We had a chance to talk to actor David Cooley and he takes us on a tour of The Wolves of Savin Hill.
Clearly, the film is an ensemble piece, but you’re front row centre for most of the movie. Do you feel the pressure, knowing you’re such a huge part of the film and a lot of it is riding on your performance and the audience’s acceptance of it?
Not while making it no. John and Sean & I talked a lot about who my character was and what his motivations were. I really felt like I knew him. I knew his secrets and his potential violence and his rage. Once we were finished however, well that’s a horse of a different color. NOW, yes I fell it. I am not a big fan of watching my own performance, I tend to be a pretty harsh critic. But also I so want the audience to believe my character. Find my truth to be honest and sincere.
Was the film something that you happened upon from a casting call – or did you know director John Beaton Hill, previously?
I brought this page I’d printed out with about 17 words on a it. I said, “Hey man write me a few scenes and you’ll direct me ok?” We spoke for weeks on it, where we were going, who this guy was, how he ended up where he might end up and then John kicked me out and wrote this amazing script.
The film has somewhat of a French Connection vibe to it. Was that an appeal to you?
One of the things John and I have in common is real acting. Truth in a story. Not fairy tales and fucking moonbeams. Real people saying real things in dark and scary places. That’s what I get off on. Going to really dark places and making them my own. John I think is the same way. Also I trust John, implicitly and told him so. I said you fucking take me wherever you want to go and I will make him run.
Why do you think Los Angeles lends itself so well to this particular story?
LA is the largest city I have ever felt so lonely in. That in a nutshell is why it works so well. Millions and millions of people that can be completely alone.
Do you have a favorite moment in the film – one you’ll likely add to your showreel?
The Ocean, fuck that moment in the ocean. Which wasn’t a moment, haha! I was so far gone in the character, so deep, it was fantastic and the way John shot it was superb.
What do you hope the film does for your career? Obviously, you wish the film success, but what would you like to see come out of it for you.. as an actor?
WORK & more Work & more WORK. This is all I have ever wanted to be. I used to watch the Sunday morning movies as a kid. Bogart, Flynn, Edward G, Rooney, Wayne, Cooper. I watched them over and over and thought “Oh dear God that’s what I want to do. Not for the fame or money because I didn’t know that’s what happens to you when you are a star. I just wanted to work. To slide down a sail with my knife like Errol Flynn or a gun battle like John Wayne. But truly when I saw To Kill a Mockingbird, I realized you could touch people and that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do as an actor. Touch people, make then feel. Because that’s what they did to me when I watched and I wanted to always to do that for someone else.
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