His creative reach, from movies to TV to books to video games, is so extensive we hardly knew where to begin. We were so pleased to have the opportunity to sit down with the super talented Jeffrey Pierce. His first novel, ‘The Reckoning’ is out now, with the promise of several more to come!
You have had parts in a multitude of films and TV series. Which role (or roles) did you enjoy most and why?
I’ve been fortunate to work with some extraordinary casts and crews, and those relationships color my memories more than a particular character. Playing Alan Pangborn opposite Sissy Spacek in CASTLE ROCK crystallizes that type of experience. I’m content with my work in the role; Sissy Spacek was breathtaking; the crew was hardworking, kind, and supportive; the directors were top-notch; the producers included JJ Abrams and it was based on the work of Stephen King, so any reflection on the role embraces all of those components. I’ve been lucky to have a dozen experiences that match that one.
You’ve also been in several popular video games. For the benefit of those who don’t play video games, please explain what that entails.
We use the same techniques that the big CGI movies use. You may have seen behind-the-scenes shots of PLANET OF THE APES, where the actors wear bodysuits with markers, have little dots painted on their faces and have helmets with cameras that capture the facial performance. That’s the same technology we use in video games.
The games you’re in have a huge following. Is it a different experience to interact with film/TV fans compared to video game fans?
The intake of story in TV/Film/Reading is passive. You’re sitting back and being told a story. In video games, the audience is immersed; they are not just witnessing storytelling, they’re given the chance to live as the character. The game I’m in that just came out this summer, THE LAST OF US: PART TWO, is a good example. It is thirty hours of story on the level of a great novel, delivered with the nuance and the power of cinema. The audience is passionate because it’s such a visceral experience.
Now for the big question. Tell us how someone with so many accomplishments in the film, TV, and video game worlds decided to become a novelist.
The money! Joking. I love books. I have an aptitude for writing. I had a story that I wanted to tell. If I don’t tell it, who will? So I sat down and began. I just finished book two, and I think there are three more to go in the series. Can’t quit now!
What is your novel about?
The basic idea is, what if, at the height of The First World War, with humanity at its worst, the world collapsed into a biblical scale apocalypse where the demons of our individual pasts were coming to hunt us down and make us pay for our collective and individual sins?
Is it accurate to say your novel is part historical and part fantasy? To some ears, that might sound like a contradiction in terms. Tell us why it’s not.
I’d say it’s more historical/horror. By trying to ground it in history in as detailed a way as possible, I hope the more audacious aspects of the storytelling get a chance to feel grounded, too.
Given all your experience in front of the camera, is it accurate to say that The Reckoning, which your publisher compares to Stephen King’s The Stand, would make for a great film? If yes, are you currently working on a screen version?
I would love to see it come to life. Part of that has been doing the audiobook, which is an all-consuming exercise, but I love the result. As far as a screen version, I’ll put that in someone else’s hands. Right now, I want to tell the story to the best of my ability, which means book five will come out in the spring of 2024. Lots of writing left to do…
The virus has likely offered you more free time than you would have had otherwise. When the virus is over, how will you balance all the projects you’re involved in?
Balance is always tough. A little creativity and a lot of self-discipline have been the keys in the past and I figure they will be going forward. Thanks, Joan!
Please provide links where Occhi readers can learn more about you and your work.
http://thereckoningseries.com is my book site. I’m on Twitter under @pierce_jeffrey.
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