How Corbin Became an Actor

Picture this: 1974, a wild Blaxploitation movie called Three the Hard Way, starring the legendary Jim Brown and Fred Williamson. Enter Corbin Bernsen, who got the acting bug thanks to his dad, producer Harry Bernsen Jr. Fancy that! The script had a bit about “a pair of naked young limbs, thrashing in the backseat of a Rolls Royce.” Corbin dutifully made out with a girl, met Jim Brown, and hey, his dad even wanted his tricked-out Camaro to blow up on screen! Talk about a dramatic launch into Hollywood!

A Peek into Corbin’s Early Days

But hold your horses! Corbin’s cinematic journey traces back even further—to the iconic 1967 flick Clambake with Elvis Presley. “Yep, I’m in there!” he chuckles, adding how he’s also credited for taking karate classes with Bruce Lee. Yep, in case you’re wondering, there’s a record of that! He jokes he might have just been a wee babe tagging along with his mom, actress Jeanne Cooper, who was busy filming with Roger Corman in those days.

Family Ties and New Adventures

Fast forward to the present, and Corbin is back in the game with his new series Woodstockers, which is written and directed by none other than his son, Oliver Bernsen. In this show, Corbin plays Lenny, a dude who’s trying to piece together his life after a rough patch—divorce, loss of a best friend, you name it. So, what does a guy do in such dire times? He heads back to Woodstock to relive the good ol’ hippie days!

Finding a Bit of Himself in Lenny

Corbin laughs, saying, “I AM Lenny!” Well, not exactly. He has a wonderful family, unlike Lenny’s estranged daughter. Still, there’s a bit of a life reckoning happening as Corbin navigates the ups and downs just like Lenny does, aiming to tackle every season of life in the show. The next season? Winter! And let’s just say it’s going to be a frosty adventure.

Young Eye, Old Soul

Oliver chimes in saying, “The cool part of this is blending life into fiction!” His fresh perspective gave him the power to create a character that’s both relatable and surprising. It’s like telling a grandpa’s wild stories through the eyes of a young whippersnapper—who wouldn’t want to watch that?

The Unique Opportunity of Woodstockers

As they got to shooting, things got pretty playful on set, especially when Oliver was directing his old man to push the limits in some scenes. “You wrote it! Go on! Rip that bong!” he’d joke. This father-son duo saw Woodstockers as a unique chance to revisit the indie spirit from Corbin’s early days, harking back to acting in low-budget films produced by Roger Corman. Corbin’s first acting gig was a zany car chase film called Eat My Dust! where he hilariously remembers his iconic line to Ron Howard!

Pioneering Indie TV

Breaking away from typical production methods, the duo took the plunge and made Woodstockers on their own, sharing it on YouTube and hoping for the best. “This indie TV vibe is fresh and exciting, a perfect playground to explore creativity!” Oliver muses, pointing out how their approach breathes new life into storytelling.

Returning to Roots with a New Twist

Corbin smiles as he recalls the thrill of indie filmmaking, saying he’s grateful to get back to those roots again. “Sure, I love the big productions with massive trailers, but there’s something so exhilarating about that indie feel from Corman’s days. It’s like bringing that pioneer spirit back!”

So, here’s to Corbin and Oliver Bernsen, who are making waves on their own terms in the world of entertainment, proving sometimes the best ideas come from those humble beginnings—like blowing up a car with Jim Brown!