Cast & Crew Interviews - Jim Blanton (Arlo)
1. What were your first thoughts when you read The House Between and how did you feel about being cast as Arlo? Did you know what the series was about before you read the script? What was the first thing you knew about Arlo?
My first thoughts after reading the script were centered on how I would play Arlo, and how John would pull off some of the sequences (particularly the fantastic elements). When John first told me a bit about Arlo, I was completely under the impression he was going to be a villain. He dropped hints about the character being a troublemaker, asked me if I'd like to shave my head, and essentially led me to believe that Arlo would be quite eccentric (which certainly turned out to be the case). Personally I tend to find odd characters the most interesting, so I was excited by the prospect of being cast in such a role.
I had just a vague notion of what the series was about, other than it would be a sci-fi tale set in a creepy, old house. The first thing I knew about Arlo was that he was obsessed with the kitchen. This tended to reinforce the importance of his eccentricity, which became a focus for me.
Working on the impression that Arlo would be a villain, I immediately thought of something in the Klaus Kinski vein. I don't know if that's what John had in mind or not. However, once we began shooting, the character took over, and I think ultimately became much more sympathetic . . . not a villain at all. So I went in under the impression this guy was going to be a lunatic, but he (Arlo) had other ideas in mind.
2. Please describe the character of Arlo. How would you describe him as a human being?
Arlo is an individual in turmoil. He is haunted by events from his past, for which he feels responsible, and this drives his actions in the first season. Basically he is an innocent, and he reacts to things on an emotional level most of the time. The conflicts he becomes involved in serve to drive his maturation process, and frequently result in unpredictable behavior. Through it all though, he shows an intense loyalty to those he cares for.
3. How much of Arlo is Jim Blanton and how are Jim Blanton and Arlo different?
Arlo is my polar opposite given his instability. I think most people would characterize me as a very balanced fellow (I'm a librarian by trade for crying out loud!). Where Arlo and I overlap is in the quality of dedication to others. Although he's decked out in black, Arlo is good through and through when you follow the majority of his actions. Yeah, he flies off the handle now and then, but really he's a devoted friend and pretty consistent when it comes to loyalty. We probably also like the same music!
4. What was the most difficult part about playing Arlo in the first season? The most difficult episode?
The most difficult part of playing Arlo was getting a handle on how he would react to any given situation. Since he's a bit of an emotional roller coaster, I had to be always conscious of how he would respond to characters and events. Sometimes he's stable and sometimes he's not. There's no pat answer as to how he will behave.
The most difficult episode was by far Positioned. Arlo is all over the map in that one, and often extremely agitated. Again, it's the whole idea of an emotional roller coaster. One minute I'm calmly divulging life details, the next minute I'm a bit deranged. It's fun, but requires me to really tap into what it is to be Arlo.
5. Arlo is a bit unpredictable, and in the course of the episodes he does some very not-nice things, like stabbing Bill. Yet people still love him and root for him to succeed. What do you think is it about Arlo that makes people like him, even when he does bad things?
Although Arlo behaves badly at times, it usually comes from a place of innocence. Even when he stabs Bill for example, it's more of a defense mechanism than hatred. Arlo has a great deal of internal conflict going on, and sometimes misinterprets the motivations of others. He would never maliciously go after another, unless he felt threatened. Because of his innocent nature, viewers feel for him and are willing to forgive his occasional missteps.
6. What was your favorite season one episode of The House Between, and why?
My favorite episode was Trashed hands down. I don't know that it plays the best of the run, but it was so much fun to work on. The most fun was observing others doing their scenes, particularly the infamous take on the stairwell with Lee, Kim, and Tony. It turned out really well I think, but I've never laughed so hard as watching those 21 takes! I know it was a pain for them, but from where I was sitting it was pure gold.
7. What episode reveals the most about Arlo?
Positioned, without question. We learn about the key event in Arlo's life that is responsible for the emotional place he's at in the story.
8. What was the funniest thing that happened to you while filming the first season? The most difficult?
The funniest thing happened on the last day of shooting. We were all doing a scene at the front door, and Lee was giving a speech. For some reason just the sight of Lee at that point sent me into hysterics. I could not look at him without breaking into uncontrollable laughter. Granted Lee is a funny guy, but I think the whole experience of shooting for seven days straight just got to me.
The most difficult thing I had to do was eat numerous cans of mystery vegetables (which John would gleefully mix into unrecognizable concoctions).
9. Was there ever a point during season one when you felt that Arlo was acting out of character, and if so, what did you do about it? How flexible are the producers and the creator when it comes to adjusting character moments?
I honestly don't recall any major moments where I felt Arlo was acting far out of character. Occasionally a line might feel wrong in that the language didn't seem a natural fit for Arlo. When that was the case, John and Joe were open to making adjustments. I think we all always felt we could approach them with concerns and have a discussion about those sorts of things.
10. Do you feel when you receive new scripts now that you "know" who Arlo is? As an actor, how do you go about "finding" the character?
I would say I have a better sense of who he is, and how he will react in situations. He's still fairly unpredictable and I often find I have to be in the moment to get to Arlo. When doing script read-throughs, for me that's about learning the dialogue. Being in that house and in his clothes is a tremendous help in reaching the character. By the end of the shoot, I'm usually more Arlo than Jim!
11. Arlo's room is the kitchen. Do you have any proprietary feelings about filming in the kitchen? Has it become your domain in real life too? Why do you think Arlo and Travis just can't get along? Who do you think has the strongest relationship with Arlo in the series, and why?
Interestingly, I really don't have a strong connection to that room. In fact, I prefer shooting in the others. This probably has something to do with the fact that I've received many a bruising in there!
I think Travis and Arlo don't get along because their backgrounds are so different. However, they are both the wild cards of the show, and that also contributes to their difficult relationship. Even so, I believe they are somewhat of a comic duo, and that there is an undercurrent of friendship that may surface eventually.
As for the strongest relationship, that has to be with Theresa. She and Arlo are both spiritual characters, and represent extreme ends of the spectrum. Arlo runs on emotion, whereas Theresa is about logic. In a way, they complete each other.
12. What do you think is the underlying meaning in The House Between, and how do you think Arlo fits into the larger puzzle box that the series has created?
I think there are several layers to the show. The one recurring theme that John has mentioned is that "hell is other people." Certainly that's something you can take away from the proceedings. The challenge for the characters is to balance their individual needs with that of the group, which I'm sure John would suggest is a metaphor for society at large.
One of the things I like about The House Between is that it recalls classic genre television. One of the shows it reminds of a great deal is Patrick McGoohan's The Prisoner (which is my all-time favorite). That show is largely concerned with the struggle of an individual fighting to remain unique in a world that is trying to put him in a box. Additionally, it also has a rather pessimistic outlook with regard to man's dual nature. The House Between covers similar ground, but I believe has a slightly more optimistic outlook on our future . . . at least it doesn't forecast total annihilation.
As for how Arlo fits into the scenario, I believe he becomes the conscience of the show. Everyone else is concerned with personal relationships, scientific principles, or mysticism. Arlo is focused on basic questions of right and wrong.
13. When you received the scripts for The House Between, did you know where the story was going, or were you always surprised? How much do the actors know about the larger story arc at the beginning of the show and now?
I had no idea where the story was going and still don't to a significant degree. What's interesting about the setting is that it really provides John with an almost endless set of possibilities, and therefore it is somewhat unpredictable. John has dropped hints about the larger story arc, but I'm not sure he's got the ending nailed down yet. I get the sense that, like the rest of us, he's become attached to the characters and is reluctant to ponder a finale. While I have imagined a variety of conclusions, I'm sure the end result John comes up with will be something I have yet to stumble on.
14. How do you think Arlo changes between Season One and Season Two (without revealing any secrets...)?
I think the big differences for Arlo between season one and two are that he learns to trust his housemates, and becomes more confident in handling problems . . . and therefore a tad more stable. He can still be a wild card, but not to the extent we saw in the first season.
15. Finally, what episode are you most looking forward to in the "second season" in terms of Arlo's development as a character?
Definitely Separated. We get to see another side of Arlo, and the episode finds him having to deal with a grave situation solo. He really grows through the experience, and it marks a turning point of sorts for him . . . plus it's an unbelievably wild ride!