1 day Ago By Markos Papadatos
Actor Jason Butler Harner (“Ozark”) chatted about starring as Cory Price in the movie “The Big Bend,” which was written and directed by Brett Wagner. The synopsis is: Two families meet for a long overdue reunion in the remote West Texas desert—where events quickly don’t go as planned. Harboring secrets and facing private crises, they explore one of the wildest places in America, testing the boundaries of marriage, friendship, and parenthood, and doing their best to survive the experience.
“This film ‘The Big Bend’ was really wonderful,” he admitted. “I like doing independent movies with something to say in a unique way, which the film has. I would never have been in that part of the country had I not done this film.
” “It was tough because we filmed it in the summer in Texas, but it was a special memory,” he added. On playing his character, he said, “I liked that he had a secret. He and his wife, Melanie, have a secret that they are trying to navigate in the best way they can, and it’s a beautiful challenge to have to play.
” “Also, seeing friends that you love. There was a lot in there to act. There was a lot of meat on the bone there,” he added.
Harner also discussed his transition from “Ozark” to “The Big Bend.” “I come from the theatre, so I would do a lot,” he said. “I lived in New York City for 23 years, and I would do four plays a year.
I’ve been on Broadway a bunch of times.” “So, I like the depth and fullness of a character because you obviously don’t get to do that a lot in television and film,” he noted. “Fortunately, with Roy Petty from “Ozark,” he had a lot of stuff going on, and Cory had a lot of stuff going on as well.
The only thing that was different about them was that Cory wasn’t tormented in the same way,” he elaborated. “Roy had a lot of guilt over the fact that he thought he got his mom hooked on drugs, but I don’t think Cory’s anger streak was anywhere near the level of volatility that Roy’s was,” he explained. He went on to praise his “Ozark” leading lady, Emmy award-winning actress Laura Linney.
“Laura Linney is the best,” he exclaimed. “Laura is so smart and funny, and she has a wicked sense of humor. She makes me laugh very hard.
” On being a part of the digital age, he said, “It’s complicated. You have access to things. We are in a particular time right now, where we are wondering what is true and factual.
” “AI is a whole new element,” he noted. “To the extent of the film, I like that you can see it on Apple TV+, Amazon, and YouTube. Those parts of the digital age are great.
” Harner continued, “It was supposed to come out during the pandemic, but then, that made things complicated. It finally premiered last year in April and it had done well at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. That part of digital media is great.
” Jason Butler Harner had kind words about Oscar-nominated actor Colin Farrell. “Colin Farrell is the best! I had a really unique acting experience with Colin. It was very, very special,” Harner said.
For young and aspiring actors, he said, “It’s hard...
I would ask them: ‘do you really want to do this?’ If you think you can do anything else, do it. You need to make your own content now more than ever because that’s the only way you are going to have agency.” “So, make your own stuff, train, be kind, and make sure you understand each person’s job.
I’ve always been that way, and that’s why I love about Jason Bateman so much. He knows every person’s job on set and he is compassionate towards it,” he elaborated. “Don’t get obsessed with trying to get an agent.
Make your own content, be kind, know your worth as much as you can, but also learn,” he underscored. To learn more about actor Jason Butler Harner, follow him on Instagram . Markos Papadatos is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for Music News.
Papadatos is a Greek-American journalist and educator that has authored over 22,000 original articles over the past 18 years. He has interviewed some of the biggest names in music, entertainment, lifestyle, magic, and sports. He is a 16-time "Best of Long Island" winner, where for three consecutive years (2020, 2021, and 2022), he was honored as the "Best Long Island Personality" in Arts & Entertainment, an honor that has gone to Billy Joel six times.
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