Corrective Measures Star Dan Payne on His New Thriller, Destigmatizing Mental Health, and How He Found His Purpose

Photo Credit: David Tenniswood

You may recognize Actor Dan Payne from hits like “Watchmen,” “John Tucker Must Die,” “The Flash,” “Supernatural,” and the popular Disney franchise “Descendants,” however his star is even more on the rise with the upcoming Bruce Willis thriller for Tubi “Corrective Measures,” slated to release end of April.

Dan Payne was born in Victoria, BC, Canada, and lived a somewhat nomadic lifestyle.  He spent some time in Holland where he played professional volleyball, and subsequently upon retiring ended up in Australia and then went on to London.  It was there he decided to continue his love for theatre and film before returning to his hometown in Canada to pursue it professionally.   Today, Dan has amassed a successful career in the spotlight, which he balances with his second role as a father to  his two kids. 

We spoke with Dan about what it means to be successful, his greatest lessons, fatherhood, and why he’s on a mission to destigmatize mental health.

1.     You star in a new action thriller, Corrective Measures.  What was it like to work with an icon like Bruce Willis?

It was like getting to check off a bucket list item I didn’t know was there!  I grew up with Bruce Willis setting the bar for ‘cool’ but didn’t imagine I’d get an opportunity to share a screen with him.  I loved Moonlighting and will always think Die Hard is one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time, so I was very excited to say the least!  Fortunately, we had a few weeks of filming in Vancouver, Canada before catching up with Mr. Willis in Atlanta, Georgia so I could settle in and process some of that emotion beforehand.

2.     You play a villain in the movie…  what can you tell us about your role without giving away any spoilers?

I prefer to think of the character I play, Payback, as a vigilante rather than a villain.  Walter Arthur Locke/Payback, who has an extensive military background, suffers a tragedy that pushes him over the edge.  He is a good man willing to do bad things for the right reason!  And throw in the fact that he is an ‘enhanced’ human with ‘powers’….it could get messy!

3.     Shifting gears… before you got into acting you were a professional volleyball player.  What did that chapter teach you? Do you find it more difficult to be an actor or an athlete?

It taught me that my body can break down! J  It taught me some of the greatest lessons of my life.  I’m very thankful for that chapter teaching me what it means to have a professional approach to a career, to be coachable and able to adapt, to be part of a team, and how to be accountable. That chapter also taught me how to strive to be the best I can at something I love to do and love that journey no matter what it entails.  These are all things that I have adopted in my approach to acting and the acting industry.  I still, of course, have tough days and tough patches but I still love it.  I don’t think it’s any more or less difficult to be an actor or an athlete.  For me, it’s always been about discovering what my strengths and weaknesses are and using that knowledge, to the best of my ability, to forge ahead.  After that, I think it comes down to passion and persistence.  If you want something enough, you will find a way. 

4.     Having lived in numerous countries across the globe, do you feel that the culture you experienced has had an impact on who you are today?

I absolutely think my travels have had an impact on who I am today.  Who I am is constantly changing and hopefully evolving.  To have the opportunity to travel and immerse myself in different cultures has been invaluable.  To be able to see myself in the reflection of something new, different, or simply outside my awareness at that time has helped me recognise things for me personally as well as in the ‘bigger picture’.  All that experience, exposure and information has definitely helped shape who I am.  I know I am still learning and have a great deal to learn but I welcome it with the prospect of it helping me be better in some way – hopefully!  I think travelling helped me be more open and aware even if just by being exposed to unique and sometimes extraordinary experiences.  

5.     When would you say was the turning point in your life where you kNEW YOU wanted to pursue acting professionally?

My brother, Josh, and I had always had that dream on the backburner.  While I was enjoying success as an athlete, acting didn’t get the necessary attention it needed to be anything more than a daydream.  But when I could see retirement from high level sport coming, the idea gained a lot of momentum.  When I joined my brother in Australia is when it really took hold.  We began making decisions to create opportunities in acting and entertainment from that day on.  I don’t think there is just one way to achieve any dream, but our approach was definitely unorthodox.  

6.     As a father, what piece of advice would you share with your children today that you wish you could share with your younger self?

Wow, that’s a big question.  As a father, I want to do anything and everything I can to help my kids reach their full potential in whatever they choose to pursue. I want them to find happiness and joy in every part of life that they can. So, that’s a tough one to answer.  I think the advice I’m trying to give them, that I may have received but didn’t understand at that time, is to follow your heart, listen to your head and to allow yourself space to make mistakes so that you always allow room to grow.   

7.     What does success mean to you?

In my career, success means being able to do this incredible job that I love and provide for my family while doing it!  It’s a volatile industry with a lot of ups and downs but I have an incredible support system that keeps me going. I never want that definition of success to be at the expense of that support system. To go back to the lessons learned through sport, it’s a team effort.  Success must also always mean that the whole team is ‘happy’ while I navigate this beautiful and crazy industry!  

8.     You’ve been outspoken lately about destigmatizing mental health.  Why is it so important to continue this conversation?

It took me a very long time to be open about my own mental health.  I have been and continue to battle with depression. I’m not sure battle is the right word – maybe ‘learn to cope with’ or ‘manage’ would be better. I’m still learning a lot.  And daily. I am fortunate that I found a way to talk about it despite the stigma I very strongly felt surrounding depression.  That stigma kept me in hiding and made me feel like I was in the wrong, not allowed to be depressed, broken. In essence, I felt alone. But talking about it changes that.  It changed everything for me. I hope that being outspoken about it helps one person find that moment, strength, or opportunity to talk about it.  To discover they are not alone.  Saying it out loud to myself and those I care about, and then receiving incredible support from them, took a lot of its power away. I know it helped me become more openly accountable and aware of my depression so that I could start to make changes, find help, and begin the journey toward better mental health.  I guess I just hope that if I talk about it that someone can relate or feel less alone and possibly be able to make a positive change for themselves.

9.     What advice do you have for someone who may be struggling with mental health issues but may be afraid to seek out help?

I wish I could say something definitively, but I think everyone’s journey is unique.  I can only speak from experience and express how talking to someone could truly be the gateway to positive change. I hope that everyone struggling with depression, no matter where they are or how they are feeling, has that one person they feel close enough to express their truth to.  I know that thought can be a very scary and daunting one. And taking the leap possibly more so. But it’s worth it. I really believe that.  I hope the more we talk about it and remove the stigma around mental health, the more people can make that leap.

10.  What’s next for Dan Payne? Where do you hope to see yourself in three years?

I hope to continue to create and be a part of this industry…. indefinitely! The roles and opportunities have changed and evolved throughout my career and I’m excited for all the opportunities ahead.  I have always written scripts on the side as a creative outlet.  I have noticed an increase in my interest in which lens directors are using or what lights the DP is setting up so there may be some directing desires growing there. I do want to expand into producing to be a part of the decision making and creating of content I want to be part of. The ultimate goal is to work with friends creating content I’m proud of!

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