Nicholas Coombe – 68 Whiskey

By starrymag | February 5, 2020

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) When you first began reading the scripts, what about the writing really stood out and the way that your character Anthony was broken down and described?

 

A) The first breakdown I got was Anthony Petrocelli, a character who is seventeen years old, who looks sixteen and acts fifteen. So, immediately I was like, “Oh, I can do that! That’s me!” The second and third thing that drew me was that Ron Howard and Brian Grazer were behind the project. I am a big fan of those guys. That opportunity and also the audition sides were hilarious. The audition side that I had was with the goat; it was really funny. I was like, “This show is going to be good.” I was excited from day one.

 

Q) What is it about the series featuring these multi-dimensional characters that sets this really amazing bar that is balanced so beautifully well between emotion, heart, and humor that kind of tugs at your heartstrings all while touching it at the same time?

 

A) I am personally such a big fan of our writers, especially Roberto Benabib. I honestly think they have done an incredible job of the writing. Every time I read the scripts; they are an absolute page turner. I really love how they have been able to weave these real moments and these real experiences that can be quite tense at times with a touch of comedy, which is kind of how life is if you think about it.  A lot of people deal with a lot of scenarios differently and I think they have done a really good job of mixing comedy and drama together to tell a story. For example, Petrocelli loses one of his best friends at the start of the show.  Basically, he is convinced that this goat he finds is the reincarnation of his friend.  And although that’s quite funny to watch, if you think about it it’s quite sad.  That’s how he’s dealing with it.  But it comes across funny.  They have done a really cool job of bringing those stories to life which can be quite realistic.

 

Q) With your portrayal Anthony we get this great innocence since he is a private, but he sees so much and goes through so many struggles and has to process it all while going through one thing after another. There is no reprieve. How do you balance all of that in your portrayal of Anthony?

 

A) I guess one of the things that was really handy for me is the fact that Petrocelli is so young and so new to the whole experience. For me, personally, I have never worked on a military show or film before. So, as we have been filming, I have been learning a lot about how the military works and where you are supposed to be and the etiquette. I have been able to use a lot of my not really knowing and I have been able to throw that in a lot of the time. I’ll ask a question like, “How I supposed to correctly hold this?” Or, “How should I stand?” It’s quite endearing and funny when Petrocelli does it wrong.  He’s trying but he still gets it wrong. We have been able to do a good mix of just me genuinely having no idea, but also the advisers that we have on set showing me the correct way. It really depends on the scenario and what’s happening.  We have our military advisers on set. They are always making sure we are doing things correctly, but we do find some comedy in that Petrocelli is so naive and young and fresh eyed. It’s been entertaining and intense throwing him into the middle of some of the situations that have happened this season so far and that will happen in the future. It’s been really fun and I have learned a lot. I have met a lot of incredible people who have served and it’s been amazing hearing all of their stories and learning. I personally have had an amazing experience on the show.

 

Q) We see this ragtag group of core characters and each one brings something unique as an individual and an asset to the team. What it is it that sets this team apart and helps them work so well together?

 

A) I think one of the things that is great about the show is every character, as you said, is very unique and quite right it is a ragtag group of soldiers on the base. There literally is someone for everyone that you can relate to as an audience member. Petrocelli is the young kid who doesn’t really know much about it. So, for people who don’t know much about it, they are learning with him which I really like about playing that character.  Then, you have Davis (Jeremy Tardy) who is a great soldier who is trying to make some money to send back home for his sick family member. They all have different struggles that they are going through and they are all real struggles that happen in the real world.  I think everyone that watches the show is going to be able to relate to at least one of the characters and the real experience that they are having. I think that’s kind of what makes the show so personable, is that it is focused on the humans in the base rather than war itself.

 

Q) What I love is the great honesty and authenticity of the series too.

 

A) I think Roberto said that he wanted the show to focus on the humans and the characters more than anything else. I think that’s what makes it feel so genuine when you watch it. You can really feel that come across.

 

Q) Yes, the camaraderie and the bond the fellow officers share. And the ties that bind even when they are not by blood.

 

A) These people on the base, they all go through intense and out of this world experiences when you are in a dangerous warzone. So, that alone brings people closer together. For example, I am an actor and when you are filming a project you know you are working every day closely with these people and after the five months you feel like you are family members. I can’t even imagine what it’s like deploying with someone and spending that time in a dangerous situation together. There is definitely a sense of camaraderie of brotherhood and sisterhood, which is this invisible bond, and it definitely doesn’t have to be related by blood. I think through us, we have also just become really good friends from working together. I think that definitely bleeds through the performance.

 

Q) As Petrocelli you certainly have an amazing sense of comedic timing during these lighthearted moments of levity. Is comedy something you have studied or honed?

 

A) I have always loved comedy and I have always been drawn to comedic projects. But I think the thing that makes “68 Whiskey” so unique is the drama aspect to it. And the writers have done a really good job of throwing in these moments that seem funny into a scene that we can play off of.  Even though it’s a sad or intense scene, it really depends on what the scene is because we definitely have done a bit of improvising and the combat scenes we have followed it word for word.  I think we have been able to come across and find some really genuine moments.  Real life is quite hilarious if you think about it.  As they say “truth is stranger than fiction.”  I find that in real life comedic things happen without you even realizing.  When you hone in on that, obviously it comes across in the show.  It’s quite funny to laugh through the pain.

 

Q) The cinematography also does an incredible job of intensifying the suspense of the series and truly plays up the tensions.

 

A) From day one that was always a big thing that we heard, that they were striving towards a cinematic experience. As you know, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer have done a lot of films. I think that they have nailed it and it has come across when you watch it.  You feel like you are watching a movie, but it’s a TV series. I think it makes it feel more real. You’re not taken out of the show because of the cinematography, if anything it throws you in deeper.  It’s pleasing to the eye, it looks great.  I love it.  Everyone is so talented from the camera department to the directors and the set decoration.  Everyone works so hard and they are so talented and I think it’s come across fantastic.

 

Q) Is there an episode you are really looking forward to fans reactions?

 

A) One thing I love about the show is that every single script that I read I genuinely love. All of the episodes are really entertaining, they are all page turners. I am excited to see what people’s reactions are.

 

Q) As you were reading the scripts, did you find yourself becoming as invested as the audiences sure has become?

 

A) One hundred percent. I love the project and I love the scripts. As an actor I always want to work on projects that I care about and this is one hundred percent one of those. As soon as I get the script, no matter where I am, I will drop everything and read it right away because I am actually excited to see what happens next.  I feel very blessed to be a part of this project.  It’s not every day that you get to work with such incredible people.

 

Q) Is there anything else that you’d like to say or mention about the series?

 

A) I think every episode gets so much better, so I definitely want to encourage people to tune in and stick with it. You learn all of these crazy backstories about the characters and a whole bunch of stuff happens and it is really quite exciting. I can’t wait to see more.