Interview mit Jonathan Murphy

April 2008 | We got the opportunity to do an interview with Jonathan Murphy who plays the characters Ronny in "October Road". Jonathan tells us about his experiences on set of "October Road", what he thinks about the future of the show and much more.

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1. You are very interested in acting on stage, even in musicals. Which Broadway play is your dream to play in? In which plays did you take part at school and at the Casa Manana Theatre? Were they classical or modern?

If I had a better singing voice, my tendencies seem to go toward the dark. I’d have to say Jekyll and Hyde, if I was to choose a musical but I don’t think that will happen…believe me you don’t want to hear me sing.

As for the school plays, I did any and all I could do when I was first starting, but I’d say that my favorite role would have to be playing Alan in EQUUS. It was a real learning experience for me and the first real lead role I had…Unfortunately I never have done a classical piece, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn't love to… some Shakespeare would be a really great experience I’m sure… A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM or TWELFTH NIGHT and even trying to tackle something by Tennessee Williams would be a real challenge that I would welcome.

2. You call yourself a "fr-actor" when you are working for TV or film because you are only playing fragments of the complete work. What is it that you like about theatre in particular: getting to act a story chronologically or receiving the immediate reaction of the audience? How much of the audience’s reactions on "October Road" do you notice?

I think the question is the answer here. In theatre, it’s such a through line, it’s A to B and if somewhere along the way something changes from night to night, you just except it and move on. With theatre you have the unique opportunity to live a moment for what it is on that particular day. If its one day angry, one day sad, that emotion happens and directs the same scene a different way on a different night, I think that tends to affect the rest of the performance. You throw that pebble in the water and it ripples a different way every night, that’s the beauty of theatre.

As for the audience, it’s an energy thing. With TV, there is no audience unless you’re shooting a half-hour live comedy, so you kind of have no buffer in that sense, but in the theatre, you can feed of the energy of an audience. If a moment is really intense, you can feel them holding their breath, or if in comedies, they erupt with laughter, that automatically puts gas in the tank.

3. When your career began you were still studying. What were your subjects of study and what would be your profession today if you hadn’t become an actor?

You know I was studying Radio/TV/Film when I left, but I also had an interest in writing. It’s hard for me to sit and think about what I might be doing if I wasn’t acting, cause usually I can never come up with anything, but I’m sure it would be something on the production side of things. I love the process of film so much and there are so many aspects that intrigue me that I’m still discovering new ones every time I step on a set. That’s an avenue I hope to explore one day, producing and directing…because they are telling the story to, just from a different Point of View.

4. When and why did you decide to become an actor?

I don’t know if there was a defining moment where I said, ”I want to act”. It was a process for me, I feel like I’d always had an intuition to perform, it just finally manifested itself in acting, probably around 17 or 18. Since I was little, I would mimic and impersonate things, so I don’t think I ever decided to going into acting, it just one day hit me and said, “thins is what you like to do, here’s how you can do it…and get paid”. There are still days when I feel like I’m not an actor, the days that I do just tend to outweigh them. It’s a very lucky thing, it’s like finding a golden ticket, when you realize that this is where I want to be and what I want to do.

5. After your first part in "The Bold and the Beautiful" you didn't get a job for several months. Were there times when you thought of giving up your job as an actor?

There are still times I feel like giving up. The hardest part of the job is realizing that you never know what’s next and that’s scary. You can have 5 auditions in a week and think, “I got to get one of them” and it doesn’t happen, and that’s tough. I think in all performers, there is a somewhat “numbness” quality that they have to have. You have to be able to be okay with just doing your best and that’s all that you’re going to get out of it. It’s rare to getting a paid acting gig. There are a lot of people out there that want to do what I do, but it’s the ability to persist through those low times that gets you to the other side. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason… and those days when I get down, I just try and find something worth moving forward for…but its hard, its still hard and I’m not sure that self doubt will ever go away, but its how you deal with that that makes you able to keep going and hold your head up.

6. You will be seen in the drama "Broken Windows" and in the comedy "Ready or not". Shooting for the third film "Scribble" just began in February. What can you tell us about these projects?

Well, Broken Windows is a drama in which all these people’s lives seem to be interconnected without ever knowing it, until they are all thrown together in a party setting for my dead grandfather. The character I play, Nate, is kind of a wondering soul, he has strong feelings for a girl he’s known his whole life, but just can’t seem to find the way to let her know. It’s a really touching movie that explores the inner workings of all different types of people. It’s a project I’m very proud of.

Ready or Not, is a story of four buddies who go through “a Mexican Hell” due to a botched Bachelor party, all in the efforts to get back in time for the wedding. I play a character named Dean, who along the way seems to be the voice of reason, and a constant reminder of the dangers of their little endeavor and much as he’s fighting it, falls in love with Mexican beauty, a girl who quickly becomes his first love. Its got a lot of laughs in it and I’m really excited for people to see that funny side of myself, through him. It should be a lot of fun to watch.

And finally, Scribble, is about a group of writers from all different walks of life that meet in a writing group every week. At the beginning, they are "One For All, All For One", but when one of them starts on a trail to success, things quickly change and the true spirit of these people is revealed. My character Henry, is kind of the narrator of the film, he’s a struggling writer, not only with his career but his inability to tell his crush, Hannah, how he really feels. it’s a film that seems to have it all, the drama, the comedy and the struggle that so many people go through. We begin shooting this summer in L.A.

7. How did the writers strike effect you?

The strike was rough, fortunately we got to finish all of our episodes but when we were done, it turned into the waiting game. There is nothing worse than having your fate decided for you but there is nothing you can do but wait. I’m glad it was resolved, but its still to early to tell if the repercussions it will have are going to be worth the hold out. Hopefully, the actors learned from the experience and won’t share the same fate.

8. Your character in “October Road”, Ronnie, is an extremely endearing, open-hearted, optimistic young man. How much of Jonathan is in Ronnie?

Well, I look at it this way, there has to be some of me in every character. My face, my expressions, my gestures, are the filter that Ronnie has to go through to come to life. He wouldn’t exist without me, so naturally there is some of me in him. As for the way he acts, the words out of his mouth…in that aspect we are different. I don’t think I would enjoy playing a character that was really close to my sensibilities. The fun for me, is that, you can inhabit someone between action and cut. I’m me everyday, but when I get a chance to be someone completely different, I have all the freedom in the world to think a different way, act a different way cause whose to say but me what’s appropriate and what’s not. That’s the wonderful thing about him being my character.

9. You and Bryan come across as brothers very convincingly. Do you have a brother yourself? How do you evaluate the situation between the brothers and Aubrey?

I do have an older brother, so that sensibility comes very naturally to me. When it comes down to brothers dating the same girls, let’s face it…its weird. Speaking from a Nick/Ronnie perspective, I think Nick might feel a bit uncomfortable, but he knows where his heart lies, and I think he’d eventually be really happy that his younger brother found somebody that makes him feel the way Hannah does for Nick. I think he’d be happy for Ronnie but it would be awkward at first. I actually would be interested to see the Commanders take on the situation, there’s an interesting point of view.

10. "October Road" is a drama series, but you also had a lot of guest appearances in crime series. Which genre do you like most?

There hasn’t been a job I haven’t enjoyed, be it a crime drama, comedy, whatever. I don’t think its so much about the type of show or genre, but in fact, the character. When a good character exists, it doesn’t matter what form he’s in…an interesting person is an interesting person. Right now, in an episode of Ghost Whisperer I’m doing, I’m playing a ghost…just imagine the possibilities that lie in that realm…it’s the character that defines it for me, put him in any genre it won’t matter.

11. You already said many times that the crew of "October Road" has grown together like a family. Are there funny experiences you made on set that you can tell us about?

I’d put it this way, it’s a lot of just sitting around and talking about God knows what. Funny things happen all the time, jokes, pranks, ridiculous stories. It’d liken it to a big family reunion every week. I might get in trouble if I told you some of the stories, I’ll put it that way. It’s a great group and a lot of to be able to say you’re “working” when you’re there.

12. It isn’t sure if "October Road" is coming back for a third season. Do you think it has a chance?

As of right now, yeah I think it does, mainly for the fact that it hasn’t been cancelled already. I mean Carpoolers is cancelled, so they have no shot, we still do.

This business is sometimes a big game of King of the Hill and in this case I’m a lowly bystander just waiting to see who is standing at the top when its all said and done. We have a great fan base and if it was up to them, we’d be shooting now, but unfortunately, ratings, time slots, budget, etc… things like that factor in…so for now we just have to wait and see what happens…I am hoping for the best though.

13. Does the crew and cast of "October Road" know, who Sam’s real father is?

If we do, we’re not telling…

14. Since myFanbase is an online magazine about TV series, do you have a favorite one?

I’m kind of lame…I tend to like the shows on Discovery and Bravo, stuff like that. I like Ghost Hunters and Top Chef. I’m a big fan of Inside the Actor’s Studio, of course but most of the time when the TV is on, its on sports. But I will say I do like Big Love and Weeds, those would probably be my favorite scripted series…

Finally I just want to say, Thank You, all of you guys who tune in every week and enjoy what we do. There’d be no us, if it weren’t for you…so thanks.

Nicole Oebel - myFanbase