David Cade – Into the Ashes

By: Jamie Steinberg

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

A) I have a film I’m producing called 1609. We’re supposed to be shooting it in Quarter One. I’m doing that in tandem with Palmstar Productions. I’m excited about that. I have one feature that is in development over at Zero Gravity that is a drama based on my life that has to do with two guys in Thailand. I have a half-hour comedy that I’m working on. I have a feature that I want to direct. Then, after all that, I’m supposed to be shooting a gangster film in October.

Q) We’re now seeing you in the movie Into the Ashes. Please tell us how the character of Charlie was described to you?

A) Well, the cool thing about Ashes is I got to read the script. I had no breakdown on who Charlie was and then I read the script and I came back to Aaron [Harvey]. I think I kind of informed him on who Charlie is, which doesn’t normally happen. Normally what happens is they come to you and say, “It’s going to be like this.” When I read the script, I came back and said, “I did all this work on the character.” I told Aaron I knew who the guy is and “this guy is fun.” We kind of started riffing and found that character through that mutual admiration of him, which is not always how it has been. Like I said, often times people come to you with very clear-cut ideas with what they want to mold it. The cool thing about working with Aaron Harvey (and he and I have the relationship that we have) is we’re like nerd fan boys. So, we just started building the character as best as we could.

Q) What then did you add personally add to this character?

A) What really struck me was sometimes when you write a character (and particular in this script where a lot of the dynamics are based around nuances)…That’s fine for the writer, but for the actor our job is to figure out why these people are being brought together. I think what I understood about Charlie was he was sort of like the little brother to Nick in the script. He had so much love and admiration for Nick (Luke Grimes) that Nick’s betrayal is so painful that it spurs everything that comes to happen in the story as we see it. What we learn in the movies is that there is a lot of history that we don’t know about so I think the secret for Charlie is – Is he a murdering psychopath? Absolutely. But is he a murdering psychopath with a reason? I really tried to build in a real human aspect – a real loss, a real reason why someone like Charlie is the way he is.

Q) Did you and costar Luke Grimes spend much time together off set to build the bond between your characters?

A) We spent a little bit of time. I know actors who have gone on vacation together just to build character. We didn’t have that, but we definitely had a good opportunity to riff and talk about doing the film and our characters. We had a couple of rowdy nights in Alabama. And a lot of that started with work conversations that became just vagrant hooliganism.

Q) Talk about working with Luke Grimes.

A) He’s a great guy. Our whole cast! We had a lineup of the cast. I think Luke perfectly embodied our Nick. I think Frank [Grillo] embodied our Sloan perfectly. He’s a monster at it. And I also loved [James] Badge Dale. Badge is a treasure. I think Badge is a Hollywood treasure. He just pops around from indie film and he’s always got a good idea. It was a great family.

Q) What advice did director Aaron Harvey offer you during filming?

A) You know what? With Aaron, specifically, he likes to go, “What do you want to shoot?” He likes to go, “Here is my idea. What do you want?” You kind of inform the character a lot more than most directors. He and I had so much discussion leading up to the shoot that I think by the time we got there we were just explosive. We shot so much. The simple is no, not really, but only because we put so much into this character before we ever shot.

Q) What were some of your favorite moments from filming?

A) Oh boy! [laughs] I think the final shooting night the death scene that we shot between Luke and myself. I think that was super important. I really enjoyed it, as morbid as that sounds. It’s like the highlight of the emotional arc of the film and shooting that kind of massive death scene was a great acting exercise, frankly. Three hours on the gravel. It’s freezing. I think was a big part of it. I think going out with Aaron, the cast and crew…The movie is important. It’s what I put a lot of love into and that’s the creative part. The reality is you take all these people from different parts of the country and you lock them in a specific environment and then you say, “Go make something!” I just love the laughs with everybody. I love the crew. I love the interactions I have with the producers. I love the interactions I have with the actors. So, if I have a specific memory it’s just us going out late at night. Shooting that beast of an action sequence, which was great. When I get hit with shotgun bullets they blew through my jacket. The squibs with the blood flying everywhere was pretty messy and fun. And working with Frank! Working with Frank was a pleasure. He’s a veteran actor and he and I have a lot of scenes together. Getting the knowledge and the biproduct of his experience. I like working with guys who have been around the block.

Q) How did you shake off a long day of filming?

A) I was working out the entire time. We’d finish filming and then I’d go and train at the gym and hit the steam room or we’d all go get a drink. There was a big UFC fight during the shoot so I went home and watched a lot of UFC leading up to the shooting. [laughs] That’s probably not relaxing for most people, but it’s how I blow off steam. Also, I hung out on set a lot. I liked being there on the set watching everybody and keeping track of what was going on. And food! I’m a big foodie and Alabama has this great James Beard food scene that I wasn’t aware of. So, any time I was off I was looking for the finest dining. I was looking for anything that could impress me and I found a lot of great restaurants out there. And barbecue! A lot of barbecue!

Q) What did you personally take away from your time working on the film Into the Ashes?

A) I think, for me, what I took away was this is the first of many more. I produced the film and acted in the film and I got more out of the entire experience – both the creative and the production. When you asked me what I was working on now, it’s like everything started in the time of Ashes. I realize that through making this movie I can make more stories and give life to more characters. And I was capable of doing that on my own – not just as an actor, but as a storyteller and eventually as a director. So, I think that Ashes in its own way was my own learning experience and now I’m going to continue to do that and bring something else.

Q) You often take on dramatic and action roles. What is it about these genres that draws you to them?

A) What is funny for me is I’ve either done comedy or psychopath. So, I don’t know what that says about my temperament. I think for me the important thing is that…I’ve always been fascinated and I think it’s really interesting about characters that don’t exist in reality the way other people do. I was really inspired growing up by guys like Gary Oldman and Tim Roth, guys who can just play off-kilter, sickly people. For me, I typically have been cast as the leading man. So, I really try hard to find roles where I can sort of take a stab at doing the sort of transformational work that I really want to see. Sort of like when Christian Bale would do roles or Ben Foster now. So, I’m just looking for work I can sink my teeth into and really feel there is a real connect with it.

Q) You are an actor and a producer. What else would you like to try your hand at?

A) I want to direct. I’m going to direct. I don’t know what that project is yet. I have one that I want to do. I have to figure out the timeline on that because there are some hurdles. To be a first-time filmmaker a lot of times people look at you and go, “Well, okay. You want to make movies, but why should we trust you?” And they’re absolutely right. So, I might have to make a film just to convince people that I can make the films I want to make.

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

A) I’m just grateful. I’m grateful and thank you. Stick around. What I’m working on is the next level. I think Ashes is a huge step up. If you liked what I was doing with “Big Time Rush” and you liked what I was doing in things like Fatal Defense you’re going to like what I am doing with this movie. I have more to come and I just appreciate everyone who was been watching and caring over all these years.