I want to film in Serbia, says Branko Tomovic, star of 24: Live Another Day
Europe has so much to offer an actor, including some of the biggest US-productions that now choose to film in the UK, London-based Serb actor Branko Tomovic told Wild Rooster.
Currently in London filming major US TV action series 24: Live Another Day, the latest outing for Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer, Branko is no stranger to working on international productions.
He recently wrapped on forthcoming WWII film Fury alongside Brad Pitt, which was also shot in the UK.
Indeed, Branko’s ambitions in cinema are focused on Europe, rather than America, as he explained. “I never really had that Hollywood dream. I love Europe and European cinema.
European movies: timeless masterpieces
“Most of my favourite directors, like Roman Polanski, Michael Haneke and Milos Forman, are European. I absolutely love their work and their movies are timeless masterpieces.
“For me, any project starts with a great story. If it is something interesting and great and has a director with a great vision behind it, that is most important to me, no matter where they are. I like films where there is a deep human connection, great character work where you can see into someone’s soul, so to speak. And mostly you have these stories in European art house films.
“Although I work on many American productions at the moment, I always see myself as a European actor and that will never change.”
Branko Tomovic: I don’t get offers from Serbia
Born in Serbia, Branko would also love to star in a film in that country, although the offers are slow in coming to him. “I would really love to be involved in such a great movie, but I don’t really get offers from Serbia. Maybe they think I am too busy or too expensive but I always choose a project by the story and role and director and not the budget of a film, so I would really love to do a great movie in Serbia.
“I think Balkan Cinema is very exciting, we have some very good and exciting directors, I always like to watch Balkan films in festivals in London and Berlin,’ he said. “I think a peak time for our films internationally was probably in the 90’s when so many great films like Pretty Village, Pretty Flame, No Man’s Land, Before the Rain and Cabaret Balkan came out.
“These were, of course, all movies that dealt with the war or aftermath of it, but I find they were very deep and moving and haunting and are timeless and still important today.”
Serbian star, Mirjana Karanovic
Branko has a good insight on the European film industry, in particular Balkan cinema, and he is keen to work with some of the region’s biggest names. “There are so many talented actors in the Balkans,’ he said. “Mirjana Karanović will play Tesla’s mother in a coming film and I am especially looking forward to meeting and working with her. We have some great scenes together.
“Working with Branka Katić would be cool, too, and she has a wonderful career outside Serbia as well, so that could happen. And then Miki Manojlović does very interesting work as well. Really, I could go on and on…”
After moving to Germany at a very young age, he then moved to New York, and now lives in London, Branko knows what makes a place a home, he says. “Everywhere feels like home to me. Geography is not an issue for me. The world has become so small and travelling has become so easy.
“I do not miss anything when I am away from home. I like to think that I can be free from everything and only live in the moment. I focus on what is in front of me then and there and not somewhere else.
“Of course, work takes me all over and I have agents for my work in Berlin, London and Los Angeles. Sadly I can only be in one place at a time but it still helps to have a split personality!”
24: Live another day
Branko can be seen alongside Kiefer Sutherland in the latest 12-episode installment in the US franchise 24, when it airs this week. 24: Live Another Day picks up the story as iconic anti-terror agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) comes out of hiding in London four years after he slipped into exile. He returns to head off a terrorist attack while being hunted down by forces sent by US President James Heller. At his side is Belcheck, an enigmatic silent type, played by Branko Tomović.
“Jack was on the run, hiding somewhere in Eastern Europe,’ Branko explained. “Now he is in London, living in the shadows and hunted by, among others, his own government. I play Belcheck, a mysterious presence from Jack’s past. I am like his right hand man. I am only loyal to Jack, almost like a watchdog, a doberman. I am good with vehicles, demolition, firearms and explosions, which comes in handy.”
London: City of energy and excitement
Working on 24 allowed Branko to sleep in his own bed at night, as the series was shot entirely in the capital. “London is one of the most exciting cities in the world,’ he said. “It is an international metropolis where everyone is from everywhere. It is so rich in culture and history. I love the energy, the lights, the excitement, the fast life, 24 hour availability, great culture and good restaurants. I love all that.
“But on the other hand, I also love nature and isolation, remote locations without the noise. And that can be quite tricky to find in London as it is so overcrowded. I kind of live an anti-cyclic life, for example I go swimming at odd hours when I know the pool would be empty.”
Despite his travel commitments for various filming projects, Branko maintains strong ties with Serbia and returns there regularly. “I will be flying to Belgrade in May as a very dear friend of mine is getting married, so I am really looking forward to being in Serbia again soon.”
Tesla: a great challenge
The Serb connection goes further. As well as the interest that will come with 24, Branko has received significant media attention for his link to the title role in TESLA, a planned biopic on the life of the great Serb scientist Nikola Tesla. “It is a dream role for me,’ said Branko. “But with any person that really existed it is a great challenge to portray such a character.
“There will be references and material out there already which describe him, his demeanour, his persona, his accent, his everything; so you have to stick with that. You can’t leave it up to your imagination. It’s about being truthful and respectful to history and I’m very much looking forward to that.
“For me it’s all about authenticity and making it real, so I am sure the director and everyone involved, including myself, will make sure that Nikola Tesla will be portrayed respectfully and only in the best light.”
24: Live Another Day airs internationally 5 May 2014. Check listings for exact times and channels.
(Branko Tomovic Photo credit: Laura Radford)
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