Julie Conlon
Equinox Staff
When Keene State College sophomore Zachary Koehler saw the James Bond film “Casino Royale” in seventh grade, something inside him clicked.
“I looked at the film not just for entertainment. I noticed things like camera angle and lighting,” he said, “I thought, maybe I could get into this.”
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But Koehler’s entrance into the world of acting did not come that soon. Growing up in Bedford, N.H., Koehler dedicated his time to basketball, lacrosse, and football, according to his mother, Pam Koehler. It wasn’t until Koehler was in his sophomore year of high school when he glanced at a modeling post card that he thought of acting again. Though the card advertised a modeling agency, Koehler explained, there were spaces for acting auditions. With encouragement from his mother, the sophomore gave it a shot.
Koehler’s first experience was positive, he said, but too expensive, so he put his budding dream on hold until later that year Koehler responded on a whim to audition for Bedford High School’s production of “Grease.”
“I decided to audition for a role, but at the last second I got cold feet and pulled out!” Koehler explained the next day the band director summoned Koehler from class and made him audition on the spot.
“He made me do it, and I got the role of Vince Fontaine,” Koehler said.
Though Koehler’s first experience on stage was a small role, it proved enough to allow the spark he felt in seventh grade to grow.
“I thought, ‘Wow this is really cool,’” he said, recalling his first stage experience. “I loved how I could become different on stage.” Koehler acted again his junior year with a small role in his high school’s production of “The Wiz.” Motivated to pursue greater roles, Koehler called New England’s Model Group, based in Manchester, N.H., found an agent, and auditioned and took classes.
Koehler’s work paid off when he landed a role in his high school’s production of “Oklahoma!” as Judd Fry his senior year.
“I had a singing part for this role, and I had never sung before,” Koehler explained, “That was probably my favorite part I’ve ever done, theatre wise.”
Koehler’s mother commented, “It went over fantastically. He was just incredible.”
Lisa Moore, the Bedford High School Theatre program director, worked with Koehler on “Oklahoma!”
Commenting on Koehler’s performance in “Oklahoma!” Moore said, “He was incredible in that role, he stole the show,” Moore continued, “He took it so seriously and was so supportive of the whole production—what a triumph.”
In March of 2010, Koehler received a call from his agent to audition for a CBS pilot called “Quintuplets”, where he would work opposite “House” star Amber Tamblyn.Koehler explained it was a minor role with approximately three minutes of screen time.
Koehler explained that on-set, the “star” treatment overwhelmed him.
“I had my own van, make-up people, personal assistant, and my very own trailer,” he said, “I can see how people in the film industry get cocky because you really get waited on hand and foot.”
Koehler spent six hours on one scene that day working with Tamblyn, who he said encouraged him to continue pursuing acting.
“She told me not to feel like I had to put on this whole different person in front of the camera. That’s kind of been my motto.”
Koehler said the pilot never aired.
“I never even saw it,” Koehler said, “But I wasn’t discouraged because in this industry,” Koehler explained, “there are hot times, and there are times when nothing happens.”
Koehler’s words became his reality when after the CBS pilot flop, he didn’t hear from his agency for three months. Finally in May, 2010, Koehler received a call from his agency and auditioned for a role in “What’s Your Number,” starring Anna Faris.
“I was just a background person–my job was to walk across the camera in a hotel. I said three lines,” Koehler described.
Koehler joked about meeting Anna Faris. “She’s so short,” Koehler stated, “she’s not as pretty as she appears to be on camera.”
Koehler recalled noticing for the first time how easily the “whole being an actor thing” could go to one’s head as he watched Faris boss the crew around.
“I’d like to think I’d never be like that,” Koehler concluded, “but she seemed nice and she was easy to talk to.”
In the fall of 2010, Koehler began attending KSC, his second choice to Emerson College. At KSC, Koehler declared a double major in film and computer science.
Koehler’s father, Jeff, though supportive of Koehler’s acting career, said he was pleased to see his son also pursue another career.
Jeff Koehler said, “He’s got to make a name for himself before it gets easier. At least he has something to fall back on.”
Koehler’s mother echoed her husband and said, “I really admire him for stepping out of the traditional box to do something he knows he really enjoys.”
In January, 2012, Koehler auditioned for two major roles. The first was for a Hasbro commercial.
Koehler excitedly explained his second January audition for a role opposite his idol, Tom Hanks.
“I auditioned to play Tom Hank’s son in the movie ‘Captain Phillips,’” Koehler stated. “Hanks is a huge idol of mine.”
Koehler explained the film, produced by Kevin Spacey for Columbia Pictures, tells the story of the dramatic rescue of Captain Richard Phillips, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduate held captive for five days by Somali pirates in 2009.
Today, Koehler plays the waiting game.Koehler stated the waiting can be stressful, but in the end, it proves worth it.
“I’m in it because I like it a lot, it’s an easy way to get stress out and not worry about things in my own life and be someone else for a while,” Koehler said. Mackenzie Roberts, a student at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., acted with Koehler at Bedford High.
“Zak has a way of making people laugh in pretty much everything he does. Not everyone can step outside of themselves as a performer and be that creative,” Roberts commented. Roberts continued, “Zak’s best qualities are his humor and what a great performer he is. I have no doubt that what he’s doing he’ll be continuing his profession as an actor.”
Director Moore concluded, “I think he has all the pieces that he needs because he’s open, he’s got natural talent, and he’s willing to learn. He doesn’t seem bothered by rejection. As long as he keeps that perspective, he’s a great model for anyone going into this field. I love that about him. That’s going to serve him well.”
Julie Conlon can be contacted at jconlon1@ksc.mailcruiser.com