Marshall Allman – Making a Break For It

Q. What are some of the current projects that you are working on?
A. Right now what I’m working on is that I am on the board of a theater called The Sherry Theater. It’s a brand new theater that we’re opening. Right now I’m co-writing a play for the opening of the theater called “Devil’s Night.” I’m co-writing it with my friend Scott Haze and the play will be starring Jamie Brown. Then, I also just did two episodes of “The Twilight Zone” radio drama. They were the most fun thing that I’ve done in a long time. You get to go to a recording studio and do scenes and act and they just record the voices. It was super fun and the producer was really great and he brought me on to do that. Pretty much other than that I don’t think I am a big enough name yet to be getting super offers. So, the offers haven’t been rolling in yet for feature films. I have been preparing to audition for a project with Paul Thomas Anderson that I think Daniel Day Lewis is trying out for. I am really going after that and I really want that project.
Q. On the show “Prison Break” you play “L.J.” What made you want to be a part of this show?
A. Number one is that it is the only project that I got hired for and number two it’s a total blessing because as far as television goes it’s pretty much the best gig you can have in town. Because, it’s on location at an amazing set, it’s not on some boring lot where you show up every day and you eat donuts, say hello to the guard and just take your seat in your chair. This is where you show up to the prison and I’m running around downtown Chicago. I’m doing all kinds of crazy stuff and I’m getting to do real acting with other actors who want to act and be real strong. People are watching it, if ten people watched it instead it would be such a miracle. Obviously, with the response to the show, it is way beyond what I could ever have imagined. I have never been a part of something like this, to tell you the truth; I am not even trying to look out for number one. I’m just enjoying the ride because it’s honestly so cool.
Q. “Prison Break” is such a dramatic show. How do you prepare for such heightened scenes?
A. Well, that goes down to my training and I have to give that one up to Playhouse West where I trained. My teacher Robert Carnage, I give that all up to Playhouse West in Los Angeles. Pretty much what we do is we trained for this stuff, I’ve been training for this stuff for almost a couple of years now. So, when it comes down to this dramatic stuff, this is where I practiced and played all day. I’m loving it, it’s very rare that an actor gets to play in something with such heightened circumstances of this drama. I love it, it’s just all of the editors and producers on the show, they always pick my least dramatic take. Nowadays, it is totally on another level and when I do the scenes I bring it like crazy. I bring like a ten and usually they edit to me, what would be on my standards, would be an eight. It’s real cool, it’s awesome, it’s crazy because I get to go blow it out the window, and I get to go blow the roof off of the joint. Then they pick and get what they want out of it. For me, every time I go to work it’s like a lesson in acting, it’s amazing.
Q. How has it been getting to work opposite such well-known and talented actors like Robin Tunney and Dominic Purcell?
A. It’s been the best, like I said it’s just been a learning experience. I’ve been getting to act with people that care about acting and that want to act and react. Not just read their lines, and some of the people on the show it’s just astounding that I’m on the same project as them. I get to talk to them, hang out with them, and it’s incredible. You watch their takes and you watch their stuff and seeing how it comes across on screen and it just works so well and they are such seasoned actors.
Q. Do you have a most memorable moment from filming “Prison Break”?
A. Yeah I do, I really liked the episode that aired the other night, when I got to be in the car and the window got shot out. I really love all of the physical stuff of the show because I’m a young guy and I want to be rambunctious and I want to be out there. I love all of the action and the chasing and when I got to be barefoot in downtown Chicago. I remember when I did the shot where I am on the phone in some alley and I hang up the phone and I start running down the alley. They stopped the scene right there and I kept running down the alley and I got to the street and I looked around the edge of the building and I saw a cop. I just bolted away from the cop and he was like, “what the heck?” He started to say something and they were like “no, he’s on ‘Prison Break,’ it’s not real.” He saw this kid barefoot and running away from him so that was really cool. Then just hanging out with the cast is really great. There have been so many great moments; it’s at the point where it’s like I’ve been in this a lot. I really like the scene that I had with my dad that was in the second episode that aired. It would be the third episode to air, not the pilot. When I put my hand on the window, that was a great scene, I really like that moment. My favorite moment is actually when I got to do the scene with my step-dad and my mom. Her name is Jessalyn Gilsig and Phil Smith, we did that scene together, it was a fight scene, it was so awesome. Because, we all just got to get into the scene and the way we did the scene in rehearsal and then they mapped out how they wanted it. It was very in the moment, it was a great adrenaline rush scene. It was really, really cool, as far as it goes I love every single moment. As an actor I love every single moment and bringing it on screen. All of them are priceless.
Q. What do you think it is about “Prison Break” that has hooked so many viewers?
A. Because, it’s just a high adrenaline drama and you let one into your system and there is nothing else on its level. So, it’s like you’ve gotta get that pump, it’s so over the top big drama. With everything else on television, it’s like once you watch one; all of the shows seem easy. It’s also so real; it’s so real and so unbelievable. Like, it’s so believable but it’s unbelievable. When you watch it, it’s so believable. But, when you step back and go “what are they doing?” It’s like, that would never happen. That’s the whole reason why you make a television show. You want to see people go through something that is of astronomical proportions. You don’t want to watch some guy read the newspaper every morning. You want to watch him read the newspaper every morning while he’s digging earth. I think that a lot of television shows have gone back to branching themselves and showing a lot of nuisances. I think people are getting tired of that and want to see something totally fantastical, total fantasy. Yet, painted in a way that is so believable.
Q. You’re also in the film Sweet Pea. What can you tell us about the premise of the film and your character Ricky?
A. That film is actually a short film that I did. That’s the first film that I ever have done. It’s so interesting that you bring that film up. Yeah, I did that way, way back. I did not expect you to ask me about that, that film was directed and written by Traci Lords, she is wonderful to work with. The experience was pretty intense and to me it’s a real story. When you do a real story it’s kind of like you do the best you can. I play a boyfriend who is kind of caught up in all of the wrong things. Even though I love my girlfriend I am more addicted to sex. When the girlfriend is not comfortable and doesn’t want to go there, the guy gets angry and he lashes out. He has sex with her against her will, and so it’s like just because you have a boyfriend doesn’t mean you can’t still be raped by him. So, that’s kind of what goes down, I’m the boyfriend that doesn’t listen when she says no. It’s a real tough subject.
Q. What are some of your passions besides acting?
A. I love music; I’m leaning the drums right now. I am still am learning the guitar, you can never stop learning the guitar. I am not naturally talented; I’m not gifted right away. I believe that I have talent but it’s going to take somebody to really polish me. I love my girlfriend Jamie Brown; she’s an actress. She is really amazing, she’s the best actress in Hollywood by far that hasn’t been discovered. There are plenty of great actresses that are at the forefront of film for America. But, Jamie Brown is a force, as soon as someone gives her the green light on a film; it’s going to be unheard of. I don’t think that people understand; she is pretty much the reason why I know how to act today. She’s just phenomenal; she’s absolutely amazing. If you don’t know you should check her out! I like to get involved in culture, I like reading, I love soccer. Peter Stormare and I went and watched the Madrid Pumas game here in Chicago at the big stadium. I love soccer, I love USA, I’m going for us in the world cup. I am passionate about poetry, I’m passionate about art, I love public speaking and I love people who can speak really well. I’m passionate about passion; I just love life! My motto in life is that I want to live life to the fullest.
Q. Do you have a latest obsession? Are you into any particular book, sport, music group or activity?
A. I am really into the Bible; I love the Bible; that’s my favorite book. I am living in Chicago and I’m obsessed with all their teams because this city is so infectious about their sports teams. Pretty much my latest obsession I would have to say is that and the loving relationships in my life, I can’t really have another obsession beyond that. Most importantly in my life is relationships and the people that I have them with, my family and that love. Love is the greatest thing on earth.
Q. What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?
A. I am totally grateful and I am in awe and it’s humbling. All it does is inspire me to work that much harder for them. I hope that I keep bringing them stuff that they will enjoy, the fact that they are listening to me is so humbling and inspiring. There is nothing better for the soul of an artist than to be well received by his audience. Then if I have that, then there is no telling what is going to happen, I’m blown away.