LA BREA’S EOIN MACKEN ON CONSTANTLY CREATING AND GOING WITH THE FLOW

BY IRVIN RIVERA

Irish actor, model, writer, director, filmmaker, producer EOIN MACKEN (pronounced Owen) plays Gavin Harris in the major NBC sci-fi, adventure TV series LA Brea created by David Applebaum. The show follows the intertwined lives of the people affected by the La Brea Tar Pits incident when a massive sinkhole opened that pulled people, buildings, and vehicles down it’s vortex and transported them back in time to primeval Los Angeles.

Macken, the multi-hyphenate artist with an impressive acting, directing and writing credits under his belt is all about telling stories. Whether through acting, writing, directing or producing, Eoin is all about creating and going with the flow. He is consistently working on his craft and taking his time while learning in the process on each step of the way.

In this exclusive interview, read on as Eoin Macken spoke about his character Gavin, his experiences in the show, working with the cast, his acting journey, the favorite characters he played, the upcoming movie he directed, wrote and produced- Here are the Young Men, life lessons, finishing writing his third book that he eventually wanted to turn into a film and more.

FASHION STYLING: ANGEL TERRAZAS, GROOMING: LARRY TRAEVON, PHOTO ASST: PHIL LIMPRASERTWONG

Eoin, what's up? How are you doing?

Not so bad. Not so bad. How's yours been going?

It's been good, just keeping it day by day.

That's all you can do, right?

Absolutely.

I like your hat.

Thank you, man. This is to keep my unruly hair tamed. That's the trick.

Smart.

Alright, let's get to it. How would you describe Gavin's character evolution throughout this season of the show?

I think what's really interesting about his character in the show is that he begins as somebody who's you know, he's in a craziest, strangest family- and he's been trying to re-establish relationships within his family. Anyway, when his wife and son go missing, the only one he has left to look after is his daughter. She's kind of torn between trying to understand the fact that he might have these kinds of visions that are able to sort of bring his family back, but he's also going to emotionally look after his daughter. And he's kind of ruined those relationships. He's kind of torn, I think, between trying to figure out what he can do to actually rescue his family but also you realize he still has to look after his daughter, and that she's also the most important thing for him. So he's struggling to kind of balance that. And also, I think his relationship with his daughter is growing and he begins to see her as a more mature individual, and realize that the two of them can only do this together and that, he needs to be there for her and he needs her as much as she needs him.

Speaking of your daughter, I spoke with Zyra a couple of weeks ago, and she told me stories about you guys, because you interact a lot on set, and how you're like the perfect on-set father. That's just exciting.

I mean, I guess I'll have to take that as a compliment, right?

Yes. Absolutely. Because I asked her about who inspired her and she said, I learned a lot from Eoin. Because he taught me a lot of things on set and stuff like that. She spoke highly of you.

You know man, she's great. And she's just so easy to work with and she's like a sponge, she just learns everything and she's really natural and she's just one of those people who just wants to do things properly. And every time we did stuff with her was real. And I didn't teach her anything. We just basically just you know, she's incredibly mature of what she is and she doesn't need to be looked after, she's very able to handle herself. So she made it very easy.

What are the challenges and the highs that you've experienced while filming the show?

The difficult thing I think was the fact that during the lockdown, it was difficult and hard to hang out and meet everybody on set. Because usually on a show, you get to meet everybody and definitely hang-out and stuff and then you get to learn how to trust each other both on set, with the crew and also as actors, by knowing each other, then you understand your rhythms. And I think the hardest thing was just trying to learn those rhythms by all sorts of being in a sort of fragmented working environment.

On the other hand, the greatest thing was that we're in Australia. It was great. And then I worked with Zyra. She was super easy and also anybody I got to work with was super chill, so it was really fun.

I just sort of wish that there would have been more of that intimacy where we could all hang out a bit afterwards where we just sort of as a general kind of way, you get those relationships that were on set become easier and deeper.

What's a memorable moment that you always go back to from this experience?

Ah, I'm on the spot.

I'm pretty sure there's a lot but what's a memorable moment that for you that really sticks out of your memory?

You know what, it was pretty cool when me and Zyra went to hang out to get to know each other because as I say you want to kind of know each other better as people that you are able to have that relationship as father and daughter. And we just went looking for kangaroos and koala bears.

Wow!

We just went on a drive along the coast and we stopped to kind of basically stalk kangaroos and go looking for koalas.

Did you guys see some?

Yes, we found a lot of them.

Wow. That's amazing.

Yes, I suppose I guess we're in Australia now.

You're like, it's normal. They're just here…

Yes, that's totally fine. Exactly.

You've been acting for a while and you've been in the industry for a while, what's your proudest moment in your career so far?

My proudest moment is, I think, what I'm hoping will be, is actually in two weeks’ time. We're going to have the cinema premiere of a movie I directed called Here Are the Young Men. And we're going to have that in Irish cinema as we were waiting to do that in the cinema for a long time because of COVID in the last year and a half. But I think that's what I'm most looking forward to the most.

You know probably one of my proudest moments was actually working on this show called the Night Shift. People really responded well to that show, it's with such a beautiful group of people. And Albuquerque... like the crew and the cast were all like a big family. And I think the proudest moment was when we came back, when we were doing the second season and people liked it. And everyone put in so much love into that show. And it was just like... this is cool! That was probably one of the coolest things ever.

Out of all the characters that you played. Is there a specific character that resonates with you the most?

Yes. Probably my character from the show called Merlin about 10 years ago. I'm still friends with my buddy up to now, who did that show with me- Tom. And that was definitely the character of Gawain because we're all still friends and that character was the most fun. And I think, yes, I’d do that character again, in a heartbeat. It'll be so much fun doing that.

Where do you get your inspirations from? What inspires you?

Alright. Usually when I go to a new city, I always go to a museum, you know? Say, I get to go somewhere like Oslo and the first thing I do is I just try to go to the Museum and see what the art is like. And then music. Music inspires me. So just art, live music and cinema, and books. They’re things that are like- no matter what's happening in life, as long as you can read a book and watch a movie. And ideally go see some art, everything is alright.

Totally agree, because you see art everywhere. And if you can appreciate it and find it, you're going to be fine.

Yes, exactly. Exactly. And you can always walk down the street listening to music and find something cool.

Dream project that you actually want to do. And you just mentioned you just directed a film. But is there anything else that you're like, I really, really want to do this?

Yes, yes, actually. I just finished my third book about a couple of months ago. And I just need to do a final edit on it. And I'm hoping that, you know... I haven't watched this one as much as I wanted to. The other two books were published and I wanted them out once they were done. This one sort of took my time to go back to it and I really want to turn that into a film. So once I get that published, hopefully next year, that's the one I really want to make into a film.

What's the book about?

I haven't told anybody yet but it's sort of about this guy, he's coming back to Ireland for the first time in ten years which is sort of the story. It's a father-son story and it's a story about relationships, family and identity and kind of being away from where you're initially from and understanding that idea of who you are as a person- your nationality. And I guess it's an exploration of father-son relationship and just the way of life itself. And also, I guess, becoming a man and understanding where you're from.

That sounds great, and also exciting. It seems like you're such an obvious storyteller through acting, through writing, through directing, and that's great!

Yes, yes. Thank you.

What are you most excited about in the near future? I know everything's uncertain right now, and things are still kind of crazy, but what are you most excited about?

I guess a lot of things. I actually just try and make things all the time. I'm working on scripts at the moment with these guys. Hopefully, we'll know in the next few weeks, if we're going to make it. I'm really looking forward to the possibility of directing that. I'm excited about doing another season of this show [La Brea], because I think we started and created something that could be really, really special. I loved all the people on it. I like Zyra, and Nick and Jack, and Skye and everyone. Really looking forward to working with everybody again. So I'm always just excited about making films and television and movies and stuff- just the possibility of working with cool people. And then sometimes you just find the right project, and you're not picking your eyes as what's going to be? So I kind of, yes, just go with the flow and get excited about trying to make things.

Very true. What's a valuable lesson that you've learned throughout your life?

Patience, patience, just patience.

Just patience, right? Because like everything, you do stuff, right, you want stuff to pop off as quickly as possible. It's just got to be about working on your craft and your art and being patient. And same as you know, you're trying to make stuff, you want to just be able to take your time to really learn. Learn about whatever it is you're trying to make and trying to do. And then not worry about it being in a rush. So just patience I think.

I love that. A lot of people need to hear that.

Yes.

Because the pandemic brought us down to be more aware and be patient- just be more chill.

Final question Eoin. If you were a book, what book would you be and why?
Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck, I think and that would be it.

Why?

Just because of what that movie is in terms of these people, and his family- moving and having to kind of move across the country. And about the dynamics and also the changing of the country, the time. And that stuff is what's always happening, right? So life, right? And even the last two years and before that, stuff was always changing and moving around you and you're trying to just always be fluid and also figure out where you fit in the world. And it’s the journey and the story- the use of going on without realizing it.

Great. Awesome. Well, thank you so much for the time. Really appreciate it.

Yes. It's been a pleasure. It's been a pleasure.

Yes. Wish you all the best. Take care, Eoin.