Charles Michael Davis – The Originals & Younger

By starrymag | May 23, 2018

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) Klaus and Marcel have a complicated relationship where they have genuine bonds of affection mixed with hurt and betrayal. How would you define their feelings for each other?

A) It’s a deep bond, a relationship. It’s kind of hard when you go into the father-son or buddy kind of relationship. I think they have a deeper understanding of each other than they do with other characters.

Q) Klaus and Marcel, who do you feel is better equipped to run New Orleans?

A) Oh, clearly Marcel, but I’m biased. [laughs] Clearly Marcel.

Q) Marcel and Rebekah are both strong willed, do you think it’s possible for them to have a future where being a Mikaelson doesn’t come between them?

A) I do. That’s interesting. I was recently talking about the relationships between my characters so on “Younger” with Zane and Kelsey (Hilary Duff) I couldn’t imagine them together married ever. But with Rebekah (Claire Holt) and Marcel for sure because they are both deeply romantic. So, I think their bond is very, very strong – willfully. Whether circumstances allow them to be together or not, as far as chemical makeup (however God or the universe made them) I think they could be together, for sure.

Q) What has been your favorite part about Marcel’s evolution and growth throughout the series?

A) I like that in the beginning he was pure ambition and now he is focused back on the family. He now has Hope and the originals back in town. The show is all about family and so the city can’t really love him back. I like he discovered that. In a way, he’s a part of the family again.

Q) We know you directed episode six, is there a particular moment from directing that really has stayed with you from your experience?

A) For sure! There is a younger actor who has a reoccurring arc on our show and I just recognized something in him that I notice in myself that comes from athletes. I told him he was free to jump up and down and scream. I told him, “Feel free to do whatever you need to do to get that energy,” and he did it! He wrote me a letter saying, “Thank you. I really grew as an artist and it really changed me how I approach the work.”

Q) What as it like directing people who have come to be such close friends throughout the years?

A) It was good! In my head, it was very easy to imagine what their performance would be like or what they would lean towards. After directing one episode last season, I kind of knew what to expect. As far as how we worked together, it was nice and collaborative, especially since Daniel [Gillies] and Joseph [Morgan] were also directing. Daniel had yet to direct his episode, so I kept saying, “Hey! You start acting up, I’m going to act like this on your episode!” [laughs] But it was great because I could speak to them in a way where I could imagine if I was a new director that I’d be at a great disadvantage. But it was a great advantage to know everyone and I think it made for a very creative atmosphere and environment.

Q) What have you taken away, personally, from your time working on “The Originals?”

A) So much! It was such a growth period for me. I saw a horoscope from 2014 that said, “Saturn was in your chart from 2014 to just recently” and it was a period of immense growth and a period I could look back on and know I definitely changed. I shadowed and I became a director. Outside of that, I also bought a restaurant (a franchise) and I opened that up. I traveled the world. It gave me more confidence. I’ve done ninety-two episodes as a lead in a series and there are not many careers that get to do that. Those who have done it go on to do even more work and have grown in their craft. Daniel, Yusuf [Gatewood], Phoebe [Tonkin], Joseph, Claire, Danielle [Campbell] and Riley [Voelkel] are all really, really talented. It was like college for me or a conservatory.

Q) We love seeing you also on “Younger.” Talk about how you see the dynamics between Zane and Kelsey.

A) I think they really bring out the ambition in each other and it drives them crazy. I think there is sort of that reflection of oneself – to compete with someone just like you who is hyper competitive. I think it’s good for them because it’s good for their authors and good for their companies. I think they are both pretty pure in heart and I can see them trying to get through each other’s armor.

Q) Now that Zane is going to be working more closely with Kelsey could they reconnect romantically?

A) It goes back and forth given the day and circumstances. Given the history they have in Season Four, I think you can expect some good chemistry and romance and also compete and be competitive. We’ll see what sort of underhandedness happens in Season Five as well. That’s par for the course for them.

Q) What is it about the show’s writers that they understand about the significance in crafting such a witty, dynamic, inclusive and diverse series and set of multidimensional characters other TV networks seemed to grasp recognize?

A) I think the writers are all really good people. They have a lot of good bones in their body, which means that they care, and I think that’s number one to the art. They care about the characters and they also care about the audience, so they get to see it from both perspectives and things happen very organically with a great connection. Between the characters and the thruline of what they do it seems to coincide with the world and what is going on in the environment, but also to what the audience is yearning for. They are good at giving out the right dose of each emotion for each character. Again, I think it goes back to them being good and full people. I think it’s great they write in LA and then come to New York because that adds something to the writing. They are just very observant, too. They are well read, have good references and have themselves so they are able to put them into it as well. I heard Sara Bareilles say, “The more specific you get the more universal it becomes.” So, I think that they really know themselves.

Q) Is there anything else you want to tease about the coming season of “Younger?”

A) You will get to see Zane and learn more about him. You’ll see some things that are within character and others where you are surprised to the point where you thought you knew the guy, but he has some surprises and tricks up his sleeve. Overall, it’s going to be a great season. I’m definitely excited for it.

 

“The Originals” airs Wednesdays on The CW

“Younger” Season 5 Premieres June 5 on TV Land