With the Season Finale of Project Nephilim: Salvation, right around the corner, Paracelsus Films is taking a moment to interview many of the cast and crew members of the epic series. In the first of several interviews we sit down with Joey Pelletier to discuss his portrayal of James O'Riley.
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James O'Riley makes his first appearance in the 2nd episode, Vade Retro, briefly appearing as the detective who investigated Melissa Weller's initial disappearance. What are some of your thoughts on the character?I like to think of James as a true-blood Bostonian. He’s a great guy. Grew up in Lynn, die hard Sox fan—obviously. Had a bit of a falling out with the Bruins, but you know... Who hasn’t? He has a lot of quirks and I liked that about him. It really set him apart from your more traditional TV cops. I mean, look, the guy likes the opera and plays the Oboe. There really aren’t that many Oboe-playing cops on TV these days. But at the same time I think he also has some very traditional elements to his character. He’s the son of a cop and I think police work comes quite naturally to him. He’s quite passionate about what he does, and unless something earth shattering was to happen, I think 40 years from now, he’ll still be heading up the Missing Persons’ division. Well maybe not heading it, I don’t really think that’s in his personality. He’s passionate but he also tends to let his mouth get him in trouble. Politics really isn’t his strong suit.
What do you think about James' Involvement in the Melissa Weller investigation? Next to Chase, I think James is the one who is the most closely invested in the girl’s death. The disappearance of Melissa’s brother Elias, was one of his first cases, and the one he was never able to close. That sounds a bit cliché, but I think for James-who is a very passionate individual—he developed a bond with the family. He knew Melissa, he knew how much the loss of her brother affected her, and I think on some level he feels indirectly and irrationally responsible for her death. It’s not a logical rationalization, of course, but I do think that he feels as if he failed her in some way. And I think for James, it was very difficult for him to have to give up his search for the boy, who by all accounts is likely dead as well.
You mentioned Chase earlier, would you agree that they seem to have a rather interesting relationship?
To say the least! James has the major hots for Chase, but c’mon how can you not? She’s amazing and gorgeous and brilliant and a total badass! And she’s a mom! There’s something absolutely wonderful about that. She runs around all day chasing bad guys, dealing with absolutely horrific, horrific shit, and yet in spite of it, at the end of the day she’s able to go home and have this intimate, quirky and fun relationship with her daughter. So yeah, I think James has a mad crush on her. They go back a lot longer than I think she and Roland do. It’d be interesting to learn more of their history. And, truth be told, James thinks there's a BIG chance that Chase would date him. And he just keeps trying... But, I don’t really think Chase is into him in the same way. She’s a very complicated character, and I think her heart is still with Andrew (Rhea’s father). I think deep down he realizes this, and I hope that eventually he finds a nice girl or guy or whatever to marry. But even if he does, I think deep down he’ll always have a thing for her.
To say the least! James has the major hots for Chase, but c’mon how can you not? She’s amazing and gorgeous and brilliant and a total badass! And she’s a mom! There’s something absolutely wonderful about that. She runs around all day chasing bad guys, dealing with absolutely horrific, horrific shit, and yet in spite of it, at the end of the day she’s able to go home and have this intimate, quirky and fun relationship with her daughter. So yeah, I think James has a mad crush on her. They go back a lot longer than I think she and Roland do. It’d be interesting to learn more of their history. And, truth be told, James thinks there's a BIG chance that Chase would date him. And he just keeps trying... But, I don’t really think Chase is into him in the same way. She’s a very complicated character, and I think her heart is still with Andrew (Rhea’s father). I think deep down he realizes this, and I hope that eventually he finds a nice girl or guy or whatever to marry. But even if he does, I think deep down he’ll always have a thing for her.
Where do you imagine this story will take him?
That’s a good question. Vinnie has a really complex story in mind and he’s let bits and pieces slip here and there, but on the whole, we’re as curious as everyone else. I know we’ll be seeing a lot more of him, which is great. His character has so many dimensions—one moment he's fun and playful and the next he's no bullshit badass. It will be fun to explore that in more detail. Pick him apart and see what else is under there.
That’s a good question. Vinnie has a really complex story in mind and he’s let bits and pieces slip here and there, but on the whole, we’re as curious as everyone else. I know we’ll be seeing a lot more of him, which is great. His character has so many dimensions—one moment he's fun and playful and the next he's no bullshit badass. It will be fun to explore that in more detail. Pick him apart and see what else is under there.
Do you think he’ll ever solve the mystery of Elias Weller’s disappearance?Oh I hope so. I think it’s so central to his story, not to mention Chase and Melissa’s. It’d be a shame not to. No, I think we’re going to see a lot of mysteries surrounding Elias come to light in the season finale. I think in the end—the end of all of this—James will get his resolution, I just wonder if it will make him happy. One of the ideas that get brought up a number of times in the series is that you have all these characters who are really trying to uncover some truth they need to know. Some obsession that drives them. But I don’t think that finding those answers will ever make them truly happy. I think there’s something more going on that they’re blinded to. There’s this whole mess with San Jose in the background. Everything revolves around that and I think that the closer our characters get to that… It should be very interesting.
What was it like working on a no-budget semi-epic miniseries?
It was great! A really good experience—especially not having much film exposure before this. This was exactly the scene to start with. Vinnie, Jon Overby and Paul Ezzy are all extremely professional and have keen eyes for what they want, but they're also very nurturing and have a lot of knowledge to give. It’s also fun to try and figure out ways of doing things that typically require a lot more crew members on hand. Though, I will say it was hard keeping up with my appearance throughout the season. I could never remember what length my hair was or if I had a beard or chin strap. I think it changes a number of times in a couple of episodes. Maybe once or twice in the same scene if you look carefully. But please don’t.
It was great! A really good experience—especially not having much film exposure before this. This was exactly the scene to start with. Vinnie, Jon Overby and Paul Ezzy are all extremely professional and have keen eyes for what they want, but they're also very nurturing and have a lot of knowledge to give. It’s also fun to try and figure out ways of doing things that typically require a lot more crew members on hand. Though, I will say it was hard keeping up with my appearance throughout the season. I could never remember what length my hair was or if I had a beard or chin strap. I think it changes a number of times in a couple of episodes. Maybe once or twice in the same scene if you look carefully. But please don’t.
What can viewers expect to see from him in the Season Finale?
A lot of high action drama! Shots are fired. Fists are thrown. It's gonna all come together.
A lot of high action drama! Shots are fired. Fists are thrown. It's gonna all come together.
Born in Portland, Maine, Pelletier is a graduate of Dean College in Franklin, MA. In 2004 hemoved to Boston and began working in the Marketing Department for the 11:11 Theatre Company. While there he was featured in four original plays by Brian Tuttle, originating roles in All My Upside-Down Roses and Under Her Umbrella. With Alarm Clock Theatre he originated roles in Duplex: A Musical and the 2006 Elliot Norton Award winning P.S. Page Me Later. Along the way he's acted in Tinderbox Stage's production of Polaroid Stories by Naomi Iizuka, Zeitgeist Stage's Blowing Whistles, Holland Productions' Kid Simple: A Radio Play in the Flesh by Jordan Harrison, and imaginary beasts' The Fantastic Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor. In 2008 he became the Assistant Artistic Director and Core Cast Member for Danielle Leeber's Boston Actors Theater (BAT) where he has performed in Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman, and Sex Drugs Rock & Roll by Eric Bogosian. Pelletier's first full length drama Where Moments Hung Before was produced by BAT in 2009 and was received with critical acclaim.
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