Two years ago, SkySoft began a yearly tradition where we take a moment to celebrate the incredible men that have contributed their time, energy, and spirit to produce some of our more memorable moments. We have been fortunate enough to work with some genuinely talented and noteworthy men, and each year we’ve focused on the achievements of one of them. This year, we decided to mix things up and spotlight six men who have helped make SkySoft what it is today. From SkySoft’s early days to its present and even looking into its future, the following six men have brought many unforgettable characters to life and have even helped out behind the scenes as well. SkySoft asked both Daniel Andrade and Monroe Hayden to share their thoughts about each of these men, and we now present them to you.
Ricky Garcia
Photo courtesy of Monroe Hayden
Ricky got his start with SkySoft portraying the lovable Brian Whittaker in seasons two and three of Fox. His charming persona made it easy to root for Brian, and watching his complicated love story unfold throughout the season was a delight to experience. He then got to show off the range in his acting by taking on the role of John Black in season one of 365. While his charm was still present, it was more layered and complex and led to moments where you both loved and hated him. Additionally, he took on the helm of Director for the show, pulling double duty both in front of behind the camera. When asked about Ricky, Monroe has this to say:
He’s very good at improv. Better than me. I found myself following his lead because he seemed to know how to do it in a way that made him appear comfortable. Maybe he was comfortable, I’m not sure, but during my time working with him on 365, I feel like he taught me more about acting than some of my coaches. He definitely makes that argument scene as impactful as it is, and that’s a testament to his talent.
Christian Reed
Photo courtesy of Emily Sandifer
Christian brought the iconic villain Anu to life in the final season of Fox. The brutality of his actions and sharpness of his tone, combined with his anger at his father’s neglect and longing for his mother’s attention and affection, made Anu a truly complex character that proved that you can sometimes genuinely feel bad for a villain, even in spite of the evil things they do. Christian was able to masterfully portray all of Anu’s layers and made him a villain that viewers won’t soon forget. Daniel agrees and had this to say about him:
You can tell Christian is a great actor because he was legitimately terrifying on set as Anu, fully committed to the character, but after we finished for the day, he was just the nicest guy and full of great positive energy! I’ll also never forget witnessing him record his ADR; it blew me away how intensely he was able to deliver his lines, especially the speech he gives to Rath. He is a true professional, and I feel fortunate enough to have been able to work alongside him and get to know him even better as a person during our podcast interview.
Terrell Cooper
Photo courtesy of Monroe Hayden
Terrell first was introduced to viewers in the second season of Fox as Shevan, one of Rath’s henchmen who ended up having a change of heart. Watching his character develop and grow throughout the season is an excellent complement to Fox and Daisy’s budding relationship. He then got a chance to show us a different side of him when he portrayed Gwen’s right-hand man Kelvin Harris in the first season of 365. The lively character was played with fantastic energy and heart by Terrell and easily made him a fan-favorite character. Monroe had this to say about her castmate and friend:
Aw man, he’s one of those guys that stands out from the rest. I mean, during my time working with him, he was all in. He wasn’t afraid to make a mistake or be vulnerable, which is something a lot of actors have issues with. If something didn’t work, he just moved on with no ill will. It’s such an admirable way to work and live. But I think the best thing about him, that I’ve noticed, is that he’s always listening. He’s not afraid to be proven wrong. He’s always up for learning, and that’s something I look up to. He’s a good man.
Bryon Allen
Photo courtesy of NiftyFifty Media
Bryon brought his natural charm and charisma to the character of Sylvan, who was introduced to viewers in the final season of Fox. Bryon had to essentially act twice in his role since he played a suave thief in front of the Brotherhood but later revealed his true nature and connection to Anu. He played it perfectly and caught not just the viewers but his fellow castmates by surprise when the big twist of his character was revealed. Bryon will be taking his acting chops to the next level as he takes on the lead role of the upcoming SkySoft Premium show Beast. In regards to Bryon, Daniel had this to say:
Bryon is an absolute blast to work with, and he always brought a fun, rambunctious spirit to set! He was definitely a welcome addition to the Brotherhood! He just has a way of always making sure everyone is feeling good and taken care of. He is so approachable, and because of the incredible life he’s lived, he’ll always find something that he can connect with you on. I can’t wait to see him take on the character of Beast and show viewers what he is fully capable of.
Daniel Andrade
Daniel got his start with SkySoft as Prince Orasmin in the third and fourth seasons of Fox. He will be playing Nigel in the upcoming show Sherwood and Ludovic in SkySoft Premiere’s Beast. He has also helped behind the scenes as a co-producer. Additionally, he recently took over SkyWire and has hosted two podcasts, Beyond the Page and Digging Deep. He often credits SkySoft with helping him to grow in his confidence and discover talents that he never knew he had. This is what Monroe had to say about him:
His first day on set, I could tell he was very nervous but also really excited. I wish that day was more exciting on our part for his sake. He had shown up prepared and ready; he knew his lines and was eager for direction, which I felt comfortable to give, considering he wasn’t pushy about it. One of my pet peeves is when someone asks me, “Was that good? Cause I can do it again. Tell me what you want and I’ll do it.” But not him. He did that once and I told him that I’d let him know. Then he trusted me after that. And that’s pretty much how my friendship started with him; it was easy to trust one another. Since that day, he’s been a best friend and now he’s a big part of SkySoft. I can’t imagine anyone else who deserves the title more.
Jacob Maciel
Photo courtesy of Hunter Tabiendo
Jacob had quite the introduction to viewers as the creepy villain Alliel in seasons three and four of Fox. He brought Alliel to life by adding his own eccentricities to the character, including the infamous snake tongue and maniacal laugh. This was especially impressive considering his gentle and shy demeanor off-camera. Viewers will get a chance to see him again soon as the lovable and reliable Brutus in the upcoming show Sherwood. Daniel had this to say about Jacob:
Jacob is one of the nicest, funniest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. He has a unique sense of humor that always breaks me! That’s what made it so incredible to see him as Alliel; he was a completely different person when the cameras were on! I remember watching him film the scene between Alliel and Oron and hearing him give that speech in such an intense way and then laugh hysterically while he’s getting beat up... It was unnerving; it really stuck with me! It’s been a pleasure to see him improve as an actor, which makes me that much more excited for viewers to get to see him as Brutus soon!
Throughout the past five years, numerous incredible people have worked tirelessly in front of and behind the camera to build SkySoft into what it is today. These six men have given so much of their time, energy, and positivity to SkySoft, and for that, we are forever grateful. This year has certainly been challenging and has opened the eyes of many to the importance of a great show or series to get us through the tough times. We look forward to creating more memorable shows and working with more awesome men in the near future, and spotlighting another incredible man next year!
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