‘The Last of Us’: How Lamar Johnson (Henry) Became Sam’s Brother On and Behind the Cameras

SPOILERS WARNING!

*This interview contains spoilers for Chapter 5 of “The Last of Us”.

‘Hold and Survive’, the fifth episode of ‘The Last of Us’, introduces us two of the characters from the video game Naughty Dog who manage to leave their mark: Henry and Sam. Two brothers who corner Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) into offering to join forces to escape Kansas City and the menace of Kathleen (Melanie Lynskey).

Lamar Johnson (“The Hate You Give”) knew, as someone who had played the video game, that he was faced with a huge challenge. But he didn’t know how deep he’d have to dive into the character until he got the part and received the script.: “When I read it I was like, ‘My God, I don’t know sign language, how am I going to do this?'” he tells us in the interview we had with him. One of the main novelties in the brothers’ storyline is that Sam, played by Keivonn Woodard, is deaf. Henry is not only his protector, but also his ears in a world full of dangers.

But Johnson has done everything possible since they met to make the bond between them as real in front of and behind the cameras. She learned sign language so that talking to him felt more organic than just interpreting his lines of dialogue. And he wanted Woodard’s first acting experience to be as easy as possible: “I was there every step of the way if he needed anything, or if I needed to give him directions or help, to walk him through the scene or whatever he needed.. Even if it was about playing a video game on a mobile phone. I was there every step of the way because it was so important to me to establish that relationship with him, because that’s the story.”.

This also meant preparing him for the big showdown with the infected: “What we’ve done is introduce people to understand that they’re also actors, they’re people, they’re stuntmen, they’re not real monsters, it’s just makeup.. Keivonn had a moment to see them, touch them and realize he was going to be scary, but as soon as they yelled ‘cut!’ They’re just people and they don’t really want to hurt you, but you have to act like you’re really scared.” Explain. A real brother, and a luxury companion for his debut.

We also spoke with Lamar Johnson about what Henry means to Joel and how the day “emotionally hard” in which they filmed the motel scene.

eCartelera: Have you played the game yet?

LamarJohnson: Yes, I’ve played it. I knew him well before going to the casting to be part of the series. A lot of my friends love him, so when they found out he was going to be on the show they were really excited.

EC: Since you know the game, what do you think of the changes made to Henry’s story, especially his relationship with Kathleen (Melanie Lynskey)?

LJ: I think they’re great because they give the characters a background and a reason to run rather than just ‘they’re trying to get out of town’. I think it’s great to have some context and understand the moral choice Henry had to make that put him in that situation. He has to save Sam. Henry is his only protector. When he tells everything, it shows that he’s willing to do anything to save Sam, to make sure Sam is safe and sound. If he means revealing the name or location of their leader, Kathleen’s brother, he will. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel awfully guilty about it, he actually says, ‘Am I a bad person? I am’. He thinks he’s a bad person because he made a morally questionable decision. He says that person was very special. ‘Have you ever followed someone like this? I did and I would have followed him wherever he went, but Sam is sick and I have to save him.’ This shows your motivation and what you are willing to do. I think it gives more layers and motivation to the character, a little more context and depth.

EC: Neil Druckmann describes the stories of Henry and Sam as “cautionary stories” for Joel. What does Henry mean to Joel to you?

LJ: I think Joel sees Henry as a mirror of himself. Henry is Sam’s protector just like Joel is Ellie’s protector. I think he sees a reflection of himself. In the scene where they come clean, Joel tells him, “if those people are after you for protecting him, I guess I can understand that.” That’s when I tell him the whole story, and it’s funny because right before I see Henry and Joel get close to each other, because I think Joel completely understands the decisions that Henry has made up to that point. I think he would have done the same if she had been his daughter. If it meant protecting Sarah, I think I would. If he meant to protect Ellie now, because that’s the bond they’re building, and Ellie saved his life, he would have done the same. I think he sees me, he sees a protector. Seeing how it ends, he reflects on himself and Ellie and the loss of his daughter. I think a lot of things come out of that moment, a huge moment not only for him but for Ellie as well.

EC: Let’s talk about that scene. It is one of the hardest in the video game and in the series it becomes even more painful if possible. I can’t imagine what it was like to shoot it.

LJ: It’s been a tough day. She knew it was an important scene, that it was Henry and Sam’s big scene, and that everyone would be waiting for it. I knew the effect it had on the game, but I didn’t want to replay that moment. I wanted to try as hard as possible to play it in a way that reflected the new atmosphere and new story elements. That a new interpretation of the character has been noticed. Of course there are many similar things and it ends the same way. You have a destination, but there is no single path to reach it. There are several paths and you can deviate, but you always go in the same direction. That’s how I wanted to approach it. I didn’t want to do a carbon copy, I didn’t want to do exactly what the actor did in the game. I wanted to try to be sincere and present in those moments. I literally saw Keivonn lying like Sam’s body. Henry is in shock, he is unaware of what he just did. It’s very difficult for him, especially since Sam is his life purpose. Now that he’s gone, he no longer has a purpose. It was hard having to internalize it in that moment: ‘You know what? I can’t live like this, I’m going with my brother. This world is too difficult.’

EC: It’s amazing how in a second you make Henry not already there. How he gives up before pulling the trigger.

LJ: It’s a really powerful scene. I was worried about her because she is very important too. We basically shot it for a whole day. It was an emotionally tough day. But I’m happy with the result.

EC: How did you create that bond with Keivonn, especially with the change in Sam that makes Henry not only her protector, but her ears as well?

LJ: I didn’t know the role would require sign language until I got it and read the script. When I read it I thought: ‘My God, I don’t know sign language, what am I going to do?’ But I’m very happy because the ‘Last of Us’ team and HBO supported me a lot: I had a sign language director and a couple of interpreters with me. And I even did my homework! I practiced on set and also when I got home because I wanted to get it right and try to do it as organically as possible because I understand how important that is. I represent a community and it was important that I take the time to master it and do my best. It was very easy to connect with Keivonn. He is a good boy, very talented. The first day we were playing tag around the offices. It was all very simple, we connected very quickly. There was no problem. The biggest problem at first was communicating because I didn’t know sign language at first, I just learned the basics and what I had to do for my dialogues. But again, we had interpreters and a sign language director to help me. It was a great experience and I am very happy.

EC: How do you think the experience was for Keivonn? It has pretty intense scenes for being so small.

LJ: Yes. All I can say is that he did, he was directly addressed and totally committed. It was his first acting job! The fact that this is his first job as an actor and that he was able to do what he did is testament to how committed he was, the preparation he brought and the work of the team to prepare him. I was there every step of the way if he needed anything, or if I needed to give him directions or help, to walk him through the scene or whatever he needed. Even if it was about playing a video game on a mobile phone. I was there every step of the way because it was very important for me to establish that relationship with him, because that’s the story. They are Henry and Sam. It is a relationship between two brothers, with a tragic ending.

infected everywhere

EC: In your episode you were lucky enough to share very intense and intimate scenes with Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, but you were also able to record a huge confrontation with the infected.

LJ: The best of both worlds!

EC: Exactly! What was it like shooting this mess surrounded by Kathleen’s men and women and a bunch of people with mushroom prosthetics running around?

LJ: It was crazy, I’ve never seen anything like it. There were so many extras that day I couldn’t tell you a number. Kathleen’s people, the infected… Before filming we were a little afraid of how Keivonn would react, especially with the infected. What we’ve done is introduce people to understand that they’re also actors, they’re people, they’re stuntmen, they’re not real monsters, it’s just makeup. Keivonn had a moment to see them, touch them and realize he was going to be scary, but as soon as they yelled ‘cut!’ they’re just people and they don’t really want to hurt you, but you have to act like you’re really scared. But he was crazy. They made a hole to let them out, they blew up the truck and the house… It was surreal to be able to experience all this, so much practical effect. I’ve never seen anything like it before.

‘The Last of Us’ premieres a new chapter every Monday on HBO Max.