Eric Balfour Talks "Haven" Season 2

[JamesG]

Eric Balfour Exclusive Interview
by Christina Radish
Posted:May 19th, 2011


During this exclusive phone interview with Collider, Eric Balfour talked about returning for his SyFy series "Haven", and how he’s excited for viewers to see what they’re doing for Season 2.




Has directing given you any desire to direct an episode of "Haven"?

Yes, I would love to direct an episode of "Haven".

Unfortunately, all of our directors have to be Canadian and I’m not, so I don’t see that happening in the near future, unless I decided to apply for Landed Immigrant status.




But honestly, for right now, I would really like to focus on directing features, and then eventually take that skill set back to television.

On features, you have more control. On television, the producers are the creative forces behind it. Directors come and go on television. Unless you’re a directing producer of a television show, for the most part, the director comes in one week to direct and episode, and then leaves.

I’d much rather produce television and occasionally direct an episode of a show I’m producing, then just come in as an outside director.











What can you say about Season 2 of "Haven"?
Is there anything in store for you character that you’re particularly excited about viewers getting to see?

One of the funnest things that people are going to get to see in Season 2 with Duke is the emergence of a love interest, in several different amalgamations. That is a theme that’s running a lot through Season 2.

I’m excited about that, and getting to see Duke not quite as confident as always. There’s a character who comes in this season that really pushes Duke’s buttons, and that’s not something you got to see a lot of last year.





Mostly, what we’re excited about is just improving on what we did last year. We learned a lot from Season 1. It’s always a balance between what the network and the studio requires, and what we want to do creatively, and everyone has very valid points for what they need, but every season that you do something, you learn a little more about it.

Although each season is unique and there’s always a different dynamic to the crew, the writing room and the actors, you still learn a lot from what you’ve already done. You learn what works and what doesn’t, and you can carry that into the next season.





That’s the thing I’m hopeful for, for this season, but you never know. I’m only an actor on this show, so there’s only so much influence I can have. I try to offer my advice or insight, if they’re open to it, but at the end of the day, you can only say so much.

I’m just hopeful that the second season improves on what we did in the first season, but you never really know until it’s all said and done, and on the screen.











Is it fun to play a series character who’s so ambiguous?

It’s so much fun, and it was absolutely what drew me to the show. I really do love the character.

I love the way that the writers write him, and the freedom that they give me to bring myself to the character. He’s a ton of fun to play.











What is it like to have Jason Priestley added this season, as both an actor and a director?

It will be interesting to see. I know he’s only coming in for a few episodes, to do an arc on the show, and then he’s actually going to direct one episode. I’m very excited to work with him, as a director.

I like being directed by other actors because they have a greater sensitivity, at times, to what it’s like to be an actor. One of my favorite experience was working with Timothy Busfield. He so has a complete understanding of what the actor’s experience is like that working with him, as a director, is just really satisfying. He really knows how to bring a performance out of you.

http://collider.com/eric-balfour-int...b-haven/91593/