Wil Traval – Jessica Jones

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) What was your audition like for Simpson?

A) The audition process happened last year around August. There was one audition with a very blank, generic script. I asked, “What’s the character I’m going for?” and they said, “That information we can’t tell you. Just do something for the audition.” I did that audition and walked away thinking I had done pretty well. I didn’t hear back for quite some time until maybe early November. I got a call saying that I was coming in to audition at the studio in front of Marvel, Netflix, Disney, etc. I came out of that thinking there was no chance in hell that I would get that role. I went in thinking I was an old school Brooklyn cop. Two days later they called me up and said, “You’ve got the role, but we changed the character completely.” By the time I got on set, the character had changed from this old school Brooklyn cop to what we see now. I still didn’t get to understand the implication of Will Simpson until probably at least two months into filming where more and more information got to me. Marvel is pretty cagey about the information they give out. Each episode I got to learn more and more about Simpson and flesh him out better and better.

Q) Will has to tackle quite a number of dynamics shifting this season. What has been your favorite part to portray?

A) During the shooting process (which was really fun for me because I like to do a lot of real life research) I spoke to a number of police people in the New York City Police Department. One in particular was an ex-Marine. He kind of guided me as to what it was like for him and what guys who are in service go through with extremely traumatic circumstances. So, God bless those people who are serving their country. That process was kind of the most exciting for me. We find out that Will takes it upon himself to take justice. He is so committed to the idea of justice. We also figure out that he was an ex-serviceman. Those kind of things were the most fun for me. Learning about what it means to be that kind of man and live in that situation. One of my favorite parts was when Koslov comes back into the picture and Will asks to get back into the program. From there on, it’s a hurricane of problems.

Q) Because of those various dynamics, how do you see Will as a person?

A) What it really boils down to is that he is a really good guy doing it in a bad way. He is just a good guy who does bad things. He is so committed to the idea that once Koslov gives him those red pills he has access to his new found abilities. The rampage is kind of a Hulk thing, but there is no real stopping him once he starts. You have to get those blues in you otherwise you’re on a rampage of destruction.

Q) Where would you like to see us pick up with Simpson in the future?

A) I have no idea what is happening and if Simpson comes back, but it would be great if he came back as a pawn of Koslov’s and at some point Jessica (Krysten Ritter) found a way to change his mind and found a way to turn his mind against Koslov.

Q) The amazing fight scene between Trish, Will and Jessica. Talk about shooting and choreographer.

A) The choreography was pretty intense. We had a great stunt coordinator, Christopher Place. He wasn’t there on the day, but had organized and choreographed a great fight sequence. The guy who was my stunt double, Aaron Armstrong, was the guy who provided a lot of the brute force behind Simpson’s work through “Jessica Jones.” That fight sequence we shot over a three day period and there were multiple sections that we did one by one. One of the first things we shot was the conversation between Jessica and Simpson before he pulls out the gun. Then we launched into a three day shoot of just breaking walls, smashing through doors and beating each other up. It was incredible and I loved it! I really enjoy those kinds of things and as often as I can I ask to be doing as much of the stunt work as I can. When Trish (Rachael Taylor) comes in and hits Simpson with the fire extinguisher I threw myself against the wall a little too hard and kind of broke the wall with my head in one of the fight sequences. Everyone rushed in and was like, “Are you okay?!” I was like, “Of course I’m okay. It’s a set wall. It’s not that hard.” [laughs] We had a great time shooting. I loved it thoroughly. That was hands down one of my favorite moments on set.

Q) What were some of the most challenging moments you had from filming?

A) That was one of the most challenging scenes. Also, one of the most challenging scenes was in the CDC facility after Simpson comes in and burns it down. Oddly enough, that was a challenging scene because of things shifting with the schedule. So, we jumped into it not expecting to be shooting it that day. The director of that episode, Rosemary Rodriguez, is an incredible and capable director so she calmed everybody down and got that shot. That was one of those scenes where there are a lot of special effects happening with all the flames and fire and shooting someone. Making all of that look believable was one of the most challenging scenes. Also, you just have a fantasy of walking away from a burning building without looking back. It was pretty fun!

Q) After a day of filming, what did you do to shake off the intensity and drama?

A) I was living in Brooklyn at the time and I’m a big foodie. So, for me, the easiest solution was for me to go out and eat. I would find myself any great hamburger or fried chicken and eat that. That’s how I shake it off: pizza, fried chicken or hamburger.

Q) Was there someone you wish you had more scenes with?

A) For sure David Tennant. I worked with him a couple times while shooting. He is a phenomenal actor and a consummate artist. He is very respectful of everyone he works with. I was kind of a little upset that I didn’t get to work with him more because the days that I did I had a ball. He is the most generous man on the planet. He’s fantastic!

Q) There are a number of male superheroes on television and now we have Jessica Jones and Supergirl. People are saying you can love them both. What do you think it is that has caused people to embrace the surge in female superheroes?

A) I really feel like it is just a sign of the times that television and storytelling have shifted its focus where they are giving the heroes the opportunity to be male or female. It’s becoming irrelevant if they are man or woman. But we need role models for young kids to look up to and even adults to look up to. They should be male or female and we should have the option to choose. I really like that people like both Supergirl and Jessica Jones. I was at a party and I had six girls raving about how relatable “Jessica Jones” was and how much they love the show. I think that is a credit to Melissa Rosenberg that you can create a character like that who is flawed and women can relate to and men can relate to that they can look up to. It’s great and I really love this current method of storytelling.

Q) What is the theme or message you hope viewers taking away from watching “Jessica Jones?”

A) I think sort of the idea is inner strength, taking control of your life and taking control of yourself versus letting other people control you. In relationships you have or friendships that you have, quite often we find ourselves at the whim of people around us. I think “Jessica Jones” is in an allegorical way trying to tell us that you will always have the strength to control yourself and your own life. That’s what I took away from watching.

Q) What have you taken away from your experience on “Jessica Jones?”

A) Just working on the show, I take away as an artist embracing an idea, treating the work with respect and also having a really great time while working. It’s so much fun to be involved in a project where people are so excited about work and the stories you are telling. I really enjoyed that aspect.