Sniper: Rogue Mission Chad Michael Collins Talks to FlickDirect

Hi Chad, how are you today? Good morning, Allison. I'm well and you? I'm doing well, thank you for asking. It's afternoon for me. Where are you today? Los Angeles, California. I'm sheltered from the brutal heat that's been plaguing us all weekend, so I'm not mad about that. Well, that's good. I'm in South Florida, so we're hot as well. Oh, you know, you know how it is that with the dash.

Yes, and I'm just waiting for our hurricanes to start hitting. Anyway, let's talk about Sniper Rogue Mission, please. You have been with this, sorry, let's try that again. You've been with this character, Brandon Beckett, for over a decade now, so how has he changed? How has he evolved? What have you learned from him? Yeah, me and Brandon Beckett have had a long ride together, you know, decade plus bromance, if you will.

We kicked things off 10, gosh, 11 years ago on Sniper Reloaded when they decided to kind of reboot the Sniper franchise in general after sitting on the shelf for a while. You know, you saw a baby-faced soldier, he was an infantry grunt, you know, boots on the ground marine, and then, you know, he picks up the long gun and we find that he had an estranged relationship with his father, the legendary Thomas Beckett, played by the wonderful Tom Berenger.

And then you see the evolution of him, you know, coming into his own as a sniper and the dilemmas and the PTSD and everything else that they, that these amazing soldiers have to deal with, you know, and now we've seen him kind of switch gears into getting out of, you know, more of the military stuff and just kind of using his skill sets, you know, to work with international agencies and whatever, and basically just go wherever he's needed to get the bad guys and save the day.

And we've kind of introduced more of a team element now. So he really has some partners in crime, if you will, as he goes out there and tries to do good in the world. So it's been fun, you know, really, it's, he's evolved, he's seen some things, he's done some things, he's been all around the world, he's his own man, he's repaired his relationship with his pops, you know, and he, and he's made some, some great friends along the way.

So it's, it's been a journey, you know, Brandon Beckett is, he's gone from boy to man, I suppose. And a little bit this time around, he starts off as kind of a death jockey. So how did that change things a little bit for you and for the character? That was a really fun thing to read in the script by our wonderful writer, producer, director Oliver Thompson.

You know, we entered, we get Dennis Haysbert back in the saddle with us, who plays the colonel, and he's a CIA lifer. And he kind of pulled some strings to get me into the CIA. And next thing you knew, Brandon Beckett sitting there, and he's wearing a suit, and he's got a, you know, name, you know, he's got a placard on his desk, his name, and he's stapling some papers, and I'm sure he's filing lots of reports.

So, well, as you can imagine, I don't think it's much of a spoiler to tell you that that doesn't last very long. Yeah, not meant to, he's not meant to sit in his ergonomically correct swivel chair. He's meant to be out there, you know, rocking the long gun and taking out the bad guys the best way he knows how. And he does, absolutely. He teams up again with Zero, who is played by Ryan Robbins.

So what is that dynamic like for the two of you? Did it change from the last movie? And how do you see them working together, going in the future, maybe? Question mark? Yeah, that was, it's been such a fun element to establish more of a teammate, you know, a friend, some camaraderie between me and Agent Zero. Ryan Robbins plays him. He was introduced as one of the lead actors in our last film, Sniper Assassins End.

So we get acquainted in that film, and, you know, there's a time lapse between that film and this film. So obviously, we've become fast friends and good buddies. And I think this film, Sniper Rogue Mission, really allows us to play more with the banter, the zingers, the inside jokes, exploring more of the personal friendship, instead of just the all business relationship that we have.

So, you know, we've got complimentary skill set, skill sets, you know, he's, he's, you know, I like to call him, he's the hammer on the nail, you know, except I shoot my nail from a mile away. And he's up close and personal, you know, wrecking everything in sight with collateral damage with his fists, you know, he's a bulldog. So yeah, I love that dynamic.

I love the interplay. He's not only a great actor, but a really great human being. Oh, that's great. I'm gonna butcher her name, but I want a dog in the future named Lady Death. Sayaka Akimoto. She's great. Talk about her a little bit. She really is phenomenal. Yeah, Sayaka, and you nailed it. Sayaka Akimoto. Oh, did I? By the way, if you get a dog and you name it Lady Death, it's got to be the sweetest, like maybe a Pomeranian.

Oh, just, you know, I'm thinking of a teacup Yorkie. Have you seen teacup Yorkie? Lady Death, right? Perfect. They're hypoallergenic. You can't go wrong with teacup Yorkie. My parents had one for years. Love it. But yeah, she is, she really is wonderful. She really brings her A game. We introduced Lady Death again in the last film, Sniper Assassins, and so here in Sniper Rogue Mission, she returns on the scene and, you know, we have a little dust up.

We have a little kerfuffle in the alley. She just so throws herself into the fight, the action stuff. She really is wonderful. And she just loves doing these movies. And I think it shows on screen and she's, she's such a great change of pace between, you know, the two bros going at it, you know, everything. And then you've got this just a stoic, you know, literally lethal assassin who doesn't much have had much time for business or humor or anything else.

So it's a really nice dynamic with the trio that we've established. Yeah, I do like that about her. She kind of balances them out a little bit, being more serious, a little bit more than they are. So as you mentioned, you worked with Tom Berenger. You've also worked with Billy Zane and Dennis Haysbert more than once. What's it like working with that?

I mean, he's, Dennis has such an amazing voice. It's like James Earl Jones. You just want to sit there and listen to him talk for hours. You know, we brought, we got Dennis Haysbert back for Sniper Rogue Mission. He reprises his role as the Colonel. Fun fact, James Earl Jones spoke at my college graduation, Ithaca College, way back in the day. And trust me, I mean, Darth Vader, I mean, come on, James Earl Jones, even Conan.

I'm a big Conan fan and he was the villain in the Conan movie. But, you know, Dennis Haysbert's right up there with that, that just classic, distinguished voice. And it was so nice to have him back. He's such a wonderful actor. And, you know, they gave him a lot of stuff to chew on as the Colonel and this new iteration. So it was really, really wonderful to have him back, you know, and he plays such a natural leader, you know, such a natural captain of the ship and captain of the team.

So I think audiences are going to be really, really pleased to see where we take that dynamic, that interplay and that relationship. Yeah, I kind of agree. It's a little bit different. And yeah, he was a great choice, absolutely, from the beginning. And as you know, this leader, as you say, he really is terrific. You've got to do a lot of things playing Brandon.

Is there anything that you haven't gotten to do that you would like to do, would like to have done? Anything I'd like to do as Brandon, I'd like to win a fight against Lady Death. No, you know, that's on my bucket list. You know, I don't know, maybe in like Sniper 12, we'll do, you know, Agent Zero gets mind controlled and me and me and Ryan Robbins have to have our own fight and see what's going on that I'll lose horribly.

But that would be kind of an interesting wrinkle. You know, I don't think we're going to do that. I don't think we're taking it in that direction, because now we're getting out in the weeds. You know, if we introduce sci fi and mind control and stuff like that, we're probably we're probably lost. But that would be I don't know, I've been, it's been such a blessing to be a part of this franchise.

I've been able to travel all around the world and so many things and work with such amazing actors all throughout the years and just and just learn so much in terms of working with our military and technical advisors, who are often former servicemen and women and stuff like that. So really, really, it's been a blessing in my career. Not many actors get to keep coming back for more on a franchise.

So it's been a lot of fun. So, you know, I'm a gamer wherever they want to throw me wherever around the world. I've got the passport. I've got the suitcase. I'm ready to rock. It's I just love doing these movies. And I think we've made the biggest, best one yet with Sniper Rogue Mission. I was gonna say the chair looks very gamer, kind of like your chair behind you.

Oh, yeah. No, this is they wouldn't let me bring this to the CIA. You know, they had to have a more of a standard chair. But this is indeed a gamer chair. Yeah, I do like to stream Call of Duty, because I'm in Call of Duty. And I like to mix it up with the fans and the players around the world. So I, I go on Twitch, and I live stream and I play that game very poorly.

I bought this gamer chair thinking it would give me some extra juice, some extra superpowers to be better at the game. It doesn't help. It is comfortable, though. And it reclined. Oh, well, okay, that's perfect. Then what are the fans feel like when you get on there and they and they can tell it to you? Are they like, Oh, my God, wait, are they excited about it?

Or do they are they like, Oh, yeah, time to kick his butt? Yes, it is very flattering. Of course, when we drop into the match, there is no mercy. I'm mercilessly slaughtered by 11 year olds. But outside of that, we have great chats. We really have a lot of fun. And you know, what I found is really great is, you know, playing Brandon Beckett in a film franchise, the sniper film franchise, and then playing the character Alex and Call of Duty.

There's been so much wonderful crossover because I've made great friends and fans around the world gamers will play Call of Duty and then they'll learn about the sniper franchise and go and watch him. And then people who have loved the sniper franchise, then hear about Call of Duty. And so they come and join and they pick up the, you know, the game.

And we all start playing that together, too. So there's a lot of beautiful crossover playing, you know, pretend soldier across to, you know, mediums, so to speak, film and video games. So it's been really, really great. And I think that, you know, Alex and Call of Duty and Brandon Beckett sniper a bit cut from the same cloth. So it's really easy for people to get by.

Oh, good. The overall storyline in this particular film is very topical, very timely dealing with sex trafficking. Were you at all ever uncomfortable with the topic? Did you learn about more about it? What was that experience like for you? Yeah, it is very hot button and tragic, you know, and unfortunately, stuff like this does exist in the world. So I thought it was a really interesting choice to, to not just take down, you know, a sniper gone bad in this film, what we're doing is we're taking down basically people who violate, you know, human rights and stuff like that.

So we're, we're focusing on that on that level, which is an interesting choice and a departure and taking this franchise in a new direction, which I was really excited to explore. You learn a lot, you know, and it's tragic and really awful. So, you know, you don't even feel bad taking out these, these bad guys, just because, you know, anybody associated with that is just, you know, kind of thing.

So, yeah, very, very different tone, very, very different feel. I think we handled it with definitely with enough respect, you know, but also didn't make it so heavy that people couldn't sit back and enjoy their popcorn and have a couple of laughs and enjoy the buddy cop humor and the zingers and the, and the, the fun moments that we have in there as well.

So, you know, I think we, we get sober and serious when we have to, and I think we let the, the zingers and one-liners fly, you know, when, when they're appropriate. So I think we kind of hit the best of all worlds on this one. I do agree with you on that. And Mary Jane's speech about, you know, getting taken and, and thinking she's going to see people who she loved that are now, you know, longer with her.

It really was, was really heart-wrenching. And then as Lady Death kind of gave a little bit of her background, I felt really also played well into that. So it's not just the guys that we're seeing here. We're seeing that these women have, have stories to tell. Do you think there'll be a little bit more of that maybe with Lady Death in the future, or perhaps another heroine era?

Yeah. Heroine. Well, I, I, I love that this movie has, you know, some strong female characters, you know, Lady Death is obviously nobody you want to mess with. And, and Jocelyn Hudon did a really incredible job as Mary Jane, who is, who we kind of rescued, take under our wing and protect from the sex trafficking ring and the people trying to tie up loose ends in our movie.

But, you know, we are going back into production in a month on Sniper 10. And so you hinted at something interesting with Lady Death. So we will see if more information about Lady Death gets teased out in the next one. Can't say for now, not really sure. Classified information, all that sort of stuff. But, you know, such an interesting character. And I hope we can give the audience some kind of more glimpses into how Lady Death became Lady Death.

Yeah, I would definitely be interested in learning more about her because she, like you said, she's so stoic, and she's a kick ass female. But you don't really, she doesn't give a lot of information. And she, you know, everything's hidden. So that that would definitely give her a little more depth, I think, absolutely. Also has the best outfits, you know, everything else to add the best makeup.

Well, yes. Well, you know, the female characters, they do have to have the best clothes and the best makeup and hair too, you know. So you play this sniper, you played him for a while, sharpshooter. How good are you in real life? That's such a question. I don't know that I'm winning any giant teddy bears at the fair for anyone, to be honest with you.

Didn't you say those are rigged anyway? I don't think anyone can win those things unless you have $40 to waste. No, I, you know, I grew up in the countryside, I grew up in upstate New York. So, you know, getting an education, getting training, you know, hunting, fishing, stuff like that, that were outdoors, it was always something I was around and comfortable with, and had a lot of respect for, you know, with my family, my family's all, most of them in the military, law enforcement, stuff like that.

But they were also, you know, hunted and stuff like this. So I was very grounded in my education and training, you know, at a young age with this stuff. So I've always been very comfortable, you know, I wouldn't say that I'm Brandon Beckett level accurate, but at the same time, it's like, you know, I could, I could, I could get a good grouping on a target, you know, if I needed to kind of thing.

So, but, you know, shooting a gun that weighs 30 to 40 pounds and trying to hit a target at a mile away, adjusting for wind and, you know, velocity and everything else. Like it's just, there's a reason why, well, in a moving target, my gosh, could you imagine? I can't even, you know, sniping video games very well. But it is, it is a tribute to, you know, the soldiers who acquire these skills, because it's, it's, it's elite.

And I know that in doing research for this role over the years and learning about it, it's the washout rate in sniper school is, is on par with Navy SEALs. Like it is hard. It's just crazy combination of math, thinking, mental toughness, physical toughness, obviously accuracy, arithmetic, like you name it, field craft. It's, it's really impressive in terms of all the things you have to put together to, to be a good sniper at that highest level.

So really props to them. And I'm under, you know, I'm under no illusions that I'm nowhere near what these people can pull off. Have they given you any tips, you know, if you've had like consultants, have they talked to you about even your body language, making it a little different to become more authentic as a sharpshooter? Yeah, you know, I picked up some of the things, you know, and just trying to keep it grounded in a little bit of realism, really representing some of the stuff and the techniques that they would use.

You know, and it, and it depends on the situation. It depends on where you're set up. It depends on if you're on the high ground or if you're, you know, camouflaged and ghillied up out in the forest. So it's really very, very situational, but, you know, I think the best thing an actor can do, and I've always tried to do this is to, to come in without an ego, come in very humble.

There are experts available, you know, made available to you and to not pick their brains and to not be glued to their side during one of these shoots is a wasted opportunity, you know, and, and, you know, you really want to pay tribute and you really want to represent well the soldiers that you're playing on screen. So, you know, the military advisors, the technical advisors have always been my best friends on set just because, you know, you want to get it right and you want to demonstrate it properly.

If you go back to your childhood friends, what would they say about you and the character Brandon? Are they surprised or do they think this would be like right up your alley? You know, I mean, I think any childhood friends that know me, they would, they would, you know, they would never guess that I would have become an actor because I never acted a day in my life before I moved to LA.

I was, you know, I was, I grew up in the country. I was hunting, I was fishing, I was playing with GI Joes, I was reading comic books and Lord of the Rings and I, you know, huge nerd, but also I go to football practice, baseball practice, basketball practice. I played sports year round, you know, never did drama club, never did, never done a stage play in my life.

It wasn't until I landed in LA with my journalism degree and started doing public relations that you just get introduced to it, you know, you try some classes on for size and, you know, quite honestly, the only thing that ever compelled me to even try an acting class was because I was watching Band of Brothers and I love, you know, Braveheart. And I just thought it would be so fun to play pretend as a soldier and then in the, in the uniforms and everything else.

And I just said, you know, let's give this acting class a try, just see how we feel. But that was a huge motivating factor for me, just the opportunity to go and, and, and just play a soldier because they had such a Dell imprint on me as a child. So GI Joe and everything all the way through. So family and et cetera. So, yeah, it's kind of a really fun full circle thing.

I think it's still shocks a lot of my friends and family that I actually do this, but they could probably sit there and say, oh yeah, that kid's GI Joe collection was massive. That makes sense. Just because of the toys you played with. Where in upstate did you grow? Did you grow up? I grew up in a very small town called Kennejoe, Harry, New York, which is almost halfway between Albany and Syracuse back down the center.

Okay. I'm a Jersey girl, so I kind of know. All right. Yeah. I'm sorry? Our neighbors to the south. Yes, that's us. We're the Jersey's. Anyway, anything else you want fans to know about this new film that's coming out on Blu-ray and digital on August 16th? We don't want to forget to say that. Is there anything they're going to be surprised about? Is there anything you want to tease for them so that they run right out and get it?

Yes. August 16th. Check out Sniper Rogue Mission. This is the most well-rounded popcorn fun movie we've done. Really, the action is here. We always try to raise the bar and elevate these films and make a bigger, better one, but there's more interplay with the team. There's more comedic moments. There's a character played by Josh Brenner called Intelligence Pete, who becomes our hacker, and he is a riot.

It's so funny. A lot of those elements are in there. A lot of the relationship stuff starts to play through with Brandon and Agent Zero and the personalized stuff coming through, but I think the action was top-notch. Oliver Thompson had an amazing vision for this film, beautifully choreographed. Sometimes you think you're watching a Western. Sometimes you're confusing it for a samurai movie.

Sometimes you think it's a Quarantino shot, and he did the original music for it. Really, the whole package is just pure entertainment, 90 minutes. I really hope that people enjoy it because we're taking this franchise in a new direction, and I think this is a launch of a beautiful thing. I personally liked it. I felt like there was a real story behind it, and these characters are great.

I want to say about Pete, I don't know if you've seen it all the way through with the credits, that there's a moment with Pete and Mary Jane. I have. It's just perfect. Yes. There could not be more perfect end credits for this movie when people sit through it and watch it. It's a really fun movie, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's very kind of you to say.

I think audiences around the world will really love this one. It will stand out in a different, bigger, better way than some in the past. I agree. I was thinking, "Oh, here we go. It's another one of those shoot them up, whatever. Here we go." I'm like, "This is interesting. I like this." Because it was topical and because he was a desk jockey for all of four minutes, it really adds more elements.

Absolutely. I can't wait to see where we go in the future. Lady Death, I am rooting for her to come back. If I ever get that dog, I'll send you a picture. Please do. Lady Death, the teacup Yorkie. I got to convince my husband of that one, though. We'll see. Anyway, thank you so much for your time. Continued success to you down the road. Alison, such a pleasure. Thank you very much.