Nicolas Wright – Manhattan Love Story

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

A) There is a lot of writing stuff. I just wrapped a series in Canada with Kim Cattrall and Don McKeller called “Sensitive Skin.” It just finished it’s first run and it is based on the BBC show with the same name. I’m one of the leads in that. Now, coming up after this, is mostly writing. I can’t really do any other acting commitments because of the potentials of a back nine pickup of the series “Manhattan Love Story.” The only other items on the table right now is writing. We sold a feature film to Roland Emmerich (my writing partner and I) and some other writing projects. It’s been a really exciting year for sure!

Q) Please tell us about the premise for the new show “Manhattan Love Story” and about your character David.

A) The show focuses on the burgeoning relationship. I play Jake’s brother David and we are all in on this set up. We think it’s the best possible match for him. My wife on the show plays Dana’s (Analeigh Tipton) friend from college. So, that’s how we all know each other. We all tie in pretty well together. What really hasn’t been showcased through the marketing is the other side of the show, which is the family business. It is myself, Peter (Jake McDorman) and our sister Chloe (Chloe Wepper) and Kurt Fuller who plays our father. It’s hilarious because Kurt Fuller’s character had us with three different wives. So, the family dynamic is completely ridiculous because we all have different attitudes and different personalities. For David, I play the oldest. What is really funny is that everyone usually looks up to the oldest, but because I guess Peter got better genes as he is kind of the “golden boy.” He’s the athlete, the good looking one and the one that everybody loves. We’re forever competing and I’m very insecure about my position in life. Even though I’m married to this hugely wealthy woman Amy (Jade Catta-Preta) and we live in this ten million dollar loft I’m still insecure and I’m always competing with him. It’s great fodder for comedy. Pete is like, “Why are you competing with me? You could buy me out four times over.” He doesn’t get it. But if you lived life growing up next to him I may be older, but I’m always in second place. That stuff just makes for great comedy. There is great sibling dynamics. Jake and Analeigh are adorable onscreen and really shine.

Q) There is such great cast chemistry on “Manhattan Love Story.” Was that instant or did it take some time to develop?

A) The chemistry on set has been so much fun, between the writers and the actors and the creator and producer. So far we’ve just had a blast on set!

Q) What is it like working with Kurt Fuller?

A) He has way more experience than all of us and been in so many great movies. It’s just been great to hang out with him and hear his great stories. He’s got a few, believe me! He’s also just one of the funniest guys I’ve ever met. Just to be on set with him is such a tremendous joy because there is so many laughs, big belly laughs all day long! It’s one of the most fun jobs I’ve ever had. We spend most of our days just laughing. The first thing I said to Kurt Fuller was, “Wayne’s World! It was one of my favorite movies growing up!” He said, “I haven’t seen that movie in twenty years.” I wasn’t able to make it, but the cast and him went to a theater that was screening it for the twentieth anniversary. They took Kurt Fuller along and the audience was surprised. He did a random intro and I really wish I could have been there. He had a fun time.

Q) Is there anything you added to your role that may not have been originally scripted for you?

A) I think they sketched out the character pretty well. I think everybody in the cast brings their own colors to it. They are very, very generous about letting us improvise on set. So, there is a real atmosphere of freedom on set. Once we get the script in the can, then we are free to kind of go off and ad-lib and do impromptu bits we come up with. That’s been a really fun thing to do. If there is one thing that all of us bring is our own brand of creative comedy. But I didn’t add anything too drastic. The character was very well drawn up and then was pretty accessible to me. Apart from that, I think it’s really just the freedom to improvise and that has just been a real joy that all of us has gotten to do.

Q) What have been some of your most memorable moments from filming the show?

A) I think it is the third episode in where one of the storylines revolves around going to see “Kinky Boots,” which is a Broadway show here in New York. ABC actually arranged for us to go to the show and meet the cast afterwards. That was amazing! My character in that storyline is obsessed with musicals so we go to the show and then the gag of the episode is myself and another character from the show belting out songs from the show. For me as an actor, that was pretty thrilling! Now, I can actually say I sang on Broadway! That’s pretty awesome because at first it wasn’t looking like a possibility, but now I can cross it off the Bucket List. Thank you ABC for that wonderful opportunity!

Q) Will you be live tweeting any of the shows and answering fan questions?

A) I think we are going to live tweet tomorrow. To be honest, I’m fairly new to social media so it’s not been a big part of my life up until now. I’ll get more into it as the weeks progress. I’m excited to sort of take advantage of this opportunity. I’ll be live tweeting the episode and I’ll probably do that from now until the end of the season. As the episodes continue, I’ll certainly take more of an active role in promoting the show any way that I can.

Q) Are you looking forward to the instant fan feedback you will be receiving?

A) I started doing that a little bit with a show I did a few years ago called “Accidentally On Purpose.” Jon Foster and I would do this talk show for CBS that was sort of an offshoot of the show and it was great because we got questions from Twitter and suggestions from fans. The instant fan feedback was amazing so I am really looking forward to getting back into that. It’s just so fun to hear that feedback. That’s the thing about theater versus film – there is such a huge disconnect between you and the audience. You are on set filming and then it doesn’t air for like six months. So, there is a huge disconnect. What social media has done quite well is to bring that connection back to life between the actors, performers, writers and the audience. It gives the actors a real voice with the audience. It’s fun! I love feedback and answering questions.

Q) Is there anything else you would like to share with fans about the show?

A) I’m really looking forward for the fans to see how we’ve taken advantage of filming in New York. We visit a lot of iconic places and backsplashes. You’ll get to see me playing golf ridiculously at Chelsea Piers in the first episode. I think the way that they are able to use Manhattan as the backdrop for this comedy is great. And I’m excited for fans to see the family dynamic. Like I said, there is a lot of fodder for comedy.