ChrisVance-082914-117TNT is set to unleash high-octane thrills with The Transporter Tv Series, a television adaptation of the popular film franchise. Leading the charge as Frank Martin, the skilled driver who delivers anything, anywhere, is Chris Vance, a familiar face known for his captivating performances. Ahead of the series premiere, Vance delves into what drew him to this action-packed role, what fans can expect, and the unique elements that make this TV rendition of The Transporter a must-watch.
From Doctors to Drivers: Vance’s Journey to The Transporter
Reflecting on his decision to take on the iconic role, Vance shares, “I was aware of the movie franchise; I liked it very much.” He appreciated Jason Statham’s portrayal, noting the “charming and strong qualities” he brought to Frank Martin. For Vance, the role arrived at a pivotal point in his career. “It came along in a period of my career where I played a lot of doctors and lawyers, and was looking for a change.” The allure of The Transporter was undeniable: “This came along, and I thought, ultimately, it sounds like a lot of fun. It’s a departure from what I’ve been playing and it’s a complete load of fun.” This desire for a fresh challenge, coupled with the character’s potential, sealed the deal. “I got a handle of the character and thought I could bring something to the table and have fun.”
Action, Humor, and Heart: The DNA of The Transporter Series
The premiere episode promises a dynamic blend of action, humor, drama, and even a touch of romance. Vance confirms that this multifaceted approach is integral to the transporter tv series. “Those are the key components of the show,” he asserts. He emphasizes the show’s place within the action genre, stating, “It’s slap-bang in the middle of the action genre, and without those components and a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor, the whole thing falls flat.” The team prioritized these elements, striving to maximize entertainment value within production constraints. “We concentrated on those components and just tried to expand on those as much as we could, given budget restrictions and schedule restrictions and we went to town. That was the main point of the show – make it full on entertaining.”
For Movie Fans and Newcomers Alike
While acknowledging the global fanbase of The Transporter films, Vance humbly admits he hasn’t closely tracked fan reactions comparing the movies and the transporter tv series. “Honestly, I’m not really, you’d have to ask someone else,” he laughs. His focus has been on ensuring the TV series stands on its own merits. “I’ve been more concentrating on the development of the show to make sure in the medium we’re telling it, it stands up. They’re two different mediums and for me that’s an essential difference to embrace as a producer.” However, he confidently outlines what viewers, both familiar and new to the franchise, can anticipate: “I think some wonderfully charming characters, beautiful girls, cars, guns, fights, a tremendous amount of action.” He highlights the show’s playful side, noting it pays “homage not only to the movie franchise, but other action genres around the world.” Beyond the spectacle, Vance points to “fairly compelling morally diverse storylines,” promising a journey where Frank navigates complex ethical dilemmas while completing his deliveries. “A lot of fun,” he reiterates.
ChrisVance-082914-338The Moral Compass of Frank Martin
Vance offers insightful perspective on Frank Martin’s morality, a crucial aspect of the transporter tv series. When asked about Frank’s position on the good/bad spectrum, considering his transportation of questionable cargo, Vance responds thoughtfully: “That’s a really interesting question – where does Frank fall in my mind. I think he’s a guy of outstanding moral compass.” He acknowledges Frank’s profession places him in morally gray areas, “He faces challenges that are not always on the right side of the law and so are morally ambiguous,” but emphasizes Frank’s internal code. “but he ultimately makes his own moral choice to justify the means to the end. He’s quite complex. He’s quite a complex character. He operates in a world that isn’t always legal; but he doesn’t make immoral choices.”
Television’s Advantage: Deepening the Character
Vance appreciates the episodic format of the transporter tv series for its ability to explore Frank Martin’s character in greater depth than the films. He agrees that television provides a unique canvas for character development: “I think you’re right. Movies are often, not always, but often are a snapshot of time, but with television, as a nature of the medium, we have the time to get past the snapshot aspect of the storytelling and allow ourselves to be fairly diverse and allow some depth of character to come through which perhaps you wouldn’t always reveal in a movie.” This extended narrative space allows for a richer portrayal of Frank’s struggles and choices.
Stamina and Style: Crafting the Action
Bringing the high-octane action of The Transporter to the small screen demands rigorous preparation. Vance details his extensive training regimen: “Few things – I put in about three months of training before we start the shoot. Before the first principle day of photography, I generally put in about three months of training. Just for stamina reasons; it’s not always to do with fighting. It’s a lot to do with stamina training, stretching, running and aerobic sort of training.” He also praises the show’s fight coordinator, Mohamed Elachi, describing him as “the most creative fight coordinator, certainly in France, perhaps in many parts of the world.” Their collaboration is key to the show’s dynamic action sequences. “We sit and have a laugh and be boys and we try and research all aspects of other genres and what’s going on, in other areas and territories in the world and what they’re bringing to the table. We try to reinvent as much as we can to keep entertaining an audience in a diverse manor of ways.” Vance emphasizes the dedication to originality and audience enjoyment: “We choreograph these fights very specifically to be different, with the character…You just constantly reinvent and constantly try to have as much fun with it all in what we think we can bring, anything but laziness to it in terms of the audience enjoyment.”
Producer and Performer: Vance’s Dual Role
Beyond his on-screen presence, Vance is also an executive producer on the transporter tv series, giving him a broader influence on the show’s creation. He explains the difference between solely acting and being involved in production: “As an actor, I do the same stuff…On the producing side, I’m involved, I’m involved in preproduction, production, and post production. And I have a voice. I’m involved in all areas of production, you know, [laughs] everything. It’s endless! All key aspects, all key departments.” This dual role allows him to contribute to all facets of the series. “One of the exciting things about when I’m shooting is that I have a fairly solid voice and can control the set with a lot more grace and dignity than just being the lead actor alone [laughs]. People feel welcome and secure, able to bring their best work.” His producer role extends to creative decisions across departments, from “color timing, to the sound design, to the makeup department, wardrobe department, everything across the board.” He sees it as a collaborative endeavor, “television making, like any good storytelling. It’s collaborative; I’m a voice in the chain, and I guess, being the lead, my voice is louder a little bit sometimes.”
A World of Talent: The Diverse Cast
The transporter tv series boasts a truly international cast, something Vance highlights as a major strength. “The female leads change from season to season; I think the best thing about the project for me, in terms of casting, is the incredible diversity of talent that we’re able to tap into for the business model of the show. We literally can source actors from anywhere in the world, mostly.” Filming in locations like Morocco further enriched the talent pool. “We were shooting in Morocco this past season, Casablanca, and some of the talent you encounter and have access to, it’s unbelievable. I’d even take it down to the extras pool, the background.” This global mix brings unique perspectives and energy to the set. “For the key actors, as well, it’s very important that we bring this mix, and we embrace this international mix – they offer different philosophies, they offer different training, they offer different storytelling, bring different enthusiasms to the show. It’s a hybrid and blend and mix that makes it really all the time really exciting to shoot. No one feels jaded, it’s constantly renewed. For me, that’s one of the best things about the show.”
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Memorable Moments and Meaningful Action
When asked about favorite moments from filming the transporter tv series, Vance shares a heartwarming personal anecdote. “Yeah, of course! I think in the premiere episode in the states, I met my wife while we were filming that episode [laughs]. She comes in as the guest lead. We had such a great laugh off camera and often times on camera although you probably won’t see those outtakes [laughs], and that’s a highlight for me!” Beyond personal joys, he points to the collaborative achievement in action choreography with Mohamed Elachi. “The arc and the journey that myself and Mohamed Elachi have been on the show, in terms of being forced to develop a method for cramming in as much action into a television show as possible, which has been a real challenge to us, and a real test to us, to try and force a method through, in which we can deliver the large scale fight sequences, comparable to those in movies, but actually do on television has been one of the biggest challenges, and one of the most rewarding.”
Vance emphasizes that the action in the transporter tv series is not gratuitous but serves the narrative. “One of my key requirements…I never wanted the action sequences to be for sake of action sequences. I wanted them to be integral to the story – however they are, whatever the storyline might be.” This commitment to meaningful action ensures that fight sequences enhance, rather than distract from, the plot. “By and large, we’ve managed to do that, which makes me very happy.”
Beyond The Transporter: Future Horizons
Looking ahead, Vance hints at upcoming projects beyond the transporter tv series. “That’s a question I’d love to answer definitively [laughs]. I have two television projects in development and I’m writing a feature film – whether any of them will come off, or when they’ll come off, there are no guarantees.” He describes the ongoing creative process of development: “It’s the constant background work that you do when you’re not engaged in a certain project. Development itself by nature is to keep pushing and keep creating and hope all of the pieces and the right people come together at the right time! And that’s what I’m working on at the moment!” For now, audiences can eagerly anticipate the adrenaline-fueled ride of The Transporter TV series, led by the charismatic and dedicated Chris Vance.
