Interview with director Shane Dax Taylor and actors Stephanie Beran & Michael Jai on “Exit Protocol”
he script. It’s what feels natural to you. That’s kind of how I work. I trust my crew, I trust my DP, I trust my actors and the stunt crew. And if they come up with something better than I do, I’m all over it.
Stephanie and Michael, your characters obviously have a connection that goes beyond just the action. How did you both approach building that relationship on-screen?
Stephanie Beran: With Michael, honestly, Michael is just an amazing person. So it was really easy for us to just get that off-screen chemistry and translate it onscreen. I think we keep it fun, we keep it light. And then when the camera starts rolling, it’s like magic. It’s really easy when you’re acting opposite someone who is just amazing.
Michael Jai White: I agree with Stephanie. I mean, it’s kind of like a mixture of the preparation, but you don’t want to over-prepare. You still want to keep that spontaneity and life in it. Like she said, when you have a partner that is so giving, so caring, and so present, it makes the job easy. You can’t really force chemistry. It’s kind of got to be there. And she’s immensely talented, so it made my job easy.
It’s exciting to see those moments of connection on-screen amidst all the action and intensity. Shane, what do you hope audiences take away from Exit Protocol after watching it?
Shane Dax Taylor: First and foremost, I’m a storyteller, so for me, it’s the story and the characters. Hopefully, they walk away thinking, “That’s not just another action film with a bunch of guys beating each other up.” I want them to remember the characters, maybe even connect with them on a deeper level, and say “Wow, that was a great story, I really enjoyed that.” I hope our film will bring that escapism to the audience, especially with everything going on in the world right now. It’s a way to escape for an hour and a half, relax, enjoy yourself, and then come back to reality. And if they’re able to do that, I’ll think I’ve done my job.