by Daniel Andrade
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s been a while since we last heard about SkySoft’s newest show Sherwood. Though we got some excellent sneak peeks during SkySoft Fest, we wanted to provide you with a little more insight into the show by talking to some of the actors behind it. We spoke with Jade Vourkari, Kealoha Nakamura, Hunter Tabiendo, and Daniel Andrade about the tone of Sherwood, the vibe on set while filming this unique show, and what to expect when the show is finally available for you all to see. Here’s what they had to say.
Sherwood is based on the classic Robin Hood story that has been told in various ways over the years. Besides Sherwood, what is your favorite version of the story and why?
Jade: Hm... I don't have a favorite version but I do think that Robin Hood: Men in Tights is pretty silly and fun. My little brother and I would act out the characters when we were little, he would play Robin and I would play Ah-choo. We would sing and dance and repeat the words in front of the TV. We were young so we didn’t understand all of the adult references going on, it was just a fun time. My younger brother has special needs so for him to be able to play the hero was everything!
Kealoha: My favorite version is the Disney animated classic. I appreciate the lighthearted feel that Disney has with their movies while still conveying a compelling story. The music gives it that special touch.
Hunter: It’s hard to pick a favorite because I grew watching as much of Robin Hood as I could. But since you’re asking I’d have to say Mel Brooks’s Men in Tights has to take the cake. That sense of humor has been so formative for my life, it’s definitely had the greatest influence.
Daniel: I definitely have a fondness for the Disney version, with the classic whistling rooster, thumb-sucking lion, sly and cunning fox, and other charming characters. It’s impressive how they could convey that story so well and so clearly for such a young audience.
Why do you think the story of Robin Hood is so timeless and popular? Do you think the story is still relevant today?
J: It's just a feel-good story about a guy trying to help out his community from the greedy tyrants.
K: There’s a lot of charm with the story of Robin Hood. The idea that you have the power to stand up for your fellow humans inspires us; his skill with a bow and arrow is mystifying; and although some may see it as outdated, he fights for the damsel in distress so the good guy gets the girl in the end. As far as relevance to today, yes, but it’s a different fight now.
H: Robin Hood tells the story of class warfare and self-liberation against imposed tyranny, so as long as there is a perceived status of haves and have-nots, it will be relevant. Sadly, with recent events, it seems like the themes of Robin Hood have been reactivated and the spirit of rebellion has been stoked into a false necessity that some people in our nation have acted upon.
Sherwood is set in a post-apocalyptic world. How do you think you would do in this kind of setting?
J: It’s pretty fun to sit down and imagine what kind of life it would be. I would like to think that I would be an expert scavenger and create such awesome items out of them. Or maybe a shopkeeper of some sort or a field medic. However, in real life, I probably wouldn’t do too well in a post-apocalyptic setting because my eczema would be so bad! I'd probably die from scratching myself so much and catching a skin infection from not having any of my topical skin creams available.
K: I like to think that I would be able to handle myself, but I’d probably have to be a pickpocket. Caring for other people can be a weakness in these types of realities and I think that’s what would really do me in.
If you could describe your character in one word, what would it be and why?
J: Sassy. You're going to have to watch and find out yourself!
K: Insecure. Jett can’t deal with the harsh reality that he doesn’t know what it means to be a man. Continuous criticism leaves him questioning himself, and deep down he does think he’s doing the right thing, but in a world like Sherwood where everyone suffers, how can you know what the right thing really is. In the real world we have our relationships that help ground us until we discover ourselves, but who do you trust when you grow up like Jett? If you watch this story through his eyes, I think you can see how insecurity drives him
H: Leashed, because for all the id and chaotic foundation this character may have, he is still bound to his position and the hierarchy that has been imposed on him. And he follows that dogma loyally, against his instinct.
D: Exhausted. Tired of having to live in this kind of world, alone and afraid. This fatigue has even impacted his ability to believe that there can be hope to change all this, but thankfully that’s when he meets Raven who helps to change his perspective and provides him with some much-needed friendship and companionship.
What is one characteristic or trait about your character that you would like to have yourself?
J: One trait about my character that I would love to have myself is her self-assurance. I love how she knows exactly who she is, what she wants, and how to use her wits to get what she wants.
K: Jett’s very organized, he knows who works for him and where they need to be. He’s a strategist and can make the tough decisions. I’m trying to be more decisive in my life and keep my vision narrow.
H: The confidence this guy has is immense. He is fearless because he is so full of himself. That’d be nice.
D: One thing that I do like about Nigel is his resilience. Even though he’s beaten down and embittered by everything that has happened, he has found a way to stay alive and to keep fighting, even if that fight seems hopeless at times. I admire that in him and would hope that I could adopt that kind of fortitude if I were put into a similar situation.
How was filming this series different than filming Fox?
J: Just like Ryan Murphy, the actors/actresses are brought back as different characters which I think is amazing. It definitely gives us all a chance to showcase our talent and try out different characters. It is different because Fox was set in a different world with magic and diverse languages where Sherwood things are already somewhat established, just retold in a different and unique way.
D: The change of scenery was definitely intense! It really helped to sell the vibe of an apocalyptic wasteland, with bullet-ridden debris everywhere. The heat and wind and added to the toughness of this world. Also, I had spent two seasons learning how to act with the character of Orasmin, so to switch gears with this new character with a different personality and backstory was a fun challenge for me and an introduction to the world of acting must feel like.
The marketing for this series has a very retro/80s vibe. How do you think that retro vibe fits the tone of the show?
J: The retro vibe fits the tone of the show because it brings back some familiar feelings and comedy from the past into the post-apocalyptic future world. I think it would help the viewers to connect.
K: The way I see it, the ’80s are now 40 years ago. Whether it’s true or not, these characters are grasping for a better life in a romanticized past. We remember things better than what they were and reading the script you see that a lot.
H: I think the neon retro fits in the way that era inspired so much of the writing and the spirit in what goes into the filming. The ’80s has become such a timeless decade that it really transcends the years in which it first existed.
D: The 80s and 90s were a very in-your-face time of self-discovery but also a fear of the unknown. I think these overlapping themes resonate strongly with the tone of this show, which is all about trying to define yourself and adapt to a changing world while not losing sight of yourself, as well as having fun and being fearless in the process.
This series has a very distinct sense of humor. How would you describe the humor of Sherwood?
J: Random and silly but effective in establishing the characters and their stories as well as their personalities
D: The humor is bold, smart, aggressive, while also playful and charming. It really helps you connect with the characters and the motivations behind their actions. For me, it’s a very relatable style of humor that often masks up more serious and pent-up emotions in an attempt to make others, and yourself, feel better.
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