Brendan McNamee, a graduate of the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA) in 1997, has carved a unique path in the film industry, seamlessly blending his skills as an actor, director, and producer. His journey reflects a deep understanding of both the artistic and technical facets of filmmaking.

Could you tell us about your journey into the film industry?

I graduated from ALRA in ’97.  It was the first drama school to teach television acting. It had a TV and Radio studio, multi-cameras, and vision mixing. I learned many of the behind-the-camera jobs. The logic being that if you were informed about what was happening around you — when, how, and why — it would help you as an actor. After drama school, I did a few plays (Talk Radio), and then I started writing and directing short films, corporate videos, and eventually music videos. My company, Blunt Films, made hundreds of pieces of content over the years. Of course, we didn’t call it ‘content’ back then. I made an independent feature film, Miles Away, which debuted at the 2009 Raindance Film Festival and won Best Film in New Jersey and Hawaii.

What experience do you have as a producer, and how has it influenced your career?

As a producer (and director, editor), I worked on so many budgets where we had to make the money stretch. (Is there any other type of budget?) When I graduated from drama school, filmmakers like Linklater, the Dogme gang, and The Blair Witch Project all showcased what could be done with a great story and creative filmmaking. I remember shooting background plates and special effects plates for a Franz Ferdinand video on a DV camera hanging out of the boot of my car in the Sussex countryside. When I described what I was doing, there was a bit of ‘pooh-poohing’ of what I was trying to achieve, but once the director and editor saw the results and we had composed the shots, they were very happy. As long as it is believable in the frame, it works.

“Post production is a bit like good manners. No one notices good manners, only bad manners.”

Which projects stand out as your best work as an actor?

I’m not sure that I could say I’ve done ‘my best work.’ I feel that every time I am on camera, it is so different from the previous experience. Nothing is comparable. With Olivier Assyass on Wasp Network, I pitched my first take a little in the ‘middle,’ and he was happy with that, which made me feel I hadn’t given him enough. I am still learning, but I think it has been best when I’ve hit it out of bounds and been asked to rein it in, rather than starting somewhere conservative and having nowhere to go. The fight scene in Rich Flu is incomparable to the staff room we inhabit in ‘The Penguin Lessons’, but no less exciting. I have also recently shot my first TV series in Spanish – El Centro.

“I have been very lucky to have worked with Penelope Cruz, Paco Leon, Steve Coogan, Jonathan Pryce, Edgar Ramirez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Tristan Ulloa…”

How was your experience working on ‘The Penguin Lessons’?

I had to suppress my star-struckness for Peter Cattaneo, Steve Coogan, and Sir Jonathan Pryce in our scenes. Living in Spain and working with Spanish legends (like Paco León) is maybe a little easier because I didn’t grow up with their work. The three men above have produced millions of hours of entertainment that I have happily consumed throughout my life. During one of our scenes that wasn’t quite going right, I asked Steve, “How can I make it better?” I needed to acknowledge that it was partly my fault that it wasn’t quite right — not so much Brendan to Steve, but actor to actor. He told me to just throw it away more, and then as I did the scene began to settle better. It was great to feel it was ‘wrong’ before we made it ‘right.’

Who would you recommend to watch The Penguin Lessons, and why?

The Penguin Lessons is a great family film. It’s sweet and has that dry wit we love Mr. Coogan for. I think it’s a film for everyone, and if you are bilingual, even more so. Quite frankly, everyone should see everything that Steve Coogan has ever made. I couldn’t put him on a higher pedestal. Oh, and of course, you should love the art teacher, Mr. Cooper.

‘The Penguin Lessons,’ directed by Peter Cattaneo, is slated for theatrical release in the UK on April 18th. The film follows an Englishman’s personal and political awakening after adopting a penguin during a tumultuous period in Argentine history. 

The cast includes Steve Coogan, Jonathan Pryce, Vivian El Jaber, Björn Gustafsson, Alfonsina Carrocio, and David Herrero. 

Featured photo credit: Claire Witteveen