We're back with another edition of Nice Job, DM!, where we interview cool DMs with cooler day jobs!
Today, we're talking with the indomitable thespian, Caito Aase (also known online as Helena Handbasket), who finds themselves in front of the camera often! Caito knows how to put on a show while working as an actor in film and tv, as well as when DMing for Folk & Myth.
Hello, Caito! Can you tell us how you got into acting?
I was a very outgoing kid who always loved theatre from a young age. I went to school for it and when I graduated, I got into the Chicago storefront theatre scene. From there, I fell backwards into film and television work and that's what I've been doing since about 2017.
What is your favorite thing about acting?
Getting to play pretend for a living. That and I do a lot of horror films, I absolutely love doing horror. You get to go to such wild places emotionally and in these fantastical circumstances.
Living in Los Angeles, we know that Hollywood can be hard. What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
Be patient. This is a long game, not a sprint. Do your homework, take care of your body and mind, and remember to keep your eyes on your own paper. And be gracious and easy to work with backstage/behind camera.
How did you get into DMing, and what systems do you run?
My brother introduced me to D&D in 2018 and didn't know what kind of monster he was about to unleash. I have DM'd Dungeons and Dragons the most, however I love playing Vaesen, Vampire: the Masquerade, Kult, Monster of the Week, Dragonbane, and Cyberpunk.
How often do you get to DM?
I DM 5-6 times a month depending, both in person with my Rough Magic table (2 years strong!) and my home games, as well as over at Folk & Myth on Twitch.
What do you love about DMing?
The exploration of story with my players. I always remind folks that we are building a narrative together. I love building something for folks to play in and then getting a total curveball that sends the story in a different direction. That's a beautiful part of TTRPGs.
Can you tell us your best memory from the table?
My players in my Rough Magic game did a 2-shot 5E game that I wrote. All of the lore and characters that we created together then became the prequel to the second 2-shot I got to run for Folk & Myth during our World Central Kitchen fundraiser in November. All brand new players who are all fantastic concept artists for Magic the Gathering, Wizards of the Coast, Marvel, and more. To be able to make that big story arc with my long-standing table of players and then bring that story to a group of incredible artists, it really warmed my heart. That, and I met the absolute love of my life, Bleakseason, when he GM'd a game of Vaesen for Queen's Court Games. It's funny to watch the episodes back and see exactly where we fell for each other. TTRPGs brought us together!.
Do any of your day job skills translate to DMing?
As an actor, absolutely. My vocal and dialects training, my clowning experience, my years of improv - all of that gets combined into one weird soup that is my games. The likelihood that you'll get an old Englishman for a bartender in one of my games is like 98%.
Any advice for other DMs?