Jan 18, 2007
Author: Paul Heath

Rory Cochrane’s first performance was in the critically well-received film FATHERS AND SONS in which he played Jeff Goldblum’s son. He followed this up with a stand-out performance in Richard Linklater’s film classic DAZED AND CONFUSED as Slater, the young comedic stoner.

Cochrane gave a tour-de-force performance as a crazed tattooed killer in LOVE AND A .45 with Renee Zellweger and followed that with a co-starring role in the cult classic EMPIRE RECORDS opposite Liv Tyler.

He then starred in the low budget features, THE LOW LIFE and DOGTOWN for director George Hickenlooper. He also co-starred in SUNSET STRIP which Art Linson produced for Fox 2000, as well as essayed a memorable role in FLAWLESS, which Joel Schumacher directed with Robert De Niro and Phillip Seymour Hoffman for MGM.

Other recent film credits include the ensemble HARTS WAR opposite Colin Farrell and Bruce Willis, and THE PRIME GIG opposite Vince Vaughn and Ed Harris. Rory was most recently seen in the top-rated CBS show CSI: Miami, playing Tim Speedle opposite David Caruso and Richard Linklaters 2006 movie A SCANNER DARKLY.

Now her appears in the contemporary thriller RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR, a film that raises important questions about personal choices and sacrifice. When a dirty bomb is set off in LA, ordinary couple Brad (Cochrane) and Lexi (Mary McCormack – The West Wing) are faced with the ultimate dilemma when Lexi is caught in the centre of the explosion, while Brad is safe at home. With most communication lines down and no way of getting through to Lexi, Brad hears through radio reports that he should secure his home to keep out the deadly virus that is spreading across the city.

I caught up with Rory yesterday where we talked about the movie, which has just debuted on DVD in the UK.

Paul: The film is billed as sort of a contemporary thriller/ disaster movie. How would you best describe the film?

Rory: I would say that it was just a simple story, with just unfortunate circumstances.

Paul: It's a difficult one to put into a genre as well because it's not really a true disaster film because it personalizes the disaster rather than telling the story from a lot of people's point of view. Which brings it home even more.

Rory: It's definitely not a heartwarming picture.

Paul: No. But it is a thriller, and I was on the edge of my seat throughout. How did you come across the screenplay?

Rory: My manager sent it to me and I met with Chris (Gorak) the director and talked about my concerns which were that my character... you know, well, I was sort of afraid to play this character who is basically a guy who won't let his wife in the house. But then again it's very easy to say that you would do that [in that situation]. But I talked with my friends, and it was 50/50. Half of them said yes I would [do the film], and half of them said 'no way.'

Paul: Obviously the film is very close to what's going on at the moment. It's a very sensitive subject in some ways. The film brings everything home. How long way the shoot?

Rory: It was less than a month. We shot six day weeks in a small little house that they got for the soot. It was a good thing that it was a quick shoot, because any longer it's hard to sustain a mental state for that long. Staring to crack up...

Paul: Yes. It seemed pretty intense. It seems that a hell of a lot went into every minute. Was that the case? Was it intense all the time, everyday?

Rory: Yes. It was wasn't the type of shoot where people are joking around between takes. There are some things that you do that are dramatic that you can still have a little fun in between but this wasn't one of them.

Paul: Where was it shot? It was obviously shot in LA?

Rory: It was a place called Echo Park.

Paul: How did a film with this sort of subject matter affect the local area while you were shooting? It's quite heavy stuff.

Rory: The neighbourhood and the community were curious, but I don't think that they were too happy when the ash started falling from the sky covering the streets.

Paul: What did they use for that?

Rory: Well, it was obviously no toxic, but I don;t think that it was good for anybody to be breathing in. All of the crew members got sick. Mary was, most of the time, outside in the ash, but everyone was wearing masks and stuff, obviously she wasn't when we were shooting but...

Paul: No.

Rory: Those little particles weren't good to breathe in.

Paul: Definitely.

Rory: Everyone was coughing and got sick.

Paul: Obviously the relationship that you have on screen with Mary McCormack's character is pretty important to the film. Amazing chemistry by the way.. What was she like to work with?

Rory: Mary's great. She's really focussed, and funny and sweet. I think that if we did another film together, I think we'd joke around a lot more. We went to dinner before the shoot and had fun, had a few laughs and then did the shoot and focussed on it, zoned in and just did it. Then after we were done we went out to dinner and had a few laughs. Like I said before it wasn't... pleasurable is the wrong word to use, but it was very difficult and demanding.

Paul: A lot of the film you spend acting, well you're either side of a barrier. What was that like, as an actor?

Rory: I think it was probably more difficult for her because it's hard to hear through glass and plastic, but other than the audio, it's just hearing the other actor. It wasn't that bad.

Paul: When you first saw the film, what did you think?

Rory: The first time I saw it... I think it makes people uncomfortable when they watch the film. They think about the situation. I remember when I first watched it I walked outside and the producers and the director were there ad they said 'what did you think?' I just said that I need ten minutes to absorb this thing. I was sort of speechless.

Paul: I was as well, and I think a lot of the people we watched it with back last year in the cinema, before the DVD, were the same. Was there any controversy over there when it was first screened.

Rory: I don't think that they released it in America? Lionsgate, it's up to them what they want to do with it?

Paul: It was at Sundance. It was quite well received there wasn't it?

Rory: Yes. If you have a movie at Sundance, you're, well, most of the movies there are looking for distributors, so we were lucky in getting Lionsgate to pick it up, because what I heard, they weren't even interested in buying anything there. So, that was nice for everybody involved.

Paul: Well they should [release it in the US]. Everyone is missing out. It's a well put together film for such a small budget. Although it doesn't give it that impression. It looks like it is a big budget film. The cinematography, acting and direction are that good. And it's Chris Gorak's first film as director?

Rory: It is. But he's worked under Spielberg, David Fincher in various aspects. Art direction, production design. As they say it's not his first rodeo. It was his directorial debut, but he was pretty into how he wanted the film to look, and how he wanted to shoot. With such a short shoot, and such a tight budget, I think he did a really good job, under the circumstances.

Paul: You've spent a few years over in the UK. How did you find it?

Rory: I like it. I was just over in the Shetland Islands for, I guess you call it Hogmanay?

Paul: New Year? Never been over there myself, but I was in LA recently and I love the weather over there. It's freezing here.

Rory: It's pretty cold here for Los Angeles. It's raining.

Paul: Really?

Rory: It's 50, so that's not too terrible.

Paul: So, how about the future? What does the future hold for you? I see you're in a new TV mini series.

Rory: Yes, it's a Ridley Scott mini-series called THE COMPANY and it's about the CIA and the KGB in the 1950's and it spans 40 years.

Paul: What sort of character do you play in that?

Rory: I play a KGB agent. So I have to speak a little Russian once in a while.

Paul: Excellent. And that's due this year?

Rory: It'll probably be out in June.

Paul: Well, thanks a lot for speaking with us. Have a good rest of the day and good luck with the movie and the series.

Rory: Thanks a lot.

RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR is available on region two DVD now.