With writing and directing credit below his belt, Marshall Cook has established himself as a critical filmmaker, and now that he’s conquered the author’s room and the director’s chair, he’s able to dip his toe into the world of performing.
Despite having smaller roles in reveals from How I Met Your Mother to among the best Hulu reveals High Potential, new motion flick Shadow Force (2024) marks Cook’s first main performing gig, and it’s out for the world to see. But moving into the sneakers of an actor may be very completely different from being within the place of a author or director, and Cook is aware of this all too effectively.
The Joe Carnahan-directed motion film follows two former leaders of a particular forces group who lose their jobs because of falling in love. When they go underground to guard the lifetime of their son, the Shadow Force group closes in on them.
In addition to his first time working solely as an actor, Cook talks to me about his experiences on-set, together with a really humorous encounter with Kaitlin Olson whereas engaged on High Potential.
There’s a primary time for all the things
Marshall Cook has made a reputation for himself as a author and director, and whereas he’s had a number of TV appearances, Shadow Force marks Cook’s first time solely in an performing function. “I’ve at all times been a little bit of a filmmaker, I’ve worn two hats. But that is the primary time simply being an actor in a large-scale motion film”, he admits.
Going right into a manufacturing like this brings loads of strain, and stepping onto set for the primary time was an enormous change for Cook, to say the least, who recollects having “somewhat little bit of imposter syndrome” when first assembly co-stars Kerry Washington and Omar Sy. Quickly, the Shadow Force star felt this sense wash over, describing the forged as “a household affair from the start” who “actually calmed down any sort of nerves or imposter syndrome (I) had”.
Aside from establishing a strong work household on-set, filming in Bogota and Cartagena made Cook’s first expertise as a completely fledged actor on a mission unforgettable. “One factor I actually like about this film is that it is an journey the place you are feeling such as you go someplace”, says Cook.
Adding to his expertise on the dream-like set, Cook elaborates, “We shot this complete climactic scene on this tiny island in Cartagena. We drove up, we might go to set each morning, and you’ll’t see our set on the horizon, it is simply the ocean. There’s one thing about that I really feel will hopefully come by way of the film – simply that escapism that you simply search for”.
Balancing the directing and performing plates
“Acting is extra enjoyable, directing is extra fulfilling”, Cook admits after I requested him concerning the variations between the 2. Now that he has dabbled within the three most necessary roles of present enterprise – directing, writing, and performing – it has uncovered him to the completely different points of the artistic course of, permitting him to have a transparent imaginative and prescient of what he desires out of a future profession.
As far as performing goes, that is positively one thing that Cook is seeking to pursue extra of, who shared with me “it is my basis of writing, directing, producing, modifying, that makes me simply need to be a pleasure of an actor”.
But there’s not only one function that Cook has his eye on, and he needs to proceed taking any artistic alternative he can; “I feel my desire is no matter is occurring, and what (you are) really allowed to do in the meanwhile”. He’s retaining an open thoughts for positive.
Working on Hulu’s High Potential, and the following steps
Before engaged on manufacturing for Shadow Force, Cook made an look on High Potential starring Kaitlin Olson (It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia) – and I couldn’t cross up the possibility to dive into his experiences on set.
One of the primary issues the Shadow Force star remembers is the very first time he met Olson, pouring out his admiration for her as an leisure mogul; “I simply thought it was so cool, as a result of I’ve been such a fan for a very long time. First of all, she comes up, shakes my hand and says ‘thanks a lot for being on the present’, and I used to be like ‘Thank me? Thank you!’”.
It wasn’t simply Olson’s professionalism on set that Cook discovered endearing, highlighting her infectious character when she’s out of character, which revealed itself throughout a moderately humorous encounter.
“I did a extremely dangerous impression of her, as a result of we had an change and we have been laughing, after which I repeated a line she mentioned, after which I instantly was like ‘do not try this’. But she mentioned ‘No, that is nice. That’s what I sound like!’”
These are all experiences which have little question outfitted Cook with the products to enter extra performing roles sooner or later, and he’s already received one other Carnahan manufacturing on the best way, Not Without Hope. Based on a real story, it’s set for a September launch and gives a barely completely different expertise from Shadow Force.
Cook reveals, “I suppose the distinction is that it’s such an immersive film. In Shadow Force, I’m sprinkled all through the film, and Not Without Hope is actually my first main function in an enormous film. And it is my first time taking part in any individual who’s a real-life particular person, and so I actually hope that I did him justice”.
