Garrett Wareing explains cruel filming for the long journey

Garrett Wareing and his costars had to face cruel conditions in filming their new dystopian thriller, The long journey – But it was an experience that wouldn’t change to the world.

“In the end our shoes were our saved grace Weekly US for facing the elements while filming. “At the end of these, you just sit down on the ground and you just lie there. By the end of each week, we had walked 50 miles and this is composing itself, and you act all the time.”

WARNING: DEATHERS Below for the long journey.

Wareing, who portrays Stebbins in the adaptation of Stephen King 1979 novel, remembers one specific example where Costar Daymon Wrightly (who plays a rank), has removed his opposite sneakers only to discover that his socks are “filled with blood” from walking blisters.

“So what you see on screen is real,” he continued. “That is, we were getting sunburn. They told us at first, rain, snow, shine, cold, we shoot and whatever the conditions, we will do it. Overnight, whatever it might be.”

Directed by The hunger games’ Francis Lawrence. The long journey Following a group of teenage boys who volunteer to take part in a highly irritable competition where they have to walk continuously or be shot by a member of their military escort. The fight continues until only one boy remains stands. Although the foundation of the joint should fire competition between the boys, they find a sense of deep fraternity as they fight the difficult experience that proves their limits.

According to Wareing, the bonds that cannot be broken were not much different from the dynamics of the actors off the screen.

“We were just together,” he told Us. “While you see this friendship playing out on screen with the boys, behind the scenes, that was all common too. That is, these were my brothers. We were all bonded trauma by this experience, and it means so much to share this with them and see the response so positive about all the hard work we put through and go through.”

Wareing explained that the actors would sometimes walk on average “12 miles” in one day, even in the heat of Canada “100 degrees” in their outfits and shoes.

“I remember standing on a set with Wong’s headAnd Olson played in the film. … I remember him looking at me, and said, ‘What did we just find ourselves in?’ And I remember thinking exactly the same thing, ”said Wareing with laughter.

But despite the physical effort of the role, the preparation for playing Stebbins was much greater to the mental. “It’s about finding that character, finding the voice, finding the journey,” said Wareing. “What is it like for your body to walk after 300 miles? What does it look like to build that gradually? What is day one experience, day two, day three?”

Wareing character specifically has a lot to work through. He hides a secret connection to the main (Mark Hamill) and face illness midway through the journey. Fortunately for Wareing, there was fate on his side during the audition process.

“Stebbins is getting sick throughout the film. So (I had to think), ‘What is it like to play this physical from being sick?’ And believe it or not, I got a top respiratory infection when I tapped for this initially, so all my snot and stuff in the audition, that was all real, ”he revealed. “I think it might have been a blessing, because I think he made him more convincing!”

Stebbins may not be on his best health, but he is still one of the last boys on the walk, which meant that Wareing was filming much longer than some of his costars. The actor said the cast would take time to honor all boys after they filmed their final scene with a dairy queen and balloons – a tradition he eventually left a conflict.

“It was a celebration and also a grievance at times. It made me sad, and in some ways it made me jealous, because I knew these boys could stop walking and these boys could go home,” he said. “And I think that’s probably the character who talks in my brain in part, as well as being jealous of these boys who can end this walk and take a nap and sleep in. Some of our call times were, like, three in the morning, and we would start walking and keeping.

One thing that was revealed was the process of finding a new version of Stebbins that felt different from the novel. The book sees the characters as a more “antagonistic” presence, but eventually Wareing and Lawrence wanted to find a more empathic middle ground.

“Francis was like, ‘I don’t know if that necessarily belongs within this character. I think Stebbins comes from a place of care, rather than antagonistic energy,'” Wareing remembered. “And I think it is because Stebbins know he is going to win this trip. In his head, he will be the winner. There is nothing that will stop him from winning this.”

Wareing noted that Stebbins’ walls eventually come from a place to want to “keep himself and his emotions” so he will not be hurt by the inevitable he will lose his friends.

“To win this, they all have to die,” he explained. “But then towards the end of the film, we’re starting to see that that difficult outside of Stebbins is starting to crack and fail as he begins to try companionship with these boys.… To see that we are all one and we are all companions in this journey and in this life.”

There are, of course, The long walk A big, upcoming question: What would motivate these boys to take part in a fight that will almost inevitably lead to their deaths? Wareing admitted that it was a “big conversation” in filming.

“I think it is necessarily a place,” he shared. “And I think he (the character) Gary (played by Charlie Plummer) Who has a monologue where he talks about (how) none of us sign up for this, not really. It is expected, and is indoctrinated. “

He continued, “I think it is social conditioning to feel like we have to take part in this journey. And it comes from a need. And I think many of these boys, Stebbins included, come from a desire and need to do this. If we all give in for this walk, are any of us really choose (IT)?”

Those kinds of complex questions and character like that of Stebbins who made goods so excited to be part of a film as The long journey. The actor is clearly very grateful for the opportunity, but his casting almost feels more like fate than anything else. Wareing revealed he had discovered the role the same day he wrapped his first season of Ransom canyonleaving only three days between filming for a Netflix show in Texas and starting to work for The long journey in Canada.

“I was driving to Waffle House to meet my fellow pastures for a last farewell dinner for a well -done job (that),” Remembered Wareing. “And on the car a trip over to that waffle house, I got a call from my agent saying they wanted me to get stebbins in The long journey. And I got to that waffle house with the biggest news about what felt like my career, and shared that with the friends I actually tapped with them for the audition. My cast in Ransom Canyon went out into the wilderness with me and we all shot this tape together. And it was a team effort from the beginning. “

“It felt like a game made in Stephen King Heaven,” added Wareing with a smile. “And the fact that I can bring this character to life, this dear character, it really is a wild dream being realized.”

The long journey In theaters now.