Category: Interviews

Mar
08

Sebastian Talks The Winter Soldier with Collider

You can read Sebastian’s interview in its entirety over at Collider.com

The original Winter Story arc flashbacks to Bucky and Cap adventures a little bit here and there. Does this film allow you to do that? Kind of go back into Bucky territory again, or was it all present day going forward?
Stan:
I think it was important that the movie was going to stick to present day. I think we sort of arrived at that, and we wanted, you know…I think that’s what it called for, but there is a level of reminding everybody in terms of reinstating those things to sort of…so that you really do remember what that relationship was.

Right. Right. Obviously, you’re sporting a completely different book for this film. I mean, what was your initial reaction to it? How’s it been, kind of, wearing that new costume?
Stan:
“Oh God. What will it look like?” [laughter] I was very open to it, you know? I was very…obviously I’ve never had long hair, I mean…but as an actor, the thing is that you got to get out of that comfortability level once in a while, and I was really excited to sort of not recognize a little bit myself when I looked in the mirror, and between the costume and sort of the overall look of The Winter Soldier, it was nice. Then all the credit really goes to Legacy and the costume team who’ve done, I think, a pretty incredible job in terms of just, you know, going from page to reality, which is obviously really hard to do sometimes with certain characters that look really cool when they’re drawn and then, how do you make them look that way in real life? So it was…I think there was no question that whatever was needed to make him as authentic as possible is where I was at with it.

Did they make the arm…does it hinder you at all when you were doing some the action stuff? I don’t know if they made it like…
Stan:
No. Actually, I was always worried about that, but no. It actually kind of informed, in a way, a lot of character stuff for me, because I had enough time to sort of work with it. I think it sort of changed the way I was moving, and it was one of those things where you know, I sat and I thought, and thought, and thought about what it was going to be like on the day, but until you just sort of get into it completely, until it was just on and everything, then that discovery kind of came to light, and it was really neat because I felt like…it just was like the missing piece, and then I was really informed kind of where to go with it.

How challenging was the physical regimen to be able to train him the way he is now?
Stan:
I mean, maybe I walked around the house a little bit with like, a plastic knife in my left hand all the time. There might’ve been some of that, but it’s all in terms of just…the thing for me was, you know, flexibility was kind of like the key factor I think that I was trying to be very mindful of, and obviously that there was so many pieces to the costume and everything. Being able to continue to move freely, and especially the way the team, you know, wanted to take the fighting style of this particular movie and the direction that they wanted to go, it was…yeah.

It was important to be flexible and in shape, at least just in terms of a confidence that you can step on set and be comfortable with what you’re doing and…but a lot of it also just has to…a lot of it is just kind of remembering what it was like when you were a kid and when you’re being able to imagine, and go off on it and be free with that, and so that was like, part of the fun with it. I mean, I don’t know how else to explain it. That tends to be a challenge in itself because, you know, you sometimes take things so seriously, and you want to sort of be in the best of this, in the best of shape, the best of that, but at the end of the day, you got to remember to have fun, and if you just kind of like allow yourself to do that, you kind of just somehow end up doing everything better.

Aug
14

Sebastian Talks Flashbacks and Fights in Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Aug
03

Sebastian Reveals the Secret Backstory Hidden in His Hair

Read Sebastian’s interview in its entirety over at io9.com

io9: So Bucky is like Captain America. They’re both from another time, they’re both lost in this new world. How does Bucky deal with that in this new movie?

Sebastian Stan: He doesn’t deal with it. [Laughs]. He just doesn’t deal with it.

I’m curious about the evolution of the hair.

Oh yes! Please ask me, because I’m sure people have opinions.

We’ve been drawing pictures of long hair on you for quite some time on io9. We didn’t know how it would look! How did you guys come to this conclusion of this hairstyle? Was it totally out of your hands?

You know what the funny thing is, we had the artist – Ed Brubaker — on set. I remember I was talking to him and I asked “why the long hair?” And he said, “the thing is we have long hair when you’re drawing comic books, [because it] things look more epic.” This was so funny to me because he was basically also explaining why superheroes have capes. The reason they have capes is because you can tell in a comic book that they’re flying. Or that there’s wind. So I said, “alright, so you’re telling me he has long hair because you wanted it for stylistic purposes.” It makes sense!

In the storyline basically Bucky sort of snapped a little bit. He went on a mission and he went missing for about a month, or so, in New York and they [the Russians] couldn’t find him. So he kind of walked around like a homeless person for a while. He was trying to figure out what he was doing and where he was. And during that process there was no one there giving him a haircut.

But in terms of the movie, I don’t care. You can’t approach something with “oh my god, how am I going to look with long hair,” you just do. I’m playing this part, this guy’s got long hair, I gotta have long hair. What are you gonna do. ?

Well I like it. I think it works. So what is modern-day Bucky (or Winter Soldier’s) fighting-style? He was trained to fight in World War II and then picked up by the Russians. Is there a combination of Russian kickboxing or something?

It’s actually kind of scrappy. The idea was this is the kind of guy who can kill you with a straw. He’s precise, he’s very specific with what he does. But the idea is that it’s messy. He’ll use knives… knives were always a big part of the character. There is a lot of knife work in the movie for sure. And overall brutality. He’ll kill you with whatever is closest.

Aug
03

Sebastian on why Captain America 2 will be an ‘in your face’ experience (Video)

Aug
03

Sebastian Talks Captain America: The Winter Soldier with MovieWeb

Check out Sebastian’s interview in full over at MOVIEWEB.COM

It’s a testament to you as an actor, even on TV, you play these popular, memorable recurring characters. And here, we see people in the Marvel Universe get recast all the time. It had to be cool to know that you were wanted back…

Sebastian Stan: I’m so grateful, man! Before I even started on the first movie, and I listened to them describe this character, and where he goes, I wondered…God, I wish I would have know this was how it was all going to play out. But I’m glad…The whole way that all happened…Finding out, coming back around, getting another chance to further develop this character a second time, who I have become so obsessed with…I am so protective of this character, because to some extent, you live with them for quite a while. Its usually only on TV that you really live with a character, and get to add to it, and find new things…This was such a great character, and such a great opportunity to show off such a great side…Here’s what could have happened to this guy. Added onto what did happen to him in the comic books. Its like, it shows you what could happen if one emotion becomes the authority of how a person leads his life. It’s like me saying, everyone gets angry. But if you stay angry all the time, and you prey on that one emotion, and you keep flexing it like a muscle, and that’s the only muscle, you have to wonder what would happen. So, I don’t know if I’m making any sense…

No, you’re making perfect sense. It’s like that scene in the first movie, where they told Steve Rogers that the serum amplifies who you are as a person. And he was such a strong, good hearted, kind man that it allowed him to become Captain America. So, that would be amplified differently in Bucky Barnes, who is holding onto some anger…

Sebastian Stan: For sure. You also have to remember that scene in the first movie, where Steve rescues Bucky. You have to wonder, what is he rescuing him from? For all the fans that thought, ‘Well, god, I thought the guy died when he went off the cliff…’ Those people need to go back and re-watch that scene. Maybe there is a nice little clue on the wall somewhere that says this was going to happen. They are very smart. Marvel amazes me how they plan this out. It’s incredible. I find myself being constantly surprised.

Looking back at the first movie, Bucky and Steve have this neat little arc as friends. Bucky is the better soldier. He’s stronger, faster. But then Steve becomes Captain America. I don’t know if you would call it jealousy…But you do see that, wow, this guy is having a bit of a problem. But here, we see the Winter Soldier is now really giving Captain America a run for his money. Does that play into your relationship with Chris Evans?

Sebastian Stan: Chris Evans is so awesome. He is like one of my brothers. Literally, we show up, we laugh, we talk about our weekends, and then we get back to work. I give it my all, he gives it his all, and I feel so comfortable with him in terms of…You’re doing extremely physical and sometimes dangerous stuff. You’re trying to make something very realistic. So you want to have someone you are doing it with that you trust. You want to get along with the guy. You want to say, “We got each other. We’re gong to go for it this time.” The whole thing is a dance. It’s so technical. You’re trying to be improvisational in a controlled way. We’re really great friends.

Aug
03

Sebastian on why Captain America 2 will be an ‘in your face’ experience (Video)

Jul
22

Sebastian Talks Captain America: The Winter Soldier with MTV (Video)

Jul
21

Sebastian Discusses Captain America: The Winter Soldier with IGN (Video)

Sebastian is interviewed around the 2:09 mark. 🙂

Feb
04

Sebastian Stan More Than Meets the Eye in Broadway’s Picnic

You can check out Seb’s entire interview over at PLAYBILL.COM

How did Picnic come about for you? Were you actively looking for more theatre work?
Sebastian Stan:
I actually met up with our director Sam Gold about two years ago — in L.A. of all places. I’d heard such great things about him. He didn’t know at the time when or if it was going to happen, but we started discussing Picnic. Then I read the play and thought it was great. I love the ’50s and grew up loving works from that time period and from those great playwrights. Fortunately, the timing worked out, and we were able to do the play together two years later.

So you were already buffing up to reprise your role as Bucky Barnes in the “Captain America: The First Avenger” sequel, “Captain America: Winter Soldier.”
SS:
Yeah. And it’s funny, because everyone’s had very different reactions to my physique. Somebody who came to see the show said to me, “Don’t you think you’re in too good of shape for this? No one looked like that in the 1950s.” But I watched a lot of movies from that time period. Because Paul Newman had been in the original Broadway production of Picnic, I watched a lot of Paul Newman movies like “Cool Hand Luke” and “The Long, Hot Summer,” where he played a homeless drifter, and he was in incredible shape — ripped, tan, and glistening. So I didn’t find myself to be out of line when I was physically preparing for the role.

You were only 12 when you moved to the United States. That’s not exactly the most ideal age to be different.
SS:
Yeah, it was an interesting time. I really didn’t want to be different at all. I lost my accent — although it still comes out every once in a while — but I just wanted to be like everyone else. It took me a few years to finally realize that I should actually embrace where I come from, because it’s something that sets me apart. In my head, that’s sort of what Hal’s trying to do too. Hal’s desperately trying to be someone he thinks he should be and someone he thinks will fit it. Finally, he comes across someone, Madge, who basically says, “Listen, dude, calm down and stop trying to be someone else, because I like you for you.” The peace of mind he discovers at the end of the play is that it’s OK to own who you are.

Jan
24

Sebastian Talks with BLACKBOOK MAGAZINE on Ripped Bods, Being an Only Child, and Acting with Ellen Burstyn

You can check out Sebastian’s full interview with Blackbook Magazine over at BLACKBOOKMAG.COM

On the subject of talented actors, in another interview you mentioned learning a lot from fellow cast member Ellen Burstyn. Can you tell me more?

As an actor, in terms of performing the same thing every night, the challenge is to rediscover that sense of truth and be as honest as possible, which is difficult. Being opposite her, there’s always the element of surprise. Working with her leads to new discoveries. She’s a generous actress. She is such a presence that it’s very easy to work off of. I’ve become familiar with her book, which I urge everyone to read. It’s tremendously inspiring what that woman has lived through. Her knowledge extends decades; about writers, actors, movies, books, and poems that have inspired her, so she shares some of that. It’s almost like going to school and learning about all of these wonderful things again. She’s lived an incredible life.

Do you consider yourself a fairly grounded person?

Well, I feel the ground beneath my feet. [Laughs] There were times I wish I could have had a more normal upbringing, in terms of being in one place and going to the same school the entire time. I’m very grateful for where I came from and the way things worked out. I already feel like I’ve come a long way. If this is what’s happened so far, if I keep on the line I’m going, then perhaps many other great things will happen. It’s just the beginning.

So, did you have to get in shape for the role, or is that just your natural physique?

[Laughs] No, that is not my natural physique. Boy, would I love it to be. I did have to get into shape. While I can, I gotta answer some of these funny questions. People weren’t in shape like that back then, no way. That’s so 21st Century. No one can be ripped like that in the 1950s. And for anyone that says that, I would say, go and look at Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke and The Long, Hot Summer. Just look at his physique in those films. That should answer the question. The play asks very specifically for—it’s gotta be physical. This is how I saw it and so did the director. At the same time, it became a great challenge to want to get into shape. But, it coincides with another little project where I have to be in shape, so why not kill two birds with one stone?

You’ve done TV, film, and stage acting. How do they compare, and do you have a favorite medium?

The biggest thing that sticks out for all three of them is the element of time. In TV, everything goes quick, quick, quick. You gotta shoot a lot in one day. In movies, you have the luxury of taking your time and shooting something over the span of a few months. And then, on stage, you get your rehearsal period, which you don’t often get for TV and movies, so that’s always a very amazing thing in itself, which I enjoy about stage. That being said, TV keeps you on your toes because you gotta go, go, go. You don’t have time to think and reevaluate. In movies, which is ultimately the director’s medium, there’s opportunity for being a part of a really great project because you have the time to shoot the way you want to shoot. If you’re working with a good group of people and you’re enjoying the material, it really doesn’t matter. The final thing I’ll say about stage is, everything you do is in the moment every night. What the audience sees is your creation. It’s not edited. It’s not chopped up. It’s not one version of somebody’s point of view. It’s you up there that the audience sees.