HBO’s new original movie “Phil Spector” premieres this weekend and it’s already generating a ton of media buzz. On March 20, one of the film’s cast members, rising star Philip Martin spoke to me for an exclusive Examiner.com interview. We chatted about the making of "Phil Spector" and what it was like to work with Al Pacino and Helen Mirren.
“Phil Spector” explores the relationship between legendary music producer Phil Spector (Al Pacino) and attorney Linda Kenney Baden (Helen Mirren) during the record producer’s first trial for the murder of Lana Clarkson. Classically trained film and theater actor, Philip Martin plays "James Lee," a member of Spector's defense team. The part was written for him by renowned Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, screenwriter and director David Mamet as a result of Martin’s work at Mamet's and William H. Macy's Atlantic Theatre Company in New York City. In "Phil Spector," Martin is in three scenes with Helen Mirren and numerous scenes with Al Pacino and Jeffrey Tambour. “It was amazing to work alongside such a high caliber of talent,” Martin explained. “It was a dream come true.”
Philip Martin attended NYU and studied theater. He then established his acting training and honed his skills in San Francisco and at the UCLA summer arts program. The talented actor on the rise hopes to achieve a long and fulfilling acting career and looks to Hollywood heavyweights such as Marlon Brando, Mark Wahlberg, William H. Macy, and Robert De Niro for inspiration and guidance. Martin is also a big fan of Al Pacino and loved working with him. “It was amazing to see Al work,” he stated earnestly during our interview. “Seeing the character work he does and the rare energy he brings was amazing. It inspired me to keep studying my craft and making myself better.”
Helen Mirren, Jeffrey Tambour and David Mamet all took Philip under their wings during the making of “Phil Spector.” Martin’s lasting impression of the movie set was that it was a family environment, created largely in part by Mamet himself. “It felt like we were all on this battleship together,” Martin explained.
Martin is completely dedicated to his craft and envisions a long and lasting run in the acting world. Just as Pacino inspired him, he’d love nothing more than to inspire other rising stars. Two pieces of advice that he holds close to his heart is that “the truth will set you free” and “do what you love and everything will take care of the rest.” He added, “Being dedicated to your craft really does pay off.”
In his spare time, Philip Martin enjoys Latin and hip-hop music and dancing. He grew up in San Francisco and is a big fan of the 49ers and the Giants, as well as the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks. He maintains a balanced lifestyle by eating healthy and organic foods and regularly participating in cross fit training, surfing and baseball.
To see Philip Martin shine in “Phil Spector,” be sure to tune in to HBO at 9 p.m. EST (8 p.m. CST) on Sunday, March 24. The future is bright indeed for this incredibly talented rising star. To learn more about Philip Martin, check out his Facebook page or follow him on Twitter.
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