Hey guys! The podcast this week will come out a little later this weekend but for now enjoy an exclusive interview with Jimmy Jean-Louis, the actor who portrays The Haitian on NBC’s hit show Heroes.
In the interview we discuss with Jimmy his hobby of Soccer (or futbol), how its like behind the scenes on set, the impact of the Writer’s Guild of America Strike, Angela Petrelli’s power, and more!
The recording of the full interview in its entirety is posted at the top and bottom of this entry. You can also listen to the interview by subscribing to our podcast feed via the menu on the right of the website.
Here is the majority of the interview transcribed:
Engee: Alright. We are going to hop around in questions a lot. I’ve read that you can actually speak five different languages.
Jimmy: Yes, yes. Uh, Correcto!
Engee: Very cool. Okay, I can understand…I believe its English, French, Spanish, and Italian? How often do you…
Jimmy: Yeah, and Creole.
Engee: How often do you get to use Creole, I mean I’ve never really..
Jimmy: Well, Creole…all the time because of my parents and my family. Because I’m Haitian and in Haiti we speak Creole first.
Engee: Oh, okay. See, I was under the impression that they spoke mainly French there but they speak Creole.
Jimmy: No, no. It’s Creole first and then French. But most people don’t speak French. I mean only the people that have the chance to go to school speak French but otherwise, in the streets, we speak Creole.
Demi: Were you aware that your character would be such a central role in this second season? You have a lot of screen time this season.
Jimmy: Yeah…no I didn’t have a clue. You know, those guys don’t tell you nothing at all. I am telling you. I didn’t know if I was returning in the second season. I had a clue because some of the producers, you know, told me, “Oh, yeah…You’ll be back”, but it wasn’t officially. And I was happily surprised to see how they’ve been using The Haitian lately, because the guy is very powerful. Especially from that last show that you guys saw. You know, to be able to not only block Peter but actually take care of him, with or without power…that tells you that its going to take a lot to actually stop The Haitian.
Demi: We have a couple episodes left until the last episode? That’s correct? Until the last episode of this story-arc. You’ve gotten information about the Writer’s Strike, I’m sure. How did that play out, as a far as [Heroes is concerned]?
Jimmy: Uh, well obviously its a huge bummer for the show, because the show was in the middle of shooting when it happened. I believe they finished shooting number ten for this season and, unfortunately, they won’t be able to air those two ones, the last two episodes. So they’re going to stop on number eleven. Eleven will be the finale…for this mid-season..or it could actually become for this season depending how long the strike goes.
Demi: So you had scripts from further episodes than what we are going to be seeing?
Jimmy: Until number thirteen.
Demi: And are they going to totally scrap those do you know?
Jimmy: I believe so. I believe so, just because of the storyline..uhh….
Demi: It’s hard to say, I’m sure..
Jimmy: It’s hard to say because you never know how much you can say in the interviews. But I think that Tim Kring is going to restructure the whole show and he’s going to bring what Heroes was..what was on Heroes, you know…bring back the main characters from the first season and make those characters go against some baddies, you know. And I think he’s restructuring the whole show, so thats why I think we are going to be losing episodes twelve and thirteen and then when we come back it’s going to be a new beginning.
Socrates: Do you have any idea when it (Heroes) would come back?
Jimmy: I don’t have a clue. It’s up to the writers at this point. If the Strike stops now then we can all go back to work. If it doesn’t stop for like three, four, five months…I think we are going to have to say, “See you guys next year.”
Demi: Right, That’s what we’re afraid of, but I’m sure everybody is afraid of that.
Jimmy: Yeah. But we don’t know. We have to wait and see, because obviously its very important to what is happening to the writers because it will affect directly the actors, as well. Because our contract is up next year. So, in June of next year. So what happens to the writers is probably whats going to happen to us.
Demi: With all this Writers Strike, I heard that you (Heroes cast) went back and re-shot [some] scenes. Were you in that re-shooting?
Jimmy: I heard I was supposed to. I was supposed to be, but I’m going to have to tell you that I was not in town. I was not in town, but I heard that they called me for something…but it was very…I mean it was last minute scheduling and I was out of the country. So that means no, I didn’t make it. But obviously they need him, so somehow, I don’t know how they are going to play it, but maybe they’ll find a way to still show him.
Demi: Special Effects.
Jimmy: Yeah, you never know man. You know, get, uh…. *laughs* Put a little bit of make-up on D.L. and get him to play The Haitian!
Demi: Now you originally auditioned for D.L. that’s right?
Jimmy: Yeah, yeah actually I did. I did three auditions for D.L. I saw the casting director first,and then I saw the producers, and then I saw the producers again. I mean…many, many times. But obviously, they didn’t give me the job because apparently I didn’t fit the role, the character and eventually they gave me the part of The Haitian. And that part was not supposed to be Haitian, it was supposed to be from New Zealand.
Demi: I heard that, I’m wondering, because of that…were you ever…of course your character is still alive right now, but I was [wondering if you ever regretted] not getting that part? I mean, they reformatted it for The Haitian so I’m sure thats got to be a very comfortable role.
Jimmy: Its very…for me being Haitian, I’m very proud of that. Because somehow it makes me…not only representing my country, but at they same time..The storyline is very interesting because they were able to play with all the spiritual beliefs, the voodoo things, and everything that goes with The Haitian…with the character of The Haitian.
Socrates: Yeah, and I’m sure you’re able to identify more with a Haitian character than like a New Zealand character.
Jimmy: Hey, hey..I’m an actor, man. I can do whatever…Give me a Swedish guy and I’ll be Swedish if you want me to be Swedish, okay? *laughs*
Demi: Now we actually saw a scene this season in Haiti. Well, they said it was in Haiti. I’m sure that was a set. How accurate do you think they portrayed Haiti in the show?
Jimmy: It wasn’t bad. It wasn’t bad, knowing that that was done at Universal Studios. You know, everything was done on set. They got it right…the people in the street, the little corner stands, and even the music in the background and everything. Yeah, it was believable even though they didn’t show my character in the crowd. But you know, it was a good way to show Haiti. Yeah, I think it worked. Most people think that they went to Haiti for it.
Demi: Did they ask you at all about that? Did they ask you for..to advise or input on that?
Jimmy: Those guys don’t ask for advise, man. *laughs* We have ten amazing writers …They’re the ones that are writing the show. Maybe they get little tips here and there if I’m talking to them, but as far as sitting down and trying to go over the character…No they don’t do that. So they didn’t ask for any advise. They do their own research, and come up with an accurate portrayal of Haiti.
Engee: Alright. Switching gears a little bit. You know, you work… as the Haitian, you work with H.R.G., Noah Bennett, Jack Coleman a lot. Is there anybody on the show that you haven’t gotten to work with as much that you’d like to work more with..that you’d think you would work well with.
Jimmy: Well, I enjoy Jack Coleman very much. He’s a sweet guy as well in real life. I would have loved to have worked more with Claude, Christopher Eccleston…We worked together for a couple of episodes and I really enjoyed it. He’s a great actor. And, uh.. Unfortunately, I don’t know if I’m going to have a chance to do it. Maybe next year. But otherwise, you know, I think the character of The Haitian has a chance to work with pretty much everybody…and Hayden, as well, is a great actress.
Demi: I was wondering…You’ve been under the direction of Tim Sale directly, I mean Tim Kring…sorry Tim Sale did the art. How is he as a person? We never get to see other than interviews…Is he pretty hard on you guys or…?
Jimmy: No, no…He’s very quiet.
Demi: Quiet?
Jimmy: He’s very, very quiet. He’s here, and disappears..and comes back..and you never feel that he’s around.
Demi: So he has other people doing…
Jimmy: That’s what I think, you know. He’s one of the clever ones…He doesn’t do the hard job. *Laughs* But no, no… obviously he’s very clever, very intelligent. And he comes on set very often just to supervise things, and you would never think that he’s the one running the show when you see him on set if somebody doesn’t tell you. Because he doesn’t look like somebody that’s running it. He’s just there…very quiet, taking notes, and just doing his thing.
Socrates: Okay, I’ve got a question. You might not be able to answer it, but I’m going to give it a shot anyway. You’ve had some connection with Angela Petrelli’s character on the show?
Jimmy: Yes.
Socrates: Does she have a power?
Jimmy: ….I belllllllllieeeve so. *Laughs*
Socrates: If she does, you don’t have to tell us what it is.
Jimmy: I believe so…uhh…
Demi: I think everybody in the group would have one…
Socrates: Yeah, thats what we thought…we just weren’t sure…because, I mean… she’s been on the show for a season and a half now, and you really don’t get any inclination to whether or not she actually has a power.
Jimmy: Well I mean… ….. all her kids have powers. And she seems to be from the older generation. So, you know. I’m forced to say yes. When are they going to show it to you guys? I don’t know, but…*laughs*
Demi: I know its hard to say stuff about this.
Jimmy: Yeah, Yeah…If I had to guess, I’d say yes.
Demi: Now do you watch, I don’t know…When you’re in the States, when you’re not out traveling, do you watch Heroes on Television?
Jimmy: Yes, yes I do, because that’s the only way that I can actually stay connected with what’s going on. Because as an actor, you go there and just do your part. Even though I do have the script, but it’s always different when you get a chance to see the show. So, by seeing the show, I have a better idea of what’s going on with Heroes. So yes, I always watch it when I’m in the States.
Demi: I was just wondering, did they send you guys the DVD’s or do you gotta buy them if you want them?
Jimmy: Yes they did, they did. But I have to say that..I think there are two DVD’s: One that’s HD, and another one thats a little bit cheaper. We got the cheaper version. *laughs*
Socrates: So when you guys are actually shooting the episodes, are all of you there or do some of you come in separately for separate scenes or what?
Jimmy: You come just for your scene..and you get out. It’s a very serious business and its very extensive, so if you’re not needed, you’re not going to be on set. So sometimes…For example, it took me maybe four or five months before I met everybody. Because at first I always used to work with Jack Coleman and Hayden and all those guys…but it took me a long time before I met Dr. Suresh, for example. Because we didn’t have any scenes together so we were never on set at the same time. And the same for the character of D.L., the same for Leonard. So you don’t see each other, you could be doing the same episode and never get to see each other.
Demi: That’s interesting. So the final product on television is the first time you get to see…
Jimmy: …what the other guys have been doing, yes.
Demi: Other than this re-shoot, have they ever called you or how often do they call you back to re-shoot things if they..they don’t…Do you guys pretty much get it on the ball and you’re done?
Jimmy: No, usually there is no re-shoot, you know. Usually there is no re-shoot. Those guys are so precise, and so accurate with what they are doing, that when we go there its because there have been meetings of what was going to be done, so usually there is no re-shoot.
Demi: We’re about done here and we’ll let you go. One last question: Did you ever think Heroes was going to be this big? Some people say when they get on a new show they have this feeling that its going to be something special. I’m just wondering, did you ever think it was going to be as big as it is now?
Jimmy: Well, there was a big talk around Heroes before it came out. Before they actually [shot] the Pilot there was a lot of speculation. “Wow, this is a great show…This is a great script.” So, I heard that before I even read for the role of D.L. So the buzz was in town, already. But, at the same time, nobody was sure of how successful it was going to be, you know. But, yes, I am very surprised by the success of the show, because, I mean, it doesn’t matter where you go…in the world…people know about the show.
Demi: And it’s very exciting. Obviously, we love it…we’re doing a show just about it. And, uh, we’ve said many times that The Haitian is, definitely, our favorite character.
Socrates: Oh, we said that on our pilot.
Jimmy: Oh man, thank you man, keep telling those guys. Keep writing to Tim Kring and the gang.
Demi: We’ll be sure to keep your character in high demand.
Jimmy: Tell him to write about the hero. Tell him to give him a wife, or a family, or something.
Demi: Well I was wondering, maybe some family members would join The Haitian sometime..but I don’t know
Jimmy: Yeah, that would be interesting!
Socrates: I was thinking, maybe, about a Haitian spin-off series.
Jimmy: Well, that would be cool. I could be hanging by the beach, drinking my coconut drink. *laughs* And taking care of people from a distance. But that would be nice with a Haitian spin-off, Haitian Connection.
Demi: Yeah, Haitian movie? Haitian Sensation.
Jimmy: Yeah. *laughs*
Socrates: Alright, Jimmy.
Jimmy: Alright, guys.
Socrates: We appreciate you coming back and having this little interview with us.
Engee: Thanks a lot.
immy: No, man, it was a pleasure. Thank you very much, I appreciate you guys…because we all know that without the media, there’s no actors.
Demi: Alright, well we support you guys. Keep up the good work, we hope the Writer’s Strike is going to be good and when you’re guys’ contract gets up there than you get…
Socrates: get what you need.
Jimmy: Okay man, thank you guys. You have a good one, okay?
Socrates: Alright, appreciate it. Alright, buh-bye!
Jimmy: Buh-bye.
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