LISTEN: "I cannot wait for everyone that I know to see this movie"

Friday 01 September 2023

Taking the decision to act on one of his life's ambitions has paid off for Adam Hooper as his first full length movie is released this December.

With a supporting role in 'Control' as 'Agent Mark', working for the Prime Minister while a British government official's car is hijacked, Adam said the opportunity confirmed to him that acting is what he wants to do.

Although he waited until he was in his mid-30s before taking a chance on acting, Adam said he had always wanted to work in films. 

"When I was younger, 12 or 13, a lot of my friends were out skateboarding and I was always at home making home movies. So from a young age, I've always loved making films and and being on film. I did that through out my teen years, and then I never really took it seriously.

"I always knew I wanted to do it, but I never thought it was actually achievable and then roll on to me being about 35 and my partner Shannon said to me 'you're on your deathbed, right? And you look back at your life. What is the one thing you regret not doing?' And I said acting because I've just always had a passion for it.

"I love movies. I love TV. I love everything about it."

Pictured: Adam Hooper, actor. 

As well as watching a lot of films and TV shows, Adam said he watches behind the scenes documentaries about how they are made enhancing his interest in the art of film making as well as that of acting. 

Along with that push from his partner spurring him on, Adam contacted his old school friend who he knew was working in the industry and was already finding success in the fields of script writing, directing and producing. 

"I contacted Gene Fallaize. We were friends on Facebook, and I basically asked him what I could do to get started and he gave me a few things. He said, 'go and do some auditions in Guernsey because it's quite a cutthroat industry you might get turned away and you won't want to do it anymore'.

"So I went and did that and I ended up getting an audition over here for a movie that was being being made. I didn't know what to expect because it was my first ever audition. In the end, I didn't get the part, but it was a good experience for me.

"I contacted Gene again just to say thank you, all of your advice really helped me and thank you for doing that and he said, 'I'm sorry you didn't get the part, but, you know, keep going'.

"I think it was about a month later I saw on Facebook that he was asking for actors in the UK. I messaged him and said I'd be happy to come and audition if you'd have me?'. This would have been around November last year. I flew out to London with very low expectations, because it's very different doing something here. I was going over there with people who've been in the industry for a long time.

"It was really nice to see Gene again. I hadn't seen him since we were probably five or six and I did my audition and he said, 'how do you think that went?' and I wasn't sure because I've never done this before, but I feel like I remembered my lines and I did everything I wanted to do. They said, 'thank you for coming in'

"I was on the plane thinking I don't think I've done enough there. I got home and Gene messaged me the next day to say, 'hope you got home ok, hope the flight was good. Thank you for coming to London. It was nice to see you' and then a couple of days later I was at home and he said, 'are you free for a phone call?'

"He phoned me and said, 'first of all I want to thank you for coming over', and then he went...'congratulations, you got the role, you were brilliant'.

"I was really excited."

Adam said everything moved pretty quickly after that with the script coming his way soon after. 

"I was thinking, 'wow, this is phenomenal. This is so good," he said.

Pictured: Gene Fallaize makes movies through his Cupsogue Pictures, his own production company.

The movie, Control was written by Gene Fallaize who also directed it. 

Having grown up and gone to school in Guernsey, Gene has tried to support other local creatives and the Bailiwick at large, by filming in Herm and using supporting actors on past projects. 

His latest movie has received widespread media interest despite being in the 'indie genre' - where a film is made independently, outside of the major film studio systems - mainly because of the decision to cast Kevin Spacey in one of the central roles.

The former A-lister was this year cleared of sex abuse allegations in the UK, having been found not guilty of similar allegations in America last year.

Adam and the rest of the cast found out that Spacey had been cast after they had all be given their roles.

"We had a table read one night with Mark Hampton who plays the prime minister and all the people that have lines in the movie and it was at that table read that Gene told us all that Kevin Spacey was going to be in it, and at the time he'd been cleared of absolutely everything."

Spacey faced the second set of accusations after he had been confirmed in his Control role.

"Gene had a lot of faith in Kev, but also Kev had a lot of faith in Gene because the movie was an indie movie. Kevin's used to doing these big Hollywood movie, so I think they both put their faith in each other, and I think the outcome of the movie has made Kevin so proud that he's done it.

"And the outcome of Kev's trial just personified that Gene and his team absolutely made the right choice. And I like the fact that I get to be a small part of that."

Pictured: Kevin Spacey at Southwark Crown Court earlier this year. (Shutterstock)

As a disembodied voice, Spacey's role in the film means we won't see his familiar face but Adam said his voice is instantly recognisable as the Oscar winner.

Adam heard that dialogue before others when he was asked to supplement his supporting actor role by also working as a vocal actor covering for Spacey in some pre-and post- production work. The movie also gave Adam other opportunities.

"We went to the Cannes Film Festival. That was probably just as exciting as getting the role," he said. 

Before they went there, the cast watched the movie at Pinewood Studios in London.

"I was really nervous because it's the first time you're gonna see yourself screen time wise, in the movie.

"It hasn't got a huge cast, and most of the movie you're watching the lead character, Lauren Metcalf. Everyone's talking about Kevin Spacey, and they have every right to because the guy is phenomenal. He's had such an amazing career and he's been in so many things, but I've said to Lauren that when the movie comes out it's gonna shift. Kevin's performance is phenomenal and he's great but Lauren is the lesser known name, and she is on screen for the most of the time, and she holds the movie.

"It was a joy to work with her for a little over a week.

"I always knew that the movie was going to be good again because I saw it being made. Because I'd learned Kev's dialogue I knew what was coming next. But when it's all together and it's edited and they've done the music and the effects it just makes it a totally different movie. And once I watched it, I was straight on the phone to Shannon going 'I cannot wait for you and for everyone that I know to see this movie' because it is just brilliant."

Pictured: Adam Hooper in the locally produced film 'Luck' which was shot at the Ronez Quarry and other locations. The film is being produced by Liam Kearney and Gaz Papworth with fellow actors Dave Hyett and Brian Ferguson also starring in it. 

Adam is planning to stay living in Guernsey and hopes to get roles in local productions while also looking at auditions in the UK or further afield.

Adam still works with his brother cleaning windows which he says gives him the chance to focus on his acting as he can take time off when he needs to.

"It's what I get the most joy out of doing. Other than being with family and friends, when I'm on set the second I'm with everyone that are in the same mindset as me, and they want to perform, it just brings me alive. I've got so much energy, any table reads or anything like that, that's when I'm alive. And that's why this is what I want to do with the rest of my life.

"There are things on the horizon but there's nothing set in stone. It's just auditioning and doing what I can. I'll go for it, just taking it step by step. But it's trying to find the right thing for me because I don't have any intention of moving off the island because I've got my family and friends and I'd like to think that I can achieve what I want to by living here."

You can listen to the full interview below or wherever you get your podcasts:

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