Having a Ball

The minute Adam Aalderks learned that he had booked the role of Travis Mach on HBO’s hit series Ballers, the fitness buff started whipping his body into the shape of a hefty linebacker who could run and tackle with the best of the NFL.

The diet and exercise needed to buff up six weeks before shooting his first episode was a familiar routine to the actor, who also played athletes in the feature film Ashby (2015), opposite Emma Roberts, and DVD and Digital Video Curveball (2016), starring Rockmond Dunbar and Lynn Whitfield.

What Aalderks didn’t know, was how much fun it would be to work with veteran actors Dwayne Johnson and Rob Corddry, who star in the comedy that looks at the crazy lifestyles and real-life problems of former and current football players.

TelevisionAcademy.com contributor Dinah Eng chatted with Aalderks about his adventures on the set of Ballers and his journey to Hollywood.

You played collegiate football and coached high school athletics before going into acting.  How much of that did you bring to your character, Travis Mach?

I was told my character was a little rough around the edges, and had a hard time controlling his narcissistic thoughts. I’ve played with linebackers who are Travis Mach. They say what they want to say, and don’t care what other people think of them. I ran my mouth when I played football as well, so I just used that sarcastic wit.

I love playing Travis. If there’s a really sentimental moment, Travis has no issue ruining that moment. It can look comedic, or like he’s rude and spoiled. It’s all about him dealing with his own insecurity by hiding behind sarcastic humor.

What did you do to get into shape for the camera?

I went from eating pizza and Monster Energy drinks to chicken, eggs, steak, broccoli and a lot of water.  There were times I was tempted to cheat, but I didn’t. I set up a camera and took photos of myself from different angles, so that I’d know what areas I needed to tighten up. I was 230 lbs. when I started, with 18 to 20 percent body fat. 

My workouts were very intense.  I’d train for two hours every day.  After the six weeks, I was 235 lbs. with 11 to 12 percent body fat, and I could see the changes. Linebackers are very strong and fast, and I wanted to be in the kind of shape that reflected that. I also knew it was a recurring role with the possibility of more episodes, so I wanted to give it my best shot.

So what was it like on set?

Man, what’s not to like about being on set with The Rock? Dwayne teaches people more than he will ever know. He talks to fans and people on the set with respect and humility, while releasing his charm and charisma. The same is true of Rob. He’d joke with the extras and me, even though he’d never met me before.

There’s a lot of stress on sets because there’s a lot of money being spent every time the camera rolls. But being on the set of Ballers is like being with family. It was a very creative environment. People watching the show will never realize how much improv went on. It was about approaching scenes, and being open to trying different things.

How did you get into acting?

As a kid, growing up in Iowa, I wanted to be a professional football player, a musician, and an actor. In college, I played collegiate football, and realized I wasn’t prepared for the constant strategy meetings that went on, beyond playing on the field.

So I joined a metal band as a drummer and toured for a few years, and finished my degree to be a high school teacher. I tried the 9 to 5 grind, and found out I wasn’t cut out for teaching, either. I like the unknown and uncertainty in life. So I decided to challenge the impossible, and go into acting.

I talked to a casting director, who said Atlanta was offering a lot of tax incentives to production companies, which made it a good place to find opportunities to get into the business. So I moved to Atlanta and started doing independent projects, a fitness DVD, and a couple of pilots to build a resume. At first, I did the acting jobs for free, and worked full-time at a gym for income. Then I worked my way up.

Sounds like you had certain goals for getting acting gigs, like an athlete working a training program.

Exactly. After the first year, I put a $50 price tag on my day rate, and made the commitment not to work for free anymore. I decided I’d either get $50, or I wouldn’t act anymore. I had a rule of 10. When I booked 10 roles at $50, I’d move the rate up to $100 a day.  I’ve always had that fitness mentality. If you get to 10 reps, you keep pushing. That leaked into my acting career.

You learn at every level in this industry, and it’s important to go through each step. It’s important to experience mistakes early in your career when they don’t matter as much.

After booking Ashby, I got a guest shot on NCIS: New Orleans. That was my first time being on a SAG set with a larger budget. That’s when I said I’d only work on productions with a budget that put out high quality value, or I’d never book again. That kept me digging, and I got to Ballers.

How did you celebrate getting on the show?

I’ve always been a gym rat, and when I moved to Atlanta, I did personal training with some clients that I still have today. They’re like family to me, and have shared my failures and successes. When Episode 4 – the first one where Travis Mach appears -- came on, I invited my friends to come over to my house to watch it.

The show airs on Sunday at 10 p.m., so I didn’t think many people would come. But we packed the place and had a party. It was pretty special.

How rough was it getting started in the business?

My first apartment in Atlanta was in an unsafe part of town, but it was cheap. Sometimes, friends would want to go to the movies, or a club, and I couldn’t afford to go. So I didn’t go. It takes a lot of sacrifice. I’ve had to give up savings accounts and financial security in order to act.

I’m a very social person, and it’s difficult for some to understand that I can’t always be there for them. If I have to leave town for work, I can’t talk to them for a while. My family in Iowa sees me only once or twice a year. Not being able to be there with family for birthdays and holidays is hard. They’ve been more than supportive, though, because they want me to succeed.

So how do you stay focused between bookings?

If you love to act, even auditioning fulfills the passion. You never know what the casting director or producers are looking for. I joke that they’re looking for the best eyebrows. I just want to act, so for me, an audition is acting. I can dig into a role, make it like Play-Doh, and look at my choices. As long as I’m as prepared as I can possibly be for the role, I can live with whether you book me or not.

I tell people, if acting is a money thing for you, go get a regular job. If it’s about being famous, there are different ways to get fame. This is a game of sales and numbers. If you can bring the passion, the talent, and the will, you will book eventually.

What’s the best part of working on Ballers?

I love the people on the show. I got a chance to meet up with the guys six months after we wrapped, and nothing’s changed. I cherish their friendships.  I just hope I’ll be asked back for next season.