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By
Suzanne
 
Interview with
actor Yousef
Sweid and Executive Producer Peter Horton of "American
Odyssey" on
NBC 5/28/15
It was really great to speak with these two guys. This is
a really good show. I'm behind on watching it, but I enjoyed
what I've seen so far. Peter starred in the show "Thirtysomething"
years ago but now does mostly writing and producing. He was
involved with "Grey's Anatomy" before this show. Youself was
on "Homeland" before. He was awesome as Sharkira. See the
clips below.
NBC UNIVERSAL
American Odyssey Yousef Sweid and Peter Horton Press & Media
Call
May 28, 2015 11:30 am CT
Operator: Our first question comes from the line of
Stephanie Piche with Mingle Media TV. Please go ahead.
Stephanie Piche: Thank you. Hello, gentlemen. I am so
fascinated with the complexity of each of the characters and
how their story unfolds, pulling threads and unraveling the
bigger story of secrets and conspiracies. My question for
Peter is do you think you were crossing the line by showing
the US military as the bad guy as part of this?
Peter Horton: You know, our intention from the beginning of
this project was never to frankly pin any one group as bad
or good. There certainly are individuals who have their
point of view that creates all sorts of trouble. But even as
you - I think as you see the series go on even someone like
Colonel Glen in Episode 13 has a really long speech about
his point of view.
And what we’ve always tried to do is give each character a
point of view. And so even though they may be doing things
that seem rather bad at the time, they’ve got a reason for
it. And we also never intend, as the series goes on you’ll
see as well that the whole American military is bad. The
idea is that there’s a seam within the military industrial
complex that sort of join hands over the years - over the
last couple of decades with private industry so that there’s
a grey zone in between those two.
It’s Dick Cheney being the head of Haliburton and then
becoming the Vice President and us going to war.
Stephanie Piche: That’s right.
Peter Horton: You know it’s a seam within that’s got an
agenda. That has - it has a theology that they’re
implementing. And from their point of view for good, for the
good. So that’s always our intention. It never was to really
say by any means that the whole American military is bad at
all.
Stephanie Piche: Oh, no. I’m from a third generation
military family. So I’m not offended at all by anything that
you’re doing. It’s just interesting.
Peter Horton: Okay.
Stephanie Piche: Yes.
Peter Horton: That’s good to hear.
Stephanie Piche: And final question - oh, sorry. Go ahead.
Peter Horton: No. No. No. That’s fine. I just was going to
repeat myself and I probably shouldn’t do that.
Stephanie Piche: And I have a question for Yousef. You
played your character to perfection especially considering
the circumstances. Why was it important for you to take this
role and play this character?
Yousef Sweid: Oh, thank you.
Yousef Sweid: First of all, like Shakir had to be famous.
And second is well you know as an actor, I think I remember
the first time I went to do makeup and hair. And another
actor came inside and he said, “Wow, it’s like the dream of
every male actor to play a woman.” And I think it’s one of
the biggest dreams. It’s kind of - it’s a lot of freedom
inside.
I love all the fun. I love - and the character itself, it’s
very - she’s a very complex and has a very interesting
story. So, and very deep. So of course, in every kind of
aspect, it was one of the most interesting parts I ever
read. So I was really, really - really, really wanted to do
it. So, yes.
Peter Horton: I’ll add a little bit to that which is that it
was - we really searched far and wide to find the right
actor for this part. It’s a very difficult narrow path to
walk playing this role because it’s - as Yousef said, it’s
not only complex. It’s very, very delicate. There’s just the
right calm for this character to be genuine and honest and
true, but at the same time have a flair and have a
presentation and a show.
And you know we finally found Yousef who really auditioned
for us a number of times remotely. And just every time kept
nailing that narrow path between overdoing the show or over
emphasizing the earnestness of it. And you know that’s why -
that’s the big reason why you have a character in front of
you that you’re responding to is we just found the right guy
for it.
Stephanie Piche: Great. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Peter Horton: Thank you.
Yousef Sweid: Thank you.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Suzanne
Lanoue with The TV MegaSite. Please go ahead.
Suzanne Lanoue: Good morning, guys.
Peter Horton: Morning.
Suzanne Lanoue: Yousef - Yousef...
Yousef Sweid: Good morning. Yes.
Suzanne Lanoue: American TV doesn’t have a lot of drag queen
characters, regular characters at least and - we don’t have
as many Arab characters as we should. Do you feel any
special responsibility playing both?
Yousef Sweid: Yes. Of course. But not just because it’s
American TV. I feel responsibility as an Arab doing these
kind of characters which are very dangerous. I know there
are a lot of transgenders and drag queens which are Arabs
and which there - they live in danger. Like they can live
their lives maybe more if it’s more in the western world.
But also there, it’s dangerous for them. And in my life as
an actor in my work, I always wish to do these kind of
characters they have also kind of a message. And not only
for the American, but also for me or for the Arab world. Or
you know I guess there’s a lot of Arabs in the US. So for
me, it’s for myself also to do this kind of message for -
you know for other people.
And this character is living - what kept me going or what I
think one of the features of this character is that she’s
always in danger. She’s having fun. She’s happy. But she’s
always in danger that something bad will happen to her. Like
at any moment, can go out with a gun and kill her. And I
think to see this world is special and different and
interesting.
Suzanne Lanoue: Thank you. And Peter, do you know when
you’ll find out if we get a second season or not?
Peter Horton: Boy, I’ll tell you. I’m sitting on pins and
needles. You know obviously hoping against hope that indeed
we’ll get that. You know, they - everyone at NBC really
loves the show and really, really wants it to go. We just
need some more people to watch it.
Suzanne Lanoue: Right.
Peter Horton: And I think we’re all hoping that over the
next few weeks, we’ll get a bit of an uptick and give
everyone a reason to say - to say, “Yes”. But we’ve pitched
a second season to them. And everyone is you know just
really onboard with that. So it’s just a matter of again
what’ll unfold over the next couple of weeks.
Suzanne Lanoue: Alright. Well, good luck. Thanks a lot.
Peter Horton: Thank you so much.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Kara
Howland with TV Goodness. Please go ahead.
Kara Howland: Hey, guys. I am really enjoying the show.
Peter, for you, I’m wondering can you tell us about what’s
coming up in the next few episodes without being super
spoilery which I’m sure you’re not even allowed to do.
Peter Horton: It’s really great stuff.
Yousef Sweid: Everybody must die.
Peter Horton: Yes. Yes. There’s a few more people dying. You
know it’s - the main thing to know is that each season of
this show is going to have a beginning, middle and end. So
there is - it isn’t one of those things where you know
you’ll be left not understanding things and having to wait
until next season to understand them. They’ll be a sense of
completion this year.
But you know the journey just starts getting more and more
poignant really I think you know as the stakes build towards
a climax and towards a conclusion. The story becomes a
little more poignant and I think a little more emotional and
meaningful as we go. So it’s going - it still has the - you
know the feel of our show has always been tension.
But I think the mixture starts leaning a little bit more
towards emotion as we go.
Kara Howland: Yes. I agree. And for Yousef, I have to say, I
really enjoyed your story line so much. And I was a little
bit devastated after last week’s episode.
Peter Horton: Sorry.
Kara Howland: Well, no. Can you...
Yousef Sweid: What happened? I don’t know. What happened?
Kara Howland: Can you talk about maybe your favorite scene?
Or I don’t know just you know a great experience from
working on this show?
Yousef Sweid: Wow. Let me think.
Peter Horton: I’ve got to say one of the things I so love
that just happened on the show between the two of them is,
Yousef is your relationship with Diallo. You know I just -
if that helps...
Yousef Sweid: Ah, yes.
Peter Horton: Sort of spark a thought. I mean you guys
really had this beautiful chemistry to each - with each
other. It really was the two actors, both of them.
Yousef Sweid: Yes. I - actually it was one scene. Actually,
we did it twice. I mean we shot it two days. Like we did
once and after, we did it again. And then I got more into
character. But there’s - it’s amazing this relationship
because they’re really, really in love. And you feel the
danger because Diallo doesn’t want to say anything about his
relationship of course.
And how she manipulates him but still loves him is one of
the best like things I’ve felt in this kind of thing. Like,
there could be manipulation, but that doesn’t mean that
there’s no love. And because the situation is very so
difficult and delicate, it has to be there, the kind of
using each other but with love.
And each one knows the other’s points, where to push. And I
love it that each one - like, she wants to be very famous
and loved. And he wants to be a general. And they use each
other with love to get there. And I think they - both of the
characters bring a lot of fun to the show. And at the same
time, you know drama and sadness. But both colors, I mean.
So I remember one scene when she tries to convince him to
save Odelle. And he doesn’t want to. But then you see the
love between them. And she kind of manipulates to say, “Oh,
if you save her, you’re going to be a famous man in the
world. And you’re going to be a great famous person.” She
knows where to touch him.
And I remember the scene because it was very kind of a - how
do you say? - complex. And at the same time, Omar is on the
side.
Peter Horton: That was one of our early episodes.
Yousef Sweid: Looking at them I think.
Peter Horton: Yes. It’s an - I think that’s an episode. Gosh
was that 4, Episode 4, something like that with Aslam
sitting there. And the two of you - you trying to convince
the general to finally to help. It was either Episode 3 or 4
if that’s helpful.
Kara Howland: Great. Well, I hope you guys get a second
season. I’m really enjoying it. Thank you.
Peter Horton: Oh, good. Thanks so much. We’ll bring Shakir
back as a ghost.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Cody
Schultz with the Hidden Remote. Please go ahead.
Cody Schultz: Hello, guys. Thanks again so much for speaking
with us today.
Peter Horton: My pleasure.
Cody Schultz: My first question’s for Peter. We’ve seen
Aslam’s immediate reaction to the death of Shakir. But how
did this particular death effect Aslam in the long run, in
moving forward?
Peter Horton: Oh, you know it’s so - it’s such an
interesting journey for him because - because you know the
degree to which he is in need of family. You know his family
gets pretty well wiped out in the pilot. The only family he
has is his - this uncle he’s never really met who he just
goes to because it’s his only option.
And then to discover his uncle is a cross dresser which at
first is offensive to him. But then as you see, falls in
love with him. Just gets so connected to him. And then when
his uncle’s dead, the only family he has left, as a
possibility is Odelle. Yet he’s trying to get Odelle home.
And - which means out of Africa and into the United States.
So there’s a great sort of conflict for them both as to how
- what are we going to do with Aslam? Does he go home with
her? Does he stay in Africa? Does she stay in Africa? I mean
it’s a - it’s a kind of very rich and emotional dilemma for
them both as they kind of form their own sense of bond and
family.
Cody Schultz: Alright. Great. And then my next question is
for both of you. Has working on the series changed your
attitude towards conspiracy theories at all?
Yousef Sweid: For me, no. I don’t think so. I never really
went to deep inside of these theories because it’s sometimes
too complex. And it’s not for me. I want to be a you know a
simple human being who works and loves his work. And I just
- you know sometimes it’s fun to get into these kind of
things. But I don’t go to deep. Anyway, so it didn’t
actually change.
Peter Horton: I think for me, it’s - you know all of this
conspiracy theory was born out of you know the headlines,
out of what’s going on in life right now. Obviously, we’ve
taken it to an extreme, but not very far. We didn’t have to
travel far to get to a conspiracy theory. You know, the sort
of market value being the primary value in the world even
over the value of human life is prevalent is real.
Like I said a little bit before, the collusion between or
the sort of grey zone, the relationship now between
representative government and industry is braided together
in a way that I don’t think it ever has been before. You
know so you start asking the question the series basically
fundamentally asks is do we and the representative
government still have power to stand what we believe is
right?
And so the conspiracies that evolve around that really do
come from - in a way it’s a cautionary tale like because it
comes from what’s actually going on. So in that sense, I
suppose it has. I don’t consider myself a conspiracy
theorist. I don’t. I think a lot of conspiracy theory is
based on sort of knee jerk paranoia.
And I don’t consider myself a paranoid individual. But I do
find myself concerned with what I see going on in those
areas. So it’s - to the degree that it’s made me lend some
credibility to conspiracy theories, then I guess in that
sense.
Cody Schultz: Alright. Thank you so much.
Peter Horton: Thank you.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Emily
Murray with NBC. Please go ahead.
Emily Murray: Good morning, guys. How are you?
Peter Horton: Good morning.
Emily Murray: Hello. My question is for Yousef.
Yousef Sweid: Good morning.
Emily Murray: I work on the social media for the show. And
we did a special shout out for fan questions. And this comes
from Sara Beth Rossfield: What an incredible performance.
You are on my radar now. And I want to see everything you’ve
done. What special things, if any, did you do to prepare for
this role?
Yousef Sweid: Well, actually audition. I think I did a
couple of auditions. And each one, you know, a bit more. And
I was living in Tel Aviv for 20 years. And now I live in
Berlin. And its huge cities and very welcome cities for you
know drags and transgenders and for sexuality and
everything. So I have a lot of friends who just you know
being around them, going to parties.
Just watching one of the auditions I did, one of my friends
who works as a drag dressed me up and you know we had a lot
of fun. And you know I didn’t have to imitate anything. But
you know you go, you see. You collect things as you like.
You mix it up with your personality. It was the love of
trying to be a woman.
I think every man would love to try it once in a while.
Every many has kind of a fantasy. And you get in touch with
this fantasy. And in the end, it’s you know all of these
things. And of course, reading takes an understanding what’s
going on and what the - the character and the production and
Peter told me where the character comes from.
And so basically, research.
Emily Murray: Great. And I have a follow-up question for
you. This comes from Meg Miller from Twitter. And she says,
“What is the most challenging part about playing your
character?”
Yousef Sweid: Challenging part. I think one of the
challenges is sometimes you wish for these kind of
characters to have a long time. Like, if you work on this
character half a year because the challenge is to forget
that you’re acting with a lot of characters. Forget that
you’re acting and just to be concentrated on what you want
and what is stopping you.
And that’s it. And not - and I didn’t have so much time. So
I was a lot of times busy of his feminine side and how he’s
walking or she’s walking and she’s talking. And sometimes I
wish and it happened actually that I would forget all that
and concentrate on being here and now. And just listening to
my partners.
And just being there without trying to be the character and
just be there. And I think this is one of the hardest things
to do. And I think Peter and all the directors I worked with
really helped me to get there. And it was, yes, it was
amazing.
Emily Murray: Great. Thank you.
Kelly Fernandez: Great. I think that’s all the time we have
for today’s call. Yousef and Peter, thank you again so much
for being for us. And everyone, don’t forget to tune into
American Odyssey on Sundays at 10/9 central on NBC.
Peter Horton: Thanks so much, Kelly. Appreciate it.
Kelly Fernandez: Thank you, guys.
Yousef Sweid: Thank you very much.
Peter Horton: Talk to you later, Yousef. Hang in there.
END

MORE INFORMATION:
American Odyssey
airs on Sundays at 10/9c
American Odyssey
Official Site:
http://www.nbc.com/american-odyssey
Watch episodes here:
http://www.nbc.com/american-odyssey/episodes
Shakir Khan Bonds with Aslam (Digital Exclusive) -
Video
Bonus
Scene: The Shakir Khan Show (Digital Exclusive) -
Video
About
American Odyssey
From
writer-director Peter Horton ("Grey's Anatomy") and writers
Adam Armus & Kay Foster (“The Following”) comes “American
Odyssey,” a complex journey through global politics,
corporate espionage, and military secrets involving three
strangers who only have one thing in common … the truth. In
this “Traffic"-like action drama, an international
conspiracy explodes when the lives of a female Special
Forces soldier, a disillusioned corporate lawyer and a
political activist from a privileged family unexpectedly
collide.
After a team
of American soldiers battles jihadists in North Africa,
they're shocked to learn that they’ve stumbled upon and
killed Al Qaeda's top commander. Sgt. Odelle Ballard (Anna
Friel, “Pushing Daisies”) — a soldier, mother, wife and the
unit's only female member — discovers computer files that
prove that a major U.S. corporation is funding the
jihadists. But before she can tell anyone, her team is
attacked and killed. The world is told that the unit was
wiped out by enemy militants, but the truth is that Odelle
survived and is the only witness to her unit's true
assassins: private military contractors Osela (think “Blackwater”).
As Odelle
struggles to survive and find her way home, in New York
former U.S. Attorney turned corporate litigator Peter Decker
(Peter Facinelli, “Nurse Jackie”) finds himself embroiled in
a merger with the same company that funded the jihadists. As
Peter begins to connect the corrupt dots of this company’s
terrorist involvement, Harrison Walters (Jake Robinson, “The
Carrie Diaries”), a political activist and trust fund kid,
meets a hacker, Bob Offer (Nate Mooney, “The Riches”), who
claims to have unearthed a massive
military-industrial-complex conspiracy. Bob is right: He's
stumbled onto the same cover-up that Odelle discovered,
which will soon become a national headline with lethal
implications. The only way they'll ever save their country,
their families and themselves is by joining forces and
exposing the people behind it.
FIGMO (TV-14) –
Sunday, May 31, 2015 at
10/9c
Luc (Gregory Fitoussi) comes to Odelle (Anna
Friel) and Aslam's (Omar Ghazaoui) rescue, and Odelle learns
about the mysterious Frenchman's past. Back in New York,
Sophia Tsaldari (Orla Brady) helps Peter (Peter Facinelli)
get closer to Yusuf Qasim (Anthony Azizi) and further
exacerbates the rift with his family. Bob (Nate Mooney)
tells Harrison (Jake Robinson) the truth about Ruby (Daniella
Pineda), which has unintended consequences. Suzanne (Sadie
Sink) and Julia (Allison Mack) continue to bond, raising
questions for both Ron (Jim True-Frost) and Col. Glen (Treat
Williams.) Elena Kampouris and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje also
star.
http://www.nbc.com/american-odyssey
https://www.facebook.com/NBCAmericanOdyssey
https://twitter.com/NBCOdyssey
Read Our
Review of "American Odyssey"
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