Travis Lee Eller has had a unique and dynamic career, transitioning from a successful DJ known as DJ T-Rock to becoming an actor primarily in Westerns. Additionally, he runs his own hat-making business, Ugly Outlaw Hats. We sat down with Travis to discuss his remarkable journey, his passion for Westerns, and how he balances his diverse interests.
What inspired your transition from DJ T-Rock to acting in Westerns?
“My DJ career just sort of came to a screeching halt after 2010. I couldn’t keep up with the new technologies coming out, the new push-button culture, and laptop-compatible systems. The music was something I wasn’t feeling either. I just started getting tired of the club scene and touring and barely making enough money to get by. I decided I needed to change something up but wasn’t quite sure what I would do. I knew I wanted to still be able to entertain an audience. At some point, I decided to get into filmmaking. I mean, I live in Los Angeles, might as well, right? So, I saved up some money, bought a nice camera, and began filming my own material. I thought the easiest thing for me to do would be Westerns. Get some period clothing, grab a friend, go to the desert, and start filming.”
How did your experience as a TV stage manager help you in front of the camera?
“It was a learning experience. It taught me a lot of things about various aspects of TV production. It taught me how to land on a mark, how to read a teleprompter, movements and cues, and the art of ‘seizing the moment.’ It was a live show too, so I think when I got in front of the camera, it was easy for me to use my experience as a DJ to show the confidence I had developed from entertaining crowds. I think my transition to acting all stems from my earlier DJing days.”
What led you to start Ugly Outlaw Hats, and what makes your hats unique?
“My love for Western films grew and grew over the years while living here in Los Angeles. I became obsessed with seeing every Western I could. I auditioned for any that came my way. I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s embedded in my subconscious. When I was growing up, I had two grandfathers that always had a Western novel on their side table and one playing on television. I think the main catalyst for me starting Ugly Outlaw Hats was being in a film where I played an ol’ dirty outlaw, and the wardrobe department handed me my clothes, and they were as clean as a whistle. That’s when I told myself I was going to make my own hats! I guess what makes them unique is how they look. I like to distress my hats, make them look worn. I like to say I model them after what they would have actually looked like in the Old West or on an old Spaghetti Western film. I like to make my hats have character, and if you can appreciate my art, then I’ve got a hat for you.”
Can you share a highlight from your time filming ‘Elkhorn’?
“There are quite a few for me. I think just being on any Western set all dressed up and ready to go is quite a highlight. I remember showing up for a read-through on the property where a town was being built; barely anything was completed, but in only a week’s time, all the structures were up. That was a real standout moment. Honestly, I think the highlight for me was just getting the part. It was my first ‘in-person’ audition coming out of the pandemic, the first time I was in a room with people in a really long time. Everything else before was always a video audition. It was a great feeling of satisfaction when I found out that my audition landed me the role of Joe Ferris, the shopkeeper on the show.”
How do you balance your acting career with running a hat-making business?
“I manage. It’s not been a real issue so far. I do most of my hat-making on the weekends or weeknights. If I have an acting gig, it’s pretty easy for me to catch up on hats at some point. My hat-making space is also a good place to run through my script. I aim to please, so I’ll make sure you not only get your hat but that my lines are memorized.”
What advice would you give to aspiring actors looking to enter the Western genre?
“I’d say, don’t act like you’re in a Western. Just act. I’d say that about any genre, honestly. Be the character, think about the time the character lives in, the troubles they face. Don’t be cliche! Be the person you interpret as the character. Don’t be a characterization of the character. Tell the story that needs to be told.”
Travis Lee Eller’s journey from DJ to Western actor is a testament to his versatility and passion for entertainment. His dedication to authenticity, whether in his acting or his hat-making business, sets him apart in the industry. We look forward to seeing more of his work both on screen and in his unique creations.
