A man who grew up and went to school in Bradford has found his
own glory in an extra role in the new movie “Blades of Glory.”

During his first extra job, Nathan Ford, who currently lives in
Burbank, Calif., plays a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman in the
background of the movie about two rival Olympic ice skaters
stripped of their gold medals and permanently banned from men’s
single competition but find a loophole allowing them to qualify as
a pairs team. The comedy stars Will Ferrell and Jon Heder.

“You can see me clearing a path for the mascot Snowball,” Ford
said Thursday. “You can also see me when they arrest the brother
and sister and they start making out and you see me in the
background responding to that. You can also see me in a couple of
glances here and there, but those two scenes are … my two or three
seconds of face time.”

Ford said he went through a Hollywood company that provides the
services of extras to get the part in “Blades of Glory.”

Ford said movie projects provide profiles of what they’re
looking for in extras, including physical characteristics. Then,
those who want the part will send a picture of themselves, which
are used to pick the extra. This is how Ford was chosen for “Blades
of Glory.”

“It was a lot of fun. I was able to see Will Ferrell’s hairy
back,” Ford joked. “And I actually wrestled with Amy Poehler from
Saturday Night Live. But that didn’t show up on the movie. Maybe it
will be in the DVD. I don’t know.”

Ford said he talked to Andy Richter and Romany Malco who played
Jay in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” off-camera about movies.

Ford grew up and went to high school in Bradford. He said he
delivered The Era for seven years in the Stone Avenue area. His
parents still live in Warren; he moved to Burbank on March 18,
2006.

“I went out there with the intention of acting,” Ford said.
“I’ve been interested (in acting) really all my life, but
particularly in college (at Asbury College in Kentucky). I
performed the Constitutional Peasant scene from Monty Python, doing
all three parts by myself. I liked the response I got” and decided
to continue with that.

Ford said the extent of his acting experience was being involved
in his college theater department, performing in some Shakespeare
plays and playing Captain Hook in a local program.

Ford is currently doing some shows with his comedy troupe “The
Unmentionables,” who host film sketches online and perform at
comedy clubs, including the Viper Room on the Sunset Strip. He also
writes for the comedy group. The group is doing a Star Wars fan
film for the official fan film competition.

Ford explained the best way to get bigger roles, his general
goal, is to have headshots and an agent. He said he already has an
agent and is having his headshots processed. He said to really have
a speaking role, one must be a part of the Screen Actors Guild, and
to join the SAG, an actor must obtain three SAG vouchers.

“For someone who is doing extra work, you can get (an SAG
voucher) for one reason or another like being in water or falling
or any number of things that follow typical union rules for
actors,” Ford said.

Ford said he received two SAG vouchers during “Blades of Glory,”
pointing out that it was “terribly rare” since this was his very
first extra job.

“Most extras do extra work for several years and not get any
vouchers,” he said. “Actors are goofy … because they feel like
they’re owed something. If you’re just polite … do what you’re told
and be patient … people are more than willing to give you a hand
up.”

Ford said he’s interested in all facets of film including
directing, producing, writing and acting.

“It basically comes down to really being a starving actor,” Ford
said. “You really have to work at it and go out there and get it.
You have to really want it. Most people go out there and find it’s
really tough … and give up. Some do get lucky, but most people have
to work a good solid eight years to really make it anywhere. I will
do what I can to make movies.”