On the most recent episode of Revival, “Reality Check,” Dana (Melanie Scrofano) continues to investigate her sister Em (Romy Weltman)’s death, learning that she stole drugs from the Check brothers, potentially putting herself in danger before her death. During Terry Dittman’s funeral at the church, the Reviver Arlene (Nicky Guadagni) attacks and kills her son-in-law, Bob (Derek McGrath) to get to the casket of her daughter, but Blaine Abel (Steven Ogg) arrives and sets the casket on fire, stopping Arlene, at least for the time being. The incident intensifies the crisis, leading to urgent discussions among the arriving Governor Harris (Shauna MacDonald) and the town leaders, which has Sheriff Cypress (David James Elliott) advocating for harsh new policies that include registration and aggressive containment measures. The governor agrees to crackdown on the Revivers, leaving their future uncertain.

Recently, Elliott spoke with SciFi Vision about working on the series, building the character, and more.

Watch the interview and read the transcript below.



***edited for clarity and length***

SCIFI VISION:   What was it that attracted you to the role? What made you want to do it?

DAVID JAMES ELLIOTT:   I loved the character. I read the pilot, and it read great. I mean, I loved [it], and I thought it really was a terrific pilot.

And the character was very interesting for me. It's something I hadn't quite played before. So, it was exciting for me. That's why I liked it.

I was not familiar with the comics. I'm not a graphic comic reader, but, I love the story and the genre and, you know, I just dug it. I have not played in the science fiction world much in my career.

SCIFI VISION:   Have you since read the comics? I know you said you didn't before, but have you since?

DAVID JAMES ELLIOTT:   I have the compendium right here.

SCIFI VISION:   Awesome. Where other than I guess the script and the comics, did you kind of pull from? Was there anywhere else that you added to him?

DAVID JAMES ELLIOTT:   Yeah, certainly. I pulled from my life. I mean, I have I have two children that are ten years apart. I have a boy and a girl, but I worked for my father when I was younger, and, you know, I remember looking at [and] watching the frustration that he had. So, I was definitely able to draw on that with the Dana character, you know, with Melanie. So, that was fun for me, and, I mean, ultimately, we just draw from our own life anyway, right? Put yourself in a situation like that. I mean, the character is certainly not me, but there are elements of me that are - that I can relate to this character with and draw from and build on.

SCIFI VISION:   Was there anything else you did preparation wise? I mean, law enforcement, that kind of thing.

DAVID JAMES ELLIOTT:   I mean, I've spent a lot of time with law enforcement. I've gone out on, on calls. I've gone out with the FBI. Many times I've gone out with police. I have got friends who are cops. We got to spend about a week. We got in - or I got in about a week, week and a half before we started shooting as did the other actors, and we spent a lot of time talking about characters and story with with Aaron and Luke. We'd spend hours a day in there. So, it helped. It really helped with building relationships and dynamics and, you know, airing all the questions and understanding other people's takes on their characters and the story. So, it was really helpful and on building chemistry certainly. And it was fun and a great experience. It was like doing a play and that, you know, we had that kind of rehearsal time.

SCIFI VISION:   So, talk about working with the cast.

DAVID JAMES ELLIOTT:   Well, yeah, I loved - you know, everybody had their own kind of - because we're all individuals. I mean, I was not familiar with any of these actors other than Steven Ogg, who I had met because we were both in a show called Heels a couple of years back, about wrestling. So, I met him. I didn't work with him, but I met him, and, you know, I loved working with them.

They were all terrific actors, and they really came to play, and everybody was all in and nobody was phoning it in, and they were all taking it very seriously. So, it was a great work environment in that respect, and that's certainly not always the case it's been in my experience. So, it's great with people who are very enthusiastic, and I tell you the most enthusiastic was. Romy. She was just over the moon, man. So, it was fun to be around, and Melanie is a very funny person, interesting character in real life. I don't know, you know, it was fun. It was fun. Andy [McQueen] is a very keen guy, a good, really wonderful actor. And everybody took their roles very seriously, and we all kept digging, and we talk about stuff, and Aaron and Luke were always available. So, I spent a lot of time digging in with them, you know, going in with questions or phoning late at night. It was a great collaboration. It was really terrific to be a part of, and I hope we go a second season. I hope it's received as well as, you know, as we were excited to put it out.

SCIFI VISION:   Yeah, well, I enjoyed it anyway. I know you said you pulled some from yourself and everything, but was there any part of him that you had difficulty connecting with?

DAVID JAMES ELLIOTT:   You know, uh, no, I mean, other than putting myself in this insane situation. I mean, other than that, but, you know, you always draw - I mean, I've been blessed with a rich life as far as experience goes, and I got to draw from that. I got to draw from my childhood. I got to draw from the dynamic that I have with my kids, from the dynamic I had with my father. And then you take all of that and you put yourself in the environment, and I would spend time drawing up a past, and I'd run some of it by Aaron and Luke. And we talk about, you know, history that it doesn't really enter into the story, but it plays within, and it helps to build a well-rounded character and a believable, seated person. So, you know, so in that respect, that's how I did.