Interview: ‘CLEAR CUT’ (2024) Star Clive Standen Discusses Lumberjack Action-Thriller

Below is our interview with Clear Cut actor Clive Standen, star of this lumberjack-themed action thriller. Clear Cut arrived in theaters, on digital, and on-demand July 19th, 2024. You can also check out our interview with the director, Brian Skiba, right here!

Synopsis

Interview: Clear Cut Star Clive Standen Discusses Lumberjack Action-Thriller

PopHorror: OK, Jack in Clear Cut faces immense physical and emotional challenges. How did you prepare for this role both physically and mentally to authentically portray such a rugged and complex character?

Clive Standen: That’s a two-step process, really, or maybe more. Preparing for the physical aspect means staying nimble, agile, stretching, and keeping up with all of that because your body is going to take a pounding on set. You have to make sure you’re not going to pull any muscles or break any bones, but nothing really prepares you until you’re there on set.

In an independent film like this, we move at such a pace there isn’t a stunt double. I’m doing it all myself. So when I’m falling down cliffs, running through forests, wading through rivers, and doing fight sequences and crashing cars, it hurts. I’m hiding pads underneath me, but I have to stay on top of all that, just staying healthy.

As for the acting aspect, Jack is a character with a real fire in his belly. There’s a reason he keeps going, which will become clear when you see the movie. I can’t give away too much, but there’s a reason why this guy is getting chased, beaten, and going through the ringer, and he just won’t give up unless you put a bullet in his head. It was quite easy for me to get to grips with.

I’m a father and soon-to-be husband, and Jack has a lot of regret for things he couldn’t put right and some shame and anguish. He’s a complex character, and it was fun to get my teeth into.

Clive’s Background in Martial Arts

PopHorror: That’s great. Your background in Muay Thai and sword fighting has contributed to your dynamic performances in past roles. How did your experience with stunts and combat sports influence your action scenes in Clear Cut?

Clive Standen: Having a big basis in martial arts really helps because you know how to absorb pain and take a punch, but also how to tumble and fall without hurting yourself. The choreography of it helps with stage combat that I’ve done. I pick up the moves like a dance; it becomes muscle memory, so I can just focus on the acting.

It’s funny when you learn something at a young age, it never leaves you. I feel like I have it in my muscle memory, like riding a bike. For an actor without a lot of physical training, it’s a lot harder to get up to speed than for someone who’s been doing it since they were 12, like me.

PopHorror: Absolutely. It has to be instinctual. The film features a formidable cast, including Alec Baldwin, Stephen Dorff, and Tom Welling. How was your experience working with these actors, and what did you learn from collaborating with them?

Clive Standen: It was great. Alec was going through quite a lot at the time, and I really felt for him. He obviously wanted to stay busy and take on this movie. He was a gentleman and a really giving actor. It felt great to be in scenes with him, working with a real powerhouse.

Tom Welling is an absolute gentleman. He’s a big teddy bear at heart, super strong, and a really nice guy.

Stephen and I didn’t get to spend much time together. He was in and out, but we had some good fight scenes together, and for a little guy, he packs a punch. It was a great experience all around. I got to work with my fiancée, Lucy Martin, in this, which was great. She’s in the movie, which was a real treat, and Lochlyn Munro, another fantastic actor you might have seen in Peacemaker and other stuff.

The hardest thing was that everyone was so nice, yet they all played horrible people in this film. You’d be hanging out with them behind the camera, having a beer, or just on set, and then you’d forget that they’re going to come around the corner and beat the hell out of me. They were really good at doing that.

The Setting

PopHorror: The setting of Clear Cut plays a significant role in the film’s atmosphere. What were some of the most challenging aspects of filming in the Pacific Northwest and Vancouver Island, and how did the location impact your performance?

Clive Standen: In some cases, it was no acting required. It was super hot in places, barren in others. We were filming at night, and I’d be shivering because I’d just waded through a river. Brian [Skiba], our director, was very good at capturing those moments when I was really feeling it.

It was nice to be on location and lose yourself a bit in the wilderness. There’s a line in the movie that Alec Baldwin has: “If you get lost in nature, you’ll quite possibly die.” I was lucky not to on this movie.

PopHorror: Well, glad you didn’t. Jack’s journey is one of survival and redemption. How do you approach portraying a character undergoing such profound transformation? And what message do you hope audiences take away from Jack’s story?

Clive Standen: Jack is caught in a situation beyond his control. He just tries to do right by what went wrong in his past. There’s something about this guy that he just will not be stopped. He’ll never give up on what he believes in. In his case, it’s trying to put right a wrong. I think it’s a nice message to stand up for what you believe in and never back down in the face of adversity.

PopHorror: And what do you want audiences to take away from the film?

Clive Standen: I just want them to have fun and support independent cinema. Go out and see a good old action film that crosses genres. I’m someone who likes to be in a movie that you can’t really pigeonhole. This is a thriller-action-horror film, and if you like any of those genres, you’re going to get a buzz from this one. It’s brilliant.

PopHorror: Thanks so much.

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Be sure to check out Clear Cut in theaters or on demand today!