By: Paige Zinaman
Q) What is the premise for the film Treading Water?
A) It’s a unique film that I think American audiences will love… The film follows a man battling severe OCD, intrusive thoughts and addiction. Upon his release from Manchester “Strangeways” Prison, a chance encounter with an old friend plunges him deeper into a world of chaos, temptation and secrets, blurring the line between recovery and relapse…Does he have what it takes to overcome the demons, even when they could be within?
Q) What was it that first attracted you to the role of Danny?
A) The first time I read the script I was hooked. It was so raw and real. It was a fascinating page turner as our writer/director Gino Evans had been so meticulous when carving out the character of Danny and his journey. It was fascinating to see what this character does page by page. I really cared for him. He’s misunderstood, unpredictable and endearing. As soon as I read it, I knew I wanted to do it and bring the story to life.
Q) Danny’s journey is defined by mental health struggles. How did you prepare to portray that authentically and sensitively?
A) The most important part, to me and to the creative team in general, was to make everything completely real. As honest and as realistic as these situations are in real life, even if what we we’re dealing with was uncomfortable. So, we fully committed. We didn’t glamourize or stereotype our subject matters of OCD, Intrusive thoughts and addiction at all. When you are handling these subjects, you have to authentically portray them otherwise in my opinion you help no one. I did my own research into the matters above and was able to discuss ideas on set with Gino, who again was so passionate about the fine detail and message within the film. From the performance side of things to the technicalities regarding the cameras our aim was to make our audience BE there with Danny.
Q) What surprised you most in researching life after prison, and how were those discoveries used to shape your performance?
A) People such as Danny can leave prison and have nothing infront of them apart from the day ahead. Broken relationships with friends and family and not knowing what they’re going to do with the rest of their life. It’s a very fragile, unpredictable time for many. Which way do people turn? It can be so hard. Sometimes there is help but a lot of the time people again fall through the cracks of what you would perhaps say is a broken system. Danny is a very impulsive as a character. He’s living day to day trying to survive. Literally “Treading Water.” His impulsiveness in his reactions in certain situations that our audience are witnesses to is perhaps what shaped these moments on screen.
Q) Audiences may know you from “Emmerdale Farm.” In what ways did this role push you in new directions as an actor?
A) I joined “Emmerdale Farm” when I was in my late teens and had a fantastic time. It was a wonderful environment to really get to grips with screen acting. When you’re on set everyday you’re learning and absorbing information and skills, not just from actors but from every department on set. Working as an actor on a film set is something that you can’t really teach until you do it. I’m always someone that has learnt from just “doing” and it was amazing for that. It’s given me many exciting opportunities since, and I look back on it with great pride. In the end I wanted to explore new characters and types of stories. Treading Water is EXACTLY the story I wanted to be involved with.
Q) Danny walks a fine line between vulnerability and strength. Which moments in his story were the most challenging for you as an actor to capture?
A) I wanted Danny to have a constant sense of unpredictability about him and therefore the audience can’t quite figure out what he’s going to do next. Without spoilers, I’d say a big challenge was shooting what was in Danny’s mind and then not. Sometimes we flick between. The internal thoughts of him just thinking about what he may or may not do are slight, but something the film is reliant on for the audience at least trying to work him out…
Q) Danny and Laura share a complicated history. How did you two work together to create that chemistry and sense of lived-in connection?
A) Becky Bowe, who plays Laura, is just fantastic. She’s such a great actress and a great laugh. We spent a lot of time together during the weeks we filmed, chatting about their backstory and what must have happened back in school with them. The great thing about our director is that he loved to improvise in scenes so me and Becky would sometimes include what we’d been discussing before a take and just see where we went with it. Their relationship at times is heavily reliant on humor and quite a lot of what you see in the film was done off the cuff, which makes everything more natural. From there the characters just grew and you got to unearth more and more about them, take by take.
Q) The Manchester backdrop almost feels like another character in the film. How did the setting almost play an additional character in this movie?
A) It is and it’s brilliant! This is another reason I think it would be such an interesting watch for an American audience… Manchester is not shown enough in film! The audience get to see what it’s truly like and it’s such an interesting looking city on camera including all its underbelly which the film includes. We shot our film exactly where the locations are supposed to be, therefore making everything that bit more real. I remember one moment we were filming on top of a car park and in the distance you could hear Liam Gallagher performing at the Manchester City stadium that evening. You couldn’t get a more Manc scene than that can you R’kid?!
Q) Gino Evans was both writer and director. In what ways did you collaborate with him to bring out the raw but empathetic layers of Danny’s character?
A) Gino was incredible to work with. He’s so invested in doing the absolute best work and he really is a visionary. He’d had the story in his mind for ten years and had experience working in supported housing in his past so was already really knowledgeable and clued up from his initial script to what was required on the takes. One thing that is brilliant about Gino is he’s really collaborative in letting the actors try out ideas and seeing where they go. It’s the most creative experience I’ve had on a film set and some of the results that happened were due to Gino being open and allowing new ideas to form. He loved to improvise in and out of scenes; he’d also include little deliberate curveballs to change the meaning of some lines. He’d even get us to run the scene again but not include anything that had just been said in previous takes just to mix it up. His technique and method of working really complimented the film and was also a gift to allow Danny to be very impulsive constantly.
Q) Was there a particular day on set, or a scene, that stands out as the moment the story felt especially powerful or real to you?
A) There is a scene with Danny and Laura when they’re sitting down by the canal that I felt very connected to. It’s possibly the moment in the film where Danny’s life is at it’s highest point maybe. You see a real sense of connection and purpose. It’s just them two and it’s emotionally very in touch and calm which perhaps contrasts with other elements of the film.
Some stunts we did were chaos as well. I eat a lightbulb at one point. There’s a bit of everything in the film, trust me!
Q) The film doesn’t shy away from depicting the lack of opportunity faced by many in society. What conversations do you hope Treading Water sparks with audiences?
A) Exactly that. Lack of opportunities. People slipping through the cracks of society. The help that these people need, most don’t get it. Danny is a character that is misunderstood in society; people would perhaps not give him a chance and label him as something he’s really not. I hope this film shines a light on the truth of the lives that people like Danny face. Outside in the world and inside his mind, too.
Another thing that the film has are some hilarious moments. Albeit a gritty film, there’s some moments of utter comedy magic from certain characters. The people that we represent in the film are the funniest people, trust me. Sometimes when you don’t have much all you’ve got is humor to get you through and trust me, it certainly gets some of these characters through.
Q) What are some of the other projects that you have been working on recently?
A) I’ve recently been on stage doing a play in Manchester and a radio project there, too, but the most recent thing you will find me in with be in the new series of “Grantchester,” although it probably won’t be out in America until next year I reckon!
Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of your work?
A) Please watch Treading Water and see what you take from it. It’s a really unique film and a project that is very close to my heart. Different people have taken different things from it. See what you take…it really is thought provoking! And much love to all!!