Daniel Bonjour – Frequency

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) I actually came LA to work on Season Two of “Flaked,” which is the Netflix series with Will Arnett and David Sullivan. So, I did one episode at the end of the first season and they brought me back for another episode in the second season.

Q) What drew you to your role on “Frequency?”

A) During pilot season you are always reading so many scripts and you try to guess what is going to get picked up. I remember reading it and talking to my manager about it. To me, it was one of the most grounded scripts. It felt almost like feature film writing where a lot happens, but is still very real conversation between real people. Other than the fact that she is talking to her dad in the past, it just felt like an intimate story of family, loved ones and friends. That was probably the main thing that drew me to it.

Q) How was Daniel originally described to you and was he named Daniel?

A) Funny enough, his original name was Daniel Beador, which was insanely close to my name. He was originally described as French. And, initially, I think my manager was looking at the lead role, but there was an offer out to Riley [Smith] already. So, we came across Daniel and he was a French character. I love doing accents and have kind of done them in all my projects. They said, “Don’t worry about the accent right now.” So, I came in doing an American accent and on the call back they had me do a French accent. For the studio, they had me do several different accents and then they asked me what I thought. I kind of liked the idea of doing a South African accent because it is where I grew up. Jeremy [Carver] kind of jumped at the idea and we played around with it. When I got the role, I didn’t know what accent they were going for, but they settled on South African, which I’m really happy with and it feels really natural to me.

Q) It seems that Daniel is linked to Raimy by fate. Do you believe in fate or do you think it is just coincidence?

A) To me, I guess fate and coincidence is essentially the same thing depending on how you look at it. You can flip a coin and if you get ten “heads up” in a row whether it is fate or coincidence I feel like it is one in the same. So, where it goes from there…Daniel and Raimy (Peyton List) bumping into each other on the train is coincidence and where they take it and how far it goes then it becomes fate. If Raimy starts chasing down Daniel or if Daniel starts chasing down Raimy that is where you become this fate. Personally, I do believe in the laws of attraction where if something happens over and over again there is this kind of feeling that you want to chase it or follow it through. And I guess that’s what a lot of people would call fate. I think in an episode they call it “kismet,” which is an Indian thing where I thing. That’s more about what is meant to be will be, no matter what you do or how you go about it.

Q) Was there instant chemistry when you began working with Peyton?

A) Not at all. It was funny. We didn’t really have any time to hangout. Because of the casting process and negotiating, I came late to the set. So, the rest of the cast had a week of hanging out and catching up. Then, I couldn’t make it to Vancouver right away so when I came I think Peyton and I had one day where we met up and with Brad Anderson (who directed the pilot). Then, maybe for an hour we read. But Peyton happened to be sick at that time. That even got cut short. But I think it was in the writing and we get along. Riley, Peyton, Lenny [Jacobson] and Mekhi [Phifer] all hang out so much that it just felt very natural being close with these people. You start to care about them as friends and I think that’s what translates on screen. That combined with very basic, natural, grounded writing made for very easy scenes and I think in the end that translated to chemistry. It feels like one big family and I think that is the most important thing for us.

Q) Daniel is mostly in scenes with Raimy. Is there someone else on “Frequency” you would most like to have a scene with?

A) I would love to work with Mekhi and Riley. Honestly, this cast hangs out any day we’re off. We talk about acting, our process and how we like to work. Both Mekhi, Riley and I have a similar approach to acting. When you find someone who works the same way as you, you almost can’t wait to try to work with them on camera because you know things will pop up and moments will kind of appear. So, I’d love to have a scene with Riley or Mekhi and just kind of play around with it and see what happens. Who knows if that ends up happening? I haven’t read the last few scripts so I don’t know if that ends up happening. To me, that would be so much fun because I know we’d riff off of each other and improvise and create moments that aren’t necessarily on the page.

Q) Peyton and Daniel fans were worried for a bit they may never reconnect. What kind of fan reaction have you gotten to their reunion?

A) It’s all been positive, thankfully. As an actor, you’re always interested in how the fans will react or take any kind of scenes or episodes. I know when I signed on that I knew it was going to be light at first and more about the past and Raimy trying to get back with her mother. Daniel feels like a second thought. But I think we did a good job of establishing how much we mean to each other in the show. What people don’t realize is Raimy’s day to day life was with Daniel. So, with these moments like just waking up next to someone and if she ever did have a problem or trouble he was the one person she could talk to. He was the only person who she told about the radio in the very beginning. Other than that, she hasn’t told anybody. So, she is locked to that one lifeline. As the story progresses, I think what you find is she is not only falling back in love with this person (hopefully), but there is also this idea that she is getting this person that she can confide in. And I think the fans see that. Obviously, she has had other love interest and she has had another life that she is leading. That’s fun to watch. It’s fun to see how it plays out and who she is going to pick, the love triangle of Moseby-Daniel-Raimy. But hopefully fans will cross their fingers for Daniel and Raimy. It’s all been positive with the support and people wishing that Daniel and Raimy would get back together. It’s fun to watch and we appreciate it.

Q) Do you have a specific hope or ideal future for Daniel and Raimy?

A) What we’re not seeing is Daniel’s side of life right now obviously because it isn’t his show or story. Speaking to Jeremy, Daniel has a really complicated life right now. He’s got another person that is in his life that we see in the pilot and you’ll start to see a little more of in the upcoming episodes. So, it’s a mess in a way just as much as Raimy is and when they are together this bubble kind of happens where it feels like the rest of the world kind of disappears for a moment and you have these very intimate, nice quiet moments between them. So, for me it is about building on that and when they are together they can conquer anything. With Riamy in trouble or Daniel is in trouble, they can lean on each other. So, for me, the hope is to find that place again – that bubble – so they can battle through the craziness of talking through time through radios.

Q) What else would you like to be sure fans know about what is to come on “Frequency?”

A) There will be some extreme decisions to be made when it comes to Daniel and Raimy. I guess the fans have to trust that they are coming from very good places and not ulterior motives behind their relationship. It is complicated and it is crazy, but it is coming from a loving place. It gets even crazier.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) First, thank you. I’m always totally taken back and shocked and pleasantly surprised by people who know my work and have followed me. So, it is always this amazing thing when I read peoples’ messages. I guess I just love trying to tell stories, whether it is through acting or writing. I have a script that won the Final Draft Award so we’re trying to turn that into a film that I can hopefully direct. So, keep looking out for more because I feel like it is just kind of beginning as far as what kind of stories I’m able to tell. With “Frequency” out, it is just opening more doors and I’m super excited to kind of really get myself out there as an artist and storyteller. So, thank you and look out for more.