Colin Morgan interview article by AlloCiné
AlloCiné posted an article of their interview with Colin at Comic Con France, in which he talks about his character in series 3, filming series 4 (with spoilers about how much of S4 filming is finished), and his guest stint in Doctor Who. Click here to read the original article in French, or below for an English translation.
Meet the charming Colin Morgan, also known as "Merlin"
At the Comic Con 'Paris 2011, we had the chance to cross paths with Colin Morgan, aka "Merlin" ...
Allocine: At the end of season 3, the episode entitled "Gilli" (T/N: Episode 11 "The Sorcerer's Shadow") is interesting since it allows a sort of summary of the characters' development. Through this story, you realize the extent to which Merlin and Arthur have changed since the beginning of their epic adventure...
Colin Morgan: You're right! As for Merlin, his meeting with Gilli placed him in a position he hasn't been before. He's no longer the one receiving advice but is in the position to give it. He identifies with Gilli, he knows what he is going through, his doubts and certainties, like his desire to change things, improve them. Gilli just wants to be himself and that is something that of course affects Merlin personally. At the end of this episode, Merlin has grown. And the viewer also becomes aware of his loneliness, when they have been more used to seeing him as a smiling character or, at least, one who often has funny reactions. You're right, it is a decisive episode in particular for Merlin.
A series such as "Merlin" tells the origins of a character. The viewer knows where the finish line is. The show's strength is in relating how the hero succeeds. But, sometimes, it needs to avoid the main problem: stretching the story as the seasons unfold. A show like "Smallville" has often been criticized for prolonging the birth of Superman "too long". Are you aware of such a risk?
It's a strange feeling indeed. I still think that as long as the writers come up with inventive plots, it's not a risk. Personally, I always feel so lucky to be part of such an adventure that affects so many people. As an actor, it gives me the opportunity to play a farce in the morning and a real drama in the afternoon. In addition, the risk of being known for [T/N: or typecast into] the role of "sorcerer" or "wizard" is relatively low! (laughs) And, again, the series offers such a range of emotions to play that I'm not afraid on that front. To return strictly to your question, I don't think we will be on the air for "too" long. The producers have always had in mind a plan of 5 seasons. We are now shooting the fourth. If the viewers are there again this year, we can then conclude the story with the fifth season. For the writers, knowing the "end date" was beneficial because it allowed them to better plan the plot.
Merlin is not a knight. He does not participate in tournaments. He does not wear armor. Yet he is one of the characters with the most deliberate body language or, rather, the most significant, but it is at a different level than just "physical". It (referring to the body language) can deliver comedy to the situation, via a head tilt in response to a reply, or give a deeper sense of the young sorcerer. How have you created and developed this body language?
I don't intellectualize the body language of my character too much. It's actually his emotions that dictate his body language. When you're acting, you're both in the action and a little outside of it. You're fully an actor and observer. Everything is paradoxically very natural. Instinct plays an important role
Merlin is the only character to "move" in this way. He has a personal body language ...
It's interesting...no one's told me that before (laughs)!
You mentioned earlier that you are filming season 4. Where are you exactly?
Like every year, we have to finish 13 episodes. We've completely filmed episodes 1, 2 and 3. We are at about half of filming episodes 4, 5 and 6 and we have barely begun numbers 7, 8 and 9. As for the rest of the season it's still too early to talk about because we don't have the scripts yet! (laughs) As you can see, we film almost all the episodes together. As for the plot of season 4, it's pretty exciting. Even I consider it the best of the series to date. After reading the scripts, I was really excited to film them. Season 3 was used as a transition, particularly in terms of tone, which became a little darker, even if we managed to keep lighter episodes like the one with the goblin [Ed. note: "The Goblin" Season 3, episode 3], for which we provided a little slapstick [Ed. note: very physical comedy]. While the comedy is running in full in the series, there are more adult themes, darker as we approach season 4. And the dramatic structure that we develop this year also somewhat resembles the dynamics of the American series, with a thread more consistent from one episode to another.
You film three or six episodes at a time. Is it an exercise that is still as complicated or are you now perfectly comfortable with this system of shooting in "cross-boarding"?
It's actually an intellectual mechanism in two phases. I'm comfortable with that during the period of preparation, but once on the set, the proportions have become such that the difficulties were also increased tenfold. So the filming of the fourth season is really hard on that front. We have very little time to shoot episodes that are larger in scale than before. This does not help things either. We were supposed to have fully completed episodes 1, 2 and 3 last week and I shot the last scenes of the first episode two days ago (laughs)! So I had in mind the evolution of my character in nine episodes during the filming of this famous scene earlier this week (laughs)! This is new ground for me.
Two years ago, "Merlin" was for the little boy in my heart. Today, the series has become more mature in some way...
You are absolutely right and it is still an important element to me. The fans who followed us from the beginning have grown up with the series. Young viewers who discover it today can also enjoy it at their level, of course. The relationship that was developed with our fans from the very beginning is important, really essential. Faced with a particular situation in the series, different audiences will react differently. New and young viewers will be affected like the fans of the first hour. But the hurt inflicted or the joy experienced will be felt differently. We have this special and strong relationship because the series focuses on the characters, who are the heart of the show.
Are there elements of "Merlin" which you are not completely satisfied with?
As an actor or a viewer?
Both! But let's start by seeing or reviewing the series...
It's very difficult to see a series or a movie you've acted in! With Merlin, I'm lucky because the special effects hold such an important place during the shooting, and especially during the post-production, I literally see the series for the first time when I look at it. When I watch an episode, I see for the first time what I actually filmed. And I'm surprised every time. I often tell myself: "So that was the beast that was chasing me!" (laughs) It's fascinating. And it's a good reminder of what the profession is as a whole: first and foremost it's a collaborative work. When I watch an episode, I don't see just the work of the actors and the director. The incredible work provided by teams of sets, costumes, special effects, music...it's revealed for the first time. This is the first reaction I have when I look at an episode of Merlin: I appreciate the work done by everyone.
You acted in one of my favorite episodes of "Doctor Who", "Midnight". What memories do you have of that?
The script was already, at its core, extraordinary, but also very special and completely different from what the series had offered before. This is an episode that's both purely psychological and completely scary (laughs)! Personally, it was my first real role on television. So I think that I really got lucky. Just imagine: I actually played opposite David Tennant and Lesley Sharp, these fantastic actors! And everyone was incredibly nice to me. It was a completely fantastic experience of being trapped in this vessel for 2 weeks! (laughs)
A lot of British actors cross the Atlantic to Hollywood. And U.S. series are full of your compatriots. Have you ever had the opportunity to make the crossing? Do you already have the means? Is it a desire?
For me, It's not an issue of location but the story, the work, the challenge and the play. If a good script requires that I go to Denmark, France, England or the United States, I'll go!
Interview by Thomas Destouches Saturday 2 JULY 2011 at the Comic Con 'Paris. Thanks to Alain Carraz, Christelle and Romain Nigita Pavard
Translation by Merlin Network. As always, we would greatly appreciate corrections to the translation. :)
Meet the charming Colin Morgan, also known as "Merlin"
At the Comic Con 'Paris 2011, we had the chance to cross paths with Colin Morgan, aka "Merlin" ...
Allocine: At the end of season 3, the episode entitled "Gilli" (T/N: Episode 11 "The Sorcerer's Shadow") is interesting since it allows a sort of summary of the characters' development. Through this story, you realize the extent to which Merlin and Arthur have changed since the beginning of their epic adventure...
Colin Morgan: You're right! As for Merlin, his meeting with Gilli placed him in a position he hasn't been before. He's no longer the one receiving advice but is in the position to give it. He identifies with Gilli, he knows what he is going through, his doubts and certainties, like his desire to change things, improve them. Gilli just wants to be himself and that is something that of course affects Merlin personally. At the end of this episode, Merlin has grown. And the viewer also becomes aware of his loneliness, when they have been more used to seeing him as a smiling character or, at least, one who often has funny reactions. You're right, it is a decisive episode in particular for Merlin.
A series such as "Merlin" tells the origins of a character. The viewer knows where the finish line is. The show's strength is in relating how the hero succeeds. But, sometimes, it needs to avoid the main problem: stretching the story as the seasons unfold. A show like "Smallville" has often been criticized for prolonging the birth of Superman "too long". Are you aware of such a risk?
It's a strange feeling indeed. I still think that as long as the writers come up with inventive plots, it's not a risk. Personally, I always feel so lucky to be part of such an adventure that affects so many people. As an actor, it gives me the opportunity to play a farce in the morning and a real drama in the afternoon. In addition, the risk of being known for [T/N: or typecast into] the role of "sorcerer" or "wizard" is relatively low! (laughs) And, again, the series offers such a range of emotions to play that I'm not afraid on that front. To return strictly to your question, I don't think we will be on the air for "too" long. The producers have always had in mind a plan of 5 seasons. We are now shooting the fourth. If the viewers are there again this year, we can then conclude the story with the fifth season. For the writers, knowing the "end date" was beneficial because it allowed them to better plan the plot.
Merlin is not a knight. He does not participate in tournaments. He does not wear armor. Yet he is one of the characters with the most deliberate body language or, rather, the most significant, but it is at a different level than just "physical". It (referring to the body language) can deliver comedy to the situation, via a head tilt in response to a reply, or give a deeper sense of the young sorcerer. How have you created and developed this body language?
I don't intellectualize the body language of my character too much. It's actually his emotions that dictate his body language. When you're acting, you're both in the action and a little outside of it. You're fully an actor and observer. Everything is paradoxically very natural. Instinct plays an important role
Merlin is the only character to "move" in this way. He has a personal body language ...
It's interesting...no one's told me that before (laughs)!
You mentioned earlier that you are filming season 4. Where are you exactly?
Like every year, we have to finish 13 episodes. We've completely filmed episodes 1, 2 and 3. We are at about half of filming episodes 4, 5 and 6 and we have barely begun numbers 7, 8 and 9. As for the rest of the season it's still too early to talk about because we don't have the scripts yet! (laughs) As you can see, we film almost all the episodes together. As for the plot of season 4, it's pretty exciting. Even I consider it the best of the series to date. After reading the scripts, I was really excited to film them. Season 3 was used as a transition, particularly in terms of tone, which became a little darker, even if we managed to keep lighter episodes like the one with the goblin [Ed. note: "The Goblin" Season 3, episode 3], for which we provided a little slapstick [Ed. note: very physical comedy]. While the comedy is running in full in the series, there are more adult themes, darker as we approach season 4. And the dramatic structure that we develop this year also somewhat resembles the dynamics of the American series, with a thread more consistent from one episode to another.
You film three or six episodes at a time. Is it an exercise that is still as complicated or are you now perfectly comfortable with this system of shooting in "cross-boarding"?
It's actually an intellectual mechanism in two phases. I'm comfortable with that during the period of preparation, but once on the set, the proportions have become such that the difficulties were also increased tenfold. So the filming of the fourth season is really hard on that front. We have very little time to shoot episodes that are larger in scale than before. This does not help things either. We were supposed to have fully completed episodes 1, 2 and 3 last week and I shot the last scenes of the first episode two days ago (laughs)! So I had in mind the evolution of my character in nine episodes during the filming of this famous scene earlier this week (laughs)! This is new ground for me.
Two years ago, "Merlin" was for the little boy in my heart. Today, the series has become more mature in some way...
You are absolutely right and it is still an important element to me. The fans who followed us from the beginning have grown up with the series. Young viewers who discover it today can also enjoy it at their level, of course. The relationship that was developed with our fans from the very beginning is important, really essential. Faced with a particular situation in the series, different audiences will react differently. New and young viewers will be affected like the fans of the first hour. But the hurt inflicted or the joy experienced will be felt differently. We have this special and strong relationship because the series focuses on the characters, who are the heart of the show.
Are there elements of "Merlin" which you are not completely satisfied with?
As an actor or a viewer?
Both! But let's start by seeing or reviewing the series...
It's very difficult to see a series or a movie you've acted in! With Merlin, I'm lucky because the special effects hold such an important place during the shooting, and especially during the post-production, I literally see the series for the first time when I look at it. When I watch an episode, I see for the first time what I actually filmed. And I'm surprised every time. I often tell myself: "So that was the beast that was chasing me!" (laughs) It's fascinating. And it's a good reminder of what the profession is as a whole: first and foremost it's a collaborative work. When I watch an episode, I don't see just the work of the actors and the director. The incredible work provided by teams of sets, costumes, special effects, music...it's revealed for the first time. This is the first reaction I have when I look at an episode of Merlin: I appreciate the work done by everyone.
You acted in one of my favorite episodes of "Doctor Who", "Midnight". What memories do you have of that?
The script was already, at its core, extraordinary, but also very special and completely different from what the series had offered before. This is an episode that's both purely psychological and completely scary (laughs)! Personally, it was my first real role on television. So I think that I really got lucky. Just imagine: I actually played opposite David Tennant and Lesley Sharp, these fantastic actors! And everyone was incredibly nice to me. It was a completely fantastic experience of being trapped in this vessel for 2 weeks! (laughs)
A lot of British actors cross the Atlantic to Hollywood. And U.S. series are full of your compatriots. Have you ever had the opportunity to make the crossing? Do you already have the means? Is it a desire?
For me, It's not an issue of location but the story, the work, the challenge and the play. If a good script requires that I go to Denmark, France, England or the United States, I'll go!
Interview by Thomas Destouches Saturday 2 JULY 2011 at the Comic Con 'Paris. Thanks to Alain Carraz, Christelle and Romain Nigita Pavard
Translation by Merlin Network. As always, we would greatly appreciate corrections to the translation. :)