After graduating from the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art in Christchurch, Nick Beckwith (24) moved to Auckland to advance his career.
After settling in the city, he decided to ‘‘bite the bullet'' and got a 12-month graduate visa for the United States. He moved to Los Angeles in March last year.
He relentlessly auditioned for roles ‘‘and for every yes you heard from a casting agent, you heard another 10,000 no's''.
‘‘You get so many no's you've got to be strong not to quit.''
He discovered agents were discounting him on hearing his New Zealand accent.
At later auditions, he spoke in a Californian accent for a time.‘‘I instantly noticed the difference in the way they treat you.''Later, Beckwith returned to his New Zealand accent, impressing the agents with his convincing performance.
After five months of auditioning, he got his first paid performance.
He was flown to San Francisco to play the love interest of a Russian pop star, Zara, in her music video.
In the video, the pair play out a romantic scene on the Golden Gate Bridge.‘‘It was a cool gig to get.''
The music video gave Beck the confidence to continue auditioning.
The last of the several roles he landed in Los Angeles was a character in the TV crime series Major Crimes.
The season 5 episode was filmed in Hollywood about four months ago and has just aired in United States.
In Los Angeles he met retired basketballer Magic Johnson, actress Sarah Jessica Parker and film-maker Mel Brooks.
He can also claim to have won a dance competition as an audience member at The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
‘‘They cranked the music and I jumped up and did the robot dance.''
By then his work visa had expired and he returned to Dunedin about two months ago.
The former King's High School pupil is working on ways to return to Los Angeles this year but will also continue to look for work in New Zealand and Australia.
‘‘I fell in love with LA. It is where I feel I belong, but at the same time New Zealand is home.''
