MEETING YOUR HEROES
FROM LAYING IN A POOL OF BLOOD AND BROKEN GLASS (SEEMINGLY DEAD) TO FRANTICALLY RUNNING AROUND TOWN IN JUST A PAIR OF WHITE BRIEFS A FEW MINUTES LATER, AUSTIN ABRAMS IS A TRUE FORCE IN HIS LATEST MOVIE, WOLFS. IN THE APPLE TV ACTION-THRILLER PRODUCTION, THE FLORIDA-NATIVE SHARES THE SCREEN WITH THE TOP-OF-THE-TOP OF THE ACTING LEAGUE, BRAD PITT AND GEORGE CLOONEY. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THERE WAS A LOT OF PRESSURE INVOLVED. SEEING THE FILM, HOWEVER, IT’S CLEAR THAT ABRAMS NOT ONLY MATCHES THE UNIQUE ENERGY OF THE A-LIST OLD PALS BUT IN MANY MOMENTS MANAGES TO STEAL THEIR SPOTLIGHT. FOR BTB, WE SPOKE TO ABRAMS ABOUT GETTING A FRONT-ROW SEAT TO THE BRAD AND GEORGE SHOW, WISHING HE DID MORE PHYSICAL TRAINING BEFORE THE SHOOT, AND DIVING INTO THE HORROR GENRE NEXT.
Hi Austin! Congratulations on your movie – you were a brilliant anchor of comedy in Wolfs. The role must have been a great challenge for you, considering you’re starring opposite Brad and George. What was your process like for this film? When did you begin to feel confident, or comfortable, in your performance?
I think that happened about two days before we wrapped. [Laughs] I’m not sure if I was ever exactly comfortable, but I got closer to it throughout the shoot. For me, the motel room scene was an important moment – usually [as actors] you have one scene in your mind that you’re really thinking about. And I think after that was wrapped, there was a sense of relief and it took some of the pressure out. But it took a minute to get to know them and feel out the dynamic between the three of us.You got to do pretty much everything in this film — from being seemingly dead to running around town in briefs to giving a hilarious monologue. Which scene was the most enjoyable to shoot for you?
There were a lot of enjoyable moments. For example, towards the end, when I’m trying to figure out where to put the drugs and set the crime scene. It was really fun and kinda felt like being a little kid, but with bricks of heroin, trying to make up a little game for myself. Also, all the stuff in underwear was just ridiculous.
