Z Nation - Keith Allan Interview

SpoilerTV had the opportunity to chat with Keith Allan of Z Nation. The man behind the one and only Murphy, a self-proclaimed "acting snob," talks about his transition from theatre to the small screen, season 2 of Z Nation, what it is like backstage when a fellow cast member gets written off the show, the evolution of Murphy, and so much more

SpoilerTV: So, you guys just wrapped up filming at the end of September?

Allan: Yes!

SpoilerTV: Not easy?

Allan: It is not an easy show to film by any means. Not only for the actors, but also for the whole crew. It’s a very gruelling, tough show. I mean you’re running, you’re jumping, you’re climbing, it’s hot, you’re in makeup, and you’re in leather. It is not for the faintest at heart, I will tell you that.

That being said it was great. We had a lot of fun and I am really happy with the way season 2 is looking. I think they had done a great job of upping the ante on the whole design of the show, the story plotline, the zombies, and the costumes. I think it’s looking great.

SpoilerTV: We are at the fourth episode now and the last few episodes, in particular ‘White Light,’ have been really intense. Probably the most intense of the whole series. Was it as intense filming them as it was watching it?

Allan: Haha, yeah, it really was. It was almost an all action episode. John Hyams directed that and he directed the first episode and the second one and couple others down the line. It was very aggressive, you are running all the time and jumping and climbing. So, it was kind of no rest at all; you just had to keep going and going and going. It was a very exhausting episode.

I mean in that one scene near the top I’m supposed to be running from Vasquez and they’re like, ‘ok, now, we want you to run around the front of the house, and then around the back of the house, and jump over the fence.’ And so, I run to the front and I run to the back and there are a couple of pit bulls that are just going bat**** crazy. They look like they want to bite my leg off. They’re in cages, but ferocious! [laughs] Ferocious attack dogs. And then next thing you know, the dog comes right out and climbs under the fence and he’s like right out in the open! Luckily the owner was there and he was like, oh she won’t hurt you.

But yeah, it was a very intense episode, but I loved that episode. I think it’s really strong and really great.

Spoiler TV: Is there an episode in particular you can talk about that you really like?

Allan: As far as sheer action, [White Light} was the most intense episode and that’s what they were going for. John really wanted it to be like a Michael Mann film.

The others have a little bit more of a story involved in what’s going on. The evolution of the series. That one was more specifically written to be like, let’s just throw balls out action; go, go, go. People jumping off roofs, people getting killed that we don’t expect. Lots of zombies, lots of gun fire, lots of fire. You know, Doc almost getting choked to death. I think that’s going to be our most intense episode as far as action goes.

But I think we’ve got other episodes coming up that the plotlines are really interesting and fun. The writers have done a great job of really keeping the story moving and keeping it fresh. And like, wow, where are we going to go now. They bring in new characters, new people, the bounty hunters, the general public is after Murphy. So, it brings in a whole new level of intensity to this series, because now, not only do we have to survive zombies, we have to survive these nuts too. So there is a whole new intensity to the series.

SpoilerTV: I’m reminded by that kid on YouTube you tweeted – his reaction to ‘White Light’ was killer.

Allan: [laughs] He is fantastic. It really makes it all the worthwhile, as filthy as it gets. It’s dirty and sweaty, and watching that kid’s review it’s like, oh man, I remember when I was that young. Shows and movies really have such a powerful effect on people; they have an emotional reaction, and that is awesome, but I love that kid.

SpoilerTV: In ‘White Light’ Mack dies. For many viewers it is heartbreaking, what is it like backstage for the cast and crew to see one of your own written off?

Allan: I couldn’t wait for him to go, he was a total asshole [laughs]

SpoilerTV: Oh, he seems like an asshole!

Allan: [laughs] Noo, he’s a great guy. Michael Welch, he’s fantastic. It is like a family member leaving, I mean, I was like, “aww, man, c’mon!” And you wouldn’t imagine the begging that goes on from the cast. Like, “can we keep him?” It’s like the puppy coming home. You’re begging and begging the writers, it’s kind of embarrassing. But, you know, it makes good TV.

Michael is great, a really great actor. I was sad to see him go as he was a solid performer and also very funny. He didn’t get to be funny in the show, but in real life, he cracks me up. And he laughs at all of my jokes, so I’m like, we need to keep him [laughs].

SpoilerTV: You probably can’t share this, but I’ll ask anyways. Will there be any more deaths? Can you give a hint?

Allan: [laughs] I can’t tell you that, are you kidding me! They’ll fire me! [laughs]. But I will say that no one is safe. My job is not even safe, I mean, I could see where they could write me out. And that’s one of the things we know going into this show, was that they want to keep the audience on the show. No one has a steady job on this show.

SpoilerTV: Except for you, I really don’t see Murphy getting cut.

Allan: [laughs] can you please tell my agent that.

SpoilerTV: Is there a TV show out there that gives you that type of reaction, like, man, it would be awesome to be part of that cast.

Allan: You know, there’s a lot of good TV that I love, but sadly I haven’t been able to watch much of it the past six months because I’ve been working. One of the shows I did get to be on briefly was Mad Men. I just love how they committed so completely to the style, the time period, and the costumes and the set. The world, they created a world that was just really flawless and I was lucky enough to do a small part on it before it ended.

I’m a bit of an acting snob, out the gate, if the acting is not good, I’m out. Even if it is a genre that I love, I just have very low tolerance for actors that can’t act because I’ve studied for years and years. And so, I just have no tolerance for someone sort of bastardizing my craft. That being said, I really enjoy watching shows where I am impressed by the actors.

I don’t know if you’ve seen Transparent with Jeffrey Tambor. He is brilliant! He is so good. But I love TV and I’m sort of all over the map. I watch a lot of different things like Game of Thrones. That’s solid acting, but also they have beautiful production values. I cannot IMAGINE having that kind of budget! I’m like, God, I wish we had that kind of money. I love that networks like HBO are investing in big shows like that. Like really throwing down some money, let’s create this world and make it really good. Make it solid.

Now I will have to say, in comparison, our show is a much smaller budget. I have to give credit to our producers and all of our crew. For the little amount of money we have, we are creating a world of our own. I think we are doing a decent job of making this apocalyptic world look real and viable. So, I think it’s all about how you spend your dollars and the commitment of the people working on the show. When you are working on a smaller budget, you have to have people who believe in what they’re doing. It’s not just the paycheck for them.

SpoilerTV: And there is a high level of creativity too, seeing all the different kinds of zombies.

Allan: I think they do great job in mixing up the genre, they’re like new zombies every week. What can this one do, what’s different about this one than this one. How do they die? I mean, right on! It’s very smart. For my money, my character, it’s fascinating. It’s something I’ve never seen in a zombie show – a zombie human half breed. It’s something that the audience hasn’t seen before. I think they are really drawn to that. They really want to know what’s going to happen to him next, and so do I.

SpoilerTV: Earlier on you mentioned how you are an “acting snob” I don’t even have to read your bio to know when hearing that that you are from theatre?

Allan: Yes

SpoilerTV: How has that helped you make the transition to the small screen?

Allan: There are a couple things. I love theatre actors. One because most theatre actors have been in plays and shows where you are building the set, you’re going out to get the props yourself, and you do the show and you know it’s a labour of love because a lot of time you don’t make any money. Especially small theatre, 99 Street theatre here in Los Angeles, you got to really want to be there. It’s not like getting the job and showing up. You invest a lot of time and you meet fantastic people, really fun people. Coming from that world you have a bit of humility of what it means to be an actor. It’s not just, where’s my trailer? It’s more about, how can I help? Theatre actors, I love their commitment.

But also what it does as far as the craft goes. Being in a front of an audience at a live show, there is nothing like it. You can’t stop and start over. You can’t yell cut, you gotta keep going and all eyes are on you. Everyone is watching you, you **** up and everyone knows this. And so, it takes a lot of balls to do it. It can be terrifying. And once you get past that, which you never really completely get past, you are always a bit scared, but if you do it enough and are able to look for that courage, your confidence starts to grow. It builds something in an actor’s wheelhouse and gives a whole lot of confidence that I don’t think actors who just work on TV have. They can always say, oh I got that line wrong and start again. That doesn’t happen in theatre. You screw it up, you figure out how to fix it. It’s like you’re in it, right there, right now. I think it is amazing training.

Fan questions

SpoilerTV: Now, it is time for a few fan questions we have. How is the experience putting on all the makeup?

Allan: uhh, awful? [laughs]. It’s a lot of work and not only for me, but for my makeup team. Corinne Foster, her and her husband, Josh, they own Synapse. They do all our zombies, all the gags, all the heads exploding, they do all of it, including all the beauty makeup on the girls. So, they have a team of course that works on it. Corinne designs my makeup. She is quite a perfectionist. Just to do my face and hands, its two hours every day, and that’s with two people working on me at the same time. Within that there is at least 11 different layers of makeup they do; it’s not just one layer, it’s 11 different colours in all. And on top of it, they will paint in some of the finer details on my face and then they coat my skin before they even do the makeup. They put this stuff that makes my face look wrinklier and then after they seal it, so it doesn’t come off.

So it’s a whole process and that’s just for my face and hands. For full body scars, that’s five hours of makeup. Often time if we are doing the scars, we’re the first ones there – me, Corinne, and Tess – hours and hours before everyone else just putting on my makeup. It’s an arduous process; it works great for the character, so I don’t complain too much. I think it really serves the show and I think it serves the character to differentiate from everyone else, he has to have a unique look. So, it’s important and it looks really good and something we haven’t seen before either. I love it and I hate it.

SpoilerTV: But I’m sure you get used to it?

Allan: Yeah, you know you’re in for it, but after 6 months of being blue it’s like, oh my God, I need a facial [laughs]

SpoilerTV: What is your favourite episode in the series to film?

Allan: There is one coming up I am really fond of. It hasn’t aired yet, so I can’t tell you much about it, but a good friend of mine was cast and he plays opposite of me. And he is highly featured in the episode, most of the episode is he and I. And he’s a stage actor who I’ve known or years and it was great to be on a TV show with my buddy. It’s a really well written episode, but I can’t tell you much about it.

One of my favourite scenes was last season when Murphy proclaimed he was the Zombie messiah. That was one of my favourites because it was the first time we saw Murphy in a power stance. Before that he’s a bit of a weak character, he’s flinching and doesn’t know what is happening to him. He really steps it up and puts on a show. It was the first time Murphy’s own confidence comes into play. For me it was great to sort of buff out, it was almost like Murphy going Hulk. So, it was a whole different area I didn’t get to show with this character yet. And it was a lot of fun, and they let me do it several times, it was a great monologue too, so that was one of my favourite scenes I got to do.

SpoilerTV: There are many different layers to Murphy’s personality. Where would you like to see his character progress to and to flesh out more?

Allan: I would like to see him in a very strong power position. I would like for him to be completely in control and completely fearless of what people are going to do to him. He’s got a chip on his shoulder, there’s a lot of payback coming. After what he’s been through and the way he’s been treated, not necessarily by the people he is with, but by the human race to an extent, I think he has had it! I think when we see Murphy get to the point when he is strong and unapologetic and pissed – I want to see his wrath, it’s going to be like Carrie at the prom. I want to see him be brutal and unforgiving.

SpoilerTV: Just lose it

Allan: Yeah, just lose it and not care, because there is a part of him right now that does care, but I would love to see him go over the edge and be almost psychotic.

About the Author - Kollin Lore

Kollin is an entertainment writer and a film and television, in particular genre TV, freak having grown up during the 90s and early 2000s a dedicated fan of Buffy and Angel. Current shows like Person of Interest, Supernatural, Ripper Street, Penny Dreadful, Grimm, The Blacklist, Game of Thrones, and dozens of other shows are currently occupying Kollin’s nightly hours. His reviews for Into the Badlands and The Expanse will be coming this fall!

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