Interviewer: A Polish cinematographer once said that acting is more about hiding than showing.
Goran Visnjic: I guess that’s true.
Interviewer: Your role in "Crossing lines" is a perfect example of this. Marco joined the special unit of the International Criminal Court as an expert in abductions, but kept his privacy and that will remain hidden until the end of the season.
Goran Visnjic: It is interesting that you raise the topic at this moment, because today we were shooting a scene with Elizabeth (Mitchell), which has a lot to do with what we're now talking about. Heroine Elizabeth - Karine talked about Marco's sister, who has been kidnapped. She knows very well that he accepts this too personally. Just two hours before starting the filming, writers sent us some new directions for the scenes.
Shortly put, they wanted Marco to talk more about his feelings. I was categorically opposed to the idea. I think my character is far more convincing when he is just silent, sipping his coffee and leaving the room without announcing it. Something that speaks more about his condition, than actual words can explain. A good actor needs to be able to show the internal state of his character without any words. If you talk a lot, that takes away from the mystery. So acting is much more about hiding than showing your feelings. You just have to find the right balance.
Interviewer: It seems like you have creative freedom on the set of "Crossing lines" since you alone decide whether to comply with the script or not.
Visnjic: I think that in every self-respecting show that should be the case. You must suppress you ego when you work in television and concentrate on giving the best of yourself. This is teamwork, open conversation, cooperation, living, breathing organism. Thankfully is not a dictatorship. If I suggest something good, why shouldn’t the director listen?
Interviewer: Did you have this kind of creative freedom also on the set of "ER"?
Goran: The best episodes of "ER" were done by the authors, who all communicated with us the actors. For the most times I did not have any observations to the script, but sometimes it is a question of a word, a sentence. Not to say that I know exactly what is wrong and what needs to be changed or added from simply talking with the writers and discussing options. It is the same thing here. I want to do something, make some change, and there are people who listen, because they know that I'm not trying for myself, but for the good of everyone.
Interviewer: "Crimes Without Borders"/"Crossing lines" is a special production filmed in Europe with a European team and actors without specifically belonging to any European country. For too long all that has been offered in the genre was with a background of American landscapes, so this show really is a breath of fresh air.
With all due respect to the US television industry, but American television series funded by US television channels, with US actors are expected to speak English. So in the American television series, American or English actors are much more prominent than actors of any other part of the world.
Goran Visnjic: I am a Croat and I know very well how hard it is to learn the language. For some Europeans, it is virtually impossible to deal with the accent. For Swedes and Danes, for example, it is very easy. For the French it is very difficult. This is one of the reasons why Swedish actors in America are doing very well.
Interviewer: But do you think that because "Crossing lines" became popular around the world, and it is filmed mainly in Europe, it could help break such stereotypes? Can it be considered as an example of how to do something different and without prejudice to the final outcome?
G.V.: Among other members of the cast, there are Elizabeth Mitchell who is an American, Donald Sutherland is a Canadian actor, we have German, Italian actress and all the action takes place in Europe. There are other series shot there, "Game of Thrones", for example. Things are moving in that direction. Take a country like Croatia. Step by step it is building a brand new image. Tourists see the amazing coastline, good restaurants, and great hotels. Moreover, we have seven or eight national parks. There are many superb locations for film and television projects, and most of them are much more accessible and affordable than in other parts of the world. To be fair, Americans are pragmatic people. If you see a nice and cheap location, there is nothing that can stop them. That's what is happening now, and I assure you it is just the beginning.
Interviewer: Tell me more about the connection between your character and the heroine Elizabeth Mitchell. You both joined the cast this season, and from what I saw on the trailer, there is a lot of chemistry between the two of you.
Goran Visnjic: That chemistry should always exist. If everything goes smoothly, would there set complete boredom. The more great things are happening to my character, the more interesting it for me as an actor. Karine, the heroine of Elizabeth and my hero Marco constantly follow the ups and downs. Karine works with Michael Dorn / Sutherland / International Criminal Court, as one of his best investigators.
Now, for the first time she is given the responsibility to lead the task force. It is these professionals who have no personal life. Her work takes all of her time, she is available twenty-four hours, seven days a week. She also never received anything from anyone, and had to work hard to achieve her goals. It is the opposite of the character of Tom Vlaschiha. This guy is just brilliant, everything was happening to him in the easiest way possible.
Interviewer: I understand that the acting work is the opposite of your real life? Best when it is more difficult for you?
Goran Visnjic: I want every day of my life to be pleasant and easy, but I also prefer my character to be complex and confused. The more difficult the character, the more interesting it is to play.
Interviewer: How did you feel when you returned home?
Goran: It was very fun! Really!
Interviewer: You were born in Croatia and your first movie was filmed here. This is not making you sentimental?
Visnjic: In fact, I began my acting career during the war in the nineties. I was only 18 back then. I made a film in Bosnia when I was twenty-some. The last time I shot here was about a year ago. At the time, I worked hard in the US with "ER." I remember that I felt relieved when for the first time in many years, had to use their native language on the set.
It was just so much easier to speak Croatian at the camera. Now with all Czechs, Slovaks, Brits, Americans, Germans and Croats on the set of "Crossing lines," I feel that my English is getting worse day after day. If I continue to switch from one language to another and everything will just begin to mesh.
Interviewer: But it is nice to work back home?
Goran Visnjic: Yes of course! I’m only sorry that we are not closer to my hometown Sibenik, which is down south. At the very least, I need to see my parents.
Goran Visnjic: I guess that’s true.
Interviewer: Your role in "Crossing lines" is a perfect example of this. Marco joined the special unit of the International Criminal Court as an expert in abductions, but kept his privacy and that will remain hidden until the end of the season.
Goran Visnjic: It is interesting that you raise the topic at this moment, because today we were shooting a scene with Elizabeth (Mitchell), which has a lot to do with what we're now talking about. Heroine Elizabeth - Karine talked about Marco's sister, who has been kidnapped. She knows very well that he accepts this too personally. Just two hours before starting the filming, writers sent us some new directions for the scenes.
Shortly put, they wanted Marco to talk more about his feelings. I was categorically opposed to the idea. I think my character is far more convincing when he is just silent, sipping his coffee and leaving the room without announcing it. Something that speaks more about his condition, than actual words can explain. A good actor needs to be able to show the internal state of his character without any words. If you talk a lot, that takes away from the mystery. So acting is much more about hiding than showing your feelings. You just have to find the right balance.
Interviewer: It seems like you have creative freedom on the set of "Crossing lines" since you alone decide whether to comply with the script or not.
Interviewer: Did you have this kind of creative freedom also on the set of "ER"?
Goran: The best episodes of "ER" were done by the authors, who all communicated with us the actors. For the most times I did not have any observations to the script, but sometimes it is a question of a word, a sentence. Not to say that I know exactly what is wrong and what needs to be changed or added from simply talking with the writers and discussing options. It is the same thing here. I want to do something, make some change, and there are people who listen, because they know that I'm not trying for myself, but for the good of everyone.
Interviewer: "Crimes Without Borders"/"Crossing lines" is a special production filmed in Europe with a European team and actors without specifically belonging to any European country. For too long all that has been offered in the genre was with a background of American landscapes, so this show really is a breath of fresh air.
With all due respect to the US television industry, but American television series funded by US television channels, with US actors are expected to speak English. So in the American television series, American or English actors are much more prominent than actors of any other part of the world.
Goran Visnjic: I am a Croat and I know very well how hard it is to learn the language. For some Europeans, it is virtually impossible to deal with the accent. For Swedes and Danes, for example, it is very easy. For the French it is very difficult. This is one of the reasons why Swedish actors in America are doing very well.
Interviewer: But do you think that because "Crossing lines" became popular around the world, and it is filmed mainly in Europe, it could help break such stereotypes? Can it be considered as an example of how to do something different and without prejudice to the final outcome?
G.V.: Among other members of the cast, there are Elizabeth Mitchell who is an American, Donald Sutherland is a Canadian actor, we have German, Italian actress and all the action takes place in Europe. There are other series shot there, "Game of Thrones", for example. Things are moving in that direction. Take a country like Croatia. Step by step it is building a brand new image. Tourists see the amazing coastline, good restaurants, and great hotels. Moreover, we have seven or eight national parks. There are many superb locations for film and television projects, and most of them are much more accessible and affordable than in other parts of the world. To be fair, Americans are pragmatic people. If you see a nice and cheap location, there is nothing that can stop them. That's what is happening now, and I assure you it is just the beginning.
Interviewer: Tell me more about the connection between your character and the heroine Elizabeth Mitchell. You both joined the cast this season, and from what I saw on the trailer, there is a lot of chemistry between the two of you.
Goran Visnjic: That chemistry should always exist. If everything goes smoothly, would there set complete boredom. The more great things are happening to my character, the more interesting it for me as an actor. Karine, the heroine of Elizabeth and my hero Marco constantly follow the ups and downs. Karine works with Michael Dorn / Sutherland / International Criminal Court, as one of his best investigators.
Now, for the first time she is given the responsibility to lead the task force. It is these professionals who have no personal life. Her work takes all of her time, she is available twenty-four hours, seven days a week. She also never received anything from anyone, and had to work hard to achieve her goals. It is the opposite of the character of Tom Vlaschiha. This guy is just brilliant, everything was happening to him in the easiest way possible.
Interviewer: I understand that the acting work is the opposite of your real life? Best when it is more difficult for you?
Goran Visnjic: I want every day of my life to be pleasant and easy, but I also prefer my character to be complex and confused. The more difficult the character, the more interesting it is to play.
Interviewer: How did you feel when you returned home?
Goran: It was very fun! Really!
Interviewer: You were born in Croatia and your first movie was filmed here. This is not making you sentimental?
Visnjic: In fact, I began my acting career during the war in the nineties. I was only 18 back then. I made a film in Bosnia when I was twenty-some. The last time I shot here was about a year ago. At the time, I worked hard in the US with "ER." I remember that I felt relieved when for the first time in many years, had to use their native language on the set.
It was just so much easier to speak Croatian at the camera. Now with all Czechs, Slovaks, Brits, Americans, Germans and Croats on the set of "Crossing lines," I feel that my English is getting worse day after day. If I continue to switch from one language to another and everything will just begin to mesh.
Interviewer: But it is nice to work back home?
Goran Visnjic: Yes of course! I’m only sorry that we are not closer to my hometown Sibenik, which is down south. At the very least, I need to see my parents.
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