Aaron Pierre Physically Transformed to Make ‘Rebel Ridge,’ ‘Foe’ and ‘Genius: MLK/X’ in a Single Year

As an ardent admirer of the craft and dedication that goes into bringing characters to life, I find it truly inspiring to read about this actor’s approach. His ability to transform himself into a character, not just by looks, but by embodying the essence of a real man with a rich background, is commendable. It’s a testament to his respect for the audience’s time and his commitment to his craft.

In Jeremy Saulnier’s action-packed thriller titled “Rebel Ridge“, Aaron Pierre takes on the role of Terry Richmond, a former marine who encounters friction with the police force in the fictional town of Shelby Springs. Don Johnson plays Sandy Burnne, a corrupt police chief, who discovers that his badge doesn’t instill the fear he expected when confronted by a man bound by a strong moral code and equipped with extraordinary abilities.

Even though Pierre and his co-star portrayed fierce opponents in their on-screen roles, collaborating with the renowned star from “Miami Vice” and “Nash Bridges” on the movie set, which will be released on Netflix on September 6, was an enjoyable experience for him.

Pierre shared with The Hollywood Reporter that Jeremy deserves recognition for creating an environment where he and Don could engage in deep conversations about life, work, and the scene during breaks. This is because Jeremy ensures that these moments between takes are sacred and protected, making it easier for everyone to fully immerse themselves in their characters. In those moments, personal identities fade away, and actors become their characters, whether it’s Terry Richmond, Chief Sandy Burnne, or someone else from Shelby Springs. When the focus is on the character’s objective, all other concerns are forgotten.

Here, Pierre discusses with THR the mental deceit and bodily alterations necessary to embody Richmond. He finishes filming just days before starting work on Genius: MLK/X, and shares his initial experiences in joining the casts of Mufasa: The Lion King and The Morning Show.

Jeremy Saulnier said his first impression of you was that you gave superhero vibes.

(Laughs) Did he say that? That’s my guy.

After connecting with you on Zoom, he mentioned that right away he noticed the richness within you, beyond just your captivating physical appearance. Can you recall any specifics from that first Zoom conversation, and what topics did you discuss?

Wow, what an intriguing question you’ve posed! I appreciate your thoughtfulness in bringing this to my attention. You see, my team reached out to me, brimming with energy and anticipation about a script they had received. They were eager for me to read it, and upon learning it was written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier, I was instantly intrigued. It took me approximately 90 minutes to finish reading the script, after which I contacted my team expressing my desire to be involved in this project. To me, this seemed like an opportunity that couldn’t be missed. So, a meeting with Jeremy was arranged. Incidentally, our first encounter took place over Zoom while I was on a road trip; I managed to find some Wi-Fi and felt an immediate connection with him. There are moments when you meet a filmmaker or writer, and there’s just this intuitive understanding of each other’s perspectives and approaches to the art we create. In our case, it was as if we were on the same wavelength from the get-go. From that point forward, things fell into place rather seamlessly, though the formalities took some time to sort out. Ultimately, our collaboration came to fruition.

Were you immediately engaged in the physical training following that point, and if so, could you describe what it entailed?

In the year I shot “Rebel Ridge”, it was an incredibly hectic and productive one for me. I worked on two films and a miniseries during that time, with only a few days separating each project. To give you an idea, I remember finishing “Foe” where I had to portray a somewhat lean character under Garth Davis’ direction. After that, I gained a significant amount of weight to play an ex-Marine in “Rebel Ridge”, a role I will likely never be able to replicate. Following that, I had the honor of portraying Malcolm X, for which I worked out on the StairMaster nearly every day to achieve his powerful yet lean physique. The reason for my choice of the StairMaster was because it’s an exercise that tests one’s endurance and resilience, qualities that Malcolm X embodied. To respond to your question, yes, we did put in a lot of effort during the preparation for “Rebel Ridge”.

Our main operations were primarily based in New Orleans, Louisiana, a city I hold dear. It’s a stunning locale, and the warmth and acceptance we received there left a lasting impression on me. Within this vibrant city, Jeremy established a warehouse that served as our training ground for ‘Rebel Ridge’. This is where we planned to develop Terry Richmond. Consequently, we honed our firearm skills at this location under the tutelage of experts who were exceptionally proficient in their field.

We did, of course, weightlifting and then we also did wrestling and boxing and sparring in that same facility. We did the bike riding in that facility. That’s where we built him, at least his physical prowess. The emotional and the mental and the spiritual elements, a lot of those conversations happened in private at midnight, me trying to discover this character and trying to make him authentic and real and true, and then also extensive conversation with Jeremy, of course. There was not one day during filming where I didn’t have a bruise or a cut or a graze or a mark, but I loved it.

Did any portion of you feel apprehensive while performing these stunts, or did you find yourself wanting to emulate Tom Cruise, feeling eager to execute as many stunts as possible?

To be truthful, I had to use a bit of deceit with my mind when reading this script as Terry seems really cool. I’m not cool, though, so when I first read the script, I was tempted to act out the expressions and such, but instead, I had to trick my mind. What I meant by that is I needed to imagine this was ordinary. I often do this in my daily life, even while sleeping. This helped me attempt to bring him to life in a way that didn’t feel like a cheesy act or an action hero but rather a genuine man who just happened to have all these skills due to his life experiences.

Have you watched the final film yet and do you watch all of your projects?

Initially, I honed my craft on stage, where the unique aspect is that you can’t see yourself perform afterwards. Instead, you work closely with the director who provides feedback on your performance. This approach guided me as I transitioned into film and television, where I could review my performances. One day, I consulted a mentor about this newfound ability to self-analyze, expressing my feelings of confusion. He wisely advised, “The advantage of film is that you can watch yourself back and learn what adjustments you’d make next time.” This insight has stuck with me, and now, generally, I prefer watching a performance once before letting it go.

How does the transition feel, moving from a project heavily focused on physical work to one like “Mufasa: The Lion King,” where your voice takes center stage instead?

Wow, it’s wonderful! It’s incredibly enjoyable. For me, The Lion King, especially the original one, holds a very special place as it was released in the year I was born. This connection makes it extra meaningful for me. It feels like an incredible blessing and honor to have been invited to continue the story of this character. James Earl Jones is undoubtedly one of my greatest inspirations, from his stage work to his filmography, everything he touches turns into gold. He’s simply magnificent! I study him extensively. So, having the chance to contribute, even a little bit, to something that he started and developed is an enormous privilege for me. I can’t stop expressing my desire to meet him; someone just needs to make it happen. No one has set it up yet, so I’m counting on you. Could you possibly arrange it? Write a letter or something, please! He’s the king indeed.

I imagine you can’t discuss The Morning Show just yet, but could you share your feelings when you were chosen for the show’s cast?

It was an incredible thrill for me to be a fan of “The Morning Show.” Before I even knew there was a chance for me to join the team, I had already watched it. One of the things that excites me most about being part of this show is the opportunity to work on scenes with such talented artists. Throughout my acting career, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work alongside great artists, and that continues on “The Morning Show.” I feel blessed to be able to collaborate on scenes with Jennifer Aniston, Marion Cotillard, Greta Lee, and Billy Crudup – all of whom I deeply admire for their exceptional talent. This is truly a dream come true!

As a passionate enthusiast, I recognize that people’s time is precious, for life itself is filled with obligations and responsibilities. Given this reality, it’s crucial not to squander the opportunity to captivate an audience. Therefore, I make it my mission to treat my craft with utmost seriousness, not as a reflection of myself, but rather as a commitment to deliver quality work. If I don’t, I feel I’m falling short of what audiences deserve. Consequently, I am fully immersed and enjoying every moment on The Morning Show.

2024-09-07 19:25

Read More