The Staffa Corner

Actor Nathan Clark Sapsford Talks About His New Film Here Be Dragons

Greg Staffa

My guest this episode is former Australian MTV VJ turned-actor Nathan Clark Sapsford.

Stapsford recounts his journey from the sunny shores of Bronte, Sydney, to the bustling streets of Los Angeles. 

Hear about his first major production, Here Be Dragons, and the lessons he learned both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

Through his portrayal, Nathan hopes to shed light on a significant yet often overlooked part of history and bring awareness and empathy to US audiences.

From the production hurdles faced during the global pandemic to the joy of collaborative storytelling in Los Angeles, Nathan's experiences offer a fascinating window into the world of acting and filmmaking. 

Join us for an insightful conversation that celebrates the art of filmmaking and the power of stories to connect us all.

Here Be Dragons arrives on streaming platforms on August 16.


A quick review of Here Be Dragons.

Written
& Directed by Alastair Newton Brown

Starring - Nathan Clark Sapsford, Slobodan Bestic, Marija Bergam, Svetislav Goncic, Igor Filipovic, Zoran Pajic

Here Be Dragons marks Alastair Newton Brown's directorial debut. The film opens during a tense prisoner exchange in 1993, introducing key characters like David (Nathan Clark Sapsford) and setting the films gripping tone before leaping 25 years forward. 

David, now a war crimes investigator at The Hague, is haunted by his past. He sets out for modern-day Serbia, determined to bring war criminals to justice. 

Admittedly, my knowledge of the Bosnian Genocide is limited. Unlike WWII films, which often evoke immediate emotional connections with familiar symbols and patriotic music, it took me some time to become emotionally invested in this story. However, once I began viewing Here Be Dragons as more of a revenge-thriller than a political/war drama, I truly started to appreciate Brown's narrative.

Sapsford beautifully conveys the toll that years at war have taken on his character. However, key character development feels missing throughout the film. I wished the writers had invested more time developing significant characters before the time jump. 

While I'm sure the creators of Here Be Dragons would have loved a wide theatrical release in the US, releasing it directly to streaming platforms will likely yield greater success. This format allowed me to pause and look up information, which enhanced my understanding and enjoyment of the film. 

Far from perfect, Here Be Dragons is an enjoyable international thriller akin to the Bourne films, albeit without all the hand-to-hand combat. The film does enough to draw you in and make you want to better understand the events surrounding the story. 

I, for one, am excited to see Alastair Newton Brown's next film as well as Sapsford's next role.

Here Be Dragons is set to make its North American debut August 16th.

Greg:

You're listening to the Staffa Corner Podcast, a Staffatarian look at entertainment and life with your host, greg Staffa. I guess this episode is talented actor Nathan Clark Stapsford. He can be seen in his US premiere for here Be Dragons, which is making its American debut August 16th on Apple Plus and a few other places. Nathan, thanks for joining us today. Hey, ray, great to be here. Thanks, greg. So tell us a little bit about yourself. You're not native to here, you're from Australia, tell us a little bit about life growing up in Australia.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Oh, okay, well, I grew up in a place which is now pretty kind of fancy, but it was a working-class beach suburb called Bronte in Sydney, kind of near Bondi, if anyone knows where Bondi is, but yeah, so I mean it was pretty idyllic, you know. You know, just as soon as you're old enough to get on a bike, you'd be off for the day, and you know, and you'd come back for dinner, sort of thing, and kicking footballs around, jumping around in the water, and you know it was a pretty great upbringing back there in salty, you know Sydney, back in the 80s and 90s I guess.

Greg:

One of your big claims of fame was that you were a VJ for MTV Australia. What led to that?

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Well, it was kind of an accident. I started off doing some radio stuff actually and I ended up having a mentor who was my idol as this radio DJ back in this radio station called Triple J in Australia and had these glory years. And there was this funk disco house DJ guy there. This guy, andy Glitter, and I ended up working for him and just absolutely fell in love with it and he became my mentor for a while. But then that station went. It wasn't at Triple J, it was another one and that kind of went bust.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

And then I ended up at a rival music video station called Channel V, which was bigger than MTV at the time over there and I loved, I just loved it and I was working in the library. It was all quite technical but I did want to be on air and ultimately MTV kind of decided to, you know, make a bigger impact in Australia and they had a VJ search and I applied, did this fun video which was, you know, hilarious. I sort of went to a. There was this amazing giant, samoan drag queen, that did a karaoke night and I went there and interviewed everyone that was singing as if they were the people that they were singing. So if someone's doing Elton John, I would interview them as if they were Elton John. Anyway, they loved it at MTV and I ended up getting a job there and I hosted everything from TRL to Screen to all these other shows that we created.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Lots of travel, lots of fun, lots of interviewing people doing crazy stuff, parodying videos. It was a really great time. So, yeah, I loved my time at MTV and got to come to the States for the first time and I guess I was not expecting to fall in love with LA actually, and I completely did. I couldn't get over it. And then, as things sort of panned out later, it was an opportunity to come here and I was like you know, I've done this for long enough and I'm kind of realizing that I want to pursue my own creative pursuits. You know, after interviewing people who were doing theirs for so long that I decided to take the plunge and learn how to act over here. And you know, I've been blessed with working with some amazing teachers and doing some great productions across theater and film and a bit of TV and stuff, and you know, I guess it's taken me to where I am now. It took me to Hit Me Dragons.

Greg:

Did being a VJ? Did that mold you? Like you know, if I ever make it big, I don't want to be that person.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Right, right, well, I mean kind of. I mean, look, the reality is, when you're interviewing people, you know for those TV things and you know, sometimes you can be the person who's interviewing them. You know where they're doing, you know 10 a day or whatever, and, like, you know some of them, yeah, they don't want to be there, some of them really do, but I mean I always, but you know, most of the time you can warm them up or yeah, I guess you're right. You say I don't want to be that person or I do want to be this person.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

I think the thing that it taught me the most was that I learned a level of professionalism and which I always sort of then took to acting stuff. So when I was learning, when I was doing, you know, student films and whatever I sort of I don't know I just sort of had this and making my own things too, you know, because I'm a producer on that film on Hebe Dragons. I've made other things, I've got other things in the works. To me it's always, I guess yeah, there's a level of professionalism that I've always sort of brought to things which I that's one thing I took from MTV.

Greg:

I think a lot of it is just realizing that both sides are just trying to do their job.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, totally.

Greg:

I'm trying to do my job and you're trying to do your job, but I also have to realize that a lot of my interview questions are not the first time that this has been asked of someone, and that they might be answering it for the 500th time and the 10th time that day, and I have to be respectful of that. But at the same time, I'm just here to do a job too.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Yeah yeah, yeah, you need to know, I understand.

Greg:

As far as your other work, you do have a website that I'll put a link to, but I love the lifeguard skit oh you love that.

Greg:

Oh cool. But let's get to here. Be Dragons. This is your first in real big production. You're the lead of the story. It's an interesting film. You are a war crimes investigator heading to Belgrade to look into someone that may or may not be still living, but it's a tale that's very dark. It's not one of those things where you say, well, that was a fun day of shooting. What was it like as an actor? I mean like that opening scene that you have director says cut. You don't say, well, that was fun. How does something that weigh on you and how did you approach that role?

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Well, I mean I'm glad you brought that up, because we shot that at the end, because I had to shave my head and then be young for it, because, yeah, most of the film it's like me, sort of present-day age. The beginning is when I play this un soldier, soldier for the british armies. There is a, you know, peacekeeper or whatever in in. Uh, you know, there's this strange role in the balkan conflict. But yeah, I mean that I knew that that scene set up the whole film. So I always had it in the back of my mind that I was going to have to do this and I was going to have to sort of, you know, in a way, a way sell the movie in how you know well, how that scene played out and how my role in that played.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

So, yeah, I mean, it might not say, yeah, okay, like the subject matter, you do take it home, but I sort of I don't mind it, because it felt like a responsibility, you know.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

It felt like a responsibility, you know, and I felt like if I was upholding my end of the bargain in the responsibility of trying to tell a story that honors, but at least respects, the incredible loss that came out of that conflict and of those that are still living, certainly all those lives that were heinously taken To sort of feel the responsibility of what it would be like to be there and the character himself.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

He ends up being part of the fabric of that place because he has suffered the loss that many of the natives there had. So, yeah, I think once I got I fulfilled with the crew and with everybody, we had a really strong relationship by that point and I could tell the end of that day we had told that story and I derived really great satisfaction out of that. I mean, I probably went home and cried too, but I don't mind having a good cry if it's for a good reason. So the weight of things like that is is, is is a way I don't mind carrying at all if, if I'm, if we're telling the story now, if I'm correct, this took place 90 or 1991 through over 2001.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Correct the war well, the first part in bosnia was 91 to 94, I think it didn't go to 2000. But then the Kosovan part, then it was 95, 96, 97.

Greg:

But still relatively fresh. It's unlike World War II, where generations are passing and we're down to a few people. This was something that a lot of people in that area this was more current to them. I mean, did you talk to many people that had survived or been involved that you were able to gain information from, or did you kind of take the character and make it your own?

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

well, well, both really. I mean I didn't take any specific, you know, I mean, if anything I, if anything I was going to take from anyone, it would be. You know there was. There was actually an australian they're Actually Australians were heavily involved. Oh really, yeah. Well, in the UN not during the war, but in the UN response in the International Criminal Tribunal Yugoslavia there were a lot of Australians involved because Australia had actually tried people for war crimes from World War II in Australia, which hadn't really happened in many places. So because it had happened in Australia, like Australian judges were there, australian attorneys were there and investigators were there. So there was a guy who I listened to this fascinating interview, this guy who was an investigator, he was a country cop and he ended up being one of these lead investigators Very lonely job and he was an inspiration to me.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

But in terms of the people of the place, it's part of everything there and it's past and present and future and gone and here it's. So it's a strange thing, but you only really get to experience when you're there. But essentially, if you were a man and you were my, if you were in your forties or older, you either had to fight or you escaped from the fighting or you, you know, like everybody in Belgrade was directly connected one way or the other to you know, whether they liked one or two or not, most of them didn't want to, but you know they were conscription on the streets. They'd come, they'd be, you'd be, you know, you'd be at home and there'd be a knock on the door and it's like you know, you've been called up.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Where the hell are you? You know, and my people were those stories of people running across, climbing out of windows, running along rooftops, another house in Belgrade, climbing in their friend's bedroom window to escape the conscription cops. So it was, you know, everybody there, I mean, you know, in the end, you know. So I mean Belgrade itself. You know the war took place in Bosnia, so it wasn't like you know, and I haven't been to Bosnia so I'm sure it's a very different experience there, but yeah, it's part of the region.

Greg:

So it's making its debut August 16th. What are you hoping for the US audience to take from it? Because, I mean, this is something that we're familiar with. Very vaguely, it's a subject matter. Well, it's not really.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Yeah, I mean, look, I mean first and foremost, I think it's a thriller. You know, yeah, I mean, look, I mean first and foremost I think it's a thriller. You know, sure, I think it's a thriller where you. It's an exciting journey where even the favorite films that I, that I like to watch, uh, ones where you know it's a compelling story, you care about the characters, you won't know more and and hopefully, you learn a little something, uh, that you didn't know beforehand. You know they're my most enjoyable film experiences and I think, well, I hope this is one of those.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

You know, I mean, it's not a historical piece as much it is as as, uh, something that's universal. You know, universal humanity. You know whether it's the local characters, whether it's my character. I mean it asks big questions about, you know, justice and the lengths you'll go for it and what damage you're causing, what the most heinous things that a human being could ever do? Is there a way that you could redeem yourself in your lifetime? They're the big questions. But then also, it's just about love and it's about loss and it's about trying to make the world a better place and fumbling through as we all do. So hopefully there's a universality to it and a pumping story that keeps you going.

Greg:

I do hope that it's advertised more as a thriller. I enjoyed it as a thriller the war parts. I had to pause and look up some things the politics and everything that was going on, but especially once they got to the present day and the hunt for him, I thought it was a very kind of a Jason Bourne minus all the hand-to-hand fighting when it was kind of like, you know, chasing around and trying to figure out is that him, is it not?

Greg:

And putting together a story that I thought was engaging. I loved the score. I thought the score was very.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Isn't it good?

Greg:

So overall I enjoyed it, but it was something that was really foreign to me, that I didn't have much reference to. I think that's part of what makes a good movie is if you decide to get on Google then and learn a little bit more about something that you didn't know, versus if you were bored and hated it. You just turn it off and you're like, well, I'm done with that. But I think something that tells for the engaging film is tell me more. What exactly happened, how many? How did the UN get involved? Why did they get involved? And just stuff that might be foreign to someone like me. Oh dear.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Dear listener, listen to Greg Stafford over here. This is exactly what I'm talking about. I love it. I mean, there's a lot of stuff that comes out these days. There's a place for heaps of kinds of films and forms of entertainment where you just sort of watch it that's satisfying, like that's it, turn it off and go to sleep or whatever, watch the next thing, but something that's got a bit of meat on the bones, you know, is certainly something that I want to be a part of.

Greg:

And I think it's coming out on Apple Plus, which I think is a good. I don't know how well it'd be received in theaters, just because of the foreignness not that it's a foreign story, but just because that whole time period and that war was something that wasn't broadcast back here in the US. And so I think having it on Apple Plus where anyone can just pop it in and watch it, I think is a benefit to it. It exposes you a little bit more to audiences and I think that kind of boosts things too. So you also co-produced it. What's that like? I mean, we're seeing more and more stars these days co-producing that. How was it putting on the hat between being David the character and being Nathan the co-producer?

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Yeah, well, it kind of. I mean, as it turned out, I mean we were a small team, you know, and it was a small brains trust and we had a lot to deal with because we sort of added to the tension of it all. Because, you know, we got shut down because COVID happened and we had to, like, get last planes out. We were literally on the last plane out of Belgrade before they shut it down and put tanks in the street, and then we had to go back to our summer, you know, and everything had opened, you know, and the world thought this COVID thing was going away. And we got there, and you know it was not going away, and we was going away. And we got there, and you know it was not going away, and we managed to somehow finish shooting, you know, just before they shut the whole place down again full with protests and riots. On the last night of our shooting, in our last scene, you know, like if we had one more day to shoot we wouldn't have done it. So we were.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

It was a lot of logistical stuff to sort of take care of and you know people would, you know, crew and cast got COVID and we had to recast one of the roles. One of them got very sick and thankfully he came through that. You know we had to reshoot things, you know, to get a new person playing Willie and we got a fantastic new guy, igor, to play him. Yeah, it was a lot of you know, sort of frantic stuff to deal with and I enjoyed it. You know like I wanted to be a part of that and to make this happen. You know, because it was really two Aussie blokes going to Belgrade working with another Aussie bloke who was the DP and an old friend of the director, and they'd always wanted to shoot something together. His promise was that he could crew it and get the best crew around, which we got, which were amazing and that camera crew is so good, particularly, you know, the gaffers and the camera team and, my God, like you know, we ended up with a really cinematic piece.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

I mean it's a shame these days people aren't going to see films in theatres quite as much that they have heard less about, you know it doesn't happen so much since COVID. You know people do watch it at home. So, yeah, I'm really, really happy it's coming out on Apple TV plus coming out on, you know, Google play it's. It'll be on Amazon prime, it'll be on every platform. Yeah, yeah, yeah, for rent to begin with, and then it'll come out, you know, and it's all just streaming later. So I'm really happy that it's going to hit a big audience and, you know, hopefully we'll get to screen it Theater's maybe down the line that people can actually take in the full cinematic experience of it, because it was made for a big screen and thankfully people have juicy screens of their own these days.

Greg:

Is there anything that COVID did that impacted that you wish you had like another week or a little bit more time.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Or it all kind of worked out in the end and that you're happy, the product that you wish you had like another week or a little bit more time, or what it all kind of worked out in the end and that you're happy, the product that you got is the product that you wanted well, no, no, it is what we got and I and I think for me, actually, from a character point of view, I, I, I didn't mind coming back at all to to shoot the end, because I, you know, I felt like the few months in between and all the pressure we were under, like worldwide, you know, the lockdowns and all the rest of it, and trying to get out, like I felt that like, oh, there's more today, but I can breathe.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

So I was really excited to come back and do more and add more, and particularly, we hadn't shot that beginning stuff, you know. So I was really, really motivated to come back and and really do that and we just really went for it, worked super hard, crazy hours, you know, no days off to finish it, and you know, everyone pulled together in this extraordinary way, you know, and when you're at the end of something like that and you're standing there talking to an enormous belgradian grip, who's, you know, six foot three and giant, and you're crying in each other's arms saying this is the best thing I've ever done Thank you, brother and all of this, it's, it's really something. And and you know, and we knew we'd be left at all on the screen, you know. So I, I feel, really I don't, I don't feel like we left anything unturned at all.

Greg:

Now you had done the VJ stuff, you were no stranger to being in front of a camera. But this is your first real acting role isn't it?

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

No, I've done stuff before. I've done stuff before.

Greg:

But not on this level, as being the lead in the.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

No, no, no, Not like that. But then I've been the lead in some pretty major theater productions too, which has its own In Australia. Actually, here in LA I did this Australian play called Ruby Guthrie. That was my first big responsibility. It's an important Australian piece which again is sort of heavy playing a guy who's an alcoholic but is the life of the party and his struggles and the lightness that you can get out of something heavy too. So, yeah, I really relished being being a lead in this. I've loved it. And then, yeah, I've been, I've done all stuff in you know, aussie tv and like home and away and stuff like that, and you know. So there's quite.

Greg:

Yeah, you're absolutely right, this is my biggest thing you had some experience, so I was building a character and having it plushed out. Okay, I wasn't sure about that. What was the hardest part about bringing David to the screen? I'm sure you're not as a brooding character. As an actor, I'm sure it's a fun character to play, but as a person it has to be like a miserable person.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Well, I mean, look, I wouldn't describe him as miserable. I mean, I I describe him as really tortured, maybe, yeah, yeah, but I think in being tortured, that means you're fighting for something, you know. So I think he's fighting on different sides all the time, so but he's, he's not static, you know. So I think that the hardest part about playing david, I think, is probably some of it that I did when we were going through the script, alistair and I and I just kept saying I don't think he says anything here, I don't think he says anything there. I just sort of we sort of came to the conclusion we were just like he doesn't speak unless he has something to say.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

So I think the hardest part was I mean, it wasn't hard, but maybe my biggest fear and a lot of actors get this, but when you're kind of shitting yourself before you're going to do it, like am I going to do a great job?

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Am I in the right place for this, et cetera, my biggest concern was, well, I've given myself nothing to say really throughout all of this. So how am I going to say it? Otherwise, is it going to come through my eyes, is it going to come through in my expressions and you know, thankfully, from what I hear, that was the right call and I've played it in a way where you know, like we had a release in Australia already and I actually had one of the judges of the ICTY come up to me afterwards and say, you know, look at me and say, yeah, the guys I worked with were like that. I think he brought all of their pain to this and I mean it was one of the greatest compliments I've ever had. I was very touched by that because I wanted to honor the people that do those lonely jobs, that do things for the right reasons, in my view anyway, and a sacrifice that it takes on their lives and on those around them for something they find that is greater than themselves.

Greg:

What would be the universal message that here we dragons can kind of be put out there, for no matter where you're from, to kind of apply to it?

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

oh well, I think part of it is. Is that, um, is that, uh, war is not the answer. You know, uh, I think this movie is. You know, it's David moving through, you know, a haunted graveyard of a place in a way. You know, that breakdown of regimes and the interests of power-hungry individuals, how you know, and what they inflict on their citizens and on those around them. I think in this day and age, I mean, who would have thought we were shooting that at a time when it was like that was the only conflict that had happened in Europe since World War II and it was like, look how badly that turned out. And then bang, we got into Russia. There's quagmires all over the world and innocents dying, and these things have a huge impact across time. I mean, I think that's one of the things about it, I hope. I think another thing is that it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. So I think that's another thing.

Greg:

I think one that I took away was wars don't end, they linger. I think one that I took away was wars don't end, they linger. You know, there's still because peace is declared, there's people out there that need to be held accountable, and there's trauma and stuff like that that follows people for a long time, and just because something ends doesn't mean it's over and that everyone is forgiven.

Greg:

You know, we kind of think that, oh, you know, peace is declared, you know, never mind all the horrible stuff you did, we're just going to call it an end and everyone goes home. I think that was kind of the. I think that was a story that you don't see in many movies. Usually it's you know, peace is declared and the movie ends and this was like okay, well, what about the cleaning up of the mess and responsibilities that are, you know, owed, or punishment that's owed for?

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

what happened. I'd say if you want a job in our marketing team, you got one, because I think that's, I think you put that really well, I think you put that really well. Yeah, but at the same time, it's, you know it's, and I think it's a downer of a movie. I think it's, you know, I think it's a downer of a movie.

Greg:

I think it's, you know, I think it's. There's a lot of hope there. There's a lot of hope.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

It's not fun but it's. You know there's hope and like we all act as if everything's. You know, I mean, you know it's like we people I talk to people sometimes and people seem to you know COVID's over and it's like, yeah, well, a shitload of people that you know it's. Yeah, these things are gone, but they're. But just like you said, they, they leave their mark well, just like that.

Greg:

I mean covid still. I mean, we're still impacted with. You know just how I mean. Movies have changed permanently. Box offices in hollywood are things that would have been a huge blockbuster 10 years ago are bombing now just because people aren't going to theaters. And I think some of that, too, is that there's there's so much out there as far as finding things on apple and finding things on amazon and finding things on netflix, that there's a lot of content out there. What's next for you?

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

uh well, I've, I'm, I've, I've got a story. I'm planning that I want to shoot in paris. So I've just been over there and and have you know, some loose things set up with a team to shoot in par. So I've just been over there and have some loose things set up with a team to shoot in Paris. So I'm excited about that. So that's my immediate thing. And then, you know, I'm just, first of all, just really excited about sharing this with the US. You know my adopted country, the home of my art form and for me, and you know I've got a lot of friends here and and I feel like I've gone through some shit with my fellow americans, my fellow angelinos, being here through covid elections and all of that. So, um, I don't know, I'm really excited about sharing it here first and then, and then move on to my next project you haven't necessarily done too much shooting as far as in the us, have you?

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

uh, bits and pieces over the years, you know. So, like I did, did some stuff in last ship years ago, that tnt show, um, you know lots of little indie films which you know, which were part of my learning experience going from, you know, mtv australia to the us.

Greg:

I mean, when you were in australia, I'm sure you had impressions of what us actors are like and what the hollywood scene is like and what the Hollywood scene is like. And now you've come here and started experiencing some of that. How has that changed your perception of what you thought, maybe some prejudices that you thought might be there? What was the experience like?

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

as now you've become more Americanized as making this home Well, you know, one thing I love about LA is that you know, and some great things about the States is that you, you know, like if you've got a good idea and you're motivated to make it happen, then there are willing ears, you know, and there are willing partners, and you know whether they're friends, whether they're people you meet through, friends that want to bring something to life.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

I think, you know, australia does have a problem with tall puppy and these situations where they, you know, think you get a little too big for your boots, and that doesn't happen over here. So, you know, I love that. I mean, I love the collaborative element. I love people might, you know, say, oh, an LA person wants to know what you do, and stuff like that. I mean, I'm really happy to talk about what I do, I'm really happy to listen to what someone else does, what drives them, whether they're a doctor or a nurse or a cleaner or a professional driver or an actor or writer or whatever. I think stuff like that's exciting. So, yeah, there's a lot of reasons I love being up here.

Greg:

Do you see yourself producing more, even if it's not being the lead of the story either?

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

yeah, I don't know. I mean I I love the idea of bringing a story to life from beginning to end and uh, so I I kind of always want that to be a part, and then I also do love just it's. One thing that is great about being an actor is when someone else has a story and they want, need you to just to bring to your part as an actor to bring the story to life. I I love that too. So if I can get a mix of that, you know that makes me happy.

Greg:

And are you doing theater still or is a shift more now, camera, you know acting and in front of the camera.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

It would depend what if a role came up. You know I'm always down to do theatre. It's a whole different beast and I love the intense period of time and rehearsal and bringing that I mean. You know they're very similar and very different as far as disciplines go. But I don't have anything going right now, but I, if someone was to call me with a, with a juicy role, I'd be up for it is there a particular genre that you would love to do a character in?

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

uh, I don't know. I guess I don't know not necessarily I to me it's about. I kind of approach things the same way. Anyway, I think comedy is great to do as well, but I think the best comedy comes from real circumstance. I think it's some of the best comedy I think of, like Julia Louis-Grad Dreyfus, whether it's Seinfeld or Veep or something. But when I'm watching her in Veep and she's so desperate to get her point across and then so desperately badly goes wrong and you see the impact on her and we're laughing, but that character's in a world of pain for a second there, until something else happens, I mean I think that's genius. So I think the best comedy comes from realness. And by the same way, I think if you're doing heavy drama stuff and you don't find any lightness in that, then I think that's boring. And that's not true either, because when things are really bad sometimes the only thing you can do is laugh. So I think if there's an element, as long as something's got some realness to it, I'm in.

Greg:

The tone for here we Dray. Like we said, it's a thriller. I can't think of any real comedic moments, but was there a fun day set for you? Is there a story that you can watch that film and go? I remember that day. That day was a fun day just because you know everything. Is there a fun story that you have that someone watching can go? Hey, that's the day he was talking about.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Oh, I tell you what, you know, I remember all those scenes, I remember all those takes, even, I think. I mean, I think there is some humour to it with where, you know, I think when he's trying to, when he's trying to get nearer to you know, believe him, when he's trying to sort of, he's not necessarily trying to seduce her, but he's trying to, you know, get her interested and I and she's so savvy, but he's trying to, you know, get her interested and she's so savvy. So I'm sitting there at a bar next to Mira, and Maria is her real name, Maria Bergen, great actor, like a superstar over in the Balkans. She just cuts him down and I'm just sitting there going shit. And that happened, that just happened in the moment, and I was there going, wow, okay, yeah, how am I going to pull this off? So I think there's a bit of humor with her, because I think he's really floundering. I think David really hasn't dealt with a woman this sassy before, so or not, and he's out of practice and he has to get it together.

Greg:

So I mean, I don't know, I think that's, I can look at that a lot anyway, I can see some Americans being stubborn and saying well, you know, I don't know much about this whole war crimes thing or what happened in the war, and thrillers are fine, but I just don't know the history around it, so I'm going to pass.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

What's your pitch to win them over? Okay, look, if you like a story with intrigue, then get into it. You know what I mean. Like, yeah, I mean when I watched Jason Bourne, I was like, well, I don't know much about Morocco, I don't know much about southern India, I don't know much about this, but I do know about a guy who is trying to figure out who he is. And, uh, I do know that. I do want to watch someone who doesn't know who he is, doesn't know that he's got all these crazy skills and he and people are trying to kill him. I, I want, I want to see what happens there. You know, I mean, so, I, I think it's, I think it's that. I mean, I think it's like, yeah, I mean I, I want to see about someone who loves someone very dearly and had it taken from them and decided to go and burn the world down, certainly to find the guy who did it. I understand I want to see a story about revenge and justice. So I think that would be the pitch really.

Greg:

I did enjoy it. It was one of those things where I wasn't too familiar so, like I said, I did some googling. Is it the biggest production or the most elaborate sets written? No, but if you're a fan of small independent films, I think it's a good, well written, well acted. The score was probably my favorite part because the score really set the tone of the scenes, intensities and stuff like that.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

That's great to hear.

Greg:

But if you're a fan of independent thrillers, given that it's rarely accessible on these streaming platforms, I think it's worth checking out and getting to know you as an actor, because this is your big exposure to US audiences. I think it's worth checking out. I do thank you for your time.

Greg:

I'll put a link to your website so they can check out some of your other short clips and stuff like that, and see a little bit more about your character, but here we Dragons does make its American debut August 16th on Amazon, on Apple TV and other streaming outlets, so check it out. And again, nathan, I thank you for your time.

Nathan Clark Stapsford:

Thank you very much, greg, really enjoyed the chat.

Greg:

That does it for this episode. Thank you for listening to the Stafford Corner.