Sam Otto – Snowpiercer

By starrymag | September 1, 2024

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) Where do we pick up with this final season of “Snowpiercer” and John?

 

A) We return to the world of Snowpiercer in Season 4 with the characters split. Half have remained on the train to continue living as they always have done under the perpetual motion of Snowpiercer’s eternal engine, while the others are forging a civilization in New Eden, where life is beginning to find a way. We find Oz (John) struggling to assimilate to a life on firm ground, maintaining a fragile yet consistent connection with our friends in the fledgling town below his newfound mountain refuge, as he wrestles with his demons…

 

Q) What has continued to challenge you about your portrayal of John over the years?

 

A) He’s a character who’s all inner. Very rarely wears his heart on his sleeve or shows his emotions outwardly. All the way through the show, right from Season 1, he’s been someone who has put up a front to protect his inner vulnerabilities, preferring to push people away than to let them in and open himself up to being hurt. The music aspect that came through in Season 2 and a bit of 3 was a chance to reveal that inner softness that he’s been harboring all these years, but that’s fairly quickly shut up again. So, it’s been a constant challenge to find ways of revealing the depth and complexity to his character without giving too much away outwardly – keeping the character distant and brooding, but not boring or empty. A lot of that is in the eyes, in the lingering looks and glances to other characters when he thinks he’s not seen or watched. It’s been a lovely challenge to work that out over the seasons, and this season I got to reveal a lot more of his journey towards redemption and acceptance and hopefully bring a satisfying close to his story.

 

Q) With such a large cast, was there someone(s) you were looking forward to getting to work with or work with more in this latest season?

 

A) Mike O’Malley! Roche and Oz have a lot of history story-wise throughout the show but we’ve rarely seen them interact, so I was really looking forward to getting to work with him a lot more this season – not only because he has an incredibly articulate acting and writing brain alongside his wealth of experience, which I’m always so keen to learn from, but also because I’m fortunate enough to call him a friend by now and he’s genuinely one of the funniest men I’ve ever met. Time on set with Mike is never dull and he’s had me in absolute stitches on too many occasions to count during the seasons. He’s an incredibly multi-faceted artist and an all-round ball of charisma and encouragement, and I really hope I get to work with him again someday.

 

Q) Every episode keeps viewers on their toes. Was there an episode this season that you are most proud of the work you put into or is a standout for you for other reasons?

 

A) Honestly, shooting the season over two years ago, I can’t remember exactly which scenes fall into which episode. [laughs] But I think episode 6 has some quite juicy bits for Oz which were very fun to shoot, especially one involving some oil which I won’t give away. (Hope it made the cut…)

 

Q) For such an action-packed show, how did you shake off a long day of filming?

 

A) The show was shot in Vancouver, so I just made the most of all the beauty surrounding us to help me wind down in and around the shoot. Skiing in the winter; running, biking, swimming and hiking in the summer; it was a gift to get to work there and getting to breathe in the beauty of the mountains and sea after a long day in the studio was always the perfect reset. I adore Vancouver and will hopefully work there again before long.

 

Q) What do you think it was about this series that fascinated so many viewers and made it such a must-see show?

 

A) I think this series perfectly balances challenging real-world issues like class warfare, the distribution of wealth, climate change and social mobility alongside its sci-fi and dystopian setting with a plot that is full of action, drama and exciting set pieces that it’s hard not to be captured by it. The world of Snowpiercer, starting right at the graphic novels in the 80s all the way through to Bong Joon-Ho’s masterpiece and now this epic series, is so rich in intrigue and character that I’m praying the life of the extended universe will continue. There’s so much more story to be told.

 

Q) With this being the final season of “Snowpiercer,” were there any mementos you took home with you to remind you of your time on this standout series?

 

A) Two things. One is a large green polished stone given to me by the set dec team on the show, mounted on a small “Snowpiercer” plinth that I keep in my room. And the second is a gold pendant I bought from a local Vancouver jeweler called Pyrrha that I wear round my neck and never take off. Both are beautiful mementos that will always remind me of the time I spent in Canada filming this epic show with the best of people.

 

Q) What did it mean to you to be a part of such an iconic sci-fi series?

 

A) It’s been the greatest pleasure, and whatever comes in the future of my career and life, “Snowpiercer” will always have been a monumental part of the foundation of it all, along with the lifelong friendships I’ve made. Invaluable.

 

Q) What are the other recent projects that you have been busy working on?

 

A) I’ve just finished shooting the first season of a new Amazon show called “House of David,” which tells the biblical epic of David and his rise to Kingship. I’m playing a young prince who becomes one of David’s key opponents. It’s a very fun part that is on the opposite end of the spectrum to my dear Osweiller and will be airing in December 24 on Amazon.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of the work you do on our screens?

 

A) I’m forever grateful for all the support, comments and thoughts from every and all directions. I’m so blessed that I get to do this as a career. It’s always such a thrill to explore new characters, stories and worlds and they only live because of the existence of audiences who are willing to immerse themselves in the universes that we get to be a part of creating. So, to everyone who’s ever commented or sent love, binged this or any other series, obsessed over the lore or just fallen in love with a character or two, thank you for coming along for the ride, thank you for being excited by the stories and characters and thank you for ultimately being responsible for making this and all other shows what they are.