Hassie Harrison & Josh Heuston chat about Dangerous Animals, one-liners and Jair Courtney going craz

Summary

In this behind-the-scenes interview, the actors reflect on the challenges and experiences of filming, from swimming with sharks to executing action-packed sequences. They share the camaraderie they built, the preparation for harness scenes, and the intense work of playing complex characters. Special attention is given to the incredible talent of their co-star Jai, and the fun of working on a self-aware, genre-savvy film. The interview also touches on the memorable one-liners and references that make the movie unique, with a nod to iconic films like Pulp Fiction and Terminator.

Takeaways

• 😀 The relationship between the actors, Hassi and Josh, was essential for making the narrative compelling and believable.
• 😀 Josh found the harness scenes the most challenging part of the preparation, requiring multiple days of being dangled over the ocean.
• 😀 Jai helped Josh by testing the harness and offering advice on adjustments, easing Josh's experience with the harness.
• 😀 In the audition process, being a strong swimmer was a prerequisite for the actors, particularly because they would be working in the ocean.
• 😀 There was an assumption that Jai, being Australian, would be fine with the water scenes due to his background.
• 😀 Watching Jai's transformation from a villain to a more relaxed, jovial person behind the scenes was a fascinating experience for Josh.
• 😀 Josh was impressed by Jai's ability to switch between a menacing villain and a funny, caring person effortlessly.
• 😀 Josh's character has a memorable, action-packed one-liner at the end of the film, which he found to be a cool and fun moment.
• 😀 The film winks at itself and has a self-awareness of the action genre, thanks to the creative influence of the writer and director.
• 😀 The director, Sean Burn, drew inspiration from classic films like Pulp Fiction, giving the movie a rich, genre-savvy feel.

Q & A

What was Josh's biggest challenge while preparing for the role in the film?

Josh's biggest challenge was preparing for the harness scenes, where he had to be dangled over the ocean. Despite the difficulty, he found the experience enjoyable after overcoming the initial hurdles.

How did Josh and Hassi build their on-screen relationship?

Josh and Hassi quickly became fast friends, which made it easier for them to develop a natural and believable relationship between their characters on screen.

What aspect of the movie did Josh enjoy most?

Josh enjoyed the self-aware nature of the movie, especially the way it winks at itself, acknowledging the genre. He also appreciated the opportunity to deliver a 'badass' action line, which added excitement to his role.

What did Josh think about Jai's acting skills?

Josh was highly impressed with Jai’s acting abilities. He noted that Jai could easily switch between playing a menacing villain and a relaxed, friendly character, making him a versatile and dynamic actor.

How did Jai help Josh with the harness scenes?

Jai helped Josh by being the first to get into the harness, testing it out and providing valuable feedback. He suggested adjustments, such as adding padding and changing the center of gravity, which made the process smoother when it was Josh's turn.

What was the atmosphere like on set between the actors?

The atmosphere on set was friendly and playful. Despite the intense scenes, the actors often shared jokes and showed camaraderie, with Jai even cracking jokes and offering hugs between takes.

What did Josh think about the action line he delivered at the end of the film?

Josh was excited about delivering his action line, describing it as 'badass.' He found it fun and memorable, and it added to the action-packed nature of the film.

How did the film's genre awareness impact Josh's experience?

Josh appreciated the film's self-aware approach, which played on genre tropes and added a layer of fun. He mentioned how the director, Sean Burn, brought a wealth of movie knowledge to the project, drawing inspiration from iconic films like 'Pulp Fiction.'

Was swimming a required skill for the actors in this film?

Yes, being a strong swimmer was a prerequisite for the film. The casting call specifically mentioned that the actors needed to be able to handle water scenes, which was important given the ocean-based settings of the movie.

How did Josh feel about the physical challenges of working in the ocean?

Although Josh didn't express dread about the physical challenges of working in the ocean, he recognized them as significant, with the harness scenes being especially daunting. However, he found the experience rewarding and fun after getting past the initial difficulties.