Greg Austin – Hunters

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects you have been busy working on?

A) As of right now, I’m just awaiting Season 2 of “Hunters.” I’ve just been getting a bit of time off between the two seasons. I’ve been helping some friends out with little side things they are doing and short films. Mostly, I’m looking forward to Season 2 of “Hunters.” I’m keeping my fingers crossed for that.

Q) We recently saw you on “Hunters.” How was your character Travis originally described to you?

A) He was a described as a blank slate really. Very much the briefing was an innocent enough looking guy, but can do monstrous things. From there on, it was my interpretation of whatever that meant. So, it was very much up to me how I wanted to define him and I saw him as very much a ghost really. He seems sweet to look at him and you would never think he was capable of doing what he is doing. The genius is that depth of the psychopathy you never see that in just one glance at him.

Q) Was there something you added to the role that wasn’t in that initial breakdown?

A) Yeah, I suppose just the rawness of it at the core of it. The way I approached it was that being he was a complete and total psychopath; I took inspiration from Ted Bundy. That charisma and the charm that he’s got, I tried to incorporate that. And him being a psychopath and having this sense of power and control over the environment was paramount for him. It was almost like he was laughing at people without laughing. Just behind his eyes he constantly has this like sadistic glee. That is the stuff I pushed into it.

Q) What was your audition like for the show?

A) It was something I was auditioning for and I got sent the brief in October 2018, I think. I auditioned for it on tape and didn’t hear anything back for a while. I heard from my manager in mid-December of 2018 saying I had gotten shortlisted for the part and I was like, “Fantastic! That’s really cool!” They said, “You’re going to have to have a call with the director and maybe fly to LA this week.” I got the whole rigmarole and routine. I was like, “Okay, that’s great.” I didn’t hear anything for another week. Just before Christmas my manager called me and said I had gotten the role, which was exhilarating and terrifying. [chuckles] It was very exciting.

Q) What was it like for you to share scenes with the likes of Al Pacino, Saul Rubinek and a number of iconic actors?

A) It is weird when every person that I’m working with on set I know and greatly respected. The fact that this caliber was all in one show was quite inspiring. I was very much just trying to feel like I fit in with them because it is very intimidating. You’ve got incredible people working around you and it was so inspiring. Al Pacino is obviously in his own level. He’s iconic in many ways. Being able to film with him was just a constant act of trying to keep my shit together. [laughs] He’s a wonderful human being and it was just very inspiring working with him.

Q) You had some quite intense and bloody scenes. How did you shake off a long day of filming?

A) Oh, well, I found the filming process cathartic in a lot of ways. It’s very much not me. I’m not a psychopath. [chuckles] So, I’m quite the opposite in fact. I’m quite an empathetic, chilled out person. So, being able to act out this character was quite cathartic. Going home and sleep a lot. [laughs] Getting food out in New York, which is amazing. I never lived in New York before so I got to try all the different Ramen and pizza was wonderful.

Q) What were some of your favorite scenes to film?

A) I had a lot of fun in the last episode. I had a lot of fun filming the prison scene. It was fun working in that environment. Another cool scene I really liked was one of the scenes working with Al Pacino has me firing off a shotgun running through the woods singing at the top of my lungs. [chuckles] That’s how psychopathic my character is. That was great fun because I got all this training with the shotgun and there was choreography and running around pretending that I’m a badass. It was really good fun and one of my favorite times on set.

Q) What did you personally take away from your time working on “Hunters?”

A) I took away a sense of scale and appreciation for this business. It was a very positive experience shooting this series. It taught me a lot. I feel more confident coming out of it and I feel more certain of myself, which helped me as an actor. I think working with these amazing people and just being inspired by them and learning to work with them gave me a lot of confidence, which is something I very much appreciate.

Q) You are a part of social media. What kind of fan feedback have you received to your time on the show?

A) It has been very, very nice feedback. A lot of people are saying some very lovely things. As an actor it means a lot. All I want to do and what drives me as an actor is making someone else have an experience and allowing them to feel whatever they feel whether it is angry, upset or inspired or happy or whatever. As long as I am giving someone else a spirit that can move them in a way, I’m very happy. Doing that is very fulfilling. I’ve gotten some very, very good feedback.

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure we share with our readers about your experience on “Hunters?”

A) Just that it was an incredible series. I had a wonderful time shooting it and I’m really hoping I get to do more.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of you and the work you do?

A) I guess I’d just say is if what you see has an effect on you and it has a good effect on you, something that moves you and inspires you, then pass it on. Find that inspiration and use it to make the world a better place. Pass it on.