|
By Lisa Steinberg
Starry Constellation
Magazine
Q. What are some of the current projects that you are working on?
Marshall: Right now what I’m working on is that I am on the
board of a theater called The Sherry Theater. It’s a brand new theater
that we’re opening. Right now I’m co-writing a play for the
opening of the theater called "Devil’s Night." I’m
co-writing it with my friend Scott Haze and the play will be starring
Jamie Brown. Then, I also just did two episodes of "The Twilight
Zone" radio drama. They were the most fun thing that I’ve done
in a long time. You get to go to a recording studio and do scenes and
act and they just record the voices. It was super fun and the producer
was really great and he brought me on to do that. Pretty much other than
that I don’t think I am a big enough name yet to be getting super
offers. So, the offers haven’t been rolling in yet for feature films.
I have been preparing to audition for a project with Paul Thomas Anderson
that I think Daniel Day Lewis is trying out for. I am really going after
that and I really want that project.
Q. On the show "Prison Break" you play "L.J." What
made you want to be a part of this show?
Marshall: Number one is that it is the only project that I got
hired for and number two it’s a total blessing because as far as
television goes it’s pretty much the best gig you can have in town.
Because, it’s on location at an amazing set, it’s not on some
boring lot where you show up every day and you eat donuts, say hello to
the guard and just take your seat in your chair. This is where you show
up to the prison and I’m running around downtown Chicago. I’m
doing all kinds of crazy stuff and I’m getting to do real acting
with other actors who want to act and be real strong. People are watching
it, if ten people watched it instead it would be such a miracle. Obviously,
with the response to the show, it is way beyond what I could ever have
imagined. I have never been a part of something like this, to tell you
the truth; I am not even trying to look out for number one. I’m just
enjoying the ride because it’s honestly so cool.
Q. "Prison Break" is such a dramatic show. How do you prepare
for such heightened scenes?
Marshall: Well, that goes down to my training and I have to give
that one up to Playhouse West where I trained. My teacher Robert Carnage,
I give that all up to Playhouse West in Los Angeles. Pretty much what
we do is we trained for this stuff, I’ve been training for this stuff
for almost a couple of years now. So, when it comes down to this dramatic
stuff, this is where I practiced and played all day. I’m loving it,
it’s very rare that an actor gets to play in something with such
heightened circumstances of this drama. I love it, it’s just all
of the editors and producers on the show, they always pick my least dramatic
take. Nowadays, it is totally on another level and when I do the scenes
I bring it like crazy. I bring like a ten and usually they edit to me,
what would be on my standards, would be an eight. It’s real cool,
it’s awesome, it’s crazy because I get to go blow it out the
window, and I get to go blow the roof off of the joint. Then they pick
and get what they want out of it. For me, every time I go to work it’s
like a lesson in acting, it’s amazing.
Q. How has it been getting to work opposite such well-known and talented
actors like Robin Tunney and Dominic Purcell?
Marshall: It’s been the best, like I said it’s just been
a learning experience. I’ve been getting to act with people that
care about acting and that want to act and react. Not just read their
lines, and some of the people on the show it’s just astounding that
I’m on the same project as them. I get to talk to them, hang out
with them, and it’s incredible. You watch their takes and you watch
their stuff and seeing how it comes across on screen and it just works
so well and they are such seasoned actors.
Q. Do you have a most memorable moment from filming "Prison Break"?
Marshall: Yeah I do, I really liked the episode that aired the
other night, when I got to be in the car and the window got shot out.
I really love all of the physical stuff of the show because I’m a
young guy and I want to be rambunctious and I want to be out there. I
love all of the action and the chasing and when I got to be barefoot in
downtown Chicago. I remember when I did the shot where I am on the phone
in some alley and I hang up the phone and I start running down the alley.
They stopped the scene right there and I kept running down the alley and
I got to the street and I looked around the edge of the building and I
saw a cop. I just bolted away from the cop and he was like, "what
the heck?" He started to say something and they were like "no,
he’s on ‘Prison Break,’ it’s not real." He saw
this kid barefoot and running away from him so that was really cool. Then
just hanging out with the cast is really great. There have been so many
great moments; it’s at the point where it’s like I’ve been
in this a lot. I really like the scene that I had with my dad that was
in the second episode that aired. It would be the third episode to air,
not the pilot. When I put my hand on the window, that was a great scene,
I really like that moment. My favorite moment is actually when I got to
do the scene with my step-dad and my mom. Her name is Jessalyn Gilsig
and Phil Smith, we did that scene together, it was a fight scene, it was
so awesome. Because, we all just got to get into the scene and the way
we did the scene in rehearsal and then they mapped out how they wanted
it. It was very in the moment, it was a great adrenaline rush scene. It
was really, really cool, as far as it goes I love every single moment.
As an actor I love every single moment and bringing it on screen. All
of them are priceless.
Q. What do you think it is about "Prison Break" that has
hooked so many viewers?
Marshall: Because, it’s just a high adrenaline drama and you
let one into your system and there is nothing else on its level. So, it’s
like you’ve gotta get that pump, it’s so over the top big drama.
With everything else on television, it’s like once you watch one;
all of the shows seem easy. It’s also so real; it’s so real
and so unbelievable. Like, it’s so believable but it’s unbelievable.
When you watch it, it’s so believable. But, when you step back and
go "what are they doing?" It’s like, that would never happen.
That’s the whole reason why you make a television show. You want
to see people go through something that is of astronomical proportions.
You don’t want to watch some guy read the newspaper every morning.
You want to watch him read the newspaper every morning while he’s
digging earth. I think that a lot of television shows have gone back to
branching themselves and showing a lot of nuisances. I think people are
getting tired of that and want to see something totally fantastical, total
fantasy. Yet, painted in a way that is so believable.
Q. You’re also in the film Sweet Pea. What can you tell us about
the premise of the film and your character Ricky?
Marshall: That film is actually a short film that I did. That’s
the first film that I ever have done. It’s so interesting that you
bring that film up. Yeah, I did that way, way back. I did not expect you
to ask me about that, that film was directed and written by Traci Lords,
she is wonderful to work with. The experience was pretty intense and to
me it’s a real story. When you do a real story it’s kind of
like you do the best you can. I play a boyfriend who is kind of caught
up in all of the wrong things. Even though I love my girlfriend I am more
addicted to sex. When the girlfriend is not comfortable and doesn’t
want to go there, the guy gets angry and he lashes out. He has sex with
her against her will, and so it’s like just because you have a boyfriend
doesn’t mean you can’t still be raped by him. So, that’s
kind of what goes down, I’m the boyfriend that doesn’t listen
when she says no. It’s a real tough subject.
Q. What are some of your passions besides acting?
Marshall: I love music; I’m learning the drums right now.
I am still am learning the guitar, you can never stop learning the guitar.
I am not naturally talented; I’m not gifted right away. I believe
that I have talent but it’s going to take somebody to really polish
me. I love my girlfriend Jamie Brown; she’s an actress. She is really
amazing, she’s the best actress in Hollywood by far that hasn’t
been discovered. There are plenty of great actresses that are at the forefront
of film for America. But, Jamie Brown is a force, as soon as someone gives
her the green light on a film; it’s going to be unheard of. I don’t
think that people understand; she is pretty much the reason why I know
how to act today. She’s just phenomenal; she’s absolutely amazing.
If you don’t know you should check her out! I like to get involved
in culture, I like reading, I love soccer. Peter Stormare and I went and
watched the Madrid Pumas game here in Chicago at the big stadium. I love
soccer, I love USA, I’m going for us in the world cup. I am passionate
about poetry, I’m passionate about art, I love public speaking and
I love people who can speak really well. I’m passionate about passion;
I just love life! My motto in life is that I want to live life to the
fullest.
Q. Do you have a latest obsession? Are you into any particular book,
sport, music group or activity?
Marshall: I am really into the Bible; I love the Bible; that’s
my favorite book. I am living in Chicago and I’m obsessed with all
their teams because this city is so infectious about their sports teams.
Pretty much my latest obsession I would have to say is that and the loving
relationships in my life, I can’t really have another obsession beyond
that. Most importantly in my life is relationships and the people that
I have them with, my family and that love. Love is the greatest thing
on earth.
Q. What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?
Marshall: I am totally grateful and I am in awe and it’s humbling.
All it does is inspire me to work that much harder for them. I hope that
I keep bringing them stuff that they will enjoy, the fact that they are
listening to me is so humbling and inspiring. There is nothing better
for the soul of an artist than to be well received by his audience. Then
if I have that, then there is no telling what is going to happen, I’m
blown away.
|