Category Archives: Interview

Interview with Tim V. Murphy UPDATE!

Interview Timothy V. Murphy for NCISLA Magazine

UPDATE!

by Diane (@Phillydi)

Timothy V. Murphy loves staying busy so much that we had to grab him on the run for a short but sweet interview regarding his return to NCIS Los Angeles. With the opening episode of season five we may see the last of Sidorov, so we wanted to circle back and ask him some final questions about his return as the nasty villain we all love to hate. Here’s what he told us about his time spent on the set of NCIS Los Angeles:

Welcome back to the set and your return as Sidorov! Like Christopher Lambert’s Chameleon, you play one of the longest recurring villains in the history of the show. Were you able to develop this character a bit more over the course of last season and leading to the new season by working with the writers and cast?

Thank you! Yes, I was over in Monte Carlo this summer and met a lot of rich Russians I could base my character on and add to what was already there last season and what is in the script.

Those torture scenes got a lot of attention for a network television show. Were you surprised by some of the backlash from the fans and was there a lot of discussion on how to play the scenes with the director, Eric Christian Olsen and LL Cool J?

I actually didn’t see the backlash. There was not much of a discussion with the director but torturing people comes naturally to me 😉

We enjoy your work on Sons of Anarchy. What’s the difference working on a procedural show like NCISLA and a character driven one like SOA? Do you like one style better over the other?

It’s all acting…you just do it with confidence and believe you are the smartest one in the scene!

What was it like to return again to NCISLA to play this wonderfully layered and multi-dimensional character?

It was great…they are a great bunch of actors and crew…very welcoming

Sidorov was described (by Michael Synder) in the episode Rude Awakenings as a disciplined sociopath. How do you get into the mind of such a character?

I play “bad guys” but I don’t ever look on them as bad…they always have a reason for doing what they do.

Did you have to work with a language/dialogue coach?

There was a great dialect coach on set.

How do you prepare for a procedural drama such as NCISLA?

I read the script, learn my lines and treat the other actors with respect. They are so talented; they make my job very easy!

What was your experience working on the set with this group of actors and crew? Any stories you can share with our readers?

It was great working with Chris as a director. I’ve been a fan of his work since Circle of Friends and Scent of a Woman.

Can you tell us a little bit regarding your next role, The Frankenstein Theory and any projects you are currently working on?

The Frankenstein Theory is a found footage movie I shot in Alaska being released this month. I haven’t seen it yet but hopefully it’s scary! Also out in limited release this month a great film I actually shot a few years ago called The Treasure of the Black Jaguar. I love a good western and have a few coming out this year including Disney’s The Lone Ranger this summer and the indies To Hell With a Bullet and Hot Drink Stiff Bath. I just shot a wonderful short by the Funk Brothers called Looms in Osage, Iowa. Iowa in February is freezing! And in addition to going back on NCIS LA, I’m also shooting a spoof on Taken called Tooken and developing a TV show. I love staying busy!

Thanks go out to Timothy V. Murphy for taking some time out of his busy day to speak with NCISLA Magazine.

You can find out more about Tim by going to his IMDB site: Timothy V. Murphy

An Interview with Chris Bruno Exclusively for NCISLA Magazine!

Chris Bruno loves acting but lately he has found his passion in directing. The film and television actor best known for his role on the television series, The Dead Zone was a guest star this past season on NCIS Los Angeles playing the misdirected Dominic Fryman in the episode Purity. Besides film and television, Bruno has had a varied career that includes soaps, stand-up comedy and voice over work. He is currently working on his own production as writer and director for a new film called Remarkable Life. Let’s find out more about Chris Bruno….

Chris, you have stayed active in this business for a long while. How do you keep motivated and focused?

I keep motivated and focused because this business requires you to keep reinventing yourself and I always find it challenging to do so. It forces me to reevaluate myself and look deep inside to see how I can be a better artist and human being.

Why acting? What has pulled you towards this field?

Why acting? Well, I guess it took me a long time to realize that I was drawn to the madness of the business. It’s a bit like Jack Kerouac, We are the mad ones searching for the rush of something greater other than the ordinary. I am finally learning to accept that and embrace it rather than deny my own insanity. In LA we are the “Land of Misfit Toys”.

For your guest appearance on NCISLA, how do you get into the mind of a guy like Dominic Fryman? His heart is in the right place but the means of accomplishing his objective is all wrong.

Great question. Eric Lanueville the director and I had a conversation about it and we both felt the best way to play it was with justification. He fully believes he’s doing the right thing to make this world a better place.

You eventually worked with most of the cast. What was that like on set?

I loved Chris O’Donnell. He was very gracious and welcoming. Also LL is simply a star. If you didn’t know who he was and saw him walking down the street, you would say, “That guy is somebody”. He exudes stardom but is humble and funny. Learned a lot about how people carry themselves and what we give off to the universe.

You did some directing on the Dead Zone. Would you eventually like to do more?

I love directing and it’s my new passion. I feel the way about directing that I did about acting 20 years ago

Tell us a little bit about Remarkable Life, which you wrote, produced and directed.

In 2003, my cousin Vohn Regensberger and I did a film together that we shot for $60,000 when you couldn’t do a film for that money. Four years later we got a distribution deal. Ten years later he approached me with another script. He and I and Marie Avgeropoulos who was my girlfriend at the time, began a yearlong process of rewrites and eventually decided the film was ready to go. We went to picture on May 4th and wrapped at the end of the month. Eric Roberts played my Dad, my brother Dylan Bruno played my brother, imagine that, and Daphne Zuniga played my ex-wife. Mark Margolis from Breaking Bad also was amazing in the movie. And Marie played this twenty-something that opens my life up to self-discovery.

What’s up next for Chris Bruno?

My show Family Tools just got cancelled which sucks but it opened up the idea of doing comedy again so I might start doing more of that. I also wrote a pilot called World of Hurt that was currently optioned about a cop that infiltrates the biker gangs by fighting out of an MMA gym based on an autobiographical experience I had in Vancouver.

We appreciate Chris stopping by to answer our questions on NCISLA Magazine. We look forward to seeing Remarkable Life soon and all of Chris’ future endeavors!

Callen’s Corner: Bee.Eh.Vee Interview

Keviana: Hi! I’m grateful you’re taking time out of your day to talk to us!

Bee.Eh.Vee: No worries! I like to be productive while I procrastinate.

You are rumored to be very possessive of your tv time, as your bio states, “NCIS: LA (do not mess with my Deeks time, I will throw things)”… Tell us how you got hooked on the show.

My Mom liked JAG and I vaguely remember the final season, so when they spun NCIS off, we carried on watching and the same thing happened with NCIS:LA. However, NCIS:LA moved to being one of my favourite shows when they brought on Deeks. I think the humour his character provides balances out the show (as evidenced by Season 4 Episode 9 when he was missing).

For those not acquainted with your fan fiction “Brothers in Arms”, can you give us a quick summary?

Callen and Deeks are put undercover as arms-dealing brothers that were created by Eric and Nell for a cyber-sting that has moved into the real world. Naturally, it doesn’t go smoothly, and what should have been a simple bait-and-trap operation turns into something more dangerous. The chase to capture a group of Colombian guerrilla fighters, an assassin, and Deeks’ sanity takes them through LA, Colombia, and finally Mexico where a long walk in a big desert finally delivers justice.

It’s a fascinating story. What goals did you have in mind when you first began “Brothers in Arms”?

I don’t think I had completely thought out the whole idea. I wanted to write something creative instead of my usual research work and the first chapter just flowed out. I had the plot up to Chapter 10 planned out (it was supposed to end there) but the twist at the end wrote itself. I grabbed on and wrote the rest of it while flying by the seat of my pants.

My goal was to complete a story! I have the habit of starting a story, jumping to the middle, back to the start, write the ending, abandon it, come back, tweak stuff, and then never finish it. My brain apparently does not function in a straight line. I thought if people wanted more, it would be motivation to complete it.

It’s common knowledge that I am always on the lookout for fan fiction stories that take G Callen’s character through some interesting twists. The fact that you take Deeks and Callen undercover is nothing new. What IS new, in my humble opinion, is that you have them go lone wolf to finish the case, leaving behind their partners. (And Hetty.) What barriers did you have to overcome with Deeks and Callen’s personalities to get them to work together with such determination?

It’s an interesting dynamic, two people who are quite happy working on their own, deciding (together) to work together. I wanted to force a situation where their partners really couldn’t be involved and they were working with less supervision. That opened up the possibility for them to get more in tune with each other’s abilities.

The more I thought about it, the more similarities emerged between them. They have both spent a lot of time in undercover operations, have limited family ties, have a protective streak, and can think on their feet. Yes, Deeks is more of a goof and Callen tends to be more serious, but opposite personalities do work well together.

In the end, the formula was to take two people with similar motivations and skill sets, drop them into an intense situation, assume they’ll fall back on their go-to move (drop off the map and fix the problem themselves) and watch the fireworks.

And, fireworks there were. Would you like to see this platonic partnership played out on the show? Why?

I would like to see it on the show for several reasons. One, their back stories have similar elements and finding that common ground would add another layer to the show. Two, I think Chris O’Donnell and Eric Christian Olsen would portray it well. Three, I would finally get an answer to my burning question: if Sam and Kensi were in a car together, who would drive?

Haha, my guess is it’d be a stand-off! Okay, for us who adore the Callen side of things, tell us how you write him. What Callen-traits do you try to focus on?

As much as he seems to fight the idea of being a part of a team at times, he’s quite good at leading one. There was a lot of planning and being one or two steps ahead required in this story. In that way, he has hints of Hetty in him. He’ll take chances, like the one he took on Deeks’ cover. The other part of his character that I enjoyed playing with was that he has been in the business so long that he must know random people from different agencies scattered across the globe.

Tell us a little about the hilarious sequel to “Brothers in Arms”… Did you mean for it to be so funny?

My personal tag line for that one is “…and then hilarity ensues.”

That story bubbled out during a very stressful October that was followed by a very busy November when I spent a lot of time working with my hands, but my mind was free to roam. And when my mind wanders, it takes some wacky turns.

I cannot be completely serious, which I believe is why Deeks is close to my heart (that and I also style my hair with my pillow), and BiA was getting quite serious near the end. All the wackiness that was being stifled was released in the sequel. Kind of like an escaped un-tied balloon or a hot water heater with a faulty pressure valve (See: Mythbusters).

Are there any future lone wolf episodes currently planned for Deeks and Callen? Any rampaging plot bunnies?

Yes. The villain has been chosen, the early-story hook has been figured out, some scenes are bouncing around my head, but I’ll probably wait until the summer to start writing it. The first chapter picks up a couple weeks following Brothers in Arms: Hetty’s Revenge.

Thank you for making time for us. Glad we were able to catch up with you!

Always! It was fun to do.

Any parting words for aspiring fan fiction writers?

Cannonball in, save the story, and then go back a day later to re-read it. I like starting in the middle because it takes the “empty page/blinking cursor of doom” pressure off.

You can check out all of Bee.Eh.Vee’s writings here: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/4076310/Bee-Eh-Vee
Please note that the next adventure for Callen and Deeks is already in progress: “Fracture Pattern.” Be sure to leave her a review!

Callen’s Corner: @CallensGirl Interview

Keviana: When I think of die-hard Callen fans, I think of you, @CallensGirl. Thank you so much for agreeing to talk with us!

@CallensGirl: Thank you for thinking of me! I am honored!

As far as Callen fans go, on a scale of 1-10, where do you rank yourself? Have you always been at this level of adoration?

11! I have loved Callen since I found out he was one of Gibb’s boys. I think my level of adoration has grown with him as his character has developed.

Here’s the big question: what is so special about Callen that keeps you a fan?

His heart. He has this beautiful loyal heart! It makes him good at what he does. He may not have “family” by blood, but the team is his family and he takes that just as serious as he takes his job.

I love how you put that. What has been your favorite Callen adventure so far?

Well even though the first few seasons were by far the most heart wrenching for Callen, I really have to say that I loved his pursuit of the truth about his family and the ties to the Comescu family. I particularly liked his involvement once the Comescu came out at the end of the second season. I am a big fan of @craigryoung so it was fun to watch the stand down in season three with Dracul Comescu and Callen.

You gave me this as your “Favorite Callen Photo.”

I have so many favorites, but I have to say this photo is my FAVORITE favorite. It always makes me smile =)

Speaking of favorites… Do you have a favorite Sam and G moment?

SO MANY! But my favorite is when they are on the stake out and Callen is eating the tootsie pops and Sam is making the origami of all the different animals.

Tell us how your life has been affected by G Callen being in it for the last 4.2 years.

I most admire his strength and I think what truly touches my heart about Callen is his orphan heart. I identify with it and I am also drawn to it. As much as I want to give him a family I admire his strength for the lack of it. He reminds me to not take my family for granted and not just my birth family, but the family we meet along the way. A lot of us feel alone, even if we have family. He secludes himself at times, I do as well. So I get that. He validates my feelings with his reasons for why he does these things. He remains just as strong with people as he is alone.

That was beautifully awesome. So, for me, personally, I’ve developed a little bit more boldness over the years from watching G Callen face danger and not flinch. Has watching Callen helped develop any personality traits in you?

I think watching Callen has given me a deeper strength when I do stand alone. He knows how to stand strong and be who he is and that is enough for him. I like to think he has helped me to develop that same level of strength in who I am.

What one bit of wisdom would you like to leave all of Team Callen with?

Callen loves first. If you have watched all the seasons you can see this. Everything that he does comes from the loss of his family and the love he has for his team family. He is all about Familia, which is why I think Chris O’Donnell plays that well. He is about family too. While the actor may not have gone through a lot of what Callen has gone through, I think he has done him a lot of justice to make Callen an incredibly deep and passionate character while all the while keeping him strong and at times, very dangerous!

You can catch up with @CallensGirl on Twitter. Be sure and thank her for joining us!

Interview with Massi Furlan

This is our final interview for the season and we couldn’t have picked a more delightful or talented guy to end the year. Throughout the course of our time together, Massi Furlan had me smiling and laughing constantly with his wonderful stories and comments on the world in general and in particular his time spent on NCIS Los Angeles. Massi plays Mikhail Andros, one of a bevy of bad guys that the show has brought together for the explosive season finale.

A Renaissance kind of guy, Massi has dipped his toes in a number of different vocations, including time spent as a stand-up comedian, chef and flying helicopters…but his heart was calling him elsewhere. Massi finally decided to pursue a career in the performing arts and he’s never looked back again. With his ruggedly handsome looks and piercing stare, this Italian actor has managed to play his share of bad guys but would love to do more comedy as well. According to Massi he enjoyed keeping LL Cool J laughing between scenes as the two spent a lot of time working on the finale together. Let’s find out more about Massi…

Growing up in Italy, what pulled you towards the performing arts and how did you get started in the business?

In Italy I did many jobs. I was in the Army flying helicopters and then I was a stand up comedian. I was doing stand up for 30-40 minutes and my specialty was impersonating people, like actors, or a famous singers or the Pope. That was part of my routine. Then I moved to Miami in 1998. I had my brother in the restaurant business and I went there to help him out but I got tired of the business and I decided to go back to my passion which was to work in the entertainment business. So I did a couple of movies in Miami and I realized there wasn’t much going on in Miami and the right place to be was Hollywood. So I’ve been working since I moved here. I can’t complain. I’m very excited to be here.

You were in Dark Knight Rises, part of the Batman franchise…what was it like working with Christian Bale, and Tom Hardy, to name a few?

Tom Hardy is a super nice guy. It was my first big movie so I tried to be professional but he was always joking around with me. We had a great time. He is a nice person, great actor and beautiful human being. Alon Moni Aboutboul who was also in this picture worked with me in the final episode of NCISLA. He played the scientist in Dark Knight Rises and he is a very nice guy. He is from Israel and he told me that he is a big celebrity there and people always stop him in the streets but here no one knows him and it’s a big change for him. But he is a very talented actor. We have a scene together in the finale of NCISLA and have recurring roles in the show.

You have an interesting background as a stand-up comedian, chef, helicopter pilot and now actor. Seems like you live life to the fullest! Anything else you want to accomplish?

I want to sky dive! All my friends have done it including my brother but I haven’t done it yet! I would also like to shoot a movie in Australia and work with my number one, favorite actor, Sir Anthony Hopkins. On the female side there is Meryl Streep because she broke the mold.

Without giving any of the plot away, can you tell us about the character you play in your upcoming guest appearance on NCISLA? Who in the cast did you work with?

One detail I am very proud of is that the description of my character in the script was he was 6 foot tall, 2 inches, and Russian. My manager says that’s how good an actor Massi is because they were looking for a 6 foot tall Russian and he is a 5’11” tall Italian! I don’t know why but I play a lot of Russians. I work with Sidorov who is the wonderful, fantastic actor, Timothy Murphy and we have a very similar path in our career. He’s Irish and he plays Russians all the time too. So we have that in common. The guy is so good! I’m one of his men, Sidorov’s group of men. I also worked with Eric (Christian Olsen), LL Cool J, Christopher Lambert and they will never forget me. You will see how it ends…it is very epic! I had such fun making LL Cool J laugh. I told him I was a comedian!

Massi Furlan, center @cbs

What was your experience like on the NCISLA set and can you share any great stories you took away with you working with the cast and crew?

It was great! Everybody was very nice from the first PA to the Director. They were all working together with the writer…fantastic writer, Frank Military, and he was on set working constantly with the producers and the director. Some directors want to make all the calls but working together with Terrance O’Hara was beautiful. He would always ask if we wanted to change anything and this crew has all been working together for many years on the set so the chemistry between everybody was fantastic. In fact on the last day he gave me a hug and it was nice to be appreciated that you did a great job. That was the first time a director ever hugged me! I have a quote I live by: It’s a sign of mediocrity when you demonstrate gratitude with moderation. He really appreciated your work and showed it. Everyone was super cool.

What’s up next for Massi? Tell us about your next projects.

I am funny and I want to do more comedy. I would love to do a show like Modern Family because it is a very funny show too. But finally after five years I have a big audition tomorrow with another very big show. (More to come about that later!). I also have a movie coming out called Blood of Redemption, I play a Serbian guy and it looks great.
We would like to thank Massi for the delightful time he spent talking to NCISLA Magazine and we wish him well as he follows his dream of one day working with Anthony Hopkins! We hope to see him return to our pages soon!

You can follow Massi on Twitter: @Massi_bos
Or on his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/massifurlanactor