'The Liberator' interview -The new Netflix series that rips-Starring BradleyJames(iefimerida-Greece)
Bradley did an interview with a Greek publication called iefimerida. "The Liberator": The new Netflix series that rips - Starring Bradley James explains to iefimerida how a ... whole war was filmed in a studio in front of a blue screen
Below is the English Google translation, so a few words may have been lost in translation. Original Greek version is here. Excerpt below. The full article is behind the cut.
iefimerida: "The Liberator": The new Netflix series that rips - Starring Bradley James explains to iefimerida how a ... whole war was filmed in a studio in front of a blue screen
In 2016, he starred in the remake of the series "The Omen" , entitled "Damien ", which was screened by A&E, and now plays in Hulu. The creator and showrunner of the series Glen Mazzara ("The Walking Dead") , chose him from hundreds of actors for the role of Damien. "It simply came to our notice then. Bradley had heart and intelligence and charm and really made his character his own. "It was a great collaboration with him ," Mazzara said of the moment the actor went through the audition.
During COVID-19, when filming stopped altogether, you co-wrote a TV pilot selected by CaliWood Pictures, and now you are also completing a screenplay. Would you like to talk to us about both of these projects?
I would love to talk about them and go deeper, just nothing is tangible yet. I received a phone call from a producer, who told me that he had me in mind for a role even if I wanted to discuss it. I came up with some ideas, we discussed them and then he comes back and says "you should write this". I assumed he was joking, but as it turned out he was not joking so I started writing the pilot. It is at a very early stage right now, nothing is tangible, but it has started to move forward and we will see how it goes… Because I found myself traveling to a new world with this experience. This expanded, I guess because things are going well with the pilot, and I came up with a script for a movie, which also seems to be going well.
What do you think about the future? Are there any other plans?
These two projects are in progress. I think everyone in the industry had something else in mind for 2020. So I think now it is much more difficult to answer that question. Because you can start shooting and next week you suddenly get a phone call telling you that they are being canceled. So I have nothing specific to say, because of the current state of the world.
[Click for full interview]
"The Liberator": The new Netflix series that rips - Starring Bradley James explains to iefimerida how a ... whole war was filmed in a studio in front of a blue screen
Within just a few days since you released on November 11 -Day Veteran in the USA- new series of Netflix, «The Liberator», climbed on top of the Greek top 10.
And not unjustly, as it is a series that has piqued the interest of viewers, not only for the innovative way in which it has been shot, but also for the true story that is being told, which many people did not know until today.
"The Liberator": Netflix's new groundbreaking animated series about World War II [video]
The new Netflix mini-war series is about "a diverse and brave group of soldiers, emerging as the most heroic fighting force of the European invasion during World War II," according to the series' description.
The «The Liberator» is based on the true story of the American Governor Felix Sparks, who led the 157th Infantry Regiment from Sicily until the heart of Nazi Germany, and together with his men, he struggled continuously for 500 days to release Europe, while also leading the forces that liberated the Nazi concentration camp in Dachau . This team became one of the most acclaimed American battle units in World War II .
This hero, unknown to many, is played by the talented actor Bradley James (Bradley James), who spoke exclusively to iefimerida.gr , about the challenges he had to face in taking on this role, as well as about his shooting experience, with the innovative Trioscope technology, which combines top quality CGI with live-action interpretations, offering us a unique visual effect. The series "The Liberator" , based on the book of the same title by Alex Kershaw , is the first production shot through Trioscope.
The series "The Liberator" captivated the Greek public
Who is the protagonist of the series, Bradley James
Bradley James is a British-American actor who has received rave reviews to date. He has played leading and supporting roles, displaying a unique talent with many possibilities in various genres, from thrillers, drama films, science fiction, period and romantic films. His first major role was as the young King Arthur in the worldwide hit "Merlin" , which originally aired on BBC & NBC and can now be watched on Netflix & Hulu. In 2014, the charming actor had a small role in the also huge success of Showtime "Homeland" and in 2015, he played in the very popular CW series, "iZombie".
In 2016, he starred in the remake of the series "The Omen" , entitled "Damien ", which was screened by A&E, and now plays in Hulu. The creator and showrunner of the series Glen Mazzara ("The Walking Dead") , chose him from hundreds of actors for the role of Damien. "It simply came to our notice then. Bradley had heart and intelligence and charm and really made his character his own. "It was a great collaboration with him ," Mazzara said of the moment the actor went through the audition.
The charming Bradley James became known to the general public through the series "Merlin" and "Damien"
Bradley James has also starred opposite Kate Beckinsale and Theo James in the popular "Underworld" movie franchise , and in 2017 played Giuliano the Medici in the Netflix season series "Medici" (2017-2020). Bradley James has studied acting at the Drama Center in London, where Colin Firth, Tom Hardy and Michael Fassbender have also graduated.
The protagonist of "The Liberator", who loves our country and hopes to visit it soon - as soon as conditions allow - answered our questions with great willingness.
Star in Netflix's new series, "The Liberator," starring Captain Felix Sparks. What made you say "yes" to this role?
There have been three roles in my career ("Merlin", "Damien", "Felix Sparks") where from the moment I got the script in my hands, I knew immediately that it was for me, and fortunately I managed to get them. This also happened with the role of Felix Sparks and I think I did not read too many pages in the script before I told myself that I would do it, that I know exactly what to do here. If you think about it, all three of these roles have leadership qualities and I would not necessarily say - you have to ask others - that it has to do with whether I have these qualities, but more with the fact that I recognize these qualities. At least I know how to highlight them, how to portray them I guess, how to identify with them. I'm not saying I have them, but I know how to rate them on a character.
What made it more difficult for you to play Felix Sparks?
There have certainly been challenges, but I do not remember saying to myself, "This is difficult." But it was definitely a challenge that we are dealing with an existing person and there are people who are connected to him and his story, so the challenge is to look worthy of his story and his character. Also, another challenge I think was being able to bring a group of people together - in my case actors - in the same way that Felix managed to bring his men together. This is a challenge that you can not guarantee will succeed, but you know you have to do your best and I did this early on, because I realized that the key ingredient was to tie men, so that was definitely a part of it. of the challenge, taking on the role of Felix.
How did it feel to play a historical, real person, with this gravity?
In such cases, you want to look worthy of the person and you also want to make the people who knew him proud. You want the person who has a relationship with him and will watch the series, to feel proud of the person he represents. We'll see if that happens, I wish.
What research did you need to do for this role?
Fortunately, there is Alex Kershaw 's book , which is wonderful, it creates a great deal of psychology for you. Then there is every kind of material you can rely on and see, e.g. a veteran talking about his experiences in the war. World War II has been covered a lot and you have a lot in your hands, through which you can "sink" in the time then. At the end of the trailer, we hear Felix say "My dear Mary, if I ever keep silent, or seem to leave you even when I am right next to you, you will know where I am.". This kind of feeling, this kind of idea, seems to be common among many veterans, in the sense that, they would not necessarily say it the same way, they would have a different wording about it, but you understand that the things they went through the surviving men affected them to such an extent that when they were just shopping or driving their car or taking their children after school, they were suddenly "boomed up", their memories struck again and they came back to that place again. , where they have witnessed some terrible events in human history. And I was stuck with it throughout the filming process, as after reading these phrases in the script, I realized that it was important to make sure that these characters go through when we were shooting the scenes.
You were born in England, but in this role, we hear you speak with an American accent. How easy or difficult was it for you?
I was born in England, but grew up in America, so the voice you hear in the series is essentially a deeper version of my 13-year-old self. When I was a kid I had an American accent and when I came back to England as a teenager, my accent slowly dissipated and became what you hear today.
What would you say makes a hero? Are there any heroes today?
I believe that each of us is capable of doing heroic deeds. But I think it needs attention when we characterize a hero. There are definitely heroic deeds we are witnessing and I guess when the time comes for each of us, we could all behave heroically in some cases, so I think each of us is capable of moments of heroism.
Would you say that the situation in which the whole planet is now, due to the coronavirus pandemic, looks like a war? The attack in the trailer "our biggest battles, we can not fight them alone", made me think that.
I certainly think there are some vague similarities, but one thing I have realized by doing research on "The Liberator" and turning it around, is that I do not think our society has a chance to fully understand the depth of the sacrifice it made at that time. I think we live in very, very privileged times and as a society we probably have more complaints, because our expectations are much higher because of that. We live in a very comfortable time, and I say comfortable compared to what the planet was like in the 1940s, because of the extreme conflicts that were happening. So I think we have to be very careful in aligning the things that we are going through today, with everything in World War II, because I think we are very far away. We are almost looking for things to complain about, I think. And in some ways it may be good to take it for granted, but at the same time I think there is a huge lesson to be learned from the wars and especially from World War II. That we should probably do everything we can to avoid repeating this scenario. So, it's a bit difficult to make parallels, it's complicated about these two time periods.
When I first saw the trailer for "The Liberator," it reminded me of Sam Mendes ' Oscar-winning film " 1917. " Have you seen her? You liked it;
I really loved this movie. I think I went to the cinema to see her 2 or 3 times. It is fantastic. In my opinion he did not get what he deserved, talking about awards. I liked it very much. Both speak of very similar times, two very similar struggles. In both situations life is unstable on many levels and I think there are parallels between the two. We are a century away from this war, while we are almost eighty years away from World War II. I hope we have learned enough lessons as a global community not to fall behind again. It is good to have these reminders so that we all know the dangers of repeating the mistakes of the past.
Do you think that war movies and series can be instructive?
Of course. As I said, we are talking about a period of time that is very difficult for us today. Movies open our minds to new worlds and when they do well, they tell stories that draw us into this world. You know, any story, any movie, any series that has a kind of element that tells the story right, will open up a new perspective on how people lived in different eras.
Is there an intense scene you remember from the shooting? One that shocked you?
I remember them all, one by one. I remember every moment of this experience. From the moment I got the script, I did not leave it, it is still with me until today. I have spent three or four months preparing, wanting everything to be right the moment I go to shoot. I built relationships where I could with the people I worked with. So when it came time to turn them around and focus on them, I had a very vivid memory of them all. One or two scenes definitely left behind a mark that haunts you and you know they left their mark, but yes I remember the whole experience very, very strongly. I went to Drama School many years ago, because I wanted to come to the other side and play roles like that and I'm very lucky because that happened. I was lucky with some other roles, which I also love.
The Liberator is the first project shot with the innovative Trioscope technology
"The Liberator" is the first production to be shot through Trioscope, a new hybrid animation technology that combines state-of-the-art CGI with live action by actors. How was the shooting experience and process? Was it very different from the way you usually work? And what was your first impression as soon as you saw the final result?
We did the shooting with the help of a huge blue screen. We were normal with our costumes, sets and objects, but there was also a world created by Trioscope. It takes a lot of work from home to do before you go to the set, because you have to create a world of your own. You have to recall, what it's like to be in the snow, even though you're in the studio, what it's like to be in the rain while the studio is dry, things like that. In this way, you are given the opportunity to really perform, it is almost like playing in a play at that time. Your imagination must create this environment. You do not have bullets coming at you, you have your imagination telling you that you are under fire. You have to do a lot of work before making sure you are ready to go to the set, but at no point did I feel like a "chore". I enjoyed it so much, I liked to delve into the details where needed.
I was very lucky because fellow actors told me that Trioscope works with actors, the way actors want to work together, and Trioscope creates the environment for that to happen, so we were all so grateful. Netflix also played a big role because they were always all very communicative. So, after we finished shooting, at one stage I was able to see the series before any Trioscope editing was done. At first I said that what I was seeing was essentially a play and I thought "this is going to be" hard ". There was no background music, there were tracks of dialogue that were a bit messy, you know, it was very "rough", but when I watched it all, I said "Wow, that works! I'm proud to be a part of this ". And I thought that if it works that way, when the work with Trioscope is done, it will just launch. It is not enough just to see something beautiful, it alone can not keep the attention of the public. There must be a story to which the world will be connected. Otherwise you close it or change the channel.
The moment that really moved me was when I saw the trailer. It was a very emotional moment. I found it very strong. I was amazed at the things you can do through Trioscope.
Do you also shoot outside, or only in studios?
They are all shot with a blue screen. In fact, 99% is shot with a blue screen. We were shooting in a studio in Poland, but I had to go to Atlanta for filming too, because the studio in Poland did not have the specific equipment needed for specific shots, so I had to go and shoot some of the scenes in Atlanta. And there the shooting was done with a green screen due to the different technology, as well as all the different techniques used. So all this was from our imagination, we were creating what we had to have in front of us, behind us, around us Ή The process of creating this world with our mind was very fun. I think for the others who passed by and saw you, it seemed strange, it made you look a little crazy. I think the Drama School, it really prepares you for something like this. It is not very different for me, because we did a lot of work with the lessons, with the theater, and all this prepared me professionally in a way that I now realize how it works in the end. It's a great opportunity to spark your imagination, so I think I was very lucky in this part.
What do you think viewers will gain by watching "The Liberator"?
This also intrigues me, because I think it is very difficult for me to get out of this experience. I learned a lot about a man for whom I have the greatest respect. There are already many stories about World War II, there are many movies, shows… This series touches on an element of that era, to which people may not have been exposed in the past. Felix is with a group of soldiers that no one else wantedreally in their company and this is due to the social dynamics of the 1940s which meant that Mexican-Americans, Native Americans, white cowboys probably did not have as much time or space as other people and did not treat them properly. And then comes Felix, who was a man who grew up in Miami, Arizona. I think more than half of his class came from the Latino community, so he was "exposed" to people from that culture in advance. I think that made him more open to understand them, probably better than most officers, and to respect them much more than other officers or other people in power. This helped bring these men together. This story is aboutgreat contribution of these people, which has not been said many times and I think this moment is the best to say. I am very proud to be part of this story.
How was your collaboration with the other actors?
Really wonderful. Jeb Stuart and LC Crowley, who are some of the series' producers, and Greg Jonkajtys, who is the director, were very specific about who they wanted for the roles. They managed to find many children who fit the roles. They managed to find many actors who had many characteristics of the characters they play and they found many good guys, many talented actors. In fact, many were very passionate about the project, wanting to tell the story and were very excited, because I think they have been involved in something new, that they have not done in the past and it passed on to everyone. When each of us arrived, everyone did their best to welcome it, the atmosphere was fantastic. I have so many happy memories from working with them. Usually you do not continue to see the people you work with after the shooting is over, but now it is different, I will be in touch with everyone. We talk very often, the bond that is created is strong. So I definitely made some friends from this experience and I'm very proud to be part of it because of these people.
Trioscope combines top quality CGI with live-action interpretations, delivering a unique visual effect.
The higher one's position, the more influence one has over the whole production. So when someone is at the top, like the producers, the directors, etc., the energy they bring is diffused to everyone else. We had producers Jeb Stuart, LC Crowley and director Greg Jonkajtys , who were very positive and very cooperative, and that was passed on to everyone else. The same goes for actors. I have worked on a set that has this on the downside. And it's not nice at all. Fortunately, here we have Martin Sensmeier (played by Coldfoot) and Jose Miguel Vasquez(impersonating "Gomez"), who brought so much positive energy, and this had a huge impact on the rest of the cast.
Did you spend enough time together before, to bond and have this result?
We did not all arrive at the same time. Four or five arrived in the first week and we went for paintball, together with the crew and that was a good start. The group was growing and I feel that everyone who came felt welcome, so it was a wonderful atmosphere in which I worked.
How did you decide to become an actor? What do you think you would be if you had not become an actor?
When I was little, I always watched movies, but I did not necessarily understand that this was a job. But I longed to do what they did. Also, when I was little, I liked to show off. The first time I remember looking for it was when I went to school. Many children then, every Wednesday after class, would disappear and I would wonder "But where is everyone going?". And then I found out that they were taking acting lessons, which at the time I didn't even know what it meant, but I said "I want to do it too". And so suddenly, I find this class and I really loved acting. In my early years I moved often, and when I finally returned to England as a teenager, I remember one day there was a bulletin board at school. There was also a girl I liked - it was something like a second omen that was given to me - who was looking at an announcement for a school play and asked me "Will you participate too?". And then I answered her "I do not know, will you do it?" . And after he said yes, I said I would do it too.
After about two weeks, I had forgotten the girl and I was captivated by the world of acting. So I think I always had it, it was always inside me, whether I could say what exactly it was and what it meant to be an actor. I always wanted to be an actor . I think I was born to be an actor.
Do you have a specific director or actor in mind that you would like to work with in the future?
I would love to work with many. Among the directors I would like to work with are David Fincher and Christopher Nolan. Actors include Gary Oldman and Emma Thompson. They are two actors that I like to watch and I like their work. The good thing about our industry is that there are so many talented and talented actors out there that I enjoy working with because you learn a lot from them. The better they are, the more you learn. I was very lucky in terms of working with talented people, not only in terms of actors, but also in terms of directing and production. I hope it goes on like this and I continue to work with talented people, because I mature from these experiences.
You are also known for your role as "King Arthur" in the successful BBC series "Merlin", a series with many fans around the world. Did you expect this kind of success when you shot it? And how is your relationship with your fans so far?
They are very supportive. I think one of the hardest challenges an actor faces when he stops a series like this is that some people put a limit on you being that person for them for the rest of the time… When the series ended and I left from her, I had to spend some time carefully choosing the roles I would take on, and also during this time, some people might not have thought of me for certain roles and suggested them to me because they could not see me outside of role of Arthur for a while. It was hard work, it was a challenge to get away from it as best I could. It was a fantastic experience. I learned a lot from this series and fortunately there was a fanbase that did not keep me trapped in this role. In the process, they also supported meI am very grateful to them . To make this transition, you have to have people who appreciate you for who you are and for what you do and fortunately that has happened, and my new work has received a lot of support from fans and I hope this continues.
During COVID-19, when filming stopped altogether, you co-wrote a TV pilot selected by CaliWood Pictures, and now you are also completing a screenplay. Would you like to talk to us about both of these projects?
I would love to talk about them and go deeper, just nothing is tangible yet. I received a phone call from a producer, who told me that he had me in mind for a role even if I wanted to discuss it. I came up with some ideas, we discussed them and then he comes back and says "you should write this". I assumed he was joking, but as it turned out he was not joking so I started writing the pilot. It is at a very early stage right now, nothing is tangible, but it has started to move forward and we will see how it goes… Because I found myself traveling to a new world with this experience. This expanded, I guess because things are going well with the pilot, and I came up with a script for a movie, which also seems to be going well.
What do you think about the future? Are there any other plans?
These two projects are in progress. I think everyone in the industry had something else in mind for 2020. So I think now it is much more difficult to answer that question. Because you can start shooting and next week you suddenly get a phone call telling you that they are being canceled. So I have nothing specific to say, because of the current state of the world.
Have you ever come to Greece;
Yes, when I was a teenager, I came for a vacation in Malia, Crete . And when I was very young, I had visited Athens . But I have not been able to come as an adult and appreciate its beauties, but I really want to come , I can't wait. I hear you have wonderful things. I think every friend I have, has come for a vacation in Mykonos. At least 90% of my friends have visited it.
What would you like to say to the Greek public?
Well, I will see you soon now that I have closed my vacation, when the time comes and we will be able to travel freely again. I seem to have lost a lot all this time. It would be great too if they could tell me how "The Liberator" looked to you. Send me on Instagram and Twitter what you think. I would like to know how it seemed to you in Greece. Especially since I plan to come there on my next vacation. Thank you very much for everything.
Below is the English Google translation, so a few words may have been lost in translation. Original Greek version is here. Excerpt below. The full article is behind the cut.
iefimerida: "The Liberator": The new Netflix series that rips - Starring Bradley James explains to iefimerida how a ... whole war was filmed in a studio in front of a blue screen
In 2016, he starred in the remake of the series "The Omen" , entitled "Damien ", which was screened by A&E, and now plays in Hulu. The creator and showrunner of the series Glen Mazzara ("The Walking Dead") , chose him from hundreds of actors for the role of Damien. "It simply came to our notice then. Bradley had heart and intelligence and charm and really made his character his own. "It was a great collaboration with him ," Mazzara said of the moment the actor went through the audition.
During COVID-19, when filming stopped altogether, you co-wrote a TV pilot selected by CaliWood Pictures, and now you are also completing a screenplay. Would you like to talk to us about both of these projects?
I would love to talk about them and go deeper, just nothing is tangible yet. I received a phone call from a producer, who told me that he had me in mind for a role even if I wanted to discuss it. I came up with some ideas, we discussed them and then he comes back and says "you should write this". I assumed he was joking, but as it turned out he was not joking so I started writing the pilot. It is at a very early stage right now, nothing is tangible, but it has started to move forward and we will see how it goes… Because I found myself traveling to a new world with this experience. This expanded, I guess because things are going well with the pilot, and I came up with a script for a movie, which also seems to be going well.
What do you think about the future? Are there any other plans?
These two projects are in progress. I think everyone in the industry had something else in mind for 2020. So I think now it is much more difficult to answer that question. Because you can start shooting and next week you suddenly get a phone call telling you that they are being canceled. So I have nothing specific to say, because of the current state of the world.
[Click for full interview]
"The Liberator": The new Netflix series that rips - Starring Bradley James explains to iefimerida how a ... whole war was filmed in a studio in front of a blue screen
Within just a few days since you released on November 11 -Day Veteran in the USA- new series of Netflix, «The Liberator», climbed on top of the Greek top 10.
And not unjustly, as it is a series that has piqued the interest of viewers, not only for the innovative way in which it has been shot, but also for the true story that is being told, which many people did not know until today.
"The Liberator": Netflix's new groundbreaking animated series about World War II [video]
The new Netflix mini-war series is about "a diverse and brave group of soldiers, emerging as the most heroic fighting force of the European invasion during World War II," according to the series' description.
The «The Liberator» is based on the true story of the American Governor Felix Sparks, who led the 157th Infantry Regiment from Sicily until the heart of Nazi Germany, and together with his men, he struggled continuously for 500 days to release Europe, while also leading the forces that liberated the Nazi concentration camp in Dachau . This team became one of the most acclaimed American battle units in World War II .
This hero, unknown to many, is played by the talented actor Bradley James (Bradley James), who spoke exclusively to iefimerida.gr , about the challenges he had to face in taking on this role, as well as about his shooting experience, with the innovative Trioscope technology, which combines top quality CGI with live-action interpretations, offering us a unique visual effect. The series "The Liberator" , based on the book of the same title by Alex Kershaw , is the first production shot through Trioscope.
The series "The Liberator" captivated the Greek public
Who is the protagonist of the series, Bradley James
Bradley James is a British-American actor who has received rave reviews to date. He has played leading and supporting roles, displaying a unique talent with many possibilities in various genres, from thrillers, drama films, science fiction, period and romantic films. His first major role was as the young King Arthur in the worldwide hit "Merlin" , which originally aired on BBC & NBC and can now be watched on Netflix & Hulu. In 2014, the charming actor had a small role in the also huge success of Showtime "Homeland" and in 2015, he played in the very popular CW series, "iZombie".
In 2016, he starred in the remake of the series "The Omen" , entitled "Damien ", which was screened by A&E, and now plays in Hulu. The creator and showrunner of the series Glen Mazzara ("The Walking Dead") , chose him from hundreds of actors for the role of Damien. "It simply came to our notice then. Bradley had heart and intelligence and charm and really made his character his own. "It was a great collaboration with him ," Mazzara said of the moment the actor went through the audition.
The charming Bradley James became known to the general public through the series "Merlin" and "Damien"
Bradley James has also starred opposite Kate Beckinsale and Theo James in the popular "Underworld" movie franchise , and in 2017 played Giuliano the Medici in the Netflix season series "Medici" (2017-2020). Bradley James has studied acting at the Drama Center in London, where Colin Firth, Tom Hardy and Michael Fassbender have also graduated.
The protagonist of "The Liberator", who loves our country and hopes to visit it soon - as soon as conditions allow - answered our questions with great willingness.
Star in Netflix's new series, "The Liberator," starring Captain Felix Sparks. What made you say "yes" to this role?
There have been three roles in my career ("Merlin", "Damien", "Felix Sparks") where from the moment I got the script in my hands, I knew immediately that it was for me, and fortunately I managed to get them. This also happened with the role of Felix Sparks and I think I did not read too many pages in the script before I told myself that I would do it, that I know exactly what to do here. If you think about it, all three of these roles have leadership qualities and I would not necessarily say - you have to ask others - that it has to do with whether I have these qualities, but more with the fact that I recognize these qualities. At least I know how to highlight them, how to portray them I guess, how to identify with them. I'm not saying I have them, but I know how to rate them on a character.
What made it more difficult for you to play Felix Sparks?
There have certainly been challenges, but I do not remember saying to myself, "This is difficult." But it was definitely a challenge that we are dealing with an existing person and there are people who are connected to him and his story, so the challenge is to look worthy of his story and his character. Also, another challenge I think was being able to bring a group of people together - in my case actors - in the same way that Felix managed to bring his men together. This is a challenge that you can not guarantee will succeed, but you know you have to do your best and I did this early on, because I realized that the key ingredient was to tie men, so that was definitely a part of it. of the challenge, taking on the role of Felix.
How did it feel to play a historical, real person, with this gravity?
In such cases, you want to look worthy of the person and you also want to make the people who knew him proud. You want the person who has a relationship with him and will watch the series, to feel proud of the person he represents. We'll see if that happens, I wish.
What research did you need to do for this role?
Fortunately, there is Alex Kershaw 's book , which is wonderful, it creates a great deal of psychology for you. Then there is every kind of material you can rely on and see, e.g. a veteran talking about his experiences in the war. World War II has been covered a lot and you have a lot in your hands, through which you can "sink" in the time then. At the end of the trailer, we hear Felix say "My dear Mary, if I ever keep silent, or seem to leave you even when I am right next to you, you will know where I am.". This kind of feeling, this kind of idea, seems to be common among many veterans, in the sense that, they would not necessarily say it the same way, they would have a different wording about it, but you understand that the things they went through the surviving men affected them to such an extent that when they were just shopping or driving their car or taking their children after school, they were suddenly "boomed up", their memories struck again and they came back to that place again. , where they have witnessed some terrible events in human history. And I was stuck with it throughout the filming process, as after reading these phrases in the script, I realized that it was important to make sure that these characters go through when we were shooting the scenes.
You were born in England, but in this role, we hear you speak with an American accent. How easy or difficult was it for you?
I was born in England, but grew up in America, so the voice you hear in the series is essentially a deeper version of my 13-year-old self. When I was a kid I had an American accent and when I came back to England as a teenager, my accent slowly dissipated and became what you hear today.
What would you say makes a hero? Are there any heroes today?
I believe that each of us is capable of doing heroic deeds. But I think it needs attention when we characterize a hero. There are definitely heroic deeds we are witnessing and I guess when the time comes for each of us, we could all behave heroically in some cases, so I think each of us is capable of moments of heroism.
Would you say that the situation in which the whole planet is now, due to the coronavirus pandemic, looks like a war? The attack in the trailer "our biggest battles, we can not fight them alone", made me think that.
I certainly think there are some vague similarities, but one thing I have realized by doing research on "The Liberator" and turning it around, is that I do not think our society has a chance to fully understand the depth of the sacrifice it made at that time. I think we live in very, very privileged times and as a society we probably have more complaints, because our expectations are much higher because of that. We live in a very comfortable time, and I say comfortable compared to what the planet was like in the 1940s, because of the extreme conflicts that were happening. So I think we have to be very careful in aligning the things that we are going through today, with everything in World War II, because I think we are very far away. We are almost looking for things to complain about, I think. And in some ways it may be good to take it for granted, but at the same time I think there is a huge lesson to be learned from the wars and especially from World War II. That we should probably do everything we can to avoid repeating this scenario. So, it's a bit difficult to make parallels, it's complicated about these two time periods.
When I first saw the trailer for "The Liberator," it reminded me of Sam Mendes ' Oscar-winning film " 1917. " Have you seen her? You liked it;
I really loved this movie. I think I went to the cinema to see her 2 or 3 times. It is fantastic. In my opinion he did not get what he deserved, talking about awards. I liked it very much. Both speak of very similar times, two very similar struggles. In both situations life is unstable on many levels and I think there are parallels between the two. We are a century away from this war, while we are almost eighty years away from World War II. I hope we have learned enough lessons as a global community not to fall behind again. It is good to have these reminders so that we all know the dangers of repeating the mistakes of the past.
Do you think that war movies and series can be instructive?
Of course. As I said, we are talking about a period of time that is very difficult for us today. Movies open our minds to new worlds and when they do well, they tell stories that draw us into this world. You know, any story, any movie, any series that has a kind of element that tells the story right, will open up a new perspective on how people lived in different eras.
Is there an intense scene you remember from the shooting? One that shocked you?
I remember them all, one by one. I remember every moment of this experience. From the moment I got the script, I did not leave it, it is still with me until today. I have spent three or four months preparing, wanting everything to be right the moment I go to shoot. I built relationships where I could with the people I worked with. So when it came time to turn them around and focus on them, I had a very vivid memory of them all. One or two scenes definitely left behind a mark that haunts you and you know they left their mark, but yes I remember the whole experience very, very strongly. I went to Drama School many years ago, because I wanted to come to the other side and play roles like that and I'm very lucky because that happened. I was lucky with some other roles, which I also love.
The Liberator is the first project shot with the innovative Trioscope technology
"The Liberator" is the first production to be shot through Trioscope, a new hybrid animation technology that combines state-of-the-art CGI with live action by actors. How was the shooting experience and process? Was it very different from the way you usually work? And what was your first impression as soon as you saw the final result?
We did the shooting with the help of a huge blue screen. We were normal with our costumes, sets and objects, but there was also a world created by Trioscope. It takes a lot of work from home to do before you go to the set, because you have to create a world of your own. You have to recall, what it's like to be in the snow, even though you're in the studio, what it's like to be in the rain while the studio is dry, things like that. In this way, you are given the opportunity to really perform, it is almost like playing in a play at that time. Your imagination must create this environment. You do not have bullets coming at you, you have your imagination telling you that you are under fire. You have to do a lot of work before making sure you are ready to go to the set, but at no point did I feel like a "chore". I enjoyed it so much, I liked to delve into the details where needed.
I was very lucky because fellow actors told me that Trioscope works with actors, the way actors want to work together, and Trioscope creates the environment for that to happen, so we were all so grateful. Netflix also played a big role because they were always all very communicative. So, after we finished shooting, at one stage I was able to see the series before any Trioscope editing was done. At first I said that what I was seeing was essentially a play and I thought "this is going to be" hard ". There was no background music, there were tracks of dialogue that were a bit messy, you know, it was very "rough", but when I watched it all, I said "Wow, that works! I'm proud to be a part of this ". And I thought that if it works that way, when the work with Trioscope is done, it will just launch. It is not enough just to see something beautiful, it alone can not keep the attention of the public. There must be a story to which the world will be connected. Otherwise you close it or change the channel.
The moment that really moved me was when I saw the trailer. It was a very emotional moment. I found it very strong. I was amazed at the things you can do through Trioscope.
Do you also shoot outside, or only in studios?
They are all shot with a blue screen. In fact, 99% is shot with a blue screen. We were shooting in a studio in Poland, but I had to go to Atlanta for filming too, because the studio in Poland did not have the specific equipment needed for specific shots, so I had to go and shoot some of the scenes in Atlanta. And there the shooting was done with a green screen due to the different technology, as well as all the different techniques used. So all this was from our imagination, we were creating what we had to have in front of us, behind us, around us Ή The process of creating this world with our mind was very fun. I think for the others who passed by and saw you, it seemed strange, it made you look a little crazy. I think the Drama School, it really prepares you for something like this. It is not very different for me, because we did a lot of work with the lessons, with the theater, and all this prepared me professionally in a way that I now realize how it works in the end. It's a great opportunity to spark your imagination, so I think I was very lucky in this part.
What do you think viewers will gain by watching "The Liberator"?
This also intrigues me, because I think it is very difficult for me to get out of this experience. I learned a lot about a man for whom I have the greatest respect. There are already many stories about World War II, there are many movies, shows… This series touches on an element of that era, to which people may not have been exposed in the past. Felix is with a group of soldiers that no one else wantedreally in their company and this is due to the social dynamics of the 1940s which meant that Mexican-Americans, Native Americans, white cowboys probably did not have as much time or space as other people and did not treat them properly. And then comes Felix, who was a man who grew up in Miami, Arizona. I think more than half of his class came from the Latino community, so he was "exposed" to people from that culture in advance. I think that made him more open to understand them, probably better than most officers, and to respect them much more than other officers or other people in power. This helped bring these men together. This story is aboutgreat contribution of these people, which has not been said many times and I think this moment is the best to say. I am very proud to be part of this story.
How was your collaboration with the other actors?
Really wonderful. Jeb Stuart and LC Crowley, who are some of the series' producers, and Greg Jonkajtys, who is the director, were very specific about who they wanted for the roles. They managed to find many children who fit the roles. They managed to find many actors who had many characteristics of the characters they play and they found many good guys, many talented actors. In fact, many were very passionate about the project, wanting to tell the story and were very excited, because I think they have been involved in something new, that they have not done in the past and it passed on to everyone. When each of us arrived, everyone did their best to welcome it, the atmosphere was fantastic. I have so many happy memories from working with them. Usually you do not continue to see the people you work with after the shooting is over, but now it is different, I will be in touch with everyone. We talk very often, the bond that is created is strong. So I definitely made some friends from this experience and I'm very proud to be part of it because of these people.
Trioscope combines top quality CGI with live-action interpretations, delivering a unique visual effect.
The higher one's position, the more influence one has over the whole production. So when someone is at the top, like the producers, the directors, etc., the energy they bring is diffused to everyone else. We had producers Jeb Stuart, LC Crowley and director Greg Jonkajtys , who were very positive and very cooperative, and that was passed on to everyone else. The same goes for actors. I have worked on a set that has this on the downside. And it's not nice at all. Fortunately, here we have Martin Sensmeier (played by Coldfoot) and Jose Miguel Vasquez(impersonating "Gomez"), who brought so much positive energy, and this had a huge impact on the rest of the cast.
Did you spend enough time together before, to bond and have this result?
We did not all arrive at the same time. Four or five arrived in the first week and we went for paintball, together with the crew and that was a good start. The group was growing and I feel that everyone who came felt welcome, so it was a wonderful atmosphere in which I worked.
How did you decide to become an actor? What do you think you would be if you had not become an actor?
When I was little, I always watched movies, but I did not necessarily understand that this was a job. But I longed to do what they did. Also, when I was little, I liked to show off. The first time I remember looking for it was when I went to school. Many children then, every Wednesday after class, would disappear and I would wonder "But where is everyone going?". And then I found out that they were taking acting lessons, which at the time I didn't even know what it meant, but I said "I want to do it too". And so suddenly, I find this class and I really loved acting. In my early years I moved often, and when I finally returned to England as a teenager, I remember one day there was a bulletin board at school. There was also a girl I liked - it was something like a second omen that was given to me - who was looking at an announcement for a school play and asked me "Will you participate too?". And then I answered her "I do not know, will you do it?" . And after he said yes, I said I would do it too.
After about two weeks, I had forgotten the girl and I was captivated by the world of acting. So I think I always had it, it was always inside me, whether I could say what exactly it was and what it meant to be an actor. I always wanted to be an actor . I think I was born to be an actor.
Do you have a specific director or actor in mind that you would like to work with in the future?
I would love to work with many. Among the directors I would like to work with are David Fincher and Christopher Nolan. Actors include Gary Oldman and Emma Thompson. They are two actors that I like to watch and I like their work. The good thing about our industry is that there are so many talented and talented actors out there that I enjoy working with because you learn a lot from them. The better they are, the more you learn. I was very lucky in terms of working with talented people, not only in terms of actors, but also in terms of directing and production. I hope it goes on like this and I continue to work with talented people, because I mature from these experiences.
You are also known for your role as "King Arthur" in the successful BBC series "Merlin", a series with many fans around the world. Did you expect this kind of success when you shot it? And how is your relationship with your fans so far?
They are very supportive. I think one of the hardest challenges an actor faces when he stops a series like this is that some people put a limit on you being that person for them for the rest of the time… When the series ended and I left from her, I had to spend some time carefully choosing the roles I would take on, and also during this time, some people might not have thought of me for certain roles and suggested them to me because they could not see me outside of role of Arthur for a while. It was hard work, it was a challenge to get away from it as best I could. It was a fantastic experience. I learned a lot from this series and fortunately there was a fanbase that did not keep me trapped in this role. In the process, they also supported meI am very grateful to them . To make this transition, you have to have people who appreciate you for who you are and for what you do and fortunately that has happened, and my new work has received a lot of support from fans and I hope this continues.
During COVID-19, when filming stopped altogether, you co-wrote a TV pilot selected by CaliWood Pictures, and now you are also completing a screenplay. Would you like to talk to us about both of these projects?
I would love to talk about them and go deeper, just nothing is tangible yet. I received a phone call from a producer, who told me that he had me in mind for a role even if I wanted to discuss it. I came up with some ideas, we discussed them and then he comes back and says "you should write this". I assumed he was joking, but as it turned out he was not joking so I started writing the pilot. It is at a very early stage right now, nothing is tangible, but it has started to move forward and we will see how it goes… Because I found myself traveling to a new world with this experience. This expanded, I guess because things are going well with the pilot, and I came up with a script for a movie, which also seems to be going well.
What do you think about the future? Are there any other plans?
These two projects are in progress. I think everyone in the industry had something else in mind for 2020. So I think now it is much more difficult to answer that question. Because you can start shooting and next week you suddenly get a phone call telling you that they are being canceled. So I have nothing specific to say, because of the current state of the world.
Have you ever come to Greece;
Yes, when I was a teenager, I came for a vacation in Malia, Crete . And when I was very young, I had visited Athens . But I have not been able to come as an adult and appreciate its beauties, but I really want to come , I can't wait. I hear you have wonderful things. I think every friend I have, has come for a vacation in Mykonos. At least 90% of my friends have visited it.
What would you like to say to the Greek public?
Well, I will see you soon now that I have closed my vacation, when the time comes and we will be able to travel freely again. I seem to have lost a lot all this time. It would be great too if they could tell me how "The Liberator" looked to you. Send me on Instagram and Twitter what you think. I would like to know how it seemed to you in Greece. Especially since I plan to come there on my next vacation. Thank you very much for everything.