There are some reveals the place you simply need to hand around in that world, and for me, Will Trent is one among them. From the primary episode, I used to be hooked and to be sincere, I kinda need to be Will’s finest buddy.
Ramon Rodriguez, who stars as Will, laughed after I informed him that. “You need to be Will’s finest buddy? That’s wonderful. I really like that,” he stated. “I don’t know if I need to be his finest buddy… however he’s an fascinating man, that’s for positive.”
In our dialog, he talked all about constructing the character, from the Southern cadence he created (impressed, partially, by Outkast’s Andre 3000), to Will’s beat-up sneakers and signature three-piece fits. He additionally bought into how being concerned in casting has modified his perspective on performing, and sure, we even talked The Wire. As a result of how might we not?
You will have this cadence for him that’s simply so addictive to my ear. How did you provide you with that? Is it as enjoyable to do as it’s for me to hearken to it?
Ramon Rodriguez: You understand, it’s. It instantly dives me proper into him.
I’ve by no means actually created a Southern dialect and so after I learn the script and understanding the place he was from, I wished to verify he sounded just like the surroundings he was raised in, which was Atlanta and the foster care system there. So, I discovered an unimaginable dialect coach and began that course of.
And we had a few completely different concepts and we wished to seek out some simply voices and sounds for inspiration and one that basically appeared to resonate was Andre 3000 from Outkast. And it wasn’t to type of duplicate, however it’s simply there’s a tonality, there’s a rhythm. And that truly actually helped me and ultimately created the sound that I assume is now Will Trent.
It was an excellent entry and type of a basis, like a constructing block that I used to be like, it cracked him open in a manner that was actually useful.
And one other a part of that, actually, was his wardrobe. I don’t I don’t put on three items each day, so placing that on, I informed myself it was him placing on his armor, as a result of he’s somebody that type of retains his true self very near the chest. He likes to verify he presents himself a sure manner, in order that was a giant half.
After which in his wardrobe, he has these horrible sneakers which are so outdated and beat up, which I really like a lot, since you have a look at these sneakers, and you recognize, this particular person’s lived a life. That they’ve a narrative.
I believe these are issues that I beloved early on after I learn the script, just like the handkerchief and the tape recorder. He’s bought a throwback old skool vibe about him. After we had been doing the pilot, we referenced a variety of noir movies that simply provides it some texture and a few life.
Even when he’s not on the job, his garments really feel like one thing from a pair years in the past, like he hasn’t shopped for ages.
Ramon Rodriguez: I believe he’s type of caught in time, in the way in which he operates. He’s a really inflexible particular person. You understand, he compartmentalizes a variety of issues and that’s type of how he’s coped with the whole lot that’s occurred in his life. I believe he’s nonetheless dwelling prior to now in sure methods.
I imply, it wasn’t till this final season the place we lastly noticed him with an precise smartphone. He had a flip cellphone that was taped up. However I really like that, it was exhausting for me to surrender that flip cellphone, I’ve to be sincere, simply because it’s so distinctive, so awkward and telling. However I believe for somebody like him, it’s really useful.
We wished to seek out ways in which this character could possibly be evolving and I believed it was a wonderful option to introduce… the aim of the cellphone is not only have a cool smartphone, it’s a manner for him to actually settle for his dyslexia. And he’s utilizing it as a instrument, which he realized from his uncle Antonio in season two, who can be dyslexic. And never solely that, it’s a connecting level to his mother, as a result of Eduardo solely speaks Spanish. So, he will get to proceed this new language that he was studying that’s rooted in his identification to his mother.
And so I really like once we’re in a position to have these artistic conversations with the writers and actually discover issues that anchor and aren’t simply, you recognize, for no explicit motive.
Can you go out and in of the accent? Such as you don’t keep in all of it day, do you?
Ramon Rodriguez: No. However season one, I’ve to say I used to be undoubtedly rather more.. it was a brand new sound, a brand new placement in my mouth and so I stayed in it greater than I undoubtedly did after season one. Season two, it was so fantastic to have the ability to simply pop in and I felt actually simply rather more snug in it.
Your entrances in each scene, they all the time appear so purposeful, particularly while you’re on the job. Like, it’s very prodding. Do you consider these beforehand?
Ramon Rodriguez: I imply, I don’t take into consideration all of the entrances, however crime scenes for him is like his sandlot. There’s a pair animals that I’ll type of reference generally after I give it some thought, however he’s getting in there with a really clear intention.
And I really like that he’s like a shark. He’s type of looking and scanning and issues a special manner. Possibly that’s why you type of sense that and really feel that, however it’s not one thing I’m all the time considering of like, “Oh, how am I going to enter the scene?” However there’s a motivation beneath that, that I discover actually fascinating as a result of the man has a really distinctive viewpoint and perspective.
Typically there’ll be enjoyable issues the place he simply can be issues which will appear nonsensical, however there’s one thing behind it. And I really like that about him. It’s simply, he’s a bit awkward. He’s an odd cat, you recognize, he’s an odd cat. He beats his personal drum, walks his personal rhythm and I believe discovering that and having the ability to play in that, at the least for me, type of pulls me into him, which is cool.
You achieve this a lot on the present. You’re the lead, you’re one of many producers. You directed an episode earlier this season. How does that have an effect on your precise preparation on the performing facet?
Ramon Rodriguez: Yeah. There’s not a variety of time; I’ll inform you that Lance.
It’s one of many issues that I believe most individuals might not really perceive while you’re sporting a number of hats. And even if you happen to’re not, if you happen to occur to be on a present and also you’re in a variety of scenes, time is restricted. I do know individuals and God bless them which have that reminiscence the place they’ll have a look at their traces and so they bought it. That isn’t me. I’m sluggish. I’m so sluggish.
So, what meaning is that I’m typically having to rise up very, very early, manner earlier than my name time to start a technique of finding out. As a result of by the tip of a shoot day, particularly if I’m working every single day, I’m fried, so it’s not going to actually stick.
I’ve realized the morning is absolutely sacred time for me. Very, very early within the morning. However there’s not a variety of time as a result of the chief producer title for me isn’t a conceit title, it’s one thing I take severely. I like being concerned in all of these discussions about each side of the present, music, administrators, scripts, casting. Each a part of it, I really like being concerned however that requires time.
Fortunately, I’ve gotten a bit bit higher and what I believe it’s, is that I’ve gotten extra snug with the character. I actually know him and so it might not take me as lengthy to course of and study dialogue.
If you’re making ready within the early morning, are you continue to writing issues within the script, discovering motivations or what you need to do within the scene?
Ramon Rodriguez: I’m not writing possibly as a lot as I used to, however I’m undoubtedly writing issues down. If I confirmed you what my sides used to seem like, it’s loopy. It’s insanity. It’s like, there’s stuff all over the place and drawings. Now there will not be as a lot of that, however there’s undoubtedly issues in there the place I’m making notes for positive.
One of many visitor stars this season was the man who performed Raphael, Antwayn Hopper. You two had been terrific collectively. Did that chemistry occur organically?
Ramon Rodriguez: He was launched within the premiere of season three, which I used to be in a position to direct, which was unimaginable, and we launched two actually huge new characters. One was Raphael, the opposite one was Marion Alba, Gina Rodriguez‘s character.
With Antwayn’s casting or Raphael’s casting, I keep in mind I noticed his tape and he actually stood out to me, and I stated, “Let’s carry him again. Let’s do a name again.” All of us agreed as a result of we beloved him, we simply wished to see some completely different colours and check out another issues. And he got here again and did a name again and he crushed it. He simply crushed it.
The difficult factor about our present, which I’m happy with, however it’s difficult once we’re casting is we’re not simply type of a typical cop process. It offers with some heavy traumatic stuff and a few humorous stuff. So generally you’ve bought to have the ability to type of juggle each. You’ve bought to have the ability to have the ability set of having the ability to do comedy and drama. Not all people can try this. And Antwayn, I might see he had that.
The factor with that character is we didn’t need to simply have a really type of one layered dangerous man, anyone easy. We wished to have some complexity and nuance. We additionally wished to indicate the historical past of what occurred, and that Raphael has one thing over Will. We simply don’t know what it’s, and we study it later.
I spent a variety of time with Antwayn. We talked and we rehearsed as a result of I wished to make it possible for it actually sang, that folks might actually get behind it and go, “That man’s nice,” as a result of he’s nice and that they only possibly wished to know extra concerning the character. Once more, it wasn’t a easy function, it was an advanced character the place we bought to see vulnerability. We bought to see depth and hazard.
All of these components and colours had been what we had been searching for and it was wonderful. That I bought to direct his first episode and Gina’s first episode on the present and it was unbelievable.
Now that you simply’re on the opposite facet of the desk and also you’re concerned within the casting, do you suppose that’s helped you in any respect as an actor?
Ramon Rodriguez: It has. I’ve seen it earlier than. I’ve been part of casting and there’s little question. I imply, the one factor that’s so true and it truly is, man, when anyone walks within the room, you in a short time can inform in the event that they’re it. It’s actually a sense that even emits over tape, which is handy. I do them as nicely.
Being on the opposite facet of it now, the place I do get to actually have an enter within the course of and go, “Wow, that particular person is unbelievable. Possibly they’re proper for it.” Or possibly they’re not proper for that half particularly and we discover one thing else for them down the street. However they actually keep on our minds.
And that’s additionally while you’re relying in your casting administrators, which now we have unbelievable native and nationwide casting administrators. They get the present and the individuals they current to us are simply nice.
Being from Maryland, I believe I’m legally required to ask you about your function on probably the greatest reveals ever, The Wire. That was one among your first roles, proper?
Ramon Rodriguez: It was, completely. That is likely one of the most unimaginable experiences in my profession, indisputably. It’s one of many few jobs I stored all of the scripts to as a result of they’re that good.
I used to be spoiled. Such as you talked about, it was early in my profession, and I really thought, “Oh, all TV have to be like this while you get the scripts.” That’s undoubtedly not the case.
It was a very fantastic expertise. Actually, I had the nice fortune of working alongside what I actually consider is likely one of the best actors in Michael Kenneth Williams. I bought to play his lover. That character, Omar, that he created is so lovely and compelling and simply fascinating. And he was so marvelous in different jobs as nicely that he did after that, however particularly for The Wire. So, I had the actual honor that that was my scene companion. I joined in season 4. He’d already been on it for a number of seasons. So, it was actually nice.
And once more, have a look at how issues labored out. When Will Trent took place and I used to be on board as a producer and starring in it, we began speaking concerning the function of Amanda and who comes up, Sonja Sohn. And once more, one other particular person, Erika Christensen, I’m going manner again along with her.
Nevertheless it was fairly nice to be reunited along with her. We’d by no means had scenes collectively, Sonia and I in The Wire, however we knew one another and we frolicked loads. We had a mutual buddy in Michael and different actors on the present. And so it was a very fantastic expertise, man. I’m so proud that I bought to be part of that present, understanding how beloved it’s.
If for some motive you possibly can have Dominic West and Wendell Pierce on an episode, my head would explode.
Ramon Rodriguez: What was loopy is that I ended up really working with Dominic on The Affair, that was one other full circle second. I’ve been having a variety of these the place I stated, “You understand, if you happen to stick round lengthy sufficient, you find yourself working into people.” And it was nice to work with him on that present.
The Wire has produced such unimaginable expertise. If you have a look at who got here from that present, it’s baffling. I’m a really small a part of that present, however it’s a credit score that I’m extremely happy with.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.