Austen Parros / Sean Miller [Archive]

makro

09-24-2006, 07:54 AM

In TV fare of a lower quality than SON, a category which encompasses many, perhaps even most, current and recent offerings, supporting characters are mostly what I think of as One Joke Wonders. While certainly not always comedic in nature, they usually possess a single defining characteristic and provide a single purpose for their existence, and they are rarely fleshed out any futher than necessary; the comic foil, the straight man, the jolly fat guy, the needy nerd, the best friend, the sidekick, the evildoer, the flaming gay roommate, the slutty girlfriend; these are only a few examples. These are TV stereotypes, and they are pervasive indicators of a show's writers taking the easy way out. They are simple to write (leaving the writers free to invest any ambitions of quality writing they may have in the main characters), and many viewers are comfortable with their familiarity.
Occasionally, perhaps I should say rarely, a group of writers seem to realize that the best support can be provided by supporting characters who are somewhat more three-dimensional than the stereotypical one-notes; writers who are committed to investing the time and effort into creating and developing these types of characters. This commitment usually manifests itself immediately upon a new show's premiere, and I use it as a primary ingredient in evaluating whether I will like a show and whether it will be worth investing my time in over the long run. To me, there is no better evidence of the SON writers' commitment to making this extra effort than the character of Sean Miller. If there is an epitome of the "anti-stereotype", it is Sean.
We haven't really learned much about how the Carlin kids felt about their prospective move to L.A. before it happened, but it really isn't that hard to imagine. In addition to the normal reluctance any teenager would have at the idea of leaving a safe, familiar environment, school, friends, and social status in order to become the "new kids" somewhere else, the sheer enormity of the change, from small town America to the big city must have been intimidating to the three of them; but on different levels. Glen, never a deep thinker, must have felt in his athletic arrogance that his superstar status and popularity would transfer easily and allow him to keep safely away from the "undesirables" (i.e. those of any lower social order) he might encounter in the big city. Spencer, despite her relative naivete, demonstrates considerable pluck and spunkiness. Those qualities, along with the compassion and tolerance she seems to have inherited from her father, would allow her to face the changes with more curiosity, maybe even excitement, than trepidation. Clay, on the other hand, would have had the most reasons to be fearful. At the time of the move, Clay was essentially a white person in a black person's skin. His unconditionally supportive and colorblind (at least in his case) family environment, although desperately needed after his previous revolving door of foster homes, had erased any manifestation of his blackness. His predominant characteristic was gratefulness toward his family for rescuing him, evidenced by his driving motivation to repay that kindness through academic achievement. Clay had to know, or at least suspect, that being thrust into the multiracial melting pot of Los Angeles would force him to confront issues he was able to ignore in "Brady America". And the fact that he had no appreciable social skills to help ease the transition had to have added to his uneasiness.
It was easy to expect Glen, upon first encountering Sean, to simply and without question assume he was some "gansta" thug who probably sold drugs (and of course to feel free to express this conviction to his parents), and Glen doesn't disappoint; but it is interesting to note that someone like Sean was just as unfamiliar to Clay as he was to Glen, and certainly more intimidating. His demeanor, his urban language, the bumping; that Clay would also assume the worst about Sean (he was in the office with a security guard nearby, so he had to be in trouble) is hardly surprising.
But here is where the writers of SON deviate from the One Joke Wonder supporting character concept and go the extra mile. The fact is, meeting Sean is the best thing that has happened to Clay since the move. Sean, a supporting character, is probably the most complex, deeply written character on the show to-date. And no one could better serve as a mentor to Clay in helping guide him through not only the complicated process of assimilating into a radically-different new environment, but of helping him understand what it means to be a black man.
I mean the man is a mass of contradictions. He shows no indication of potential violence, but the mere thought of displeasing him is enough to deter a massive hulk from his sport of Clay-bashing. He rages at the way blacks are treated as a matter of course in society, but his weapons in the fight are not guns or drugs, but education and knowledge. He is fiercely loyal to friends and family (and he realizes that families are defined by more than biology). He seems to be remarkably well-read and deeply intellectual. He presents a cocky attitude, but almost cries at the memory of his first lover's death. He is a proud black man, but feels comfortable playing poker with the white jocks at the "Brady" home. Although prominent in his own social circle, he never ostracizes Clay as the "new kid", immediately spotting Clay's inherent decency and heart, while feeling sorry for his social ineptitude. And he shows considerable empathy toward Clay's struggle to juggle his white and black worlds. Clay could not hope for a better friend. It will be interesting during the new season to see if Sean can have some positive effect on the less-tolerant Carlins (you know who you are Glen and Mom).
And this is a supporting character? Not on most shows. But he is one on SON. And he's not the only one. Both Aiden and Chelsea show signs of moving beyond the sterotype stage also. No better indication is needed that SON is ahead of the quality curve and will remain so.
And I look forward to seeing more of Sean.

azuline

10-03-2006, 12:41 PM

Sean Miller (Austen Parros)
A “Renaissance man,” Sean is a master in everything from school to film trivia to chess strategy to what makes a great burrito. When Clay moved to Los Angeles and struggled to find his identity, Sean became his friend and guide. Sean’s street smarts keep him out of trouble – if only he could keep his cousin Boz out of it, too.

***

Austen Parros (Sean Miller)
Austen Parros has enjoyed acting ever since he played “The Major General” in his school production of Pirates of Penzance at age 13. Though he continued to act in school and community plays, he took some time off to join the U.S. Air-Force where he served as an Aerospace Propulsion Journeyman and Staff-Sergeant-Select at Edwards Air-Force Base.

Austen came to Los Angeles in 2005 and quickly gained the attention of the casting community by booking his very first audition – a recurring role on the CBS prime-time series Judging Amy. In his latest role, Austen plays Sean Miller, the 17-year-old inner city philosopher on The N’s South of Nowhere. He can relate to his character because, “he too, has dealt with racism and ignorance as a teenager.”

Austen, the nephew of Peter Parros (Knight Rider), has also guest-starred as T-Bone on the ABC Family series Lincoln Heights. His film credits include All Consuming, On the Down Low and his television credits include What Should You Do? and General Hospital.

Austen was born in California, but raised in Colorado. He enjoys music, specifically neo-soul and R&B, dancing, and watching football. His career goals include owning a business.