From a deleted scene in “Hunger Games”, “Whore the Cradeds Sing,” to a role in, ” Taylor John Smith Has started an impressive resuxury. On Friday, he appeared on stage Tormina Film Festival introduce Ray Mendza‘Sand Alex garlanda film by “war“Later, he sat together Diversity To talk about the film and his career so far.
You have “The Hunger Games” as one of your first credit.
I was not even a glorious on “The Hunger Games”. I was in bonus scenes.
Are you cut?
Removed scenes, of course. The film was the first time on the set and Gary Ross was directing. This was a good experience, but when you finish on DVD, like bonus scenes here … I was just happy to live there, scared beyond anything. I am very grateful that this has been my job, because I was 18 years old.
Last night, you said that “war” is not a supporter or anti-war film. What did you mean?
It is about the reality and reality of war. We wanted to show what it means when someone signs the dotted line and sends young people to fight. Hopefully, they realize that it is not a decision to take it lightly. This is hell and we are asking our young men and women who are crazy. When they are abroad, they are not thinking about the politics they found there, they are just trying to go home.
When were you aware of the project for the first time?
Around Christmas time, I was with my grandparents in delaware and with my family, spending quality time with him, but I could not get up from my chair reading this script. I told my agent: I play the door in which they kick. I met Ray and Alex in LA and the conversation was less about the script and more about attitude. They wanted to know that I was invested. It is going to be a kick in the balls. It is going to be physically, emotional, mentally severe.
You trained for the film.
We did live fire weapons training, radio etiquette, small unit strategy and practice. He gave us such tasks that we failed to see how we can deal with stress. Ray Mendoza installed it as a mini-boot camp. Through this, we really know each other. From that moment, we never left each other’s side. I don’t remember that a person was once in the trailer.
It was like being two directors?
Honestly, right, especially for this film. Alex Garland had more on the technical side, camera placement, lens options of things. And all were all demonstrations-based. Because he was there, he knows what these other people were really experiencing, from fear to the effects of the convention. You cannot ask better as an actor who was there and who could tell you what was going on in his head, and was not sugarcane.
There is no backstory for your character in the film. Did you feel the need for one?
All our characters are based on real people. Some of us were given an opportunity to talk to our real life equivalent. My character, unfortunately, was not able to do. Ray tried his best to give me a backstory, but less about his personal life and more about his personality and what kind of in the team.
The last shot of the film shows that much has not changed.
I am very happy that he finished the film in this way. After seeing the Iraqi family, his life is completely overturned. For the first time as an audience, we see that this is just another day in his life. And then you see al Qaeda people, and they are celebrating because they just close the invaders. It takes you a 30,000 -foot scene about it and says: What was this? What is this that we do with each other? It is very, very powerful. It does not tell you how to think.
What is for you in the future?
In the second part of my career, I would like to be behind the camera. Being an actor is great, but you have very little control over the creative side of your jobs and things. You are a cog in the wheel. I eventually want to go to a place where I can make a wheel.
Are you getting anything?
Yes. Along with Paul Tamsi, who wrote “The Fighter”, we are doing the film about the accustomed of a heroin named “WhatsApp Left of As”, and growing up in our relationship with our father and in Boston. We are currently in pre-production. I am assuming by the end of the year, we will shoot.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
