 BY ADAM BALL
Dean Norris and Steven Michael Quezada play the wisecracking DEA agents Hank and Gomez on A.M.C.’s Breaking Bad television series — shot and set in Albuquerque. In the show, the pair is on the trail of the city's crystal meth operations and how they involve the the show's central character, Bryan Cranston (Malcom in the Middle), a high school chemistry teacher, down on his luck and desperate after finding out he has terminal cancer.
The season finale of Breaking Bad, a runaway hit by any standard, recently aired. Though it is uncertain whether it will be picked up for a second season, the show's rampant success and quickly growing fanbase all but assures that Quezada and Norris will have a steady paycheck for some time. Local iQ recently sat down with this hilarious pair at Perea’s Restaurant in Corrales to discuss the show's success and what it is like to be a professional actor in Albuquerque.
Local iQ: What do you like about Breaking Bad and why how is it is different from typical television?
Dean Norris: I think it’s (similar to) independent films; this is like
independent TV. Not only does it play like a movie, it plays better
than some movies. There’s a lot of interesting subplots and storylines
introduced in the first season. I think (series creator Vince Gilligan)
is going to have a blast dealing with all that stuff. This is a show I
would watch even if I weren’t in it because it’s fascinating.
Steven Michael
Quezada: You can only watch so much reality TV.
iQ: What locations in Albuquerque do you shoot in?
DN: We shoot all over. A lot of downtown shooting. We hit all over the
city (and) Rio Rancho. I like the house Jesse is in near the country
club.
iQ: How do you think the show is similar to Albuquerque?
DN: The show was actually conceived for Riverside County (Calif.) I
know some people have problems because the show takes place in
Albuquerque, but the show wasn’t conceived for here. We got these great
breaks because of the film commission and the governor. It’s a great
program.
SMQ: I watched the news yesterday and there was a big huge meth bust
here. It was an organized meth ring. Like 15 people. So reality is
reality. Meth is all over in every city. (In the show)
they’ve got the low-rider; they’ve got the ‘Chicano power’ on the car.
You see beautiful Indian Reservations and mountains. What they are
showing is that there is beauty and ugliness everywhere.
iQ: What was your training process for being a Drug Enforcement agent?
DN: I did a lot of drugs (laughs). We hung out with this D.E.A. agent
named Leroy. They gave us pictures of meth houses and (DVDs) about
busts; they have a technical advisor on set so we don’t look like
morons. Ultimately, the character comes from the writing.
SMQ: When we shot the first day they were explaining to us why the cops
line up the way they did. I talked to some of the real D.E.A. agents
that were put in for realism. This D.E.A. agent explained to me all he
was thinking about [during a bust] was going home to his family. I try
to keep it real. The cops are just regular guys; they talk smack.
iQ: How has being a character on Breaking Bad changed how you perceive the meth business?
DN: It’s opened my eyes. I didn’t realize the amount of money involved and the amount of violence involved.
SMQ: It’s new. We are a little older. In the 80s it was cocaine. Meth
has affected my family so it’s close to home. It’s very destructive.
The show is not glamorizing anything but great writing. The show is
opening people’s eyes to the different reasons why people get involved
with this drug.
DN: The show is ultimately not really about meth; it’s really about
this middle class guy who is in a hell of a lot of trouble. He’s got
money problems (and) he’s going to die (from cancer). The meth just
happens to be his poison because he’s a chemist. By looking death in
the face, he’s decided ‘man, I’ve come alive.’ It’s a character study,
and meth just happens to be the vehicle.
iQ: Steven, do you think Latino actors are getting better parts? Do you
get tired of reading cliché parts for gangbangers and such?
SMQ: The good news is that I haven’t been reading as much of that
anymore. I read for the new Terminator and I read for a
part as an advisor. The other good news is that there is a Latino on
every show now: C.S.I., Law and Order. Raymond Cruz is
in The Closer. So, enough complaining. Go out and get
the work. I mean, yeah, we would like more opportunities. In the '80s,
there were a few Latino roles every year, but it’s really opened up a
lot since then. Hollywood isn’t prejudiced. They see one color: green.
If they think Latinos are going to watch a show, they will support it.
Things are changing and I think people need to get over the past and
move to the future.
iQ: Do you think Albuquerque actors are getting better roles and do you
have any advice for those who are trying to get a part on a movie or TV
show shot locally?
SMQ: Local actors need to study. They need to take film acting classes.
We’re theater people and we have some great stage actors, but if we
want to get in we have to study (acting for film) — at least a little
bit. The key is to find parts that you know you can play. Make sure you
are aware of what is coming here, get a good agent. I’m proud of the
actors that are coming out of New Mexico because we are doing a really
good job.
DN: My advice isn’t going to be well taken. My advice is that, other
than Steven, you ultimately have to go to L.A. because they don’t cast
the biggest roles out here. I find that even now living out here, I
literally have to fly to L.A. even to audition for a role that might be
shot in Albuquerque. It’s just a fact. They are always going to cast
the biggest roles in L.A.
iQ: Coming from L.A., Dean, have you had positive experiences with Albuquerque actors?
DN: Absolutely. Except for Steven Michael Quezada (laughs).
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