-Watched the first episode of this.
I found it really engaging.
Do you remember where you were when this all happened,
because, of course, when you watch stories like these,
you go, "Oh, 1993.
I remember this being on the news all the time."
-I was 12 years old.
-Mm-hmm. I was also 12.
[ Laughter ]
-I think I remember just that last terrible shot
of the compound in flames, to be honest.
And I don't even know
if I really remember that part at that age.
But, obviously, growing up or learning some history,
being from Canada or whatnot. -Whoo!
The one other one. -Yeah, yeah.
-Yeah, that's my mom, by the way.
-Yeah. [ Laughter ]
-Yeah, so that's really all I really remember.
-It's interesting 'cause I think that's true of a lot of us.
We remember the tail end of it.
Of course, this story takes you back.
And one of the things, which, of course, makes sense,
when he was followed by so many people,
is there is a charisma and likability to him.
So you're not playing a mad man
as much as you're playing somebody
who had this ability to connect with people.
Was that a strange way to approach it?
-I think that's the right way to approach it.
I think, obviously, during the siege,
it was very sensationalized
and one-sided with the press and whatnot.
The Dividians were cut off from the press.
So I think what we're doing here is basically humanizing
not only Dave but the Dividians
and their families, the followers.
And what he was so good at was giving them purpose.
And I think everyone searches for that
at some time in their life, multiple times and whatnot.
And he was a messenger,
self-proclaimed messenger of God.
So if he had no followers, he's got no purpose, as well.
So he needed them as much as they needed him.
-It was based on a couple of books.
-Yeah. -A couple FBI guys
and then a guy who was in the Dividians.
-Yeah, David Thibodeau.
So we optioned Gary Noesner's book,
who was the lead FBI negotiator.
-That's who Michael Shannon plays, right?
-Mike Shannon, yeah. Up-and-coming, green actor.
-Yeah, it might work out. Might work out for him.
-Yeah. He's amazing.
-Yeah, he's a great actor.
-Yeah, and then David Thibodeau,
one of the nine survivors of the final siege.
And he was on set every day, you know?
And I think that's, like,
the ultimate flattery and validation, you know?
Day one was a sermon about joy
and being a Dividian, and that was a big one.
So he was there on day one, obviously,
and that was -- to have him kind of tip the hat was --
It just let me fly from there on.
-Obviously, you had to do a lot of Bible study for this role.
You also had to lose a lot of weight for this role.
-30.
-You also had to learn how to play guitar
and sing a little bit 'cause he was a musician.
Was that the most intimidating part?
-Uh...
I think it's all-encompassing, for sure.
But, I mean, I was getting voice lessons in L.A.,
and it was the second time,
and I was, like, nowhere even near of hitting any notes.
-Your second voice lesson? -Yeah, second voice lesson.
Get in there, walk in, and it was --
You know, there's a gal that was doing Broadway or whatnot
right with the piano and the teacher.
And I literally just sat back, and she was incredible.
And they went like five minutes over, and they stop,
and I'm kind of just sitting there,
just, you know, listening, loving it.
And, she's like, "Oh, my God. I'm so sorry. I'm a big fan.
I just ran over," and I'm like, "Well..."
I'm talking to the coach at this point.
I'm like, "Well, you start at a 10,
and then now we're gonna start like below zero,
and, like, I'm gonna make your ears bleed."
-Well, that's the depressing thing when you go
and you realize people who are great
are also getting voice lessons.
You were like, "Oh, I thought this was all
for people who were terrible."
[ Laughter ]
-There's, like, a picture of Celine Dion right next to me.
-Yeah, I got a feeling you and Celine
weren't starting from the same --
It's not a level playing field. -No.
-So, I want to ask, "Friday Night Lights,"
fantastic show. -Thank you.
[ Cheers and applause ]
-I'm assuming you get approached all the time.
How do people approach you in that show?
Like, is there just an emotional connection constantly?
-One, they want to get drunk with Tim Riggins.
-Yeah, that makes sense.
-Which, yeah, Tim would do that a lot.
-[ Laughs ]
-No, I mean, I live in Austin, Texas, which is an amazing city,
and so it's -- obviously, being in Texas,
you get a bit more of it.
But people, you know, are just incredibly flattering,
and they want to have a drink with you 90% of the time
or talk about Coach.
-Yeah. -Yeah.
-Who still lives in Austin, as well.
-That, I feel like --
You're making it hard for people
by living in the city it was filmed,
because you can't say to them, "Hey, that's not me,"
and they'd be like, "Well, then you should've moved."
-Yeah, totally. [ Laughter ]
I'm still living in the past, I think.
-So, I'm gonna make a weird leap here,
but David Koresh was a failed musician,
to some degree, or a musician. -Yes.
-And there is something about music and sermonizing
and connecting with an audience
in the same way you do as a religious leader.
I think we share a great love of Bruce Springsteen.
-Yes, we do. [ Cheers and applause ]
-And he's on Broadway right now.
I thought -- I actually --
It was very close to a religious experience for me.
-Yes. -You went a couple nights ago?
-I did. -How was it?
-Oh, man. He raised me, that guy.
-Yeah. -He really did.
I just... I was just blown away.
I cried, I laughed. It's just --
As much as he's telling his story,
you just -- he takes you back.
And it's just like you remember these beats
of your first kiss to, you know, traveling in the car, obviously,
or the first time you went camping,
or all of these kind of beats throughout your life.
So it was just incredible.
-The other thing about it is,
not the cheapest tickets you're ever gonna buy.
-No. -And then, I don't --
During the show, I had this realization of,
"I would've paid 10 times --" -Yeah.
-"This is worth 10 --
This is the biggest deal I've ever gotten."
-I came out of there, and I went with my best friend,
and I'm like, "I would've easily paid way more for that."
-Yeah.
-It was a life-altering experience.
-I threw money onstage at the end.
-Oh, really? I threw panties.
My panties were up there. -[ Laughs ]
-No. -Thanks so much for being here.
-Congrats on the show. Really a pleasure.