FINN LITTLE Dutton Ranch Australian actor talks YELLOWSTONE

Finn Little is back as Carter in DUTTON RANCH a Yellowstone spin off series adding to the western legacy. Enjoy our conversation on behind the scenes, working with Taylor Sheridan since the film THOSE WHO WISH ME DEAD and more including the Aussie actor's love of photography, 35mm film. 

on Paramount+ DUTTON RANCH also starring Ed Harris, Annette Bening, Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Jai Courtney, Dale Dickey, Olga Aguilar.

https://youtube.com/@movieanalystshaneadambassett?si=nZyw5fHIS4t_KgXj

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Montana will always be our home. We got an opportunity. Start over. Texas.

SPEAKER_01 0:14

We gave this place all we got that way. You bought the Edwards ranch. It's the Dutton ranch now. Two names are as revered as Dutton, but real Paloma's my palons, and I work very hard to protect it.

SPEAKER_00 0:47

We don't know what the hell we're doing.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

I'm looking like a man. We need to find out what they know. It gets more complicated.

SPEAKER_00 1:08

It's either one of you want to walk again.

SPEAKER_01 1:16

Where's the party? It looks like you're all expecting cover. And they're gonna get that.

SPEAKER_00 2:00

Uh yes, that'll be on uh Paramount Plus. And it is, of course, Dutton Ranch. A spin-off from Yellowstone. One of many spin-offs from Yellowstone. By the way, hello. My name is Shane A. Bassett, your host. Thanks for joining me on another edition of City Critique. And I had a chance to speak with Finn Little, my fellow Australian. Yes, an actor in well, he's part of uh part of Yellowstone now. In in Indeep. I could I could happily say without spoiling too much, uh he is definitely got more to do in Dutton Ranch. Uh he crosses over into this series along with Cole Hauser, Kelly Riley, you got Annette Benning and Ed Harris joining the cast, and another Aussie called Jai Courtney. Oh yeah, Jai Courtney, who I think is quite funny. Finn makes uh makes a little uh an observation about Jai in our conversation. So I hope you enjoy that because of course they starred together in Stormboy. The remake of the classic Australian film was uh made again and both Finn Little and Finn played Stormboy and Ed J was in it uh from a few years ago. Are you a Yellowstone fan? Well I'll give my opinion on Yellowstone when it uh well after the I haven't seen all the episodes yet, by the way. I've only seen a handful, not the whole season, but I will give my opinion on that so far at the end of the interview, but uh you know, without much further ado, here is uh Finn Little who's got like a a long career ahead of him, I would guess. Uh and those who wish me dead from 2021 uh is brought up in our conversation too, and Angelina Jolie uh is one of my all-time favourite actors, and uh yeah, it was good to uh hear a little bit about that too. And before we start, if you're looking for more of me, you can uh look up on social media at movie underscore analyst YouTube channel movie analyst Shane Adam Bassett, where you will see this interview if you'd rather watch the video, and you can uh hear me on radio, see me on TV occasionally, and uh maybe spot me in the second or third row from the front at your local cinema.

SPEAKER_01 5:05

Thank you very much, nice to meet you too, Shane.

SPEAKER_00 5:07

Uh I was gonna call you Stormboy, but I won't do that.

SPEAKER_01 5:11

Alrighty, long time ago.

SPEAKER_00 5:12

Still him though. Yeah, of course, of course. Uh you're a Queenslander, uh, just come back from Queensland. What is in the water up there with all the great talent that's coming out of Queensland acting and filmmakers?

SPEAKER_01 5:24

Not sure. It's some something good, I'm sure. Um, yeah, a lot of great talent coming out of Queensland lately. It's very exciting. Exciting for Australia, exciting for the industry.

SPEAKER_00 5:33

Yeah, true. So true. I love um networking with Australian filmmakers and actors because we just uh compare it all around the world, top class. Yeah. Uh were you naturally comfortable uh around horses, or was that a uh something was a prerequisite before you got the part, uh, you know, in the in the whole Yellowstone saga and Dutton Ranch?

SPEAKER_01 5:55

Yeah, no, I've always loved working with animals. Um I never rode any horses or anything before I before my first season on Yellowstone, so I learned to ride uh while I was there, but now I'm very comfortable. I love it. Uh yeah. It's a great part of the job, just riding.

SPEAKER_00 6:11

Yeah. Uh was it a prerequisite before you got the uh the rollers carter, you know? Did you did they ask about horse riding or was it something that just came up?

SPEAKER_01 6:22

No, I don't I think they may have asked if I'd had any experience, but I I didn't have any experience. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:27

Yeah. So no screen tests with uh any horses.

SPEAKER_01 6:32

No, no screen tests, just uh threw me on and yeah, good stuff. That was good, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:38

Um, so I know the ranch in the show, Dunton Ranch, at least is 7,000 acres, I believe. Uh what's the location like of shooting? I mean, is it uh in different places that are all in one area? Describe it to you.

SPEAKER_01 6:54

No, the the ranch that we filmed on was quite big. There was quite a lot of space on there to film um scenes that had to be on the ranch. Um what else was there? I don't know. There there was um the house itself on the ranch um is not the interior. The interior was shot on a on a stage in in Fort Worth, Texas. But uh yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:20

Um we won't give spoilers away, but the season, the first episode of uh Dutton Ranch sort of starts with a huge fire and an action scene almost. But how was that? You know, just to film it around fire must be very difficult because it looked real, maybe it wasn't.

SPEAKER_01 7:37

Yeah. Um, I actually filmed quite a lot around fire on um another film I did with Taylor Sheridan, my first film with him, uh Those Who Wish Me Dead.

SPEAKER_00 7:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:47

Um that was about a big forest fire. But um this this time there wasn't too much uh real fire, so nothing to be scared of.

SPEAKER_00 7:56

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 7:57

Um, but yeah, it was great. I got to take another trip back out to Montana uh to do those scenes. So I loved it.

SPEAKER_00 8:04

Yeah. Any injuries, mate? Uh do you have you ever suffered any injuries filming any uh parts during, you know, have you streams or have you got stunt stunt doubles?

SPEAKER_01 8:17

Um I've got stunt doubles that keep me safe for a lot of uh stunts in my work. There's a few this season as well where they had to use some stunt doubles. Um I got to do some stuff this season as well. Oh my god. Um stunts, which I'm very happy about. I love I do love doing my own stunts, but I do also understand that you have to be safe because if you get hurt, you know, production can pause for a while. Um uh yeah, yeah. Sorry, I forgot I totally forgot. No, that's all right.

SPEAKER_00 8:47

I was just wondering if you suffered any injuries, that's all.

SPEAKER_01 8:49

Any injuries, no, no, no injuries uh on set. I did have uh in season five, I did tear my meniscus not too long before having to go though, and I had surgery like five or six weeks out from traveling to Montana. So had to deal with that a little bit in season five, but no, no, no injuries on set. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:11

Does it push limits to your acting ability when you've got to be around these wonderful actors? You support, you know, your cast around you, and then being in costume, does it just help with your acting?

SPEAKER_01 9:23

Yeah, it really gets you into it, especially having such great co-stars, um, like Annette Benning, uh Ed Harris, Kelly Riley, Cole Hauser. It really um makes you lift yourself up to to want to be uh you know performing as well as them.

SPEAKER_00 9:39

Do you remember when you first met Taylor at Sheridan? I mean, it was those uh those who wish you dead. Uh, but do you remember that meeting? And then did you think you'd still be working for him now?

SPEAKER_01 9:51

I do, yeah. That was was it 2019 or 2018? I went for the audition. Yeah. I flew to play uh to go meet with Angelina.

unknown 10:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:00

Um was in the room. And yeah, first time meeting him. I don't know. I was very, very nervous for that. I did not think that um, you know, so far down the line I'd still, you know, be in the same universe as him. But um sure, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:15

Well, speaking of that movie, you brought it up before, but Angelina, um, well, I think at the same age, Natalie is very similar in in some ways to her style and uh when Angelina was young. So I think your co-star Natalie's also you know, really wonderful too, and some great, you know, great scenes together.

SPEAKER_01 10:33

Yeah, no, I love Natalie. We had a lot, we had a lot to do together this season. Um, she's lovely. First time I met her, um I didn't know who she was. I didn't know who she was. She didn't like her introduced herself as um um what's her name in the show, Ariana. Yeah, um it took me a little bit to figure that out. But no, she's lovely. Um I uh yeah, first time I met her, she was so nice, I thought that she was like just putting it on. Like to be completely serious with you, I thought she was like not not very nice, but like getting to know her, she's actually she's a lovely person, just 24-7, just the nicest, nicest lady. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:13

Yeah, no, definitely, and and it works. The chemistry is there. Do you get recognized around town these days? You know, oh there's Finn, you know?

SPEAKER_01 11:23

No, no, catch up again. I I've had a few instances like over in the US, but I don't I think I've been recognized like one time in Australia. It was at an airport. Oh right.

SPEAKER_00 11:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:36

Just completely random. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:38

Um, have you had how have you changed as an actor coming through, like from um being a lot younger, appearing in films and television, and then to what you are now? Like, are you you know, do you think you're more mature, are you just more open, or are you the same guy acting?

SPEAKER_01 11:53

Um I wouldn't say that like I'd say I'm I'm trying to be more mature in um especially the roles that I'm taking and the way I'm trying to uh interpret those, but I'd say my process has always been the same. Um, you know, I don't really have a crazy, like I'm not method or anything. I just you know I learn my lines and I just have to feel uh feel that day. I never had any official acting uh training or anything. It's all just yeah, no, I've just uh just I have to feel it. If I can't feel it, it won't feel real to me. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:29

Belgius, something in the water in Queensland, it's worked.

SPEAKER_01 12:33

Yeah, it's they're putting something in it.

SPEAKER_00 12:35

Yeah. Uh what do you want people to get out of this show? There's been a lot of other Yellowstone spin-offs, but Dutton Ranch, I've seen the first couple of episodes. I know what impact it has, but in your own words, what do you think people will get out of this new series? Um try to be spoiler-free if you can though.

SPEAKER_01 12:58

Yeah, that's the thing, yeah. Um what will people get out of it? Look, I think it's gonna be very entertaining. Um there's I've already said this in a few other interviews, so I don't want to be too repetitive, but um there's absolutely a um like a Yellowstone hole, like since since the uh since the show ended. Um people, you know, people do want, I I believe, I believe there's an audience for it, and I think people are gonna be really happy because it does um it does feel like Yellowstone. The first four episodes that I've watched, it they they feel like uh Yellowstone, but there it's also different because it's in Texas. So there's a lot of it's it it will be quite different, I think, but I think people are gonna uh get used to that and really like it.

SPEAKER_00 13:42

Uh tragedies, sadness, action, it's got it all, right?

SPEAKER_01 13:46

Yes, yeah, all of that. All the classic Yellowstone.

SPEAKER_00 13:50

And Ed Harris. I mean, come on. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:53

Yeah, no, Ed's lovely. I got to do, I got to do a scene with him. It was awesome.

SPEAKER_00 13:57

Yeah, was that? Did was it intimidating, or you just you were just yourself?

SPEAKER_01 14:02

Um, a little bit. I'd say it was a little intimidating, but after a few takes, just eased into it. And uh yeah, he's so great. He's so such a professional, really.

SPEAKER_00 14:13

And do you think there'll be another spin-off concerning you, maybe later in years? Your story? Well, maybe.

SPEAKER_01 14:21

I don't think we're there yet. Of course, you know, it's never never never close that door. I'm sure that that would be that that could be something to explore. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:31

Two more quick ones before we wrap it up. Is Finn a traditional family name, or were you just you named it because your parents liked that name? Is it is it?

SPEAKER_01 14:40

Um no. It doesn't run in the family or anything. I just mum liked it, I guess. Yeah. That's good. A lot of films coming out today.

SPEAKER_00 14:47

Yeah. Yeah. And uh what do you do outside of acting and performing? Like uh, do you surf? Do you write? What what do you do, mate?

SPEAKER_01 14:56

Uh, what do I do? Um I do a lot of jujitsu. Go to the movies, Brazilian jujitsu. I do I train Brazilian jujitsu quite a bit. Um, I like to fish. Okay. Um I like to do photography, especially that's that's more when I travel. Yeah. Um, but I I'm very passionate about photography. Um yeah, that's that's that's a few of the few of the things um I like.

SPEAKER_00 15:22

The the great actor Jeff Bridges loves photography, and ever since he was very young, he always took set photos on set. That's something that you you could do.

SPEAKER_01 15:30

Yeah, no, I've just recently gotten into um film, 35mm film, and I've taken some photos on set and got them developed and they look great. Might show show some of them off soon.

SPEAKER_00 15:41

Yeah, you might end up being a cinematographer of some description someday.

SPEAKER_01 15:45

Yeah, maybe. I mean, I'm passionate, I'm very passionate about cameras. I do love um I do love photography, so could I never never say no to it, you know?

SPEAKER_00 15:55

Never say never. And the great Jai Courtney, of course. Uh he was in Storm Boy and he's also in Dutton Ridge.

SPEAKER_01 16:02

Yeah, I had no idea when I uh my first day, not on set, but we went a little early to do cowboy camp. So everyone comes together and rides horses and ropes and you know, do all the typical cowboy things.

SPEAKER_00 16:15

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 16:15

Um, yeah, I had no idea that Jai was gonna be there. So I just turned a corner. There was Jai Portney, and I just went, What? You know, so that was great, great to reconnect with him. Um, he's done a great job this season, um, from the few things that I've seen. Uh first few episodes. Pretty scary guy in this one.

SPEAKER_00 16:33

I totally agree. Uh I'm talking to him tomorrow, so uh I'm looking forward to reconnecting with him too. He's a great guy and a good actor.

SPEAKER_01 16:40

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 16:42

So you, Finn, thank you so much for your time, mate. I know you're busy and I really appreciate it. Um, all the best for Dutton Ranch, and hopefully we'll cross paths at some point another day.

SPEAKER_01 16:51

Oh, awesome. Thank you, Shane. I appreciate it. That's good.

SPEAKER_00 16:54

Good luck and congratulations. Uh yes, thank you very much to Finn Little. I hope you enjoyed our conversation. Brief but very informative. I thought it was uh really interesting to have a chat to him. And what do I think of Dutton Ranch so far? Well, I've seen four episodes and it's pretty good. I mean, it starts off huge. And as much as I like Yellowstone and the legacy and the uh spin-offs and the generational uh story arcs, maybe they need to have a little rest about bringing back Finn's character as an adult, maybe in a few years. I mean he's an adult now, but you know, more developed and into the story and integrated. I don't know what happens at the end of the Dutton Ranch yet. So maybe you know that's what's gonna be indicated. However, someone like Ed Harris and and Ed Benning in the cast, Joy Courtney, as I said, and then Kelly Riley is so good, Cole Hauser and just the smaller characters that come in and out of Dutton Ranch different. They're good, but they're different. I heard that uh said before, but Dutton Ranch, I think Yellowstone fans are still gonna be very happy with it, but maybe they just need a break from all the milking of the different uh series. But maybe not. Maybe it's gonna be massive and people will appreciate Taylor Sheridan as they always do. But anyway, but I think he's uh on a winner with just about everything he does, Taylor. Well, thanks very much for listening. Uh this is uh Cine Critique Podcast. Uh I'm Shane, Shane A Bassett, and uh see you at the movies at live for now.