It’s August 10, 2015, and Parker Sack got the break that he had been waiting for. He was cast to play David, Dolly Parton’s older brother, in the Coat of Many Colors, a made-for-television movie that aired on NBC this past December. Parker’s break came earlier in his life than for many aspiring actors. At the time, 13-year-old Parker was just starting eighth grade at Dodgen Middle School.
Through his love of reading and literature, Parker developed an interest in acting at a young age. According to Parker and his family, theater is the most highly recommended way for any child to get into acting. His earliest exposure was musical theater, and he quickly discovered the singing and dancing aspect of theater wasn’t for him. Not to be discouraged, Parker kept pursuing his craft through acting classes and exploring career options.
He signed on with Atlanta Models and Talent in 2013 during this sixth grade year. The agency directed Parker to additional classes where he could perfect his art and learn more about what was involved in the audition process of securing acting jobs. He actually booked his first audition, which was for Ryan’s Steakhouse/Old Country Buffet commercials.
Kelly, his mom, and most avid fan, explains that the Atlanta market is maturing for young acting talent, and Parker has benefited from that. “At 13 years old, Parker has already had more job interviews that most people have in a lifetime,” she says. “Booking his first audition reinforced his potential even though it took a while to book his next job. This career is really a perseverance test, definitely for the child, but also for the parents when that actor is still a minor.”
Other credits for Parker have been a film called Bobby & Gill (yet to be released), a documentary about the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) called The Founders Film, (yet to be released), a short film about bullying called Stephanie’s Story, and other commercials.
When Parker found out last August that he had been cast in the role of David in Dolly Parton’s project, he had to be in Conyers, Georgia, the very next day to begin rehearsals. This complicated life for an eighth grader who had just started back to school. Parker withdrew from Dodgen Middle School for the five weeks that it took to shoot the film.
Based on the true story of Dolly Parton’s upbringing, Coat of Many Colors is set in the Tennessee Great Smoky Parker Sack with Dolly Parton Mountains in 1955 when Dolly was nine years old. It centers on the Parton family as they struggle to overcome a tragedy and discover the healing power of love, faith, and a patchwork coat. Alyvia Alyn Lind plays nine-year-old Dolly, with Jennifer Nettles as Dolly’s mother, Rick Schroder as her father, and Gerald McRaney as her grandfather. It first aired on NBC on December 10. Because its viewership was so outstanding, the network aired it a second time on Christmas Eve.
Parker comments on his movie experience: “My favorite part of being a cast member was getting to know and interact with some of the most caring and talented people in the industry. Everyone worked hard and got along, which made our jobs a lot easier. I also learned from my experience on set is that you can’t just focus on yourself when working on a project such as the Coat of Many Colors. You have to focus on helping to create something that will tell a story and provoke emotions. And through my experience, every person involved in the movie did just that. All cast members focused on the film rather than themselves. That’s what made it such a good movie.”
What’s next for Parker Sack? According to Parker, up until this point he was only interested in projects in the Southeast. However, his Coat of Many Colors experience, which gave him the opportunity to meet young actors and families in the Los Angeles area, has led him to entertain the idea of looking for acting jobs in other regions. He has signed with an additional group, Los Angeles-based CESD Talent Agency. Although Dodgen Middle School was supportive of Parker and his endeavors, he is now attending Rivers Academy in Alpharetta where he can better manage his time spent in school and in acting. Constantly working on his craft through acting classes, Parker is ready for the next big thing.
Parker and his family have been part of the East Cobb community since 2006. Residing in the East Hampton subdivision, Parker lives with his parents, David and Kelly Sack, and siblings, Casler and Davin, who both attend Mt. Bethel Elementary School
Article written by Carmen C. Abernathy
Reprinted from EAST COBBER’s February 2016 issue
