Lane Garrison – Roots

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) What were your thoughts when you learned they were remaking “Roots?”

A) A lot of people were questioning remaking the series, but the original came out in 1977. It’s been generation after generation and even millennials that haven’t heard about “Roots” and don’t even know about it. I think it was time for a remake and you should know history. You should watch all four nights and after the end of the four nights you don’t want to be a better person something is wrong with you. I think this is a life lesson of “treat others how you want to be treated.”

Q) Tell us about your character.

A) I’m obviously playing not such a nice guy. He’s a guy who is eaten away at with racism. It was a very dark place for me to go to and a fine balance for me because my first day on set I show up and I prepare. I work from the outside in so it was a physical transformation to discover who this guy is first. It was the evil looking beard, the clothing, the weight gain, the way he walks and speaks. All of that comes first and then I start to discover who this guy is inside.

Q) What was the first day on set like for you?

A) On the first day set, it was a massive plantation that was actually used back in the day. It was 2700 acres that had 340 working slaves at one point. So, you could really feel the history there. There were 150 African American extras on set. Then, minute one I’m barreling out of this house calling everybody names and screaming slanderous words. These people don’t really know me so the minute we yelled, “Cut,” I would smile and wave. I would say, “Nice to meet ya’ll. I’m Lane Garrison.” Everybody laughed and it broke the ice, but it was a delicate balance every take coming in and out of takes while being delicate and fragile with everything going on because it is still timely today. So, for me, it was a process to learn that. In between takes, we were going to keep it lighthearted because of the subject matter, the severity and the intensity of the scenes. I think if we had all stayed in that place we would have all been suicidal. Every actor found that perfect balance when we were working and they yell “Action.” The minute they yelled “Cut” we would step out. We’d sing songs and dance. I always bring a football with me on set so we’d play football. We would keep it lighthearted and then when it was time to get back on set I’d get into prep mode. It was interesting.

Q) You went through quite a transformation to portray this character.

A) There was a physical transformation for me. I don’t even look like myself. Most people don’t recognize me and I’m taking that as a compliment. I absorbed myself and lost myself in the role.

Q) What was it like for you to see yourself on screen?

A) I normally don’t like to watch myself on screen, but I had to watch this one because I wanted to see how it would play out. By night four, everyone was left in tears. It was a standing ovation and people were crying. It is just really awesome to be a part of history.

Q) What was the reaction like from viewers at the premiere?

A) I remember after the premiere, it took forty-five minutes for the party afterwards to begin because people were talking about it and some people were in tears. Malachi Kirby is incredible as Kunta Kinte. I ended up in the gym working out with him because he was so nervous, but I let him know he was amazing.

Q) How did you get involved with the remake?

A) Bruce Beresford directed night four episode and he directed “Bonnie & Clyde.” He is the nicest guy and is a very talented director. I love working with this man and we just have this shorthand. He gets it on every level. He called me up one day and said, “Lane! It’s Bruce. I’ve got this real nasty of a bugger of a chap I want you to play.” He didn’t tell me anything about the script, but just that he was going to send it over to my agents. I got it and I didn’t even know they were remaking “Roots.” I read the script and I was like, “Oh my God! This guy is insane!” This is a whole other level of nasty. Even though Bruce wanted me for the role I still had to go in for the role. I had a really strong take with him. It’s interesting because Victoria Thomas is the casting director and she is African American. So, I just came in there and laid it all out. She knows me well through the years so she knew I went to a level of darkness that she knew I could do this. To be in a room with her was a little intimidating because I’m saying all these nasty things. I had to go back in like three more times and they finally gave me the role. Luckily, I had Bruce pushing for me to get the role. Anna Paquin plays my wife and when you see night four, you’ll be like “Wow!” She’s a trooper man. There is a scene on night four where I have to slap her and she got a little too close to me. When we did the slap, she took an extra step forward and I actually hit her and her nose started to gush blood. She fell to the ground and I’m freaking out at this moment. Bruce is freaking out and getting everyone away from her. It was only so that blood wouldn’t drip on her dress. She was a trooper! I kept apologizing forever. She was just swatting it off like it was nothing. It was great working with her, Mekhi Phifer and T.I. He’s the comic relief and you sort of need that with something this dark. Forest Whitaker is phenomenal. The whole cast is incredible! It is four different directors and they found a perfect way to melt all of them. I’ve been calling them Films because each one feels like a different movie.

Q) There have been great reviews for the series!

A) They teach you early on as an actor, “Don’t ever read reviews. But when you have something good and eventually you are going to hear about it because your agent and manager are constantly sending you good reviews. They’ve been coming in left and right and that is always great. That’s the power behind good scripts, great director and coupled with great acting and a strong story.

Q) Many people originally got to know you through “Prison Break.” What do you attribute the great strength and perseverance you exude?

A) I came from nothing. I left Texas with $400 and a beat-up car. I’ve always had to fight. I lost my parents when I was young. Obviously, in my past I got into some trouble. I’ve always tried to face adversity head on like a man and take personal responsibility. Like anyone else, I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way, but I think something about being a good man or woman is finding out what you did wrong when you make a mistake and try to become better. I think part of me being an actor is I’ve been through a lot in life and I’ve been through a lot of pain and I’ve taken from that and sort of learned and grown from it. I think those are things as an actor that if you use in a positive way can be awesome on screen. You can just bring that pain in life on screen. I’m not saying for people to go out there in life and go through everything I’ve been through. That’s worked in the roles that I have played because I think it allows me to go to a depth to learn where this person is coming from. This is a very hard town and it is very competitive. A lot of people compete for these jobs so you have to have tough skin anyway. You have to be able to accept rejection and know it isn’t about you. It took a lot of time for me to realize that the roles you are supposed to breathe life into are going to find you some way. For me, I’m so blessed that I have gotten to work on great, great projects. I hope to continue that. I think you just continue to grow as a person, keep learning and always keep challenging yourself in these roles and in life in general. That’s what I always try to do and a big part of the force for me was losing my mother and father. That really inspired me to go and do something great. I have a little sister and part of it was fuel to help her. That’s really where I draw all of it from. It’s knowing that I have a second chance at life, too. I’m really grateful for that.

Q) What advice would you have for people wanting to get into acting?

A) My biggest advice for kids and also adults is to follow your gut instincts and heart and don’t let anyone to peruse you differently. Had I listened to everyone back home I never would have come to Hollywood. They all said, “You have to go to college. You have to play football.” I just trusted my gut instincts. I struggled for years here. I took every acting class and worked every odd job. I’d still hear managers and casting people saying I couldn’t do it or I wasn’t good enough. I just really listened to myself and believed in myself. I knew if I did that I would make it.

Q) I would love to hear your thoughts about coming full circle with the show “Prison Break.”

A) I love those guys! Those are still my brothers, all of them. We had the best time. That’s right when TV got good. It was “24” and “Lost.” It was when TV transitioned into shows that were outside of the box. That show was just supposed to be one season. We would break out of prison and then it would be done. It was a stunt show on FOX and it just blew up. It became like the number one show in like fifteen countries. It is funny it came back because it really came back because the fanbase is still so strong. I don’t know the exact storylines. I had told my manager to call paul and them and say, “Maybe Tweener’s death was a dream!” I’d love to work with the guys again. It’s TV so they can do anything. I saw Amaury Nolasco a few weeks ago and he’s my boy. I know they are having a good time with it and I’m a little bit jealous that I’m not there.

Q) What do you reflect fondly on from your time on the show?

A) What I really learned really was it was the first time where this thing happened where I was sort of becoming a star and it was opening doors. I was one of the youngest cast members (outside of LJ) and I learned that all these guys struggled for years. When everybody started to make it, the cool thing was that it taught me exactly how to handle success the right way. When it was all said and done, I learned things what not to do. It was showing up to set on time, facing things, being grateful to your crew, being humble and being kind. For all of us, it was learning to shake every hand, sign every autograph, take every picture and kiss every baby. It was just to be grateful and I try to take what I learned on “Prison Break” with me on everything. I literally will meet every lighting guy, every gaffer, every camera operator, makeup person, etc. and I shake everyone’s hands. I am so thankful and it made me realize how blessed I am to be on set when I am there and be the most grateful humble guy. Every guy on “Prison Break” was the exact same way. That was something to take from it. You would think that would be normal behavior for most people, but I’ve worked with people that aren’t that giving, kind or gracious. I never want to be that guy.