It's a tricky thing to guess, but I think I've figured out a sure-fire way for performers to succeed in the movie business, thanks to the insights of actor Billy Boyd.

Basically, you just need to work with directors named "Peter" on every film. Like, for example, Peter Weir on "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" and Peter Jackson on "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

"And they all have to come from the Southern Hemisphere," Boyd added with a laugh in a phone call this week from his native Scotland. "Maybe my career's finished -- maybe I've already worked with all the Peters from the Southern Hemisphere."

Jackson, of course, is the New Zealander who helped make Boyd a household name as the brave Hobbit Peregrin 'Pippin' Took in "The Fellowship of the Rings," "The Two Towers" and the upcoming "The Return of the King."

And on "The Far Side of the World," at least from the perspective of anybody in the United States, Boyd recently completed his journey as Coxswain Barrett Bonden under the helm of Australian Weir (and Aussie Russell Crowe, to boot, mate) in "Master and Commander."

Given his track record over the past three years, there's no question Boyd has a command on getting great roles in epic movies. And while his journey in the movie business isn't exactly new, Boyd admits that he's still taken aback by the wonder of it all.

"I've been thinking, 'God am I lucky,'" Boyd told me for @ The Movies. "And the luck is not only leading me to roles in these sorts of films, it's given me the opportunity to work in the theater and on small independent movies. I just feel incredibly privileged the way my career is at the moment."

Boyd said one of the greatest benefits to being in the high seas adventure "Master and Commander," which opens Friday, is that it affords him an opportunity to work with a filmmaker he's long admired in Weir.

"I had been a fan of his movies since I started working films and knew quite a bit about him from watching interviews and reading about him," Boyd said. "So, when I went to work with Peter it was kind of as a fan. He has worked in movies for a long, long time, and as a seasoned professional, he knows what works for actors and what doesn't."

Then, Boyd put things into a sailor's perspective: "I suppose when you walk on a set with Peter Weir it seems like you're walking on a set of an old crew. And, he's also an incredibly intelligent man."

Commanding Boyd's Attention

In "Master and Commander," it takes an intelligent man, British Naval Capt. "Lucky" Jack Aubrey (Crowe), to command the badly damaged H.M.S. Surprise during the Napoleonic War era. Not only is Aubrey charged with the responsibility of protecting his crew, he must do so in the dire circumstance of chasing down -- and perhaps foolishly so -- the far superior ship of his enemy.

Also starring Crowe's "Beautiful Mind" roommate Paul Bettany as Aubrey's friend and confidant Stephen Maturin, "Master and Commander" is based on the acclaimed Aubrey/Maturin novels of late author Patrick O'Brian.

With "Master and Commander" being his second chance to work on a film based on classic literature, Boyd not only revels the chance to bring material great material to life, but to learn from it.

"That's one of my favorite things about acting," Boyd explained. "One day you're sitting in the house, watching TV or whatever and the next thing you're doing this movie. For me anyway, as soon as that happens, you start getting the books and you start reading about the world that you're about to step into, no matter what it may be."

For "Master and Commander," Boyd told me that he had no idea going into the film what life was life on a ship, let alone one in the 1800s. Plus, he never sailed, but always had the desire to.

Before he knew it, Boyd was in Mexico, training for the high seas.

"We went to school for two weeks to learn how to sail and to learn how to shoot the guns of that era, and to learn, for my character, how to stand at the wheel," Boyd explained. "I never knew how difficult it would be actually steer a ship with winds you're in. It was such a fantastic education, because I was a helmsman when we were on the actual sea with a real ship."

To avoid any potential snafus in filming, "Master and Commander" was mostly shot in a controlled environment. The odd thing was, Boyd was helping recreate a historical era in a place where movie history was made.

"It was amazing because we spent a lot of time on the ship and the tank studio that they have down in (Rosarito) Mexico where they made 'Titanic,'" Boyd recalled.

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Clips: 'Master And Commander' Behind The Scenes: 'Master And Commander' Slideshow 'Master And Commander' Images

The ship, Boyd said, sat in gimbals so the filmmakers could rock it back and forth during the films crucial storm scenes. And while the environment was man-made, Boyd warned that filming the sequences could be just as dangerous as the real thing.

"For the storm sequences they had dump tanks, and each of which would dump four tons of water with one dump," Boyd described. "And we had three of those lined up, sweeping 12 tons of water across the ship, just for one wave.

"Plus, the ship was moving 40 degrees either way and they had the jet engine firing water into your face and people get washed off the ship during these sequences," Boyd continued. "It was incredibly dangerous stuff."

Not so dangerous was the stuff Boyd learned from his fellow actors like Crowe and Bettany. No matter how experienced you are, says Boyd, you'd be a fool to walk onto any project thinking you're all set with what you need to know about the craft.

"There were wonderful actors on the film and I've definitely absorbed a lot of stuff from these guys," Boyd observed. "Hopefully every job that you do helps you become better at your craft. And, if you happen to work with some of the people who are the greatest at your craft at that time, then it helps make you all the better."

But as much as Boyd absorbed from Crowe, his "Master and Commander" journey wasn't really complete until he got to work with the artist also known as leader of the rock band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts.

Crowe, in fact, gets to strut his musical stuff in the film, too, as a violinist to Bettany's cello. So Boyd, a polished guitarist, bass player and singer, just had to find time to jam with the boys.

"We set up some drums and equipment in a caravan that wasn't being used at the studio and ended up there a few times," Boyd enthused. "Russell, Paul, (and 'Master and Commander' co-stars) Tony Dolan and Brian Dirk all went there with our guitars. Russell even played drums. It was great."

More Info: Official Billy Boyd Web Site