Exclusive Interview With David Richmond-Peck From ‘V’

November 24, 2009 by Alison

When the TV series V hit the air in 1983, it quickly established itself as the thinking man’s sci-fi–an allegorical and creative imagining that combined suspense, action and philosophical drama (with a nice helping of cheese thrown in for good measure). It was easy to ignore the low production value for a great story that at its heart was very human despite the alien theme. This is the very reason I feel confident posting an ultimately sci-fi themed topic on a horror website.

Aside from being smart and seriously entertaining, there are many reasons that the show appealed to horror audiences. And no I’m not just talking about the desire to ogle Diana eating mice. When the visitors peel off their human mask they’re not just revealing their sinister intentions. They’re exposing the source of absolute dread for most individuals–the loss of the self. Like the masked killers that pervade our screens–the unknown terror that stalks in the night, what we can’t see and what we don’t understand remains both alluring and frightening. But it’s not just ‘the other’ that fills us with a sense of dread. It’s the notion that our identity which we hold so dear is shattered in a instant as the mask drops.

Canadian actor David Richmond-Peck stars in the current reimagining of V as Georgie Sutton, a resistance leader who bears the weight of an unbearable knowledge. He has seen what lies beyond the mask. This is an interesting role for Richmond-Peck who is somewhat of a chameleon himself. He has played a wide range of characters in both TV and film where he has wholeheartedly thrown himself into the role. He was the sleazy porn producer for Showtime’s hit The L-Word, a brutal soldier in Spielberg’s mini series The West, a tortured novelist in the indie feature The Zero Sum and a snooty art patron in Fox’s Fantastic Four.

I recently spoke with Richmond-Peck to find out more about his role in V, sci-fi politics and The A-Team.

Fans of the original V television series are complete diehards. Tell them why they should give the new series a shot.

There’s a reason why fans of the original V are diehards: It’s a great story. It reminds me of the David vs Goliath. The human struggle against forces too big to comprehend is a theme present in all great stories. There’s nothing like rooting for the underdog! I think the V creators – from the 80’s and from present day – are telling a story that captivates the audience. The original mini-series did this by successfully integrating the human struggle with elements of that particular time and hanging a very cool plot on it all. I think the new version is already doing the same by integrating what mankind is faced with today. Religion, politics, finance, and terrorism (to name a few) are elements that directly effect how we behave. How we interact with others. Especially how we interact with those who might be foreign to us. It makes great storytelling. The new series is a fresh new look at this struggle while combining almost everything we loved about the original.

Your character, Georgie Sutton, is quite passionate about his beliefs. Can you give further insight into his character and what have you done to prepare yourself for intensity the role demands?

There is a lot of weight on Georgie’s shoulders. I think the knowledge he possesses burdens him with great responsibility. As an actor I have to carry that with me into every scene. It’s exhausting. It’s exhausting both mentally and physically but at the same time it’s a ton of fun. Even at rest, Georgie possesses intimate knowledge about the fate of mankind. It’s difficult to imagine what it would feel like to wake up every morning and know that nothing is how it seems. What would it be like to look to the sky and not see clouds or stars? What would it be like to look at someone you love and see death and destruction? Every thought or action flows through this filter for him.

That’s where the research began. I had many conversations with my fiancée Kelly-Ruth Mercier about this starting point for Georgie’s creation. I then had to understand what it was truly like to be so passionate about something that I would risk dying for a cause. I’m all about self-preservation so it was an interesting struggle. Kelly-Ruth suggested I start researching terrorism. I had to figure out the psychology behind the action. She suggested that I look into Middle Eastern history, religion and politics, in an effort to gain deeper understanding into what it means to truly live or die for what you believe in. I then expanded that research into psychological analysis of terrorist and suicide bombers. I did a lot of thinking while walking around at night. The location we used for Father Jack’s church is quite close to where I live. I don’t know how to explain it but seeing that church at night just seemed to help put it all together.

Is V a commentary on our political environment or just a great sci-fi story?

I think all great stories speak to us in some way. What the story says to anyone depends on that particular person. What we think, see, or feel, while being told a story is directly filtered through our own particular circumstances. When it gets us talking we know it’s really good. So is V a commentary on our political environment? I don’t think so. I think people are thinking about the state of the world right now. Politics is a tool for changing things and thus politics are on the mind. So, I’m not surprised some people might see this as political commentary. I see it as proof I’m participating in a great story.

How have your experiences been on the set of V? Any fun stories to share?

Elizabeth Mitchell, Joel Gretsch, and Morris Chestnut are some of the nicest people I’ve worked with. I know people always say that but it’s true. It’s a very intelligent group of people. In fact, the whole team is fantastic. Working with Yves Simoneau is an experience all to itself. Yves was paramount in the collaborative creation of Georgie. I would work with him again on anything. It’s been a very fun ride.

Do I have any funny stories? During the pilot Elizabeth and myself somehow managed to switch each other’s dialogue during one of the warehouse scenes. Somehow, with cameras rolling, we both made it through. That’s how Georgie got the repeat of Erica’s line “A sleeper cell of Visitors” in the edit. Oh…and Joel Gretsch. The man just makes me smile. He’s a breath of fresh air when carrying the weight of Georgie all day. There have many outbursts of laughter with Joel around.

Are we all alone in the universe or do you believe there is someone or something else out there?

Have you not been watching? They’re already here.

You had a role in the recently released film, 2012 and you starred in another disaster (and alien) themed film, The Day the Earth Stood Still. Is it difficult as an actor to find your pace in a film where the focus tends to be on colossal special effects?

No, not at all. For me it all comes down to story and how I participate in it. I leave the visual environment to the experts in special- and digital-effects. That’s the beautiful thing about film. It’s a great collaboration of experts. I’m passionate about script analysis and although some adjustments might need to be made technically for certain shots, for me, it all comes down to character. Who is this character and why is he a part of the story?

You are starring in the Smokin’ Aces prequel and a si-fi film Paradox. Can you share any character details? Is it hard to make the transition to different projects within the same genre?

I play Agent Dom Dumare in the second Aces film (or “first”, as it’s actually a prequel). That was a blast. Working with P.J. Pesce (director of Smokin Aces: Blowback) is just easy all over. I really enjoy his passion and attention to detail. Saying anything else about the character and film would just spoil it for people. I’d be happy to discuss it further after it’s released.

Is it hard to make the transition? Like I said earlier. It all comes down to character. Every project feels like a brand new start. I have been told I’m obsessive about preparation but the transition for me begins and ends with interpretation of character and how he best fits into story. That usually equals an extraordinary number of hours of very fun analysis and research. This transition is always difficult but the challenge it brings is why I do what I do.

There has been a lot of talk about V and your role on A-Team. Would you care to discuss?

I was approached by Joe Carnahan regarding the possibility of shooting The A-Team after he watched my performance in the Smokin’ Aces prequel. It has to be one of the most exciting moments of my career. “Narc” is one of my favorite films and it has been a long time goal of mine to work with him (in any capacity). Unfortunately we were unable to resolve scheduling conflicts with V. It was incredibly disappointing but I’m looking forward to working with him in the future.

Your partner Kelly-Ruth Mercier is a director /producer. Does she help you prep for your roles and are you collaborating on any upcoming projects?

I met Kelly-Ruth while she was completing her Masters in Directing. I say this without bias or hesitation: Her capacity for understanding story, the craft, and how to best combine the two for performance is unparalleled. I work with her on everything.