SET VISIT: PART 3 OF 4
READ PART 1 HERE
READ PART 2 HERE
I gotta say that I wasn’t sure what to expect from Josh Holloway. While I haven’t been watching LOST myself, this guy is enough of a breakout star from the show that I knew of Sawyer, his character. Now here he was in Vancouver, headlining his first feature after what must’ve been about the craziest year imaginable. Turns out that he’s a totally down to earth guy. Think a wiry Matthew McConaughey. So take a sec and meet the man behind the selfish bastard on LOST.
INTERVIEW – JOSH HOLLOWAY, ACTOR
So is your blood thickening up? This Vancouver weather must have been quite an adjustment.
Oh God it was, but it was a welcome adjustment, because I was ready to get away from it. My wife and I were joking that we don’t even want to see a picture of the ocean.
You started this film the day after you wrapped LOST. Was it tough letting go of Sawyer (his character on the show) and getting into this new character?
No, it wasn’t tough letting go of Sawyer, once again, it was nice to get away for a bit. Well, I never really get away from any of them. It’s just the way I do work is I find an aspect of me, blow that up, and let the rest drop away. So he’s in there somewhere.
But yeah, it was an adjustment, because the premise from which they come is so different. So it took me a minute to lock into that. It’s always like, oh damn, I wish I could go film those first two days again. ‘Cause now I understand, but y’know, you just go with it. Trust your director and your people while you struggle through getting secure in your character. So it was an adjustment, but it was a quick one.
So you got this job kind of on a lark? You weren’t intending to audition, but the call came in?
That was it. I was in town. The call came in and I liked the script. I’d read it while still filming in Hawaii. As an artist, as an actor, you read something, and if it hits you, it starts going without you doing anything. I’d find myself driving around while into this character, and thinking whoa, this must be a good sign. So that was what peaked my interest in the character because it was in me already.
Do you have a ton of scripts thrown at you?
Yes.
What sort of roles?
Every kind you can think of. From serious comedy characters to freak stalker guy. I don’t know why they thought I’d be perfect for that. So yeah I was reading for a lot of scripts. Probably a lot of things they weren’t really considering me for, but it was a good way to meet the studio heads. Go in and talk about a script, and y’know, they flatter you. And then they go, “Thank you.”
We hear you’ve been getting a lot of shit on set for being one of TV’s sexiest men now?
Yes I have. A lot of shit about that. They make good sport of me.
Have they given you a nickname?
They call me FiddyMost. I think Damon [Dash, producer] came up with that. He’s been ragging me because he knows it’s a little embarrassing.
How do you feel about that?
I mean, it’s an honor. I appreciate it truly, but I think it’s comical. If they only knew what my wife sees. It’s cool, but I don’t at all see myself in those ways. I’m just struggling to do good work. But I’ll be a good dog and pony. You have to do what you must do.
Working on the schedule on LOST, has that retrained or made you grow as an actor? And how have you applied that to this picture?
That’s been the biggest gift actually. I’ve been acting for 8 and a half years. One of those little toothpicks trying to break through that 20 foot concrete wall, y’know? And they won’t let you in. So to finally be able to work everyday in the same character, to grow in that. And be able to use all this stuff I’ve been trained to do, but never got a shot to use. It’s been really great and has made me a better actor. I’m just scratching the surface.
You character starts off with a very simple plan. Kidnap the kid, get the money. And by the end of it he’s about ready to blow his brains out. Can you talk a bit about what happens to your character to get him from Point A to Point B.
He’s a very simple person. Blue collar. Had a tragic beginning of life, but he’s discovered love. So what’s interesting about this character is that he does something horrible in kidnapping this kid, but it’s motivated by love. He’s just simply trying to better his life, and no one will give him a shot. He can’t get anything. He can’t get a job, can’t get a loan. He’s stuck in this desperate place, so he does a desperate act. The ole “one last thing”. And of course it goes terribly wrong.
It seems like he’s trying to do the right thing.
That’s the fine line in this movie. I mean, he knows what he’s doing is wrong. He’s not ignorant and thinking he’s justified in what he’s doing. But he’s desperate and he makes a bad decision. He’s simply trying to contain that the entire movie. He’s like, “Oh my God, no, no, NO!” And it’s just spinning out of control. And in the end, because of what happens, he’s done. He doesn’t care anymore.
Can you talk about going from TV show to feature and how you have to adjust what you’re doing to that?
Yeah, I’ve grown accustomed to a TV pace, and also before that I did 7 independent movies that were really true indies. I mean guerilla shooting, but you know, great experience. Ballistic pace. Night to day shoot.
So this is like heaven for you?
Actually it’s opposite. In any art you get into a rhythm, and because of the nature of a true film, that has this production value…it’s such a slower pace. And I’m just pacing around my trailer like, “C’mon, put me in coach.” I’m ready to go, I’m suited up, and that I’ve found to be difficult. I can see later, once I adjust, that it’ll be a gift. But right now, just because I’m not accustomed to that…I’m used to hit the set and you’ve got 10 minutes to chill, and that’s it. You’re on.
And you’ll have to go back to that?
Yeah, it’s like a good Jamaican vacation. You’re a little antsy at first. You’re like c’mon. It’s too slow, it’s too slow, and about the time you relax into it, it’s over.
Speaking of vacation, are you going on vacation after this?
Yes, my wife and I are going on our honeymoon. We haven’t had a chance to do that. We’re going to Alaska. We’ve rented an RV.
Kind of opposite of Hawaii, eh?
Yeah. We’re gonna fly into Anchorage, pick up our RV for 20 days and just drive. We have no plans. We just have some maps. We love to do that anyway. My wife and I camp all the time.
Do you feel any further pressure with this being the first time that you are the name above the title?
Oh yeah. I was a wreck, because I’ve just gotten a little comfortable in working every day in one character and it’s being well received. And now I’m stepping into this scary realm where I don’t know…can I pull it off. So it is a lot of pressure. But once you drop into the work that’s out of the way.
What’s it like working with a director younger than you?
It’s been a gift. It’s his first, too. So we have a certain comeraderie like, “Oh God, let’s make it good.” He’s been amazing.
Can you talk about some of the challenges for your character?
Well, yeah, his whole relationship in the beginning with the child…he’s very gentle with the kid. He doesn’t want to hurt the kid. But he has to walk a fine line, because he can’t appear weak in front of his buddies. Because that’s also in defense of the child. He has to maintain a sort of toughness in front of them so they don’t kill the kid and kill him too. So he’s walkin’ that line. Being tough with his friends, but showing his woman he’s there with love. She wants to start a family, and he can see her growing attached to the kid.
So he’s this way when he’s around her, and that way when he’s around them. So there’s always that play between the two. And he’s in that vulnerable place with his woman and the kid. So even when things are going all wrong, and he sees the kid’s behind it he doesn’t want to believe it. He’s kinda more in denial about that. It can’t be the kid, y’know. But in the end, when the kid basically ruins his whole reason for living, then it’s ON!
Can you talk about how surreal your life has become with the success of LOST?
It’s crazy. I actually haven’t had much time to soak that in. Alaska will be interesting for that. My wife and I are so looking forward to just being with each other and looking at each other going, “What the hell?” But it is surreal. It’s a lot of work, it’s a lot of pressure. But it’s so fulfilling. But so overwhelming. It’s all of that. And add marriage on top of that. And we’re buying our first house on top of that. It’s been nuts, but it’s such a relief. I mean I’ve been 8 ½ years in LA. And I’ve been in the game. Reading constantly and constant rejection.
Typical overnight success story?
Yeah, but it paid off. After they broke me again. I decided I’m done. I went and got my real estate license.
Just before LOST?
It hadn’t even come in the mail yet.
LOST is an ensemble show. How do you feel about being one of the breakout male characters?
Wow. It’s an honor. It’s exciting and it’s really a relief. Because when I first started the series he was written so hard, and I was like oh, he’s dead. I better milk it quick. Because he’s just an ass. So I fought for any humanity I could find in him. As much as I could.
We saw that in the last couple of episodes.
Yeah, that was great to get to do that. And with him I walk that line too, because I don’t want him to lose his edge, ‘cause that’s what makes him so interesting.
What do you know is going to happen in Year 2?
I know nothing. It’s like working for the CIA.
Can you tell us how the LOST thing happened? How you got the role?
I was on the set of another show, and this is no lie, it was called MY ROOMMATE IS A BIG, FAT SLUT. I was doing a scene that night with Danny Masterson (THAT 70’S SHOW). So I was just waiting to do the last shot and my wife called me and said, “Babe, I’ve got this thing and it sounds really good…and it’s in HAWAII! So you’ve gotta get it!” I was like alright, fax it over.
And my jaw dropped because it was like a 36, 38 line monologue. I prepped it there, and I had a meeting the next morning with Damon and JJ at like 10 in the morning. I went in, and the nature of the monologue was rapid fire. Like someone pins you to the wall about who you are and you finally blow up. Oh, you wanna know me! It’s like that.
Have you had to make a conscious effort not to put pieces of Sawyer into this character?
Well at first that was a fear. When I finally got the character and know where he’s coming from, that goes away because it’s just a different premise from which he comes. So every thought that comes through his mind comes from a different dynamic. There’s no cockiness in Max. He’s a simple guy with a simple motivation. Whereas Sawyer is much more complex and self loathing. A lot of hate and cockiness.
Thanks a lot.
My pleasure.
And like that the publicists swept Josh out of the tent where the interview took place. Throughout the rest of the day we got to see him on set, interacting with the cast and crew. I gotta say his energy was boundless and totally positive. Seemed like when he wasn’t on camera he was helping to keep everybody’s spirits up. Definitely a dude you wanna sit down, grab a beer, and chat with if you ever get the chance.