Interview: Temuera Morrison Talks OCCUPATION and AQUAMAN
Temuera Morrison is a legend, plain and simple. From Once Were Warriors to the new Australian alien invasion epic Occupation, Morrison has been a constant in the New Zealand and Aussie film scene. He also graces us with his presence from time to time in Hollywood, playing iconic roles like Jango Fett in Attack of the Clones and, right around Christmas this year, he’ll be kicking ass as Jason Mamoa’s Dad in Aquaman. Morrison spoke with us about his star turn in the new sci-fi actioner out of Australia, its potential sequel, and provided a little Star Wars insight and some info about his new role in the James Wan DC tentpole.
Saban Films will release the upcoming sci-fi film Occupation in theaters and on VOD and Digital HD on July 20, 2018.
A town is suddenly plunged into darkness. In the sky, a fleet of spaceships appears. The aliens have been watching Earth for centuries; now they have arrived to seize control of our planet. As alien storm troopers cut a deadly swath through the countryside, a ragtag group of townspeople realize they must band together for a chance to strike back at the invaders in this explosive sci-fi film that grips from start to thrilling finish.
Dread Central: Are you seeing many differences moving from Hollywood to Aussiewood between projects like Occupation and Aquaman? It seems like there’s a lot of new blood and energy in Australia and NZ at the moment.
TM: Well the biggest difference was the budget. On Occupation I had to share the trailer with 28 other actors and there was one bowl of fruit and we were all fighting over the banana. When I went to Aquaman, I had my own trailer and my own bowl of fruit and coconut porridge for breakfast. But yes, in terms of the two, there were just so many trucks, lighting, and people. There must have been 1000 people on Aquaman; you never got to meet everybody. Construction going on, it was just incredible, the art department, you would just walk around and see loads and loads of people just walking around the studio and they are all just working on Aquaman. A lot of them dirty, painting, building, doing set work so you never get to meet everybody, but on Occupation , you can actually meet the whole crew. There was probably 30, 40, 50 people at the most on a big day, but at the end of the day, I guess it’s cameras and lights and someone says action, so that process doesn’t change no matter how big it is. When someone says “action,” everyone’s quiet and that’s when I do my thing.
DC: Are you finding that some of these young Australian directors are mostly fans of yours from the prequels and playing Jango? Are they as familiar with your earlier career? I know Luke Sparke is a big Star Wars fan.
TM: I got Occupation basically because the guy was a Jango fan, so I didn’t have to audition. So that was very good for me. I hate doing auditions, so when the guy said “no look, you don’t have to audition, I know you’ll work.” I presumed that he knew some of my other work as well. But I have worked with a number of Australian directors now and I really enjoy it, I get a lot out of it! The guy who directed me on the Osiris Child for example, Shane Evans, he just reminded me about a lot of stuff from the old school where it was all about performance and all about the actors, so I think they have a lovely energy. There are some old great directors coming out of Australia too. Peter Wheeler comes to mind who is famous director out in Australia; I’m working with a new breed of directors, a new breed of directors from Australia. And I just think that I can’t be in every movie in New Zealand, so I gotta give the other actors over here in New Zealand to get work, so I’m moving to Australia, because a lot of Australian actors have gone to Hollywood.
DC: You’ve given new life to the Fett legacy and voiced Boba on so many occasions that it really seems like you should have some involvement if Lucasfilm moves forward with the character. I’m sure Luke would jump at the chance to tell that story with you. Would you be game for that or is it something you want to move on from? If I were you, I’d still want to play EVERY stormtrooper as well.
TM: No I would finally like to be in another Star Wars movie. Luke can direct it, because that would probably be the very epitome of his career in terms of directing if Luke was able to do that, but it would be a fantastic opportunity. Of course to finally make a movie about Boba Fett the bounty hunter, one of the coolest characters we would finally be able to get back to the roots of Star Wars, that would be a fantastic opportunity. Myself playing Boba Fett, Luke directs it, and Disney gives us all the money. I can’t see that just yet, but dreams are free.
DC: In Occupation, you’re pretty much in pure battle mode throughout the film. Are you enjoying the physicality of these sci-fi actioners like this and The Osiris Child? It’s keeping you in shape but does it keep the acting chops up?
TM: Definitely! Yes to all of those, that is a wonderful question. I do enjoy the physicality and I try to bring that physicality to my characters and it’s a good way to keep fit. Another draw for Occupation was that we got to run around and shoot stuff, we got to shoot aliens, run some more, shoot some machine guns which I enjoyed doing. Plus, it motivates me to get into the gym, because it is all about keeping us healthy and fit. When you are in the movie, that’s another thing, you have to do 20 or 30 takes of the same thing over and over again, and it just saves a whole lot of pain. So, yes it is good being in shape and I try and work on the physicality and bring a little bit of that kind of energy, that kind of force, like that force that they talk about in Star Wars. The force is strong in this one, which is what I tried bringing in Occupation and in some of the Sci-fi movies.
DC: I love you in films like Fresh Meat where your great comedy timing can come into play. People don’t get to see you that way enough, in my opinion. Are you looking to do more horror comedies in that style? How was the experience on Fresh Meat? It’s such a great twist on home invasion movies.
I was trying to be funny, but the director was screaming at everybody, so it was hard to be funny while he’s screaming at the crew. I think you must be the only one who saw that movie, so I‘m not sure if I should dwell into that arena, to the comedy-horror. I did actually enjoy it, though some scenes were quite funny. I was just somewhere in the world, can’t remember, I was in Europe somewhere and I was channel surfing and up came Fresh Meat, so I watched it with fresh eyes. But, I’m not quite sure that it’s everyone’s cup of tea and if we got the investors money back. I enjoy comedy; I want to do another comedy again. So yes, I wouldn’t mind trying it again, because I think I’m quite a funny person in real life and I have not really had the chance to work that part of me, it’s been more the aggressive part, so I’m really looking forward to it. Maybe I should I should write some comedy, or get some writers on to it very shortly in fact.
DC: I was surprised by the epic feel of this, it’s on a level of a summer blockbuster and we haven’t seen that in an alien invasion story too recently. It almost feels like a throwback. Were you surprised by the scope of the production?
TM: Yes, because my FX were all done later, so we were just out there on location using our imagination, and looking up at the space crafts, but this is where some of the Australian production people do very well in terms of the budget they had. They have some very talented people that can make it look bigger, make it look huge! So, yes I was actually very surprised at the finished product. This movie actually came off the page better than I had thought and I’m even surprised. I thought it might go straight to a Sci-fi channel for example, but it’s getting a theatrical release everywhere. I’m very surprised and very pleased at the same time, especially for this young production company Quirky Mambo productions.
DC: Do you feel like you’re helping other NZ and Australian actors learn the ropes who are new to the business? You’ve been on so many film sets that it seems like people would be turning to you for advice.
TM: I like to give a lot, especially when I am in the position. I am always helping young actors keeping an eye out on things and trying to get more young people into the business and I am always encouraging young people. I have been doing that a lot lately, especially some of the young members of the cast that I have been with. At the same time experience too, you know? I remember doing my last New Zealand movie and I thought I was teaching everybody else, but I was looking around and I was learning a lot from the new people coming through as well. It’s a sharing time and I have come to in my career where I love to share things, share my experience.
DC: I have to ask how the experience of playing Tom Curry, Aquaman’s father, was. From some set photos it really looks like you and Jason had a great connection. It seems like James Wan has really gone for a lot of practical sets and locations, that must’ve been welcomed as an actor. I’ve interviewed James several times and his energy is infectious.
TM: Well, I think I owe it all to Jason Momoa, because he put the pressure on the people that he would like me to play his father in Aquaman, so he gave me the thumbs up. I did actually meet the casting people in Los Angeles. It was wonderful to team up with Jason, I’m like his uncle now, we got along so well in fact he wrote me into his TV Netflix show Frontier, which I was part of earlier in the year, we filmed in England. So wonderful, wonderful, Jason is very giving. We got along so well, it seemed like we knew each other from way back. There were no barriers; it was just very easy and wonderful. Jason is very kind, he was very kind to me, very generous to me, and he took very good care of me. I was around at his flash house on the beach numerous times; he gave me huge lamb chops off his barbeque. He loves the multi culture; he loves our fire war dancers. Many of time we were out their having fun in between takes on Aquaman. So yeah, I’m waiting for the phone call to be in his next movie.
DC: It sounds like there’s already talk of a sequel to Occupation. Did that surprise you and are you potentially on board for the next one?
TM: Yes, I loved the production company, I enjoyed working with Luke, and I am on board for the next one. This is what it is about, these people started out with nothing, they asked a lot of favors from their friends, their business associates, each one donated some money, now they’re in a position to give their money back, and now they are in a position to gain more finance for the second one, and it looks like it’s been green lit and I am on board for the second one.
DC: Genre fans may think they’ve seen the man versus alien storyline a few too many times. Occupation is absolutely worth anyone’s time to watch but is there anything that you think helps to really set it apart from other sci-if action invasion movies?
TM: Obviously the director, Luke Sparke and he worked with his director of photography very closely, and the editor. So, the credit must go back to the work that these people have done, the special FX people of course and I think the ensemble cast was a good feature too, it was a great mixture. I think the timing of just bringing something like this out as well is kind of cool. It is all about timing sometimes, but congratulations to Luke and his team and production company for making something viable.
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