April 9, 2025 • 40 mins
Topics covered include: Charles connecting with his dad through his role in Warfare, total immersion, knowing your castmates' meal requests by heart (Noah Centineo: 3 burger patties), sage advice from Alex Garland to “never say yes to anything before you read it,” pinch me moments, impersonating Will's American accent, Charles working with fellow Garland alum Cailee Spaeny on the newest season of Beef, feeling out of continuity with your own life, playing many rounds of Mafia after hours, wild peacocks, Will having an absolute blast with Jenna and Richard E. Grant on set of Death of a Unicorn, Michael Gandolfini as the worlds best storyteller, and Warfare as the most transformative and meaningful experience of their lives.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hi, I'm Will Poulter. And I'm Charles Melton, and this
is the A 24 podcast. Dive right in.
Dive right, right in. The A 24 podcast.
Pretty cool. Really cool man.
It's so cool to be a part of a film, for one.
Yes. And then a 24 is so cool.
I know man. And then?
Alice Garland and Ray Mendoza. Dude, that's nuts, right?
(00:23):
All you guys, it's pretty incredible.
It's been a pretty kind of like Dreamy combination of things.
You know, I was talking to someone about how impressive I
think it is. There was Co directed because I
actually was able to say this to, you know, Alex and Ray, who
(00:43):
are both like strong personalities.
And I was able to say it's, I hope in a way where they were
able to kind of like, you know, receive it in the spirit in
which I said it, which was like,I wasn't sure how to such like
strong kind of like personalities would fare when it
came to Co directing. And it required both of them to
(01:06):
like practice this amazing levelof like self-awareness and
humility and deference to each other over different things and
watching that happen. And then like a massive group of
guys as well, you just wonder like, it's a lot of
testosterone, it's a lot of likepersonalities and it's, it's
kind of amazing how it all came together.
(01:27):
It's felt very just like, yeah, both Alex, very selfless.
Yes, you know, there's differentkinds of egos, but there's no
ego that got in the way. Just like this whole story
because and even with all of us guys and everything, and what we
did is I kind of, it kind of felt like we were all on Ground
Zero. Yeah, Right.
(01:48):
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, for sure.
And, you know, we showed up and did a lot of different things
that kind of of the methodology that had formed a whole process.
Yeah, yeah. I've never done a play before or
theatres or anything, but like, you know, hearing Alex talk
about it and just kind of like what our experience was where
(02:10):
there's no shot list and we're shooting like 20 minute long
takes and yeah, you know, peoplefrom the theatre probably 20
minutes. That's that's nothing but like
over and over and over again. Yeah.
It's just incredible how it all.Yeah, it was.
It's unconventional in so many ways.
And also the thing that I reallyloved about the process is like,
(02:31):
you know, where possible and to a large degree, like didn't
really feel like you were actorsor going about it in the kind of
traditional way of like spendingtime in your trailer and, you
know, kind of spending time apart from the ensemble.
Like we were all together kind of at all times, like never
(02:53):
really left the environment thatwe shot in.
No. And it like operated like A and
it. Informed everything.
Yeah. It never felt like we were
acting. It was impossible.
Like 30 seconds goes by, a minute goes by and cameras are
going on for like, you know, 15 more minutes.
Like there's no acting. It's like existing, right?
And like, yeah, I never felt again, you know, the immersion,
(03:17):
like we, you know, it's pretty amazing.
It's kind of cool, though, with all of us guys.
You know, our roles were, we were OIC.
Yeah, yeah. Kind of like the chain of
command and like kind of how Ray, you know, created
leadership, yeah. Through the boot camp and how,
you know, we learned so many things, right, All the quotes
(03:39):
that we would write yeah, every day that you would write every
day, like really leaning on eachother I.
Caught some, I caught some heat for some of those.
Some of those were like very corny I.
Think. Really.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. The fire was like, what are we
graduating? It was like.
Fall down 6 times, you get exactly Yeah, Will wrote that
way. Tired as hell Googling
(04:00):
inspirational quotes like first thing in the morning.
I'll never forget when we got everyone watches and you would
because you kept the voice and everything like a part of like
the process, like, you know, theinstrument, you get the
instrument warm. I always like speaking in the
American accent, right, which isso incredible and I really
respect that and amongst other things, but it was just I'll
(04:23):
never forget. All right, gentlemen, it is
0542. Have breakfast done by 06/30.
We're meeting at base camp. Get through the works, hair and
makeup by 0645 and get rigged upand we will leave here at 0700
(04:48):
for the marquee to be there at 07/15 and then and then to
arrive to block at 0730. Yes, Sir.
Yes, Sir. That is so funny.
But you really LED, man. And, you know, I learned a lot.
Like you LED, you LED us. You LED me.
(05:12):
And then, you know, we all LED each other.
And it, it's funny, you know, when we're kind of like setting
the tone in a way base of all based off of our roles and like
kind of the responsibility that Ray gave us.
It's funny. And I remember telling somebody,
yeah, Will would always be the last one to eat, always the last
(05:33):
one to eat. He'd be the first one at the
food truck for breakfast. You know, we take turns giving
orders. Sometimes you're like, talk and
you get this and I'm like, fuck,all right, let me get my voice,
'cause like, you know, we have to be direct in this certain
kind of the, the semantics and like the terminology is very
alien. But you would always be the last
(05:55):
one. You let everyone go eat for you
and you'd be the last one. And I was like, fuck, Will's
doing this and I'm all I see as well.
So I'm like, I got to fucking wait.
No, dude, like you're really kind to say that, but man, the
way that you approached your leadership role and assumed your
responsibilities, you did it with real grace.
(06:15):
I learnt a lot by watching you and and how you went about it.
And for those listening and or watching like, you know, we were
given, you know, a really great honour and responsibility in our
roles as officers in charge and representing the real life
people that we represent. And same is true of Jo Quinn,
(06:37):
who formed the kind of like Third Point in the leadership
triangle. And I think I can't speak for
anyone but my nerves around being the officer in charge and
having not earned that role, youknow, immediately being kind of
by definition in charge of anything felt like wrong.
(06:58):
And what was really cool was to see how all the guys sort of
cast aside ego and just committed wholeheartedly to the
sort of hierarchy and the structure of things and the
protocol. And, you know, I think like
trust and certainly like genuinelove and affection kind of
(07:19):
developed over the like natural course of the, the boot camp
and, and the shooting process. And that was really, really cool
to see. And as you said, it just ended
up informing everything that we did going forward.
And I'm, I'm so glad we went about it that way.
I was going to take it back and ask you how warfare like first,
(07:43):
you know, kind of like landed onyour desk, so to speak, and and
what your initial thoughts were,because obviously you have a
like deep personal connection tothe story as well, right?
Well, yeah, I, you know, I, as you know, for anyone listening,
my dad was in the Army for 24 years, you know that.
And I think the beautiful thing that we get to do with this
(08:05):
medium being actors, is, you know, there is reasons for doing
a job. And sometimes I would like to
have most of those reasons for every job be like some sort of
personal reason for me. And it was to get closer to my
dad, to understand my dad. Better man.
Right, so in order to get the process of understanding my dad
(08:29):
better also taught me in processI'm an actor did not experience,
you know, anything that he experienced, but just more so in
a way understanding the maybe again, we have no idea what it's
like we're just actors, but it just brought me closer to my dad
(08:51):
and. Like understanding him from a.
Psychological perspective, maybejust it's always difficult for
the veteran community and like we've talked about this, like
difficult for the veteran community to speak about certain
things that have happened. It's undescribable, right.
So to be able to for, you know, as the reason, you know, part of
(09:16):
Ray doing this for Elliot so that he can see it instead of
just reading transcripts of likea recollection of like, you
know, 10 different guys or 15 different guys from the
operation, just, you know, he can actually see it and
experience it. And yeah, I, I think, you know,
growing up, like those four years my dad was away, you know,
(09:38):
deployed, I'm just still a kid growing up.
I don't know what's happening orthe idea.
Not that I know what's happening, but I think doing
this, this whole film with all of you guys and Alex and Ray
just like brought me closer to maybe not the experience but the
idea. Like maybe you know what I mean?
Yeah, and how? How can you understand?
Yeah, and like just the, the, the from like military tactics
(10:02):
protocol to the brotherhood to the camaraderie to humility.
I just learned so many differentthings throughout the process
and just made me help me understand my dad better.
But. That's awesome.
Yeah, I remember meeting with Alex and Ray.
We got dinner. If I knew Alex and Ray better
then I would have not went to the place we went to dinner at.
(10:24):
Why? What was it?
I don't know. It was like someplace like in
Beverly Hills, someone. I was like, did you guys bake
this place? They're like, no, did you bake
this place? I was like, no.
You like that'd be cool with like a slice of pizza and a
beer. Yeah, no, it was like steak was
like 100 bucks. I was like, what?
What is this? I couldn't pronounce like half
the thing, you know, the menu. But we met and like, it's so
(10:46):
funny. I remember, you know, Ray shared
the story, you know, with me. And then they kind of like, told
me their vision and talked aboutthe intensity of this project.
And I was just like, I'm in, I'malready in.
You know, Alex, that's like, I'mnot going to do that.
I'm not going to do it. But he goes, Charles, piece of
(11:09):
advice, never say yes to anything before you read it.
You could imagine it and say Oh my.
God, yeah. And I was like, no, I know, but
I know I'm going to do it. I just felt it.
Just, you know. You have to like.
I just conviction, yeah, yeah, Ijust knew.
And next thing I know, yeah, I'mwith you guys.
(11:30):
Was the process because you met with Alex and?
Yeah, I met with Alex like actually separately from Ray
initially. And it's funny, man.
Like on paper, you know, it was like a yes, you know, it was
like one of those things where they were like Alex Garland's
next, a 24 movie. I was like, well, yeah,
obviously I'm going to want to do that.
And then to be honest, when he told me there was a war film
(11:52):
like, and I've told you this, but like my heart sunk a little
bit. The reason being, and I should
have known better because it's Alex Garland NSA 24 like I
should have known better, but myheart's not because I thought
there were so many films that depict war, that run the risk or
actively kind of like glorify itor romanticize it.
(12:15):
And like, we don't need another film that does that.
And one of the things that Alex said to me very early on that I
latched onto was this idea that he wanted to challenge the
Hollywood grammar in how war films are sort of made and, and,
and, and tell a story without Hollywood grammar.
That is to say, remove the fictionalisation, not try and
(12:39):
glorify it. Like, create something that is a
very literal recreation of the events so that you can see the
kind of horrifying, like consequences of war and how that
impacts everyone. And when he said that, I really
let in and I was really excited.And I kind of returned to that
(13:01):
initial state of like, excitement and bizarre.
Like having Alex Garland, a filmmaker I've admired for so long,
literally, quite literally, likeon my bucket list of directors I
want to work with. And then like, offering me the
role. I was like, this is nuts.
Like, it was all about pinch me,pinch me moments.
Like that was one of them. And it was just, it was a real
(13:24):
honour and a privilege to like be part of something that really
like broke with convention and was so different to anything
that I think certainly I've everdone or ever really has been
done. You know, that's that's a a
really rare opportunity for anyone.
Like it's like a once in a lifetime opportunity.
So that was really cool. And one thing I did kind of know
(13:46):
going into it, which I knew would be really enjoyable, is
that as a group of guys, we weregoing to get incredibly close.
And me and you started on the journey kind of earliest because
we met in, yeah, San Diego meeting the two gentlemen that
we represent and their identities are protected for
(14:08):
obvious reasons. And kind of we embarked on the
journey like early, early on andit was funny like meeting you
because, you know, at that pointwe didn't know each other at
all. We've been in like the same room
once. We didn't know each other at
all. But I knew that by way of this
process of this, you know, four week boot camp and, you know,
(14:31):
five week shoot or whatever it was like we were going to end up
incredibly close like. In love.
And and in love, in love as it happens.
And that's such a that's such a cool thing.
That's such a beautiful aspect of this process as well that
like as a group of guys, we've all got so close and and met
(14:51):
some amazing personalities through the.
Process, you know, what's interesting is someone that was
asking me about this process, right, Like you guys got so
close, like you guys got tattoos, you guys stayed like,
you know you guys, yeah. And and like you guys got
(15:12):
tattoos, but I think it is. And I was just basically the way
the person was asking these questions is you did all these
things in order to connect. And I was like, we did not get
the tattoo to connect. We did not eat to connect.
Like we just connected. And we wanted all.
Those things and we wanted all those things.
And it was, yeah. It was just like interesting
(15:35):
because, you know, I do not think I will ever experience
what we experience, like do thisprocess.
I I it's hard to imagine. Yeah, Yeah.
To ever experience something like that.
As far as just like, I mean, we talk, we all talk everyday, you
know, love each other. Yeah.
(15:55):
And, and it's crazy too, you know, I don't think people
understand the extent where, youknow, when Elliot came to the
Penley Manor and Lane. Train, yeah.
Train. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
People don't know. I mean, I don't know if we talk
(16:15):
about it, but you know. Elliot coming to visit?
Yeah. Yeah, coming to visit and just
like, you know, it's like it we're all like kind of one body
move together. If Ray needed take take care of
somebody, we're all taking care of that person.
Yeah, yeah. If one person needs something we
(16:35):
all need today, and we all find out how to guide it.
It was cool seeing also like just the individual growth in
all of the guys through the process.
Like it made better people out of everyone who went through
that training. Like in terms of being
accountable, being kind of like teammate before you are an
individual. It made everyone I think like
more selfless. We could tell every we could we,
(16:57):
we, you could probably probably all of us can give each other,
all thirteen of us, each other'smeal request.
Had mail order. He had mail order because, you
know, there's always one person like taking the reins and just
being like, this is what we're going to yeah, guys, we're going
to eat at in this room at this time.
(17:17):
Like what do you want? Send your orders?
And then that person, most of the time you or whoever fan
whatever would go to the restaurant and get the order so
we could. Shout out to the to the staff in
a hotel who just like were incredibly accommodating of.
Right. 13 very hungry hungry boys every day.
I mean like Noah ate 3 burger patties every night which was
(17:42):
pretty extraordinary to watch without deviation.
I don't think he ever changed his order.
It's kind of wild to watch that.Yeah, those fries.
Those fries are. That's good fries good fries and
treat yeah. And I think like so much of what
you see on screen is a direct result of of the process right.
And, and I was really grateful that like Alex and Ray and
(18:04):
production kind of like facilitated that for us.
And it made it, it made it really special.
It made everything like feel a bit more authentic.
And I think like broadly what that means is that the film is
more authentic, It is more realistic.
And my hope is it's received in the spirit in which we made it,
which was to just make somethingthat reflects like the absolute
(18:26):
reality of that situation. So that whatever your political
stance or whatever your perspective is on war, it's like
at least there's something that you can view that actually
represents what that, you know, experience can be and where
consequences can look like, as opposed to us rooting it in
(18:51):
something that maybe tries to sort of make it look cool or
entertaining. Like Ray said it himself, It's
like if you watch this film and you think like that looks like a
good time and you want to like sign up for it, It's like
there's probably something wrongwith you.
It's like political perspective.Do you know what I mean?
This is just one of many stories.
He's like, but understand that this can be, you know, the
(19:12):
consequences of what it is to serve and go to war.
And he's not saying don't, but he's saying be prepared to
reckon with the consequences. The consequences, yeah.
Because this isn't just some idea, this is a telling.
Exactly. The most authentic and truest
form. On a on a on a totally different
(19:33):
note, but keeping it 824, you'reworking on beef at the moment.
Yes, I, I know you can't say like all too much, but how fun
is it for you to go from something like warfare and then,
you know, do something on the TVside that is so different And
from a acting perspective, I imagine like comes with a whole
(19:54):
host a lot of sort of challengesand a different process as well.
Right, right, right. It's happy to be working,
grateful to be working. Yeah, it's definitely lighter in
ways. And it's been so much fun.
You know, I can't say too much, but I mean, it's been so much.
I mean, everyone's great from, you know, Sunny's brilliant and,
(20:16):
you know. He's directing, Jake Schreyer's
directing and then just having like Kaylee so awesome.
It's kind of like we're all likeconnected because she worked
with Alex on Civil War and like,you know, we're working on beef
and she plays my fiance and we're really close.
And so that's just, you know, I kind of feel like she would
(20:39):
have, she would have been great if if she was in warfare.
With us. Oh, awesome.
Yeah. You know she would have.
Bought into the process. Bought into the process like a
price like, you know, she has mybag, I have her bag and Kerry
and Oscar. Incredible.
Awesome. It's been really very different.
Yeah, it's I have been quite. I've been very fortunate to
(21:00):
experience kind of a different journey, a different process,
which is each thing, you know, from, you know, all the things
I've done and like, you know, before our film, you know, May
December and then say all different kinds of processes.
Yeah, yeah. Where, you know, with all, you
know, visionaries and yeah, man tours.
(21:22):
And it's like, it's cool. It's yeah, it's very different.
I think it's going to be fun. It's kind of a cool.
Thing right? Like no one job is the same and
and so the processes are all different and the experiences.
Are all And then TV is always bouncing back like we'll bounce
to the end and then like. Is that trippy?
How do you feel like, because weobviously shot warfare in like
(21:42):
continuously. Yeah.
And you that's that's a treat, right?
That's amazing. Alex, I think always tries to do
that. I think like, I don't know if
Ray is going to do that going forward, but how do you find the
challenge of shooting out of continuity?
Yeah, it's kind of confusing sometimes.
I struggle, man. Yeah.
You got to kind of remind yourself of like, what part of
(22:03):
this journey is this role in? Like, you know, this guy in like
where, where is he? And then, but it's always kind
of like, but then also it's kindof good.
Keeps you on your toes a bit. Keeps you on your toes and
you're like, oh, because I've experienced the end.
Now I know how. Maybe there's a clearer picture
(22:24):
of how I'm going to start the beginning, or maybe.
I'm just being interesting, no? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, 'cause
I'm like, oh, this is where I'veended.
Yeah, this is the middle. Yeah.
Oh, now this can be the beginning.
But like they're, you know. There's also something about
like, you know, that like, expression, like, truth is
stranger than fiction. And like, I think about this
often with acting where it's like, like, often I feel out of
(22:49):
continuity in my own life. I feel like Wednesday does not
feel like Wednesday. Do you know what I mean?
And so like, actually in a way, sometimes I feel like I'm living
an experience that feels like I'm out of continuity and, and
so like to not fight that, you know, on set or whatever and
actually like lean into it sometimes. 100%, it's very
human. Yeah, it's very human.
Like it's more real. So sometimes I do, I do kind of
(23:13):
feel that way about it. Same time, I haven't done a lot
of TV, but I can imagine like ifyou're doing episode 10 in the
morning and then in the afternoon you're going back to,
you know, an episode 5 prior to that or whatever it must have.
I guess, I guess you saying thatit's like, yeah, it's, I guess
(23:35):
I've learned or I tried to surrender to the process and
everything. There's a lot of surrender to
the process of like you said, it's not like the beginning of
this guy, he's happy and then the middle is he's sad and like
the end he's angry. It's like, no, that's not real.
Life fluctuates like that. So it's yeah, there's a lot of
surrender through this process and every process.
(23:56):
But yeah, TV is, is great. It's great.
I'm so. Excited.
I'm so. And now, speaking about you,
you've been doing this for a long time.
I guess so. I remember at well, First off,
you already told it. I've already told you this.
I was like nervous and excited to work with you, dude.
(24:17):
I don't know. If I was just like, oh man,
that's full bolter. Fuck it.
Out. You know this shit?
Didn't last long that the. Whole device, yeah.
Like, and did you see my movie? I don't know, but you know, it's
amazing 'cause you know, I've followed you.
(24:40):
Literally the first thing I saw you in was at the Millers.
OK, Yeah. And just to see how you've just
like progress to, you know, doing Kathryn Bigelow's movie.
And then just, and then you know, you have two movies coming
out pretty you have Death of a Unicorn.
Yeah, what was that? Before, yeah, how how was?
(25:02):
How was that? Dude, it's really fun.
Like I've been nervous on the press because we all got on
really well as a cast and we hadso much fun.
But I've been very conscious andI've said this to like my death
of a Unicorn classmates. I'm like, this is the way I put
it, like Death of a Unicorn for just a pure like fun and like
silly comedy perspective. It's like the best experience
(25:26):
I've ever had, right? But like my experience on
warfare with all you guys was the most transformative,
meaningful experience I've ever had with the car.
So I never wanted to get that twisted.
And I'm like saying how much funI had on that for you to record.
I like never wanted any of our guys to be like, hold on a
minute, did you not have fun on our thing?
I thought we were I thought we were like a family, you know,
but death of Unicorn was was wassuch a laugh, man.
(25:48):
And like, I did it. Wait, I'm trying to think.
Yeah, so I did it before warfare.
They just happened to be coming out kind of around the same
time. But you know, like, like you
said, it's so fun to do something different.
And, you know, that comes with ahost of other challenges and,
you know, kind of immerses you into like a different process.
(26:10):
And yeah, bro, like, like, like you said, when you get to work
with people you really admire, like Paul Rudd, you know, is
such a blast to work with. He's so fun.
He's all about play and like, enjoying yourself.
You know, Jenna's amazing. Been a fan of Jenna for a while.
I've never seen her not be great.
(26:30):
And, you know, I grew up watching, you know, Richard E
Grant. And it's just like so many like,
incredible people in it telly. And he was like my North Star on
that film, like my like my kind of like onset mum as well as
like kind of bestie. So we just, we just had a blast.
It was really a really, really fun time.
(26:51):
But as far as like transformative kind of
personality shaping experiences,nothing, nothing comes close to
warfare. And I don't think I'm, I don't
think I'm insulting them by saying.
No. Right.
Right, right, right. Also I'm like, you know, there's
like 12 lads I have to answer toif I, if I say anything about,
about warfare. Very, very, very prospect.
Starting with me. Except starting with me right
(27:12):
now. What did you say?
That exactly. You've done so many different
kinds of so many different genres and like, I mean, I
again, for the sake of it not being the other films that I've
seen here, not being 824, so I'mnot going to even mention that.
But like if anyone's followed towork, they can see just like
(27:34):
you're just shape shifting so much.
And So what do you, what's like your process, like your thought
process when it comes to like choosing the next thing?
Are you kind of like, I need to relax on this?
Or you know, is it the director?Is it the story?
Is it the money? I know.
Yeah, I know. Listen, I, I, I, I, I, I
(27:57):
appreciate you like, you know, paying me that compliment about
doing lots of different things because that's what you do, man.
And like, you know, you know howmuch I love your work and also
how much I respect kind of your process and how you go about it.
But man, I've been really like, you make a really good point.
Like the first thing is that you're really grateful to be
working right as an actor. Like you just have to remind
yourself of that first and foremost.
I've had so much good luck and fortune come my way.
(28:19):
And the reality is, is like for the vast majority of people,
like, you know, a certain amountof like good luck has to, has to
break your way. And I'm very aware of that.
I'm very aware of the fact that like some of the best actors are
walking around working other jobs outside of acting.
So, so there's that firstly. And then I think the thing that
I'm sort of attached to more andmore is like the social
(28:41):
application of, of the work and how it's going to like change
people's perspective, like stimulate discussion.
Like, I'm really hoping like warfare contributes to the
conversation around for sure in the concepts of like conflict
and whatnot in a, in a way that hasn't necessarily been
discussed before, you know, And then also like with something
like that for the Unicorn, like I just, I hope it offers people
(29:03):
a bit of like a laugh and a moment of escapism from from,
you know, what is a difficult moment in many respects.
Yeah, sorry. To cut you off, it's going to be
it's going to be just insane watching because I've only seen
the trailer of just the Unicorn.I want to see it.
But seeing you in that compared to what we did and what we shot,
(29:24):
just a complete but damn just. I'm going to be insane, insane.
And you know, I don't know if you remember this.
I remember. I remember when you remember how
Alex and Ray would give us 20 minutes to rehearse the scenes.
Yeah. And then like in the.
Black and then come back. Within the blue dividers, I
(29:46):
remember everyone was talking about when you guys were
rehearsing the first part. Gandolfini told me this story
and I loved it. As about you is because we were
so in it. We're in the thick of it.
And we would get in like, you know, it was a huge
responsibility. It was very emotional, the whole
process. And like you being OIC, you had
a kind of like, you know, the role you had to take charge of a
(30:08):
lot of different things. And I just remember everyone
just like loving and being in awe of seeing your human
frustration come out when you like, 'cause you care so much.
It's amazing to see someone careso much and just get so
(30:29):
frustrated and go internally, 'cause you're like, oh, I get
that guy. That's me.
But Gandolfini. Who's the world's best?
Storyteller, by the way, the best storyteller.
He should tell this story 'causeit's so beautiful and it's
probably a lot more eloquent than I.
No, no, I just lean. Twice if I should stop.
He would not at all. But do you know Oblinky?
But he just. Regale us every night with
(30:49):
amazing stories. Yeah, you.
Like through the script and justfuck through it.
Like, it was just so safe that we could just, yeah, go through
that and be upset and frustratedand, like, try to figure it out
because we had a responsibility not just as actors, but like, to
Ray, to Elliot, to Alex, to all the servicemen, the pressure of
(31:13):
that, like. Yeah, but that was just like,
amazing. To see, you know, you, you know,
oh, it's, it's interesting. I loved.
It, it's so funny because I, I just had a little tantrum
because like I, I, I recognize that you're like hard on
yourself too and. It's a challenge, isn't it?
Like holding yourself to a standard that you want to meet,
but also not being so hard on yourself that you become like a
(31:34):
saboteur or like, you know what I mean?
Like, give yourself a steeper climb than you need to make.
Like that's that's a. That's a challenge I.
Feel like we should maybe? Talk a little bit about the just
on warfare, like, well, obviously we only represent a
very small fraction of the car. And like, it feels wrong not to
(31:54):
like talk about some of the guyson this and like, because the
experience being as special as it was is predicated on how
special they are as as humans. And it's really funny, like, you
know, the first time we all hungout, we're like in this like tea
room Conservatory sort of thing at the back of this hotel.
(32:16):
Peacocks running. Around Peacocks running around
on. Everywhere and you know, you
don't really know how like 13 guys are going to like get on
with one another. And also shout out to Haider and
Nathan as well, who played the Rocky scouts, who such great
actors, such lovely guys and were a major part of the process
(32:39):
as well. You don't know how everyone's
going to like gel and get on. And obviously we've spoken about
how the formalities, the protocol, the sort of chain of
command informed things, but like.
As serious as it. Was and as intense as it was
like we had so many laughs too like.
(33:02):
It was so fun. Man, yeah, I was.
I know everyone was really intimidated to meet me when I
showed up. Really.
You fact. I was like, I was all right.
I was like. What are you telling me?
I was really scared. I want to roll out a red carpet.
Fucking gym it was. It was.
Really, it was really interesting watching.
(33:26):
All those different, sort of. Personalities kind of come into
contact with each other and it'sand nobody.
Like I think that's like the beautiful thing.
Like with humility, I feel like you can whatever personality you
have, if you just have humility and like love is behind that
humility, I think. Yeah, you can find love to like
(33:47):
for anyone. Yeah.
You. Know like we all.
Were there like, we weren't hereto like add this to our resume
or this? No, we weren't.
Here. For the paycheck, yeah, it was
such. It was such a.
Fun group all from like different parts of the world and
and and different experiences often today and remember one
day. They gave us night vision
(34:11):
goggles to take home. Yes, Which?
Was an insane decision to give our group night vision goggles
to take home because naturally we just ran around the hotel
with the night vision and we sing happy.
Birthday to Noah, Noah said to Neo's birthday.
Remember we were outside wearingour goggles and we were like,
how the fuck this is horse? We're like blinding ourselves so
(34:35):
much. Oh my God, you sing him.
Happy birthday. You remember that?
I do remember that. We would like after every day
we'd all eat together. We'd probably all work out
together, we'd smoke cigarettes and drink diet Cokes on the on
in the garden together, like, and that was pretty much how
every single day went. And it was really interesting as
(34:59):
well how you know, for the sake of like balance in the social
experience, we'd, we'd go from these really, really intense
conversations and naturally likereally, really intense kind of
serious work straight to like the silliest, most ridiculous,
like joking around you can imagine.
(35:22):
It was really fun to be able to do both at once.
We played Mafia. That was fun.
We played a lot of games on. Mafia, you were like the games
master right? You would like run that?
Mafia was fun, I'll never forget.
Do you remember when you, me andJoe were having a conversation
(35:42):
and just like, you know, leadership, we're having a
conversation and Kit was walkingtowards us and like just like so
happy and jolly. And I just shook my hand on Kit
and I looked and I was like, Nah, not right now.
I don't even remember that I. Was like you, he was.
So. And we're like, no, this is a
serious moment. We're not joking around.
He's like, no, really, right He.Was so many bits but he.
(36:05):
Had to constantly be on your toes.
There was also a a habit of and the armourers ended up like
stepping in. There was also a habit of like
stealing guys handguns off them.He.
Constantly had to be. I got zip tied to a chair at one
point without me knowing I fell asleep.
I fell asleep. Oh, when guys fell asleep,
people would get photographs taken of them or they'd get like
messed with in some way. Defaro DPS.
(36:27):
Got so many defaro when someone.Stacked like 10.
Books on his head. Yes, we stacked as.
Like, several different household items on his head when
he was asleep. Michael Gandolfini is the
greatest storyteller and one of the funniest human beings.
He's the best of all time. Tji think could TJ and Evan
could actually both legitimatelybe team guys?
Yeah. And kind of like, ramp point on
(36:49):
weapons handling. Yeah.
Yeah, they're great, Ray. Wasn't directly.
Involved, which was amazing yeah, Cosmos so.
Funny Cosmos the biggest sweetheart being heart of our
group. Amazing to see how the process
sort of took hold of him as well.
And he's like, surrendered to the idea of like being a, being
a sort of a team guy, you know, and.
(37:11):
Because I think he'll admit. Himself, he's like, kind of like
started off lone wolf and then just became like the beating
heart of our group. Yeah, yeah.
Yeah. Noah wore the same outfit every
day for two. Months for a man as.
Handsome and as fashionable as Iknow him to be.
It's hilarious that he just rocked like basketball shorts
and and the same black hoodie and the same white T-shirt with
(37:32):
holes in it and slides for two months straight.
I love him for it and then Finn.Finn and you and Finn's.
Relationship on screen is obviously like that.
You guys were so great together.Finn's so sweet.
He's. So great, he's awesome.
Aiden, another, a fellow Brit, Finn's from Ireland, a fellow
Brit and did such a awesome job as the other Marine with
(37:55):
Michael. He's so good in the movie and
had the comms thing down in an amazing way watching him.
Wild Eagle base. Wild Eagle 2 foot like, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah. That's pretty amazing.
Real Joe Quinn. Well, we touched on Joey
earlier, but what, what an actor, man, what a guy.
(38:17):
Always spoke really well, I thought, like when we'd huddle
up. Hyde is a prankster.
Still pranking us on the WhatsApp group and is amazing.
Nathan gave one of the best performances I've ever seen when
we did a Do you remember the exercise we did the training
exercise. We did one of our like simulated
(38:37):
missions. Nathan played a wounded soldier
and like it was like an Oscar goes to moment during this like
mission simulation as part of training to the point where I
was like, that was fucking dude.You've got to tone it down
because we. Can't hear each other.
Your screaming is so realistic. Did someone tell?
Him to do that I don't. Know remember when Cosmo we.
(38:59):
Were like Cosmo, where's hider he goes I don't know I just.
I left him. I left him.
I saw. Him and I just left him.
That was insane. That was insane.
Also Kit, who, by the way, babyface, babyface was his
nickname, who like looks physically identical to Tommy.
(39:25):
Like like his physicality was like a perfect match.
And also for me, Kit in this film did such an incredible job.
And he's also a reminder of the fact that, like in a role where
you don't necessarily have like a ton of dialogue, like, you
know, he's so impactful, so. Impactful.
(39:45):
He's so real in. Every moment he's so wise.
I can't believe he's. 20 I know it's not he.
Just turned 21 and. He's just turned 21, isn't he?
Yeah, and he's like more mature than all of us.
I think we covered all of the guys, I think.
I think so. We said the best for last.
We didn't leave anyone out. Yeah.
Babyface, Babyface. God, everyone's so incredible.
Yeah, I'm super. Proud of the group.
Hi, I'm Will Poulter. And I'm Charles Melton, and this
is the A 24 podcast. Dive right in.
Dive right, right in. The A 24 podcast.
Pretty cool. Really cool man.
It's so cool to be a part of a film, for one.
Yes. And then a 24 is so cool.
I know man. And then?
Alice Garland and Ray Mendoza. Dude, that's nuts, right?
(00:23):
All you guys, it's pretty incredible.
It's been a pretty kind of like Dreamy combination of things.
You know, I was talking to someone about how impressive I
think it is. There was Co directed because I
actually was able to say this to, you know, Alex and Ray, who
(00:43):
are both like strong personalities.
And I was able to say it's, I hope in a way where they were
able to kind of like, you know, receive it in the spirit in
which I said it, which was like,I wasn't sure how to such like
strong kind of like personalities would fare when it
came to Co directing. And it required both of them to
(01:06):
like practice this amazing levelof like self-awareness and
humility and deference to each other over different things and
watching that happen. And then like a massive group of
guys as well, you just wonder like, it's a lot of
testosterone, it's a lot of likepersonalities and it's, it's
kind of amazing how it all came together.
(01:27):
It's felt very just like, yeah, both Alex, very selfless.
Yes, you know, there's differentkinds of egos, but there's no
ego that got in the way. Just like this whole story
because and even with all of us guys and everything, and what we
did is I kind of, it kind of felt like we were all on Ground
Zero. Yeah, Right.
(01:48):
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, for sure.
And, you know, we showed up and did a lot of different things
that kind of of the methodology that had formed a whole process.
Yeah, yeah. I've never done a play before or
theatres or anything, but like, you know, hearing Alex talk
about it and just kind of like what our experience was where
(02:10):
there's no shot list and we're shooting like 20 minute long
takes and yeah, you know, peoplefrom the theatre probably 20
minutes. That's that's nothing but like
over and over and over again. Yeah.
It's just incredible how it all.Yeah, it was.
It's unconventional in so many ways.
And also the thing that I reallyloved about the process is like,
(02:31):
you know, where possible and to a large degree, like didn't
really feel like you were actorsor going about it in the kind of
traditional way of like spendingtime in your trailer and, you
know, kind of spending time apart from the ensemble.
Like we were all together kind of at all times, like never
(02:53):
really left the environment thatwe shot in.
No. And it like operated like A and
it. Informed everything.
Yeah. It never felt like we were
acting. It was impossible.
Like 30 seconds goes by, a minute goes by and cameras are
going on for like, you know, 15 more minutes.
Like there's no acting. It's like existing, right?
And like, yeah, I never felt again, you know, the immersion,
(03:17):
like we, you know, it's pretty amazing.
It's kind of cool, though, with all of us guys.
You know, our roles were, we were OIC.
Yeah, yeah. Kind of like the chain of
command and like kind of how Ray, you know, created
leadership, yeah. Through the boot camp and how,
you know, we learned so many things, right, All the quotes
(03:39):
that we would write yeah, every day that you would write every
day, like really leaning on eachother I.
Caught some, I caught some heat for some of those.
Some of those were like very corny I.
Think. Really.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. The fire was like, what are we
graduating? It was like.
Fall down 6 times, you get exactly Yeah, Will wrote that
way. Tired as hell Googling
(04:00):
inspirational quotes like first thing in the morning.
I'll never forget when we got everyone watches and you would
because you kept the voice and everything like a part of like
the process, like, you know, theinstrument, you get the
instrument warm. I always like speaking in the
American accent, right, which isso incredible and I really
respect that and amongst other things, but it was just I'll
(04:23):
never forget. All right, gentlemen, it is
0542. Have breakfast done by 06/30.
We're meeting at base camp. Get through the works, hair and
makeup by 0645 and get rigged upand we will leave here at 0700
(04:48):
for the marquee to be there at 07/15 and then and then to
arrive to block at 0730. Yes, Sir.
Yes, Sir. That is so funny.
But you really LED, man. And, you know, I learned a lot.
Like you LED, you LED us. You LED me.
(05:12):
And then, you know, we all LED each other.
And it, it's funny, you know, when we're kind of like setting
the tone in a way base of all based off of our roles and like
kind of the responsibility that Ray gave us.
It's funny. And I remember telling somebody,
yeah, Will would always be the last one to eat, always the last
(05:33):
one to eat. He'd be the first one at the
food truck for breakfast. You know, we take turns giving
orders. Sometimes you're like, talk and
you get this and I'm like, fuck,all right, let me get my voice,
'cause like, you know, we have to be direct in this certain
kind of the, the semantics and like the terminology is very
alien. But you would always be the last
(05:55):
one. You let everyone go eat for you
and you'd be the last one. And I was like, fuck, Will's
doing this and I'm all I see as well.
So I'm like, I got to fucking wait.
No, dude, like you're really kind to say that, but man, the
way that you approached your leadership role and assumed your
responsibilities, you did it with real grace.
(06:15):
I learnt a lot by watching you and and how you went about it.
And for those listening and or watching like, you know, we were
given, you know, a really great honour and responsibility in our
roles as officers in charge and representing the real life
people that we represent. And same is true of Jo Quinn,
(06:37):
who formed the kind of like Third Point in the leadership
triangle. And I think I can't speak for
anyone but my nerves around being the officer in charge and
having not earned that role, youknow, immediately being kind of
by definition in charge of anything felt like wrong.
(06:58):
And what was really cool was to see how all the guys sort of
cast aside ego and just committed wholeheartedly to the
sort of hierarchy and the structure of things and the
protocol. And, you know, I think like
trust and certainly like genuinelove and affection kind of
(07:19):
developed over the like natural course of the, the boot camp
and, and the shooting process. And that was really, really cool
to see. And as you said, it just ended
up informing everything that we did going forward.
And I'm, I'm so glad we went about it that way.
I was going to take it back and ask you how warfare like first,
(07:43):
you know, kind of like landed onyour desk, so to speak, and and
what your initial thoughts were,because obviously you have a
like deep personal connection tothe story as well, right?
Well, yeah, I, you know, I, as you know, for anyone listening,
my dad was in the Army for 24 years, you know that.
And I think the beautiful thing that we get to do with this
(08:05):
medium being actors, is, you know, there is reasons for doing
a job. And sometimes I would like to
have most of those reasons for every job be like some sort of
personal reason for me. And it was to get closer to my
dad, to understand my dad. Better man.
Right, so in order to get the process of understanding my dad
(08:29):
better also taught me in processI'm an actor did not experience,
you know, anything that he experienced, but just more so in
a way understanding the maybe again, we have no idea what it's
like we're just actors, but it just brought me closer to my dad
(08:51):
and. Like understanding him from a.
Psychological perspective, maybejust it's always difficult for
the veteran community and like we've talked about this, like
difficult for the veteran community to speak about certain
things that have happened. It's undescribable, right.
So to be able to for, you know, as the reason, you know, part of
(09:16):
Ray doing this for Elliot so that he can see it instead of
just reading transcripts of likea recollection of like, you
know, 10 different guys or 15 different guys from the
operation, just, you know, he can actually see it and
experience it. And yeah, I, I think, you know,
growing up, like those four years my dad was away, you know,
(09:38):
deployed, I'm just still a kid growing up.
I don't know what's happening orthe idea.
Not that I know what's happening, but I think doing
this, this whole film with all of you guys and Alex and Ray
just like brought me closer to maybe not the experience but the
idea. Like maybe you know what I mean?
Yeah, and how? How can you understand?
Yeah, and like just the, the, the from like military tactics
(10:02):
protocol to the brotherhood to the camaraderie to humility.
I just learned so many differentthings throughout the process
and just made me help me understand my dad better.
But. That's awesome.
Yeah, I remember meeting with Alex and Ray.
We got dinner. If I knew Alex and Ray better
then I would have not went to the place we went to dinner at.
(10:24):
Why? What was it?
I don't know. It was like someplace like in
Beverly Hills, someone. I was like, did you guys bake
this place? They're like, no, did you bake
this place? I was like, no.
You like that'd be cool with like a slice of pizza and a
beer. Yeah, no, it was like steak was
like 100 bucks. I was like, what?
What is this? I couldn't pronounce like half
the thing, you know, the menu. But we met and like, it's so
(10:46):
funny. I remember, you know, Ray shared
the story, you know, with me. And then they kind of like, told
me their vision and talked aboutthe intensity of this project.
And I was just like, I'm in, I'malready in.
You know, Alex, that's like, I'mnot going to do that.
I'm not going to do it. But he goes, Charles, piece of
(11:09):
advice, never say yes to anything before you read it.
You could imagine it and say Oh my.
God, yeah. And I was like, no, I know, but
I know I'm going to do it. I just felt it.
Just, you know. You have to like.
I just conviction, yeah, yeah, Ijust knew.
And next thing I know, yeah, I'mwith you guys.
(11:30):
Was the process because you met with Alex and?
Yeah, I met with Alex like actually separately from Ray
initially. And it's funny, man.
Like on paper, you know, it was like a yes, you know, it was
like one of those things where they were like Alex Garland's
next, a 24 movie. I was like, well, yeah,
obviously I'm going to want to do that.
And then to be honest, when he told me there was a war film
(11:52):
like, and I've told you this, but like my heart sunk a little
bit. The reason being, and I should
have known better because it's Alex Garland NSA 24 like I
should have known better, but myheart's not because I thought
there were so many films that depict war, that run the risk or
actively kind of like glorify itor romanticize it.
(12:15):
And like, we don't need another film that does that.
And one of the things that Alex said to me very early on that I
latched onto was this idea that he wanted to challenge the
Hollywood grammar in how war films are sort of made and, and,
and, and tell a story without Hollywood grammar.
That is to say, remove the fictionalisation, not try and
(12:39):
glorify it. Like, create something that is a
very literal recreation of the events so that you can see the
kind of horrifying, like consequences of war and how that
impacts everyone. And when he said that, I really
let in and I was really excited.And I kind of returned to that
(13:01):
initial state of like, excitement and bizarre.
Like having Alex Garland, a filmmaker I've admired for so long,
literally, quite literally, likeon my bucket list of directors I
want to work with. And then like, offering me the
role. I was like, this is nuts.
Like, it was all about pinch me,pinch me moments.
Like that was one of them. And it was just, it was a real
(13:24):
honour and a privilege to like be part of something that really
like broke with convention and was so different to anything
that I think certainly I've everdone or ever really has been
done. You know, that's that's a a
really rare opportunity for anyone.
Like it's like a once in a lifetime opportunity.
So that was really cool. And one thing I did kind of know
(13:46):
going into it, which I knew would be really enjoyable, is
that as a group of guys, we weregoing to get incredibly close.
And me and you started on the journey kind of earliest because
we met in, yeah, San Diego meeting the two gentlemen that
we represent and their identities are protected for
(14:08):
obvious reasons. And kind of we embarked on the
journey like early, early on andit was funny like meeting you
because, you know, at that pointwe didn't know each other at
all. We've been in like the same room
once. We didn't know each other at
all. But I knew that by way of this
process of this, you know, four week boot camp and, you know,
(14:31):
five week shoot or whatever it was like we were going to end up
incredibly close like. In love.
And and in love, in love as it happens.
And that's such a that's such a cool thing.
That's such a beautiful aspect of this process as well that
like as a group of guys, we've all got so close and and met
(14:51):
some amazing personalities through the.
Process, you know, what's interesting is someone that was
asking me about this process, right, Like you guys got so
close, like you guys got tattoos, you guys stayed like,
you know you guys, yeah. And and like you guys got
(15:12):
tattoos, but I think it is. And I was just basically the way
the person was asking these questions is you did all these
things in order to connect. And I was like, we did not get
the tattoo to connect. We did not eat to connect.
Like we just connected. And we wanted all.
Those things and we wanted all those things.
And it was, yeah. It was just like interesting
(15:35):
because, you know, I do not think I will ever experience
what we experience, like do thisprocess.
I I it's hard to imagine. Yeah, Yeah.
To ever experience something like that.
As far as just like, I mean, we talk, we all talk everyday, you
know, love each other. Yeah.
(15:55):
And, and it's crazy too, you know, I don't think people
understand the extent where, youknow, when Elliot came to the
Penley Manor and Lane. Train, yeah.
Train. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
People don't know. I mean, I don't know if we talk
(16:15):
about it, but you know. Elliot coming to visit?
Yeah. Yeah, coming to visit and just
like, you know, it's like it we're all like kind of one body
move together. If Ray needed take take care of
somebody, we're all taking care of that person.
Yeah, yeah. If one person needs something we
(16:35):
all need today, and we all find out how to guide it.
It was cool seeing also like just the individual growth in
all of the guys through the process.
Like it made better people out of everyone who went through
that training. Like in terms of being
accountable, being kind of like teammate before you are an
individual. It made everyone I think like
more selfless. We could tell every we could we,
(16:57):
we, you could probably probably all of us can give each other,
all thirteen of us, each other'smeal request.
Had mail order. He had mail order because, you
know, there's always one person like taking the reins and just
being like, this is what we're going to yeah, guys, we're going
to eat at in this room at this time.
(17:17):
Like what do you want? Send your orders?
And then that person, most of the time you or whoever fan
whatever would go to the restaurant and get the order so
we could. Shout out to the to the staff in
a hotel who just like were incredibly accommodating of.
Right. 13 very hungry hungry boys every day.
I mean like Noah ate 3 burger patties every night which was
(17:42):
pretty extraordinary to watch without deviation.
I don't think he ever changed his order.
It's kind of wild to watch that.Yeah, those fries.
Those fries are. That's good fries good fries and
treat yeah. And I think like so much of what
you see on screen is a direct result of of the process right.
And, and I was really grateful that like Alex and Ray and
(18:04):
production kind of like facilitated that for us.
And it made it, it made it really special.
It made everything like feel a bit more authentic.
And I think like broadly what that means is that the film is
more authentic, It is more realistic.
And my hope is it's received in the spirit in which we made it,
which was to just make somethingthat reflects like the absolute
(18:26):
reality of that situation. So that whatever your political
stance or whatever your perspective is on war, it's like
at least there's something that you can view that actually
represents what that, you know, experience can be and where
consequences can look like, as opposed to us rooting it in
(18:51):
something that maybe tries to sort of make it look cool or
entertaining. Like Ray said it himself, It's
like if you watch this film and you think like that looks like a
good time and you want to like sign up for it, It's like
there's probably something wrongwith you.
It's like political perspective.Do you know what I mean?
This is just one of many stories.
He's like, but understand that this can be, you know, the
(19:12):
consequences of what it is to serve and go to war.
And he's not saying don't, but he's saying be prepared to
reckon with the consequences. The consequences, yeah.
Because this isn't just some idea, this is a telling.
Exactly. The most authentic and truest
form. On a on a on a totally different
(19:33):
note, but keeping it 824, you'reworking on beef at the moment.
Yes, I, I know you can't say like all too much, but how fun
is it for you to go from something like warfare and then,
you know, do something on the TVside that is so different And
from a acting perspective, I imagine like comes with a whole
(19:54):
host a lot of sort of challengesand a different process as well.
Right, right, right. It's happy to be working,
grateful to be working. Yeah, it's definitely lighter in
ways. And it's been so much fun.
You know, I can't say too much, but I mean, it's been so much.
I mean, everyone's great from, you know, Sunny's brilliant and,
(20:16):
you know. He's directing, Jake Schreyer's
directing and then just having like Kaylee so awesome.
It's kind of like we're all likeconnected because she worked
with Alex on Civil War and like,you know, we're working on beef
and she plays my fiance and we're really close.
And so that's just, you know, I kind of feel like she would
(20:39):
have, she would have been great if if she was in warfare.
With us. Oh, awesome.
Yeah. You know she would have.
Bought into the process. Bought into the process like a
price like, you know, she has mybag, I have her bag and Kerry
and Oscar. Incredible.
Awesome. It's been really very different.
Yeah, it's I have been quite. I've been very fortunate to
(21:00):
experience kind of a different journey, a different process,
which is each thing, you know, from, you know, all the things
I've done and like, you know, before our film, you know, May
December and then say all different kinds of processes.
Yeah, yeah. Where, you know, with all, you
know, visionaries and yeah, man tours.
(21:22):
And it's like, it's cool. It's yeah, it's very different.
I think it's going to be fun. It's kind of a cool.
Thing right? Like no one job is the same and
and so the processes are all different and the experiences.
Are all And then TV is always bouncing back like we'll bounce
to the end and then like. Is that trippy?
How do you feel like, because weobviously shot warfare in like
(21:42):
continuously. Yeah.
And you that's that's a treat, right?
That's amazing. Alex, I think always tries to do
that. I think like, I don't know if
Ray is going to do that going forward, but how do you find the
challenge of shooting out of continuity?
Yeah, it's kind of confusing sometimes.
I struggle, man. Yeah.
You got to kind of remind yourself of like, what part of
(22:03):
this journey is this role in? Like, you know, this guy in like
where, where is he? And then, but it's always kind
of like, but then also it's kindof good.
Keeps you on your toes a bit. Keeps you on your toes and
you're like, oh, because I've experienced the end.
Now I know how. Maybe there's a clearer picture
(22:24):
of how I'm going to start the beginning, or maybe.
I'm just being interesting, no? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, 'cause
I'm like, oh, this is where I'veended.
Yeah, this is the middle. Yeah.
Oh, now this can be the beginning.
But like they're, you know. There's also something about
like, you know, that like, expression, like, truth is
stranger than fiction. And like, I think about this
often with acting where it's like, like, often I feel out of
(22:49):
continuity in my own life. I feel like Wednesday does not
feel like Wednesday. Do you know what I mean?
And so like, actually in a way, sometimes I feel like I'm living
an experience that feels like I'm out of continuity and, and
so like to not fight that, you know, on set or whatever and
actually like lean into it sometimes. 100%, it's very
human. Yeah, it's very human.
Like it's more real. So sometimes I do, I do kind of
(23:13):
feel that way about it. Same time, I haven't done a lot
of TV, but I can imagine like ifyou're doing episode 10 in the
morning and then in the afternoon you're going back to,
you know, an episode 5 prior to that or whatever it must have.
I guess, I guess you saying thatit's like, yeah, it's, I guess
(23:35):
I've learned or I tried to surrender to the process and
everything. There's a lot of surrender to
the process of like you said, it's not like the beginning of
this guy, he's happy and then the middle is he's sad and like
the end he's angry. It's like, no, that's not real.
Life fluctuates like that. So it's yeah, there's a lot of
surrender through this process and every process.
(23:56):
But yeah, TV is, is great. It's great.
I'm so. Excited.
I'm so. And now, speaking about you,
you've been doing this for a long time.
I guess so. I remember at well, First off,
you already told it. I've already told you this.
I was like nervous and excited to work with you, dude.
(24:17):
I don't know. If I was just like, oh man,
that's full bolter. Fuck it.
Out. You know this shit?
Didn't last long that the. Whole device, yeah.
Like, and did you see my movie? I don't know, but you know, it's
amazing 'cause you know, I've followed you.
(24:40):
Literally the first thing I saw you in was at the Millers.
OK, Yeah. And just to see how you've just
like progress to, you know, doing Kathryn Bigelow's movie.
And then just, and then you know, you have two movies coming
out pretty you have Death of a Unicorn.
Yeah, what was that? Before, yeah, how how was?
(25:02):
How was that? Dude, it's really fun.
Like I've been nervous on the press because we all got on
really well as a cast and we hadso much fun.
But I've been very conscious andI've said this to like my death
of a Unicorn classmates. I'm like, this is the way I put
it, like Death of a Unicorn for just a pure like fun and like
silly comedy perspective. It's like the best experience
(25:26):
I've ever had, right? But like my experience on
warfare with all you guys was the most transformative,
meaningful experience I've ever had with the car.
So I never wanted to get that twisted.
And I'm like saying how much funI had on that for you to record.
I like never wanted any of our guys to be like, hold on a
minute, did you not have fun on our thing?
I thought we were I thought we were like a family, you know,
but death of Unicorn was was wassuch a laugh, man.
(25:48):
And like, I did it. Wait, I'm trying to think.
Yeah, so I did it before warfare.
They just happened to be coming out kind of around the same
time. But you know, like, like you
said, it's so fun to do something different.
And, you know, that comes with ahost of other challenges and,
you know, kind of immerses you into like a different process.
(26:10):
And yeah, bro, like, like, like you said, when you get to work
with people you really admire, like Paul Rudd, you know, is
such a blast to work with. He's so fun.
He's all about play and like, enjoying yourself.
You know, Jenna's amazing. Been a fan of Jenna for a while.
I've never seen her not be great.
(26:30):
And, you know, I grew up watching, you know, Richard E
Grant. And it's just like so many like,
incredible people in it telly. And he was like my North Star on
that film, like my like my kind of like onset mum as well as
like kind of bestie. So we just, we just had a blast.
It was really a really, really fun time.
(26:51):
But as far as like transformative kind of
personality shaping experiences,nothing, nothing comes close to
warfare. And I don't think I'm, I don't
think I'm insulting them by saying.
No. Right.
Right, right, right. Also I'm like, you know, there's
like 12 lads I have to answer toif I, if I say anything about,
about warfare. Very, very, very prospect.
Starting with me. Except starting with me right
(27:12):
now. What did you say?
That exactly. You've done so many different
kinds of so many different genres and like, I mean, I
again, for the sake of it not being the other films that I've
seen here, not being 824, so I'mnot going to even mention that.
But like if anyone's followed towork, they can see just like
(27:34):
you're just shape shifting so much.
And So what do you, what's like your process, like your thought
process when it comes to like choosing the next thing?
Are you kind of like, I need to relax on this?
Or you know, is it the director?Is it the story?
Is it the money? I know.
Yeah, I know. Listen, I, I, I, I, I, I
(27:57):
appreciate you like, you know, paying me that compliment about
doing lots of different things because that's what you do, man.
And like, you know, you know howmuch I love your work and also
how much I respect kind of your process and how you go about it.
But man, I've been really like, you make a really good point.
Like the first thing is that you're really grateful to be
working right as an actor. Like you just have to remind
yourself of that first and foremost.
I've had so much good luck and fortune come my way.
(28:19):
And the reality is, is like for the vast majority of people,
like, you know, a certain amountof like good luck has to, has to
break your way. And I'm very aware of that.
I'm very aware of the fact that like some of the best actors are
walking around working other jobs outside of acting.
So, so there's that firstly. And then I think the thing that
I'm sort of attached to more andmore is like the social
(28:41):
application of, of the work and how it's going to like change
people's perspective, like stimulate discussion.
Like, I'm really hoping like warfare contributes to the
conversation around for sure in the concepts of like conflict
and whatnot in a, in a way that hasn't necessarily been
discussed before, you know, And then also like with something
like that for the Unicorn, like I just, I hope it offers people
(29:03):
a bit of like a laugh and a moment of escapism from from,
you know, what is a difficult moment in many respects.
Yeah, sorry. To cut you off, it's going to be
it's going to be just insane watching because I've only seen
the trailer of just the Unicorn.I want to see it.
But seeing you in that compared to what we did and what we shot,
(29:24):
just a complete but damn just. I'm going to be insane, insane.
And you know, I don't know if you remember this.
I remember. I remember when you remember how
Alex and Ray would give us 20 minutes to rehearse the scenes.
Yeah. And then like in the.
Black and then come back. Within the blue dividers, I
(29:46):
remember everyone was talking about when you guys were
rehearsing the first part. Gandolfini told me this story
and I loved it. As about you is because we were
so in it. We're in the thick of it.
And we would get in like, you know, it was a huge
responsibility. It was very emotional, the whole
process. And like you being OIC, you had
a kind of like, you know, the role you had to take charge of a
(30:08):
lot of different things. And I just remember everyone
just like loving and being in awe of seeing your human
frustration come out when you like, 'cause you care so much.
It's amazing to see someone careso much and just get so
(30:29):
frustrated and go internally, 'cause you're like, oh, I get
that guy. That's me.
But Gandolfini. Who's the world's best?
Storyteller, by the way, the best storyteller.
He should tell this story 'causeit's so beautiful and it's
probably a lot more eloquent than I.
No, no, I just lean. Twice if I should stop.
He would not at all. But do you know Oblinky?
But he just. Regale us every night with
(30:49):
amazing stories. Yeah, you.
Like through the script and justfuck through it.
Like, it was just so safe that we could just, yeah, go through
that and be upset and frustratedand, like, try to figure it out
because we had a responsibility not just as actors, but like, to
Ray, to Elliot, to Alex, to all the servicemen, the pressure of
(31:13):
that, like. Yeah, but that was just like,
amazing. To see, you know, you, you know,
oh, it's, it's interesting. I loved.
It, it's so funny because I, I just had a little tantrum
because like I, I, I recognize that you're like hard on
yourself too and. It's a challenge, isn't it?
Like holding yourself to a standard that you want to meet,
but also not being so hard on yourself that you become like a
(31:34):
saboteur or like, you know what I mean?
Like, give yourself a steeper climb than you need to make.
Like that's that's a. That's a challenge I.
Feel like we should maybe? Talk a little bit about the just
on warfare, like, well, obviously we only represent a
very small fraction of the car. And like, it feels wrong not to
(31:54):
like talk about some of the guyson this and like, because the
experience being as special as it was is predicated on how
special they are as as humans. And it's really funny, like, you
know, the first time we all hungout, we're like in this like tea
room Conservatory sort of thing at the back of this hotel.
(32:16):
Peacocks running. Around Peacocks running around
on. Everywhere and you know, you
don't really know how like 13 guys are going to like get on
with one another. And also shout out to Haider and
Nathan as well, who played the Rocky scouts, who such great
actors, such lovely guys and were a major part of the process
(32:39):
as well. You don't know how everyone's
going to like gel and get on. And obviously we've spoken about
how the formalities, the protocol, the sort of chain of
command informed things, but like.
As serious as it. Was and as intense as it was
like we had so many laughs too like.
(33:02):
It was so fun. Man, yeah, I was.
I know everyone was really intimidated to meet me when I
showed up. Really.
You fact. I was like, I was all right.
I was like. What are you telling me?
I was really scared. I want to roll out a red carpet.
Fucking gym it was. It was.
Really, it was really interesting watching.
(33:26):
All those different, sort of. Personalities kind of come into
contact with each other and it'sand nobody.
Like I think that's like the beautiful thing.
Like with humility, I feel like you can whatever personality you
have, if you just have humility and like love is behind that
humility, I think. Yeah, you can find love to like
(33:47):
for anyone. Yeah.
You. Know like we all.
Were there like, we weren't hereto like add this to our resume
or this? No, we weren't.
Here. For the paycheck, yeah, it was
such. It was such a.
Fun group all from like different parts of the world and
and and different experiences often today and remember one
day. They gave us night vision
(34:11):
goggles to take home. Yes, Which?
Was an insane decision to give our group night vision goggles
to take home because naturally we just ran around the hotel
with the night vision and we sing happy.
Birthday to Noah, Noah said to Neo's birthday.
Remember we were outside wearingour goggles and we were like,
how the fuck this is horse? We're like blinding ourselves so
(34:35):
much. Oh my God, you sing him.
Happy birthday. You remember that?
I do remember that. We would like after every day
we'd all eat together. We'd probably all work out
together, we'd smoke cigarettes and drink diet Cokes on the on
in the garden together, like, and that was pretty much how
every single day went. And it was really interesting as
(34:59):
well how you know, for the sake of like balance in the social
experience, we'd, we'd go from these really, really intense
conversations and naturally likereally, really intense kind of
serious work straight to like the silliest, most ridiculous,
like joking around you can imagine.
(35:22):
It was really fun to be able to do both at once.
We played Mafia. That was fun.
We played a lot of games on. Mafia, you were like the games
master right? You would like run that?
Mafia was fun, I'll never forget.
Do you remember when you, me andJoe were having a conversation
(35:42):
and just like, you know, leadership, we're having a
conversation and Kit was walkingtowards us and like just like so
happy and jolly. And I just shook my hand on Kit
and I looked and I was like, Nah, not right now.
I don't even remember that I. Was like you, he was.
So. And we're like, no, this is a
serious moment. We're not joking around.
He's like, no, really, right He.Was so many bits but he.
(36:05):
Had to constantly be on your toes.
There was also a a habit of and the armourers ended up like
stepping in. There was also a habit of like
stealing guys handguns off them.He.
Constantly had to be. I got zip tied to a chair at one
point without me knowing I fell asleep.
I fell asleep. Oh, when guys fell asleep,
people would get photographs taken of them or they'd get like
messed with in some way. Defaro DPS.
(36:27):
Got so many defaro when someone.Stacked like 10.
Books on his head. Yes, we stacked as.
Like, several different household items on his head when
he was asleep. Michael Gandolfini is the
greatest storyteller and one of the funniest human beings.
He's the best of all time. Tji think could TJ and Evan
could actually both legitimatelybe team guys?
Yeah. And kind of like, ramp point on
(36:49):
weapons handling. Yeah.
Yeah, they're great, Ray. Wasn't directly.
Involved, which was amazing yeah, Cosmos so.
Funny Cosmos the biggest sweetheart being heart of our
group. Amazing to see how the process
sort of took hold of him as well.
And he's like, surrendered to the idea of like being a, being
a sort of a team guy, you know, and.
(37:11):
Because I think he'll admit. Himself, he's like, kind of like
started off lone wolf and then just became like the beating
heart of our group. Yeah, yeah.
Yeah. Noah wore the same outfit every
day for two. Months for a man as.
Handsome and as fashionable as Iknow him to be.
It's hilarious that he just rocked like basketball shorts
and and the same black hoodie and the same white T-shirt with
(37:32):
holes in it and slides for two months straight.
I love him for it and then Finn.Finn and you and Finn's.
Relationship on screen is obviously like that.
You guys were so great together.Finn's so sweet.
He's. So great, he's awesome.
Aiden, another, a fellow Brit, Finn's from Ireland, a fellow
Brit and did such a awesome job as the other Marine with
(37:55):
Michael. He's so good in the movie and
had the comms thing down in an amazing way watching him.
Wild Eagle base. Wild Eagle 2 foot like, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah. That's pretty amazing.
Real Joe Quinn. Well, we touched on Joey
earlier, but what, what an actor, man, what a guy.
(38:17):
Always spoke really well, I thought, like when we'd huddle
up. Hyde is a prankster.
Still pranking us on the WhatsApp group and is amazing.
Nathan gave one of the best performances I've ever seen when
we did a Do you remember the exercise we did the training
exercise. We did one of our like simulated
(38:37):
missions. Nathan played a wounded soldier
and like it was like an Oscar goes to moment during this like
mission simulation as part of training to the point where I
was like, that was fucking dude.You've got to tone it down
because we. Can't hear each other.
Your screaming is so realistic. Did someone tell?
Him to do that I don't. Know remember when Cosmo we.
(38:59):
Were like Cosmo, where's hider he goes I don't know I just.
I left him. I left him.
I saw. Him and I just left him.
That was insane. That was insane.
Also Kit, who, by the way, babyface, babyface was his
nickname, who like looks physically identical to Tommy.
(39:25):
Like like his physicality was like a perfect match.
And also for me, Kit in this film did such an incredible job.
And he's also a reminder of the fact that, like in a role where
you don't necessarily have like a ton of dialogue, like, you
know, he's so impactful, so. Impactful.
(39:45):
He's so real in. Every moment he's so wise.
I can't believe he's. 20 I know it's not he.
Just turned 21 and. He's just turned 21, isn't he?
Yeah, and he's like more mature than all of us.
I think we covered all of the guys, I think.
I think so. We said the best for last.
We didn't leave anyone out. Yeah.
Babyface, Babyface. God, everyone's so incredible.
Yeah, I'm super. Proud of the group.
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