Nick E. Tarabay – Pacific Rim: Uprising

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) There have been a couple, but because of Hollywood being so hush-hush I can’t talk about them. I can tell you I’m working on a video game that I’m super excited about. I can’t tell you anything else. That’s all I can say. It’s my first video game and it’s motion-capture and everything. It’s just beautiful! It’s so much fun and it reminded me of being a kid. There are several other television shows that are coming out such as “Taken” and “Expanse” is coming out soon. Then, there is a project of my own that me and a couple of my friends are putting together that is going to begin filming soon.

Q) Please tell us the premise for the film Pacific Rim Uprising and character Sonny.

A) The movie is everything you loved about the first one only bigger and better. When I was in the theater, I was talking to Steven [S. DeKnight] (the director) and I was like, “Damn man!” We worked with a lot of CGI so you don’t know the scale that we were dealing with, but this movie is like a $200 million dollar budget or something like that. When we were filming there is supposed to be a Jaeger behind us and one in front of us. Then, when you see it on camera you’re like, “Damn!” they look so real! Technology is scary because you see these robots and they look so real! The fight sequence for these robots…You’re like, “Damn! They look better than humans!” I think the fans are going to love that. Believe it or not, there is really good comedic timing there and really funny moments that I absolutely enjoyed a lot – especially from John Boyega. In fact, after that I said, “Dude! You should do comedy.” [laughs] The fans are going to love it and they are going to leave the theater feeling really good. I play a guy named Sunny who is a tough guy that is pretty edgy and wants what he wants. He’s really determined for it.

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

A) I saw the first movie and I was a fan. I really liked it. I love good drama and good meaningful movies like an Oscar performance. Also, I love a good entertaining action movie. I love that! I think those things are just beautiful. Not everything has to be so deep. Sometimes you just want to see something that makes you feel good. I love physicality. Most of the roles I get have a lot of action in them. I like to be physical. That’s just part of my life. So, when I saw the first one, I was like, “That’s just a fun movie!” It felt so good. I think these movies are very important. In life we need a balance. That’s exactly what it is – you go laugh and see good action that you just love it. Steven was directing it and I was super excited for him. So, when the part came up it was a nice reunion because I knew him from his credits on “Spartacus.” He pushes the envelope and I love that. So, when it came about I was very excited. There are a couple other actors that were in “Spartacus” as well so it was a nice reunion.

Q) What did you find challenging about filming about your character?

A) I’m always ready. That’s just who I am – whether it is physically or mentally. When I’m not working, I’m always either doing theater, in class or at the gym. I try to stay sharp. That’s just who I am. As far as something challenging about this movie, I would say just the Jaegers. [laughs] We would be walking and talking and then we’d be like, “Okay. So, they’re supposed to be here? Where is the other one? How big are they?” I guess that was the only part that was challenging.

Q) What were some of your favorite behind the scenes moments from filming Pacific Rim: Uprising?

A) Shane Rangi worked with me on “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena” so we became really good buddies. They should not put us together. [laughs] We are always cracking jokes and laughing, but we’re always ready to work. Steven was always like, “Okay guys, calm down.” He was like a teacher. We would make fun of this. We would make fun of that. We would make fun of ourselves. I think I might have a video of behind the scenes. I have a bunch of stuff that I couldn’t release until the movie is out. But we were very goofy. So, you may see Nick being serious on screen, but behind the scenes we are cracking up and goofing around.

Q) What is it about the action/adventure genre that draws you to these roles?

A) I love action! I grew up in the 80’s and one of my heroes growing up with Sylvester Stallone. I used to watch Rocky and Rambo. Boys are boys. We grow up loving this stuff. And I’m very physical. Something about physicality and action comes very easy to me. Not to say there aren’t challenging roles, like “Spartacus.” I just love doing this. It’s fun. There are a lot of things in life that can make us be serious and put us down and worry and stress us. So, any opportunit8ies I get to lift us up, I’m all for it.

Q) What advice did director Steven S. DeKnight offer that you took to heart while filming?

A) Yeah, it was “don’t be yourself.” [laughs] I’m just kidding! Look, obviously I know him Steven from working on “Spartacus” and we have a good rapport. We stayed in touch after “Spartacus” and I’m a big fan of his work. I’m glad we stayed in touch. He’s a talented fellow and I love talented people. And there is much more to directing than the technical parts and aspects of things. No one had to communicate an idea without telling the actor what to do. Stephen and I have a good rapport, so it was easy. It was just like a playground and we tried stuff and whatever works…works. He knows I come in and I’m ready and I have options. I have a bag full of choices and it is just very easy to work with him. I just love working with people like this.

Q) You are a part of social media. Do you enjoy the instant fan feedback you receive to the projects that you do?

A) Yes and no, to be honest with you. Sometimes you put things out there and just let it be. I try not to watch so much critics or feedback. I try not to pay attention to stuff like that. You do for a little bit. There is nothing wrong with constructive criticism, but you don’t want to fall into worrying what people think of you or your performance so much. So, it’s a balance. You see enough to just get an idea. Usually, I get my reviews from friends and people I really love and respect. Sometimes fans have questions and I am more than happy to answer them if I can. Other than that, I try not to dwell on stuff like that.

Q) We mentioned your role as Asher on “Spartacus” earlier. He might be one of the greatest villains of TV. Did you see him that way?

A) People will scream, “ASHER!” People still love to talk about this role. Any role that I play I try not to judge the role. I definitely don’t see them as a villain. When you really think about it, in acting such as in life they don’t do it because they think they’re doing a bad thing. It’s justified for them. So, for me Asher was very justified in his actions. It’s just a matter of perspective. People didn’t see it that way though, but who is to say what is right and what is wrong? Even to this day, who is to say is right and what is wrong? I might do something that you disagree with, but in my beliefs, I’m doing the right thing. Sometimes it depends on society, culture and socio-economics – everything that effects peoples’ opinions. When I play any role, I try to find the reason why they are doing what they are doing. I always say my main objective when playing any role is to find their heart, what makes them happy, what drives them and pulls them up every morning ot get out of bed. When I find that, everything is justified. For Asher, he wanted to be a gladiator – that was his goal. In his heart, he wanted to be a part of something. He was very alone though and felt secluded – like an alien. He just wanted to be a part of something. The way I thought of Asher was that he was a very loyal guy, but he just never had the chance to show it. Every time he tried, something goes wrong. You have to find a way to survive and he did it. Mistakes obviously were made, but who is perfect? If you look at “Spartacus” at that point, he made mistakes as well. I used to always say this, I love to piss off people with my acting. That means I connected with them. I love to take roles that people don’t want to take because it means I connected with the audience on a deeper level. So, when someone says “I hated Asher” or “I hated that character” that makes me wonder that there is something in your life that I connected with that makes you tick. That means I did my job.

Q) What can you tease in store for the coming season of “The Expanse?”

A) I love working on “The Expanse.” I play “the good guy.” [laughs] What’s nice about this season…I don’t know what happened. Maybe the production company got a lot of money because every episode is HUGE! The TV show was already big and great, but this season is like WHOA! Every episode is like a movie! Pay attention to the first episode of the season – it’s going to feel like a finale because it’s so grand and so big and so much happens that you kind of feel like it’s the end of something. It’s so good! And the writers are just bad asses. They are just so good at what they do. I think the fans are going to love this season.