HOUSE OF CARDS is the US interpretation of a British mini-series of the same name from 1990. Starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, the show premiered all 13 episodes through Netflix on 1st February 2013. It focuses on Francis Underwood, a political figure with his eyes set on becoming president. But when he is passed over for the opportunity of becoming Secretary of State, he uses his sinister and conniving mind to enact his revenge.
THN are very lucky to be able to bring you this exclusive interview with the show’s creator, Beau Willimon.
Q: How did you get involved with this production?
A: About three years ago, I was approached by David Fincher to see if I would be interested in working on House of Cards. I had not seen the BBC original, so that was a great excuse to watch it, and I loved it. But to be honest, writing this was a no-brainer. I’d always been a huge fan of David’s.
Q: How would you describe the character of Francis?
A: He is absolutely honest about wanting power for power’s sake. He tells us that to our face. Whether the end justifies the means is for the audience to decide
Q: Why do we like Francis, even though he’s so obviously evil?
A: Orson Welles once said that all of Shakespeare’s greatest characters of villains – Richard III, Macbeth, Hamlet. There is something delicious about villains. Through a villain, we get to access parts of ourselves that we don’t usually exhibit. Francis is someone who won’t play by the rules. Through him, we get to see a vengeful and duplicitous side that may lie within us. There is an element of wish fulfilment there. He shines a light on the darker, more primal elements of ourselves that all great drama is trying to illuminate. Who wants to watch a goody two shoes? Place that in the hands of Kevin Spacey – someone who has made a career out of three-dimensional villains – and you have a recipe for great drama and great entertainment.
Q: Is the character of Francis based on any real-life politician?
A: No. I keep my eye on the news, but he’s not based on anyone in particular. There are aspects of Francis where people might think, “That reminds me of that incident.” However, there are no direct parallels. I based him not on real politicians, but on people from everyday life.
Q: What was Kevin like to work with?
A: He’s a joy. He has an incredible work ethic. He worked his tail off. He was in nearly every day of 160-day shoot. He has innate talent and is a real leader. People want to work harder when they know they have a star who displays such leadership. He also has a wonderful dark sense of humour and gets everyone laughing. That’s important on set when people are working 16 hours a day. You want someone mischievous like Kevin to keep things light and put a smile on people’s faces when they’re working 100 hours a week. He’s a great morale booster.
Q: You have a huge breadth of political knowledge. Where does that come from?
A: I’ve worked on a number of political campaigns over the years. When I was a 21, I worked on a Senate campaign, and I went on to work on two presidential campaigns. I was low down the totem pole, but it was an amazing experience.
Q: How did you become part of those campaigns?
A: I had nothing better to do! I was at college, failing miserably to learn German. So when my best friend, Jay Carson – about whom I wrote The Ides of March – asked me to help with a political campaign, I immediately said yes. I fell in love with it at once. At that age, you believe you can change the world. The median age of people working on those campaigns is 24. It’s young people getting the powerful elected. It’s an addictive and a seductive process. It’s heartbreaking when you lose, but one of the greatest highs when you win.
Q: Did you tap a lot of your old political contacts for research purposes?
A: Yes. During the production of House of Cards, we talked to numerous people in Washington to make sure that everything was authentic and that the stories either had happened, or could have happened. We sometimes portray extreme stories, but everything is always plausible.
Q: Do you take a cynical approach to politics?
A: A lot of people ask me that, but if anything, I’m an optimist. I believe in the political process. It can become gridlocked, but it’s the best process we have. I don’t take a cynical approach to politics – I take a realistic approach. I think a lot of people don’t take such a realistic approach. We expect politicians to be bastions of morality. We want them to be saints and to get things done. But sometimes to get things done, you have to take morally abhorrent decisions like sending soldiers to war. Those two expectations don’t mix well in the martini glass. We blame politicians for hypocrisy, but we demand that they be so.
Q: Were you at all influenced by that other great American political TV drama, The West Wing?
A: No. I love The West Wing. It is one of the best examples of TV making, period – not just in the realms of politics. It was smart TV that took its audience very seriously. That was a noble fantasy about good people trying to do good things. But we’re 180 degrees different. We have to come at the story from a different angle.
Q: Tell us more.
A: TV has become extremely sophisticated. It’s a high art form now. To begin with, people saw TV as mass entertainment. But it’s become the place where great artists such as David Fincher, Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright work because they have the opportunity to tell complicated, risky stories. With House of Cards, we have created complex characters and explore aspects that surprise you. Francis and Claire may seem sociopathic, but they’re not limited. Over 24 episodes, you will see all shades. They’re three-dimensional people who have many facets to them. We show that people are constantly changing. We shy away from providing concrete answers about why characters have become who they are. It’s much more exciting to show who they are now.
Q: What are the benefits of being on Netflix?
A: A lot of TV shows have to create superficial cliffhangers and struggle to survive. But we knew at the beginning that we had 26 hours guaranteed, so we could concentrate on character development and complex storytelling. The experience has been incredible. Netflix have been a great partner because they have given us an unprecedented amount of creative freedom. They placed faith in us. They said, “Tell the story you want to tell and we’ll get it out to the world.” They never breathed down our necks. They allowed us to make bold choices.
Q: Do you think the divide between TV and the Internet will melt away?
A: Yes. Any distinction between TV and the internet will fall away within five years. Everything will be streamed by then. With Netflix, you can watch something where and when you want. It’s empowering the audience, and that makes it a much richer viewing experience.
House of Cards is out on Blu-ray & DVD now from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and reviewed here.
