Jon Campling – Adventure Boyz

By starrymag | April 21, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

 

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

 

A) I’m currently in pre-production for feature film shooting in May. I’m also about to start rehearsing for a play opening in May. I’m currently also concentration on my singing training and my fitness program. I run 5K every other day and have a very rigorous weight training program. I also stream three to five times a week on Instagram and on Twitch (RealKingRegis).

 

Q) Please tell us the premise for Adventure Boyz. 

 

A) I suppose the premise is that of a young boy who, having had a life-changing adventure that has is brought his family closer together, decides to tell us all the story. And, in doing so, takes us on that same incredible adventure… that’s where the film starts.

 

Q) What made you want to be a part of the film?

 

A) I had met Howard [J. Ford] the previous year after myself and my wife moved from London to Eastbourne.  Angela Dixon, an actress I had worked with previously on a film called Hard Shoulder, had worked with Howard playing the lead role in his action thriller Never Let Go. I met him after a screening of this in Brighton and just loved his energy, his attitude, his approach and his appreciation of his cast and crew. So, when he contacted me about Adventure Boyz it really fulfilled my desire to work with him. [laughs] And when he told me the story of Adventure Boyz and the role he was thinking of me for it was a no-brainer. I was in.

 

Q) How was your character Vladislav originally described to you? Was there anything you added to him that wasn’t in his initial breakdown?

 

A) Initially, I was sent the script so my first impression of Vladislav was taken from reading the script. Another thing I remember Howard never tried to do was inflict his own version of Vladislav over what I was allowed to do. He trusted me to bring what I felt was right for Vladislav. It’s one of the things I like about how he trusts the people who uses. Whether it’s crew or cost, Howard trusts them to know what to do and offers minimal with incisive guidance as and when needed. Vladislav has an accent. People often ask me what inspired me for the accent and the honest truth is I’ve been watching “GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling),” a fantastic Netflix show and there is a character in that show call Zoya The Destroyer (played by Alison Brie), her wrestling name. And I pretty much use the accent that she uses. [laughs]

 

Q) What was your process like for getting into this character? Did it take slipping into costume to find him?

 

A) Luckily for me Vladislav is well within the casting type of characters that I often play. Somewhat malevolence or evil high-status villains is one of my key casting types. [laughs] Plus, Howard very generously gave me free range and let me know that he will be happy with whatever I did, which is a wonderfully empowering confidence building attitude to have. The costume was made up of my own personal clothes. The advantage being that they were good fit, meaning I felt good in them which is important when you’re playing a character that’s meant to look slick even suave. There were lovely clues in the writing that he has a sense of humor with his is attempted English phrases, but obviously also has the potential to be to be angry and even vengeful as a crime boss. So, it was fun marrying those two very opposite traits. But really as is so often the case all the clues to the character in the script.

 

Q) What were some of your favorite scenes to shoot from Adventure Boyz?

 

A) One of my favorite days was actually a day when I wasn’t filming myself. The day we shot the opening sequence at Arlington Speedway Track I went along to help out and to take some still photograph. That was incredible being at the stadium with the extras and the speedway riders. That was a real buzz, far more exciting than the days I actually filmed for Vladislav. [laughs]

 

Q) What do you hope viewers take away from watching this movie?

 

A) First and foremost, I think we just want people to enjoy the movie to not notice the passing of time, to lose themselves in the world caring about the characters and just feel they were taken on a nice emotional journey. Some laughter, some sadness, hopefully some thrills and overall that it was time well spent in good company. Obviously, the film also has a message about limiting the time you spend looking at your devices so for kids. We really hope that message has an effect. And for parents, we hope it helps open the conversation about device usage and getting the balance right.

 

Q) You have worked in so many genres. How do you select the projects that you work on?

 

A) Good question. It can be tricky. Often you don’t realize the choice is right or wrong until the gift of hindsight when it’s too late. Sometimes if a job is well paid you are going to do the job for the money, of course. But I’m more excited by jobs that speak to me, via a complex or unique character or story or the chance of working with an incredible director or shooting an amazing location – something unusual, exciting, adventurous. And in those cases, the money is far less important.

 

Q) With such a lengthy career, what have been some of your favorite projects you have worked on?

 

A) I’ve been very lucky. I have ninety-four IMDB credits and I’ve worked on whole gamut of production types and very big to very small. Obviously, the standout gig is Harry Potter. Even though now that was ten years ago, it still sits in my memory as one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. When I found myself standing on a real train track in the middle of Scotland with the actual Hogwarts Express really heading towards me, knowing that when I chose to raise my right arm that train would actually stop was and still is one of the most incredible and surreal moments of my life both an actor and a human. A very close second is creating the character of King Regis for the incredible video game franchise Final Fantasy. Other less high-profile projects include Adventure Boyz, obviously, which was an incredible experience working with Howard who is just blindingly talented. And another low-budget indie film called Sleeping Dogs directed by my friend Floris [Ramaekers]. Again, I always felt I was working with a true genius on that project.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way to connect with your fans?

 

A) I do really enjoy using social media whilst also being aware of its downside and its potential for addiction. I think as an actor, someone who’s self-employed with a product to promote, platforms like Instagram and Twitter are incredibly useful and have allowed actors to have an easily updatable shop window to inform anyone who may be interested in their careers from a hiring point of view or just an interest point of view to see exactly what’s happening. It is very empowering in an industry that can leave you feeling somewhat isolated. I’ve also recently started streaming both on my Instagram account and on my Twitch account and that’s opened up whole new way to interact with the fandoms of my two big franchises. That’s the other thing that I get from social media, between Comic-Con appearances social media and live streams I can really give back to the fans and fandoms who have supported me incredibly since I have appeared in those films and that does mean a lot to me. It also helps me raise money for my charity Invest in Me.

 

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

 

A) I would just like to thank them from the bottom of my heart for every like, every retweet, every comment, every signed photo, every selfie request, every piece of positive encouragement support and feedback. I lean heavily on the fandoms and have I found them to be a never-ending source of positivity and goodwill and they have my never-ending gratitude. Walk tall.  Xx

 

 

 

Follow Jon Campling on Social Media:

Twitter @joncampling

Insta @jon_campling