If you’re looking for a show to watch, head to Netflix and check out Seven Seconds. Beau Knapp plays Peter Jablonski in Netflix’s drama, ‘Seven Seconds’ Read our chat on how Knapp rode with Jersey City PD for research and what he enjoyed about playing the character.
How did this role happen and what made you say yes to playing Peter?
It was a long process. We tested a couple of times for it. I read the pilot and Gavin O’ Conner was attached, his work is insane and I love his work.
They finally said yes and here we are.
How much of the script did you get in advance for the show?
We’d get one script at a time. We were itching to get the new one. We’d typically get it two or three days in advance. They were so good at keeping secrets. Veena Sud, the showrunner said, “Do you want to know what happens?” and I actually said no because I wanted to be surprised.
As dark as it was, we hung out every day.
You’re playing a police officer, talk about what you did for the role?
We went on ridealongs with the Jersey City PD and we had steaks talking about police brutality, talking about their side of the story, listening to what they thought of that.
It was a very interesting experience that shone a light and was quite shocking to hear a few things, but it was what we needed. The cast was so diverse so they got to see this side of America and hear how police officers handle things and themselves.
What we learn about Peter is that he does this to the kid because he devalues the kid rather than being a racist cop. What did you want to get across in that?
As much as I knew of the script, you could see he’s a rookie narcotics officer coming into this and is growing from a boy to a man and not in a good way and making these decisions. I couldn’t play it like a guilty guy. It was more about being in circumstances of what you do when you need to take care of your family. It was about what a few seconds of your life can cost you and who you want to become. You swallow it for the rest of your life or you tell the truth and die in prison.
I like how you didn’t ask us to sympathize with the character.
Yes. I think definitely it helped with having the support of the boys. It pushed it toward that boy. It was more tough enough, be a man and take care of this. They didn’t twist my arm too hard, but you can see where the loyalty lies.
Did you look at other events such as Ferguson?
We did. We looked at them and it was definitely hard to talk to cops about that. For me, you believe blue. It sucks and a lot of people have come out and said they don’t agree with that.
There’s this loyalty factor, even if you don’t agree you have no choice or you’ll get exiled from the community. I think things are changing for the better. I hope shows like this open the eyes of different people.
There were so many layers of greed to racism, but mostly, it’s about the human condition and what they go through. In a second, it changes for everyone and there’s that ripple effect.
What did you take from playing Peter?
It was the first time for me, but I got to see a whole human being and an arc and that growth. I got to understand his emotions from death to birth. It was so fulfilling in that sense. He starts off as this rookie and by the end, he’s a man. He let something go and the whole role was about who you become. It was great to see it through for a whole six month.
Stream Seven Seconds on Netflix
