In this interview, CollidersSteve Weintraubtalks with Hinkey and Lightfoot-Leon about the making of the Netflix series.
The “Pete Berg-key in Beat…
Turned Out To Be Really Intense
Every day, for me, just surpassed the day before.
Image via Netflix
COLLIDER:I’ve watched the whole thing.
I really want to say congratulations.
You guys did such great work with this.
Image via Netflix
SAURA LIGHTFOOT-LEON: Thank you.
I know how movies and TV shows are made.
This had to have been a very intense shoot and difficult with all the elements.
Image via Netflix
Would you both say that this is the hardest thing you’ve worked on?
LIGHTFOOT-LEON: I’d say in some respects, definitely.
I was wearing a 12kg woolen dress, which was useful against the cold.
Image via Netflix
It’s ruthless, but it also gives you a lot for free.
DEREK HINKEY: I consider myself an athlete; I was a professional fighter before this.
So I was telling the AD, Shh, I might keep smashing the Gatorade.
It follows the gritty and adventurous exploration of the birth of the American West, the violent collisions of cults, religion, and men and women fighting for control of the new world.
I need this ‘cause I’m getting a cramp.
It was super intense.
Allow Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin to welcome you to your newest gritty Western obsession.
And was there anything circled in terms of, How the F are we gonna film this?
But honestly, every day was just, like, “Wow, we did that.
Wow, that was created.
LIGHTFOOT-LEON: That’s a good point.
I don’t want to spoil too much, but the ritualistic scenes.
That was a big moment.
It stayed with me.
Yeah, as I said, the stuff between you guys is fantastic.
I’d never shot a gun before.
Derek, I read that you stayed in character from when you got to set to when you left.
Is that true or not true?
HINKEY: Very true.
I segregated myself a lot and kind of did my own thing.
Hey Saura, don’t be walking around Santa Fe.
You have my number; c’mon use it.
You need anything, I’m here.
I was totally happy.
Saura, I definitely want to talk about some of the action.
LIGHTFOOT-LEON: It is, yeah, but I love a challenge.
[Laughs] I really do.
You tell me jump, I say, How high?
And with Pete, it was that from the beginning.
He was like, Are you healthy?
I’d never shot a gun before.
It was really tough, though.
The Human Experience Behind American Primeval
I love learning about how actors prepare to film something.
LIGHTFOOT-LEON: I personally need to do a lot of research.
It also changes from project to project.
HINKEY: For me, a lot of it was just genetic memory.
I have a skill set, I know my craft, and I know how to go about that.
Actually, speaking of the war paint, can you talk about its significance?
I read that it is very significant.
HINKEY: Yeah, absolutely.
Big love to Howard [Berger] and Johnny [Villanueva].
They worked with me on that.
They let me be me.
Initially, my character, when he was a little boy, his name was Wide Smile.
I’m covered, and my tears now are lightning bolts.
That authenticity, I think Peter did a great job allowing all this to happen.
LIGHTFOOT-LEON: I would say it’s a roller coaster, definitely.
Audiences will probably go through an emotional journey through the show.
HINKEY: Yeah, same boat.
I really want them to understand the realness and the rawness of what went on.
American Primevalis now streaming on Netflix.
