BROWNSBURG — There are many artists, and within that subset varying degrees of determination to succeed.
Dustin Helton is on the higher end of that spectrum.
For years now the Brownsburg native has toiled in the competitive world of show business, all while remaining in decidedly non-glamorous Central Indiana. He's starred in numerous independent films made in or near the area, including a SyFy Channel original movie titled "Fire From Below." He's been seen in several TV commercials - hawking every thing from Indiana Live Casino and the Hoosier Lottery to Coors Light (remember that Sony 3D TV spot with Peyton Manning? Helton was one of the delivery guys in the background).
He's also filmed training videos for companies like CSX Railroad and Macy's, and continues to work in theater, a medium he got his start in at Indianapolis' Footlite Musicals.
There has also been print modeling. That's where much of his income has come from so far. Helton estimates a third of his gigs have been modeling, something he considered emasculating before he figured out how much money could be made.
"I'm trying to keep my hands in as many baskets as possible right now, until something starts to snowball," Helton said between sips of bottled water at a local coffee shop. "I want to show the people working for me that I'm working twice as hard as they are."
Certainly Helton has had some brushes with success. There was the Spanish music video he filmed in South Beach, portraying singer Lucero's philandering boyfriend.
"The hardest part was I had no idea what they were saying," Helton said. "I don't speak Spanish, so I was constantly reacting to body language."
Then there have been the near misses of getting bit parts in major motion pictures. Helton had a shot at a supporting role in George Clooney's "The Ides of March." He missed the casting call because he was on a delayed flight. A similar situation caused him to lose out on performing in what would become the 2011 summer movie "Super 8."
Losses like that would cause most people to give up. Not Helton. He cites Johnny Depp, whose scenes in the 1986 Oscar-winning film "Platoon" were mostly cut because director Oliver Stone felt he was overshadowing the star, Charlie Sheen. It's no secret what became of Depp's career after that.
"It's stuff like that which gives me hope," Helton said. "People have overcome worse scenarios than I've ever encountered."
Besides, oftentimes all it takes is something negligible to catapult one's opportunities. Brad Pitt had a small role in "Thelma & Louise," but taking his shirt off in one of those few scenes got him leading-man status on the Silver Screen thereafter.
"Those pictures put two commas in his paycheck," Helton said. "I'm looking for that role, put myself in the next strata."
He admits pursuing such goals requires discipline. While friends may be out partying, Helton's at home memorizing lines for an audition that may yield nothing, or studying movies like an athlete may watch game film.
He approaches his health as part of his work too. Helton abstains from drinking, adheres to a strict diet, and is a regular at the gym - not to boost his ego but to advance his career.
"I look at my diet as part of my business," Helton said. "I try to eat food that fuels me instead of eating for pleasure."
All that work may finally be paying off. After that particular "halftime show," Helton is meeting with a casting director for a part in the movie version of the animated series "Thundercats." Then he's working on a short film with someone from the University of South Carolina's theater program, where Helton attended, in hopes of entering it in the Academy Awards' short film category.
"I've come way too far to turn back now," he said. "I feel like the hardest part is over."
Helton's YouTube channel may be found by searching under "dkhelton1."
wade.coggeshall@flyergroup.com
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