The Point Radio: Goodbye SONS And Hello MARCO POLO – Begin The Binge

Most new TV series have a few episodes shot before they debut and then can feed off of viewer reaction from that point. In the case of the new Netflix series, MARCO POLO, all ten episodes were shot months before their debut this Friday. We talk with the cast about the good and bad parts of that, plus the show’s core relationship between hero and villain. Speaking of bad guys, SONS OF ANARCHY fades out tomorrow night and Katey Sagal shares her regrets while Kurt Sutter gives us some exclusive news on his next TV project.

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Transcript

The Point Radio. Hey, it's Mike Raub, sons of anarchy winds up in just a couple of days. But where does the cast go from here? Especially creator writer Kurt Sutter. The cast talks to us about saying goodbye and Kurt gives us a preview of where he's headed next in TV.

Plus, we've got more of our exclusive look at the new Netflix series Marco Polo. Let the binge-watching begin in just a couple of days. Let's get to The Point. This is The Point. The Point Radio.

Get The Point Radio. Just about any acting role comes with its own set of challenges. But in the case of Marco Polo, the new series exclusive to Netflix, playing a whole show filled with historical icons is just a little bit tougher. And it was for actor Chin Han.

Yes, absolutely. Because you feel the weight of history, you know, on you. And you just want to, you know, you want to get it right. But we had a lot of help from the creator, John Fusco, as well, who has an encyclopedic knowledge of Chinese history. And he gave us a lot of literature to read on the history,

on not only the history of the Song Dynasty, but also for me in particular, his research into the Manchist style of fighting, which was so unique and so strange and out of this world. And that was very, very useful for me, especially in the scenes that, you know, that I get to use it and to fight with. Benedict Wong plays Kublai Khan.

I try not to put any pressure on myself. I just kind of was reading through the scripts and books and documentaries. And also, you know, being guided by John Fusco's passion as well of Mongol culture. We had a Mongolian cultural advisor as well. I kind of sort of looked up his, I asked John about his birth date and he was born in the Chinese animals of Earthpik.

And all these traits of the Earthpik, what I sort of discovered were they were very sort of business astute, had a lot of friends around them or associates. It was kind of a real tendency to eat and drink a lot. And these certain things started informing Kublai's natural character anyway. And even when I would look on the portrait of Kublai, you can see he's quite a big guy.

He suffered a lot from gout. And the emotional attachment to gout as well is someone who has to dominate, is impatient. And all of these kind of, and with also the script, you know, I use that as a template and kind of run away with it. And also you're kind of being somebody who is essentially the CEO of the global empire. And what that does, you know, about someone in that position of power and how they kind of, when you're in that position of power,

having ascended there, you just stay on top. And how to stay on top is to keep backing down the people that keep snapping at your heels. Toughest challenge of all might have been for Marco Bolo himself, played by actor Lorenzo Rickelby. Yeah, you know, of course it was a big challenge for me because I'm Italian. Of course I studied him in history books.

But when he started the theory of Marco Polo, it's known as the great merchant, you know. But then we know when John Fuschke first told me about the story of him and gave me this ton of books to, you know, study him, I just found out why, I mean, he went there, this guy, 17 years old, went there with his father. But he stayed there for 20 years and he brought nothing back. So what kind of explorer he is.

So after starting a lot, I found out that's not just my opinion, but it's like a common opinion for the historians that when he came back from Mongolia and he told to the Italians to be his people, guys, there is a civilisation maybe greater than ours just there. So we should maybe, you know, think about it. And at that time, the West, as it's now, was so much self-focused and the Pope could not believe, the Church cannot accept it, it was a person more powerful than the Pope.

So Marco Polo became the lawyer. So I say, yeah, I have a lot of pressure, but I have a lot of pressure because I want to say, in a way, of course, we are doing a show, a fiction update. But in the same time, we are scolding people about this culture and about the true story of one of the greatest men in our history. At the core of the show is the relationship between Marco and Kublai Khan. And I asked Lorenzo and Benedict to both comment on that.

The relationship between the King and the Clown, you know, the King that is surrounded by Jasmu and needs a man that is pure and can say it's the truth without any, you know, I just lost my word. And anyway, then, then, of course, we start to see these people relate themselves for their different cultures. I mean, I think what's interesting about Kublai Khan, utilize him as he has this uncommon perception, you know, as a, and the fact that he can, when Polo speaks, they become very vivid in his mind and almost like a, like, to the Internet of the Middle Ages or something. Usually, when a TV series is shot, a few episodes are done and then it begins to air.

And so the actors and the producers get reaction from both reviewers and viewers, too. However, in this case, Marco Polo, all 10 episodes were shot and will debut simultaneously on Netflix. Working without any viewer reaction wasn't that difficult for actress Joan Chen. It's actually easier, I think, you know, we think of the whole 10 hours as one big movie. So the characters have time to develop.

And as we, as we did do adjustments, I mean, I, when I first read the first draft of the script, the character of Chabi was just there, floating there because historically she was there. And as we discussed more with the writers and the creator, she, she became more fleshed out and more purposeful. I see it as a 10 hour film in which we could review the character slowly. We had enough time to make it a complex, interesting, fleshed out character. Otherwise, her, you know, her time, her screen time is somewhat limited and it would be difficult to judge episode by episode.

And it's easier for me to see her 10 hours in its entirety. Benedict Wong agreed that it was almost like a feature film experience for him. I think we're confident enough that everybody, you know, Dan Minahan and John Fischow and Harvey Weinstein, the Weinstein Company have assembled this wealth of talent. I feel that we can just get on with it, you know, and we've kind of, we've worked so hard, you know, six days a week for six months, you know, just getting our head down, telling the story. And, you know, here we are.

We have 10 episodes, which we've basically made 10 features. Of course, still, there are some other pluses and minuses. Actor Chin Han. The pluses are that, the pluses obviously are that you get to play, you know, on a very big platform and on a very big canvas. There'll be the clothes you get to wear, I mean, every day.

It's just, you know, it's the most fun an actor could have, you know, in terms of an immersive experience, you know. I mean, when you get on that set, when we spend one and a half hours every day in makeup, there couldn't be anything more helpful in helping us get into character. And then in terms of the minuses, I don't really see it as a minus, but I mean, obviously, this was in the 13th century, which we are not so familiar with. So we had to do a lot of reading and we had to do a lot of research before we took on the role, as opposed to if you were doing a contemporary role, you know, in modern drama. For new actress Juju, a part of this level was all new territory for her, at least in some ways.

I'm quite familiar with that period of history, actually. And then with all the methods, like, you know, the way that we stand and we speak and the language, the British English language that we speak and the costume and everything, it was all there already. And also, I think we're not trying to make it too, like, serious, historical. But I think, you know, you're right. I mean, like, this is probably my biggest project and my biggest biggest role so far.

And I'm the new actress. And this is great for me. But I, you know, I couldn't I couldn't think too much about it. I actually started quite peacefully. You know, I I I didn't think too much. I just do one step at a time and put my put all my effort in it.

And yeah, I wasn't too stressed about a lot of things. All 10 episodes of Margot Bolo are waiting for you right now, this month, exclusively on Netflix. Is he weak already? Here's the latest in pop culture. If you're a fan of singer, songwriter and activist Nina Simone, you might be interested to know there's an original documentary headed to Netflix directed by Oscar nominated filmmaker Liz Garbus.

It's called What Happened Miss Simone and it'll debut on Netflix in 2015. So here's one reason to stay up a couple of minutes after the ball drops on New Year's Eve in Times Square. Dick Clark's Rock and New Year's Eve special with Ryan Seacrest will feature Elton John doing I'm Still Standing right after the historic event at the top of the hour that night. The special also features some 38 other live performances as well and of course begins right around eight on New Year's Eve. BBC America is calling up the Musketeers for a second season that will begin in a few weeks on the network.

Producers say that this particular season takes some pretty dramatic changes and in their words some surprising turns as well. The debut of the new season is on January 17th on BBC America. Look for a creative change on DC's Green Lantern New Guardians series. Justin Jordan, writer of the book will be leaving with issue number 40. That'll be early in 2015. No replacement has been yet named by DC. As heat for the new Star Wars film builds to a well almost red high over the next few months, Marvel's participation includes the welcome home variants that will be taking place on a lot of Marvel covers in a few weeks.

Artist Salvador LaRocca will put together 20 different variant covers showing Marvel characters in line for a special event which obviously is the premiere of the new Force Awakens film. Though debut on such titles as All New Captain America number three, All New X-Men number 37, Amazing Spider-Man number 13 and another 17 different books that will all be in stores in January. Meanwhile, meanwhile, a lot of retailers and Marvel itself are predicting sales of over a million copies of the first new issue of their Star Wars series that premieres also early in 2015. Some unexpected departures, a little bit of shock and a lot of blood. That's how it all came down as the final season of Sons of Anarchy played out on FX. The events of this run of episodes actually began at the close of last season, as remembered by actress Katie Seagal.

Well, we knew Charlie and Maggie and I all knew that that was going to happen at the end of the season. We didn't know how it was going to happen. And I wasn't sure that I was going to be the one to do it. So it was kind of the actual filming of it was very choreographed and it was a dummy and it was fake blood and it was a fork and a fake head. So it was technical, but it was extremely emotional for all of us. The actual most emotional part of that situation was the scene following when Charlie found her, when Jax finds Tara.

And that was absolutely, you know, we were all watching at the monitor. But the actual killing was as anything like that, they tend to be really technical. And the emotionality comes after the fact of that. You know, when Gemma sort of slid down the wall next to her, what had happened and the realization of what had happened. Those were the moments that they were tough.

Meanwhile, this week, the show well just becomes part of television history. We're all sort of in denial about it. I would say every once in a while, like we at the end of episode two, one of our longtime directors, it was his last one and the crew gathered and we all said goodbye. And he started crying and Charlie and I started welling up. You know, we have those moments where we just realize, first of all, how grateful we all are for having had the experience because it's so rare.

And it's such a group of people that everybody just brings it. You know, everybody shows up for it. And, you know, I guess that speaks to the casting in the beginning, that you have this group of committed people and the writing. You know, the writing requires us all to bring it. So that's rare. That's just rare in a television show.

It's rare on anything. And, you know, the vibe on set is so sweet this year. You know, there's not a lot of, you know, we've had some complaining moments over our years and, you know, it's hard. Our show, we're in leather. It's 100 degrees. We're on the concrete. It's tough. It's physically tough. But, you know, everybody's bringing their smiles this time.

And I think it's because we all just know that this has been absolutely a fantastic experience. Outstanding performances by a ton of actors and actresses aside, the real credit belongs to creator writer Kurt Sutter, as easily pointed out by actors Theo Rossi and Kim Coates. Because no one has a mind like him and no one's going to figure it out. Not another show running. Not another writer.

Surely not us. You know, because the truth is every time you try to guess, you're wrong. You know, and like I said to him, if him and I in 08 are sitting there reading our first script you tell me that Opie, Taryn Clay aren't going to be sitting here in season seven when we're in an interview with interviews. I would say you're all nuts. And you need to go back to wherever you came from because it's just not true. And here we are. So I stopped trying to guess a long time ago.

And I think that's why everybody should just enjoy the final season to say, you know, what about that, about Jews. God, it's just so interesting. I think, and if I may just add to that, that was really good. But as characters, as actors, there's no time to reflect. You need to just keep going forward because he is a crazy motherfucker.

Sutter, what goes on in here, we've stopped trying to guess, as Theo said, a long time ago. But every time we get in his script, it's like, Jesus Christ. But there's no time for the rear view mirror. It's go, go, go. And I think it's going to be a very sad time for the fans. They're already sad that we're coming to an end.

But for him and me and the rest of these wonderful actors, we're so in it right now, there's no time to get reflected. You bet. Big bottle of Crown Royal for me. Coca-Cola. And I'm going to suck that whole thing back because this has been the greatest ride ever for all of us for many reasons, right? Constantly moving forward, Kurt's already got a new series on the way. You know, I can tell you what everybody sort of knows.

It takes place in the 1300s. It's about an executioner. And, you know, it's sort of like this show in that the characters and the situations are fictitious, but the world around them is real. Sons of Anarchy finale is this week. If you missed any part of the season or the finale itself, you can easily catch up on Hulu Plus. For the podcast, we're back in a few days and on the way, a look at the librarians brand new to TNT.

And why you should check that out. Plus our exclusive visit with Cora herself, Janet Varney. And why she really is a social media Renaissance lady. All that and more on the way. And you can always follow it on websites like ComicMix dot com, Michael Davis World dot com, get the point radio dot com and the iTunes podcast directly.

Social media where the point radio on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. See you back here in a few days.