Mcqueenwannabe1

Mcqueenwannabe1 OP t1_iwwns0w wrote

The coolest part was when the band came to the studio to shoot their part. We had been shooting the day before, getting most of it on film, then they came in on day two. The directors wanted to show them what we'd been doing, so we performed the whole thing for them as they watched. They had fun.

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Mcqueenwannabe1 OP t1_iwwnbpy wrote

Physically, probably Liebgott in Band of Brothers. One, we had to be soldier fit, but two, I had to get to the same size as him. He was 130lbs, I got down to 135. But it was also a legacy that we wanted to get right, so that was something we all took very seriously. Others were challenging in terms of learning fight sequences like The Beautiful Ones knife fight, or the Green St sequences. (esp the sequel)

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Mcqueenwannabe1 OP t1_iwvxz9f wrote

Thanks so much. Ha! I don't get recognized for it ever. Maybe it's the mustache. Ha! However, on every set I'm on, I'll always hear the song as someone on the crew will have found it and it gets past around. I'm actually very honored. And seeing people's reactions to it now are fun to witness. Everyone loves that video. My favorite songs would be Show Must Go On, Bohemian, Love of My Life, Killer Queen & Innuendo. Haven't seen the bad for years. I think Brian and I have been at a few events over the years, but haven't managed to say hi. I'm sure we will.

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Mcqueenwannabe1 OP t1_iwvxa7x wrote

He had passed a few decades earlier so I had to rely on books and talking with the other veterans. They rarely talked about themselves but would happily talk about their brothers. So we actually got vast amounts of research through personal accounts. It was invaluable.

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Mcqueenwannabe1 OP t1_iwvwwoh wrote

I do. I'm shooting a film in Los Angeles right now. I have a few days off so I can get to things like this. It's a detective drama so I'm having a lot of fun. I'm also putting together a new film that shoots in London next year and I just finished my latest script.

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Mcqueenwannabe1 OP t1_iwvwn6z wrote

Glad you enjoyed. Yeah, it's a very personal film for me. It's a film you have to stick with and pay attention to. If you do, the pay-off is beautiful. It's tricky saying your own words only in the fact that you better know your lines. Ha! But you do actually have to learn them, as you've probably written them in the script a few years earlier, so come filming, it's like learning a regular screenplay. And everybody's watching, so...

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Mcqueenwannabe1 OP t1_iwvw5t2 wrote

I enjoyed his backstory. I also like the charm of a villain so I wanted the audience to almost root for him, which for the most part, they did. I also wanted him to still like Neal and toy with him a little as an old pal would. That was the truth, he actually really missed his friend, so I enjoyed that. I can't remember many of the lines because once we finish a role we move on. I do remember saying something to Mozzie though, along the lines of, 'You. Yet. But it's starting to cross my mind, Mozzie' - about putting a hit out on him. That always made us all laugh.

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Mcqueenwannabe1 OP t1_iwvpx2h wrote

You're very kind. Thank you. Favorite roles would be Liebgott in Band, Keller in White Collar, Sean in In Embryo and Ryan in About Us. Ryan is probably the most personal to me as it's a lot of me in the character.

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Mcqueenwannabe1 OP t1_iwvpigf wrote

Thanks. Yeah, I studied a lot. Research is a big part in an actor's life. This was certainly a job to dig into. The producers sent me boxes of VHS video tapes. All their videos and live concerts. I watched them and began to pick out a few signature moves I noticed Freddie was using over and over. None of the video was choreographed, it was literally made up and improvised. I had bits of it rehearsed using a broom as a mic stand in my house as a kid, but for the most part, we sort of winged it.

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Mcqueenwannabe1 OP t1_iwvoos1 wrote

Both have their huge pluses. I'd say I'm an actor first and foremost. I still get a buzz when I see a finished project on the big screen or TV or now, as the world progresses, a phone :) Producing is a different walk. I like to put pieces together, so I enjoy that aspect. The number crunching isn't my avenue, I'm more on the creative side and I tend to produce (with others) projects I've written or plan to direct. But both have their merits. Seeing a poster hang in my office that I had a hand in putting together and which has made it to the cinema does give me cause to smile big.

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Mcqueenwannabe1 OP t1_iwvo17c wrote

Keller was originally set for just one episode. They had a template for the character in mind (Not me, ha!), but the Director of Photography worked with me on a series called Crash and recommended me for the role. One of the Exec Producers knew my bosses on Crash so they talked and gave me the nod. At first, I think the execs were shocked at how I chose to play him as they'd written him as a carbon copy on Neal, I decided to switch it up and play a blue collar version of him with the same taste in suits. I think by the second scene they saw, they started to like the idea more so we went with it. The fans really voiced that they loved the character and that then became a conversation to bring him back. And again. And again. Keller was like the golden egg character, they'd bring him in when they wanted to shake up the story a little. I love him dearly.

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Mcqueenwannabe1 OP t1_iwvisha wrote

Aside from getting films I've written/directed into the cinema's, and B.O.B being one of the biggest shows ever, getting asked to play for my boyhood football team (Celtic F.C) in a couple of celebrity/charity games was a dream. But truthfully, I've been very fortunate that some shows have become classics.

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Mcqueenwannabe1 OP t1_iwvidpp wrote

I live in the US. All the fans of my various shows and films are actually nothing but kind about my characters. Even the bad boys I've played. They always seem to find the charm in them and end up enjoying them. I'm usually stopped by them and always have a quick chat about Band of Brothers, white collar or Green street characters. But even something like Luther, where I was a psychopath, people still find something in them that they like.

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Mcqueenwannabe1 OP t1_iwvhrpc wrote

I was a fan. Plain and simple. So I knew who I was playing and their iconic status. I loved rehearsing with the band though. I remember thinking Brian was the more outgoing with us, and I wanted to be as cool as Roger. He wore sunglasses indoors. That's how you know ;)

But all in all, we had a great time. The directors made the whole thing fun for the kids.

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