Walker Stalker Nashville: Catching up with Colman Domingo of FTWD

Walker Stalker Nashville hosted a great group of actors representing Fear The Walking Dead. One of those was fan favorite Colman Domingo.

Undead Walking had the pleasure of catching up with Colman Domingo about plotlines in the new season of Fear The Walking Dead. We also talked about his time in the director’s chair this season.

Colman was joined at the convention by castmates Kim Dickens (Madison Clarke), Kevin Zegers (Mel of The Vultures), Jenna Elfman (Naomi/Laura), Danay Garcia (Luciana) and Daniel Shaman (Troy Otto). It was the first convention appearance for both Jenna and Kevin.

All six actors participated in a Fear The Walking Dead panel on the main panel stage. Fortunately, I had time to speak with Colman one on one as well. He is charming both on and off-screen. Here is what he had to share.

Is it cool having some of your new castmates around today?

Colman: It is. It’s really awesome. I love them and we’ve become very close as well very quickly.

Let’s talk about the test Strand ran on Cole. It seems like Strand sort of ended up getting tested himself. Did this frustrate him?

Colman:  Right. Well, I think the intention of the test with Cole is because Cole was flirting around with sort of this ‘I like you, I like you, are you interested in me?’ And Strand is so beyond that these days. I think that he must know that if you really want to get to know me in that way, in a deeper way, you really need to know. I’m going to show you, reveal exactly who I am.

I think part of the test was, he knew that Cole couldn’t take it. He already knew what the answer was, so it’s like I think in the bigger picture of Victor Strand, it’s like he’s trying to do a good thing. He’s like ‘I’m gonna save you, because you have no idea what I’m capable of and this is not for you. Get away from me.’

“I think that’s a solid choice he made. It’s a big choice. It’s a big character choice, too, because we haven’t seen that part of his character.”

– Colman Domingo on Victor Strand

I think that was the thing that he had to do, and it was enough. It was like he’s sweet and kind, but I think he’s trying to be gentle with people, like ‘you can’t handle all this. I’m capable of doing things that would make your head spin’.

Then, I think that there is his own test. I think it’s a self-test in a way. Is he capable of running away, of just looking out for himself anymore, now that he’s been such a part of this Clark family? They have such a bond.

The old self keeps trying to creep up a little bit, but I think that he’s being challenged to now think of the group. And in that moment where he knows things are being tested, he has a choice that he can go away or not. When he comes back and brings whatever the provisions he has, that will only last maybe two days, he feels like it’s worth it.

I think that’s a solid choice he made. It’s a big choice. It’s a big character choice, too, because we haven’t seen that part of his character.

We know that he’s been growing in some way, and whether he feels even more responsible to Madison and what she’s done, I think he’s attached himself to that and to Madison. Madison has become sort of like his wife in a way.

You know what I mean? They’re each other’s better halves, at least like trying to hold a mirror up to each other. They’re the only two that can be very honest with each other.

It’s one of my favorite relationships on TV. You can’t quite put it in a box or anything. It’s fascinating.

Colman: That’s what I love about it, because it is part of like . . . I would just assume that in an apocalypse that everything has to go out of the window. The idea of what you think about man, male-female relationships, you name it, nothing’s conventional.

So even the idea of having this new bond, this new relationship that’s pretty much platonic, but there’s something still very romantic and very loving and very challenging, so I think they’re finding something even deeper than a conventional relationship, you know?

It’s really cool. I like it.

Colman: Thank you, me, too.

You know better than anybody. Strand seems to have a clever saying for just about any situation. So, when he says “the start of a negotiation often requires an act of faith”, is he just blowing smoke, or does he mean that?

Colman: I think he means that. I think that’s part of his old business practices. I think that’s how he got to how he was before the apocalypse.

Every single time he brings up one of those lines, I’m like ‘oh, wow, that’s part of the old Strand. This is what built that Strand.’

He said ‘oh, we need to negotiate’. This is what he knows how to do. This is where his strengths shine. He says ‘oh we need to negotiate something? I’m the one you wanna have the table’.

Strand is certainly the one I’d want at the table!

Colman: Exactly. And in that moment he’s like ‘Listen, we’re not going to bullshit anyone. This is a deal. How are we gonna get this deal done? It has to first start with an act of faith. We have to believe and invest in this negotiation.’

What can you tell me about directing your first episode Fear of the Walking Dead?

Colman: It was a dream. It was truly wonderful. I was terrified the day before I started prep, and then I felt like I was getting my sea legs, and then I was terrified the night before I shot.

In the moment, and by day two, I felt like I had been doing it all my life.

I felt like because I’ve been directing theater for over 25 years, I’ve sort of been applying what I know in the theater, but I’ve also shadowed Andrew Bernstein who directed the last two episodes of our season 2 as well. So the last two episodes of season 2 and episode 3 of season 3, I was actually shadowing Andrew Bernstein. While I was in them I was also behind the camera. 

I asked to direct an episode this season and Gale Anne Hurd was so supportive of that, and so was the new team. So we decided on doing it in the back half of the season.

I was using the first half of the season as my conservatory. I was learning from everybody, every director. They always noticed that I was always standing around. Even if I wasn’t in the scene, I would just be standing around listening and watching, and taking it as my school.

I think I learned from so many of the best. I learned from some directors who I think make mistakes as well. You learn from everybody.

I knew that what I wanted to do as a director is really involve everyone and elevate everyone. I love them and I think everyone’s so smart. I don’t come in with a lot of ego. I think I come in with the idea that directing is a lot of problem solving.

It’s about using your whole team.

(pointing in one direction) ‘What do you know?’

(pointing in a different direction) ‘What do you know?’

It’s like everyone is the best at what they do. How can you get them to believe in this vision and you guide them, that’s all it is.

(Instagram photo used with permission from the photographer, Garret Dillahunt)

Is it like parenting at all?

Colman: A little bit like parenting. Actually, I would say not like parenting. I would say more like . . .

Coaching?

Colman:  It’s like coaching. It’s like coaching a team. You’re like ‘Great. You’re a great runner. You’re a great halfback. You’re a great whatever. Great. Get in there. Let’s do it.’

You lead the charge, and we had such a good time.

It looks like you were working on a night shoot. I am not looking for spoilers, but are there special challenges of directing at night?

Colman: Let’s see, the special challenge is with the stunt work. I have some major stunts in my episode. I won’t tell you what they were because they’ll be spoilers.

Let’s say you have a car chase. There are so many elements you need to get the shot done. You may need a pursuit vehicle. You may need camera angles to be a certain way. You need to block off roads and things. It’s so many things that need to happen.

Like the logistics?

Colman: So many logistics, and you can possibly get in two runs of it. So it has be perfect and you have to do tests of it and organize it.

That has to be stressful.

Colman: So yeah, the stress, it’s stressful. It’s a lot of prep work you have to do. So you have to know everything and how it is going to happen. Then on the day, you just hope and you pray that you set up your prep so well to get it done. That’s the most stressful.

Then you celebrate.

Colman:  Then you celebrate it. You really do. You’re like ‘you did it, you’re like, we all did it’ and you know it was epic. It just felt epic.

Your character is always going to be associated with syrup now.

Colman: Yep. Yeah.

First question, pancakes or waffles for you?

Colman: Pancakes.

Do you have a syrup of choice?

Colman: I don’t have a syrup of choice. I usually go for . . . you know what, listen, I’m so old school when it comes to it. I’ll be very honest. I still have an affection for Denny’s . . .

I’m down with that too.

Colman: So it’s Denny’s. Denny’s, let’s say Denny’s. You made me think about it. I feel like I want Denny’s tomorrow morning.

We’re getting hungry now, right?

Colman: Exactly.

Thank you to Colman Domingo for chatting with me at Walker Stalker Nashville and sharing so many fascinating insights about his character and his directing.

Victor Strand has been a fan favorite from the beginning. Do you love to hate him or do you just love him period? It’s hard to tell because Victor still carries an air of mystery. Victor continues to evolve on-screen, but he keeps us guessing as well.

Next: Fear the Walking Dead: 'Laura' ratings beat NHL Finals

The creative storytelling with both past and present timelines on Fear The Walking Dead season 4 certainly adds to that guessing game. We still have story gaps to fill about our original survivors.

I am captivated by the characters both old and new, but I  have an extra soft spot for Victor Strand, and most definitely for Colman Domingo himself! If you have the opportunity to meet him at a Walker Stalker Convention near you, I highly recommend it.

Fear The Walking Dead returns for the fifth episode of season 4 this Sunday 5/20 on AMC.