There are some reveals the place you simply wish to hand around in that world, and for me, Will Trent is one in every of them. From the primary episode, I used to be hooked and to be sincere, I kinda wish to be Will’s finest good friend.
Ramon Rodriguez, who stars as Will, laughed after I advised him that. “You wish to be Will’s finest good friend? That’s wonderful. I really like that,” he mentioned. “I don’t know if I wish to be his finest good friend… however he’s an attention-grabbing man, that’s for certain.”
In our dialog, he talked all about constructing the character, from the Southern cadence he created (impressed, partially, by Outkast’s Andre 3000), to Will’s beat-up sneakers and signature three-piece fits. He additionally obtained into how being concerned in casting has modified his perspective on appearing, and sure, we even talked The Wire. As a result of how may we not?
You’ve got this cadence for him that’s simply so addictive to my ear. How did you provide you with that? Is it as enjoyable to do as it’s for me to take heed to it?
Ramon Rodriguez: , it’s. It instantly dives me proper into him.
I’ve by no means actually created a Southern dialect and so after I learn the script and figuring out the place he was from, I needed to ensure he sounded just like the surroundings he was raised in, which was Atlanta and the foster care system there. So, I discovered an unbelievable dialect coach and began that course of.
And we had a few completely different concepts and we needed to search out some simply voices and sounds for inspiration and one that actually appeared to resonate was Andre 3000 from Outkast. And it wasn’t to form of duplicate, nevertheless it’s simply there’s a tonality, there’s a rhythm. And that really actually helped me and ultimately created the sound that I assume is now Will Trent.
It was an ideal entry and form of a basis, like a constructing block that I used to be like, it cracked him open in a manner that was actually useful.
And one other a part of that, actually, was his wardrobe. I don’t I don’t put on three items every day, so placing that on, I advised myself it was him placing on his armor, as a result of he’s somebody that form of retains his true self very near the chest. He likes to ensure he presents himself a sure manner, in order that was a giant half.
After which in his wardrobe, he has these horrible sneakers which are so outdated and beat up, which I really like a lot, since you take a look at these sneakers, and you recognize, this particular person’s lived a life. That they’ve a narrative.
I feel these are issues that I cherished early on after I learn the script, just like the handkerchief and the tape recorder. He’s obtained a throwback old fashioned vibe about him. After we had been doing the pilot, we referenced a whole lot of noir movies that simply provides it some texture and a few life.
Even when he’s not on the job, his garments really feel like one thing from a pair years in the past, like he hasn’t shopped for ages.
Ramon Rodriguez: I feel he’s form of caught in time, in the way in which he operates. He’s a really inflexible particular person. , he compartmentalizes a whole lot of issues and that’s form of how he’s coped with every thing that’s occurred in his life. I feel he’s nonetheless dwelling up to now in sure methods.
I imply, it wasn’t till this final season the place we lastly noticed him with an precise smartphone. He had a flip cellphone that was taped up. However I really like that, it was exhausting for me to surrender that flip cellphone, I’ve to be sincere, simply because it’s so distinctive, so awkward and telling. However I feel for somebody like him, it’s truly practical.
We needed to search out ways in which this character might be evolving and I assumed it was a lovely option to introduce… the aim of the cellphone is not only have a cool smartphone, it’s a manner for him to essentially settle for his dyslexia. And he’s utilizing it as a device, which he realized from his uncle Antonio in season two, who can also be dyslexic. And never solely that, it’s a connecting level to his mother, as a result of Eduardo solely speaks Spanish. So, he will get to proceed this new language that he was studying that’s rooted in his id to his mother.
And so I really like after we’re capable of have these artistic conversations with the writers and actually discover issues that anchor and aren’t simply, you recognize, for no explicit purpose.
Can you go out and in of the accent? Such as you don’t keep in all of it day, do you?
Ramon Rodriguez: No. However season one, I’ve to say I used to be positively far more.. it was a brand new sound, a brand new placement in my mouth and so I stayed in it greater than I positively did after season one. Season two, it was so great to have the ability to simply pop in and I felt actually simply far more snug in it.
Your entrances in each scene, they all the time appear so purposeful, particularly if you’re on the job. Like, it’s very prodding. Do you consider these beforehand?
Ramon Rodriguez: I imply, I don’t take into consideration all of the entrances, however crime scenes for him is like his sandlot. There’s a pair animals that I’ll form of reference generally after I give it some thought, however he’s entering into there with a really clear intention.
And I really like that he’s like a shark. He’s form of looking and scanning and issues a unique manner. Perhaps that’s why you form of sense that and really feel that, nevertheless it’s not one thing I’m all the time considering of like, “Oh, how am I going to enter the scene?” However there’s a motivation beneath that, that I discover actually attention-grabbing as a result of the man has a really distinctive viewpoint and perspective.
Typically there’ll be enjoyable issues the place he simply can be issues which will appear nonsensical, however there’s one thing behind it. And I really like that about him. It’s simply, he’s a bit awkward. He’s an odd cat, you recognize, he’s an odd cat. He beats his personal drum, walks his personal rhythm and I feel discovering that and with the ability to play in that, at the least for me, form of pulls me into him, which is cool.
You achieve this a lot on the present. You’re the lead, you’re one of many producers. You directed an episode earlier this season. How does that have an effect on your precise preparation on the appearing facet?
Ramon Rodriguez: Yeah. There’s not a whole lot of time; I’ll let you know that Lance.
It’s one of many issues that I feel most individuals might not really perceive if you’re sporting a number of hats. And even in the event you’re not, in the event you occur to be on a present and also you’re in a whole lot of scenes, time is proscribed. I do know individuals and God bless them which have that reminiscence the place they will take a look at their strains and so they obtained it. That’s not me. I’m gradual. I’m so gradual.
So, what meaning is that I’m usually having to stand up very, very early, manner earlier than my name time to start a technique of learning. As a result of by the tip of a shoot day, particularly if I’m working day-after-day, I’m fried, so it’s not going to essentially stick.
I’ve realized the morning is de facto sacred time for me. Very, very early within the morning. However there’s not a whole lot of time as a result of the manager producer title for me will not be an arrogance title, it’s one thing I take severely. I like being concerned in all of these discussions about each side of the present, music, administrators, scripts, casting. Each a part of it, I really like being concerned however that requires time.
Fortunately, I’ve gotten a bit bit higher and what I feel it’s, is that I’ve gotten extra snug with the character. I actually know him and so it might not take me as lengthy to course of and study dialogue.
While you’re getting ready within the early morning, are you continue to writing issues within the script, discovering motivations or what you wish to do within the scene?
Ramon Rodriguez: I’m not writing perhaps as a lot as I used to, however I’m positively writing issues down. If I confirmed you what my sides used to seem like, it’s loopy. It’s insanity. It’s like, there’s stuff in all places and drawings. Now there might not be as a lot of that, however there’s positively issues in there the place I’m making notes for certain.
One of many visitor stars this season was the man who performed Raphael, Antwayn Hopper. You two had been terrific collectively. Did that chemistry occur organically?
Ramon Rodriguez: He was launched within the premiere of season three, which I used to be capable of direct, which was unbelievable, and we launched two actually large new characters. One was Raphael, the opposite one was Marion Alba, Gina Rodriguez‘s character.
With Antwayn’s casting or Raphael’s casting, I bear in mind I noticed his tape and he actually stood out to me, and I mentioned, “Let’s deliver him again. Let’s do a name again.” All of us agreed as a result of we cherished him, we simply needed to see some completely different colours and take a look at another issues. And he got here again and did a name again and he crushed it. He simply crushed it.
The tough factor about our present, which I’m happy with, however it’s tough after we’re casting is we’re not simply form of a typical cop process. It offers with some heavy traumatic stuff and a few humorous stuff. So generally you’ve obtained to have the ability to form of juggle each. You’ve obtained to have the ability to have the talent set of with the ability to do comedy and drama. Not all people can do this. And Antwayn, I may see he had that.
The factor with that character is we didn’t wish to simply have a really form of one layered dangerous man, someone easy. We needed to have some complexity and nuance. We additionally needed to point out the historical past of what occurred, and that Raphael has one thing over Will. We simply don’t know what it’s, and we find out about it later.
I spent a whole lot of time with Antwayn. We talked and we rehearsed as a result of I needed to make it possible for it actually sang, that individuals may actually get behind it and go, “That man’s nice,” as a result of he’s nice and that they only perhaps needed to know extra concerning the character. Once more, it wasn’t a easy position, it was an advanced character the place we obtained to see vulnerability. We obtained to see depth and hazard.
All of these components and colours had been what we had been searching for and it was wonderful. That I obtained to direct his first episode and Gina’s first episode on the present and it was incredible.
Now that you just’re on the opposite facet of the desk and also you’re concerned within the casting, do you assume that’s helped you in any respect as an actor?
Ramon Rodriguez: It has. I’ve seen it earlier than. I’ve been part of casting and there’s little question. I imply, the one factor that’s so true and it truly is, man, when someone walks within the room, you in a short time can inform in the event that they’re it. It’s actually a sense that even emits over tape, which is handy. I do them as effectively.
Being on the opposite facet of it now, the place I do get to essentially have an enter within the course of and go, “Wow, that particular person is incredible. Perhaps they’re proper for it.” Or perhaps they’re not proper for that half particularly and we discover one thing else for them down the street. However they actually keep on our minds.
And that’s additionally if you’re relying in your casting administrators, which we’ve got incredible native and nationwide casting administrators. They get the present and the individuals they current to us are simply nice.
Being from Maryland, I feel I’m legally required to ask you about your position on among the finest reveals ever, The Wire. That was one in every of your first roles, proper?
Ramon Rodriguez: It was, completely. That is among the most unbelievable experiences in my profession, for sure. It’s one of many few jobs I saved all of the scripts to as a result of they’re that good.
I used to be spoiled. Such as you talked about, it was early in my profession, and I truly thought, “Oh, all TV should be like this if you get the scripts.” That’s positively not the case.
It was a extremely great expertise. Actually, I had the good fortune of working alongside what I actually imagine is among the best actors in Michael Kenneth Williams. I obtained to play his lover. That character, Omar, that he created is so stunning and compelling and simply fascinating. And he was so marvelous in different jobs as effectively that he did after that, however specifically for The Wire. So, I had the true honor that that was my scene companion. I joined in season 4. He’d already been on it for a number of seasons. So, it was actually nice.
And once more, take a look at how issues labored out. When Will Trent took place and I used to be on board as a producer and starring in it, we began speaking concerning the position of Amanda and who comes up, Sonja Sohn. And once more, one other particular person, Erika Christensen, I’m going manner again along with her.
However it was fairly nice to be reunited along with her. We’d by no means had scenes collectively, Sonia and I in The Wire, however we knew one another and we frolicked lots. We had a mutual good friend in Michael and different actors on the present. And so it was a extremely great expertise, man. I’m so proud that I obtained to be part of that present, figuring out how beloved it’s.
If for some purpose you would have Dominic West and Wendell Pierce on an episode, my head would explode.
Ramon Rodriguez: What was loopy is that I ended up truly working with Dominic on The Affair, that was one other full circle second. I’ve been having a whole lot of these the place I mentioned, “, in the event you stick round lengthy sufficient, you find yourself operating into of us.” And it was nice to work with him on that present.
The Wire has produced such unbelievable expertise. While you take a look at who got here from that present, it’s baffling. I’m a really small a part of that present, nevertheless it’s a credit score that I’m extremely happy with.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
