The Great Charade (2019)
Director: Dan Strange, Rodeo Strange
Writer: Dan Strange, Rodeo Strange
Stars: Francesca Louise White, Candice Palladino, Ricardo Freitas, Philip Boobyer, Marcus Davis-Orrom
A psychological thriller in which the world’s two most famous actors are kidnapped. They awake, bound and bruised, with no inkling of where they are. Unable to move they are at the mercy of those who adore them the most; their fans.
In my latest interview I got an opportunity to ask actor
Ricardo Freitas a few questions about what we can expect from the upcoming psychological thriller ‘The Great Charade’
Q.How did you get into film making originally?
I came into acting later in life in my mid-twenties, but film has always been my passion. With acting, although I also perform on stage and I do love it, there is something about capturing a truly honest moment on screen that inspires me.
Q. You play Ryan Sterling in the upcoming thriller The Great Charade which is being released later this year. What can we expect from the film?
You can expect to be transported into a dark world, to question your own limits, maybe empathise with characters you absolutely despise, and at times wonder to yourself “should I be laughing right now?”
Q. What attracted you to the role of Ryan when you first read the script?
Who doesn’t want to play the asshole for lack of a better term? In all seriousness I’m always drawn to characters who are completely outside of who I am, the challenge as an actor is to find that part of yourself and bring it out, explore it and bring it to life via the character. Rodeo and Dan Strange wrote the all the characters which such depth that I found so much in Ryan’s bravado, charisma, ego and exactly where they came from.
Q. What sort of preparation did you do
for the role?
Use music and audio a lot in my preparation, for Ryan I needed to bring out the Ego, Charisma and arrogance of someone who has let fame and wealth completely take them over. For months I listened to Kanye west albums and 80‘s Ric Flair wrestling promos, safe to say I was in safe hands with those two egos.
Q. Did you make any changes to the character to how it was written in the original script?
Rodeo and Dan were very trusting and generous in letting us all add our own flavours to their characters. Nothing was changed on the page dialogue wise for me, but we were given free rein on actions, mannerisms and gestures that weren’t on the page, so it was all a truly collaborative effort.
Q. Did you experience any issues during the filming of The Great Charade?
The whole experience was one of the most rewarding and fun experiences I’ve ever had on set. We were shooting really awkward hours through the night, finishing early morning and then starting again early afternoon the next day, but everyone was so professional, laid back and passionate that it was a joy every day.
Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?
The 10 second shot that took four hours definitely springs to mind, as all my fellow cast members have already mentioned. We just could not stop laughing throughout this, Candice Palladino’s comedic performance of some lines had us losing it every time the action was called, then as we the cast would be holding it together as best, we the giggles would come from behind the camera. This is all happening at 4 am and yet everyone was in the jovial mood as I mentioned earlier. The cast and crew were truly bonded and created our own little dysfunctional family that I treasure to this day.
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
I’ve got a few things potentially in the pipeline, but nothing confirmed yet, I’ve just signed with new agent Miles Anthony Associates, so things are moving forward.
Q. What advice would you give to someone who is looking to get into acting themselves
You just have to get out there and do it, work, train, do workshops. There is no one way in, I came into acting at 27, having done Uni and got my degree in Graphic Design, I realised that was not what I wanted but I knew acting was. I never did Theatre school and didn’t know anyone in the industry. You just have to get out there, the courses are online for you to find out where there are classes, groups, courses etc. Don’t chase fame, chase experiences and characters. Also learn not to hang every hope on each audition you may get. Prepare, get in the room do your absolute best and then let it go. If you get it great if not onto the next one with a smile, you’ve got to build some tough skin in this business.
You can find out more about Ricardo Freitas by following him on his website here and the social media sites Twitter and Instagram.
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!
