Filming of "Dope Sick" with MCTC Film Student Elijah Woodcock

Paul Cram is knee deep in his lead role of heroin addict Todd in the short psychological thriller "Dope Sick" being made and directed by college film maker Elijah Woodcock.

Synopsis: Upon waking up in a rundown hotel room, Todd strives to understand & escape the hallways and memories lurking in them.

The film also stars LaDonna as a prostiute in a red dress, and a ghastly creature The Keeper, brainchild of horror special effects artist Ryan Schaddelee.

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Facts & Quotes

I absolutely smile when I think about the work I get a chance to do. It is an honor to work with so many diverse and talented people.

Favorite Role/Characters:
I love playing roles where the character is at first mis-judged by the audience. Also, I respond to awkward, social outcast types. There is a beauty & ugliness in every person. The more roles I play, the more I see this.

Authors and Poets I love:
Agatha Christie, Antonio Machado, T.S. Eliot, Kazu Kibuishi

Favorite thing to do on a day off:
Browse the shelves at the library. Sit in a coffee shop and talk with friends. Run along the train tracks with my brother and collect railroad spikes.

Paul Cram's Favorite Quote:
"Last night as I was sleeping, I dreamt- marvelous error!- that I had a beehive here inside my heart. And the golden bees were making white combs and sweet honey from my old failures." -Antonio Machad

Interests & Activities Interests and activities:
Gardening and growing plants

Oil painting:
Sold pieces of art through a gallery in MN

Photography
Shot images for commercial use, in magazine and advertising

Biography:

Paul Cram hails from a sprawling mid-west family, where he learned early that if you had candy in your possession, you ran.
Standing just under six feet & weighing in at 125lbs, Paul is the answer to the question "What do you get if you were to cross Barney Fife and James Dean?"

Along with the sibling candy warfare, Paul's youth included a colorful association with the arts. Being that he was home schooled from Kindergarten all through high-school graduation, the arts were a place for Paul to excel socially and learn healthy competition amongst strangers. In 1999, he placed in the top 25 in the nation for his piano playing in the NWC fine arts festival. And from 1995 through 1999, he took home blue ribbons from the Minnesota State Fair for his oil paintings. Currently he displays his paintings in the at the Wilcock Gallery in Excelsior, Minnesota.

Paul says that it was his mom who first got him intrigued with acting by having him perform in theatre at his church. From there the acting bug and the love the world of art grew. When he was sixteen, Paul recalls informing his mom that he wanted to be an actor. Thankfully she didn't try to dissuade him, but rather asked him how he planned on accomplishing his dream. Paul did what most kids that are home schooled do when presented with a problem which they don't have an answer to- he went to the local library and checked out every title that remotely related to the topic of acting. (To this day Paul still spends hours at the library when researching roles.)

Paul said, "I am not the only person to know sorrow and be touched by grief. I hope that some of the work I do as a performer will reach out and touch people on an emotional level, and maybe even help them as it is helping me." --If you've are in need of emotional or spiritual support, or just need someone to talk to Click HERE for a counseling center designed for individuals, regardless of ability to pay.

When not acting Paul can either be glimpsed with his head in a book between the rows at the library, or running to look for loose railway spikes at an old train station.

Magazine, Newspaper, Television, and Internet Interviews:

Television Interviews:
Des Moines Channel 5, Student Films Cable Access Show with host Lawrence Levesque

Magazine/Newspaper Interviews, Reviews, and Articles:
Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, Screen Magazine, Minnesota Monthly Magazine, Mpls St. Paul Magazine, Metor Magazine, City Pages, Forest Lake Press, Quad Press, Anoka County Union, Blaine/Spring Lake Park Life, Chisago Cty Press, Forest Lake Times, Orono Sun Sailor, Coon Rapids Herald, Fairbault Daily News, Des Moines Register, Pine City Pioneer, Star Weekend Edition, Sun Sailor Hopkins, Sun Sailor St. Louis Park, Sun Sailor Wayzata, Sun Sailor Plymouth, Sun Current Eden Prairie, Sun Current Edina, Asian Pages, The Weyauwega Chronicle, Tri-county News

Internet Interviews & Articles:
RedBox.com, Fangoria.com, DailyActor.com, Backstage.com, Minnewood.com, Horror Movie Podcast Guest Host: HMpod.com, Chainsaw Mafia.com, Unspeakable Magazine, Where The Long Tail Ends,

Presentations:

January 2011

Workshop: Acting for the Screen - What directors need to know to obtain the very best performance from their actors
Minneapolis Community Technical College

October 2005

The Business of Acting, A-Z steps on getting an agent and what you need to be successful.
Community Education, Fridley

July 2005

The Business of Acting, A-Z steps on getting an agent and what you need to be successful.
Community Education, Fridley

August 2004

Behind The Scene Look At Casting Directors
Twin Cities Actor's Forum

March 2003

The Business of Acting, A-Z steps on getting an agent and what you need to be successful.
Community Education, Forest Lake