Joining the likes of Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Chris Pratt, and up-and-coming Native American actor Martin Sensmeier in “The Magnificent Seven” were hundreds of local talent including actors John Wylie and Vic Browder, who have both moved up from working as background talent to playing featured roles. Wylie first started in background back in 1976 when “extras” was the prevailing term. Some of the highlights of his time on set include meeting Woody Harrelson in “No Country for Old Men,” spending three days working on “Breaking Bad” and, perhaps most memorably, a day working on the film “Haywire,” where he recalls director Steven Soderbergh climbing in the back of a set car and whispering lines to star Gina Corano. “Doing the scene in ‘Magnificent Seven’ with Denzel [Washington] was unforgettable,” he says. Audiences will next see Wylie in a recurring role in the Netflix original mini-series “Godless,” where he’ll share the screen with Sam Waterson.
New Mexico Stars in Several New Films
For his part, Vic Browder says, “Getting to play the role of Arcade Jones in ‘The Magnificent Seven’ was like playing a grown-up version of Cowboys and Indians.” Drawn to acting by the lure of being able to play varied characters, he relished the chance to take up the role of the anti-hero in this film. After 30 years in the industry and having worked everywhere from London to
New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Florida and throughout the Southwest, he says, “I love New Mexico, and I get more work here than I would in any of the other markets.” Chris Pine and Ben Foster led the cast of “Hell or High Water.” In the movie, dubbed “the year’s best film” by the Chicago Sun Times and “a five-star movie” by USA Today, Santa Fe’s own Debrianna Mansini once again shared the screen with the impeccable Jeff Bridges in the contemporary western drama “Hell or High Water.” Mansini and Bridges worked together before in the 2009 Oscarwinning New Mexico film “Crazy Heart.” “Director David Mackenzie created a beautiful, respectful environment on set which was a delight to work on,” Mansini says. It was her role as Fran the waitress in “Breaking Bad” that invariably led to her recurring role as the same character in the show’s prequel, “Better Call Saul.” Mansini plays a saucy waitress in “Hell or High Water”—a role for which her model looks and previous experience prepared her. Locals can also catch Mansini in 2017 in her gripping, autobiographical, one-woman play “The Meatball Chronicles,” expertly directed by Tanya Taylor Rubinstein. “Hell or High Water” and “The Magnificent Seven” are both showing at local theaters, and offer the chance to appreciate New Mexico’s exceptional vistas on the big screen.
By Christa Valdez
Perhaps nothing captures the sweeping beauty and breadth of New Mexico better than a western genre film or television series. This past summer, our state played a pivotal role in two silver screen versions of the West. A who’s who of Hollywood elite joined a diverse local ensemble for the latest film adaptation of the Akira Kurosawa novel The Seven Samurai. “The Magnificent Seven,” directed by Antoine Fuqua, was shot at Eaves Movie Ranch just south of Santa Fe as well as in Galisteo, New Mexico.
MAIN PICTURE: Eaves Movie Ranch, Photo by Colin Smith TOP: Photo courtesy VVS Films BOTTOM L–R: Vic Browder, Debrianna Mansini, John Wylie NOTE: Browder and Wylie are represented by New Mexico talent agent Carissa Mitchell. Mansini is represented by Lynette O’Connor, owner of the O’Agency in Albuquerque