Tom Mueller, who grew up in Prince George and was bouncer at a local watering hole back in the day, takes his experience to a role in the award-winning television series Blackstone where.
Mueller's character, a smarmy Rick Amenakew, is the right-hand man for the band chief of Blackstone First Nation, the fictional locale where the television drama takes place.
The show, broadcast Wednesdays on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, takes on difficult issues like addiction, missing women and foster care.
In Blackstone's first season it earned two Canadian Geminis, two B.C. Leos and three Alberta Rosie awards.
"There's been numerous new actors coming on board the show this season and it's going to be amazing what they do," said Mueller. "In the beginning of season two, there's a change for Rick because he's trying to make the right decisions but finds himself struggling with that because he's always been known as Chief Andy Fraser's henchman. At the same time he sees his community struggling and failing and finds himself in heated discussions throughout different scenes with the chief."
The Chief is starting to question Rick's loyalty and discovers Rick might be an obstacle as the Chief continues with his nepotism and corruption.
"So it's a fun character to play and there's a lot of different emotions coming out of this character right now," said Mueller, who recently delivered an anti-drug, anti-gang message to youth in Fort St. John. "Rick wants to be good but he finds himself involved in a lot of the corruption that goes on in Blackstone."
Mueller said he has seen the seedier side of life and takes the opportunity as a successful First Nations person to speak to youth about how to get into the entertainment industry and avoid drug and alcohol addiction and the crime element that can be so strong in some smaller communities in the central interior region of B.C.
"I was no angel in my past so I've done several keynote speaking events and it's important to emphasize to youth that a good, positive lifestyle is important," said Mueller, who holds the title of 2011 Global Country Star and is actively pursuing advancement in his music career as well as acting and running the Platinum Talent Management agency in Calgary.
