Lane Garrison – Inside Man

By starrymag | January 18, 2014

Q) What are the current projects you are working on?

A) I’m a writer that creates screenplays. I wrote a script called Succubus for MGM and so I am working with my writing partner during the hiatus.

Q) Please tell us about your character on the show “Prison Break.”

A) As viewers know, I’m sort of the “rat.” My name is “Tweener” and my character was based on the fact that I am sort of in between white and black. But, I’ve also considered it sort of torn between Scofield and being loyal to him and working with Bellick. I am sort of caught in between there with them. My role keeps on increasing as the season goes on.

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

A) I saw the pilot. My agent had sent me the pilot long before it had aired. When I watched it, I said, “This is going to be a monster hit of a show!” I thought it was really well written and well done. I said, “If any character comes up that I’m roughly right for, I have to be a part of it!” Luckily, “Tweener” was written and they called me to say that they had an audition for “Prison Break.” I don’t get excited about too many things, but when I heard that I, literally, walked into the casting and said, “You’re not going to see anyone else. I want this part. I love this show. I think it’s going to be huge.” The casting director said, “Yeah, but you still have to read for it.” I did really well and he said, “Good, you are the character. You know this character.” They got the producers on the phone and I had to keep going back and forth from the studio, to the producers to the creator Paul Scheuring. Finally, Paul said to me, after my last reading, “I’ll see you soon.” I was beyond thrilled when they called me to tell me I got it.

Q) What has been your most memorable moment from filming?

A) My first day on set, I come and walk through these huge prison gate doors into this massive set. My first scene is outside in the yard and the director wanted us to come up with a skit where T-Bag (played by Robert Knepper) is harassing me. I came up with the fact that I sag my pants, so what if he came behind me and was sort of tugging at my pants. Mind you, there are three hundred extras outside and there are film crews filming for E!, Access Hollywood, etc. On the first take, he is supposed to sort of tug on my pants to mess with me and he totally completely rips off my boxers, as well! I am standing there in front of everyone completely naked! That was pretty embarrassing, but it broke the ice and everything was fine after that!

Q) Will viewers get to see your character attach himself more to Michael Scofield and the breakout gang?

A) My role increases in the next coming episodes. I end up joining the PI crew because Bellick has assigned me to sort of spy on Scofield. On April 24th, I’ll have a really big episode that is sort of like the flashback episode which reveals why I am in prison and what I’m really doing there.

Q) What is it about your personal life that you bring to your character?

A) I sort of was this kid growing up. I was a petty thief and I, actually, got into a lot of trouble with the law growing up for stealing things. Actually, the last time I stole something, my own mother drove me to the police station and turned me in. I think she scared me more than the police. I never stole anything again! I sort of get that background of this kid that is struggling with his home life and finding out who he is on the street. I think that was me growing up and I can relate to him in that way.

Q) Why do you think the show draws in so many viewers?

A) Once again, it’s well written. Every week there is a catchy hook that leaves you wondering what’s going to happen, which gets everybody. I think there is also; not just speaking for myself, but there is great acting in it. I think it’s a great ensemble cast. These characters are so intriguing. I think everyone has a character that they relate to like that or pulls them into the show.

Q) You and Muse Watson (who plays Westmoreland on the show) seem to have a close relationship as friends off the set. What advice on acting has Muse given you?

A) Muse is like one of my mentors now! I talk to him all the time. He’s told me so many great stories. When we first started shooting, he said to me, “You know Lane, when I find a character or I play a character, I sort of find the song that would relate to them. I’d find the music they’d listen to and their one favorite song. I play that before I start shooting.” I’ve started doing that, as well. I found “Tweener’s” song and in modern times, I think it would be Eminem’s song “Lose Yourself” from the movie 8 Mile. I listen to that all the time. He’s also taught me about being a person on and off set because he’s such a humble human being. I think that everyone, not just myself, sort of emulates Muse and the way he lives his life.

Q) Muse has compared your acting to that of James Dean. How does that make you feel?

A) It makes me feel great, coming from him! He’s such a seasoned vet that he is such a natural and makes acting look so easy. We all look up to him. It makes me blush that he said that! I’ve got some pretty big shoes to fill! It’s flattering because he’s such a talent. It’s sort of like a love fest on set, which is weird because we’re all in prison for fifteen to eighteen hours a day, but everyone gets along so well and has the utmost amount of respect for each other. Some days it is hard to shoot because our characters are always at odds with each other, but we all like each other off set so much and have that respect for one another. The feeling is mutual for me with Muse and I appreciate him saying that.

Q) Muse has also said that when your characters were cellmates he was disappointed that the writers didn’t add more interaction between you. How did you feel about the situation?

A) We both asked the writers about that and I don’t know if they couldn’t just fit it into the story line, but we wanted more scenes together just because there was sort of this fatherly-son relationship outside. It was something we would have liked to explore more.

Q) You’re in the upcoming film Quality of Life. What was it like working with director Benjamin Morgan?

A) He was great! He works with at risk kids. That’s his day job! When he made this movie he had almost no budget. I think we made it for like $30,000, which is nothing, and we traveled the world with it. He just understands what kids are going through these days and I think it was so easy to work with him, open up to him and go to dark places with him because he’s seen it. He sees it every day. I’ve never felt more relaxed with a director than with him and able to just go to those places.

Q) The film earned Special Mention at the Berlin International Film Festival and Best Youth Film at the Stockholm International Film Festival. What is it like knowing the film is getting such acclaim so early on?

A) That was an amazing experience! It just goes to show you that you don’t need millions and millions of dollars to make a good film. You just have to tell a story that is compelling. I think that there are not a lot of movies that relate to kids and that have a message as well which are good, that don’t candy coat everything. I think that’s why the film has been working across the globe, especially internationally more than the US. Hopefully, we’ll have a nice run here too.

Q) You’re also writing the film Succubus with Mark Famiglietti. How did you both come up with the concept for this film?

A) I started writing at age nineteen and had my first screenplay that got optioned. We haven’t had any movies made yet, but we’ve set up many projects at many production companies and studios. This is an idea off a producer that read our work for the film Chasing Fate, beforehand, that was set up at Madonna’s company, Maverick. The producer thought that our voice of writing would fit. The concept forSuccubus is about two guys that have a fear of commitment who get involved with these beautiful women that steal their souls. We sort of saw this as a metaphor for our own lives so we pitched them a take about what this film would be and they went for it. The studio liked our ideas and they hired us. That was my real first studio writing experience. MGM bought it, but now Sony bought MGM so it’s sort of in that land in between MGM and Sony. We’ll be figuring out what to do with it next.

Q) Both of your films are about the topic of relationships. What is it about this subject that you feel is a source of inspiration for your writing?

A) I think I’m at that age where you start asking yourself “Is there that one person out there for me? Is there my soul mate?” You also struggle with wanting to be a bachelor and be a single guy. It’s sort of that duality that is something every guy my age struggles with. Those are basic themes that come out in my writing. My writing partner, Mark, has been in a relationship since high school with a girl, it’s his high school sweetheart. Then, you have me, who feels like this never-ending bachelor. So, we always have these funny battles about whether there is one person for me or if I’m going to keep dating the rest of my life.

Q) What do you do in your spare time?

A) I work! Spare time for me is writing. I love going to movies. I am still like a six year old who gets excited to see a movie! That’s probably what I do in my free time the most. I probably, literally, live in the theater.

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

A) I would like to say to please don’t hate me while I’m the rat because I will redeem myself! Thank you for supporting the show and me! Stay tuned, the episodes are only going to get better. We love you because we get to work since the fan base has grown so much. We appreciate all of the support! This has been a great show to work for because I’ve never experienced such a mass fan base before. We appreciate it!