Question Marc 2

Question: What about the other actors?
Marc: Oh God, if I go into details about their jobs it will take hours. I must say that the script has no secondary roles. Every part is important for the plot and I am very happy to say that even some characters that appear for a few minutes on screen were played by very good actors. And it’s not only their performance but also their professionalism. Jose Rosete, for instance, who uses to play leading men roles, was generous enough to accept a supporting role and to come to the set three consecutive days to deliver just a few pages of dialogue. That’s a real professional spirit. Sheila Ellis was on the set for make-up about one hour before the start of the shooting. It is true that she opens and closes the movie and her dialogue is pretty decisive for the plot, but her role is a small one in terms of screen presence. And so on.

Question: I understand that there is no room for too much detail but give me some general impression about the characters.
Marc: Well, the only thing I can say is that there is not such thing as a “positive” character in this movie. Everyone has his or her very dark side and there are no clear redeeming values in the message.

Question: No redeeming values? Isn’t that a little tricky for the average viewer?
Marc: Look, if I want redeeming values I’d shoot a temperance lecture. This is entertainment; it’s not a training movie for the Marine Corps. In this case, the redeeming values have to be provided by the audience itself with its judgment about the character’s behaviors. We’re not an educational institution.

Question: Let me give you a couple of names.
Marc: OK.

Question: Elina Madison.
Marc: I met Elina for the first time minutes before her first scene, I had a small conversation with her about the part, later I said “Action” and after two seconds it looked like I had written “Elenita’s” part for her. Using too many compliments might lessen the effect but I have to say this: she’s a fantastic actress and the camera loves her. And so do I.

Question: Blair Leatherwood.
Marc: Oh, that's another “lucky strike” in the cast. That was a true acting lesson. Blair is a great dramatic stage actor, very experienced, and a joy to meet him and to work with him.

Question: David Acton.
Marc: Dave Acton is an actor who has been typecast too often as a police officer. I did too. The difference, I think, is that in this case he played another kind of cop, and that shows real versatility. It is easy to be versatile when you play very different roles but Dave plays here another type cop and he does it in such a convincing way that is scary. Besides, he was also a great help for the whole production and he put me in contact with the gentleman who plays the arresting officer, Arturo Midence. Arturo is a member of an elite security police unit in his real life and his profession comes through on the screen vividly.

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