From Rural New Brunswick to the Boardwalk Empire: Meet Clem McIntosh
New Brunswick-born Clem McIntosh has always been one to go against the grain, even when he was a 13-year-old in Glassville.
“I remember in Grade 8 we had these computerized programs that would help us figure out what we wanted to do in life, and I picked actor at that time,” he says.
“And I remember my guidance councillor used it as an example. ‘Let’s be realistic about what we can and can’t do here. You’re not going to be an actor.'”
As of today, McIntosh has held roles in shows like Boardwalk Empire, Blindspot, The Blacklist, Person of Interest and Understudies, to name a few. He’s also starred in the film Brooklyn Tide and has produced, written and directed various projects.
Though that guidance councillor is probably feeling a little silly now, McIntosh didn’t get there without working incredibly hard from the beginning.
“My passion for acting actually came from my upbringing here. We had an extremely good program in my high school (Carleton North Senior High School). They had this really good program run by a man named Weldon Matthews, who tragically passed away (recently),” McIntosh says. “But he was this brilliant man who really got everybody engaged in theatre, especially classical theatre. So I did some Shakespeare in high school and really felt that was something I wanted to do.”
Though he was accepted into the business program at St. Mary’s University, McIntosh decided instead to study theatre at Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
“From Bishop’s, all my friends I met there through theatre and whatnot moved to Toronto and Vancouver and I said ‘You know, I want to start fresh elsewhere and have new experiences and meet new people.'”
That fresh start was in New York City, a move he was able to make thanks to his mother Sally’s duel citizenship. Though he was fortunate to have family close by in the state, none of them were big shots in the movie business. McIntosh was on his own.
“For me it was knocking on a lot of doors, eventually getting known by casting directors and (freelancing with agents). At times I’ve freelanced with 12 agents at a time … just throwing spaghetti up against the wall and seeing what sticks,” he says.
“It’s just a lot of work, really. It’s just constantly working, constantly putting yourself in front of people. Really, the tough thing about acting is the amount of perseverance that’s involved. Once I’m in the room I’m fine and I’m comfortable, but just getting in the room is extremely difficult. That’s a whole other aspect that’s mostly out of your control. “
The insecurity that comes with being an actor becomes too much for many. McIntosh has had his fair share of times when he wanted to go back and get that business degree. But with 10 years under his belt and a cool side hustle as freelancer at Time Magazine’s web/video division, MacIntosh is making a living from his passion.
“I find when your mind gets to that point (of wanting to quit), there’s usually a sign that will keep you going,” he says. “Because it does become very addictive in a way too. There’s a thrill to booking a job or being on one of those TV shows that keeps you at it. You never know, one audition might be the one that lands you that role that flowers a massive career.”
McIntosh recently finished producing Ghost Team, starring John Heder, Justin Long, David Krumholtz and Melonie Diaz. The film was just released in cinemas across the United States.
“Five days after we wrapped, we sold it. We were in a bidding war and it sold, which is amazing,” he says. “We sold it to Orchard, which is a great production company out of L.A. and they got us a theatrical release which is also very well for an indie film these days.”
His next project is a feature thriller he’ll be both producing and starring in called “Kleos,” which will be filmed in Greece this October.
McIntosh credits his love for working behinds the scenes to his youth back in Glassville.
“I owned a paintball business when I was younger, when I was about 13. I really enjoyed that as well,” he says. “I guess that’s where the producing aspect of my work now comes from, this knack for business.”
Now 32, McIntosh is still happy he didn’t let his middle school guidance councilor change his mind. Besides attending a school with a reputable theatre program, his advice for aspiring Maritime actors is not to get discouraged too easily.
“Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do, not your teachers, not your friends, not your family,” he says. “If you have a passion for something, that is a rare thing, and you should do it with all of your heart. We have such a fleeting time on this earth, there is really no time for compromise.”