Vision quest becomes comic film odyssey

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Sam Bob never really intended to be an actor. In fact, the Vancouver Native had been working toward his degree on criminology at Simon Fraser University when his sister dragged him to audit for a summer theatre project. That was five years ago, and he hasn't looked back since.

During a recent tour through Edmonton to promote his latest movie, Road to Saddle River, Bob explained at first his interest lay solely in theatre. It was only when he felt he'd plateau-ed on stage that he turned his eye toward films and television. After getting his union memberships organized - "When you're an actor you can be unemployed in 5 or 6 different unions," Bob laughed - he took the plunge.

In Road to Saddle River, which is directed by Edmontonian Francis Damberger, Bog plays the part of Norman Manyheads, an Indian on a vision quest. Norman joins up with a rag tag bunch of bumpkins who are lost and looking for directions, explained Bob.

"They pull up behind him and just kind of burst into his world - ultimately they become part of his vision quest."

Among the bumpkins are The Cowboy Kid (Paul Jarett,) a 38-year old Czechoslovakian vegetarian who works in his uncle's butcher shop in Hamilton, Ont. After seeing a western movie, a saddle falls from the sky and The Cowboy Kid decides to pursue his dream of becoming a cowboy.

Along the way he hooks up with Sam (Paul Coeur), a divorced salesman; Dieter (Eric Kramer), a German tourist financing his journey by selling hunks of rock he claims are part of the Berlin Wall; and Norman (Bob). Eventually they all meet up with Louis (Michael Hogan), a gruff, hard-drinking cowboy who attempts to teach The Cowboy Kid how to ride.

For Sam Bob the role of Norman offered some interesting historical parallels.

"His (Norman's) relationship with The Cowboy Kid is a funny play on the historical relationship between our people and the Whites. When they first got here they were lost, they needed food and shelter, and they needed guidance - in the movie we're sort of reliving the same thing. Maybe that's stretching it a little, but the idea was there."

Road to Saddle River was actually completed two years ago, but as Bob under-stands it, problems with its distributor held it up until now. Still, he's optimistic about the movie, which he believes will appeal to a broad audience. The film has already garnered an AMPIA award for cinematographer Peter Wunsdorf, and it received rave reviews from audiences at a Minneapolis Film Festival.

In addition to Road to Saddle River, Sam Bob has appeared in such films as Leaving Normal (with Meg Tilly) and in TV shows like Destiny Ridge, as well as numerous stage productions. Despite his growing success, he still finds it difficult to see himself on screen.

"I don't think you ever get used to it," he laughs,"not unless you're psychotic or something."