Words: Gareth Roberts,
Photographs: courtesy Paddy Considine
British TV can’t seem to stop delivering cracking drama as of late and ITV is currently the leader of the pack repeatedly delivering hugley popular series such as Downton Abbey and Marchlands, wowing viewers and critics alike. However, none has had a greater audience so far this year as 'The Suspicions of Mr Whicher' staring Paddy as the eponymous Mr Whicher. Whicher had just shy of 7 Million viewers for it's TV premiere during the Easter bank holiday weekend, as figure so impressive that ITV are rumoured to have recently ordered a second series. We caught up with Paddy, riding the wave of enthusiasim from Whicher into his next directorial project 'The Leaning'. Is he enjoying the smooth switch between Film and TV? I have my suspicions...
Mr Whicher got close to 7 million viewers making it the most viewed and most popular program on British TV for the Easter Weekend slot. How does that feel knowing so many people were watching and enjoying it?
It's great. On the whole people loved it. It's just straight up storytelling with themes that people identify. That's all you really need. Some fans of the book were critical, but that's always going to happen. I love it when people say "Victorians wouldn't act like that!", like they were actually there! Some had problems with me as the choice for Whicher, but then some people have problems putting their shoes on the right feet. It's a success, and too many people enjoyed it for me to be critical about myself.
Have the viewing figures and the positive response to it tempted you (or the producers) to take a second look at Whicher with any mind to follow ups? would you play Whicher again?
I think it's had the biggest viewing figures of a drama so far this year. I think, so yes there is talk of a follow-up. I'd love to play him again. It'll work if it is approached with the same conviction and respect as this one. If the tone is different or the quality drops then it would be a mistake to make another. I think the team are really excited by it so I think they'll give it the attention it deserves
Have you met the original books author [Kate Summerscale]? Do you have any idea how she took to you as her Whicher? Did she has any input in your taking or being given the role?
I met Kate very briefly on set. I didn't get to say an awful lot to her, but I think she should be involved in the next chapter. I really do. I've no idea if she thought I was any good as Whicher.
You're known for being careful over the roles you play
and other than the obvious similarities to Red Riding's Peter Hunter what was it that attracted you to the role of Whicher?
I'm just careful that two out of three roles are worth doing. Some aren't. I have an eye on quality and an eye on the mortgage. One for the money, two for the showreel. Whicher was a quality piece and I thought I could bring something to it. I guess there are similarities, but that's the luck of the draw. I have to depend on the roles that are coming through my door, whether it's TV or film. I can't pick and choose as easily as people think. i can only work with what's out there. With Whicher there was a strong sense of truth about him, of conviction. It's about a fallen hero. A man who was right in his suspicions, but was made an outcast because those suspicions upset the status quo. That's all I need. It's classic stuff.
I think whicher is to date the 4th police officer or detective you've played. Is there something about lawmen that draw you to the roles or is it more a fact that we so love crime drama in the UK and there's a lot more roles on offer?
It's pure coincidence. I don't even think about it like that. they're just roles. You're right, there are similarities in these characters. I guess I don't like corruption and injustice. Of any kind. Themes like that go back to Dead Man's shoes.
ome of your most popular and most viewed work has been broadcast into peoples homes (Red Riding for example) with a lot of people actually seeing your movie releases for the first time in their own homes. You seem to have a good relationship with Film 4,BBC and now ITV, How do you feel about TV as a medium compared to The big screen?
I think it's just attitudes. We seem to think that TV is the launch pad to get you into film. I can tell you now, there is no structure to this. Work is work. American's have a great attitude to all that. Their actors jump from TV to Film and back again. Here some people perceive it as a backward step if you do TV. I think it's about the quality of TV.
The plus side of TV is that it's quick turnaround. We shot Whicher in October and it was out in April. Film is a lot longer. It sometimes feel like you drag a film out, not simply put it out, but cinema is a different canvas. I think you can indulge a little bit more. TV you have to consider the audience to help them understand what's going on. Particularly with something like Whicher. That means there are certain rules to the storytelling. Exposition and all that stuff. It's fine as long as you understand the brief. Plus the schedule for Whicher was pretty much the same as Tyrannosaur, so I didn't feel any different to me. Another plus is you don't have to go around the world pleading people to buy your movie and getting ripped off.
So the wider exposure afforded by TV appeal to you more then?
I've written my next film, and it could easily be made into a series or a couple of two hour slots for TV, BuI don't want that. I want it to be cinema. Acting wise? I have no problem with TV, but it has to be quality. No disrespect but I won't be pulling pints in 'The Queen Vic' any time soon. And I mean no disrespect, because we are actors and work doesn't come easily, but I couldn't do that job.
It's well known that Brits always do well when it comes to selling period work such as Pride & Prejudice or Downton Abbey. How did you take to period drama work? It's a little bit different to any time period we've seen you in before.
Just play the role. You can't play the period. You can't flounce around saying "I'm a Victorian!". I just took him on as a character. I played his accent down the middle. There were a couple of 'cor blimey guv's in there! I blame James Hawes for that. He kept going on about Whicher's fucking accent all the time. I hate doing them. That's not to knock James. I think he's incredible.
Would you do that period again or did you find difficulty adapting to the styles of the era i.e language, grammar or voice inflection?
Dialogue. Exposition. Learning ways to deal with that. Repetition. The nightdress, the nightgown, the garment. I'd say there were actors better at that than me, but then I'm better at other shit than them.
Would you consider directing a period film of your own making?
Yeah. Why not? But not just to tick it off the list. I'm really into Carnivale at the moment, and I love the American midwest of the 1930's. The dustbowl, the depression. I'd absolutely do it. You can transport yourself anywhere. It's all about the right story. Not the garments and carriages etc.
What's next for you on the directorial front?
'The Leaning'. I have to do that next, then I know it will be time to broaden the canvas. By that I mean step out of the comfort zone. I hope my third film will be 'The Years of the Locust' based on Jon Hotten's book.
I've heard that 'The Leaning' is an original ghoststory of sorts. How long you have had the idea to do this particular movie and why did you want to make it?
I guess you just stir the pond and see what shit floats to the top. 'The Leaning' was it. I'm no social realist. As a teenager I devoured Stephen King, so I put my head in that realm to write this story. I think it will work.
What's the background or inspiration for the story?
My imagination and whatever inspiration I'm given that day. That's it. That's the beauty of storytelling. Thematically it will share aspects of 'Tyrannosaur', but that's just the things I'm drawn to.
Having made a terrific debut film do you feel any pressure to follow it up or even top it with your next project? Several actors-turned-directors who have had impactful debut films have never followed it up with a second; Gary Oldman,Tim Roth and DeNiro for example.
De Niro did do another film. I'm not them. I'm not following some tradition. I'm pursuing my own ideas. There's no debt to pay. I can't top it. I can't top anything. You just keep on creating. Some of it's good and some of it isn't. I can't control it. Everyone's career has good and bad work. I know who I am now I don't need to live up to expectations. I just have to be as truthful as I can humanly be to the process.
There's a cliché that actors-turned-directors tend to make indulgent, 'actory' films that wasn't there in Tyrannosaur.. Do you deliberately try to avoid that or is the story that drives you above all else?
There's lots of cliche's. I'm riddled with them, and so is everyone else. I just want to see great storytelling, creativity and invention. The story is very important, it's the most important thing to me anyway. All the tools are there to make movies.
Do you find it easy to write? When, where and how do you go about writing your movies? You've mentioned before that you never learned properly how to write scrips but you must have absorbed enough good and bad tips as an actor reading them.
You just have to blast it out. There are no mistakes, only discovery. I wrote a scene the other day that won't make my next pass, but it informed me greatly about one of the characters. I don't edit as I go. Just do it. 'The Leaning' after the first draft is 82 pages long. Some would say that's short for a feature, but I'm not fulfilling a brief. Tyrannosaur was only five pages more, and three of those I didn't shoot. Others didn't make the final cut. The only reason I need to sit down is to tell a story. That's it. If you open up your head and let it pile out, something will come of it.
Since 'The Leaning' is aghost story Is making things feel realistic or believable important to you?
It's not realism. It's cinema. It's the sideshow. The key is if you can get people to invest emotionally. A rubber alien flies off in a spaceship and people were crying because they invested emotionally. Because they gave a shit. In all of my favourite films I fell in love with the characters. You can't bullshit that. You can't teach it in film school. You can't give it a language. you can talk coda's and cause and effect all day long if you want. It's not science or academic to me. That's why, going back to your other point, I don't need to learn to write a script. who does? Where does the creativity come from? Where are the new voices? What new stuff will they achieve if they're being told how to do shit?
I began my education in all of this the first time I walked into Burton's Odeon cinema and saw a man fly. I'm no great writer, but I'll tell you a story if you're interested. Some people want to make films and some people want to criticise people making films. I know which one I'm happier being.
When you writing your films, are you able to think at all who might enjoy watching it or is it a slightly more selfish and more about of getting your ideas on to paper, screen and out your system?
I wrote Tyrannosaur with my leads in mind. I wrote 'The Leaning' with my leads in mind. I'd say that to anyone, if it helps you, write with your lead actors in mind. Be ambitious. You want a Paul Giamatti type? Then write with him in mind. You might not get him, but fuck it.
What's next for you on the acting front?
There's a couple of things but I haven't committed yet. You know what It's like, they could change their minds. So could I...
Thanks again for talking to us Paddy.
Mr Whicher is avaliable on DVD and as the original book now.
