Novato Native Clowns Around in 'Water for Elephants'

Stephen Simon’s role in the film Water for Elephants doesn’t place his name on the marquee or on the movie poster credits, but he’s there all right. He’s just in disguise, and that’s by design.

Simon, a Novato native, plays a clown in the circus scenes in the popular movie starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson. The role was not a stretch for Simon, who has made a career out of his clowning around since he left San Marin High School. He is half of the Los Angeles-based comedy duo Ten West, an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University in Malibu, is on call with Cirque de Soleil and regularly appears on screen as a clown.

Water for Elephants is showing at in Novato.

Novato Patch checked in with Simon via e-mail.

How did you land the part in Water for Elephants?

I heard about auditions for WFE through the clown grapevine (there is such a thing).  I called the casting office and got an appointment. It’s usually never that easy, but they were looking for a very specific skill set and were more open that is the norm. Auditions were spread over several days for the various circus performer roles and they saw lots of people. They wanted to see a quick routine of our work and then asked some questions. I felt good about what I did, but had no idea about my chances, there were so many people of all shapes, sizes, talent and experience levels.   

What do you like most about your character?

In the movie, I played a “white face” clown, which is not something I normally do. The clowns — there were six of us — had a sit down with the director, Francis Sebastien, the circus coordinator and production team to brainstorm ideas for characters and gags and talk about real life situations, and interactions among clowns and fellow circus performers.  They asked us about what types of clowning we naturally do. I think to a person we all fit in the character/tramp/auguste archetypes. They needed to round out the alley with character types, and I stepped up to try something different. Full white face makeup is no picnic — especially in the summer — but I had some fun costumes. I really liked that we worked in and out of makeup/costumes in the movie. Not much of our work made it to the final cut, but we had fun.  

Where was it filmed and did you have an extracurricular fun off the set? 

The majority of shooting was on a farm northwest of Los Angeles, in a town called Piru.  They had cleared the fields and created the world of the movie — the tents, trains and midway. A wonderful place to show up for work every day.  

The clowns always had a great time, on and off camera. I don’t think any of us had worked together before, but we established an instant rapport and had a really tight group. I don’t think I’m quite at liberty to disclose everything we got up to (there were pranks and hazing,) but there was a feeling of a true clown alley and we’re all still in contact with each other after we wrapped.

What were the highlights of the filming for you?

I think the highlights of filming for me were really getting to know my fellow clowns and the other circus performers on the set. We had a great time when they brought in all of the rubes for the show sequences. They were sitting on bleachers for hours on end and we had fun keeping them entertained during and between shots. It felt like being thrown back in time to a depression-era mud show.  

Did you do much hanging out with the two main stars?

No, they were friendly and professional, but Reese, Robert, and Christoph (Waltz) were always working when they were on set.  There was very little interaction when we weren’t actively shooting something.

Now that the film is out, what kind of attention are you getting?

None really. I was a small cog in the machine of this movie; it was a lot of fun to work on, but not much of a stepping stone for work. The best part has been connecting with other people in the circus and variety arts. It’s opened up some performance opportunities for Ten West.

What's the best thing about Ten West?

Ten West (www.tenwest.net) is the two-man comedy act in which I write and perform with Jon Monastero. I think the best thing about is the wonderful freedom it offers to play and create as well as help keep a roof over my head. We’ve found something really quite special that audiences of all ages, cultures and backgrounds have embraced and there’s nothing like the immediacy of performing live in front of an audience.

I’m excited for our latest show, INEFFABLE, which will be opening at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in June. The show, though ostensibly a clown treatise on death, is a celebration of life and laughter. We’re really proud of it. We hope to be touring our shows over the next year (we have quite a few in our years of working together) and I am hoping we can back to do some show in Marin.  We haven’t been there since performing several years ago at 142 Throckmorton in the SF Sketch Festival.

What other gigs or events would you consider to be the highlights of your career thus far?

I’ve been fortunate to work on a number of films, TV shows and commercials, voice overs. It’s hard to isolate anything. Some highlights:

* Worked this past spring as an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University, teaching clown and movement in their theatre arts program.

* Being nominated for best actor in a comedy by the LA Weekly for my work as Claudius in Hamlet Shut Up, a “silent” comedy adaptation of Hamlet. 

* Ten West had the opportunity to create and perform material with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. 

* Being chosen by Cirque du Soleil to be in their database of clowns, a fun if long and grueling audition process.  

What's most rewarding about your chosen vocation?

I think the most rewarding thing about working as an actor is having the opportunity I have to always try something different. Every project I work on is new, and I get to work with amazing people and have a wonderful exchange with audiences while keeping and building upon relationships from past projects.  Also the freedom to play and explore and to impact peoples lives. The communion with the audience, when they laugh, think or cry about something that I do to. There’s nothing like it. 

When you were growing up, is this what you envisioned or expected?

No, I wasn’t sure what I expected.  I was always vacillating on what I wanted to be when I grew up. Even entering college, I was leaning toward biological sciences. And even after leaving college I didn’t know what to expect. I got into music and theatre because my brothers did it before me. I just never left.  

Can you tell me a little about your family ... parents, siblings? 

My parents are Lee and Mary Jo Simon and my brothers are John and Daniel (both older). I lost my dad in 2000 and my brother Dan in 2008. 

When did you first move to Novato and what are some of your early memories of the town?

We moved to Novato when I was going into first grade.  My early memories are of riding bikes, climbing Mount Burdell … Hidden Lake and the Rock Quarry were frequent destinations … and playing in Miwok Creek.  

Was there an influential Novato person in your life?

I would say the most influential person, outside of my family, was Emily Gates. Even before I went to San Marin, I knew who she was and went to the choral concerts and musicals because of my older brothers.  

When you went to San Marin, what were your stage performance highlights?

I always loved the spring and fall shows at San Marin because in addition to the ensemble choral work there was freedom to try scenes and songs that we wanted to do. Emily was great at empowering her students to do things we were excited about and wanted to try.

How often do you come back here, and for what reason?

I come back three or four times a year, more if I can. My mom still lives in Novato and I go up to visit her. Would live back in the area if there were enough work for me in Marin and Sonoma, but the market for what I do is really in Los Angeles right now.

What's your message to the kids in Novato who aspire to act and perform?

It’s work. You have to love the work. Seek out ways to grow and stretch and play.  

Try a lot of different things. Surprise yourself. Don't wait around for someone to hand you opportunities. Learn how to create and produce your own work. Have fun!