Liberty Studios is releasing their first major motion picture on April 25, 2014 with Walking with the Enemy, a World War II dramatic thriller based on a true story. With the film entering theaters, I had the opportunity to sit down with the director of the movie Mark Schmidt and producer Randy Williams to talk about the making of the film.
How did you learn of the story of the Jewish rebel who dressed in a German uniform to save the lives of others during the 2nd World War in Hungary?
Mark Schmidt: “I came across a documentary on World War II about people who did extraordinary things, these ordinary people who risk their lives for others. I came across this one gentleman and his story really struck me, so I went out and got some history books on Hungary and what happened there. His name kept popping up here and there. Then I went to Budapest and found his village and talked to people, and I started to put together the story. I met with his family and they gave me some thoughts on it and I went forward from there.”
When you were casting the film how and when did you decide to cast Jonas Armstrong as the main character of Elek Cohen?
Mark Schmidt: “We had looked at several actors but we just felt that Jonas Armstrong was the right person for the part. He has such a wide range in his acting ability. He was just terrific to work with and he amazed us with how quickly he was able to adapt. He’s just a fantastic actor. We’re honored to have him in the film.”
His character has a love interest in the film named Hannah Schoen played by Hannah Tointon who is really the only person who gives him hope to possibly have a life after the war. How did you choose Miss Tointon?
Mark Schmidt: “Well, again, we were searching for the right actress for that part and we tested many young actresses and then Hannah came in and she’s British and she just seemed to fit the part. We tried her with the lead Jonas and felt she was the right one for the part.”
She auditioned with Jonas Armstrong?
Mark Schmidt: “Yes. When we got down to about three actresses, we had them read with Jonas to get another feel for it. She did such a fantastic job and had real chemistry with Jonas Armstrong.”
Where did you find Flora Spencer-Longhurst who plays Hannah’s younger sister?
Mark Schmidt: “Well, she’s based in London and she is just a fantastic young actress. Truly amazing. She had tried out with several others and we felt she was the best one for the part. Every time I saw her after we started filming – and she does such a great job of really putting on the emotion of terror of what those people went through – I just thanked her every day and she’s such a nice young lady she did such a tremendous job of portraying Rachel.”
Can you talk a little about working with the great Ben Kingsley who plays Regent Horthy, the political leader of Hungary during World War II?
Mark Schmidt: “Sir Ben Kingsley, we were just honored to have him in the film. He’s such a tremendous professional and he worked really hard every day. Even when it was time for him to leave, he stayed extra hours to read lines with other actors and help out. I am so thankful for Sir Ben Kingsley and I’m honored to have him in the film.”
How did the set design and costumes come together?
Mark Schmidt: “We scouted several countries on where to film and we ended up over in Eastern Europe. We were trying to do everything we could to make it look authentic and bring back 1944, and it all came together quite well. For example, there is this little village that we found that has a monastery that was built in the 1100s, and the buildings today look probably the same as they did hundreds of years ago. The film has planes and trucks and trains and tanks and gives the film such an authentic feel and look to it.”
What was one of the biggest problems or obstacles in bringing this picture to the big screen?
Mark Schmidt: ” I don’t know if we had any obstacles. I think we were always short on time. The days of filmmaking and shooting maybe getting only four or five hours of sleep that was probably the biggest obstacle just having enough time to be creative. Randy, do you have any thoughts?”
Randy Williams: “It takes a lot of people to make a film and orchestrating all those people to get the job done in a very time-constrained environment is a big challenge.”
