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.
