By: Jamie Steinberg
Q) Please tell us the premise for the book turned film Night Always Comes.
A) It’s a bestseller about a woman’s spiral into desperation to find the money to save her house, her life and herself, all over the course of one night.
Q) How was your character Blake initially described to you?
A) He’s a very different character in the book. We discussed him as a spoiled son of an extremely wealthy person, who has completely wasted his money and life with childish indulgences. He’s a fifty year old adolescent and no one tells him no because he’s rich. He believes in having fun but is so bored with everything that his main entertainment is manipulating other people.
Q) It is kind of implied that Blake may know more about Lynette than she’d like – the words “trip down memory lane” being used. What kind of conversations did you and co-star Vanessa Kirby have about their history?
A) We discussed how Blake would have heard everything about her before she was sent to him in the phone call we’re not privy to. She goes to see her Blake’s friend (although Blake doesn’t really have friends, just people who are useful to him in some way) and this guy clearly baits Blake’s curiosity by telling him about Lynette’s (Vanessa Kirby) overtly sexualized past when she was a teenage runaway.
Q) Blake takes things a bit too far with Lynette making sexual advances and there are consequences. Talk about filming the scene with the lamp.
A) Vanessa is an amazing scene partner, and Ben [Caron] is a brilliant director. I wanted to come in and bring something really unique. He’s an awful character, but I have to play him as if I believe I’m right and having fun and she’s just taking things too out of context. It’s a tricky balance, but Vanessa is so open and so generous she really made it easy, and Ben has a brilliant way of capturing the reality and dialing in the performances, so it never got too cartoonish or like a “movie” scene. We all talked through all the technical aspects together and I told her she could fully unleash on me if it made the scene better. It was a spectacular experience; it’s not easy to stay in a mode that dark but both of us wanted it to be great and I would keep saying, “No, it’s okay, really go for it,” and she would say, “Yes, try this or that, that’s awful,” that kind of thing. It was all done with such care and respect. We spent a day rehearsing it with Ben, not fully, just talking through the beats technically, and then we left open enough to see what would happen. It was a rare and wonderful experience to get to act with a world class talent such as Vanessa and an A list talent like Ben. And Vanessa’s absolutely lovely as a human and a fantastic producer. It was an amazing set to be on, and full credit goes to Vanessa and Ben. As far as the lamp goes, I’m quite familiar with being covered in blood, so I was in my happy place. The stunt man took the hit and did a brilliant job; I just had the fun part of getting made up in blood.
Q) Vanessa told Netflix about you, “He had to play someone really, really hard and unlikable, and he gave it everything.” How did you slip out of this intense character?
A) We’re actors, so we can keep up the intensity and check in after every take, but once Ben starts rolling the camera we go right into it. After we’re just catching our breath, thinking through what else we could do to make it a great scene. Neither of us have to stay in character to get there and both of us keep coming up with ideas with Ben, so really between takes it’s us figuring out what little things we can do to add to the scene. Also, working with Zack Gottsegan was one of the most fun times I’ve ever had with a scene partner. He is the heart and soul of the film and of the set and was so sweet and I absolutely love him and he’s a fantastic actor. We would pretend we were wrestling during the take; he’s a huge wrestling fan, so we made videos to Chris Jericho and Chris made a video back and Zach lost his mind and hugged me. It was one of the best moments on set I’ve ever had – it was so sweet. So, there I am going through this intense scene with Vanessa and between takes Zack is saying, “I love you Eli!” It was such a great experience. Then, you have to snap back into being this horrible person for the take, and right after go back to talking about wrestling and doing dance parties to keep the energy up at 4AM in the morning.
Q) As a director yourself, what did you enjoy most about working with Night Always Comes director Benjamin Caron?
A) I am a big fan of Ben’s work, so it was really a pleasure to get to see his process. Whenever I act, I want to be the dream actor I’d like to work with, and fully throw myself into the process and am in the filmmaker’s hands. I can always offer suggestions but they’re simply suggestions and they don’t have to use them. But also, I know people are casting me for a reason and see something in me and are familiar with my work, so if they cast me they’re generally open to hear an idea. But the ideas have to be good ones, and one little tweak can change a whole scene. Ben was amazingly open and collaborative and so incredibly polite. A fantastic, brilliant steady hand, I loved every minute of it.
Q) What do you think it is about this film that will captivate audiences and make it a craveable thriller to explore?
A) I love it because it’s a real slice of life with realistic characters getting into situations way over their head, anchored by one of the greatest actors of our time. Vanessa is so brilliant, and she hasn’t even scratched the surface of great performances she’s going to give.
Q) You have been a part of some iconic films throughout your career – both in front of the screen and behind the screen. What are some of your personal favorite projects you’ve worked on? (A personal favorite of mine is certainly Inglorious Basterds.)
A) It’s hard to top Basterds, that was the role of a lifetime. Talking about it, thinking about it, revisiting it never gets old. It’s playing right now at the Vista in Los Angeles and if I wasn’t on set filming I’d be there seeing it again.
Q) Your work in the horror genre is just exceptional! Who are some fellow horror directors you’d recommend keeping an eye on for the future?
A) Definitely look for a trio of directors who call themselves Blind Luck Pictures. They made a movie called Dream Eater that’s found footage and it’s absolutely terrifying, like Paranormal Activity. Also, another writer/director I highly recommend looking out for is Ian Tuason, who made a brilliant movie called The Undertone that will be out next year. Don’t miss either of those. And, of course, Joe Begos and his film Jimmy and Stiggs.
Q) Thanksgiving 2 is said to be in post-production. What are you able to tease about what this new iteration will have in store for viewers?
A) Not even in prep. I’m making Ice Cream Man.
Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of the work you do in film?
A) Thank you all! If you keep watching them, I’ll keep making them!