For thousands of out of work actors, the dream of “making it big” never fades. No matter how devoted an actor is to developing their craft within their local creative community, most would readily (metaphorically of course) “kill” for the chance to join the ranks of the acting elite.

After years of hard work, sacrifice and dedication, John “Chach” Dziadosz, got his shot at the brass ring. He grabbed it with gusto and became a king – a member of the acting elite – for two days on the set of “Brotherhood”.

“One day you’re waiting tables and the next you’re being pampered on a professional set” Chach said as he told me the story. “And then you’re waiting tables again!” But Chach’s life has been transformed. “It was the best day of my life," said the compact 5’6” Chach, “and I’ll never forget it. I even got to wear my hat!"

“Brotherhood” is a successful, gritty, action oriented series broadcast on Showtime. It was picked up for a second season and is now shooting future episodes in Rhode Island. The story of “Brotherhood” revolves around two brothers and their extended families and friends. Tommy Caffee, is the respectable local politician played by Jason Clarke. If you’re into sci-fi, you will recognize Clarke from his stint on “Farscape”.

His hard-edged older brother Michael Caffee returns home to “The Hill” in Providence, after a lengthy absence, to revive his ties to organized crime. Michael Caffee is played by Jason Isaacs, who developed his evil aura as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films. The lovely Annabeth Gish plays the long-suffering wife of Michael Caffee, trying to cope with it all. To extend the sci-fi connection, X-File fans may remember Gish as Agent Reyes. Tina Benko plays Eileen's friend, Kathy.

Rhode Island has been bustling with opportunities for actors lately, and “Brotherhood” is one production reaching out to the local acting community to fill brief, but important, key roles.

Chach is a well-known area comedian and actor who works hard at keeping up his contacts. One important contact is Anne Mulhall of LDI Casting. LDI Casting has been responsible for filling many of the small, but important roles for “Brotherhood”. The casting company has also worked with many other professional productions in and around Providence.

Brotherhood” had a specific need and they called Anne. Anne looked through her list of reliable possibilities and called Chach. Chach was invited to audition and a very short time later he was on set getting measured for a costume. It all seemed to happen in a whirl.

It’s been said that luck is preparation meeting opportunity. That certainly seems true for Chach, who has spent most of his career as a stand-up comedian and host. Never one to be shy, Chach started at the age of 5 preparing for the stage and screen. His first audience was his family, of course. At the age of ten, showing his strength and depth of ability, he was in Russia playing for a junior Olympic hockey team. That’s where he picked up his nickname. In his senior year in high school he was named Class Clown, and by his early twenties he was playing silly songs on his guitar at open mike nights. Comic Steven Wright was in the audience one night and they two met. Wright thought Chach was “hilarious” and soon Chach was opening for Wright at his shows. Chach shares one piece of advice with everyone: "always do your best. You never know who might be watching in the audience".

A short time later, Chach met up with Rhode Island’s Farrelly brothers and Mike Cerrone when he heard they were looking to cast a Three Stooges movie.

“I just thought I’d be a natural for the Three Stooges movie” relays Chach, his bald head hidden by an ever-present cap. One of Chach’s strongest assets is his willingness to take advantage of a situation and willing to take action. At a Red Sox game in Fenway Park, Chach noticed Mike Cerrone sitting in the stands. When Cerrone went to the men’s room, Chach followed him into the lavatory and pitched him on auditioning for the Three Stooges. Chach now has a guaranteed read for the part of Curly in the Three Stooges movie - which should start shooting in 2009.

Chach has the experience of being in any number of area movies, always practicing and building his confidence, always willing to network and work with others. One of his current gigs is co-hosting an actor’s workshop (an offshoot of the RI Film Collaborative) the first and third Tuesday of every month. Chach advises that it's the kind of safe and welcoming venue that’s the best place to practice. You'll get feedback - but constructively.

" I wouldn't have had the confidence to do this audition if not for my work at the Actor's Workshop and doing local films. Knowing how to work with the camera is a skill." It’s the constant practice, networking, and visibility that got Chach his shot at the big time. Once in the audition, it’s up to the actor to “bring it”. The director liked what he saw and immediately called Chach to say he had been hired. The character Chach plays is “Limpy”, a car mechanic who is a known acquaintance of the Caffee’s. Eileen Caffee and her girlfriend Kath show up at Limpy’s shop with a car problem. And that’s all I can reveal about the scenes. But Chach had two good scenes interacting on screen with the stars of the show. There's a chance his character could return.

Chach was walking on clouds after his prime assignment and he willingly shared with me what the experience was like. “It was total pampering” said Chach. “And everyone on the set was fantastic. The actors, the crew, the director were all so nice. When I walked in I saw the director, Henry Bromell, sitting in an “actor’s” chair. I walked over to say hi and Bromell stood up. I said – no – sit down in your chair.” And then Chach was blown away. “No” said Bromell, “this is your chair and it’s important that you sit in it.”

“I had my own chair, my own trailer, dialect coach, and when I was wandering around kind of lost, some PA with a walkie-talkie got on the horn and announced ‘I got Limpy’. And then he walked me over to a waiting area for the principal actors. I saw all the background extras milling around and sweating and I was amazed that I wasn’t with them. I was in the stars area, got to eat with them and even had an umbrella held over my head in the sun!”

“I learned a lot too”, Chach admitted. In community productions, we often talk to each other a lot and nearly everyone gets a say in what’s going on. If you forget where you’re going you just ask the person standing next to you where you should be. “I remember saying to Annabeth at one point” admits Chach, “now I walk over here, right? And she said 'ask the director'. I just snuck away embarrassed." But he got over it.

“I really felt like a movie star. If we were thirsty they ran and got us water. I even had my own stand-in if I needed one. That's crazy!" But there’s a reason to the madness. The stars are taken care of so they can focus solely on their roles and lines. There’s a lot of money riding on a professional production.

" I was so glad for this opportunity," says Chach. “Now I have shown a wider range. I proved I could do drama as well as comedy. I didn't feel intimidated at all. I felt like part of the family.”

After two days in actor heaven, Chach was back in the real world trudging to work at a restaurant. In Whalen Square, across the street he spotted Annabeth Gish out walking her baby. She waved and came across the street to him. "Hi Chach" she said "we really enjoyed working with you yesterday. You did a great job!" "Thank you" replied Chach. “ I'm on my way to work - to wait tables at this restaurant.” "Oh, replied Gish, my husband and I will have to come by and eat there some time.”

It was a bit surreal and Chach wasn’t sure he wanted to be serving Annabeth a meal after he had acted with her in a scene. But such is the actor’s life, and Chach will power on, now with even brighter prospects.