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Your new movie The R.I.P
Man - in a few words, what's it about?
It’s about a killer with a rare oral gum disease targeting a specific
group of friends, killing them one by one and extracting and taking a
single tooth from each victim as a trophy. All the while a detective is
slowly unveiling a disturbing back story as to why these events are taking
place. What
did you draw upon to bring your character to life, and how much Owen
Llewelyn can we find in Alden?
I used to work in scare maze in London for many years so was very used to
playing physically intimidating and scary characters, so some of becoming
a character like this was already deep rooted into my performing
repertoire. But Rhys Thompson [Rhys
Thompson interview - click here], the writer and creator of the character, gave me
references to base the character on too. He wanted presence and movement
inspired by Klaus Kinski’s Nosferatu, and the visceral facial expressions
from The Ripper in Last Action Hero. So I made sure to study both of those
and add elements of each to the character. As far from parts of myself in
the character, I would say there are none. Its a complete detachment from
myself, and I enjoy that most when playing a character. I find it freeing.
With Alden being
essentially a homicidal psychopath, how much fun is it to play a role like
that where you can (at least occasionally) let all restraint go?
It can be quite fun. With Alden being a mute, everything Alden expresses is
with his face and body movement. So, yes there is a lot less restraint to
playing him and the performance can be quite freeing. It is a more
solitary experience on set though. Alden is in a lot of constant pain with
his oral condition so there is a degree of ‘staying in the zone’ on set
and between takes which makes me a lot less social than I would normally
be in order to keep myself fully immersed in the character.
As Alden, you wear a lot of makeup in
The R.I.P Man - so
what did that feel like, and how did it inform your performance?
The make up I barely notice. As stated about I used to work in a scare
maze so was in full horror make up day in day out for many years. It only
really has any effect on me when I would look in the mirror and see
someone I don’t recognise. The mouthguard however definitely helps my
performance as it its very uncomfortable and restricts your ability to
talk. Definitely makes me feel like more of a monster.
How did you get involved with the project in the first place,
what drew you to it? I knew the director Jamie Langlands [Jamie
Langlands interview - click here] from working on previous projects over
the years and he became a friend of mine I knew socially. I had actually
pretty much given up acting since the Covid pandemic in 2020 stopped
everything and I was focussing on another career. Jamie contacted me out
of nowhere one day just asking if I was interested in playing the title
character in the film and sent me the script. I pretty much immediately
said yes. I have always been a huge horror fan so this has definitely been a
life goal accomplished to finally be involved in one.
To what degree could you
identify with The R.I.P Man's
approach to horror, and is this a genre you can reate to?
I think attacking the mouth is something that makes most people feel
uncomfortable, it's a very personal area. I certainly can relate to the
discomfort the victims must feel and I imagine a lot of the audience can
too. The idea of someone going into your mouth with a full sized drill
tool is horrendous! Do talk about The R.I.P
Man's director Jamie Langlands, and what was your collaboration like?
Jamie is very easy to work for. He is very calm and direct with his
instructions and creates a great atmosphere on set. Sometimes things went
technically wrong on set but never saw him change from his calm demeanor,
no matter how stressed me may have been feeling inside at the time. Which
is a fantastic ability to have for everyone involved.
A few words about the shoot as
such, and the on-set atmosphere? On set atmosphere was all round great. A really lovely group of people to
be working with. I felt I got on well with every cast and crew member
involved and even on the tougher and more gruelling locations, it was
always a positive experience. Any future
projects you'd like to share? I am one of the leads in
an upcoming mockumentary film called Ghoul
Squad by Richard Anthony Dunford [Richard
Anthony Dunford interview - click here]. I absolutely love this film and
recommend everyone checking it out when they get the chance. It also
features Jamie Langlands, Jasmine Kheen and Charlotte Marshall from The R.I.P Man. What got you into
acting in the first place, and did you receive any formal education on the
subject? I got into acting when i was 12 when it became a separate subject at
school. I started getting compliments from my drama teacher for my
performances and it started to make me think if this is something I wanted
to do. I had also recently started to become a big movie fan at this time
so my dream eventually fell into place. I have since muddled my way
through film and theatre over the years until i am where I am now. I
studied at City Lit Drama School in London.
What can you tell us about your filmwork
prior to The R.I.P Man?
I was in my first feature film in 2009 in a very low budget urban drama
called Fit-Boy. I was one of the main characters in that which was a fun
start. I have had small roles in various feature films over the years, a
lot of the time playing villains and policemen. Been involved in many
shorts and student films too like a lot of actors do. Some I still look
back on and am really proud of.
How would you describe yourself as an actor, and some of your
techniques to bring your characters to life?
I am certainly one that likes to completely transform when taking on a
role. The less of myself I can carry over into a role, the more confident
I feel in the character. My favourite roles I have ever taken on are the
ones where when I originally looked at the script, I thought ‘How am I
ever going to become this convincingly?’ I think the journey to becoming
something that isn’t at all you is one of the most fun and rewarding parts
of the craft of being an actor. Actors
(and indeed actresses) who inspire you? Gary Oldman and Tim Roth have always been the two actors I admire the
most. Their ability to completely transform with almost every performance
they have given to the point they are sometimes unrecognisable I find
incredible. Your favourite movies? Jonathan
Demme’s Something Wild has always been my all time favourite
film. I watch it every few years as a special occasion. The quirky comedy
turned thriller dynamic of the film makes it something truly unique and
memorable. Other favourites of mine are
The Thing,
Leon, Gremlins 2, Pulp
Fiction and Airheads. ... and of course, films you really deplore?
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I try to forget those ones… but I think the film I liked the very least of all was called Night of Something Strange. It was just crass and gross
for the sake of it and thoroughly unenjoyable.
Your website, socilal media,
whatever else? Please find me @owenllewelyn on
Instagram and @owen_llewelyn on Twitter. Andything else you're dying to
mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? Just to please check out The R.I.P Man now on Amazon and Apple TV and
please keep an eye out for R.I.P Man 2 in the near future.
Thanks for the interview! |
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amazon.co.uk
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