Bret Green – The Inspectors

By: Stacy Miller

Q)   In what ways do you feel playing Preston Wainwright has changed your life?

A)   Good question. I think that playing a character that is physically challenged is one of the most rewarding in my young career because I’m so much more compassionate to that community now. Growing up I didn’t have any friends who were in wheelchairs. I didn’t know many people who had accidents like that so I guess it was sort of out of sight, out of mind. There’s so many issues going on in the world today that you pick and choose the ones that you get involved in. And the issue of physically challenged people was just one of those I didn’t know that much about so I’m incredibly grateful to have met so many great consultants and mentors on set who are in wheelchairs and who have shared their experiences with me. They have said, “It might have been difficult but I’m not going to let this control my life and define who I am.” If anything, this role has made me a more compassionate person and more open minded. It makes you want to care for people more. Compassion is definitely something I’ve gained from this role.

Q)   You are really convincing as someone in a wheelchair. Was it difficult learning to navigate in the chair to portray Preston so realistically?

A)   Thank you for the compliment. I really worked towards that because I wanted to make it look authentic. I’ve seen shows in the past whether it was “Friday Night Lights” or “Glee” where these able-bodied actors are playing these characters in wheelchairs and they do face a little bit of criticism. I think they are under a microscope from the audience who is waiting for them to use their leg or move their knee, whatever the case may be. I don’t think about it much anymore because I’ve been doing it so long but at first it was almost a fear of mine that someone would watch the show and not believe me. So, I put a lot of effort into that and I think it’s paid off. I hope that people who watch the show will feel it’s an accurate depiction of someone in a wheelchair.

Q)     Do you think the half hour format of “The Inspectors” helps better with getting the episodes’ message across?

A)      Yeah, I think there are advantages and disadvantages of having a thirty minutes show versus a sixty minute show. One of the issues I think our writers come across is trying to introduce and solve a crime in twenty-two minutes. It’s not easy to do and so I think if there is a disadvantage it would be because we don’t get to go into more detail. But I think because the show is shorter, you can have a wider variety of crimes and topics you can bring up so it’s not just a whole hour about sports memorabilia fraud. We can watch twenty-two minutes of that, then the next one about mail fraud and then another on letter carriers being assaulted. I think it’s the perfect format for what we’re trying to do.

Q) What has been your most challenging scene to date in playing Preston?

A)    In Season One, the first time Preston was in Amanda’s (Jessica Lundy) office and this episode was actually directed by Terry Serpico who wanted to show how Preston moves from his bed to the chair or the chair to the bed. We never get to see Preston do this, it’s just television magic like the next scene Preston’s now sitting on the bed. But Terry really wanted to show the transition and came to me and asked if I’d be willing to do that and I said, “Absolutely.” So, in this scene I transferred from the wheelchair to the couch to get a little closer to Amanda because that was the episode where Veronica’s ex-boyfriend was in town and I was talking about how I was feeling. That was probably the toughest because it was an emotional scene because Preston wanted to let is mom know how he was feeling and I wanted it to look authentic with the transferring of the chair from the couch. I watched a lot of You Tube videos and talked with my consultants that were on set to learn how I would do this. They taught me and it was really a challenge to keep my legs limp. But I think after seeing the finished product we accomplished what we set out to do. And in Season Two we get to see more of that. Preston ends up going to physical therapy at a health group and he’s reluctant to go there at first. But he realizes he’s part of this community. He’s physically challenged and part of this community. This episode was also directed by Terry.

Q) How would you like the character of Preston to develop in Season Two?

A)    I think that going into Season Two we wanted to make the show more relevant with the crimes and the issues. And also with the campus in 2016 with the things that are going on with kids today, you’ll see a lot of growth with Preston, Veronica (Erica-Marie Sanchez) and Noah (Harrison Knight) where they are more settled in. They are all taking huge steps into becoming who they’ve meant to be and gaining confidence. Preston is the most mature nineteen year old I’ve ever seen. The characters will kind of know themselves a little better.

Q) There are fans who are pushing for a Preston/Veronica romance. Would you like these characters to become a couple or remains friends?

A) [laughs] That is tough because everybody knows the situation that they’re in with the do they remain friends or try for something more because they don’t want to ruin their friendship. Ideally, I am rooting for Preston. He’s my character, his needs are my needs and I want what he wants. So, if he wants a relationship with Veronica, I want him to be happy. But you guys are just going to have to watch all twenty-two episodes to find out.

Q) If you weren’t playing Preston, is there any other character on “The Inspectors” you would have loved to have played?

A)     My first answer would be Noah, hands down. I would love to play Noah because he’s so funny. The way it’s written it’s funny, but Harrison takes it and makes it into something more. So, I would like to play that role. Or Mitch because Mitch is a really fun role too and Terry does a phenomenal job. And to get to wear the gun on the hip and be out in the field. But I don’t envy him with the suits because he and Jessica probably change suits at least five or six times a day. I couldn’t imagine having to but on a tie that many times a day.

Q) Preston, Veronica and Noah performed a rap in Season One. Do you have any interest in combining acting with music?

A)       That would be such a cool experience. I had so much fun writing that song with Harrison and Erica. Harrison and I did one last season where one of our friends was being scammed out of his college money and we were trying to do a fundraiser to help him out. It’s so fun to be included in the creative process and respected by our producers.

Q) Viewers haven’t only gotten a glimpse of Preston’s dad via flashbacks as he deceased. How would you feel about an episode that focused on Preston’s life prior to the accident?

A)   I would love that. It’s something that never addressed but often referred to what his life was like before the accident. Actually, in one of the flashbacks this season we actually see a flashback where Preston is getting ready to go on a fishing trip with his father and Noah and that’s the day they get in the accident. Noah was in the car with them, but is the only one left uninjured. In the flashback, I get to play such a different character. Preston has such an attitude, he hasn’t been forced to grow up. He has all this teenage angst before the accident but now he’s the man of the house so that will be interesting to see.

Q) You’re very active on social media. Has the reception The Inspectors received by fans surprised you?

A)     I wouldn’t say surprised me, but I’ve never been the lead on a show and had people know who I am. So, the most interesting thing having people reach out. One of my old baseball coaches reached out to me and said he watches the show with his nine year old son who is autistic and he loves the show and it inspires and encourages him. That’s all I need to hear. I don’t care about winning awards, if I can get a message like that across that means more to me.

Q)     I know you dabbled in photographer from the photos you’ve tweeted that you took of Erica. Do you have any aspirations of someday directing?

A)    Absolutely. I’m the kind of person who can’t sit still for too long. Being an actor is my favorite art form to do, but there are other things I enjoy doing. And being between seasons I get to focus on my hobbies. I love photography and I’m taking singing lessons. I’m trying to sharpen all these tools to make myself more marketable. That’s the advantage of having a little time off between seasons. So, to answer your question, I absolutely have every intention of directing someday whether it’s television or film. And hopefully next season they will let me direct an episode.

Q)  Why do you think people should watch “The Inspectors?”

A)    I think it’s probably one of the most unique shows on television right now given its time slot. The fact that it has been designed for multigenerational viewing, it’s a show for everybody. It’s nice that the whole family can watch and learn. The show is by nature educational and informative, but at the same time entertaining. I think we do a good job putting enough drama, relationships and comedy. You don’t feel like someone is trying to push a PDA on you telling you how not to be scammed. We’re trying to get that message across but we also know that message is much more effective when we use entertainment as a vehicle. Our number one goal is to inform while entertaining.