‘The Last of Us’ Actors Lamar Johnson and Keivonn Woodard on the Emotional Adaptation of Endure And Survive

DEVASTATION WARNING: This interview features details from Season 1 Episode 5 of HBO’S The last of us.

HBO’s critically acclaimed horror drama The last of us continues to break our hearts and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Episode 5, titled “Endure and Survive,” follows the story of two brothers named Henry (Lamar Johnson) and Sam (Keivonn Woodard) as they try to escape the harsh confines of a quarantine zone set up by a ruthless radical leader named Kathleen be managed. Melanie Lynsky). During their journey, they join forces with Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) to better ensure their safety as they travel among the wandering infected, hoping for a chance at a better life. Although adapted from the video game of the same name, The last of us Series creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have managed to enhance and expand beloved characters in remarkable ways. This time, the two added disability inclusion to Sam’s character by casting Woodard, a deaf child actor. The integration of American Sign Language between the two signs not only adds a dimension, but also highlights the beauty of communication beyond hearing.

Here, actors Johnson and Woodard discuss creating their brotherly bond, their sources of inspiration and filming that final scene.

Reporter: Lamar, I love the inclusion of Keivonn in the lineup. Did you know earlier in the process that you would be working with a deaf child performer? And how did you work together to bring that relationship to life?

JOHNSON: When I discussed the role, I found out that Keivonn and ASL would be in it. And for me, I didn’t know any sign before I started, so it was kind of a crash course, but I had an ASL director with interpreters to help me get comfortable with signing in our scenes. And I think this sign added a lot more depth to our relationship, because communication is not only through words, but also through body language. And I think that really connected us because we had to communicate through feelings and I think people felt that in our performance.

It was easy to bond with Keivonn because he is such a great kid. He is so talented and we both really bonded and committed to these roles. And we had a great team of people behind us and we supported each other. So when I saw a lot of the changes [to Henry and Sam’s story]In particular, Sam being deaf made me very happy because I felt it added a nice layer of intimacy between Henry and Sam and their bond.

Reporter: In this episode, Henry reflects on his moral crisis over killing the beloved leader of this anti-FEDRA faction group to save Sam’s life with Joel. Since this is a new storyline for the character, what did you think of Henry’s decision to cheat on the group he was in?

JOHNSON: It informed me of Henry’s love for Sam as he is willing to make tough decisions to protect him. He is its sole caretaker and protector. So it really shows you how long and how far Henry would go to protect Sam, even if it meant giving up a life to save his own. It revealed it to me. And do I understand it? Yes. They live in a very harsh world and Sam is Henry’s target. It is his will to live. And if he didn’t have her, he wouldn’t have the will to live. So, do I agree that the only thing you have left in this world that you love and care about, you protect and do your best to protect and save? Yeah, that’s a tough question, but I think I understand where he’s coming from and I think Joel does too.

Reporter: Keivonn, in the series your character paints his face to help him embody a superhero, making him feel brave enough to deal with the harsh realities of the world he lives in. What person or phrase do you conjure up? to get through times that can be scary for you?

WOODARD: My father died and someone told me it was very important for me to be strong. And as a black person, it matters. I use this reminder to look within myself and motivate myself to be brave even when there are frustrations or struggles. I do my best to be brave. Miles Morales is also my favorite superhero.

Reporter: Let’s talk about this incredibly intense action sequence straight from the game. It is riddled with gunfire and teeming with tons of infected. What was it like filming this experience?

JOHNSON: It was pretty intense; everything was [practical]. The whole cul-de-sac was built; All the houses when the infected came out of the ground were real. They were all stuntmen and stuntwomen with this crazy makeup and all that stuff. It was an intense day, but it was really a lot of fun, simply because I’m personally a fan of the amount of work and dedication that the make-up team and special effects team put into it. I think there were probably… I can’t even tell you how many clickers there were that day, but there were some people who were in the… I mean, we’re shooting at night around this time, so we we shoot until very early in the morning, maybe around 5, 6 o’clock. But some people would literally come in the morning or the afternoon, early afternoon, until it would take a while to get all these prosthetics and all these different things on your body. And it was great to be there with Pedro [Pascal] and Bella [Ramsey]. It was a fun time, also intense, but fun.

WOODARD: With all the creatures and clickers I had to hit them beforehand; That way I got an idea of ​​what they looked like, so I wasn’t that scared of them. It was very good to work with them and with Lamar, Pedro and Bella. I had a lot of fun, especially with the clickers. Everything went very well.

Reporter: Just like Episode 3, there’s this heartbreaking emotional turning point at the end of the episode where Henry has to make the devastating decision to kill his brother and then himself. Can you both share how you used the emotion of that scene? How did you interpret the ending?

JOHNSON: How I interpreted that scene for myself, I mean that’s the big scene, that’s it The Scene with Henry and Sam. I know the weight of that scene and the importance of that scene, mostly because I know the game, I understand the game, and I’m a fan of the game. I think going into it, I kind of knew what we were doing that day. I guess I just tried to be as present and authentic as possible because I was given everything. I had Keivonn there, I had Pedro there, I had Bella there and they all responded and gave me what I needed to perform. So I tried not to think about it too much. I just wanted to be there and let things sink in, like seeing Keivonn laying there with Sam’s body. So all I had to do was be present and react to everything around me.

WOODARD: I was very sad with the last part. And when I read about it, I knew what was going to happen, but I got through it.

The last of us airs every Sunday on HBO.

[This interview has been edited for length and clarity]