Michael Esper – The Outsider

By starrymag | February 2, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) You’ve been busy! Were you filming “Ray Donovan” while also working on “The Outsider?”

 

A) There was some overlap between the two. At first it was kind of a blur. Maybe not. Maybe “The Outsider” was first. There was definitely a lot of back-and-forth between the two shows.

 

Q) What does it mean to you to book this level of series work?

 

A) More than anything else, it’s high-quality shows with really good people in them. [laughs] It’s the work that I always hope to be able to do and participate in. I admire the people on those shows and behind those shows so much. Getting to play and the things they are making…that’s the dream, right? I also appreciate being able to bounce around. Being able to do both of those at the same time was pretty spectacular. I was really lucky last year.

 

Q) We’ve been seeing you on “The Outsider.” What made you want to be a part of this series?

 

A) You’d be crazy not to want to be a part of the project! [laughs] Top to bottom, it was just really exciting to me. Richard Price’s writing is something that I have admired for years and years – both his novels and his TV/film work. I just think he’s a talented writer. Stephen King is someone I’ve been obsessed with since I was a kid. And Jason Bateman…I walk in the door and think he’s so good and so smart. I’ve always loved him. Then, that cast is insane! Alexa [Fogel], that casting director, and Jason and HBO put together this cast that just blew me away – unbelievably talented people who were a joy to work with every day that were so inspiring and incredibly kind. Ben Mendelsohn is thrilling and super fun. Bill Camp. Yul [Vazquez], Mare Winningham. It’s a crazy group of people that are so good! I was excited about it from the jump. I felt really grateful to be a part of the show.

 

Q) What did you find challenging about your portrayal of Kenneth?

 

A) Nothing that we were aware of and that Jason talked to me about going into it was characters and scenes, like that it can be sort of easy…You’ve seen a lot of them in genre shows and movies over the years. So, it can be easy to play your idea about…just to fall into your idea of how those scenes should go and how they should be played just because we’ve seen them so much. Luckily, the scenes are incredibly written. It makes that a lot easier to avoid. It’s not like he’s writing clichés. The scenes on the page feel really fresh. But it was just something we wanted to be aware of going into the show. That was kind of the main thing. When you’re working with that kind of writing and you’re getting that kind of guidance the challenges seem a lot less challenging.

 

Q) Was there anything you added to the role that wasn’t in his breakdown?

 

A) You always try to bring some of yourself to it. I like to try and work as personally as possible. A lot of good, specific detail in your work can come from that. So, I hope I did, but I didn’t consciously…I mean, I hope I did, but I don’t really know. I hope we found stuff that was particular to me, but I don’t know. [laughs]

 

Q) What were some of your most memorable moments from working on “The Outsider?”

 

A) Oh, man! I loved the interrogation scene! I loved working with Jason and Ben on that. That scene was really fun and he’s an incredible director! He allows you a lot of freedom, but he’s also has got a really good eye for detail and specifics. He’s an actor so he knows how to talk to you and work with you in a way that is just particularly good. [chuckles] So, getting to play around with that scene was really fun. I liked filming the scene with Yul and Ben when they come over to my house. There is a bit where I get out some ice cream and I like that. [laughs] It was all really fun. Every day I got to show up on set and play with those people was a good day.

 

Q) What did you personally take away from your time on this show?

 

A) Well, I think I found it really inspiring. I learned a lot from everybody every day. I learned a lot from Jason about directing. All of those actors are incredibly skilled. Ben and Bill Camp, who I love so much and have known for a while and Yul. Getting to work with these people finally was kind of a dream. And getting to watch their process a little bit and seeing how they work on set and how they work take to take was really rewarding.

 

Q) Did it inspire an interest in directing possibly?

 

A) Yeah, I’d like to. I’d like to! I’m really interested in it. I’m working on stuff now, but I would definitely would like to start making things that I’ve written in the near future. Right now, I’m in the process of writing and outlining and pitching and stuff like that. Hopefully, that is something I’ll realize soon.

 

Q) Switching things up, how was your charcter Adam Rain on “Ray Donovan” originally described to you?

 

A) Well, I think we talked a lot about the kind of music that he makes himself. I think he’s a guy who tends to come more from an indie rock background – a singer/songwriter indie artist – who then through his own success and when he got established starts working as a pop producer. He starts working with pop stars, these kind of big money gigs like with Jonathan Walker Hanson (Clay Hollander). There is a lot of fun to be had with that in terms of the levels of frustration that can come from working on music that may not be exactly your passion. [laughs] I think there was also trying not to lean into the douchebag guy too much.

 

Q) Could you play the guitar before being on the show or did you have to learn?

 

A) I’ve been playing guitar for a long time. I started in like seventh grade and I played in shows and stuff before. I play guitar a lot and make music on my own. So, it was really fun and I love being in the studio. It was fun to get to shoot in that studio and play some music. I always love when that stuff comes up and acting work.

 

Q) Were you familiar with the song that you performed with Kerris Dorsey?

 

A) I knew the song. It’s such a good tune. I knew it, but I definitely had to learn it. David Hollander, the showrunner, is also a musician and really skilled and really knowledgeable. So, we worked together on figuring out a really simple arrangement and something that would play nicely into the scene.

 

Q) Talk about the onscreen chemistry between Adam and Bridget.

 

A) We never read together before we did it. We read together after I got the job. She is so good and so cool. I think that any actor who is just present with her…She’s just somebody who makes everyone better, I think, and really puts everybody at ease. We really hit it off and she is so great. I can’t imagine anybody not having that kind of energy with her. She’s so fantastic.

 

Q) What were some of your favorite moments from filming “Ray Donovan?”

 

A) That was a big one. I got to be in that studio and it’s a spectacular place. The equipment there alone – as a musician I was losing my mind. [laughs] So, getting to shoot that scene was really special. That was one of my favorites for sure. Then, getting to work with Live [Schreiber]. I really loved that one scene we had together. I think he’s such a brilliant actor and I really admired the way he worked that day and I learned a lot from him.