There’s a philosophy amongst actors in Hollywood that the components actually meant for you by no means move you by. And in a approach, you may say that was the case for Rob Tepper within the new six-part psychological cop thriller Darkish Winds on AMC.
An adaptation of Tony Hillerman’s bestselling novels, and govt produced by George R.R. Martin and Robert Redford—who in actual fact optioned the books greater than 35 years in the past—it has been a longtime within the making. Add to that, written, directed, and acted largely by Native People, the collection has been praised for its nuance and grit.
“I had auditioned for Darkish Winds again in Los Angeles, and first I learn for a task that was not so becoming for me,” explains Tepper from his now dwelling in Brooklyn, New York. “So I had thrown my tape in as soon as.” The casting brokers referred to as once more, this time asking Tepper to sort out a wiry Vietnam veteran with machismo to spare named Pete Samuels.
Individually, Tepper had a longstanding friendship with the present’s soon-to-be a lot lauded star, Zahn McClarnon. “I can wax about Zahn for over an hour,” says Tepper with a smile.
The pair met over a decade in the past in a Los Feliz performing class. “At that time I used to be devoted. I used to be in school most likely three days each week,” says Tepper. “Zahn would bop out and in on occasion.” And it was on these events that the 2 would speak, evaluate notes, chuckle about auditions gone flawed, and have a good time the roles they did finally guide.
“That simply began to construct and construct and construct, in order that when Zahn would have a task or an audition, oftentimes we might get collectively beforehand or previous to the taping,” Tepper explains. “It was this work relationship that then allowed us to get to know one another higher. And it developed into a terrific friendship, stuffed with belief and admiration.”
Quick ahead to 2020, when McClarnon was handed a script for a brand new mainstream crime drama set within the Navajo Nation, and on monitor to be filmed amidst the rust-coloured rocks and swaying juniper timber of New Mexico. The position was so coveted that for weeks McClarnon couldn’t say a phrase.
“Then, as soon as issues began to warmth up with AMC, Zahn approached me and requested if I’d be open to approaching board the mission—and doing what I normally do with him earlier than an audition. (Or breaking down a script for a task he is already gotten.),” says Tepper. “However doing it day-after-day for 3 months and on set.”
It was a simple sure and felt in a approach like destiny. Positive, Tepper hadn’t heard any extra about his personal audition, however on this completely different however equally engaging approach, Tepper had nonetheless discovered his solution to the set.
“I used to be there earlier than principal images began capturing,” says Tepper. “And Zahn and I’d soak every part up. We drove to set collectively each single day (usually as early as 4.00am). However the fantastic thing about the panorama, the fantastic thing about Santa Fe—this massive sky, these sunsets—it is in contrast to some other place I would ever been.”
Watch the present or learn any overview and it’s clear that McClarnon—along with his expressive options and countless charisma—anchors the drama. It’s a indisputable fact that has additionally been confirmed by the current announcement that the gauzy Seventies detective thriller has been green-lit for a second collection.
Equally, thus far Tepper has construct an admirable profession as a author, director, actor and coach. He’s at present writing a collection concerning the multi-generational Jewish Diaspora, and he has a one-man present concerning the father of people music, Woody Guthrie, that he’s seeking to stage in New York. Add to that, his rural comedy YouTube collection Duke and Dammit is in post-production with 17 new episodes on monitor to be launched this yr.
As for Tepper and his personal Darkish Winds audition for the implacable police officer Samuels, it nonetheless hung within the air. Throughout the unique casting, Tepper had landed on the concept this character had an unironic, well-groomed handlebar moustache. It wasn’t written into the script, but it surely simply felt proper, and Tepper went so far as to attempt it out throughout the preliminary Los Angeles audition.
Then, out of nowhere, a couple of week and a half into Tepper’s on-set teaching with McClarnon, his cellular rang. It was Tepper’s agent. “‘You understand you’ve booked the position, proper,’” got here the voice on the opposite finish of the telephone. And, with reference to that retro John Vogel-style facial hair, it had been written into the script.