What drew you to the role of Dr. Love in ‘Looking For Dr. Love’?
I love the duality of private and public lives. The idea that my character is a successful and beloved radio DJ who is very smooth on air but is actually going through a crisis in his personal life and has misgivings about his relationship was really intriguing to me. My favorite scenes to perform were when Dr. Love is in the radio studio performing for his live audience while also having an argument with his girlfriend. He has to keep his radio show rolling along while dealing with interpersonal conflict, and I thought it was interesting to switch between giving an upbeat performance for his listeners and trying to sort out a dispute with his girlfriend.
Was there something specific about the character or the story that resonated with you?
I am a hopeless romantic myself, so I totally bought into the idea that there was a love that needed to be explored between Jenny and Dr. Love (whose real name is Liam). We have all had a ‘one that got away’ experience, so it was a very relatable scenario. I don’t necessarily believe there is ‘the one’ in life, but I do believe there are some potential relationships that need to be explored.
Can you share any memorable moments or challenges you faced while filming in Oklahoma?
I actually would prefer to shoot every movie in Oklahoma! Shooting a lot of the film in the beautiful small town of Guthrie, I kept thinking how easy it was to get around town without traffic. If we had to move locations, they would be ten minutes apart. The most brutal thing when making a film is changing location, which can chew up hours of valuable time. All the locations were so close together, so we could shoot the film very quickly.
How did the picturesque landscapes contribute to the film’s ambiance?
I have always loved a good Midwestern or Southern ambiance in a romantic comedy, and the town of Guthrie, Oklahoma, was a gorgeous backdrop for this love story. I have lived most of my life in big cities like Auckland, Sydney, and London, so for me, there is something charming about small-town life. I actually would love to live in a smaller town later in life or maybe even quite soon!
How did you prepare for the role of a charming radio DJ with a complicated personal life?
Well, I am a Kiwi/Aussie, so a lot of my prep was focused on nailing the American accent the character has. I also needed to prepare to play the character both in his 30s and 20s and create a different energy for each version of him. I wanted to play him lighter and more hopeful in his 20s but show that by his 30s he has a little bit of emotional baggage and self-doubt. Sometimes I imagined being a puppy dog when I played younger Liam and then a tired sloth when I played him ten years older!
Did you do any specific research or meet with radio DJs to get into character?
The director, Peter Foldy, is a musician and knows this world inside out, so I was lucky to be able to lean on him for all my technical questions about working in a radio studio. In the past, I was a film reviewer on ABC Radio in Australia, so I have experience in the world of radio, which made me feel a lot more comfortable in the environment.
What was it like working with Peter Foldy as both the writer and director of the film?
It is always helpful when the director also wrote the script because you receive such an instant and thorough answer to your script questions! Peter has spent years thinking about the characters and knows them inside out. I loved that he brought out a darker and more angry side in me in some of my scenes, whereas my natural instinct is usually to play things a bit more upbeat.
How did his vision influence your portrayal of Dr. Love?
He helped me work through the scenes of meeting my past love, Jenny, again after so many years apart and bring out feelings of anger and despair in me. I hadn’t necessarily wanted to experience all those bitter emotions, but he made me feel them, and it made the scenes much more resonant.
Your co-star Anna Marie Dobbins plays your college sweetheart in the film. How did you two build the on-screen chemistry necessary for such a pivotal relationship?
I think when you have a pro like her, it is easy. I will also say that I am not sure how much chemistry can be ‘worked on.’ In my experience, it is usually either there or it isn’t. Luckily, we had great chemistry literally from Day 1. If I could put it into words, I would, but it’s just a feeling of ease, being on the same page, and being comfortable with each other.
Dr. Love harbors a significant secret about his personal life. Without giving too much away, how did you approach conveying the complexities of this secret in your performance?
I think we have all had those moments of wondering about a past relationship or if we are heading in the wrong direction with a current relationship. Just drawing on those experiences helped me flesh out the love triangle in this film. I feel like Liam is trying his best, but he is in uncharted territory when his past love resurfaces.
You mentioned that this film is a feel-good movie that can bring smiles and perhaps tears. What do you hope audiences take away from watching ‘Looking For Dr. Love’?
I think the world is a really tough place in 2024, and I am really savoring films that offer a moment of escapism. This is a film where you can stop worrying about the world for 90 minutes and just enjoy a sweet story that has some laughs, some great music, and a beautiful message about love prevailing.
You’ve had a diverse acting career from action films like ‘San Andreas’ to romantic comedies. How do you choose your roles and what excites you about them?
Well, the truth is the casting director and the director choose you rather than you choosing them. But looking back on the roles I have successfully landed, I do notice that at some point in my preparation for them, I say, ‘Oh my God, I AM this guy!’ So it’s usually when you can connect the character to something very real inside you. I am a romantic at heart, so in some ways, it makes sense my first lead role in a US film would be a romantic comedy!
Your work as a director on ‘Use Me’ was also highly acclaimed. How does your experience behind the camera influence your approach to acting?
I think that film is an editor’s medium, and the most helpful thing about being a director is understanding that actors are ultimately providing raw material for the editing room. I see other actors trying to get a ‘perfect take,’ whereas I feel that if I am going to get three takes, I would like to provide some contrast between them, as inevitably, you will end up editing together a blend of different takes. I think having experience as a director helps me relax and let go of the false idea of perfection. I also know how to ‘find the camera,’ so my performance can really come across. I can tell instantly what the shot will look like just by seeing where the camera is placed and what size the lens is, and that helps me adjust on the fly.
‘Looking For Dr. Love’ will be available on multiple streaming platforms soon. How do you think the landscape of digital streaming impacts independent films like this one?
I think more than ever, in a cluttered digital world, word-of-mouth is important. So if you enjoy the film, tell someone you love to watch it!