Ousted DAYS Hunk: "The Energy Put Into Characters and Storylines Was NOT Evenly Distributed"
Don't expect Mark Hapka (Nathan) to go quietly off into the dark night of Salem, USA. The talented, former Days of Our Lives stud did a chat with his fans last night to express himself, and boy did he! One of the peeps over at guilty pleasure message board Daytime Royalty transcribed the following excerpt. Check it out after the jump!
MarkHapka> First I want to apologize to everyone who waited patiently for over an unnecessary YEAR for MATE to reunite JUST to have the writers spit in ur face and throw the storline away.
<MarkHapka> So...there are many factors tht play into this decision.
<MarkHapka> Mainly it was a mix of creative restrictions on my end for the show and other projects.
<MarkHapka> So...I spoke with TPTB a few months back to discuss my concerns with the direction of the charactor...
<MarkHapka> I felt similar to the way you are all feeling. I didn't feel as though I was given a fair chance to show my ability. I felt my storys were treated entirely too casually
<MarkHapka> Lets not be confused..I am VERY grateful for the opportunity Corday origionally gave me and have had an amazing time on the show!
<MarkHapka> I love everyone over there and I think there is just alot of confusion and split decisions being made in attempt to keep ratings high and the show on the air
<MarkHapka> I was patient
<MarkHapka> I know ppl have been there longer and deserved thier screen time
<MarkHapka> When I was hired I was under the impression that they believed in me to help bring the ratings up.
<MarkHapka> So after the discussion there were some attempts (i.e. Quarantine) to give me something I could dig into.
<MarkHapka> The resonse was great and I felt great for having great material to work with.
<MarkHapka> haha...comas last for months...some very small boring storylines even longer. They got that MATE storline done in a week!
<MarkHapka> It was a tease. I wanted more.....I wanted more than anything to be a part of the success of the show and wasn't given a fair chance.
<MarkHapka> I asked nicely for DOOL to either utilize me, or let me go. I thanked them for everything and expressed how hard I was willing to work for them.
<MarkHapka> Before they broke MATE up the storlines were fun...
<MarkHapka> then it became a year of casual scene after casual scene.
<MarkHapka> I LOVE Shelley Hennig. she was great to work with. we were neglected a bit.
<MarkHapka> I was used as a scene filler to fill in and listen to other characters issues.
<MarkHapka> I didn't want to go....but am relieved to not have to turn down GREAT projects anymore.
<MarkHapka> I wish I had the opportunity to work with other great actors on the show. I just wasn't spread out very far.
<MarkHapka> You ask if you should start a campaigne?
<MarkHapka> Why the f*ck not ? :)
<MarkHapka> Let them know that you guys were watching and wanted to see more. I don't think they got it.
<MarkHapka> I don't even know if they cared to know.
<MarkHapka> The energy put into characters and storylines was NOT evenly distributed.
<MarkHapka> I would love to come back and kick some ass...
<MarkHapka> They need to give me some ass if I do.
<MarkHapka> Im sure I will get an earful...
<MarkHapka> Is it twisted that I look forward to it?
<MarkHapka> I want every person in here to understand that we are ALL EQUAL! in life, in our careers and we do not deserve to feel below ANYONE. It's a creative process, not a dictatorship. We aren't puppets...we aren't robots!
<MarkHapka> We are creative human beings that all deserve a say.
<MarkHapka> You should never feel as though your voice is an annoyance. Your opinion is just as good as the next persons. (even if it sucks ;) )
<MarkHapka> If you feel the same way, by all means let them know!
<MarkHapka> They are due to feel uncomfortable or like they made a bad choice.
<MarkHapka> Ken Corday is a good man. Gary Tomlin really belived in me from what I was told.
<MarkHapka> I don't know who got the final say but that person is going to be the demise of this show if there isn't a powershift.
<MarkHapka> I'm not trying to burn any bridges in any way here. I am simply given credit where credit is due.
<MarkHapka> I haven't said an ill word about anyone.
<MarkHapka> I simply have an opinion of the collaborative efforts
<MarkHapka> I see so much potential in the show and it's so clear to me some of the simple changes that can be made to better it...
<MarkHapka> I don't know the future of Nathan.
<MarkHapka> I curious to see the response to all of your voices.
<MarkHapka> I think if they allowed Nathan and Melanie a chance things would have been pretty entertaining.
<MarkHapka> As far as "Higley" goes...we don't speak. We never really have. We may have uttered a few words once during the emmys..thats it tho.
I doubt Hapka will have any trouble booking work. His look screams 90210 or Pretty Little Panty Droppers. Also, I personally would love to read a fitness/self help book penned by the actor, who admitted to having shed a ton of weight. Come on, Mark. Help a brutha out! (Reaches for Krispy Kreme)
Photo credit: Brian Westin
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Comments
10 December 2009
1 year 19 weeks
This guy sounds like an egotistical ass to me. You were hired to bring up the ratings? Ummm, sorry pal, but I had never even heard your name before you popped into Salem so I doubt they saw you as a huge ratings draw. Good luck in your future endeavors.
5 July 2008
6 hours 4 min
Days May Have Told Him That His Look Etc Will Bring In New Viewerd.
Doesnt Sound Ego Driven To Me
21 June 2010
30 weeks 6 days
Some of things he said made me raise my eyebrows... But I'm glad he spoke out.
21 May 2009
1 year 2 weeks
I am sure the young actor will have no problems with staying employed, and I understand his saying that his character was not given enough to do - but if you look at DAYS and every other soap on the screen, there are countless talented people with little or nothing to do. The veterans are probably the most under-used people in the bunch, but most of them stay silent because they are grateful to just be employed. Mark will probably be one of the fortunate ones - he is young and has the marketable look that will benefit him in Hollywood. I feel sorry for the more mature actors who are sitting back waiting for a storyline but who are afraid to take a stand because they know that their employment options are much more limited. Some are vocal about their lack of work (hello, Nancy Lee Grahn), but most remain silent and loyal to their employers and grateful for whatever they can get, and I don't blame them, the job market being what it is today.
5 July 2008
6 hours 4 min
I See All This As Very Honest. Blunt Yes But Sometimes Blunt Is Necessary.
29 December 2008
3 weeks 5 days
I feel bad for the Mate fans who have waited over a year for their couple to only get slapped in the face i have been there. I don't invest in any soap couples anymore because it has become very obvious to me they really don't care about the fans.
8 September 2009
9 hours 15 min
A lot of people complain about the actors, and while I know some can be "divas" or "DiVOs", people rarely like to complain about the egos of the writers, and network execs, whose personal agendas are also at fault when things like this happen.
I'm glad he spoke out. He is a pretty talented guy, and he looks more suited for movies or cable. Daytime just may be too small a pond for him.
11 April 2009
1 hour 14 min
Best wishes to Mark on his career. I hope that he can find equal or greater success in other projects.
Being an actor is not easy. There are few decent paying acting jobs. Whether people understand that a job on a soap is actually a great gig for many actors since it is a steady pay check. Unfortunately, it's not always as artistically fulfilling as some actors want or need.
A lot of soaps have been flexible in allowing their actors to moonlight on outside projects, guest starring on TV shows or movies. It's a shame that NBC couldn't help Hapka find guest roles on any of its shows maybe that would have been more helpful.
16 June 2010
1 day 2 hours
He is not the first person who left days and complained about getting hired and then not doing anything except being window dressing. One I am thinking of won an Emmy last year for her work on another show. She also had main story on the other show. Smart to leave. The other one that left Days and went on another show complained about Days also. They became part of a main family and had big part for a couple of years. They are both fantastic actors and appealing to fans. Both left Days for similar reasons. The show was always known to cater to the same actors over and over. But, from the shows pov, they do tend to stay third. I guess it depends on what perspective you are looking from. Days tends to have story around the same actors/characters. Besides the two I mentioned, there are many more. I remember in interview AS said it had to be worth her while to stay. Sami is main focus and I don't see that changing. I do think the show would be smart to give CC (Carly) more story and Daniel, etc. They are also popular. CC has mass of fans who may stop watching if she doesn't get story soon. The ratings rose when she joined show. We all know that. Now where is she????????????????CC is not a diva. Not sure about some of the other ones on that show....I can see them getting mad or leaving if they are not featured or making enough money. IMHO
8 November 2009
2 weeks 6 days
Good for him for speaking out. He'd be good on a primetime soap or cable show. I'd love for him to show up in Shonda Rimes next project. He's got the hot doc thing going for him. Hell he could do a comedy too. Preferably a cable comedy or NBC comedy since those tend to utilize their ensembles better than other networks.
4 May 2008
41 weeks 5 days
Glad he spoke out. Now I hope he gets a role where he's naked all the time. Yummmmmmm!!!!!!
5 July 2008
6 hours 4 min
Mark Would Be Great On OLTL But If Another soap doesnt Snap Him Up, He Can sure Do Comedy
Take a Look at This from 2008, Pre-DAYS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLk6l2NKo1c
26 July 2010
1 year 8 weeks
This kid is hella-sexy and can act, but he doesn't have the least bit of humility. I think Nate and Melanie got their fair share of screen time. Perhaps more than any other genre, soaps are ensemble shows. Nobody is going to be continuously in the spotlight unless they reach Peter Reckell or Alison Sweeney levels of popularity.
21 November 2008
1 day 11 hours
Now that he is off Days, MH can now perhaps work on improving his atrocious spelling abilities. Maybe his next GREAT project will be to take an English class!
24 May 2010
1 year 7 weeks
It’s that ability to see the devilish little things in the details that makes you one of my favourite* posters, Scout.
*My British background
5 July 2008
6 hours 4 min
I Give MH Credit and I Find Him To have Humility. He's Not Just talking about His story but Days as a whole and I agree 100 % With What he's saying
12 February 2010
9 hours 41 min
I can see Mark being the next Josh Duhamel.....
He has sex appeal, edge, talent and did I mention sex appeal????
In three months, his daytime career will probably be a distant memory!!!
And this is why talented actors end up getting the shaft. They speak out against injustice and/or stupidity and the next thing they know they have a boot print on their ass!!
But it's like I always say: If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for ANYTHING!!!
I am sure his future is way brighter than anything Dena Higley or Ken Corday can provide!!!!
5 July 2008
6 hours 4 min
Wonderfully Said Alstonboy
12 February 2010
9 hours 41 min
Scout--
A man that sexy doesn't need to know how to spell!! He has so many other wonderful assets to balance things out................
And I agree with Alistair---
If he can take off his clothes, that's good enough for me!!!!!!!!!
12 February 2010
9 hours 41 min
Appleridge---
Thanks!!! Cheers!!!!
4 May 2008
41 weeks 5 days
The saddest part of this is we'll probably never see Lisa Trusel (Melissa) again.
18 November 2009
23 weeks 4 days
Allison Sweeney is going to guest on The Talk on Monday.I Thought she was leaving Days wend her contract is up.She get to much air time.Does Mark have a contract on Days of our lives so if is contract is not up they cant fired him until it expire I think.
12 February 2010
9 hours 41 min
I don't think Allison Sweeney will EVER leave DAYS!!
Why would she?? They treat her like the Queen of Sheeba...........
She's basically getting the treatment that Deidre Hall USED to get back in the day!!!!!
25 February 2009
6 weeks 5 days
Alstonboy: At least Marlena was enjoyable! Sami's on so much it's getting on my damn nerves!
22 January 2009
40 weeks 2 days
He sounds like an ass, I'm sorry but he does. I get that he is upset he got a bad storyline, but has he seen the other actors on DAYS? At least he get's screen time!
I'm a little surprised how many people are miffed he was let go. I always found Nathan boring and the his acting stiff. He is not a bad actor, but he is certainly not good enough to boast how the writers brought him to boost ratings. Please!
So, are we getting a recast or Nathan is simply leaving Salem?
12 February 2010
9 hours 41 min
Nathang--
Don't get me wrong. I am not necessarily a Sami fan/supporter. In fact, I have a love/hate relationship with Sami. Sometimes I want to invite her over to my house for strawberry daiquiris and other times I want to pay one of my female friends $10 but slap the (BLEEP)out of her!!
But Allison clearly gets the royal treatment over there. She's unlikely to get treated that well on any other show, so she'd be a fool to leave permanently--unless she decides to retire from acting completely and do something else with her life.
25 February 2009
6 weeks 5 days
Yeah. I understand Alstonboy. She's on waaaaaaaay too much, as are Chloe/Daniel/Melanie and of course EJ and Rafe.
12 February 2010
9 hours 41 min
Nathan--
I really don't watch DAYS that much anymore. I do enjoy Vivian, Kate, Stefano and Nicole, but the rest of the characters/stories are.....MEH.
I did catch the "big reveal" that Phillip was the babydaddy of Chloe's baby, expecting for Nadia Bjorlin to FINALLY step it up and deliver a good performance.
Needless to say, I was less than impressed. The writing and some of the acting left me needing a STIFF one......
Drink, that is!!!!!
22 January 2009
40 weeks 2 days
I think NB did good during the babydaddy reveal, it was pretty weak during the church but it got better and better the more desperate Chloe was feeling. I was surprised how good she was. She's still a eh actress but I gotta give her props there.
25 February 2009
6 weeks 5 days
Alstonboy: I agree about Nadia's acting. She's awful. I don't know if it's just me, but she seems worse than the first time around. I've never found her to be an important character. She's another character that gets thrown in our faces over and over.
I hate to say it, but, yeah, the show sucks. There's no way around it. I think they've written Vivian into a corner and Kate is, to use your word, MEH. The show needs a total makeover, meaning getting rid of Dena Higley. She is just plain BORING. I would even take someone like James Reilly, God rest his soul!