Josh O'Connor Discusses "Rebuilding" at Sundance Studio Audible
Josh O'Connor joined the Variety Studio presented by Audible at Sundance to delve into his latest film, "Rebuilding." Alongside writer-director Max Walker-Silverman and co-stars Meghann Fahy, Lily LaTorre, and Kali Reis, O'Connor revealed the intricacies of his character and the film's unique casting approach.
As a cowboy displaced to a FEMA camp after a Colorado wildfire, O'Connor's character required him to master a midwestern accent. He immersed himself in the local dialect, listening to voices both in person and on YouTube.
"I spent a bit of time out there before filming, just to hear some of the voices," O'Connor said in an interview with Variety's Brent Lang. "We also scoured YouTube, looking for people from the right part of Colorado."
Walker-Silverman emphasized the authenticity of the film's casting. "There are obviously brilliant actors, but also non-professional actors that were local to where we shot," O'Connor noted. "Max's friends from home and all sorts of people came together, creating a community that extended beyond the story of the film."
O'Connor's immersion in the local culture influenced his performance. "I was picking up on an accent that had nothing to do with my character," he explained. "But being with the local cast, feeding off each other, helped [the accent] to settle in."
Watch the full interview with the "Rebuilding" team in the video above to gain further insights into O'Connor's craft and the film's themes of resilience and community.