An Interview with Richard Wayne, Star of Harvey the Great

by Mike Haberfelner

November 2015

Films starring Richard Wayne on (re)Search my Trash

Your new movie Harvey the Great - in a few words, what is it about, and what can you tell us about your character in it?

If James Bond mated with the Pink Panther movies, it would be Harvey the Great, and I play the Goldfinger character, although in my case it’s a gold mask.

What did you draw upon to bring your character to life, and how much of Richard Wayne can we find in John Smith?

I wish there were more Richard Wayne in John Smith! The luxury of acting in a parody, and playing a villain, is I get to play a veneer. It’s a very attractive veneer and a lot simpler and more polished than I have ever been in life.

How did you get involved with the project in the first place?

I acted in Jesse’s film Polypore, and he asked me if I’d be interested in participating in Harvey the Great.

To what extent can you identify with Harvey the Great's brand of humour?

100%. I’m quite deadpan with a very goofy center.

What can you tell us about your director Jesse Barack [Jesse Barack interview - click here], and what was your collaboration like? 

Jesse is a delight to work with. He’s professional, kind, charming, respectful of actors, and most importantly his work has a finish that looks so much higher-budget than it really is.

Do talk about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere!

Guys this age have a bad reputation for being lazy, snarky, and entitled, so I’m always so impressed by how polite and hardworking the entire crew is. Everybody’s there to do a job and have fun.

Any future projects you'd like to share?

I just graduated from Boston Conservatory with an MFA in Musical Theatre, and I relocated to NYC a month ago, so stay tuned!

What got you into acting in the first place, and did you receive any formal training on the subject?

I started acting, and studying acting, in college, then put it away for a while. I returned to it in my late twenties, from embarrassingly amateurish to increasingly professional until I returned to school a few years ago to get a graduate degree in performing.

What can you tell us about your filmwork prior to Harvey the Great?

I’ve worked mostly onstage, but have done a few small independent and student films. I look forward to more.

Assassins photo by Max Wagenblass

Besides movies, you're also doing lots of theatre - so what can you tell us about Richard Wayne, the stage actor, and how does performing on stage compare to acting in front of a camera?

It’s like the difference between performing surgery and playing basketball.

You're also a singer, right? So do talk about that aspect of your career for a bit, and about your preferred musical styles and influences?

Yes, my graduate degree is in musical theatre. Singing is even more central to who I am than acting, although it’s sometimes described as acting with music. I like any genre that tells a story or expresses character through intelligent lyrics and well-crafted melody.

How would you describe yourself as an actor, and some of your techniques to bring your characters to life?

Acting, like singing, is simple, but impossible to master. Technique is used to embody the physical and emotional life of a character so fully that the actor can live spontaneously as that character and make the words that are written on paper feel improvised.

Actors (and indeed actresses) who inspire you?

In no particular order Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Judi Dench, Hugh Jackman, Neil Patrick Harris, Helena Bonham Carter, and Meryl Streep. I like actors who are intelligent, versatile, transformative, and a little bit crazy.

Your favourite movies?

Feeling lucky? Want to search any of my partnershops yourself for more, better results? (commissions earned)

The links below will take you just there!!!

Find Richard Wayne at the amazons ...   amazon.com   amazon.co.uk   amazon.de Looking for imports? Find Richard Wayne here ...   eThaiCD.com Your shop for all things Thai Something naughty? (Must be over 18 to go there!)   find Richard Wayne at adultvideouniverse.com

The Sound of Music, The Lord of the Rings, Chariots of Fire, and Evil Under the Sun. Those four movies tell you all there is to know about me.

... and of course, films you really deplore?

I’m not being coy when I say I never publicly criticize the work of other artists. Buy me a Manhattan, and we’ll talk.

Your website, Facebook, whatever else?

I’m ActingTall everywhere, including my website: www.actingtall.com

Anything else you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?

Can anyone get me tickets to Hamilton?

Thanks for the interview!

© by Mike Haberfelner

Legal note: (re)Search my Trash cannot
and shall not be held responsible for
content of sites from a third party.

Thanks for watching !!!