Original-Cin Q&A: Upload's Robbie Amell talks about digital life and death, and the series' satire of class division
Toronto native Robbie Amell is riding high with the success of his new show Upload currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
The comedy series, which has already been picked up for a second season, is created by Greg Daniels (The Office and Parks and Rec) and is set in 2033, when humans are able to "upload" themselves into a virtual afterlife of their choosing.
When computer programmer Nathan dies prematurely, he is uploaded to the very expensive Lake View, but soon finds himself under the thumb of his possessive, still-living girlfriend Ingrid.
As Nathan adjusts to the pros and cons of digital heaven, he bonds with Nora, his living customer service rep, or "Angel". Nora (Andy Allo) struggles with the pressures of her job, her dying father who does not want to be uploaded, and her growing feelings for Nathan while slowly coming to believe that Nathan was murdered.
Our Bonnie Laufer spoke with Robbie about the show and what else he has coming up.
Robbie Amell as Nathan posthumously ponders his new digital digs in Upload.
Read Jim Slotek’s review of Upload HERE.
SPOILER ALERT, FINAL PARAGRAPH
ORIGINAL-CIN: The last time that we met was when you were here in Toronto talking about your Sci-fi film, Code-8. That film ended up doing really well, especially when it started streaming on Netflix. It has amassed quite a following. Do you and Stephen (Amell) think that you're going to follow it up and do something else?
ROBBIE AMELL: “Yeah, definitely. We're actually in pre-production on a sequel. So, you know, hopefully when the world gets a little bit more back to normal we'll dive in.”
OC: Your new show Upload, now streaming on Amazon Prime, is not only really good, but it’s a hit. It was just renewed for a second season which must make you pretty happy! Why do you think people are connecting with it?
AMELL: “I think the show is more relevant now than it ever has been. We shot the first episode over 2 years ago and then we shot the first season last February, March and April. So some of the things in the show are a little ironic when you watch it now. Like at the beginning, you've got a bunch of people wearing masks on the subway. That's actually a take on pollution and climate change. It had nothing to do with the virus that just happens to be a coincidence.
OC: Very ironic!
AMELL: “I think one of things is that the show is very easy to watch. Half-hour episodes, it’s a comedy, it's light-hearted and It poses interesting questions. But at its core, it's a charming show about two people, and their relationship and the weird situation that they're in and the weird people around them. I just think it's an easy watch and above everything else people want a little bit of an escape right now. Luckily our show was able to give that to some people.”
OC: So for the few people on the planet who have not watched the show yet, sum up the premise for us.
AMELL: “Upload takes place in the not too distant future where if you know you're going to die, you can upload your consciousness to a digital afterlife. But you know, these places aren't Heaven. They are run by big corporations and my character Nathan - who is a bit of a shallow self-centered douche-bag when you first meet him - is in his self-driving car and it crashes.
“His equally douchebag girlfriend uploads him to her account and essentially owns him in the afterlife. When he gets there he meets his customer service agent or Angel, Nora, and she teaches them a lot about what it means to be alive.
OC: That pretty well sums it up! I guess it’s kind of a no-brainer when somebody like Greg Daniels comes to you and says, ‘Hey, Robbie. I think I want to do a sitcom with you.’
AMELL: “ I seriously would have played a tree if Greg Daniels asked me to! Leading up to the audition I was talking to my agents and I knew that I would be starting a family in the not-too-distant future.
“My wife (Italia Ricci) was on Designated Survivor at the time, which was a nine month per year show. They did 22 episodes a year. So I said to my agents, ‘You know, I don't think I want a network TV show because the shooting schedule is too long. Plus if I'm shooting somewhere other than the same place my wife is, we're never going to see each other.’ So they asked me what would be my dream job. And I said, ‘Well I want a half hour comedy for a streaming network with a great producer.“
OC: Ask and you shall receive!
AMELL: When I met with Greg Daniels, he joked, ‘Well, two out of three ain't bad.’ Of course. I got all three! He's so funny, giving and so collaborative. There's no ego when it comes to his work, but HE welcomes anything you offer. I cannot say enough great things about him.”
OC: He has a new show coming to Netflix, Space Force with Steve Carell. Have you had a chance to check that out?
AMELL: “ I saw some of it when we were finishing the edit on Upload. They were starting the edit on Space Force and we were visiting the writers room and we got to see some snippets and I was like don't spoil this for me. I want to watch this show.”
Nathan confers with his “angel” Nora (Andy Allo).
OC: The concept of Upload - aside from the comedy - has a serious level to it too.
AMELL: “What I love about Nathan’s predicament is that just because he knows he has an early demise, he has a choice to make. As he's being wheeled in he can either go left or right and you go to the upload or you can choose death.
“And when his girlfriend Ingrid, who's a bit of a self-centered woman, says, ‘You know, we'll be together forever.’ And he's kind of thinking. ‘Oh no, put me to death. Because death could be a lot better.’
“But once he gets to the Upload location Lakeview, he starts to learn a lot about himself. It takes death to make him realize with the help of his angel that he could be a good person.”
OC: What did you think about that kind of stuff in the show, because it’s saying a lot.
AMELL: “I think Greg is so good at building interesting relationships between characters. And when Nathan has to upload, it's not really his choice because he's not really ready for it.
“I think a lot of people in their mid-to-late twenties could see themselves in Nathan's shoes. They're good people, but if they step back and look at their life, maybe it's not as meaningful as they think it is at first glance.
“Nathan thinks his life is a little more important than it is. Or he thinks his problems are a little more important than everyone else's. So, when he meets Nora, who has lost her mom and is working her ass off at several jobs to help her dad, I think there's a perspective shift for him. He sees someone who is going through real problems.”
OC: It’s also interesting to see the class differences of being Uploaded. Nathan goes to a posh place because Ingrid can afford it. But Nathan also gets to see what happens to people who cannot afford it.
AMELL: “I think it’s so interesting that Greg creates this digital afterlife that you would think would be this Utopia, but it isn't. It's not dystopian, but it's somewhere in the middle, kind of like real life.
“There’s still a division of wealth. There is still capitalism, and you know Nathan's, like, ‘This is so stupid.’ This is ALL DIGITAL. This is just code. It doesn't need to be this way. But that's how the world works. And it's gross, but it's real. And I think people can relate to it.
“I think it sets up an interesting, funny comedy, but also interesting funny questions and weird situations.”
OC: A lot of the technology we see on the show is not really all that far-fetched. Look how we're all adapting right now, during the pandemic, using technology for interviews, meetings, pretty much everything. What do you think?
AMELL: “ I think the digital technological revolution isn't slowing down anytime soon. I think we're very lucky to have it at this point. I have an eight-month-old baby, and my wife and I and my son and my mother-in-law are in Los Angeles.
“We FaceTime every day with my wife’s dad and my family, and it's beautiful to be able to do that - for them to still feel like they're a part of my son growing up. Because otherwise we would just be sending pictures occasionally. It's nice that they can feel connected and see him in real time.”
OC: Your co-star Andy Allo is really wonderful on the show and I have to say, the camera loves her.
AMELL: “Yeah, she's beautiful. She's very charming and she is so kind and sweet in real life that it bleeds through her character.
“I really think that Nora is the heart of the show and you really need to get behind her character. She just has that innate natural ability to bring people in. And the nice thing about our relationship is we got to know each other as our characters did. The whole cast was living in Vancouver spending time together and all of the relationships just grew as the show did.”
OC: Before the pandemic you had luckily finished a few other projects that you have coming up. The first is a movie called Desperados coming out on Netflix. That sounds really fun, too.
AMELL: “We shot that in Mexico City. Nasim Pedrad from Saturday Night Live is the lead and I play her ‘perfect’ boyfriend who may not be so perfect after all. We were cracking up so much while we were shooting that film.
“Lamorne Morris from New Girl is in it as well and the movie was a blast. It was just a really fun shoot. It's kind of like a girls’ trip movie that comes out July 3rd on Netflix. I hope that there's some kind of bloopers and outtakes reel because we barely made it through our scenes.”
OC: I loved seeing you in the movie, The Babysitter and I understand that you finished filming Babysitter 2.
AMELL: “I'm not sure when it will be released, maybe in the summer or maybe in the fall depending on if they want to do the Halloween release.
The movie is so much fun and McG, who directed the first one came back and directed the second. He has so much style and the music is amazing. Just to let you in on a scoop… I still do not wear a shirt throughout the entire film (laughs).”
(SPOILER ALERT. PROCEED IF YOU’VE SEEN ALL OF SEASON 1)
OC: With the renewal of Season 2 for Upload, what would you like to see for Nathan?
AMELL: “Greg and the writing team are so talented that you know, I'm very excited about whatever they happen to have in store. I think it's really funny that Ingrid has uploaded at the end of the season, which I think will make for some great comedy.
“And obviously things aren't over with Nora. So I'm excited to see what happens with that relationship.”