EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Charlie Koznick Talks COASTAL DREAMS

Charlie Koznick stars in NBC's web soap, COASTAL DREAMS, as Christian. Koznick was born and raised in Minnesota, where alpine ski racing was a large part of his life. It wasn't until his senior year of college that he even thought about the acting profession. He now has several films under his belt and has become a familiar face in prime time episodic television (CSI: NEW YORK; COLD CASE; JOAN OF ARCADIA). We spoke with him on his way to set of NBC’s LAS VEGAS where he has a recurring role.

WE LOVE SOAPS: Tell us a little something about your background. How did you get from Minnesota to L.A.?
CHARLIE KOZNICK: I actually went to school in San Diego and was a Finance major, had never done anything with acting or plays or anything of that sort. I came up to L.A. for a friend’s birthday party, and while I was there I ran into a manager who asked if I was interested in acting. I said it had never crossed my mind. They told me if you’re near a place you can take some classes, do it and see what you think and we’ll represent you. I decided to finish college and after my senior year, I moved up to L.A.

WE LOVE SOAPS: And you bypassed an alpine skiing career along the way?
CHARLIE KOZNICK: Usually with skiing by the time you get to eighteen you have a pretty good idea if you’re going to have a future career and make it to the Olympics, and it was not headed in that direction for me at all. My sister was a three time Olympian and I had kind of following in her footsteps and I wasn’t up to par.

WE LOVE SOAPS: You had many roles in TV and film prior to COASTAL DREAMS. What type of roles have you played so far?
CHARLIE KOZNICK: I’ve tended to, which my family doesn’t quite get, play murderers or rapists or bad guy characters. Until the recurring character that I’m playing now on LAS VEGAS came along.

WLS: How did you land the role of Christian on COASTAL DREAMS?
CHARLIE KOZNICK: I had to go in and read for the casting directors. Then I came back and read for the producers. Then from there they brought their top three or four choices in for chemistry reads to mix the actors to see how it would all come together.

WE LOVE SOAPS: How does working on COASTAL DREAMS compare to LAS VEGAS or some of your other acting experiences?
CHARLIE KOZNICK: It was actually a really unique experience in that day one for me was day one for everyone else – the director, producers – so it was more of a collaborative effort. When you’re doing a network show, you’re a guest in their home and do the work they want you to do. You just come in with your character and play the character the way they want it. With “Coastal Dreams,” it was a lot of fun, being able to provide more input [to the directors].

WE LOVE SOAPS: In a nutshell, how would you describe the character of Christian?
CHARLIE KOZNICK: He’s definitely not evil, mean or sinister. I think that sometimes he has good intentions and maybe doesn’t know what he’s fully gotten himself into with the mysterious side of things. I think he’s just gotten a little bit over his head with the man with the ring and is at a crossroads of whether to continue to work for him or go based on what is in front of him and how he feels.

WE LOVE SOAPS: Officially, Christian is dating April. But as a fan, I find myself rooting for him to connect with Zoe.
CHARLIE KOZNICK: April is beautiful and successful and older and every young guy would be immediately attracted to her right away. But when he met Zoe, he came across someone who actually cares about what he cares about. He’s in the relationship with April, but here’s someone [Zoe] who has shown an interest and passion in something he has a passion about. Emotionally he’s getting a lot more from Zoe.

WE LOVE SOAPS: There are 24 episodes of COASTAL DREAMS scheduled at this time. Can you give us any hints about what is coming up?
CHARLIE KOZNICK: The little hint I can give away is… so far through the episodes we are looking for Christian’s father and who killed him. There are some twists about who his father is. His father isn’t all that meets the eye. As a hint, it probably only confuses things more. [Laughs]

WE LOVE SOAPS: Is there a chance more episodes will be produced?
CHARLIE KOZNICK: It’s definitely an open ended deal. When all of the cast and crew signed on with NBC, we knew it was a new medium that they wanted to do a test and react with it. If the reaction was good, they might produce more.

WE LOVE SOAPS: You were recently named to the We Love Soaps Top Soap Newcomers of 2007 list (at #4).
CHARLIE KOZNICK: A really good buddy of mine is Billy Miller, who was #3. We were buddies in L.A. then he moved to New York to do ALL MY CHILDREN.  He was joking with me, “I beat you by a spot!”

WE LOVE SOAPS: What are your long-term aspirations in the business? TV? Film?
CZ: It’s a toss up. I could do movies or television, I really like them both. Movies are amazing because the process is so much longer and detailed and you get to be on amazing locations. But then TV is great because you get to sleep in your own bed at night and you know your hours and can have a personally life outside of it. I would do both. I just love to act. I think it’s the greatest gift you get to do.