In our Exclusive Part IV, DC Fans get another insight on the upcoming fan film, Nightwing “Prodigal”. Last week we had our third interview with Florence Reiher (Oracle), while this week we go one on one with Camden Filtness who plays ‘The Riddler’.
In the lead up to the film’s release (April 2014) DC Comics News will be publicising an exclusive interview with each of the main cast members and their corresponding characters.
The trailer is up on YouTube and is now at 203,498 hits. You can watch it here.
- Thanks for making the time to talk with DC Comics News, can you give us a Bio and short introduction on yourself?
Thanks for having me! I was born in Surrey, BC and moved downtown Vancouver just last summer. I was always an athletic kid, playing almost every sport I could. I had always wanted to be a professional soccer player when I was younger, but my love of other sports was too strong to limit myself to just one! After graduating high school, I attended Capilano University’s ‘Acting for the Stage and Screen’ program where I spent three years honing my skills, and advancing my craft. During my time there, I was able to train with ‘Fight Director’s Canada’ and received certification as an actor-combatant. Shortly after graduating University, I was able to get agent representation, and start auditioning! Since then I’ve been busy with various projects, motion-capture work, stunt fighting, and more!
2. How did you get into acting and how long have you been working in the industry for?
Acting was never something I thought I’d do, I was always shy and quiet in front of people. However, at my high school I fell in love with acting when my teacher Josh Weiss cast me in my first role as ‘Juliet’ in “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)”. Already in grade 11, and just starting to act, the first thing I did was prance onstage in a voluptuous costume: bright red hair, flowing dress, fake boobs and everything! There was an awkward moment when I realized that being on the stage was the most fun I’d had at high school. I continued to be in the shows at Tamanawis Secondary, then was accepted into Capilano University’s program. I’ve been acting outside of school for almost a year now, and am not stopping anytime soon!
3. In this series you play one of Nightwing’s arch enemies in ‘The Riddler’. Can you give the fans an insight how you gained the part of this iconic character?
Director Kyle James-Patrick and I worked together on his feature film last September. After getting picked up to direct Nightwing: Prodigal, he asked me to come in and read for ‘The Riddler’. Though I wasn’t able to make it in to do a formal audition, I taped the scene that was sent to me and sent it in to Brady and the production team. They really liked what they saw, and I got a text a few days later, “Congrats Mr. Riddler, you’re in.” From there I started doing my research on the character I hadn’t seen since my Saturday morning Batman as a kid.
4. What inspiration and research did you do to portray the role of the Riddler and what was the biggest challenge you had in bringing the character to life?
Before getting the role of ‘The Riddler’, my few experiences with the character were the animated versions, and Jim Carrey’s Edward Nygma in Batman Forever. I immediately decided I would not play it as Mr. Carrey did… ridiculously wacky. So, I did a lot of research on the character before settling on my version. Studying Frank Gorshin from the original series, various Riddler’s from various animated series’, and even the Arkham video games, I was able to create a character that had elements from several different versions. I think with anyone who portrays a character this well-known, there’s always the challenge of satisfying the fans and the character they’ve come to love. But, the biggest challenge for me was the voice and physicality. Using my height to my advantage, my movement training, and my voice training, I was able to find a posture and voice that stuck for the duration of filming. Thanks Frank for the inspiration!
5. Your character in the comics uses his mind as one of his weapons against the likes of Batman who is also a smart operator. How did you re-create this role to form a connection with Nightwing considering Batman isn’t present in the series?
When Batman and The Riddler have intellectual battles, they’re very intense as nobody challenges Batman’s detective skills as much as Edward Nygma. They both have a good head on their shoulders. However, that wasn’t the case this time around. I played The Riddler knowing he was more intellectually superior than Batman’s former sidekick. I feel that my Riddler was toying with Nightwing, knowing he could beat him. This created a more forward, more intense, less scared Riddler. He was a lot of fun to play!
6. If you could play any other DC character in a film who would it be and why?
I would love to play The Flash as either Barry Allen or Wally West. I love the idea of having light-speed everything; moving, thinking, reacting, even talking! I’ve also got the lean-physique of the Flash that doesn’t suit my childhood desires of being Batman!
7. Can you share with the fans any upcoming projects you have post this series?
This isn’t the first time that I have worked with Nightwing: Prodigal director Kyle James-Patrick. We shot a feature film together titled ‘Not for the Saving’ in September, 2013. In it, I play the leading man, a good for nothing party boy, who meets a girl on a roof who’s about to jump off. It releases very soon, we’re hoping for a festival run in the near-future. Also, I am in the process of co-creating and co-starring in a web series titled ‘Goons’ that will release soon. It follows the lives of three henchmen who try hard, but just can’t get a break. Full of comedy and stunts, it’s worth a watch!
8.The artistic impression of the clothes, colours, and style in the Riddlers appearance in some of the promo shots on the Facebook site are fantastic, did you play a role in how the character was presented to the fans, how important is it to get this right?
Thank you! The make-up artist, Lindsay McMillan really did an amazing job. We spent over two hours on the first day in the make-up chair trying to get my “mask” just right. Something that matched her concept art, and supported what I brought physically, vocally, and emotionally to the character. Kyle was looking for a darker Riddler to oppose Nightwing in the series, and that’s what we delivered. What the three of us were able to craft was a Riddler that I hope the fans will love watching. Though he isn’t covered in question marks, and green clothing, his intentions of asserting his intellectual dominance still stand; and that’s what he’s all about.
DC Comics News would like to thank Camden for his time, we enjoyed the interview!
