Black MirrorSeason 7 marks Oscar-nominatedPaul Giamattis first foray into the Netflix classic.
Was there something wrong with me?"
COLLIDER: First of all, the episode’s fantastic.
Image by Jefferson Chacon
One of the things aboutBlack Mirroris the secrecy.
No one really knows who’s in it or if they’re filming; it’s all a mystery.
PAUL GIAMATTI: Yeah, that’s a good point.
Image via Netflix
Some of the secrecy, it seems part and parcel.
It actually seems appropriate for this show to be so shrouded in darkness and secrecy.
It is a little weird, because it’s a little sudden.
But yeah, so it is weird.
When someone finally said, Black Mirror, were you like, Finally, I’ve been waiting?"
GIAMATTI: Yes, absolutely, I was.
Image via Shutterstock
I was like, Why is this taking so long?
Was there something wrong with me?
Now I’m okay?
Image by Jefferson Chacon
And it came to me through my manager, and I was really excited.
And frankly, I would have done anything.
But it happened to be this, and it happened to be great.
And I happen to love it.
But I would have done anything that they wanted.
What surprised you about making an episode ofBlack Mirrorthat perhaps is unique toBlack Mirror?
Image via Netflix
Or is every project sort of like the same thing?
The entire thing is so well-run and everybody is very happy to be there.
That doesn’t happen all the time, and it happens very rarely.
Image Via HBO
It was all practical effects.
So that was really unique.
I’d never done anything quite like it with all these actual people frozen around me.
An anthology series exploring a twisted, high-tech multiverse where humanity’s greatest innovations and darkest instincts collide.
You’ve seen this.
You’ve seen the whole thing, right?
That was very strange and very interesting.
I thought they took whatever we had, and they made it even better in the final edit.
I know those things felt different.
I’m assuming you’ve seen the show before doing this episode.
Do you have a favoriteBlack Mirrorepisode or favorites?
GIAMATTI: I liked the first one.
The one with the pig and the Prime Minister is still the one that really sticks out for me.
That’s always really stuck with me.
I really enjoy how your character is flawed, but basically doesn’t see himself as flawed at times.
GIAMATTI: No, he doesn’t.
He thinks everything’s fine.
He thinks that he’s moved on.
He really hasn’t.
I’m glad you liked that about it.
That should be coming through, and I’m glad it does.
Oh, no, 100%.
Another thing aboutBlack Mirroris the technology in these episodes.
Its always stuff that could be real.
With some of the technology, it’s like, Yeah, I’d use this if I could.
How do you feel, especially with the technology in your episode?
Is it something that you’d actually use?
I’d give it a try.
When I read the piece, I felt much more ambiguous about the technology.
When we shot it, I thought, “This stuff is kind of coercive and creepy.”
Then, when I see the final product, I think, Oh no, it’s good.
It’s actually good.It actually does the guy good.It’s still weird.
He doesn’t need it anymore.
It did something really good for him.
So, I felt much less conflicted about it when I actually watched the episode.
I don’t know about you.
Did you find it less menacing by the end?
Because the truth is, look at everybody now with their phones, and they’re fucking glued.
Its like people just disappear into technology.
GIAMATTI: And you kind of just use it backwards because it says, Use me.
And you kind of just use it.
But in theory,everybody’s kind of having a communal experience.
Even though, in some way, everybody is having a communal experience of this eulogy of this person.
So, there is that.
Everybody’s not locked away, I guess.
Although I’m not exactly sure how the technology works in that instance.
“Theres messages in every game.
You know what PAC stands for?
GIAMATTI: And that could happen.
I think it’s awesome that you still feel quite ambiguous about it by the end.
You’re ambivalent about it by the end.
The problem is, I’m going to use technology even though I know the key secret.
I did think it was funny, though, that he’s going, What is this shit?
It’s like we have no choice.
So it’s kind of coercive in that way.
As you know, I am a fan of your work.
What are you working on this year?
GIAMATTI: I am about to do it in about a week.
I didStar Trek[:Starfleet Academy].
I finished Star Trek.
Oh, I’m going to ask about that in a second, trust me.
I start doing that.
I know that it’s a musical.
GIAMATTI: Kind of.
I mean, it’s about a musical.
There’s a musical in it, but it’s not a musical.
It’s very much about a musical, and musicals, and stuff like that.
But I wouldn’t say it is a musical, but maybe a technicality.
What was it about that script that said, Oh, yes, I want to do this.?
GIAMATTI: Guy’s a really good writer.
The guy’s a really good writer, and it’s very funny and it’s very complex.
And he’s an extraordinarily good writer.
And it was like, Oh, this’ll be a pleasure to do.
Not a problem in the world.
This will be great.
And he’s a lovely guy.
So I look forward to working with him.
I am a big fan of Star Trek, and I know that you’re onStarfleet Academy.
I read that you’re playing the villain.
Does your character know he’s the villain?
He takes great pleasure in being the villain.
He takes great pleasure in being the bad guy.
Yeah, he likes it.
Now I’m the bad guy.
Yes, he knows he’s the bad guy.
Jonathan Frakes told me last week that it has the biggest set of any Star Trek show.
He didn’t tell me what set it was.
GIAMATTI: I can tell you that’s one of the biggest I’ve seen.
It’s one of the biggest I’ve been on, and I’ve been on some big sets.
Most of them are outdoor.
The biggest indoor one.
It’s got to be probably one of the biggest.
I can say it’s a central part of the show.
Is it like the headquarters or the university?
GIAMATTI: Part of the university.
It’s part of the academy.
I don’t want to be the guy that gets in trouble for saying what it is.
I really don’t want to be that guy.
It’s central to the academy itself.
GIAMATTI: Did he really?
Yeah, but there isn’t a starship on the show.
The bridge is really impressive in this one.
In fact, the bridge is as amazing as that huge set was.
I actually think the bridge is an even more incredible show.
I don’t actually know.
Were you a fan of Star Trek?
Because I’ll be honest, I was surprised when you were cast.
He can do other things.
GIAMATTI: That’s for sure.
I can do other things.
I was like, Gosh, I love Star Trek.
And I think that monster actually worked for once in my life.
But I put it out there in the universe and it came back.
I’m a bit…
I really kind of love it.
Maslany will play a recurring character in the series.
Did you hypothetically borrow anything from the set to take home with every intention of bringing it back?
GIAMATTI: I did not.
I was actually given something, so I didn’t have to steal anything.
They said, Do you want to take this?
And I did, so I did.
So, I have something of my characters.
I didn’t just lift a phaser or something like that.
But I wonder if they would have let me do that.
Would have had to steal it.
No, I didn’t do anything.
What can you actually say about the show and your character?
What do you want to tease people about it?
That’s all I really say.
Whatever I say, it’s going to give away too much.
Giamatti Would Love to Play Art Bell in a Horror Sci-Fi Project
Listen, I love sci-fi.
It’s my favorite genre.
GIAMATTI: I am.
I have this thing that hopefully will happen right, where I would play Art Bell in anything.
So, I would love to do more of this stuff.
It’s what I really like.
And if I could do it, I will.
People come to me and they are offering me stuff, so that’s nice.
And now I’ve had the opportunity to do a lot of things I’d like to do.
I did a show, and I’m gonna plug it through you.
Not a lot of people watched it.
It was called30 Coins.
It was an HBO Max show.
It’s a Spanish-language horror show that I can recommend.
Have you ever seen it?
I didn’t see it, but I know the show and I know you did it recently.
GIAMATTI: Yeah, I did that, and that was really fun.
I want to go back toBlack Mirrorreal quick.
When you’re making an episode like that, how much time are you actually filming?
Is it like a 10-day shoot?
I have no idea how long it takes to make an episode like that.
I think they usually take more time with their episodes.
Ours was quicker because I think it was actually pretty compact.
It was only the two of us, and it was not a lot of locations.
Then it was just all, I’d say, a much more contained episode.
So I think they could do it faster.
But I would say it was about two and a half weeks.
But I’ve shot some indie films that fast, you know?
So it felt like that wasn’t an unaccustomed thing.
Black MirrorSeason 7 is available to stream on Netflix.
