Struggling Actor

Matthew Ludwinski can identify with the trials of his character in the film Going Down in La-La Land.

By Glenn Gullickson

Photo by Walter Kurtz

Breaking into the Business

Matthew Ludwinski identifies with his role as a struggling actor in Going Down in La-La Land

As a young actor working for a breakthrough in Hollywood, Matthew Ludwinski has some things in common with the character he plays in the film Going Down in La-La Land.

In the movie, his character is "kind of any everyman for an actor," Ludwinski said during a telephone interview. "I have experienced a lot of things he goes through. I've witnessed the process of disillusionment that young actors go through and that struggle."

Ludwinski will do a question and answer session when Going Down in La-La Land is screened Jan. 28 at the Desperado Film Festival.

In the film, Ludwinski, 27, plays Adam Zeller, a young gay actor who moves from New York to Los Angeles to make it big in the movies. While he tries to stay afloat, he moves in with a gal pal (Allison Lane) and looks for work. The journey includes a bad boyfriend, a job in the porn industry and a foray as an escort where he hooks up with a successful closeted TV star (Michael Medico). Complications ensue.

The movie also features appearances by Alec Mapa, Bruce Vilanch, Judy Tenuta and Jesse Archer.

Like his character, Ludwinski said he's hoping for "a ginormous acting career."

La-La Land was Ludwinski's first chance to play a leading man. He said he coveted the role since learning that director Casper Andreas (The Big Gay Musical, Violet Tendencies) had the rights to the book by Andy Zeffer that the movie is based on.

Although Ludwinski had a small role in Andreas' film Between Love & Goodbye, he said he had to audition — a lot — to land the lead, which could have gone to more experienced actor.

"They have to try to get names," Ludwinski said. "The movie kind of rests on this character's shoulders."

The filmmakers didn't miss an opportunity to show Ludwinski's physique as the actor spends much of the movie in various stages of undress.

"Having to be in my underwear in a lot of the movie didn't bother me too much," Ludwinski said. "I come from a modeling background where shooting in underwear or naked is pretty common. Kissing another actor, that's awkward."

There's more than kissing in the movie, and Ludwinski counted "2½" sex scenes, including one with Andreas, who cast himself as the boyfriend.

Photo by Walter Kurtz

"I think he was more nervous than I was," Ludwinski said about hitting the sheets with his director and co-star. "I enjoyed the sex scenes. I enjoyed every single scene in the movie. It was such a fun part of play all the way through. I really committed to the character."

Another scene had Ludwinski strip down before jumping into a pool. "You can see anything though," he said. (Although it's not difficult to find Ludwinski fully exposed on the Internet.)

But perhaps the most challenging scene is one that Ludwinski has alone as his character dances wildly in a reflection of his mounting frustration. Compared to the sex scenes, Ludwinski said, "I was 10 times more nervous having to act drunk and dance around." He said the scene was "100 percent improvised."

Ludwinski remembered that shooting the dance scene came at the end of a 12-hour day. "They sprayed me with sweat at the beginning, but they didn't need to in any other takes. I was really drenched. I danced so hard, I kind of felt ill and feverish afterwards."

Shooting the movie in 20 days in Los Angeles in 2010, helped convince Ludwinski that it was time for him to make the move from New York to Hollywood.

He said he identified with his character's struggle to find day job to help make ends meet while waiting for the big break.

"The competition for working in a decent restaurant is really high," Ludwinski said, noting that he got fired from a waiter's job when he was attending school. He has landed a job doing bartending and catering for private events, a gig that allows the flexibility he needs to pursue acting opportunities.

A running gag in the movie about Ludwinski's character's habit of collecting parking tickets also strikes close to home for the actor, who said he hardly knew how to drive before living in freeway-centric LA. Since moving, he said he's had an accident and his car was stolen.

Ludwinski said his focus has shifted from modeling to acting, although he did recently shoot a commercial for Absolut Vodka.

He's been promoting Going Down in La-La Land by attending film festivals since the movie premiered last summer.

"And I'm buying a cat," Ludwinski said. "I thought it would help me grow up." -E

Going Down in La-La Land will be screened at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 28.

Ludwinski and Michael Medico in Going Down in La-La Land

Scene from Going Down in La-La Land

More about Matthew Ludwinski

Grew up in northern Virginia and graduated from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., with a degree in music theater.
As a model in New York, London and Milan, his work has resulted in magazine covers, national advertising campaigns, coffee table books and TV commercials.
Has appeared in theatrical productions, including Washington National Opera's production of Andrea Chenier and New York shows An Air Balloon Across Antarctica and Naked Boys Singing.
Film roles include The Battle of Pussy Willow Creek, The Red Stitches and Between Love & Goodbye.