Hunter Page-Lochard plays Liam Wood in Around the Block, the new film starring Christina Ricci involvingan aboriginal boy in Australia and his passion for performing. The actor sat down with us to discuss making this film, his love of Shakespeare, what it was like working with Christina Ricci, and a bit of Australian Aboriginal culture.
YA Mag: Who is Liam Wood?
Hunter Page: Liam Wood is a young boy who has his foot stepping in two different worlds–a world were his potential to shine and do great things can happen and a world were it can all disappear. He is sensitive and honest but is still a little weak to actually move forward, until he finally can and does.
YA: What was your favorite part about playing Liam? After watching, would you do anything differently?
HP: My most favourite part about playing Liam would have to be playing a parallel of the character Hamlet and sub textually trying to bring that performance out to display to the audience. Reading his monologues and simply just doing Shakespeare was awesome as I am a huge fan of the English playwright myself.
I would change so much after watching it but that is only due to me growing older within this profession. I think every actor can see their work afterwards and want to change a few things due to moments in life that you only experienced after shooting.
YA: How do you most relate to Liam?
HP: I relate to Liam’s loss, I have lost an uncle just as he has and it has made a big impact on my life–good and bad.
YA: How would you describe what Around the Block is about?
HP: Around the Block in my mind is a father and son story. A father who is so caught up with his own guilt that he projects revenge and anger onto his sons, which then bites him back in the end. I think a lot of audiences can relate to at least one parent projecting any type of emotion onto their children due to their own insecurities. This film is a great example for that.
YA: What were your first thoughts when you heard about the film?
HP: I was genuinely excited due to the fact that I would be able to read Shakespeare, not only was it Shakespeare but it was one of his best plays in my opinion.
YA: What was your favorite part to film, and why?
HP: My favourite part of the film is Liam’s triumph over his father, when he builds up the strength to tell his father ‘he’s not going to be like him’. I think that part of the film is the most honest, performance wise and story wise. On top of that, shooting that scene was the best day on set due to the actor that played Liam’s father (Matt Nable). he made the experience amazing for that day due to the energy he brought on set and to the performance.
YA: Were you familiar with Hamlet before shooting?
HP: Very familiar. To be honest it wasn’t one of Shakespeare’s plays that I read a lot compared to ‘Romeo & Juliet’ but it is the one play in my mind that relates to a lot of stories within my life, whether it was told to me or experienced. It was always mentioned.
YA: What are you most excited for people to see, and why?
HP: I’m most excited for people to see Liam’s actual ‘To be or not to be’ moment, when he dances upon to the cliff edge. The reason why is because he is showing so much of his emotions at that point in time through movement that is very grounding and spiritual. And I hope audiences can not only externally feel for the character but at least get a surge of energy from it due to the spiritual impact it has.
YA: What was that paint stuff you had to put on, was that a hard scene to shoot? And where did you get the inspiration to become that character?
HP: Ha! The paint stuff is called ‘Ochre’. It’s an indigenous Australian tradition for paint. It’s made up of water and rock, a rock named ‘ochre’. It resembles earth and culture which at that point in the film is very important to the character in order to keep grounded. That scene was only hard due to the cold whether. 🙂
The character was always there, it was Liam’s spirit and connection to country, and being indigenous Australian myself I am very fortunate and grateful that I have that energy and spirit within myself to draw upon.
YA: Were you familiar with Christina Ricci’s work before filming? What was that experience like?
HP: Very familiar. She is one of my favourite female actors and I have grown up watching her and being inspired by her.
The experience was exceptional, she is such a professional and an inspiration for what I want to do in life. I love to watch and observe and ‘hunt quietly’ and I think she does that effortlessly.
YA: We’re all about YA, here at Young Adult Mag. Do you have a favorite YA Book? Any YA Film you wish you were a part of or want to be?
HP: I would say The Messenger by Markus Zusak would be my favourite book and any YA film. I breathe to do film so any opportunity would be exceptional to me.