TV Interview!
Interview with Josha Stradowski and Marcus Rutherford of “Wheel of Time” on Amazon Prime by Suzanne 10/6/21
This was a fun interview with these young men. I had watched a few of the episodes the previous night, so it was great to meet them and two of the other actors who star in the show. We only had a brief interview with them, and there were other journalists asking questions as well.
Josha: It looks tropical over there, more tropical than here in Prague.
Suzanne: Yeah, yeah, this is a fake background. Where are you guys?
Marcus: We’re in Prague at the moment.
Suzanne: Still there. Are you still filming the first season?
Marcus: Season Two.
Suzanne: Oh, you started on season two already? Oh, that’s great. That was one of my questions. So, had you read the books before you started filming?
Marcus: I hadn’t. I hadn’t heard of the books, but as soon as I kind of got the part, I was blown away that I actually hadn’t, because it’s so highly regarded, and there’re so many copies; like ninety million copies have been sold. So, yeah, I quickly started reading The Eye of the World and The Great Hunt before we did season [one].
Josha: Yes, same. When I got the part, I started reading the next day. I haven’t finished it yet. I’m on book eleven now. I’m climbing that mountain. I’m not at the top yet, but the view from up here’s pretty good around.
Marcus: [laughs] Sound bite.
Suzanne: And as a follow up, do you know how closely the series follow the books?
Josha: Well, it’s not a one on one adaption, but I’m sure that it does the book justice. It takes the fundamentals, the essentials of the book, 100%.
Suzanne: Okay, great. I’ll let someone else have a chance.
Question: [For] Perrin, I guess, Marcus, you mentioned that you haven’t really read the books, but Perrin’s an axe wielder himself. Rand, in the early episodes, uses a bow often and then moves more to be a sword master. So, what was it like training with those weapons? Is that something you’ve ever done before, or was it completely new to you?
Marcus: Yeah, it was pretty new to me, but I think, when we started, we had quite an intense sort of stunts workshop. I think in that first episode, it kind of kicks off quite a lot. So, we all had those fight scenes to work with, but yeah, it was really cool to kind of work with an axe. I think, obviously, it’s something that Perrin has a particular relationship with, as we kind of move forward, but from the offset, to kind of work with that particular weapon, was really, really cool.
Josha: I had some sword fighting in drama school, but it didn’t feel like was very useful, because this kind of sword fighting we did was definitely more vicious. But, I guess, like you said, first round [he’s] more familiar with the bow and arrow, so I had archery training, and later on, when we all started, we all had sword-fighting training.
Question: How long did it take for you guys to shoot the Trolloc attack in the Two Rivers?
Josha: I mean, I think the bit of Daniel only took a week on itself.
Marcus: Yeah.
Josha: It took really long.
Marcus: Yeah, Daniel and Rosamund had a lot. They had like the bad short straw in terms of like how many nights shoots they had. I think, overall, I don’t know how many, but it was weeks.
Josha: Yeah, a couple of weeks, I think.
Marcus: A couple of weeks or like three weeks. It was lots of different kind of battles all kind of like merging into one. So, when you kind of see it – we saw episode one – it’s amazing how they jump in between. But I remember walking around Prague, having days off, [being] like, “Who’s filming now?” and it was Rosamund and Daniel [who] were still doing that battle. So, yeah, they did amazing.
Question: Whether you’ve read the books or not, I think it maybe doesn’t even matter, this does a great job of explaining it, but like some of the best sci-fi, even though it’s a fantastical world, there are things that we can learn or things that we can get out of this that are parallel to our lives. So, what is it that you suppose people will will sort of think about or take away that’s relevant to us as well?
Marcus: I do think the aspect of like – within the magical system of The Wheel of Time, kind of that male superiority is kind of flipped with the fact that only certain women are allowed to access magic. I think that is just something that’s quite cool to see on screen and something to think about, you know, if that power dynamic had been altered in that way. What would a world look like, if men were, to put it, the underdogs, essentially. So, I think that’s something that you can kind of think about in a contemporary aspect as well.
Josha: Yeah, and on top of that, I guess, because the world of The Wheel of Time is so, so big in so many different groups of people, cultures, different beliefs, and it’s just as hyper polarized and divided as our world is. I guess, the whole show of The Wheel of Time is about finding finding that balance. I think that nowadays, in this time, that is something that will be interesting to see, for people.
Question: I want to ask you both, you both, especially Perrin, is carrying some baggage and some other feelings, but Rand is also carrying some things as well. Talk about that layer of your character. And I will say, speaking to Robert Jordan in 94, that he said a little bit of King Arthur is in Rand, by the way.
Josha: That’s nice.
Marcus: Yeah. Just a little bit.
Josha: The Messias, yeah.
Marcus: Yeah, I think in terms of that baggage or what they kind of take with them, I think, for Perrin, especially, from from the start he has a particular relationship with violence, and it’s kind of brought to him in quite an ugly way early on, and I think it’s something that he carries throughout season one. It’s something that kind of is on his mind a lot and something that he’s very deeply affected by, and he has a lot of feelings of guilt surrounding [him]. Violence seems to keep on coming into his world, and he has realize, does he embrace kind of this animalistic side to him or is there a civilized way that he can maneuver through this world that Moiraine’s kind of dragged them into.
Josha: I think with Rand throughout this story, you know, this bag will become heavier and heavier; more weight is being added throughout this story. And I hope you will see what it costs not only Rand, but of all these characters, and I guess, all of these characters have to sacrifice bits and pieces of who they were in order to do what’s right. But, at first, it starts in the Two Rivers, and, yeah, that’s where we have to start first, before we go on this great arc.
Question: There’re a lot of fantasy adaptations coming out right now, as streamers build up their libraries and are looking for things to jump on to, and that means there’s a lot of options for people to watch fantasy now. So, if I’m someone coming from this, and I watched three back to back trailers for fantasy shows with sweeping vistas and gorgeous magic and special effects, what makes The Wheel of Time stand out for that person? Why is this one special, both for you, and in fantasy in general?
Josha: The Wheel of Time is such a rich world with so much complexity, and the books are known for that. It’s not for no reason that ninety million copies have been sold. Apparently, there’s something in it that people can relate to that touches them. And what that is, for me, is besides that in this world of The Wheel of Time, women are the ones who are in control, if men use the One Power, they abuse it, or the fact that it’s not simply black and white, good against evil. It’s all shades of grey in between. Now, for me, what really makes this stand out, is the characters and that you start to care for these characters and that they’re real. They’re no heroes; they have to go on this mission they never sign up for. You can see their failures and their fears and what it costs of them, the sacrifice they have to make. I think that’s what makes The Wheel of Time special, for me, at least.
Marcus: And that global cast, man, I think being able to see that they’ve been able to cast people from every corner of the planet, really experienced actors, new actors, exciting actors who’ve worked in all different fields coming together on one show like this, I think is very, very special and I think reflects how expansive the world is in the books as well, which is really, really cool.
Question: The action scenes are so amazing in the series; talk about a scene that was the most difficult for you to achieve and what it was and how you dealt with that kind of scale and size of the production that you’ve got here and how you dealt with those issues.
Marcus: In terms of like, I mean, there wasn’t too too many bumps in the road, but I think, that first episode, it was just so new to us, everything. So, I think to have a first episode where you’ve got a lot of stunts, and all the characters are involved, you’ve got a lot of background artists, supporting artists, a whole village needs to be built, and then you’ve got a big action scene on top of that, as well. And you’re very new to finding out these characters, and you’ve got very key moments that kind of lay the foundations for these characters. It’s a weird kind of amalgamation of a lot of things happening at once. So, I think that was quite daunting, but I think it was probably the best way to start the show, because it kind of set the tone…The audience will realize in that first episode that it all kind of kicks off quite quickly. And I think for actors on that film in that first episode, it meant that we had to get a grasp of those characters, their trajectories, and what they’re really like, in the books as well.
Question: You, Josha?
Josha: I couldn’t have said it better.
Here is the video!
Interview Transcribed by Jamie of http://www.scifivision.com
MORE INFO:
Josha Stradowski is a Dutch actor. He is known for his role as ‘Joris’ in the Dutch film Gewoon Vrienden (2018) and ‘Rand Al’ Thor’ the American television series The Wheel of Time (2021). He started acting as a kid in musicals like The Sound of Music and Ciske de Rat and began playing roles in television as a teenager. He graduated from the AHK theatre school in Amsterdam and worked on multiple plays such as Oedipus directed by Robert Icke at Ivo van Hove’s theater company ITA in 2018. He recently completed filming on a new series. He also played the lead role in an indie feature film, Just Friends, for which he and the film received a number of awards on the international film festival circuit.
Marcus Rutherford is an actor, known for County Lines (2019) and Obey (2018). He is an English actor who will portray Perrin Aybara on Prime Video‘s The Wheel of Time. Rutherford’s casting was announced on August 14, 2019.[1] Showrunner Rafe Judkins stated his character was the hardest to write.
The Wheel of Time is one of the most popular and enduring fantasy series of all time, with more than 90 million books sold. Set in a sprawling, epic world where magic exists and only certain women are allowed to access it, the story follows Moiraine (Rosamund Pike), a member of the incredibly powerful all-female organization called the Aes Sedai, as she arrives in the small town of Two Rivers. There, she embarks on a dangerous, world-spanning journey with five young men and women, one of whom is prophesied to be the Dragon Reborn, who will either save or destroy humanity.
Based on Robert Jordan’s best-selling fantasy novels, The Wheel of Time was adapted for television by executive producer/showrunner Rafe Judkins. Larry Mondragon and Rick Selvage of iwot productions, Mike Weber, Ted Field of Radar Pictures, Darren Lemke, Marigo Kehoe, and Uta Briesewitz will also serve as executive producers, with Briesewitz set to direct the first two episodes. Rosamund Pike will serve as producer and Harriet McDougal and Brandon Sanderson as consulting producers. The Wheel of Time is co-produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television.
Rafe Judkins, Larry Mondragon, Rick Selvage, Mike Weber, Ted Field, Darren Lemke, Marigo Kehoe, and Uta Briesewitz
Rafe Judkins
Uta Briesewitz, Wayne Che Yip, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Ciaran Donnelly
Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television
Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney, Josha Stradowski, Madeleine Madden, Marcus Rutherford, Zoë Robins, Barney Harris
-
Credits
Directed By
Uta Briesewitz, Wayne Che Yip, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Ciaran DonnellyProduced By
Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures TelevisionCast
Rosamund Pike – Moiraine Damodred
Daniel Henney – Lan Mondragoran
Josha Stradowski – Rand al’Thor
Madeleine Madden – Egwene al’Vere
Marcus Rutherford – Perrin Aybara
Zoë Robins – Nynaeve al’Meara
Barney Harris – Mat CauthonExecutive Producers
Rafe Judkins, Larry Mondragon, Rick Selvage, Mike Weber, Ted Field, Darren Lemke, Marigo Kehoe, and Uta BriesewitzDeveloped By
Rafe Judkins
Prime Video Debuts Official Trailer for The Wheel of Time With First-of-Its-Kind YouTube Experience
Utilizing YouTube’s 360 player and spatial audio surround sound, The Wheel of Time trailer offers fans an immersive experience that allows them to view the traditional 2-D trailer in a virtual, three-dimensional “wheel”
The world-building fantasy series from Sony Pictures Television will premiere globally
November 19 on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide
Watch Official Trailer HERE
CULVER CITY, California—October 27, 2021—Prime Video today released the official trailer for upcoming fantasy series The Wheel of Time, based on the best-selling book series. The first three episodes of Season One will premiere Friday, November 19, with new episodes available each Friday following, leading up to the season finale on December 24.
Utilizing YouTube’s 360 player and spatial audio surround sound, Prime Video debuted the official trailer for The Wheel of Time in a first-of-its-kind immersive experience that allows fans to view the traditional 2-D trailer in a virtual three-dimensional “wheel.” When fans arrive at the YouTube page to watch the trailer, a quick scan to the left or right will reveal there is much more to experience. To the left of the screen, they’ll discover Moiraine’s (Rosamund Pike) powerful “One Power” channeling—featuring her voice and faces, artifacts, and symbols hidden amongst the energy weaves. On the right, the corruption of the Dark One represents a dissention into madness. The trailer also features spatial audio that gives fans a more immersive experience as objects appear from either side of the “wheel.” The result is a unique utilization of existing technology that creates a trailer experience unlike any other—one that offers multiple viewing experiences for fans of the series.
About The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time is one of the most popular and enduring fantasy series of all time, with more than 90 million books sold. Set in a sprawling, epic world where magic exists and only certain women are allowed to access it, the story follows Moiraine (Rosamund Pike), a member of the incredibly powerful all-female organization called the Aes Sedai, as she arrives in the small town of Two Rivers. There, she embarks on a dangerous, world-spanning journey with five young men and women, one of whom is prophesied to be the Dragon Reborn, who will either save or destroy humanity.
Based on Robert Jordan’s best-selling fantasy novels, The Wheel of Time was adapted for television by executive producer/showrunner Rafe Judkins. Larry Mondragon and Rick Selvage of iwot productions, Mike Weber, Ted Field of Radar Pictures, Darren Lemke, Marigo Kehoe, and Uta Briesewitz will also serve as executive producers, with Briesewitz set to direct the first two episodes. Rosamund Pike will serve as producer and Harriet McDougal and Brandon Sanderson as consulting producers. The Wheel of Time is co-produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television.
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About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is one of the television industry’s leading content providers, producing, distributing and carrying programming worldwide in every genre and for every platform. In addition to managing one of the industry’s largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, SPT is home to a thriving global content business, operating a robust portfolio of wholly-owned and joint-venture production companies across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, as well as linear and digital channels around the world. SPT is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation.
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Proofread and Edited by Brenda