In this interview, Stisen discusses his successful mentality an inspiration he got from arnold schwarzenegger, Daniel was even on Arnold Schwarzenneger’s own fitness show Arnold Classic.
What are your greatest achievements in bodybuilding?
My greatest achievements as a bodybuilder were to win the National Championship both as a Junior and Senior the same year when I was 20 years-old. I think it was one of my biggest moments in life, after years of hard consistent work. Then there was my Comeback in the National Championship in 2013, after quitting competing after injuries in 2009.
Other things along the way were other wins at Grand Prix competitions, and competing in Arnold Schwarzenneger’s own fitness show Arnold Classic. When I look back, there were things like squatting a World Record in the gym at that time 370kg 21 years-old with a bodyweight of 99kg, was something I later saw as something of a great achievement - even if it doesn’t account for in the official books. I also loved coaching the National Team at the Arnold Classic twice, where the team won many gold medals and was for me a nice experience of setting others as a priority and not yourself, something you are used to as sportsman. I'll consider going back to compete as a veteran when I have managed to achieve most of my big goals in the film industry.
I love setting big goals in life and trying to achieve them.
How did you connect bodybuilding with acting?
One of the greatest things bodybuilding taught me was perfectionism, long-term focus, and consistent hard work and to be good. Plus the Arnold Schwarzenegger mentality, that I studied in my younger years as a bodybuilder.
These things had a strong influence on who I am today. This is some of the most important things I use in the film industry as a producer and also as an actor. Training and reflection make winners. it's the same principle in film. It’s a brutal industry, and its very hard to succeed, and be consistent, when no one believes in you, the stayer will, the repetition of the training of becoming a good actor, the rejections, until the sun starts to rise, and people start to see you, and suddenly things changes.
Those you looked up to suddenly come to you, the executives want meetings with you, award-winning film actors and film crew sees you as equal. I think that’s what I’ve used from bodybuilding, the mindset of a bodybuilder is what makes me succeed in the film industry, both as an actor and producer. It’s the greatest skill I have in life, this and combining with my good social skills.
Which were the most significant acting roles in your career?
So far my greatest role as actor is the one we will release soon playing the lead role in an action film called Retribution as the Hobo, I’m nominated best actor on several festivals as we speak, lets cross fingers and hope for a win, we have big plans for the Retribution Universe, something I will come back to later.
Major Hollywood movies I’ve been in is Justice League, where I was lucky to work with Gal Gadot and director Zack Snyder, Jurassic World, King Arthur, Paddington 2, BBC’s The Hollow Crown, where I worked alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in the battle scenes, BBC’s Shetland among other things. Plus I’m cast in ten upcoming American, British and European movies that are in different stages of development and pre-productions, where I either play the lead, the main villain, or one of the main supporting roles, some of these will be announced over the next half year.
You are also involved in very big productions as an executive producer. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
When I started to plan my entrance into the movies from the fitness industry, I attacked it the same way as I did as a bodybuilder, Longterm, determined, and with a realistic strategy with a big ambition.
I fused all my skills, and I found out the best way for me to do this, is to be good, but also make and produce my own films. I knew this was possible, with the network I already had, and with the skills, I was born with. So I started to build a production system around myself, and this just grows, as people start to believe in me. This put me in a situation where I could pull strings just not for myself, but also for others. That put me in a position as an Executive Producer of movies on the side of the films I’m developing and producing myself through my own Film Production House.
What is your next move in the film industry and what else can we expect from you in the near future?
As we speak I’m Executive producing a coming WW2 Spy Drama called The Guarding Angel with a very strong European cast, where I will play the German nemesis of the film.
We are about to cast the British leading roles soon. I’m also Executive Producing another European based period film with some of the biggest continental European stars onboard, that’s not announced in the press yet.
My company and I will develop and produce two new movies over the next year, in addition to the Retribution film and TV series. So far everything we develop is action-packed, but try to keep a strong story beneath with a message, and use the action as the spice in the food. Why action? Because that’s what I watched as a teenager, that’s what inspired me to get into acting, and stunt training, it’s better to specialise and be good at something I believe and get known for it. That’s why I only want to do action roles as an actor for now.
Keep your eye out for the release of the Retribution teaser next month, and the release of the film in a few months, to see me as a leading action man, in a hard-hitting action-packed role. I like to call myself a Norwegian born Viking in conquest with a big love for the United Kingdom, where I live and its great history, with an Americanised mindset of believing in yourself and to do great things for others and myself.