6 questions with “rectify” star paul fitzgerald (chris nelms) 

directed by Ray McKinnon (Sons of Anarchy), starring Aden Young (I, Frankenstein), Abigail Spencer (True Detective), and more...

6 Questions with “RECTIFY” Star Paul Fitzgerald (Chris Nelms)

Posted November 13th, 2015, 10:11 AM by SundanceTV

Paul Fitzgerald, who plays Chris Nelms — a key witness unveiled in Season 3 as being one of the people who was present the night of Hanna Dean’s death — talked to us about his favorite RECTIFY moment, his experience at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and why he is very much like the character he plays on the show.

Q: What is your favorite moment from RECTIFY so far?

A: Oh, there are so many. I’ve been utterly captivated by the show from the opening credits sequence of the first episode. The subject matter is deeply compelling to me and I find the show to be its own visual, emotional and spiritual closed circuit of perfection, like

in a way. Off the top of my head, I’m thinking of the moment on the driving range when Daniel tells Teddy about being raped in prison. The layer of injustice that prison rape represents in Daniel’s life is so beyond conception, and the way the scene plays out for both guys is just etched on my mind forever.

has a similar theme to RECTIFY, in that a political figure’s trajectory is disrupted by the exoneration of a death row inmate. In what ways are the two similar? In what ways are they different?

A: Well, for starters, one of my film’s primary focuses is the impact the exoneration has on the politician’s trajectory. It’s kind of the spine of the story; and while RECTIFY deals with Senator Foulkes’ story, it’s not necessarily central to Daniel’s journey, per se—says me anyway. But I do love that Ray and I overlapped themes here, because the role that prosecutorial ego and arrogance plays in wrongful conviction cases is often seminal and undeniable. Michael O’Neill is also a friend of mine from way back and I think he is perfection in the role of Foulkes.

The aspect of RECTIFY that I love is that it explores the entire journey of coming home and resuming life after this event of wrongful conviction and exoneration. It feels, for me in a very personal way, like a companion piece to my movie

In Ray I feel a kinship of a conversation about these themes.

was nominated for the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2006. What was your experience like at Sundance?

A: It was a complete experience that held all the ups and downs, triumphs and tribulations of life. It was one of the greatest artistic connections of my life, getting to share the movie with people and experiencing the range of intense responses. And yet the film was, let’s say, “un-embraced” critically and didn’t sell outright. And so that was a massive disappointment. For every high, there was a low. For a first time director, Sundance can be this epic experience that you either use to propel you onward or you never recover from! Fortunately, in time comes perspective and after the rest of the year of sharing the movie around the country and world at the endless cocktail party of festivals and such, I got my act together and moved on.

Q: Your character Chris Nelms brings new information to light about the Hanna Dean case. Do you think he knows even more than he’s saying?

A: I do. I hope the character comes back in Season 4 for further revelation…

Q: Which character in RECTIFY is most like you?

A: Chris Nelms. I can relate deeply to having lived a life, in certain respects, as a reaction to feeling like I needed to make up for failings and such. To me that’s very real life—stuff that I relate to.

A: I’m in the process of trying to get a couple of TV spec pilots sold, the first substantial things I’ve put out since my film,

So, I’m very excited for their prospects. But my goal is to move into the super dynamic TV space right now and do something akin to the actor-turned-showrunner thing that Ray McKinnon has done—that’s why and how Ray and RECTIFY have been such a great and awesome inspiration to me.

Need to catch up on RECTIFY? Find out where to watch.

Tags: chris nelms / paul fitzgerald / Rectify / rectify interview

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