Kevin Chapman – The Hard Way

Q) Please tell us the premise for your show “Brotherhood” and your character Freddi.

A) It’s viewers’ dark side of the American dream. The setting is a fictional community in Rhode Island, known as The Hill. There are two brothers, one is Tommy Caffee who is a politician in the area and the other is Michael Caffee who has been gone for the last seven years. He’s resurfaced in his old community and it has a lot of people concerned because of his criminal past. The cast consists of Jason Isaacs, Jason Clarke, Annabeth Gish, Ethan Embry, Fionnula Flanagan and myself. It’s on Sunday nights at 1Opm Eastern Time on Showtime.

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

A) The thing that I liked about the show is the writing. The writing is very good. Blake Masters is the creator of the show. My character is Freddi Cork. I guess you’d call him the crime boss of the community. The thing that attracted me to play Freddi was that he has such a duality to him. There is a considerable amount of depth to Freddi. Not only is Freddi a criminal and he enjoys that criminal aspect of life, but he also felt that he was an, honest to goodness, family man. He looks at himself as a real family man. That kind of duality made that character really interesting to me.

Q) What is your most memorable moment from filming?

A) The most memorable moment from filming would probably be when we were shooting the pilot. It was directed by Phillip Noyce and you’d know him from films like Clear and Present Danger, Patriot Games and Dead Calm. He’s an incredible director. I think having the opportunity to work with him was really amazing and it was probably one of the most memorable moments.

Q) Does the cast have a lot of chemistry off the set as much as they do on the set?

A) Oh yeah! As professionals, we’ve all been around a bit. Jason Isaacs you would know as the villain in The Patriot with Mel Gibson and also from Harry Potter. Annabeth Gish was, of course, on the “X-Files” for a number of years and has done a number of films. Fionnula Flanagan has had a huge film career and Ethan Embry we know from numerous TV shows and film. A lot of people know him from Vegas Vacation with Chevy Chase and a number of other movies, as well.

Q) Why should viewers be tuning in to the show “Brotherhood?”

A) There is difference between our show and a lot of shows today. Shows today draw clear moral boundaries. On “Brotherhood,” we pride ourselves on muddying those boundaries. There is no right or wrong. There is no good person or bad person. We kind of let the audience make their own interpretation of who they like and who they dislike. I think that’s why it makes it very unique television because it makes it more true to life.

Q) You’re filming the movie Flag of Our Fathers, which is directed by Clint Eastwood. What’s it like working with him?

A) This is the second movie I’ve done with Clint Eastwood. I did Mystic River, as well. It was an honor to be called by Clint Eastwood to come over to Iceland to work on this film with a great ensemble. There is Ryan Phillippe, Adam Beach, Jamie Bell, Barry Pepper, Robert Patrick, Gordon Clapp and Neal McDonough. It’s just a huge cast! It was a lot of fun playing a Marine Corps Lieutenant storming the beach of Iwo Jima.

Q) You’ve done producing and acting. What else would you like to try your hand at?

A) I’d like to be a rock star. I don’t know, it seems like it would be a fun job.

Q) What has been your favorite project to work on?

A) Mystic River was probably my favorite.Ladder 49 was a lot of fun, too. Being able to be a firefighter, training with the fire department and facing that world was really kind of cool. Mystic River was very exciting for me because I got to work with some people whom I truly admire like Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon and Laurence Fishburne. It was just a remarkable experience.

Q) What do you do in your spare time?

A) I hang out with my kids.

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A) Check out “Brotherhood!” I think you won’t disappointed. I think it’s a really good show and you’re really going to enjoy it. It’s something that’s innovative and cutting edge. I think it’s something that you really haven’t seen a lot of on television. Also, look for Lonely Street next year with Jay Mohr, Robert Patrick and myself. It’s going to be remarkably funny!