“Portal” is currently available on iTunes and other similar services. (Handout by Ryan Sprague)
Host of “Somewhere In The Skies” podcast Ryan Sprague is merging his theater background, and on-camera researcher skills for his role in the independent horror movie “Portal.”
Sprague has appeared multiple as an on-air expert/ researcher on CW’s “Mysteries Decoded” show, but in “Portal” he will be portraying a different type of paranormal investigator.
“When I was approached by Dean Alioto to be in the movie, I was a little nervous because I hadn't acted in something for a very long time, but when he explained the premise to me, and that I would be playing a paranormal investigator I thought it would be a fun way to show how ridiculous these paranormal TV shows can get when they become very popular,” Sprague said. “ On ‘Mysteries Decoded’ I'm myself; composed, calm, and curious. In ‘Portal’ I went the complete opposite of who I am and cranked up the confidence, the aggressiveness, and the arrogance. It was a lot of fun.”
The film is described as a supernatural horror-comedy, and available currently via Amazon, iTunes, AppleTV, VUDU, Google Play, Microsoft Movies and TV FandangoNow. The official synopsis of the film reads “an ambitious ghost hunter performs a risky ritual opening a portal to "the other side", he and his team quickly find themselves way in over their heads in a fight for survival against an ancient demonic force.”
Sprague used the abundance of paranormal/ ghost-hunting shows, and the loud personalities the hosts tend to have as his inspiration for the role.
“I basically looked at all the ghost hunting shows out there, and created a Frankenstein version of all of them,” Sprague said. “From the cliche black clothes to the fancy scarves, to the over-the-top feeling of self-importance. It didn't hurt that he gave me a complete ghost-hunting team with two tech guys and an awesome psychic medium. This elevated the notion that I was the leader of the pack, and had to amp up the smugness and cockiness, so you'll definitely recognize who I was trying to truly impersonate and bring a little of myself to in the process.”
-By MIKE DAMANTE