hard to say. Performing live provides such immediate gratification. I spent time sailing with the Second City Tour Company doing live shows for cruise passengers. Second City is where a lot of great comedians got their start [think Bill Murray, Amy Poehler]. I had a hand in the production, and I really enjoy affecting the big picture. When you do something for screen, you work more and wait longer but the payoff of seeing the final product is overwhelmingly awesome. One of my favorite things has been seeing “Bloodsucking Bastards” in a theater full of people — like when it screened here at Frightmare. The hilarity is infectious. This movie is a dish best served shared. I recommend watching it with a crowd. But, yeah, I love doing it all. It helps to see all sides. All of us in the group, we all wear a lot of hats regarding production and performance.

When did you know you wanted to spend your life entertaining people?

I’ve always been drawn to this. My parents were incredibly supportive and nurtured my creativity. I acted and took classes from the great retired drama teacher Nancy Poynter at LHHS. I worked and interned at the Kitchen Dog Theater in Dallas — at the time I did not think about how special it was that managing director [and former LHHS teacher Tim Johnson took such a serious approach to local theater. And working at Premiere Video in East Dallas was a big part of my education. The owner, Sam Wade, turned me on to these wonderful obscure movies. I used to write a segment for the school paper called “Five minutes with a Wildcat” where I would highlight different students and interview them, with a comedic twist. I think I always knew the goal was to get paid for doing these types of things. The Internet age has sort of caused an explosion of improv and comedy and made it easier to find an audience.

Do you miss Lake Highlands?

My mom [Lynne Park] still lives there. She just visited LA. I actually just put her on a plane back home. I miss family, though my sister [Emily Park Dragun] now lives in Kentucky. I hope to come back for the release of the movie Sept. 4 and see it with a neighborhood audience. Can’t wait for ya’ll to see it.

Anything else in the works, either professionally or personally — significant other, kids, etc.?

Dr. God is working on a pilot presentation that I am really excited about but can’t say much about. I’m working on several other movies. I do some hosting on my own. I’m starring in a series of promos for cable TV channels Pivot and WE tv. I’m not married, and no kids yet. Maybe once I slow down a bit on the career. Why, are you asking me out?

—Christina Hughes Babb

Yes, they can

There is the nifty tagline, “RESP3CT TRADITION,” printed across smartly designed cans, the contents of which are universally praised by aficionados who have sipped them and the 50-plus retailers and restaurateurs who peddle them. A group of investors from Lake Highlands recently provided enough capital to put makers 3 Nations Brewing Co. on the map.

No matter how good the inventory — and 3 Nations microbrew, by all accounts, is the top-tier product of extensive craft brewing expertise — one cannot sell aggressively or produce properly without startup money.

The Store In Lake Highlands

That’s where Lake Highlands’ John Royer, John Morrow, Brooks Purnell, Steve Stutsman and David Solomon come in. A few of them already co-own a hydroponic farm in Austin that grows lettuce sold in organic grocery stores. Royer likes to say that they “invest in Main Street, not Wall Street.”

The Lake Highlands guys comprise a majority among several new 3 Nations shareholders whose financing, a portion of which went to a marketing and design firm, made the slick packaging and standout online presence possible.

“Candidly, we got involved because this is a fun industry, and because we know the beer is great,” Royer says. “We are a bit north of the typical age of craft beer drinkers, but we’ve all really immersed ourselves in the culture.”

Gavin Secchi, whose parents own Ferrari’s Italian restaurant chain, understood when he founded 3 Nations that it takes more than a unique German American fusion ale with a well-rounded malt profile (which his signature German Pale Ale boasts) to make it in Texas’ flooded craft beer market.

He started out like any other aspiring brew master might. After graduating from Jesuit High School in North Dallas he began homebrewing and tinkering with recipes. He studied at the Siebel Institute of Technology in Chicago and eventually led big companies including Franconia Brewing and Rahr and Sons. But he was thirsty for more. Branding and marketing would make the difference, he knew.

If he wanted to launch his microbrewery company full throttle, he’d need investors.

The investment team and Secchi were fortunate to find one another, says Royer, the principal and most hands-on of the Lake Highlands stakeholders.

“Gavin has never run a business. I have never run a brewery. We are putting together the best of each of our experience to make something special out of Gavin’s idea.”

The corporate guys and the brewer took a few weeks to reach an agreement, but they eventually settled on a business strategy and began brewing. Cans hit store shelves in July.

Secchi has been working 60-80 hour weeks to make the most of the opportu- nity, Royer says. “He’s been knocking it dead.”

Secchi doesn’t mind the hours. “This is exactly what I wanted.” He adds that he is a little surprised, six weeks in, to see packages outselling draft. “This is another thing that’s different from other brewers. We found a way to do packaging right off the bat and it is working out.”

Royer says it is a thrill to see neighbors and friends enjoying cans of 3 Nations German Pale Ale or Belgium style American Wit.

It’s also fun, he notes, to be partnering with Purnell and Morrow on 3 Nations — the trio have been friends since childhood. They all graduated Lake Highlands High School in 1974. “We have a long history of doing business together and a very long personal friendship.”

As fun as it is, it’s a business and Royer expects that if they “follow the plan” and keep expenses low, they expect to “be financially vibrant within the first year.”

—ChristinaHughesBabb

LEARN MORE about 3 Nations and where to buy it at threenationsbrewing.com