On this SNAPSHOTS edition, Apple TV+ will drop its new crime drama, Dope Thief, this Friday, March 14th. Based on Dennis Tafoya’s book of the same name, “Dope Thief” follows long-time Philly friends and delinquents who pose as DEA agents to rob an unknown house in the countryside, only to have their small-time grift become a life-and-death enterprise, as they unwittingly reveal and unravel the biggest hidden narcotics corridor on the Eastern seaboard.
I recently sat down with two of its stars, Marin Ireland and Amir Arison, to discuss their roles in the upcoming drama!
Marin & Amir, tell us about your roles, and did you both have the chance to read the book before taking on the project?
Amir Arison “Mark Nader” (AA): When I got the script, I was like, “I didn’t even realize it was based on a book.” When I found that, I started reading the book, sort of as research, and then I was like, “I’m not seeing my character in this,” I realized that my character was not in the book.
I had a lot to do, so I stopped reading the book. I got enough to get the world and the grit and move to Philadelphia for the show and the shoot, which really informed more than any research I could have done. And Peter was my ultimate resource for research. Peter wrote the whole series, knew everything about every character, and was so open to our reactions to it. The sign of a really confident writer is wanting to know what the actor’s input is, and willing to “oh, let’s change e to Philadelphia for the show and the shoot, which informed me. I like what you just said.”
Marin Ireland “Kristy Lynne” (MI): Well, when you meet Kristy Lynne, she’s not all that she appears to be, as I will say. She did have a way, was freeing for us, because then we didn’t have a problem with authority. I can also say that, she’s a badass, feral creature.
I did not know there was a book. I asked Peter Craig if I should read it once I got the part, and he said, “No, you’re not in it. You can read it. It’s a good book.” I actually read it when we wrapped. It’s such a great book, but my character is not in it. But maybe in a little way, it was freeing for us, because then we knew too closely about anything already written.
There’s a lot for the world, but Peter’s writing is so incredible. I think his sense of the whole story was also something we felt like there was a book about our characters.
Marin, I understand that you worked with a speech therapist for your character who experienced a larynx injury, and you practiced your lies with an electrolarynx. Talk to us about using this device to convey your voice.
MI: The electrolarynx was wild. I have a lot of weird videos on my phone of me practicing and trying to see what that looks and sounds like. I had to watch a lot of how-to videos about how to use an electrolarynx, in addition to working with the speech therapist. The speech therapist is primarily for all of the scenes where I don’t use the electrolarynx, because I had to sort of figure out a way to mimic an effect of a vocal cord paralysis, basically, without damaging my voice, so that I could stay consistent through the show, but also have a voice when the show was done.
And that was a challenge I never had before. It’s pretty hard to act when you can’t use your volume or make much pitch change. That’s what you really rely on as an actor. She was loud and clear. She did not need one ounce of voice to absolutely crush the scenes. It was still a tornado. I think I felt myself doing things like hitting walls, hitting things much more when I got upset than normal, because you wanted to express that some way or other.
Amir, you and Marin have a history of being in the NYC theatre circuit. How did you two meet and how has it grown since?
AA: I have no idea when we met. I remember knowing you, and it must have been at least 10- 15 years ago. You’re in the New York City theater scene. It’s all a blur. I’ve seen her in plays.
Everyone I know knows you…
MI: You knew one of my closest friends from college. So it’s been at least 10-15 years..
AA: It was very nice coming to set. I mean, 90% of my work in the series is opposite Marin. And having everyone we know in common, “Oh, did you see that play, or I heard that story? Or did you know that?” So our intakes, I was really like, theater supportive, checking in after, “oh is that okay? Are you good?” She was really supportive. I felt really it was just fun. Even with the dark stuff, it was fun between takes. We’re just gab, gab, gab. I recommend work with this one so easy.
Apple TV+’s new crime drama series “Dope Thief” – see it when it drops on Friday, March 14
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