(Left) Jon Voight in ‘High Ground’. Photo: Republic Pictures. (Right) Charlie Weber in ‘High Ground’. Photo: Republic Pictures.
Available to purchase on digital starting March 18th is the brand new modern-day Western ‘High Ground’, which was directed by James Bamford (‘Shadow Land’), and stars Charlie Weber (‘The Painter’), Katherine McNamara (‘Arrow’), Henry Thomas (‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial‘), and Oscar winner Jon Voight (‘Heat’ and ‘Megalopolis’).
ECinema News lately had the pleasure of talking with Jon Voight and Charlie Weber about their work on ‘High Ground’, Voight’s first response to the screenplay, how Weber developed the challenge, their characters, working collectively once more, their respect for actress Katherine McNamara, making ready for the motion sequences, collaborating with director James Bamford, on set and if Mr. Voight continues to be having enjoyable making movies at this level in his profession.
Related Article: Jon Voight Talks ‘The Painter’ and If He’ll Appear in ‘Heat 2’
Jon Voight in ‘High Ground’. Photo: Republic Pictures.
ECinema News: To start with, Mr. Voight, what was your first response to this screenplay and why did you wish to be concerned on this challenge?
Jon Voight: Well, I used to be beneficial to it, and it is all the time thrilling to get anyone who desires you for an element. I had labored with Charlie on an image referred to as ‘The Painter’, and it was an enormous success with the Paramount+ of us, a preferred movie. So, I used to be excited to learn it. Then, once I did learn it, I discovered that it could possibly be very highly effective, really, and all of the items taking part in their correct elements. I assumed I might most likely do the half they requested me to do, taking part in his father and the story. I mentioned, “Yeah, let’s do that.” It turned out to be a very good image. I’m more than happy with the image, Jami.
MF: Charlie, are you able to discuss your strategy to this character and the way Jake’s army background makes him uniquely certified for the state of affairs he finds himself in?
Charlie Webber: Absolutely. I developed this script for months. I discovered it. My pal Jon Thaddeus, who I had wished to work with on a previous movie however needed to drop out due to a scheduling factor with a present I used to be on. So, I wished to supply one thing, and I noticed this script of his, ‘High Ground’, and simply formed it into what it’s, a type of a modern-day western. The character, Jake Wilcott, relies, not even loosely, on his son who served as an Army Ranger. I wished to carry that to the movie. But anybody with that form of coaching that is been via these experiences can care for enterprise, so to talk, but in addition, they bring about with them an expertise having come dwelling. He simply wished to form of lay low and never be concerned. He needed to discover himself all through this story to step as much as do what he does.
(L to R) Charlie Weber and Jon Voight in ‘High Ground’. Photo: Republic Pictures.
MF: Mr. Voight, are you able to discuss Ezra’s relationship along with his son Jake, and the way he helps him via this example?
JV: Well, he is been the sheriff. The character I play has been his dad and the sheriff for fairly an extended time, 35 years. He’s gotten just a little older, and he’ll be stepping down, and he is passing it on to his son. He is aware of that his son has been via fairly one thing in his army service and is shy in some ways of taking it on. He’s involved about his son. I feel that makes the piece wealthy, this, “You know, I’m able to issues,” and sometimes, I step up and say, “You need me to deal with this son?” He says, “No, Dad, I’ll take it,” or no matter. I feel it is a good relationship. Then, we each come to the finale, and everybody concerned have to be able to holding off this evil assault of many unhealthy of us who’re able to simply annihilating us. We’re just a few folks, however we’re all expert. Then, the viewers sees what occurs, and the ultimate battles are fairly extraordinary and enjoyable for the viewers. The talent set of this man (Charlie) is terrific.
MF: Charlie, you and Mr. Voight have labored collectively earlier than, did that assist with the daddy/son relationship you could have on this movie?
CW: Jon alluded to that, the connection he and I’ve, and we have labored collectively earlier than and we had a shorthand going into this movie. We work effectively collectively. I actually get pleasure from working with Jon. That relationship and the sense of household and love that you simply get from this movie, by the time you get to the showdown, the stakes are very excessive.
MF: Charlie, are you able to discuss the way in which the city’s residents rally collectively to assist Jake when they’re attacked?
CW: They completely do. I feel, as I mentioned, once I was creating it, I’m from a small city, and I wished to type of replicate that and the mentality of individuals which can be on this small place collectively. When you are used to one thing, change could be powerful for everyone. When somebody’s been the sheriff for 35 or 40 years, to have anyone else are available once you’re used to one thing else could be arduous for everybody. But it was arduous for Jake. He did not know if he wished to tackle that accountability after what he’d been via. So, I feel the movie displays that and in the end the group rallying collectively.
(L to R) Charlie Weber and Katherine McNamara in ‘High Ground’. Photo: Republic Pictures.
MF: Charlie, are you able to discuss Jake’s relationship with Cassie and dealing with Katherine McNamara?
CW: Kat was good. She was such a fantastic Cassie. We simply actually received alongside instantly and had a fantastic rapport, revered one another’s work, and it was simply breezy. We actually received alongside nice, and the scenes collectively had been so enjoyable and simply pure. I actually loved working together with her.
MF: Mr. Voight, what was your expertise like working with Katherine McNamara?
JV: You know, the factor about Kate, I imply, she’s actually gifted in some ways, and she or he’s gifted bodily by way of all of her understanding of martial arts and stuff. She’s very gifted, and she or he has fairly a following due to that. But she’s additionally an exquisite actress, too. She’s good.
Charlie Weber in ‘High Ground’. Photo: Republic Pictures.
MF: Charlie, are you able to discuss making ready for the motion sequences and the way you executed them on set?
CW: (We had a) nice stunt workforce and nice stunts. The gunplay, like I mentioned, you could have a fantastic workforce of individuals surrounding you. I’m very lucky to have gotten to work with a number of nice folks over time and have acquired a number of coaching from a number of gifted folks. We simply had nice stunt and combating guys, like Max Kraus, who was an absolute pleasure, and I’d like to do it once more, however only a nice crew. You present up early. You dedicate your self to simply studying every little thing and specializing in making every little thing look proper. Now, I’m an enormous fan of working extraordinarily arduous to grasp the issues they attempt to educate me. I feel it is type of a option to honor the those who do this stuff.
MF: Charlie, does coaching stick with you from movie to movie, or do it’s important to practice in another way for various roles?
CW: It’s good to brush up on issues, however I keep energetic in my private life as effectively, on the subject of shooting, et cetera, and martial arts. So, for me, it is good to get in with a real skilled and brush up on every little thing. But fortunately for me, I’ve been lucky sufficient to do sufficient of those movies the place it is just about in my bones at this level.
(L to R) Charlie Weber and Jon Voight in ‘High Ground’. Photo: Republic Pictures.
MF: Mr. Voight, you’ve labored with director James Bamford earlier than, what do you get pleasure from about working with him?
JV: He’s appropriately named “Bam”, you recognize, Bamford. Because he has a dynamic persona. All collectively optimistic, and he is very ready. He’s been a martial arts man, and he is fought within the cage, you recognize, he is the true factor. So, he has a really excessive expectation for the work that the stunt folks do. He places them via a number of stuff. Sometimes I get scared. I mentioned, “Wait, what are you going to let that man get hit with the factor? Then he says, “Oh, yeah, he’ll do this.” I’m very involved about all the oldsters round. But he is a complete skilled, very sensible, superb man, and it is a pleasure to work with him.
MF: Charlie, what was your expertise like working with James Bamford?
CW: I like James. I cherished working with him. I am unable to wait to work with him once more. I feel to the purpose of what we had been speaking about, he is a superb director, however in a earlier profession was a high tier stunt coordinator. He actually really cares about that work, however he additionally really cares about his guys, the stunt performers. When you have received that camaraderie on a set, the stunts simply go, nice.
(L to R) Charlie Weber and Jon Voight in ‘High Ground’. Photo: Republic Pictures.
MF: Mr. Voight what was it like reuniting with Charlie on this movie after making ‘The Painter’?
JV: Oh, Charlie and I get alongside. We have from the start once we did ‘The Painter’. You form of attempt to get to know anyone and have a way of what their relationship is likely to be. From the start, Charlie and I received alongside. Charlie’s an exquisite actor and a complete skilled. When I got here to the set, he was prepared, and I used to be prepared. That’s a fantastic factor. I imply, as soon as you recognize that, you are in. Anyway, he has an exquisite means with these sorts of movies too, as a result of he is received the bodily potential on high of it, and the flexibility to go lengthy nights with just a few items of injury on his physique to make it fascinating. But no, he is the true factor.
MF: Charlie, what have you ever realized about performing from working with Oscar winner Jon Voight?
CW: I, clearly, was very excited to satisfy Jon once we did ‘The Painter’, however as he mentioned, we instantly simply fell right into a dialog and actually received alongside. Then, as he additionally mentioned, you step on set, and you bought two guys which can be able to go and have some enjoyable and care in regards to the work after which care about not simply the work, however one another and the folks round them. I simply actually, clearly, admired his work earlier than we would met. Then, I simply cherished him as an individual, and we simply had a fantastic chemistry. I feel it was only a reinforcement of one thing that I’ve already felt, which is, you’re taking the work significantly, however are a form and funky individual. I feel seeing Jon on set simply type of bolstered that for those who’re somebody who really cares in regards to the work and the folks round them, you are going to do one thing particular.
Jon Voight in ‘High Ground’. Photo: Republic Pictures.
MF: Finally, Mr. Voight, at this level in your legendary profession, are you continue to having enjoyable making movies?
JV: Oh, positive. It’s all the time harmful, too. You by no means know the way issues are going to work out. So, once you come to the set, every scene has its personal calls for, and also you’re involved about it, but it surely’s enjoyable. That’s why we’re on this world. We fell in love with it at a sure level. We actually love to come back to the set and do that work and see if we will pull one thing off for the folks. So no, I have not misplaced any of the passion I had once I was younger, and I’m nonetheless very demanding, and I wish to see it work proper and all of that. I imply, it’s an fascinating factor about stunts. When anyone’s doing a number of stunts, you are involved for them. Sometimes younger actors, they wish to showcase, or they wish to show themselves. They’re not involved with a few of the issues that hold issues secure. It’s a hazard. But once you’re knowledgeable, there’s a little hazard on the set. These timings have to be proper and all of that, and you have to know the right way to fall and stuff like that. But anyway, the great ones, and Charlie’s one of many good ones, they care for every little thing, however they do the job. That’s an entire completely different space. You know, I’m an actor, however I even have finished numerous that different stuff, too. I actually admire the individuals who do it effectively.
When a mysterious prisoner lands in his jail, a border city sheriff faces the wrath of a brutal cartel. Read the Plot
What is the plot of ‘High Ground’?
When a mysterious prisoner (Henry Thomas) lands in his jail, a border city sheriff (Charlie Weber) faces the wrath of a brutal cartel.
Who is within the forged of ‘High Ground’?
- Charlie Weber as Jake Wilcott
- Jon Voight as Ezra Wilcott
- Katherine McNamara as Cassie Becker
- Henry Thomas as Nathaniel Matheson
- James Oliver Wheatley as Marcus Novak
Katherine McNamara in ‘High Ground’. Photo: Republic Pictures.
List of Movies and TV Shows Directed by James Bamford:
Buy Jon Voight Movies on Amazon
Content Source: www.moviefone.com