Q&A with Actor Greg F. Kowalczyk

Film: Under Jakob's Ladder
Actor: Greg F. Kowalczyk
Role: Rudi

Q: What or who got you started in acting?
A: It was my (and only my) idea. And, when the time came, it simply happened.

Q: How did you find out about this movie?
A: I found out about it on one of the Internet portals where one can find the adverts about castings.

Q: What attracted you to working on this film?
A: I read the movie scenario and, apart from the fact that I really liked it, it was also important to me that it concerned the part of the world I come from (Eastern Europe). I was also drawn to the movie by the climate and atmosphere of the script. Most of the movie action is taking place in the prison cell and this is always a big challenge, both for the director as well as the actor, as one limited space provokes artists to search for various means of expression, so the story does not bore the spectator.

Q: Did you do anything special to prepare for your role as Rudi?
A: Yes. I had to stop shaving, cutting my hair. And I had lost 8 pounds. How was I preparing for my part? Fast. I had learned about playing Rudi’s part a week before the shooting started and an actual work on the character I was to play started when the director asked me to shoot screen test for this part. After that I was offered the role of Rudi. Working on the part was not easy, as throughout all the shooting period I had to play one the co-prisoners who did not have anything to do with what was happening in the prison cell. I had to be careful and aware about my every gesture and word. I also had to do a lot of thinking myself, inside my head.

Q: What did you enjoy the most about working on this film?
A: I was really happy that I could participate in that project, as I truly believe it will be a success. Thanks to this movie, I could also try new challenges. And of course, meet new people.

Q: Do you have any funny stories or anecdotes about working on this film?
A: Well, perhaps it won’t be a funny story, but rather a real and true one. On the last day of the shooting, before the filming started, Robert called everyone to the set (to the prison cell). He thanked us all and asked us to really concentrate, because we were about to shoot quite a few extremely difficult, emotional scenes, that chronologically would be put at the end of the movie. Then he said a prayer in German and we started working. After some time, when I was still waiting for my scene to be filmed, I felt some unusual energy coming from the actors performing their parts at that moment. They were going through really extremely difficult and emotional scenes. And suddenly, while I was watching the actors, the tears came to my eyes and started running down my face without me knowing about it. I was so moved that I had to leave the set (the prison cell).

Q: Who or what inspires you as an actor?
A: My greatest inspiration and influence is life itself. But I do remember that when I was a little boy and I saw the movie 'Singing in the Rain', I felt a desire to become an artist. So, one may say that also Gene Kelly.