The New Action Hero

SYDNEY, Australia — When I walked into a suite at Park Hyatt in The Rocks, located at the foot of the famous bridge and a stone’s throw from the Opera House across Victoria Harbour, I expected a blank stare and a forced smile to greet me. Instead, what I got was a friendly welcome and a warm smile.

“I remember you from a Hollywood junket,” said Sam Worthington, 32, as he shook my hand. “Yes, for Terminator Salvation.”

Of course, it always floors any movie writer to be recognized by a Hollywood actor on second meeting, considering that many of them can’t tell you from Adam even on the sixth or 10th meeting, what with the hundreds, nay, thousands of faces that come and go in their fast-paced life.

When I told Sam that I came from the Philippines, his eyes lit up.

“I’ve worked with an actor from your country,” he said.

He was referring to Cesar Montano who starred with him in The Great Raid.

I told Sam that Cesar was running for governor (in Bohol) and he said, “Say hi to him; good luck to him.”

I was in Sydney three weeks ago for an exclusive Conversation with Sam for Avatar, the legendary producer-director James Cameron’s first project (to the tune of $200-million) since the 1997 record-breaking Titanic starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Produced by Twentieth Century Fox and filmed entirely in 3D, Avatar is a tale of epic proportions, very popular among video-game enthusiasts. Sam is cast as Jake Sully, a bitter ex-Marine confined to a wheelchair. Still imbued with a sense of battle, he submits to the “avatar” program which transforms his body to resemble the humanoid inhabitants of the moon Pandora, the Na’vi. (An avatar is a remotely-controlled biological body that can survive in the lethal air.) Now able to walk, Jake Sully embarks on an expedition to Pandora amidst a raging war that puts the fate of the entire world in danger.

Cameron began casting for the movie in 2007.

Sam is called The New Action Hero by his co-star Sigourney Weaver who plays Grace Augustine, the scientist who runs the Avatar Program.

A graduate of the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney, Sam first worked in theater before venturing into international films like Hart’s War and The Great Raid. He then screen tested opposite Daniel Craig for the role of James Bond in Casino Royale. Sam didn’t bag 007 but the audition proved to be a “perfect dress rehearsal” the following year. After an exhaustive casting search, Cameron handpicked Sam for the title role in Avatar even while Sam was shooting Terminator Salvation with Christian Baler (the movie grossed over $370-million worldwide).

Avatar is such a huge movie, Cameron’s first project in 12 years. Isn’t it a bit scary?

“No, not at all. I think Jim is a very brave filmmaker, a collaborator. He’s somebody I look up to as an idol. Isn’t it a bit scary? Oh yes, it is. But I’m very excited. We are launching a movie that will hopefully bring people back to the cinema, something that will give moviegoers an exciting experience rather than just a film. It’s an exciting prospect — bringing people back to the cinema.”

Cameron is known to be a demanding director, a perfectionist. How was it working with him?

“He’s very demanding, all right, but he’s professional. He’s meticulous. His vision is to come up with a truly worthwhile film while my job is to come in and give everything I’ve got. He has been pushing, pushing, pushing me. We filmed for 14 months and I love every minute of it. Actually, Jim has been working on Avatar for four to five years; Avatar is his world.”

Wow, so the shooting took you that long!

“Yes, it’s a difficult movie to make. It’s a big movie and it’s a commitment. We use a new technology on the action scenes. When you see the movie, you have to wear 3D glasses which feel like a window to another world, another planet. It’s like waking up to another culture.”

Was Avatar harder to do than Terminator Salvation?

“Definitely! It took us only four months to shoot Terminator Salvation. Avatar is a massive film.”

You play a very physical role. What preparation did you do to live up to the expectations not only of Cameron but also those of moviegoers?

“Working with Jim means putting your vanity at the door. He’s a demanding director and you better be ready for a difficult job ahead. You put your defenses down but you feel safe and secure that, in his hands, everything will turn out right. I take my work seriously just as Jim takes his work seriously. We both wanted to give the film everything that we’ve got.”

I read somewhere that you concentrated more on the emotional than on the physical preparation.

“Like the other actors, I did special physical training and weapons training. I didn’t want it to be like boot camp. Anyone can do push-ups, I wanted to meet other Marines. I hung out with Jim’s brother John David, a former Marine. To me it was more about capturing the way these Marines see the world — and how their training can make them think that they are unstoppable.”

And you had to drop your Australian accent for an American accent.

“Yeah. It was hard for me to do it but I did give it a crack. It was like learning two languages. And let me tell you: the Na’vi language is easier than the American accent. I spent at least two hours each day working on the American accent and learning the Na’vi language. I worked to phonetically break the language down so it didn’t sound like I was acting through gauze.”

In what way do you see yourself in Jake Sully?

“I lived every day with him for 14 weeks. I went under his skin. I was Jake Sully even after the shooting was finished.”

You auditioned for James Bond together with Daniel Craig. How was it?

“Oh, I was nervous, I was young. It wasn’t the right time. The role got into the right man at the right time. Daniel was more prepared and he deserved it.”

How was the Avatar audition compared to that for James Bond?

“I got a phone call to do this audition but they wouldn’t tell me anything about the script or even who the director was. And I thought, ‘Well, here’s another waste of time.’ Then, a week later, I got another phone call, ‘Look, James Cameron wants to fly you to L.A. to audition for him.’ And I said, ‘Yes, but for what?’”

Of course, you got it.

“But even after Jim told me about the story and about the character of Jake Sully, he asked me, ‘Are you ready to start the adventure?’ I said, ‘Yes, I am. But first, I’ve got to have the brakes on my car fixed’.”

Was that the only way you reacted when you got the role?

“Actually, it took me six months to get the role. It’s a massive movie, you know. I was not known outside of Australia and for a studio to take that on is a big gamble. Jim backed me up from the start and we basically had to convince them that I was the right guy for the job.”

In The Great Raid, you worked with a Filipino actor. Do you remember who he was?

“Yes, Cesar Montano. We got to blow up a lot of stuff. He played the character who was blowing up bridges. He was in so many exciting scenes; he had more fun than I did. I wished I had his role.”

He’s also aspiring to break into Hollywood. What advice can you give him and other Asian actors who want to follow in your footsteps?

“Just do it. As simple as that. Hahahaha! Don’t be scared. Don’t listen to anybody who tells you that it’s not possible. Anybody with determination can do it. Yes, just do it!”

A lot of Australian actors have made it in Hollywood (Mel Gibson, Eric Bana, Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Cate Blanchett and the late Heath Ledger). Do you feel pressured to live up to them?

“No, not at all. But I’ve got to thank those guys for paving the way. They show the world that they come from a country full of talented actors. No, I don’t feel any pressure at all. Maybe the pressure would be if I could even do half of what they have done, then I would be happy.”

Your Avatar co-star Sigourney Weaver said that you are The New Action Hero. How do you feel about it?

“Thank you, Sigourney.”

Do you have any favorite action stars?

“Yes, Chow Yun Fat is one of them.”

Do you think Avatar will take you to where Titanic has taken Leonardo DiCaprio?

“I don’t know about that. Leo is one of my favorite actors because he has risen to a position where no one can touch him. His choices are good. Titanic has brought Leo to another planet, so to speak. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

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