Local actor collaborates with canine partner

A still shot of Canton’s Cindy Lentol (right) performing in the 2021 film A Cape Cod Christmas, airing this month on AMC+.

This story originally appeared in the December 2 edition of the Citizen.

It’s unlikely that anyone thinks of Canton as a show business hub. But at least one resident has built a solid career in acting over 20 years of living here. That’s Cindy Lentol, actress/model/voiceover artist. Lentol previously lived in Los Angeles but moved here when her husband was transferred to the Boston area. Her career has thrived despite the move. Although she works outside the region sometimes, especially in New York, she has often been hired for work in Massachusetts.

“Lots of film and television show companies come here,” Lentol noted. “It’s because of the tax incentives and the incredible locations that Massachusetts offers.” A year ago, she was filming a Christmas movie in Falmouth, A Cape Cod Christmas. Most cast and crew members had to fly in from their homes elsewhere in the country, but it was an easy drive for her.

That movie is a romance; it will premiere in Falmouth on December 2 (today) and be broadcast on the AMC+ channel. Another film, Black Friday, a comedy-horror filmed in Raynham, was recently released on video. Lentol is currently acting in Crooked Finger, a psychological supernatural thriller filming in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Lentol said, “You get lucky when you get a movie.” But she’s also done extensive video work, modeling for print, and voiceover narration. The work keeps her pretty busy, but she recently expanded her repertoire by adding projects that include her Bernese mountain dog, Tank.

“He has a gentle, Zen-like presence,” Lentol said.

Tank weighs 115 pounds and was given his name by Lentol’s two sons. She said the family knew he was going to be big for his breed when they got him as a 10-week-old puppy. Now 3 years old, Tank is photogenic and obedience-trained. His willing disposition means he enjoys new environments and activities, including going down slides at the park. This combination of traits gives him the “wow factor,” Lentol said. She and Tank have already done some print work, such as for Teddy the Dog, a Needham-based apparel company.

Lentol said she would love to work in movies with Tank. In the meantime, she’s thrilled with how he’s adjusted to his new role as a therapy dog.

To become certified, Tank underwent training and testing to demonstrate his reliable manners and calm, friendly personality. Dogs with certification are much more likely to be welcomed by administrators at schools, libraries, nursing homes, and hospitals for enrichment programs. Lentol has brought Tank on two successful visits so far — at the Canton Public Library and a special education class at a Peabody elementary school.

Cindy Lentol with her dog, Tank

She said the reactions of the kids at both places were similar. Initially, they were uncertain, standing very straight, with some expressing fear of dogs. When Tank lay down, only a couple kids were willing to sit near him. But they soon calmed down and came closer, respectfully touching the dog’s tail and feet as the rest of the kids also moved in. “It’s an incredible evolution to see them relax,” Lentol said.

Helping people to relax and overcome fears is an important goal for Lentol. Noting that it changes lives, she said her own past experience doing stand-up comedy inspired her. “I was terrified,” she said. Getting over her fears gave her a feeling of freedom, something she hopes to bring to others.

Making visits with Tank also feeds into Lentol’s commitment to literacy. She was formerly active with BookPALS, an organization of performing artists bringing literature into elementary schools. The program has since dissolved, but Lentol’s passion for work in schools is still strong. “I love the idea of kids relaxing while reading,” she noted.

With Tank visits a priority, Lentol is careful to work them around her filming schedule. She makes sure that her agent knows she will be unavailable on those dates.

Lentol finds that working with Tank is a lower pressure situation than her professional activities. Film work can be especially demanding, with movie shoots taking anywhere from two weeks to months. Shooting A Cape Cod Christmas during the height of the pandemic involved strict protocols with frequent testing and everyone masked at all times, except for actors in a scene being filmed. Cast and crew members were isolated in a hotel, unable to see any outsiders or even go out to dinner; Lentol couldn’t return home to see her husband and sons. But the rules worked and nobody got sick.

These days, auditions are done via “self tapes” from home, so Lentol doesn’t need to go to New York. That too reduces the pressures of a busy career. With a long resume of acting credits in television shows such as Body of Proof and Sexting in Suburbia, movies including Prozac Nation and The Company Men, and video and print ads for Macy’s, Hood, Ocean Spray, and New England Coffee, Lentol is a familiar face. She loves her career, but she is also excited about the therapy dog visits.

Lentol is looking forward to returning with Tank to the Peabody school in December. She loves seeing how even fidgety children are able to respond to the calm dog and become calm themselves. “It’s a wonderful experience,” she said.

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Posted by Candace Paris on Dec 10 2021. Filed under Features. Both comments and pings are currently closed.