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Your new movie When
a Stranger Knocks - in a few words, what's it about, and what can
you tell us about your character in it?
Sky, her brother, and her husband return to their childhood cabin where Sky
intends to bury her father, Samuel’s, ashes. Once they arrive, they
begin to discover something sinister Samuel became immersed in before his
death. It only grows more sinister “when a stranger knocks.”
Moooo-oo-wah-ah-ah! J
What did you
draw upon to bring your character to life, and how much James Clinton can
we find in Samuel? There
is a lot of me in every role I have played but not like most people think.
If a script is well written, everything I need to know should be in it. I
know he’s a father. Her brother, Gray perceives that Sky is his
favorite. Sky left to join the military as soon as she was old enough,
leaving Gray in a dysfunctional relationship with Samuel. Samuel’s wife
and Sky and Gray’s mother died and that is when their relationships
began to go haywire. Samuel is obsessed with something he has been
investigating, something sinister. Things may not be spelled out for the
audience but they can be, through scripted hints, for the actor. Once I
have all the information, I can then begin to form a logical
characterization for Samuel. My technique is to find the character’s
core value system. What is it that informs the way he interacts with the
world around him. Once that is found, I can then find how the character
justifies his actions from his point of view. Without getting too
philosophical, I don’t believe human beings do bad things. In their
minds, they are doing what is right. I have to find their justification. I
have yet to find a character I cannot relate to using this form of
character moral judgement. Some roles are big and you get to explore the
many facets. Some are small and brief. Of course, this is a simplistic
description. How did you get involved with the
project in the first place? Javan Garza [Javan
Garza interview - click here], the director, contacted me and asked if I was available. We worked
out a schedule and I was in. No hesitation. I was there when Javan first
started his filmmaking journey and was always willing to help out in any
way possible. Nothing had changed. Then I met Dawn Hamil, the star and
producer, and I was very happy I said yes. The only limit to working with
them again is schedule. To what degree could you
identify with When
a Stranger Knocks' approach to horror?
You never know how a project will turn out. For me, I have to trust the
filmmakers. The only control I have is what happens between “action”
and “cut”, and even then, if the director doesn’t like it, I have to
adjust and do it again. I was only present for shooting my scenes and had
no idea what else happened afterwards. Only at the premiere did I get to
see the fruits of our labor and I was very pleasantly surprised. You might
say, “but you read the script.” True. I knew what was said. I had some
descriptions of what was supposed to happen. But film is a visual medium.
You never know what you will see until you see it. I love the use black
and white. I have always been a fan of the old horror flicks. I also was
very taken by the psychological thriller aspects. This is not a slasher flick.
Although my role is small, it is important. I am very proud to be
associated with this film and especially those who made it happen.
Do talk
about When a
Stranger Knocks' director Javan Garza, and what was your
collaboration like? For
each shot, we would discuss what he wanted and why. I would then do my
best to give it to him. After he felt we accomplished what was needed, he
would ask me if there was anything I felt like I wanted to do. I would ask
him if he was satisfied with what I did. He would say yes and I would say,
well let’s move on. Except for the one scene with some awesome young
actors playing a young Sky and Gray and the final scene, the rest of my
work was alone. It might have been different if I was playing opposite
someone in a give-and-take situation. However, I still see my job as
giving filmmakers what they need. If I said yes to the project, it’s
because I believe in them. What can you tell us about the shoot
as such, and the on-set atmosphere? The
on-set atmosphere was loving, welcoming, appreciative, encouraging,
creative, fun, everything a work environment should be to bring out the
best in people. Everytime I am reunited with these people, it lifts my
heart. Any future projects
you'd like to share? I am currently exploring my retirement and have a project I would like to
pursue dealing with roleplaying and first responder training. I would like
to combine my 45 years in theatre, film, and television with scenario-based training.
What got you into acting in the
first place, and did you receive any formal training on the subject? I
first got into acting because of the glitz, glamor, and attention. It
didn’t take long for me to discover those were the wrong reasons. I then
fell in love with theatre, not just acting but the technical
behind-the-scenes aspects of it. Most of my experience has been in theatre
as a producer, director, stage manager, actor, playwright, scene designer,
scenic painter, props, stage combat. In film and television, I have been a
prop person, set decorator, painter, carpenter. It’s never been about
one thing for me. As long as I was doing it, that’s me doing what I
love. What
can you tell us about your filmwork prior to When
a Stranger Knocks? My
professional work mostly ended when I began teaching at Northwest Florida
State College 23 years ago. I was mostly a freelance behind-the-scenes guy
in theatre, film, and television. I built and painted a set for a film
called Cookie’s Fortune starring Glenn Close and directed by Robert
Altman, set decorator for an HBO film,
Miss Evers’ Boys, starring Alfre
Woodard and Laurence Fishburne and directed by Joseph Sargent. I
freelanced in Atlanta building and painting Vegas industrial sets for the
two largest scene shops. You're also an assistant
professor of Theatre at the Nortwest Florida State College - so what can
you tell us about that aspect of your career, and in what way does it
inform your acting, and vice versa? My
philosophy is about giving students real-world experiences and education.
I spent 20 years getting degrees and working professionally. I was
originally hired by the college as their resident scene designer without
the expectation of teaching. Once they discovered the extent of my
experience and how I was interested in sharing it with students, I began
teaching a variety of courses. My current degrees are Bachelor of Fine
Arts in Theatre, Scene Design, Master of Fine Arts in Directing, both
earned from the University of Mississippi, and a Master of Fine Arts in
Staging Shakespeare from the University of Exeter, England.
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How would you
describe yourself as an actor, and some of your techniques to bring your
characters to life? I
am a no-nonsense actor. Pragmatic and efficient. Did I give you what you
need? If yes, let’s move on. If not, let’s figure out why until I give
you what you need, and let’s move on. I must be ready when called upon,
give it my all, and satisfy the needs of the production. We only need as
many takes as the director wants. My simplified description of technique
is in question #2. Actors (and indeed actresses) who
inspire you? Meryl Streep in particular. In general, any actor who engages me enough to
forget myself for a while. Your favourite movies? Too
many to list. My favorite genres are action, sci-fi, horror without
gratuitous violence, and war films exploring the sacrifices made.
... and of course, films you really deplore? I
base my movie-going experience on the mood I am in at the time. I don’t
really have any I deplore because I never last long enough to find out. Your website,
social media, whatever else? I
don’t have much of an internet presence. Anything else you're dying
to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? Can’t
think of anything. Did I give you what you need? If yes, cool. If not,
please feel free to contact me J Thanks for the interest in the film and
best wishes always! J Thanks
for the interview!
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