Okay, I've researched, I've tested, I've hammered and I give up.
I need to use GetFormFromFile to grab an Actor reference from another mod. The code is not complex, and yet it refuses to work. I thought maybe it just doesn't work on Actors, but this page in the Wiki specifically uses it to get an Actor reference.
So I went waaaay back to basics and tried to get the code to recognize an Actor from the vanilla game and still nothing.
here is the very very basic line of code:
Actor newCompanion = Game.GetFormFromFile(0x00013478", "Skyrim.esm") as Actor
Actor newCompanion comes back as None no matter what I do. I've tried every combination and sequence of 0x0000(FormID) all with no success.
The code is straightforward, simple and easy. It's not the Form ID since I get the same results no matter if it's a vanilla NPC or one from a mod. It's not that I'm referring to an Actor as the Wiki itself says to do that.
I have no idea what else to even try. According to everything I see on the interwebs, it should just work. But of course, this is CK so the laws of reality tend to take a vacation.