The Last of Us has established itself as one of the most successful HBO series and still not only inspires fans of the popular video games of the same name. The authentic film set of the adaptation gives the viewers an apocalyptic feeling, but was a great help, especially for the actors. Lamar Johnson gives us a glimpse into his role as Henry.
Stepping onto a film set for the first time is certainly an exciting experience for many actors. It certainly felt that way for the cast of The Last of Us. They were allowed to look around the set beforehand and explore the large bunker city that was being created.
The implementation on the set impressed the actors and was the first thing that made Murray Bartlett (Frank) think: “Shit, we better not screw this up.” (via IndieWire)
They didn’t mess it up – quite the opposite. Bill and Frank’s poetic story broke some viewers’ hearts.
For some of them, the realistic film set allowed them to work more intuitively. So they didn’t have to imagine the abandoned buildings around them, they were a part of them. The fact that they had never been in such a setting before further intensified the situation and the end-time feeling.
“I think it was very realistic for the time and especially for the world the characters live in, but it didn’t feel alien or artificial to me in any way,” said Storm Reid, who is playing the role of Riley plays.
You can watch a trailer for The Last of Us here:
The new trailer for the series The Last of Us shows: She will break our hearts again and again
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The realistic film set catapulted him to the scene of action
Arguably one of the most challenging assignments came from Lamar Johnson, who had to embody a heartbreaking moment as Henry. A sequence that contained only a few words but conveyed the full tragedy and sadness of the sudden loss of a loved one.
Despite the psychological distress and gravity of the subject matter, Johnson benefited from the hands-on production environment that helped him shape his role:
There were stains in the carpets. It felt so lived in. Even the doorknobs were rusted. The walls, the ceiling, every single corner, the furniture, the choice of lamps and lighting. The details in this room really transported me to where we were shooting. […]
There were prop guns, but also real guns if I wanted to feel the weight of the gun. They provided us with a variety of items that were conducive to our performance and helped us get exactly where we needed to be emotionally.
Lamar Johnson via IndieWire
On the film set itself, Johnson spent a lot of time with Keivonn Woodard (Sam). The open conversations between the two serial brothers about death has created an opportunity to develop a deep connection, Johnson said. Woodard also took his cue from him. When Johnson took the time to process difficult scenes, Woodard also used the quiet moment for himself.
And that was undoubtedly crucial given the seriousness of the subject matter and the emotional intensity of the scene.
Balancing the responsibility of being ready for this film set while also taking enough time for yourself was an important part of the process.
Johnson also worked a lot at home. So it was important for him to get away from those spaces, people watch, eat out. He wanted to enjoy the time outside the film set.
Johnson watched the episodes with his family. Before everyone was done with the episodes, he did not comment on it. Especially at the end it became very emotional for the family members. It was something very special for him to have his family there, but also to see his own development that he went through in the episodes and with the characters.
Johnson’s scenes represented the final days of filming for the entire crew and were the high point for many involved. Being able to be a part of it and witnessing a long-lasting process enriched his time.
The Last of Us in preparation for further projects
Being part of this series and something so special prepared him for future experiences and disappointments. He wants to grow as a performer and take on more challenges.
“I want to work on projects I might not have thought of and work with people who inspire me,” says Lamar Johnson.
A strength of the series is that the creators allow time for emotional side scenes. It exceeded the hopes of the MeinMMO editor-in-chief, who wrote a spoiler-free conclusion.