If we’ve learned anything from the last few weeks after Sars-CoV-2 has been officially declared a pandemic, society and everything we assume is a given can change in a heartbeat. So while we here at Nerd Alert News monitor the pandemic closely and urge everyone to take the spread of this virus seriously and act appropriately, we also know we all can use some distractions right about now. And if you’re practicing social distancing and are stuck in your home, what best to do then indulge in a new and exciting show, with an alternative universe, intriguing characters, and magic! Couldn’t we all use a little bit more magic in our life?
So when we had the chance to talk to Kai Bradbury, who plays Gerit on “Motherland: Fort Salem” we jumped on the chance. You might know Kai from Amazon’s “The Man in the High Castle” where he portrays a Kempeitai officer or from Netflix’s “Altered Carbon” where he plays ‘Tadao,’ a 300-year-old Japanese man inside of a younger man’s body. Kai’s name means Ocean in Japanese and he is a proud son of a Japanese mom and Scottish dad, mixed with Venezuelan family influence. He doesn’t just have a very culturally broad background, he also has a varied interest in the arts. Aside from acting, Kai loves to paint and draw, is interested in culture and languages, food and cooking, photography, singing, dancing, and wants to one day take part in a musical at the Hollywood Bowl. After our interview with Kai, we can confidently say, keep an eye out for what’s to come for this young artist! He is one to look out for.
MJ: First, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us and congratulations on your role as Gerit in “Motherland: Fort Salem”. The trailer looks amazing! But let’s imagine we hadn’t seen it yet, how would you describe the show in three words and what do you think will be most captivating aspects for the audience?
Kai Bradbury: Thanks very much, my pleasure! The three words I would choose are Inspiring, Passionate and Suspenseful! I think the audience will initially be drawn to the alternate world that plays out in this new timeline. How do things work differently? What powers do these witches have? Who are the new threats? I find that you slowly discover more about this universe alongside these characters. There’s no hand-holding so I say go along with it and be open! With fantastic stories of action and romance, there is so much to explore and understand about Fort Salem and how US history played out in our show.
MJ: One thing that seems unique is the fact that the witches in this show aren’t part of a secret world within our normal world, but rather part of society, similar to the vampires in “True Blood”. How do you think this concept will connect with the audience?
KB: I think we’re tired of seeing the trope of “otherworld power messing with an unknowing mortal.” It’s so engaging to see the two groups coexisting with both fear and respect teetering. I hope audiences connect to this story they haven’t heard before and reflect on how our society often poorly handles the inevitable “other” in our lives.
MJ: Witchcraft has long sparked dedicated fandoms. From the beloved nostalgia-laden Hocus Pocus to the recent darker stories of “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”, fans were quick to embrace the characters. Your role in “Motherland: Fort Salem” is a male witch and the love interest of one of the resident witches in Salem played by Jessica Sutton! How did it feel to dive into the character – and are you prepared for the likely fandom craze?
KB: It was a blast playing Gerit and a joy working with Jessica and the many talents on set. Wish I could say more about Gerit- but I’m SO excited for everyone to meet him! And in regards to any potential fandom craze, can anyone really prepare for such a thing? I just hope that fans of the show love it as much as we have made it and their support always means the world.
MJ: It looks like we’ll have a pretty wild ride to look forward to with the show! Was it equally fun and exciting behind the scenes? Do you have any story to share from the set?
KB: Absolutely! This cast was so fun and inspiring to work with. Assembled from all over the globe, we got to learn about each other and hear new stories and insights all the time. We had some long challenging days and a pretty hot summer for Vancouver, where we shot. My favorite thing to do was blast loud music out of my trailer on lunch breaks and have a bunch of cast pile in to eat and dance!
MJ: In addition to “Motherland: Fort Salem”, you’ve also acted on other shows with an “alternative universe” setting, for example, “The Boys” or “The Man in the High Castle”. Do you personally have a favorite alternative universe in media, either on a show you took part in or one you enjoy watching?
I’ve found myself in a lot of Sci-Fi shows with alternate realities, histories, and worlds. I love it! Those projects excite me because we get to create heightened situations where the stakes are higher and as actors, we get to explore and discover as much as audiences do when they see it. I think Amazon’s “The Man in the High Castle” is a beautiful example of alternate universe drama. I’m equally a fan of shows like “Stranger Things” that present a very human reality reacting and coping with an other world danger.
MJ: Last but not least, are there any other future projects you might be able to share with us?
KB: At the moment, I’m enjoying the madness leading up to Motherland’s release and I have a couple of creative projects keeping me busy!
– Thank you again for your time and all those insights – we can’t wait to check out “Motherland: Fort Salem!”
Written by MJ “Another Galaxy Far, Far Away”
