Patrick Gilmore – Travelers

By: Jamie Steinberg

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

A) It’s been a busy year. I did a show called “Jann” for a Canadian network back in September. Then, we just finished Season 4 of “You Me Her” for the Audience Network.

Q) How was your character David Mailer on “Travelers” originally described to you?

A) It was a few years ago, but I got the sides and you kind of make your own decisions. But just before the last audition, Brad Wright (the creator) pulled me aside and told me that the character was actually created for me. So, that kind of changed some of the things I was going to do given that I knew Brad’s sense of humor and I could hear myself in the character now. He was just the best of all humans. It’s hard to catch that. And the beauty of Brad’s writing is that he doesn’t really pin you into a corner of what you should play. He likes to see what his actors are going to bring to the role. David was kind of a blank slate other than he was written for me so I kind of knew how he should sound and his overall positive being.

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

A) That’s a good question! Yeah, I mean I think I kind of brought a sense of structure to his life. He lives a relatively solitary life. It’s in the script, but when you see how he is at home and how he deals with people outside that safety zone I kind of wanted a bit of…(I always use this analogy with David) a house of cards. He’s built a very structured life that he can control, and I feel like I don’t want to take credit for bringing that to David because I think all of those things were in the script and just were there to be found and pulled out. Again, it’s a credit to Brad’s writing.

Q) What keeps challenging you about your portrayal?

A) The suspension of disbelief, I guess. It’s been two…well, three seasons now with being involved with a time traveler. He’s just rolling with the punches better than any other character on the show. And you kind of have to find reasons for why he would assume the best. That’s David’s M.O. He kind of assumes the best of all humanity. That’s why he does the job he does and that’s why he’s always wanting to help. So, it’s finding ways to make it believable that he would kind of turn a blind eye to everything that is falling apart around him and what becomes clear is that David’s major flaw is his belief in humanity – his blind faith in humanity – and his love of this one woman. He would do anything for Marcy (MacKenzie Porter). I think that is a flaw. I think that blinds him to the consequences and it blinds him to the danger. He just continually believes and believes in her and the goodness of humanity. That was able to solve, and it fit perfectly this hard pill to swallow of how this man keeps coming back to Marcy and these dangerous situations. It fit perfectly.

Q) Do you have much say in how the character continues to evolve?

A) The broad strokes, no. Brad kind of has a road map he’s heading towards. But within that, yeah. Everyone is so open from the directors to…Brad is always there to talk to and I’ve had so many hours in Brad’s office just chatting about who David is and the direction he’s going. As far as plot points and show direction, no. Brad’s got full control of where he wants the show to go. But that does leave room for a lot of collaboration and nuance in the portrayal of every character. So, the show is very collaborative, but it also feels like we’re along for the ride as well.

Q) Talk about working with your costar MacKenzie Porter.

A) I had the honor of meeting MacKenzie years ago. We did a movie years ago. We just met briefly and had a few days together on set. We stayed in touch and that was 2012, I think. So, it was four or five years later when she messaged me that she had gotten the Marcy role. I had been talking to Brad before I knew MacKenzie had booked it and we kind of laughed at how hard it was to find an actor to portray all of these nuanced levels of Marcy. She was a girl with a learning disability, but then she’s a kickass time traveler. Throughout the two and three seasons, there are many versions of Marcy and finding that actor that is able to pull that off was going to be a difficult search. When MacKenzie popped up, it just made sense. Absolutely. Everything this girl touches turns to gold. She’s an accomplished musician and actor. She’s one of the funniest people I know and thank God for that because David’s plotline is so dependent on Marcy.

Q) What can you tease is in store for Season 3?

A) [laughs] It’s so tough to be able to tease anything because it all comes out. I just can’t give out little breadcrumb trails. I will say that Brad has always said that for Season 3 he wanted to take every character and push them to their limit. That becomes super evident. Things start to unravel. It’s the darkest of the three seasons. I enjoy that. That’s kind of my favorite TV – TV that doesn’t gloss over things. It invites you to a level of reality that will make you uncomfortable. I don’t like it when there is an easy fit with everything like a 1980’s sitcom where everyone learns a lesson, and everything turns out fine. This gets a little unruly and it gets a little dark. To me, that’s my favorite TV.

Q) Who can you share are some guest stars we’ll be seeing this season?

A) Oh…Well, there are a couple of new characters. There is a character Yates played by Kimberley Sustad. She kind of becomes part of the family in a way. I can’t really spoil anything, but there are a number of familiar faces that you will see. It’s such a tight storyline that there is not a lot of room for surprise guest stars. It’s a lot of people that you love and have already connected with.

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure our readers know about Season 3 of “Travelers?”

A) Binge it as fast as possible and tell everyone you know about it! That’s the only way to ensure there is a Season 4!

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

A) Yeah, I do because I started in theater and one of the many beautiful things about theater is that instant feedback that you and the people that you are doing this for (the audience) are on the same path and you’re on the same journey. When I first started in film and TV, you lose that because when I began there was no social media and there was no such thing as full seasons at a time. It was one episode at a time and people might miss that one. It was very hit and miss. So, when social media came on that was exciting. There has been a lot of growing pains because social media comes along, and you can kind of hang out with everybody else and watch it with them in that hour time slot on that specific day of the week. You get that feedback and you can be part of that journey with them while they experience it. Now with binging, the show is available…Season Three is available now, but people will be discovering these travelers (even Season 1) months from now. So, you don’t really get to experience it with them, but the feedback does trickle in. Yeah, it just makes it more of a communal experience. There is so many ways to argue the best way to see a movie, whether it is renting it and watching it at home or to experience it in a theater with people. I remember the first time I saw Schindler’s List was in a theater and it was the perfect way to do it because it was something you went through with everybody else. Then, the credits roll, and the lights go up and everyone stays in their seat. The first time I saw Paranormal Activity and the little title said “Night #4” and the whole audience started giggling like, “Here we go.” We lose a lot of that when you are sequestered in your bedroom with your laptop. The saving grace of all of that is social media because you can find with hashtags and fellow fan groups who is watching it at what time and their thoughts and experiences. I’m hard on social media because I find it intrusive, but for an actor it’s a really fun tool to connect with the people you are acting for.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and the work that you do?

A) I wouldn’t know what to say! It’s all a bit humbling when I go online, and I see how much people are loving the show and the character of David. Thank you! Although we set out to perform an audience, it’s still a bit humbling when people respond because…When you start you are performing for a few hundred people in a theater and everyone kind of goes home. You don’t really get that connection. It’s one of the reasons why I kind of shy away from convention. It’s a bit overwhelming. Sci-fi fans and fans of “Travelers,” specifically, are so generous and so enthusiastic that it’s exciting to watch. It’s another thing to be caught up in it. It’s very humbling. I just thank them because if it wasn’t’ for them there might not have been a Season 3. It’s all numbers and love that keeps the show going.