The Lostpedia Interview:Christian Bowman
From Lostpedia
- Sam McPherson is responsible for this interview.
Christian Bowman is an actor who portrayed Flight 815 survivor Steve, as well as the corpse of Scott. This interview was conducted over email.
Lostpedia: Do you watch Lost? If so, are you a casual fan or a hardcore viewer? Do you have any favorite character?
To be honest, I dont watch that much tv. I have seen the first season but have regretfully not been able to follow it. My favorite character is Locke though!
Lostpedia: Were there ever any mix-ups on set on who played Scott and who played Steve? As of "Homecoming," you and Dustin Watchman appeared to have swapped roles, which your "corpse" being used for Scott, and with Dustin continuing to portray Steve. How did this come about?
There was a mix up indeed. I had met Jack Bender and auditioned for the part of Steve and got the role. When I was on set, Jack had decided to give one of the extra's a 'bump'. This extra was Dustin Watchman. When the Homecoming script was released, the writers were unaware that I was the actor who had played Steve and wrote that I would be killed. Obviously I was sad as I absolutely loved my time on Lost, but I looked forward to it. I think, and I could be wrong here, but I think the writers found out about the mix up and tried to submit the rewrite after I had already played the part. Therefore, Scott was murdered, but I, playing Steve, was buried and Scott was alive and present at his own funeral. At this point it took on another twist as part of the running joke between which one was Steve and which one was Scott. I'm thrilled that I was part of the cult aspect of the show and the first to be buried on the Island! Jack Bender decided to bring me back for a little part in Exodus Part 1 as well...
Lostpedia: During filming as a background actor, many scenes just appear to have the extras walking around, or engaging in normal activities. How scripted is the background actors' movement, or is it completely free?
Usually, background actors, or extras, are directed under the supervision of the 1st or 2nd Assistant Director. After the principle actors have rehearsed the scene and the cinematographer has coordinated the angles for the shots, the A.D.'s very carefully place and coordinate the Extra's movement.
Lostpedia: What do you think that Steve's backstory is? Have you created one?
Steve and Scott had a cut scene from "Raised By Another" that hints at their backstory. As I still receive residuals from the episode in the foreign tv market, I believe this footage is somewhere out there...
Lostpedia: Are there any memorable stories from your time on set?
Three really pop to mind: 1. My first introduction where I jump on the wing of the plane to say "I'm Steve", I cut my leg on the metal from the plane, but was so excited about the scene I forgot about it till I got home, when I was changing my leg was covered in blood and I was laughing about it.. 2. Homecoming's script called for me to be found face down in a tidal pool..only thing was we were filming on the north shore of Oahu during December when there were 30' waves. Kevin Hooks, the director, and I kept looking at the water and in the end, we moved locations and I was found face down in the sand. My son was at the University of Hawaii's day care at the time and someone decided to call in a bomb threat. So I had to rush down to get him right after filming the scene and the cast put a mannequin in the body bag to carry away and bury.. 3. There was a golf game that was being filmed in the same valley that Jurassic Park was filmed and it was so much fun... as Mathew Fox was rehearsing or perhaps they were rolling, he actually made the shot over some of the worst terrain a golfer could imagine and everyone was in shock.
Lostpedia: You have just finished writing a screenplay, entitled Dust. What can you tell us about the screenplay, and do you have any plans for it currently?
I have two screenplays, both based on true events from my own life. 1. Dust, the story about meeting my teenage years, meeting my girlfriend and traveling with her though Europe and Africa only to return to the US and get into a car accident that killed her and my mother. 2. Blue Skies- the story about taking a helping my uncle who was rehabilitating from a skydiving accident and the small skydiving company he started and turning it into a world class skydiving center only to have him die in a skysurfing accident while I re-examine my life. Both scripts are currently on hold as I haven't had the opportunity yet to revisit them.
Lostpedia: What other acting roles have you done since your time on Lost?
I have most recently finished a recurring character, Agent King, on Prison Break and am slated to film 2 movies so far this summer.
Lostpedia: Thanks again, Mr. Bowman.
Thanks!
