Why WA acting prodigy yelled at Hollywood legend on film set
Putting Yallingup's iconic surf breaks up in lights — and on the map for international wave chasers — the film follows the return of Cage's Americanised character to his childhood beach as he attempts to reclaim his home, and respect from local surfers.
Bingham, 20, whose character antagonises Cage, told PerthNow he loved every minute on set, despite not personally relating to his character who is part of a group of bully boys.
Your local paper, whenever you want it. James Edward Bingham, Austen Wilmot & Talon Hopper. Credit: David Dare Parker / Photograph by David Dare Parker
'We're stupid and we don't really know what we're doing,' Bingham, who lives in Jandakot, said.
'We just terrorise everyone who comes on our beach and we force them out, we're just young grommets really.
'There was a lot of bullying going on so it was hard to tap into that.
'I didn't relate as much as I wanted to but it was cool stepping into someone you aren't. And it turned out to be lots of fun yelling at Nic Cage.
'It was really a dream come true.
'It was like being in the best acting masterclass. I was so proud to be filming at home and Nic is at his best, he showed that he has such a good work ethic and he was so professional.'
The Surfer, directed by Lorcan Finnegan and written by Thomas Martin, hits Australian cinemas on May 15. The Surfer starring Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage. Credit: Supplied
Bingham has been acting since he was cast in his primary school musical, The Sound of Music, as Kurt von Trapp.
By the age of eight he was undertaking acting and voice and accent training at Ali Roberts Studio in Mt Hawthorn.
He graduated from All Saints College in 2022 and now studies music at SAE University College in Northbridge.
At 14, Bingham got an acting break when he was cast from a worldwide search to play Drew Murphy in Apple TV's Swagger — a series based on the early life experiences of basketball great, Kevin Durant.
'I didn't think much of it and I sent through a tape, I came home from school and Dad and Mum said we're going on a plane to Hollywood tonight,' he said.
'It was incredible and then I did the audition for them over there and was lucky enough to be selected and that was a great chapter in my life.' James Bingham from Jandakot will be starring in the new move, The Surfer. Andrew Ritchie Credit: Andrew Ritchie / The West Australian
Bingham said he had pretty limited understanding of basketball before filming Swagger and similarly, he wasn't too familiar with waves before The Surfer — but that didn't hold the young gun back.
'I had never surfed in my life,' he said.
'I try and put myself in situations that make me uncomfortable even if I can't stand it. I don't like it but I know it's good for me. I know that makes you a better person in the end.'
Bingham hopes The Surfer can help boost his portfolio as he aims to combine his passion for acting and music and secure a spot on Broadway.
'My dream is to actually go over to the United Kingdom for a bit and do a bit of stuff . . . I feel like I'm getting a call from the universe to give it a crack over there.'
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