I was born in Epsom, England. Growing up I would watch a variety of old movies with my Dad, westerns, epics and action movies. I remember rehearsing lines from a young age with my Dad who was part of a local dramatic company. He used to say the line ‘ I coulda been a somebody’ I was determined to become a ‘somebody’ and the movies seemed like a place where all the ‘somebodies’ hung out. I later learned this was one of his favorite lines from ‘On the Waterfront’. I first trained at The Actors Centre in my early 20’s and then subsequently at Drama Centre London and The Vakhtangov Institute in Moscow.
indieactivity: What acting technique do you use?
Louis James (LJ): During my time at theater school, and in former years, I explored several styles. Eventually you end up going full circle with techniques, but one must go through the labyrinth to come out the other side. Shaking off the training takes as much time as the training itself. During my time in Moscow I learned the idea of giving part of one’s soul in a performance. They approach Stanislavski very differently to the way it has been interpreted and taught in the west. ‘The Player ; a profile of an art’ is an invaluable book which shows you how diverse styles and approaches can be. After all, Stanislavski himself based his ‘system’ on studying great stage actors of the time.
Ultimately the best teacher, for screen acting anyway, has been watching the greats and wondering why they make certain choices and how they use their voices/faces to their advantage. On screen the face is the stage.
The Official Trailer for ESCAPE Directed by Howard J. Ford.
How did you get connected to the project? Did you have to audition? If you did, would you still have got the part?
Louis James (LJ): I was very fortunate to have bumped into Howard J. Ford at a party in Cannes. He said he was looking for a ‘charmer’ and I fit the bill perfectly. He asked me along to some test shots and asked if I would open a door in one of the scenes . So it really is Howard who helped open the door to my career!
Auditions are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to securing a role in indie movies. Actors need to get out in the world, make their own work, go to film festivals, screenings, parties, cafés… you are always auditioning without knowing it.
How’d you prepare for such a role: cast, physicality, terrain, climate, weather and the demands of the project?
Louis James (LJ): I come from a family of manual workers. One day you can be up on a ladder in the rain, another you can be moving tonnes of concrete. A movie for me is usually a breeze unless I have a complicated stunt or action sequence. Even then I prepare for these through rehearsal and physical preparation. Recovering after a long day of filming is paramount. Eat nutritious food, make sure you know your lines for the next day and get to bed early.
How do you create the character from a script into a person?
Louis James (LJ): I build a character in my mind based on the clues the writer has left behind. Usually a writer is part of the pre production process so you can fire away with questions. Luckily enough Howard was the writer of Escape so we could discuss in depth what kind of feeling he was trying to invoke from the performance. Be bold in your choices, don’t be scared to make the wrong ones. Stay flexible, don’t get caught up in your own head. You’re not really the character.
What part of the story challenged you when you read it? What drove you to get on the project??
Louis James (LJ): The challenge was finding the key moments to express the redemptive nature of what Jude was experiencing. The circumstances he finds himself in make it hard for the audience to empathize with him but I gave it my best shot! After hearing Howard talk about what he was attempting to execute I just knew I could and had to help him achieve what he was setting out to do.
Explain one creative choice you took on the set of this production?
Louis James (LJ): Howard gave me a scene where Jude would be home alone, where he gets to ‘take off his mask’. I used my physicality and the phone call in this scene to reveal some of the characters’ hidden humanity.
You’re not new to indie films. What do you enjoy about the work that keeps you working?
Louis James (LJ): I really believe that we are going to have a resurgence of the golden age of cinema coming from the indie scene rather than the big studios. With lower budgets and therefore less risk filmmakers are able to make bolder choices.
Give an example of a direction you received from the director during the production?
Louis James (LJ): It’s easy to actually overthink a scene as an actor which can inhibit a performance. Howard actually gave me a note I will never forget and I have since quoted several times. ‘Does the audience really care?’ This enabled me to free up myself and be more in the moment, after all truth in acting is truth in circumstances.
How did you collaborate with your cast members from scene to scene?
Louis James (LJ): We were all very supportive of one another. We would eat and socialize together like a family which truly adds to the movie making dream.
As the main cast in the film, describe the feeling of responsibility that you shouldered. Were you scared? Or did it fire you up? What scenes were difficult to shoot?
Louis James (LJ): People on set take note of everything. This is why it’s important to always be punctual, polite and positive. Good attitude is infectious, just as a bad attitude is. There is an improvised scene where I talk with my sister on the phone. I wouldn’t say it was difficult but my sister had been through something similar not long before so I wanted to hit the right note. It would have been all too easy to give too much so I had to hold back.
What did you take away from the film production?
Louis James (LJ): My takeaway from working on Escape was that if you really want to shoot something you just have to find a way to get out there and do it. That’s what Howard did.
What do you like most about the director, and his/her collaboration with his/her team?
Louis James (LJ): I could probably write a book on this question alone- maybe one day I will! Working with Howard isn’t like working with any other director I’ve encountered. It’s more like working with an adventurer who is in love with life as much as he is with filmmaking. You can see the glint in his eye which is reminiscent of a teenager picking up a film camera for the first time. As a director he is kind, collaborative and passionate.
What is next for you?
Louis James (LJ): I’m very excited about ‘River of Blood’ which is also directed by Howard J Ford and written by Tom Boyle. We shot in Thailand at the end of 2023 – audiences are going to love it! I produced a horror movie with the wonderful Lucas A Ferrara called ‘The Manor’ which is in the final stages of post production. It was directed by my friend Blake Ridder.
What advice do you give actors regarding what you learnt on the project?
Louis James (LJ): Always be ready mentally and physically as you don’t know where the adventure will take you and your character.
Tell us what you think of the interview with Louis James. What do you think of it? What ideas did you get? Do you have any suggestions? Or did it help you? Let’s have your comments below and/or on Facebook or Instagram! Or join me on Twitter.
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