by John Hobbs
Photography by John Skalicky
Skalickyphoto.com

Paul Winston wants you to know that he’s a nice guy. And, in truth, the 26-year-old actor/model—with boy-next-door good looks—is as sweet as apple pie. After all, he cites his grandmother as the person he looks up to the most. But in Shattered Allegiance—a short film he not only starred in, but also wrote, directed and produced—Winston takes a decidedly darker turn. In the film, he plays Shawn Rourke, a tatted-up, skinheaded white supremacist, who—only after suffering a personal tragedy—begins to see the error in his racist thinking. “Although it’s a dark subject, my film carries an overall positive message that people are people, and a human being is a human being, regardless of the color of their skin,” Winston explains.

AGE: 26
CITY: Los Angeles
FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND DAY OFF:
At the beach!
THREE THINGS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST:
Travel the world, go skydiving, and bring my grandma as my date to my first Academy Awards attendance.
PERSON YOU LOOK UP TO THE MOST:
My grandmother Beverly
RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOU:
I wrote/produced/directed and was the lead actor of the film Shattered Allegiance.
TURN ONS: A good sense of humor is totally sexy.
ONE REGRET: I would have paid more attention in school. I’ve always been a dreamer and never fully focused on my studies.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN L.A.?

I have been in Los Angeles for almost three years now. I’m originally from Northern California.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FILM, SHATTERED ALLEGIANCE.

Shattered Allegiance is a story [that] covers a current and controversial topic in the United States today—racism—and the negative influence it has on people and our country.

WHAT INSPIRED THE FILM?

My friend Marques and I were brainstorming unique ideas for a film, and I decided to create a story based on real events that we both have encountered, witnessed and researched. We wanted to open eyes to the subject and show people that racism still exists and how wrong it is.

IS THAT A HARDER SELL, CONVINCING PEOPLE THAT RACISM STILL EXISTS, AS PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA HEADS TO INAUGURATION?

With Barack Obama’s elect[ion], we show progress, but some people in this country still have much racism to overcome.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER FILMS IN THE WORKS CURRENTLY?

I have a full feature that I have been writing off and on for a couple of years, but I am anxious to work on other talented filmmakers’ projects and focus on acting.

AT WHAT MOMENT DID YOU REALIZE THIS WAS THE FIELD FOR YOU?

In my first drama class I always wanted to rehearse more than anyone else because I wanted perfection. It was my junior year in high school, and it was my first formal training in acting. I fell in love with it the moment I got into it.

IF YOU HAD TO HANG UP YOUR FILM ASPIRATIONS ALTOGETHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO DO?

I have many other interests and things that I love to do, but, as for my career, I wouldn’t be anything else. Acting is the only thing for me.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM ROLE?

I don’t like to pick one role in particular because I have so many. If I had to narrow it down, it would be the character of Richard Marcinko from [his] New York Times best-selling autobiography, Rogue Warrior. The book is amazing, and all I thought about while reading it was it being a movie and me portraying Richard Marcinko.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR SHATTERED ALLEGIANCE?

This year is going to be very exciting. We have already been accepted to three film festivals—and counting—and I’m looking forward to having other people view my work. I’ve never been to a festival before, and it will be a great opportunity for me to get some exposure and show the world my talent. 2009, here we come!

See the Trailer imdb.com/title/tt1342939/