Douglas Vermeeren KEEPING UP WITH

WE ARE EXCITED to have had the opportunity to catch up with a Hollywood Weekly Magazine favorite, Doug Vermeeren. Last time we spoke with Doug he was staying busy working on various projects including ‘Operation Broken Sniper’, as well as horror films ‘Bring Me a Skin for Dancing in’, and ‘The Video Tape’. In true Doug fashion, he is continuing to stay busy and even took time out of his cruise to the Bahamas to tell us about the new and exciting projects he is working on, and we can’t wait to share the details!

If I were to truly tell our readers about every individual project Doug has his hand in, I’m fairly sure I would run out of space on the page. With his vastly diverse skillset, it seems Doug has yet to turn down a challenge and continues to break barriers within the entertainment industry. From acting, producing, and stunt work, to public speaking, podcasts and directing, I am left wondering, is there anything he can’t do?

Each time we speak with Doug, he greets us with his warm, inviting energy. His positive energy and cando attitude are simply contagious. But what stands out most about Doug, and always has, is his genuine passion for what he does. He not only puts his time and energy into these projects, but he really does put his love in first and foremost, and it’s abundantly clear. I believe that truly is what continues to separate Doug from the rest, and if I had to guess, it may be a part of his secret to success.

Per usual, there are so many great new things he’s working on. One of the projects Doug is excited to be a part of is called ‘Recreating 1912’, which is extremely unique and intriguing. This project attempts to use modern day technology to create a film from the silent film era. Meaning all stunts, props, filming methods, etc., will be used in an effort to re-create and re-capture the early history of film. With Doug’s lifelong love of films, I am personally beyond excited to see what he does with this one, and I am sure he won’t disappoint. You can look out for this one around April of next year.

Doug’s busy schedule also includes an action thriller titled ‘A Bullet with Her Name on it’, which he begins shooting in March. The 2023 summer film takes us on a journey of a hitman hired by the government to hunt down and murder a very surprising, and unlikely target. The edge-ofyour-seat, action packed thriller is a perfect fit for Doug, and there’s no doubt his rugged side, and raw talent will shine through in this role.

He is also excited to share with us that he will be featured in the film ‘Bullets, Blades and Blood’. Which is a story of revenge, featuring an excovert military operator who goes out on a personal mission when his family is kidnapped, and possibly murdered.

Doug shares with us “I’m excited for all of the projects that I’m involved in for many different reasons, and in many different ways.” He continues “One of the things I am most thankful for, is just being able to work again since the COVID-19 restrictions have bene lifted. I am also extremely excited about being able to work with and be surrounded by so many incredibly talented people who love what they do and are great at it”.

When we asked Doug what challenges he’s facing with these projects, he said “Honestly, this is a difficult question to answer, I am not experiencing any specific difficulties on any of the projects”. He goes on to share “I think one of my biggest challenges in general is just keeping my schedule sorted. I have an amazing team that helps keep me on track, and I am extremely thankful for them.” He continues by telling us “I think for most actors it’s all about finding the balance where you can be doing a fantastic job on your current project, while also being able to spend time and energy looking at future projects. I am beyond grateful that so many filmmakers are considering me for their projects right now. It’s not always like that and I’m sure that most actors can relate.”

Doug also opens up and digs a little deeper with us when we asked about what’s going on in his personal life. He shares with us “Professionally, I have a lot of great upcoming opportunities over the next two years. These are all projects I am really excited about, and I am looking forward to what will come next. Personally though, it can be a bit complicated. I have great family and friends, and I’m staying busy. However, right now I’m single so we will see what happens next in that department…”

Although Doug’s raw talent and true passion for what he does have given him so much success, he also shares “There are so many people that helped me with the success that I have been experiencing. I am lucky enough to have the support of so many great family members and friends. But there are also people within the industry who have been so helpful and kind to me”. He goes on to tell us “Those people have given me great advice, as well as helped open doors for me. But most importantly, they helped me see where I was lacking, and allowed me to be aware of my weaknesses.” He continues by saying “Those conversations haven’t always been easy to hear, but they have been crucial in my growth. Of course, no one likes to hear about their deficiencies. It can even be painful to hear, but oftentimes those conversations have ended up being powerful opportunities for me.”

Coming so far from the little boy messing around with his grandfather’s 8mm video camera, we asked Doug what he would say to his childhood self if he could go back, and his answer is surprising “Most of the time when people ask this question, it comes with the idea that you would go back and tell yourself something that would change your present or future. The reality is, I love my life. I love what’s happening and I love where things are going.” He continues by sharing with us “So, I don’t know if I would give myself much advice. I would simply say ‘Just keep going, believe in yourself, try your best and have fun’.” His answer isn’t one I’ve ever heard be for and left me feeling that if only we could all be so easy on our past selves, I believe the world would be a much lighter place.

You can keep an eye out for Doug’s new project, Awakening the Orbs Archive, which starts shooting this month. The film is being directed by award winning director Aaron Glanfield, and Doug is really looking forward to being a part of it. The feature film which takes place in post-apocalyptic earth, tells a story of humanity fighting for its survival, while at the same time trying to track down and protect a magical power it desperately needs. There is no release date as of today, but Doug promises to keep us updated.

Recently, Doug has also landed a spot on the TV series ‘Operation Majestic’ which will premier this summer on CTV in Canada. The series tells a story of a UFO conspiracy and a secret organization called Majestic, who exhaust all their efforts trying to hide information from the public.

Doug plays a character by the name of Nick Tyler who is torn between loyalty to his agency, and a dangerous truth that must be exposed. The show gives an early 90’s X-files vibe, and Doug tells us he is really looking forward to start shooting in the spring.

It seems there’s never a dull moment in Doug’s life. Whenever we get to steal a few moments of his time, he always has new, and incredibly exciting projects to discuss with us. It left me curious, what’s his dream role?

Doug lets us in a bit more, and shares with us “There are a few dream projects that I would love to be a part of. I am a huge James Bond fan and have been since I was a kid. So, I would be thrilled to do anything they asked me to do in the James Bond series.” He continues by telling us, “I would also love to do something for

Marvel, or Star Wars. I have always been a massive fan of both of those franchises as well, and I would be incredibly honored to be a part of a legacy like that in some way.”

Although Doug possesses a generally quiet and shy demeanor - to me, these big dream answers are no surprise. His success up until now speaks for itself, and really shows that his ability to continue dreaming big and shoot for the moon is destined to land him amongst the stars.

If you would like to contact Doug for future projects, you can find him directly on his website, www. DouglasVermeeren.com on Facebook @Douglas Vermeeren, on Instagram @douglasvermeeren, search for him on IMDB, or go directly to his blog www.douglasvermeerem.com/blog.