Entertainment Spotlight: Scott Alda Coffey, The Outpost
Actor Scott Alda Coffey currently stars opposite Orlando Bloom and Scott Eastwood in The Outpost, which follows a team of U.S soldiers who battle the Taliban during the Afghanistan War. The film is based on the best-selling non-fiction book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by Jake Tapper, and though initially slated for release at SXSW, was made available on-demand this July. Scott knew early on that he wanted to follow in grandfather Alan Alda’s footsteps and pursue a career in acting. As a child, he performed in various productions through his local theater program and in high school, before going on to attend Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama. After graduating, Scott moved to LA to pursue a full-time acting career, where he landed his first role on ID Network’s Unusual Suspects before appearing on FX’s Better Things. Scott took the time to chat with us about The Outpost, acting, how he handles stress, and more. Check it out:
Can you tell us a bit about Sergeant Michael Scusa, your character from The Outpost? What was challenging/enjoyable about bringing him to life on screen?
Michael Scusa was someone who everybody liked. Every single person who I spoke with said the same thing: that he was the nicest guy. He was also a huge family man; his family meant the world to him. In fact, sometimes the guys kidded him because he talked about his son so much. He was also someone who always wanted to be a soldier since he was very young.
What I loved about being able to portray Michael on screen was that he was such a good-hearted person, and getting the chance to portray someone like that was really an honor. What was challenging, though, was that I had big shoes to fill. I wanted to make sure I honored him in the best way I could.
What kind of research did you do for The Outpost? Did you learn any interesting facts that you didn’t know before getting involved in the project?
When I first read the script, my initial thought was that I couldn’t believe I had never heard of this event. It was one of the bloodiest American engagements in the Afghanistan war, and I hadn’t even heard about it. After that, I knew I wanted to be a part of telling this story.
The very first thing I did when I was cast was read Jake Tapper’s book. I was mesmerized by it, it’s a really brilliant read. I had the privilege of being able to talk to friends and family who knew Michael. Being able to get firsthand accounts of who he was as a person and a father was invaluable. Multiple people who knew him told me that he constantly said, “It’s all good, man,” so we made sure to incorporate that into the movie.
You started out in theater—what differences most struck you in the move to film and tv, and do you prefer one over the other?
I think I have gotten used to both film and TV and have started to really feel at home there. Something that took some adjusting was that with theater, I was performing for an audience; I was acting for the back of the theater. With film, you can’t do that—the camera is right in front of you and picks up every little eye twitch. You can’t perform for the back of an auditorium. That took some getting used to.
You come from a family that knows the entertainment business pretty well. Did you receive any good advice or hard truths about the industry before going into it?
I think one of the most important things I learned was that it takes time. This is an industry of patience; nothing will happen overnight. It could take years to be able to pay rent as an actor without other jobs. Knowing that going in was very valuable, and really helped me to be prepared for this profession.
What is the hardest thing about your job?
Probably the rejection, that never gets easy. Actors are very vulnerable, so when you hear a no, it can be tough.
What do you geek out about?
I am a huge Star Wars fan. That opening crawl gives me chills every time.
You moved across the country to pursue your dreams in LA. What do you like and dislike most about your chosen home?
I love LA! What I love most is probably the weather and being able to easily go outside at any time of year. What I probably dislike the most is the traffic here. That’s something I never seem to get used to.
What is your favorite project you’ve worked on so far, and what would your dream project be, at this moment in your career?
My favorite project is definitely The Outpost. It’s just such an important story, and I was so honored that I got to be a part of telling it.
A dream project that I would love to work on is a multi-cam sitcom. Having grown up doing theater, I’d enjoy performing for an audience again. Also, multi-cams are hard, and I think it’d be a really good challenge.
What do you do to stay calm in a stressful work environment?
When I’m working and feel stressed, I like to do deep breathing exercises. I am also an avid reader, so when there’s downtime, I enjoy spending time with a book, which also relaxes me.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Probably Don’t Stop Believing by Journey.
Thanks for taking the time! Give Scott a follow on Tumblr right here, and catch The Outpost on-demand wherever you watch movies!
Photo: The Riker Brothers
