Jason Antoon – Claws

By starrymag | July 10, 2017

By: Jay Smith

 

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

 

A) I had a recurring guest role on Freeform’s “Famous in Love” playing Wyatt the director of the movie within the TV show and I basically annoy and scream at Bella Thorne.

 

Q) How was Dr. Ken Brickman on “Claws” originally described to you?

 

A) A nervous wreck of a doctor whose marriage and career had been crumbling – always trying to find his center through any form of spirituality, but ends up maybe getting high on his own supplies.

 

Q) Was this an audition or something you were offered?

 

A) I was told that they had looked and tested older white guys and a few ethnic actors for the role before I came in and read for Janine [Sherman Barrios] (Exec-producer/show runner), Eliot(creator/writer) and the casting director Cathy [Sandrich Gelfond]. I auditioned with the scenes you see in the pilot. They put me on tape and used that to test me and, eventually, was confirmed by the studio and the network.

 

Q) Was there anything you added to the role that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

 

A) They give me some leeway to improv a few lines here and there. For instance, in Episode Four during one take I added the word “Lebanese” and they ended up using that take when it aired.

 

Q) Is there much room to improv with Dr. Brickman?
A) See above. But some of his nervous ticks have inspired some raunchy/inappropriate comebacks that probably will never make it on air. [laughs]

 

Q) How do your killer eyebrows influence your character development?

 

A) I have very expressive eyebrows and have won a few breakdancing contests back in the 80s by doing the “eyebrow wave” as a final move. I exploit that talent whenever I get the chance and never care if it’s overused.

 

Q) Talk about your thoughts when they said you’d be dancing shirtless at a strip club.

 

A) That dancing shirtless scene in the pilot occurred at the very last days of shooting and I had already had my fair share of Creole/Cajun foods in the weeks we had been shooting the pilot in New Orleans. So, I wasn’t at my fittest, which isn’t very fit in the first place. But I had no problem wiping that shirt off. There’s about five minutes of dancing footage and they used only about two seconds of it. It’s good stuff. Maybe one day they will release the footage on the DVD extras. Wait, does anyway even buy DVDs anymore?

 

Q) How is it working with a female centric cast?

 

A) I love it. It’s mostly women in the main cast and behind the scenes and a lot of time you feel better taken care of, there’s more patience, more empathy on set and more fun in a way. It’s really their story and the men are there to support that, rather than dominate it. These are not cute women, otherwise the show would be called “CUTEicles.” These are strong women who can kick ass just as much as men could and in a far more interesting way you’ve never seen before.

 

Q) Since “Claws” is raunchy a few times an episode (we know it was originally slated for HBO), how do you feel about the rules of censorship slowly backing away from television?

 

A) I’m not sure it’s backing away because if this show were on any of the prime time channels you’d see none of the raunch. It’s still cable so if it fits into the world of the show and within the confines of character development than it’s justified. In my opinion, it’s not raunch for raunch sake. I’m sure someone could argue that. At one point, I had a line mentioning “golden showers” and the network cut it from broadcast.

 

Q) What were some of your most memorable moments from filming “Claws?”

 

A) Just being in scenes that take place at Suncoast Rejuvenation. There’s just a freaky vibe and they always have a crazy colorful cast of extras. They all want what the doctor has,and he’s giving it to them at an affordable price. Also, dancing shirtless.

 

Q) In five words or less can you sum up the rest of the first season of “Claws?”

 

A) Sharp. Female. Dark. Weird. Noir.

 

Q) What sparked the passion for acting?

 

A) I had a great high school drama teacher named Judy Weldon and she brought something deeper and cooler than your typical drama departments did back then. In school, it was a way to not get in trouble and still act out, but this time it was on purpose and not a thing that got me in to detention. But in detention I’d act out scenes from The Breakfast Club and get more detention.

 

Q) Any advice for those wanting to get into voice or live action acting?

 

A) If you’re serious you have to give LA or NYC at least two or more years before giving it up. But people do have successful careers in other cities doing regional theater, etc. Most careers don’t happen overnight. It’s perseverance. Plus, with the internet there’s a ton of opportunities to create your own projects and work while the paying work is on a low. Over the last twenty-ish years I had done seven TV pilots, some high profile ones, and “Claws “is the first one to get picked up to series for me in a series regular role. It was a long time coming. Success for me was not having to wait tables anymore. So far so good.

 

Q) We also recognize you as Wyatt from “Famous in Love.” What did you find challenging about the role?

 

A) As I mentioned before, screaming at Bella Thorne and finding various levels within that so it’s not all screaming was a bit of a challenge. Especially since Bella is just the sweetest person.

 

Q) Was there somewhere you found yourself connected to the character?

 

A) I would not have gotten this role if it wasn’t close to the heart. I know I’m a character actor and can float in and out of genres, but there comes a time when you have to bring yourself to a role more honestly and Dr. Ken brings that out of me. And that’s a good and a bad thing to admit.

 

Q) You’re a part of social media. Do you enjoy the instant fan feedback you receive to your roles?

 

A) It’s both awesome and scary at the same time because while someone can praise your work, there’s always someone who thinks you’re just the worst.

 

Q) Are there any other fun fact(s) the fans may surprised to know about you?

 

A) I wrote a collection of fairy tales that was published as an E-book called The Cursed Frog and Other Modern Fairy Tales that you can get for $2.99 on Amazon/iTunes. I’m working on a sci-fi novel and I collect copies of The Catcher in The Rye in different languages and editions. That elusive true first edition is still out of my reach. I also make a tasty hummus.