Our connection to the stars Janel Spiegel has another exclusive interview for us.
This time it is with Mark Edward Lewis to discuss his current project Blade of Honor
What challenges are you facing as director and producer of the upcoming series “Blade of Honor?”
Mark: We did do a promo and one of the things that is always a challenge is casting. Ninety percent of the work of directing happens when you do casting because if you get the wrong cast it is a hundred percent more work than if you get the right cast. So we started with some of our friends like James Kyson and Tim Russ who are consummate world cast actors. We also brought in Richard Hatch (“Battlestar Galatica”) and all these are good friends of ours. They are going to make our shoot, not just memorable but also something that’s going to be really provocative and not just entertaining but moving. Now that the casting process is complete and we have an incredible cast of “Star Trek” veterans and sci-fi veterans. The bigger challenge is over.
As the producer and director when you start the series how will you approach working with the actors?
Mark: Well we will have the script of course and the way I work as a director is we rehearse a lot and we spend a lot of time with the actors going over what they feel like the characters should be. I don’t do very good being a tyrant as a director so I really trust the instincts of the actors although I may build a character breakdown for them or where the character comes from. I tell all my actors I am only going to yell “Cut” if you step out of your light or you miss a line or do something strange. Or if you step away from the authenticity of the character otherwise as long as you’re in the character do what’s right. The actor to me is the king or queen of the integrity of their character. I have the overall look and I kind of know what I want. I know it’s going to be what I want the audience to feel but I rely on the actors to hold the integrity of their character. I don’t ever really want to get in the middle of that.
Who has inspired you professionally as a director?
Mark: Robert Zemeckis, who has done so many wonderful films like “Back to the Future” and “Contact.” He is probably my idol. I hope to meet him someday. Just what he has done for cinema has been amazing. It is sort of cliché but Steven Spielberg, again what he’s done has changed everything. My new favorite is Christopher Nolan and he is just a visionary who really understands the power of story and how to tell it in a way that we’ve never seen before. So much so that sometimes he get ridiculed for it but its like well, he’s pushing the envelope. Michael Nankin, he is in my mind one of the world’s best television directors.
What would you like to say to those who will be watching and donating to the Kickstarter for “Blade of Honor?”
Mark: Thank you first. We are unable to do anything without you. We are committed to getting you your perks as speedily as possible and we are looking forward to those of you that will be with us on-set. It is run by a gentlemen to who has done quite a few of these named Ryan T. Husk.
Find out more about Mark Edward Lewis and Blade of Honor:
KICKSTARTER for BLADE OF HONOR https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bladeofhonor/blade-of-honor
BLADE OF HONOR ON TWITTER https://twitter.com/BoHseries
MARK EDWARD LEWIS https://twitter.com/lewismarkedward
BLADE OF HONOR FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/bladeofhonorseries/
BLADE OF HONOR INSTAGRAM http://www.imgrum.net/user/blade_of_honor/3182237844
Click here to check out more from Janel Spiegel on The Valley Ledger
