Devin Barnes is a Canadian actor, director and writer. He has experience working in film, television and theatre. Devin Barnes is a former 2020 Summer Ensemble Member.
Devin’s Education
Devin Barnes has a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Western University. He also has a double minor in dramatic literature and creative writing. Devin attended and graduated the Fanshawe College’s Theatre Arts Program and Centennial College’s Advanced Television and Film: Script to Screen Program. Devin Barnes is also a director and a writer.
Experience
Some of Devin Barnes Recent acting credits include Mark in the independent short film “The Law of Attraction” by David Drew, Hans in the Zoom production of ‘More Than a Stuffy Dissertation’ by Rebecca Grace in Alumnae Theatre’s Big Idea Festival. Alumnae Theatre’s Big Ideas Festival is a festival showcasing works in progress from Aspiring playwrights in Alumnae Theatre’s New Play Development Group. He also appeared as the Prince’s Dad in ‘The Princess is the Pauper’ by Lianne Winterburn in St. Vladimir’s Theatre in the heart of downtown Toronto.
He played Billy in Ruthless, Scientist in “Space Captain Smith and “Lee in One afternoon in purgatory. Three Rehearsed readings of three films during the 2019 ReelHeART International Film and Screenplay Festival.
Devin is an Improviser and Comedian
Devin Barnes is an improviser and comedian. Devin Barnes is a student of Second City Improv Toronto. He is a graduate of Second City Improv for Actors Program taking Course 1, 2 and 3. Devin is a writer and performer in Comedy Live Now, an online Comedy group started by club member Robert Belanger-Polak in London Ontario.
Who is Devin Barnes Represented By?
Devin Barnes is represented by Favra Bickerton.
Devin Barnes: Summer Ensemble 2020.
Devin Barnes is a 2020 Crane Creations Summer Ensemble Member. Devin is one of the first summer ensemble members to join the team in October 2020, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to lock down restrictions a large portion of the program was conducted over zoom. Devin as well as the rest of Crane Creations Summer Ensemble handled the transition beautifully, and Devin was quickly able to adapt his talents to a Zoom’s online platform. Devin Barnes was part of the second group of Crane Creation Theatre Company’s 2020 Summer Ensemble.
What is the Summer Ensemble?
The Summer Ensemble is an 8 week training program for theatre artists. In this paid working opportunity artists learn skills required to be a professional artist in Canada, and gain valuable insights into the theatre industry in Canada and abroad. To apply artists must be between 18 and 30 years of age.
The Summer Ensemble is an opportunity to meet and chat with some very nice, spirited people, who don’t shy away from challenging the ideas.
Devin Barnes
Devin is a 2020 Summer Ensemble member. Devin is part of a 2020 workshop of a play Terror , written by Ferdinand von Schirach. Terror enjoyed its Canadian Premier in Clarke Hall, Mississauga on November 26th 2021. Devin Barnes also plays the role of Rabbit, in a workshop of Mirror, written by fellow 2021 summer Ensemble Eugenia De Jong. Devin Barnes was is a workshop of Nicole Bonder’s new play. Nicole Bonder is 2019 Crane Creations Summer Ensemble Member. Devin was also part of a workshop creation of a new play in development, called Pandora’s Box by Artistic Director of Crane Creations, Andreja Kovac. Devin also delved into the world of Shakespeare, working on Shakespeare scenes with resident artists and emerging director, Eugenia De Jong.
During his time with Crane Creations, Devin was able to use his intelligence and love of philosophy to start engaging conversations with his fellow ensemble members about complex and relevant topics; from theatre, to economics, to politics and social justice issue.
“This program has been a highly useful opportunity to flex acting muscles. It’s an opportunity to meet and chat with some very nice, spirited people, who don’t shy away from challenging the ideas. This of course pertains to theatre and creativity, but extends into unexpected fields like economics and politics. This is an opportunity to become not only a better artist with a stronger understanding of the industry, but a well-rounded person with a wider conception of knowledge. I highly recommend Crane Creations Summer Ensemble Project, especially for emerging artists”
Devin Barnes
What is an Actor?
An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs in the theatre, film, radio, television, or digital media.
What Does an Actor Do?
An actor’s doesn’t just memorize lines and look pretty. An actor has a fun but important role in creating a story. They are responsible for interpreting and embodying the character in a play, television series, or film. To do this well many actors rehearse and train their bodies and voices regularly. They study their script and consult with the director and scene partners about their interpretation of the character.
The main concern of an actor should always be understanding what a character wants or needs and then what they are is doing to achieve this action. A want or a need is also called an objective, or motivation. What an actor is doing is referred to an action or a tactic. An Actor Acts. A good actor makes many different and thoughtful choices about what the character is doing. A very good actor can make many creative choices, and is always ready to change their actions on the fly.
Actors sometimes require additional special skills. For example, an actor in a Broadway musical may also need to know how to sing and dance. An actor is a puppet show must know how to operate a puppet. Professional Improvisers need to know how to create a character and make up a story on the spot without any preparation. An actor in an action blockbuster film may also be trained in stage combat and martial arts.
Want to learn how to become a professional artist?
How Does an Actor Prepare for a role?
Actor’s prepare in many different ways. Let’s ask Devin how he prepares for a role.
I prepare like a writer. I go over the script again and again and again and take copious notes, writing all these symbols on my script. It’s my own little code. And on a separate page, I decipher what all these symbols mean. They are notes about what I am trying to get across in this scene, my wants, my actions. Then, I memorize and and try out different choices for the character. Sometimes I do exercises like playing the character one way and then doing the exact opposite the next take.”
Devin barnes
Who is Devin Barnes. An Interview with Devin.
Q: What inspired you to become an actor?
I kind of want to be a bunch of different things, and do a bunch of creative things. In high school I took acting classes. I discovered I had a natural ability. In grade ten my drama teacher was super supportive of me. The more I took classes, the more I enjoyed it. I did an undergraduate degree in philosophy. I did a handful of creative things in university, but mostly studied. After five years of that, I still had acting in the back of my mind. I always wanted to be a film major and an actor and I wanted to do that. Eventually I took the leap and went to school for acting.
Q: What inspired you to be a writer?
A: I try to picture myself doing a more practical job. And I always end up feeling unhappy being in that career. I like writing. I naturally enjoyed it. I always good at english and I enjoyed come up with ideas.
In high school I got obsessed with movies. I would look at the credits of movies to see who wrote them. I would look them up afterwards, and see how they got into writing. The big one for me was Lord of Rings, I saw that when I was ten or eleven. I also really liked the movie Unbreakable when I was in high school. I thought, ‘I want to write that’. When I was in high school I would write a lot. It was notoriously bad, like all high school writing is. But I never stopped.
Q: What stories do you like to tell?
A: The handful of ideas I’m proud of I feel like I got spontaneously. You know in Harry Potter the Wand chooses the Wizard. It’s like the idea chose me. I got it out of thin air. Recently I submitted myself for a festival, with a TV pilot pitch. I made it into the quarter finals. That idea was one that shot into my head.
Q: What is something you are working on right now?
A: I have this book Idea i’ve had for a while. I’ve been trying to work on it for a while. With most ideas, I’m comfortable sharing my work even if it’s still in it’s working stages. If it’s good enough i’ll share it. This book however, it’s really important to me, so the only other person who has read it in its draft stage is my mom.
Recently I did a short film, where I played a homeless person. I was preparing for that for a long time. It was a lot of hard work. Contrary to what a lot of people think, acting isn’t always fun. There are aspects of the prep work, which are tedious and frustrating. People think it’s just fun because it’s art. Just because it’s art, doesn’t mean it’s also work, and it can be really hard work. Once you actually do it however, after all of that preparation, that’s a lot of fun.
Q: What’s your favourite thing to eat?
A: When I was in high school, when I went to a pub, I would always order honey garlic chicken wings and a caesar salad. I like ice tea more than alcohol or whatever you are supposed to like. I’m an ice tea fanatic.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: I like reading and playing video games. I’m addicted to video games. I listen to music, watch tv, and I like running outdoors.
