Did you ever have a diagram of your character’s evolution or of the movie’s story that you could follow throughout filming?
Sarah Snook: Yeah, I kind of had to do it myself. When I was preparing for the role I put together cue cards for each scene and that I had to know what had come before in terms of script. The main thing is the chronology of where you are as a person/character and then making sure that the same with the time travel included. I had to be aware of where I was within that time travel context. It’s kind of tricky. A flowchart could’ve been really good.
The great thing about this character is that, as an actor, you have so many different levels to explore. It almost seems like a dream role in a sense. Did you find that to be the case?
Sarah Snook: Yeah absolutely. I’ve been very spoiled with this character. It’s not every day you get to play a man and get to have such an interesting journey. I loved it.
Did you have a chance to read this short story that the movie was based on before you started filming?
Sarah Snook: Yeah, I did. That was what accompanied the brief when they set up the audition. So instead of sending out the script, the brothers sent out a copy of the short story which was a really great way to begin. You start at the source material just like they did and I had the sides and the things I would be auditioning with, and from that I got a sense of what the script might be like. I love the short story. It’s so bizarre, but the thing I love most about it really in the end is I can’t believe the Spierig brothers were able to create a script that so honestly adhered to what was in the short story already and then so brilliantly flesh it out to make it a complex world that is utterly believable.
I find that often with actors they prefer not to read the book a movie’s based on because they get sick and tired of arguing with the filmmakers over why this or that wasn’t included, but it seems to make more sense to become familiar with it before the cameras started rolling.
Sarah Snook: I always find that you’ve got to read it. That’s where it started. The writer has created these characters, and if your character has changed then sure, fine, go from the script. You’ve just got to have as much research and preparation as possible.
You and Ethan Hawke have a great rapport throughout this movie. Did you have a lot of time to rehearse? How did you two go about developing that rapport onscreen?
Sarah Snook: We had rehearsal sessions on the weekends during pre-production, and that was really helpful. Ethan is infinitely more experienced than I am.
That concludes our interview, but we’d like to thank Sarah very much for her time. Be sure to check out Predestination when it hits theatres this Friday!