Embers Film

A new official still and BTS for @embers.filmofficial featuring the incredible @thechristopher.cook

Over the past few years, I have worked with many actors in many different roles. However, almost every actor I have met, I never knew personally beforehand. So when the opportunity came to cast Christopher Cook, a man I knew quite well, it was a different experience. A good friend and inspiring creative on my journey, Chris was someone I never quite knew where I wanted to put. I had never been able to find the correct spot. Knowing him so well, and being so close with him made it difficult for my mind to mold him into a role. He is so kind and so fun to be around that I was never certain he would ever find a place in my incredibly bleak and brutal films. However this time I realised there was a very real possibility that he could be the one to play the Vagabond. In that moment, I saw an evil and a hate in Chris that I had never before or bore witness to. I felt in my heart that this could be one of the best decisions I would make for Embers. And he was incredible. In pre-production, Chris was receptive and proactive. Diving deep into the mind of the vagabond and pulling references from similar characters to understand the evil and the psychopathy of the man whom he would take the identity of. We had numerous meetings that repeatedly reassured me that I had made the right call. On set I watched my funny, kind, and loving friend sink into a mask of pure malice. He played that role and showed me a side of himself that I had never seen before being so scary, I was sometimes nervous to talk to him. Not to say directing him was difficult. Chris was excellent as an actor, taking direction, following instructions, and working through scenes politely and responsively before climbing right back into the skin of a vicious killer. I am very excited for people to see just what he can do, because it was incredible.

Opening Still by our DP @dorianthedp
BTS Photos Taken by @zay.visuals.843
On set of @embers.filmofficial
Directed by @thebenbeauchamp