By Laura Alber and Albert L. Ortega (Photos by Ben Karson)

Seth Landau on location.

EZ was recently introduced to an aspiring writer/producer and actor, Seth Landau by EZ interview alumni, Daniel Schweiger of "Date or Disaster. Seth is in the process of completing his latest venture, "A.P.U.: Art, Pot and Underwear". In this interview, Seth will fill us in on this interesting story, and be sure to stay tuned to EZ for updates and release info!

Z: How did you come up with the idea for "A.P.U.: Art, Pot and Underwear"?

SL:  It's based on my former neighbor, Scooter. Scooter is this carefree, Elvis-esque looking party guy who's from farm country in Washington state and was a part of the Seattle grunge scene for a number of years. His band would open for Pearl Jam and Soundgarden and Alice in Chains before all of that was popular.

He tried his hand at music in L.A. for years, got burned out on it; moved back to Seattle and then eventually came back here (L.A.) and has been here for the past several years. I lived next door to Scooter for two years. And I mean NEXT DOOR. You see, the apartment complex was this run-down tenement in West Hollywood. All of the apartments were very small and the walls weren't just thin - if your neighbor sneezed, you heard it. Literally. Anyway, whenever I was stressed (often), all I would need to do is talk to Scooter. The man worries about *nothing* and is all about having a good time.

He's the kind of guy people just want to be around. You wouldn't believe the celebrities this guy just meets in bars around Hollywood, who end up hanging out with him. You would think he (as a fan) would be approaching the famous people, but it's just the opposite. In fact, just before we started shooting "A.P.U.", a creative exec for some big company approached him at a bar in Hollywood and, like, screamed: "Dude, you need to be in pictures. Here's my card, call me if you ever get headshots." Needless to say, that excited exec is one of what we hope will be many who want to see this thing.

On a personal level -- Scooter is an exceedingly gracious person, benevolent. And I respect people like that.

Z: What is the basic plot?

SL: It's sexual innuendo, drugs and rock n' roll!

It's actually about two movers to who steal a female movie star's underwear.

Meanwhile, there's trouble between Adrienne (the female movie star) and Kiko (her husband) - they have problems. But, like, rich problems. Nonetheless they are experiencing tumult. Surrounding them are the celeb hanger-ons around the house, contributing to the mess.

Throw in two proles such as Scooter and K.W. (his counterpart)…and, hopefully, hilarity ensues.

And they all live happily ever after. Just kidding.

Z: Tell us a little about your background.

SL: I've always performed in the theater since a real early age. Performing has always been my passion. I was born in Queens but grew up in Stony Brook, Long Island until my mom moved my sister and I to the Phoenix area when I was 12. The 6 years of being a Jew in public school in Gilbert, AZ spurred a lot of angst that was released during stand-up comedy during my college years, mainly at the Tempe Improv, which is incidentally the largest comedy club in the nation and right across the street from Arizona State University, from where I graduated in 1999. I received a broadcasting degree. I mostly worked at newspapers to make money during college.

After college I moved to Houston because I heard they had a great theater scene. Plus, I'm a warm-weather guy. I knew I'd make the move to L.A., but first wanted to do some acting elsewhere. So I auditioned for a couple of things in Houston and ended up doing a run of "Into the Woods" at the Masquerade Theater in The Heights section of town.

Shortly after, I moved to L.A. to settle into the film biz. I knew I would end up here ever since I was an extra on a movie set during college. It was some indie being shot at my favorite pizza place in Scottsdale AND I got to miss class with a semi-legitimate excuse. Actually, during that day, at one point, after a take, the director approached me and said: "Who are you? You look good on-camera." An auspicious start, I guess. I never really thought I looked that good off-camera.

Z: What possessed you to go out on your own with making this film?

SL: I think people will be entertained by "A.P.U." I think I have a pretty good commercial sensibility. I mean, I think I can create things that people will want to watch. And in Hollywood, no one is going to hand you anything. So why not make a film that people will want to watch? 

Scooter has always been in the back of my mind to center a story around. It so happened that the timing was right, e.g. we made the movie now.

Also, it was an eye-opener when my first part in a movie was cut out. It was a tiny part in an indie called "Ted Bundy." Troy. That was me. Short-shorts and all (the movie was set in the 70s). I remember during fitting, they were actually HEMMING my already short shorts. I tend to have more of a skater style, I guess influenced from my years in Arizona and extensive Rollerblading. I was a little freaked but once I got on set around everyone else doing the 70s garb, I was comfortable. So, anyway, back to my character analysis: Troy wanted to say "hi" to his friend Arnie and he was very much concerned with securing a beer. Still, though, despite the part's insignificance to the plot, I had a blast. Even though my scene was cut out, I would still credit Johanna Ray and Jessica Vogl, the casting directors who hired me, along with the film's director, with my first small break.

But, anyway, that was one of the many things that told me that it's not enough to be a good actor. I figured out that being a good businessperson will allow more acting - and performing and being on a film set, to me, there is no greater environment. I love it.

Z: Do you do other work in the industry as well?

SL: I write. And now I am more comfortable with producing. In fact, I am already looking towards the end of this summer to produce something else. If I can secure financing, it'll be a feature. I have two scripts that I wrote very recently. One is about a guy who eliminates chain restaurants. I really want to make that one. It's set in Arizona; it would be awesome to shoot something there. My mom and sister still live there. However, if I cannot find the all-elusive financing, I will do another short here in L.A.. Either way, I'll be in producing again by the summer.

I'm a firm believer in putting people who are interesting and entertaining on-camera and surrounding them with a sturdy environment. With "A.P.U.", I took Scooter and his best friend Kenny and surrounded them with pro actors and a great crew, including our awesomely talented cinematographer, Roland. When the producers and director were watching dailies for the first time, we were very happy with the results. I was so lucky to have everyone on this project; from the actors to the grips. They were all awesome.

So this summer, I would like to do something else similar. I have a couple of people in mind. Scooter will definitely be involved. I'm trying to recruit my cousin Justin to come in from New York to be in this, as well. He has that Scooter-ish quality of being brilliantly funny and entertaining without even knowing it. Come to think of it, my other cousin, who is Justin's sister, is a very good theater actress in New York City. Maybe I'll try and bring her in, too!

Z: What are some of your other interests?

SL: Sports! I love sports! They are my drugs. Basketball, baseball, hockey. Just about any sport is fun. Basketball I play every week. It's very big in Arizona and I had a set of courts in my backyard. I was out there shooting almost every day after school. Rollerblading and Roller hockey would be on that level, too. I was on blades nearly every day. Unfortunately, the roads are too rocky in L.A. to blade, so even though I have two pairs, I can use neither unless I happen to be at the beach or something. Music, also, is a drug of choice. I would say without sports and music in my life, ugh. I don't even know where I would be - or if I would still be sane. I think I'm still sane, that is. In real life, I tend to be very level-headed and unflappable. But while playing sports I can be aggressive. Not violent. Just aggressive. And my music tends to be pretty agro. And I read all the time; every day without fail. I'll always have a soft spot for newspapers.

Z:  Favorite Films?

SL: Films are extremely important to me. Especially the ones that I lived vicariously through/or achieved a catharsis via growing up. My parents were always working real hard to support my sister and I, so I guess I had a more-than-average amount of time to view movies. From my childhood I remember comedies like "Bachelor Party," "Fletch," "White Men Can't Jump," "Bull Durham," "Dragnet," "Crocodile Dundee," "The Karate Kid," "Back to the Future," "Soul Man," "Turner and Hooch," "Pee Wee's Big Adventure," "Beverly Hills Cop," "Ghostbusters," "So I Married an Ax Murderer," "The Secret of my Success," "Major League," "Ed Wood," and on and on. I was partially raised by HBO. Do you remember when, during the 80s, they had that big HBO symbol that would rotate and, like, come into your living room as an intro to movies, before the MPAA rating? With that melodramatic music to accompany? I used to get chills at that. What can I say, I'm a fan of big productions. More recently, as a young adult some movies I've really taken to are "Swingers" and "Made." I thought "Zoolander" was way under-rated. Anything with Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller is good to great, I think.

Z:  What actor and/or director would like to work with?

SL: Ones that are serious about making movies yet at the same time think it's awesome fun. Even though it's major hard work; above all else, it's a blast and there's nothing else I'd rather do. I like to work with people who feel the same way.

Z: Can you name any childhood heroes you have?

SL: My mother. I guess you could say she's also my current hero. From the time I was 9 and my sister was 5, she took care of us, single-handedly. We were never hungry and we always had good schools and nice neighborhoods to grow up in. And she worked some jobs she DID NOT want to work in the process. Thankfully, she's now doing something she loves, teaching. She is so intelligent and one of the few people I can go to with real serious questions about life and society. She is my hero and I eminently admire her.

Z:  What is something about you that we would never guess?

SL: Umm. Probably a lot. OK, here's one that's only mildly embarrassing. When I was a kid in grade school, before bedtime, when I was alone on my room, I used to play the tennis racket (subbing for a guitar) to the tunes of Poison, Quiet Riot, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue and others of the like, pretending I was on-stage and playing for a stadium audience. Of course, I would also envision girls who I had crushes on in the audience, swooning. Scary, I know.

Z:  Can you name a guilty pleasure…

SL: Coffee and chocolate. Movie buttered popcorn. Coke.

Z: If you had one wish what would it be?

SL: To eliminate sickness/illness from society.

Z: Favorite Midnite snack.

SL: Sorry. I typically have no appetite from Midnight until about 10 a.m. 

Z: Lastly, with or without butter? (popcorn)

SL: Ignore health for an hour and go for lots of butter.