Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Interview with Kaya Scodelario and Brenton Thwaites
One of the best things about being an entertainment journalist besides seeing movies early is being able to sit down and chat with actors, directors, and writers. While it could be somewhat of a challenge when you don’t particularly enjoy the film, it is definitely a real treat when you enjoy the film or in this case, the franchise.
I was lucky enough to sit down with various members of the Pirates of the Carribean cast and discuss their experience working on the film. With the film opening in theaters everywhere this weekend, I wanted to do something special to celebrate the film’s release. Over the next few days, here on We Live Entertainment, I will be posting an interview with one or more of the film’s cast or crew members.
This is the first of five interviews and this interview features Kaya Scodelario, who plays Carina Smyth as well as Brenton Thwaites, who plays Henry Turner.
SM: What was it like working on this movie with Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, and Javier Bardem. What was it like acting alongside them so early in your career.
KS: Amazing. If you look around on set, it’s like, “Oh, three Oscars. It’s crazy.” There were other actors that I was really excited to involve with as well including Stephen Graham, who plays of the pirates. He’s one of my favorite British actors of all time. So, for me, it was a real honor to be on set with him.
Also, the directors. They come from an indie background like I do. That felt really safe and reassuring and exciting that we could really make the most of these actors. They respond well, to that. Every day was like a lesson in acting. It was like going to the best drama school ever for six months and it happened to be on the beach. It was great.
SM: What inspired you to be a part of this franchise?
BT: Just that I’m a fan. I was a fan since I was a young kid. They brought so many colors to the screen that we hadn’t seen, back in 2003. They were funny, filled with adventure, action, romance, and supernatural. And always, at the forefront, right on the cutting edge of CGI technology.
The first one, I remember seeing Geoffrey Rush pop out into the moonlight. That simple effect, well, it wasn’t simple at the time, but now we see it as a simple effect of all the pirates turning into ghosts. It was amazing, it was a phenomenal vision. He would guzzle the wine and it goes straight into his gizzards and kind of out one side. I remember being scared and excited and fascinated by that all at the same time.
SM: Kaya, I remember seeing you for the first time, at Sundance, in The Truth About Emanuel.
KS: Oh. I was tiny. I was a baby.
SM: I know. It’s sort of interesting to watch an actress grow on-screen. I mean you are a part of the Maze Runner franchise as well. It’s interesting because you went straight from an indie to a studio film and now you’re doing another big-budget franchise with this film. As an actress, what are the changes you face, going from an indie film to a mainstream movie?
KS: There are many changes. Emanuel was my American indie. But before that, I’d did a ton Indies in England. I filmed in some real shit holes in the world. Been in a muddy field for hours on end with no trailer and no coat. I love it. I love all of that.
BT: Pirates was a muddy field with a trailer and a coat.
KS: Yeah. That’s the difference. I think I try and treat every job with the exact same level of respect. I go into it, it doesn’t matter what the budget is or who the lead actor is. You should have the same focus and the same drive. You should have as much empathy for your character and understanding of them as you would, no matter what.
Genuinely, the food is so much better. The crew, the food is unbelievable on a movie set like this. The first time I ever saw craft services, my friend Nicholas Hoult was in a movie with me, Clash of the Titans, and he tricked me. He said, “Do you have your wallet, you have to pay for that.” I freaked out, “Oh my God. I don’t have any money. What am I going to do? Do you mind lending it me to?” The whole crew started laughing, they were like, “It’s free. It’s part of working on the film.”
There are those crazy differences. The heart of it, I think, should all be the same.
SM: Hopefully, we will get a sequel because I just love this franchise. If this happens, where do you foresee your characters going if there is another film?
KS: For me, I’d love to to see her taking the reins of Daddy Barbossa. See if she wants to incorporate her love of astronomy and horology into being a badass pirate. I think there could be something quite interesting in that. Maybe they can have babies and stuff, as well.
BT: But they would have to … in order to … oh
KS: Pirate babies
BT: Okay, I see. Yeah. We will see.
