Outer Banks Interview

Outer Banks Interview

Now.

It's the number-one hit on netfliction in the u.s. outer banks is a wildly popular netflix series that has attracted global audiences and it was filmed here.

We're excited to be joined by a local actor that has shot to stardom in recent weeks, dion smith.

And thank you for joining us.

Congratulations.

>> thank you so much, and thank yu for having me on here.

This is awesome.

>> it's so wonderful to celebrate a local actor who is on a number one netflix series when everybody is at home watching tv.

>> it makes me feel crazy, i can't describe it.

It's hitting me and it's wild.

And amazing.

>> it's a little bit surreal.

And unfortunately, you can't get out there and celebrate with your compatriots, but it came at the perfect time because of everybody being on the lockdown, and people are watching netflicks all day long.

>> everybody has been watching it, and they have been at home.

And it's kind of like one of those things where you know with shows like this, you're typically supposed to be out in l.a.

Having a red carpet premier, and this is something that we're looking forward to.

Because this is like the first of our big rolls.

So we were not able to do that at first, but this situation has been working in our favor a bit, not saying that it's not good at all.

But everybody is home.

[ audio difficulties ] >> so things have come full circle for you here.

>> definitely, yeah.

Definitely.

It has been amazing, and i remember my first day stepping on the set.

It felt so surreal, i had just booked the role like a day before.

And yeah, i had booked it the day before.

And that's the thing with a lot of southeast actors.

We don't go in person much.

We just do self tape, and i did my audition and literally heard back the next day, and life just kind of changed completely.

It was crazy.

>> that's wild.

And to be filming something so popular in your hometown.

So you grew up here in charleston.

>> yes, yes.

I was born and raised, both my parents support me in everything i kind of did.

I was kind of an interesting killed.

I was kind of like i stayed to myself.

I had friends, but there were times i stayed to myself.

And i had toys and action figures, and i would steal my parent's old camera and start making movies, and i was so interested in youtube.

It was popping up and i wanted to get into making youtube videos, so i started making the little videos, and i didn't know how to upload them to youtube, but i kept them to myself and watched them back on tv, but as i got more familiar with cameras, and learned more about youtube, i made more sketches and things like that.

>> were you involved in any extra-curricular products?

>> yes, so my mom -- it's funny, i was going to a private school for a while.

And my mom wanted to take me out there have.

And there was a school where we were holding auditions and i didn't want to go to that school.

I wanted to go to the military school, because i wanted the uniform.

>> that will be your next role.

>> yeah.

My mom was like -- mom, i want you -- i ended up auditioning for that's right because i couldn't draw or play an instrument.

And i said okay, i'll play theater and ended up getting in, and caught the bug and just got into it from there.

>> that's fantastic, and i want to hear more about what outer banks is all about for anybody who has not seen the show.

So we're >> we're back with dion smith, with the hit netflicks series, outer banks, and we're talking about your rise in the career as a young boy, you were making youtube videos, and here you are on the most popular series that families are watching in their homes during this time.

And the top ten around the world as well.

And maybe you can television what outer banks is all about.

>> yeah, so the general synopsis of the story, it centers around a tight-knit group of teenagers that live in the outer banks of north carolina, and basically their ringleader's father goes missing, and they go on a mission try to find his father.

But along the way, they unearth a treasure map that takes them on a crazy add adventure along the way.

And i think that people would love it if they give it a shot.

>> where are some of the place that's you shot in.

>> it's mainly around all of charleston, but one of the main places was mount pleasant.

And we shot a little bit in buford for some of the scenes, and really all over.

>> curious why outer banks was shot in the low country as opposed to the outer banks.

>> i think there was some deal with tax incentives to north carolina with their filming and stuff like that, and also, i think it was like an issue that was going o really i guess -- >> we all remember that.

A lot of the productions are being taken away from north carolina for political reasons, but their loss is certainly our gain here in the low country, and this is season one, we're currently watching, it premiered just a few weeks ago, and do you think that there are going to be plans for a season two?

>> i do think there will be plans.

I think the show has done so good that netflicks -- i don't know why they wouldn't renew it.

The show is already green lit for season two.

It's not a guarantee, but it's looking really good for us.

So definitely plans for multiple seasons.

>> any other project that you personally have going on?

>> not as far as acting.

I'm auditioning a lot.

But i'm also a wedding videographer and photographer.

And me and my mentors own a company and we're based in charleston, but expanding our branches around the u.s. and trying to grow as a company.

>> what do you prefer, being in front of the camera or behind it?

>> that's a tough question, i think it's like equal for me.

Because i get the same feeling when i'm doing both things.

I tap into a different part of myself when i'm doing both.

>> it's kind of like a generous actor that you have to make somebody else the star.

>> yeah, yeah.

That's what weddings are all about, capturing their special day, and that's what we to do.

Just capture people on their special day when they're in love.

>> and any advice that you have for upcoming actors, how many auditions did it take for you to land outer banks?

Just auditioning for all of them?

>> like 300 auditions, and i've had a couple of roles in between there, blue it took a lot to get to this point.

I think if you want to achieve what you want to achieve, me coming from charleston, it's a small town, and when people think you want to be an actor, you think new york and l.a.

And stuff like that, but nowadays with everything being on the internet, so many things are possible.

And persistence.

Yeah.

>> dion, congratulations and you do us proud.

And we can't wait to watch what happens at the end of the season, and hopefully checking