Viewers of ABC's TV series 'Invasion' can not easily forget the disturbing scene where Deputy Lewis Sirk cuts off his own arm with a chainsaw. Nathan Baesel is the actor who breathes life to the very likable character of Deputy Lewis. A versatile actor, Nathan brings his long theater experience to the TV and movie sets, where he is able to portray a full range of characters, going as far as a megalomaniac psycho-killer in his upcoming movie 'Behind the Mask'. We've been talking to Nathan about his acting career, his roles, the 'Invasion' set and more; here's what he shared with us.
1. Please tell us about your decision to get involved with acting. Was it something you always wanted?
Nathan Baesel:
Although I've only been acting professionally for almost 4 years I've been engaged in it for the better part of 15 years. I started taking an acting class to fulfill credits in high school. My brothers had done some school plays and I thought, "What the hell?" My friends gave me enough pats on the back to encourage me, and some shows at the junior college continued to bolster my confidence. When it came down to deciding what I was going to commit to for the rest of my life I figured if I was going to end up in debt regardless I should probably go in debt doing something I enjoy. And go in debt I did getting my bachelors in theater at UCLA and finishing the acting program at The Juilliard School. My family and my wife have always supported and encouraged me to continue training and working in acting but the man really responsible for putting me on the path in the first place is my high school teacher, Joe. He made me feel at a very formative time in my life that I was unique and had something special to offer. I guess I came to believe him.
2. You have a movie coming up: "Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon". What you can tell us about it?
Nathan:
'Behind the Mask' is a film I shot in Portland a little over a year ago with Angela Goethels, Scott Wilson, Robert Englund, and Zelda Rubenstein. I play a regular joe name Leslie Vernon who models himself after the greatest psycho-slashers of our time: Mike Meyers, Freddie, Jason. He solicits a grad school film crew to document his rise into the pantheon of greats. He dispels the assumptions that his profession is nothing more than mindless stalking and killing by revealing the training techniques, detailed plotting, and the rigours of execution required in order to make an event appear like mindless stalking and killing. The crew and the Dianne Sawyer wanna-be Taylor Gentry (Angela) are captivated by Leslie's quirky charm until the first victim falls and then a crisis of conscience leads them to try and stop this legend-in-the-making. Once they shut their video cameras off the movie shifts to film and the rest takes place in a traditional slasher pic style except the audience knows every move Leslie is going to make...or do they?
I had a ball playing a character who could've easily come off as pure evil; instead I took what seemed a much more interesting turn and made him a very sensitive, engaging everyman who believes his profession is truly valid. He provides a necessary counterbalance to all that is good, and pure. Sure he's got issues but don't we all? And I got a chance to work with some truly great actors. I mean, when I got the thumbs up from Freddy Kruger himself? Are you kidding me?
There is a trailer and production stills on the film's website "behindthemaskthemovie.com".
3. Have you done any theater work? Do you prefer working on TV, movies or theater?
Nathan:
I thoroughly enjoy working both in front of the camera and on stage but my acting training has all been in the theater and I'm more comfortable in the more lifelike confines of the theater than the technical restrictions of t.v. and film. I'm really fortunate to have struck up a great relationship with a tremendous theater near my home in Orange County. South Coast Repertory is a Tony Award winning theater in Southern California that produces an insane amount of new works, from commisioning new plays to work-shopping and staging original works. Last year I did "On The Mountain" by Chris Shinn and "Princess Marjorie" by Noah Haidle. Both were wonderful new plays by outstanding contemporary playwrites. I left New York shortly after finishing school and never had a chance to experience the theater scene out there. I'm really looking forward to doing a run for a few months in New York preferably in a play that I've had a chance to develop out here.
4. Where would like to see the Lewis character on 'Invasion' go?
Nathan: In Invasion episode #9 Lewis Sirk regained his arm that he lost in combat in Iraq. Fearing that the rest of the town wouldn't embrace this development, the sheriff convinces Sirk to cut it off with a chainsaw. That episode exhausted the character arch that I'd discussed with Shaun Cassidy (the creator). I guess I did a decent job and people responded to the character enough that Shaun decided not to kill me off. But I really have no idea what future (if any) is in store for Lewis. It seems that a strong relationship is developing between Lewis and Kira, the sheriff's daughter, which I'm interested in exploring. Beside the fact that I enjoy hanging out with Alexis who plays Kira, I think it would be creatively rewarding to find some shades of confidence and passion in a character who is admittedly isolated and insecure. Shaun and the other producers play everything really close to the chest in terms of what will happen next, but one thing I'm certain of is that whatever lies in store for Lewis will be fascinating. Shaun and his talented group of writers are constantly demonstrating their fertile imagination with every script.
5. How does it feel working next to actors like William Fichtner who have a long history in the profession?
Nathan:
William Fichtner comes across a lot like his character on the show: cold, manipulative, and completely indifferent to anyone outside the gravity of his egocentricity. But under all that he's a teddy bear. Seriously, I love Bill Fichtner! He's taken me under his wing somewhat and I've learned more from working with him in two months than I have in the four years I've been working in the industry. He's a consumate professional doing whatever it takes to get it right. I find myself taking mental notes all the time whether he's on camera or behind the scenes. And why not study him? He's spot-on with every shot that airs. I feel the same about Kari Matchett (Mariel). Whenever I'm at the studio and I find out she's shooting a scene I race over to the set and catch whatever I can. She's flawless but not technical, somehow a perfect combination of precision but perfectly alive and natural. I'm really honored to be involved with 'Invasion' because the level of talent behind the show combined with how nice everyone is is rare, truly rare.
6. Please share with us a funny moment that occured during the shooting of 'Invasion'.
Nathan:
I was in the front seat of the sheriff's cruiser while Eddie and Bill were in the backseat shooting a very intimate and intense scene. I looked in the rear-view mirror in time to catch Eddie saying, "I wish I knew how to quit you Tom Underlay!"
I had holiday cookies made up for the cast and crew which were ginger-bread men missing a left arm.
7. How is the one-arm effect of the Deputy Lewis character created on 'Invasion'?
Nathan:
We've shot two scenes with C.G.I. Most of the time we use a costume rig that binds my arm behind my back with a tight girdle, while a corset suspends a prosthetic amputation from my shoulder. Its a very cost/time effective way to do it. We can achieve a really convincing silhouette and by sliding my arm to my far camera side I can get a nice profile shot. The down side of this method is that movement is severely limited. I can only turn about ninety degrees before my arm starts showing up. Plus it requires a certain amount of self consciousness on my part to make sure my arm isn't exposed to the camera. When any amount of distraction can make the difference between giving a good take and a bad one, having to be aware of my body's relationship to the camera at all times is challenging. Its becoming more second-nature as time goes on, thankfully.
Although we can get a remarkably acurate representation of the arm with C.G.I. this method is surprisingly restrictive as well. We achieve the effect by throwing a green sock over the arm and shooting the scene and exiting the frame once we've cut. The camera continues to run for about ten seconds taking a sample of the background from the scene. In post production all of the green from the sock is removed and replaced by the sampled background. However if my arm ever crosses the plane of my body the shot is ruined because its much too time consuming to replace the arm with an unstable background. Still the look is pretty great. And the visual effects guys are really good at their job.
8. How many times a week do you generally have to shoot for 'Invasion'? Where is the series being shot?
Nathan:
The show shoots in Burbank at Warner Brothers and locations around L.A. County. A great testament to the location supervisors is that in spite of all of the locations the show uses I've heard from several Floridians that the show looks convincingly like the Homestead area it portrays.
I shoot my stuff in two to three days out of a ten day shoot.
9. Who is your favorite actor and why? What's your favorite movie? What kind of music do you like to listen to?
Nathan:
I listen to all kinds of music but my desert island disc would be Miles Davis and Gil Evans' "Porgy and Bess".
My favorite actor? Wow... umm... I think Meryl Streep has been remarkable in continually broadening her range. And she doesn't quit! She has every reason in the world to rest inside the margins, but like an artist she keeps striving. I'm really awed by her.
I think Alec Baldwin is the greatest host 'Saturday Night Live' has ever had!
I don't think I have a favorite movie, but 'Die Hard' is one of my favorites. It's a perfect action movie. And the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy? How did they do that? And I think Milos Forman deserves a lifetime achievement award for "Amadeus" alone.
10. Do you believe that for an actor it is more important to live in LA or in NY? Which city offers more opportunities?
Nathan:
I think living in L.A. is a must for a career in TV or film, and living in N.Y. is a must for a career in theater. Unless you are an accomplished actor and you can live wherever you want and do whatever you want. I intend to be an accomplished actor.
We thank Nathan for his kindness and for the time he spent answering our questions.
