Hey Reddit! My name is Brad Carter. I played "Charlie Lange" on HBOs TRUE DETECTIVE. I Had 2 brain surgeries last year, one of which I played guitar during and inadvertently made history and world news. I successfully funded a kickstarter to recor...

"talking bout, she met 'a king'."

you crushed that role bro. held the screen with a couple of giants!

Thank you!

This was the most memorable line in the season. Thank you for making it awesome.

Thank you for that.

Yeah, your accent was probably one of the best in the show. Did you work with a dialect coach or just pick that up on your own?

Thanks! I just figured it out. I tried to do my best to keep him regional to a specific place in my mind. The writing helped as well., Nics writing helped lean him that way and I just took it further.

Look man, Reggie's crazy like for real!

ha! He's actually a really cool guy in real life. Charlie Halford. We became friends on twitter and actually watched the show together.

I wanted to get my mother interested in the show but she's not a fan of Woody or Matthew McConaughey (can't say I was until recently either). Your scenes really captured her. She loved your character and thought you did a great job with it. We watched the rest of the series together and obviously now have elevated opinions of Harrelson and McConaughey.

Oh thats great! Thank her for me! I'm such a Mammas boy. ;) Both those guys are hitting a new prime.

That's impressive. I thought they had picked up a L'eesiana native and let him riff on some of the scripted content. You did an awesome job convincing me!

Thanks very much. That is a great compliment for an actor!

I donated to the video! Lookin forward to it!

Oh wow! Thank you very much! it hasnt posted yet but I appreciate it!

I did it a while ago. We shot some tweets back and forth. Glad to see this AMA get some traction. It'd be bad ass to see Nic Pizalozatlotazolo(not even gonna act like I know how to spell it) use you and a lot of the other supporting cast in completely different rolls for the second season. Any chance of that?

I would love that but aint countin on it.

What was it like being able to work with Woddy Harrelson and Matthew mcconaughey?

The BEST! Working with them was like going to a master class in acting and professionalism. They are so seasoned and it makes you step your game up, or crumble. I hope I did the first.

i think you did man. I liked your small role in the show alot

Thanks very much!

I know you probably won't see this as your AMA is long over but I just wanted to say that your whole look and performance is a joy to watch, I love it when you show up in a role because you always are incredible.

Im still here. Im really sick in bed so just hanging out with you guys on here. Thanks for the nice compliment. I try.

Seriously man, you killed that role. I was just talking with my boss about the awesome acting in the show, and we both thought you were one of the best. You made that character want to be seen more in the series.

Edit: I hope you feel better and we see you in more stuff soon!

Dude great! Thanks! Tell HBO! lol

Yours was the one role in the show (other than Harrelson/McConnaghey) that I'll remember. You fuckin nailed it.

Like she could duck hunt with a rake.... HIGH.

THanks!

Hi. Just wanted to say, you were incredible in True Detective! And to hear what you recovered from is amazing as well, props to you! To my question, did you ever legitimately feel scared/intimidated when Matthew McConaughey or Rust interrogated you? He scared the crap out of me when I watched the show.. Thanks! :)

Thank you! No I wasnt scared, but what you didnt get to see was the takes where Woody beats the living shit out of me. lol We were like "lets go for it" and I was head butting him in the stomach and he was slapping me around and twisting my ear. for like 2 hours we did that, and wound up not using it. Im sad.

Ahhhhh you just made this guy squirm like a little fan girl. Stayed up all night (its 3am here) just to ask you. Why wouldn't they use those clips, they sound hilarious! Will rewatch the show another 50 times after this moment. Can't believe I got to directly ask an actor on my fave tv show from across the world. What an age we live in hey?

Yes very cool! I guess they just didnt serve the vision in the end. I hope to one day get my hands on em, but aint holdin my breath. Thanks for staying up! Please sign up at my website so I can let you know about the album! Thank you!

That's terrible they cut it out. I would have loved to see it (poor you, though). Do you know if there will be a lot of deleted scenes on the DVD?

I have no idea what to expect on the DVD. I doubt they will show that though.

Having married into a Louisiana family (I'm from Washington, DC), I always hear complaints about Southern accents in movies and tv shows. When you appeared on the show, my wife turned to me and said "this guy nailed it." Her father said the same thing too, and he refuses to watch House of Cards just because of Kevin Spacey's accent in the show.

No question today, just wanted to say thanks for bringing a small character to life so vividly with such a great attention to detail. It's just one of the numerous small examples of why the show looked and felt so great.

THANK YOU! I cannot tell you how much I HATE that about this business. The south gets little respect as it is, and to think anyone can paint on a "Gone with the wind" drawl and get the subtle nuances correct drives me crazy. I can't watch "Walking Dead". Hollywood seems to think that if you aren't from Australia, or England that you aren't southern. There are thousands of great southern actors who get passed over constantly for roles. It's a problem. One of my goals is to bring authenticity to southern roles. Kevin Spaceys accent is horrible I agree. In "Midnight in the garden of good and evil" his character is supposed to be from Macon, Ga. Well, I am from Macon and his accent is shit. I sat beside him in a restaurant the other day and he spilled a whole glass of water in his laptop and i wanted to say "Thats what you get for that shit accent".

Doesn't get much more candid than that!

Thank you very much for that, as a West Coast fellow I never considered how distressing it must be when someone gets an accent WRONG. We're quite spoiled here in Cali, that's for sure.

haha., can you tell it's a peeve?

I'm a Louisianian and I thought you were a native up until this AMA. I also complain a lot about the depiction of Southern accents, and that stereotypical Scarlett O'hara drawl in TV and film. True Blood, for instance. The lead actress is British and her plantation era drawl was probably actually taught to her by some voice coach.

The accents throughout True Detective were great and you did an excellent job. I loved how your speaking the name "The Yellow King" rolled off the tongue. Great moment in the show.

Thanks very much. That means the world to me :)

if you scroll down a bit you will find my answer to a question about accents and my feelings on it.

I'm dying here! This is awesome, and so true. I will say that, thankfully, Hollywood seems to be in the midst of some sort of Southern Renaissance, and is finally looking to cast shows and movies based there with real local talent, of which there really is no shortage.

yeah, now I have to worry about the competition;)

Do you feel like your personality changed after brain surgery?

Great question, No for me it didnt, but I hear that it happens and I was worried about it. Hopefully I didnt turn into an asshole and no one told me. lol

But did you notice any minor changes? Like, did any foods taste different post surgery?

No everything was good except my speech as a little funny for a bit.

Hi Brad, you were one of the stand outs among the bit players in the show. Your accent was brilliant and you brought a lot of intensity to the character, I cannot imagine any other actor playing the character the same way as you.

My first question is how did you land the role? Did you read one of the scenes you were in?

Second question is how long did you have to prepare for the role? Like I said above, it was a really impressive performance you gave.

Final question is how long did it take to film your scenes?

That video of you playing your custom guitar while doctors are poking around in your brain is pretty astounding. You seem pretty lucid, so I take it you weren't too doped up, but you also don't seem to be in any pain. What was that like?

Glad everything seems to be working out for you, you are a talented and gifted guy.

THank you! I auditioned twice over a 2 month period. I found out on my bday Dec. 5th 2012 that I got cast. I read both scenes. It was a very long audition. Nic, and Cary were both there the second time. They asked me to make an adjustment so I did the scenes twice. so as you can imagine it was a long one. Nic said he knew I had the part from the minute I opened my mouth. We shot in feb of 2013 so I had a while to get to know my material. However it was rewritten here and there which was tricky after I had learned it another way. Actually some of the original writing crept in to my takes and they kept some of it. It all started getting mixed together in my head. lol 14 hours. we did both scenes in one day. I was on set a total of 17 hours. In surgery they have to keep you awake and lucid so you arent drugged, but you are given a type of sedative to relax you. there are no pain receptors in the brain so they can poke around. it did however hurt horribly when they pierced the Dura (Sack around the brain) AWFUL

Thanks for answering, I have actually one final question.

How was the script treated on the show? Nic wrote it all himself, so were you guys forced to read exactly what was written or were you allowed to express your character using words not exactly written down?

I don't know why I didn't think of this question before.

Nic was really great about letting me reword things in a way that felt more authentic to me. SO you got some adlibbing on my part here and there to make the character more realistic. THis WAS GREAT! Usually on scripted TV they want you to stick to the writing no matter how wrong it might feel. This felt more like doing a film.

Brad I really appreciate your answers to this comment. Awesome insight.

great!

We JUST learned about the meningeal layers covering the brain. That is fascinating that you felt that part. I am going to ask my anatomy instructor about that. I've seen specimens of it and the dura is REALLY tough and fibrous.

Enjoyed your performance in True Detective and really happy for your procedure and recovery. That's awesome! So what part of the surgery were you unconscious for? If it was in the beginning, was it disconcerting being woken up in that halo/head brace?

I was in twilight for the drilling of the hole. I went out sometime during the screws being placed. When I came too it was just so strange and surreal that I kind of can't describe it. Sorry. Its like nothing else I know to compare. It's kind of like Im in this club of brain surgery people and were the only ones that understand what were talking about. My Surgeon thinks my particular spot where they went nto the dura happened to be a cluster of nerves that were particularly sensitive. Worst thing ever.

I actually have a picture from that exact moment.

a picture of your brain or a picture of your face while they were poking through that thing?

Both

This last scene in prison is an example of top notch acting from you. I rewatched a couple of times. Very powerful! Congratulations on your performance and wish you all the best.

THank you!

McConnaghy says in that scene "We aint gonna give you the oscar no matter how hard you try" But you should get it. Fuck McConnaghy.

Bahahah! Well, If only they gave Oscars for supporting characters on mini series. Thanks man

They are actually submitting to the golden globes as a tv show - drama. Not a mini series. We should start a campaign to get you nominated!!.

hey I like your attitude!

Do you still have the naked pictures of Dora?

Hahah! Reggie stuck them all together.

Did you know how the season would end ahead of time? Did you have theories?

Nope, I only got to read through first 5. I was glad so that I could be a fan with the rest of you guys. :)

oh thats cool! so since you had to watch the finale like the rest of us, who did you suspect was the real killer?

I actually never had a suspicion. My GF thought it was Marty for a while, but I didn't think that was right.

What's the funniest thing that happened on set?

Matthew kept telling me strange facts about Macon Ga. where I am from and I was believing him because he never cracks. I was all like "Really?" and then Woody busted out laughing and said "He's Bullshittin you man".

Were you super happy about Mercer's win against Duke?

pretty great! I have some best friends that went to Mercer.

Hey Brad, I just wanted to say that watching your portrayal of Charlie in TD might have been the first time in my life I've ever said "wow" out loud regarding someone's acting. Would have loved to see more of him! Definitely one of the highlights of the show, and my favorite character.

WOW thanks!!!!

how long did it take to shoot your scenes overall? Ive been rewatching these over again, and only enjoying more and more, your character has been portrayed so real, i just cant stand it, haha.

Hi Kristine! Guys this girl made an awesome painting of me! GO check it out! http://bradcarter.me/bradcarter.me/FAN_ART.html#0 It took 14 hours :)

Hi Brad! I can only thank you for the inspiration, and rephrasing Nic Pizzolatto, i cant start the painting till i know im in love with the idea and a character, sure you're familiar to this, as musician and creative person yourself as well!

Thank yoU! I get it ;)

I challenge you to a duel of your choice. Which is it and why?

Well I used to be a good shot till my tremor got bad. So maybe the first one to make out with Mila Kunis wins?

Oh fuck you.

hahaaa

What was it like working It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia?

THE BEST!!!! Actually it was my 2nd TV show ever and was really cool getting to see them all work up close. They are like an amazing well oiled machine. Actually Glen tweeted me not long ago during True Detective and was very complimentary. my twitter is @TheBradCarter

Your performance had me looking you up on IMDB right away. You were great.

Thank you so much!

You were superb as Charlie Lange as were all of the key supporting players...would you agree that TD reinvented television to a certain extent?

ABSOLUTELY Already I am hearing our show referenced when people are pitching new shows. I think it raised the bar for what scripted TV should be. I for one am extremely proud to be part.

I love the set up of the shower. Each season is different, so you know that anything can happen. The biggest pitfalls of my favorite shows (Dexter to be specific) is that they run too long and nose dive. TD stayed fresh and provided great closure.

agreed. England seems to have a better grip on having a show go out on top than we do.

Hi there. Charlie Lang was a great character! You made him so real--like we would have liked to watch his whole story as well. What is it like working on a TV show--how many takes do you do in a role like Charlie Lang? How often did they make you freak out about Reggie LaDoux? :)

THanks! We shot both my scenes in one day. It was raining in New Orleans so they were trying to do as many interiors as possible. I was on set a total of 17 hours. We shot around 14 of that. I was in EVERY scene so at the end you can imagine was quite exhausting to freak out about reggie for that long. I gladly earned my stripes that day. :)

That is a long day of LaDoux freak outs! Thank you for doing this AMA--so cool to "talk" with you and to hear about the show. Will be following your work (music and acting) for sure. Glad you are doing well post-surgery. Thank you!

THank yoU!

Damn 17 hours? That's an awful lot. Is this common to shoot conversation scenes so long?

Also thank you for your amazing portrayal of Charlie. I'm rewatching your scenes quite regularly

I would say we shot 14 hours., there is a lot of work that goes into getting all the angles and each persons coverage. this however is not common in quick turn around shows like CSI, they just dont have the time.

Brad, you were great in TD! And i just found out recently you were in one of my favorite games of all time RED DEAD REDEMPTION....awesome! How different is the experience of voice acting for a game compared to acting on TV or in a movie. Also what is/ or some of your favorite movies or tv series? Thanks man!

Edit: I also followed you on Twitter a while back, and you actually followed me back..never had a celebrity do something cool like that before. Thought that was great!

Wow thanks! Yeah I did that in 2009. It was so fun! It is AWESOMW wearing the motion Capture suit and seeing yourself up on the huge screen walking around as little balls. They would put boxes and stuff around and say, here is the door,. here is your cell, here is the horse. and you look up on screen and can see those things. CRAZY It is different for sure, but you are still acting and reacting to other characters. just in a whole different environment with other dudes with beards wearing tights. lol

I loved Breaking Bad Boardwalk Empire The Americans East Bound and Down Squidbillies Intervention Game of Thrones

I always loved the original star wars and Indiana Jones movies. They were the first movies I ever saw at a theater.

Wow thanks so much for the response and insight Brad, I really appreciate it! Keep up the great work man ..I'll keep watching and supporting! Cheers

THank yoU!

Thanks!

Your welcome. I suck on twitter and trying to get better at it. whats your handle?

My dad's having the same surgery you had in about a month. Any advice on how to prepare or knowledge about what the doctors don't tell you?

whats his condition? ET or Parkinsons?

Parkinson's

ok well that involves the Subthalamic nucleus. STN. I just want him to know that I am proud of him for doing what he can to get some relief, even though it is scary. I have said before, I would rather risk something going wrong to try and help myself over always wondering because I was scared. tell him I had to do it twice because it didnt work the first time. But dont let that scare him. had I not tried again I wouldnt have the good success I am getting now. Its not perfect but its sssoooooo much better. In fact if you write me at [email protected] I will take more time to answer this for you and he.

Who smells better, Matthew or Woody?

haha. well I know matthew gets a lot of grief for not using deoderant but I didnt notice.

Who was your favorite character in the show besides Charlie Lange obviously?

I loved both of the lead characters. I thought they had so many layers and it sucked me in. I really LOVED Shea Whigham as the Preacher. if you didnt see his full sermon uncut you should.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_y5AcBV0x0

I heard you and Reggie Mutherfuckin' Ledoux watch True Detective together. Is this true? If so, does he whisper weird shit to himself? I seriously hope you two are back for season 2.

Yep that's true. We became friends on Twitter after the first couple episodes. Charlie is actually working on a pilot in atlanta right now so we didnt get to watch the last ep together. He's a great guy we wont be back. :( All new cast.

You were one of the stand-out characters on the show, and I loved the scene where you were chained to the floor screaming about Reggie. Thanks for taking the time for an AMA. As both an actor and a fan of the show, what did you think of the one-take heist scene?

Thank you! I loved that scene! I was on the edge of my seat holding my breath and stressed out. Thats how you know somethings good.

I'd honestly never seen something like that on TV before. The intensity and the action, all flowing smoothly and uncut. I can't imagine how much work goes into something like that.

What kind of prep work did you do for Charlie? Your performance felt so natural and grounded - I honestly think you stole the scenes you were in.

Thanks! Nic and Cary left the accent up to me, so I struggled back and forth with doing a deep south accent closer to my own or more of a white trash with a sort of cajun influence. When I went to the table read a month earlier in new orleans I walked around talking to as many people as possible. Hoping to run into some of that amazing accent. I found this girl who blew my mind with her accent and I just tried to soak it up. In the south accents vary literally from county to county and Im used to that. In new orleans however they varied from person to person. It was AWESOME

Damn I'm late, but man, a New Orleans accent rolls over my ears like butter. It's like Brooklyn hooked up with Clarksdale, MS. You (and Rust) were my favorite characters. You fucking nailed that accent. My favorite line was, 'I mean he get you high man, but he's a creep. I ain't wanna know him". From another southerner from the delta, you nailed that shit.

Thanks brotha

Hi Brad,

Did you want the first season of TD to go on forever like me?

I don't think I've seen a show which is as compelling for a very long time.

yes I was sad to see it over so soon. Me an the guy who play Reggie, (Charlie Halford) became friends and actually watched together at my place. I think we both agreed that it was better to have a show like this with an ending. THere is a satisfaction in it that you dont get when show goes on and on and loses steam. This is why Im so glad breaking bad always had an ending in mind. It left me satisfied and not bitter. :)

Yeah, on second thoughts. I can't remember too many series that I have watched until the end.

Fine line between longevity and dragging it out I suppose. Either way I didn't want it to end and waited a week before watching the last two episodes as I knew there were no more after.

I will check out your music now that I am aware of it. Which do you recommend to check out first?

I am also a massive David Gilmour and Pink Floyd fan.

Great! Please sign up on my fan club botton and I will let you know when the album is available. Its going great and Im really excited about it. www.bradcartermusic.com www.bradcarter.me

Hey fellow Texan! Just wanted to say I thought you were awesome on True Detective, you were one of my favorite characters. Hope to see you in more stuff soon!

And PS you did do a phenomenal job on the dialect in that role. I had to go back and watch with the subtitles on just to catch everything you said!

Thank you!

Hey there. Great spot on True detective!

This might be a weird questions, but after having brain surgery where you were able to play guitar (which is awesome), do you believe that your brain is the same thing as your mind?

whoa! well I think that the brain is the most amazing thing on the earth. I feel like the "Mind" is more a figurative term we use to explain how we feel, think, etc,. Like saying "my heart aches". So I guess I would say they are sort of separate.

That is actually a fantastic answer! Thank you for replying

:)

Hey,there.When you showed up in True Detective,I recognized you are the one who played Felix in Smashed(I have a good memory:)).Both of the works are excellent and thanks for your great acting!Here are my questions:What's your most impressive memory in True Detective?Can you describe the scene when you are acting with Matthew and Woody?

hey well Thank you first of all. My most impressive memory is of how much I LOVE New Orleans, Mardi Gras, and getting to work with those 2 guys all kind of blurs into one great memory. They were 2 of the nicest guys there are. I can't say enough good things. Woody was really kind and complimented me many times. He even shared his RAW Vegan concoctions with me :)

Thanks for your replying.I am looking forward more works of you.Wish you luck all the time:)

THank you! please check out www.bradcarter.me and be sure to sign up at the fan club so I can let you know when the album is ready :)

I had a 4.2cm meningioma removed from my right parieto-occipital 13 months ago. You're a champ and an inspiration. Great work in True Detective and way to crush those surgeries!

holy crap! right back at ya. yikes. and THanks!

how many ping pong balls can you fit in your mouth

2, definitely 2

Hi, Brad—glad you made it through your surgery and are doing well! I started playing guitar when I was a kid and am still not great at it. How old were you when you started playing guitar, and what's your favorite song to play? (Great job in True Detective, by the way; I loved your performance).

Hey! Just keep it up! I started playing in 1988 when I was in 8th grade. I learned by ear and am self taught. cant read music regrettably. I would spend 4 or 5 hours in my room every day playing along with my favorite influences which at that time were, Cream, Clapton, Pink FLoyd, Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, Van Halen when they were still worth a shit. I would say I was at my peak when I was 18. lol

Did you experience anything strange during the surgery? Changes in perception or consciousness? Shit like that... Thanks!

I had 2 surgeries. The first one that got famous was not as successful as they hoped. SO had to do again 4 moths later in sept 2013. both were around 7 hours long. It is surreal. its a long time to have your head in a HALO and not move it. it all becomes rather strange. I lost my speech many times and impaired it many different ways. This is the scariest thing. It was just straight up horrible. Since they are working in my Thalamus, the movement spot is beside the speech spot and a few micro meters too far and you get speech impairment. After the surgery they start dialing and tweeking the controler in my chest. This sometimes causes impairment as well.

I am Brad's dodgy thalamus. Seriously though, glad you are fine.

Actually a funny story is I named my cat "Thalamus" 4 years ago before I ever even knew that my movement disorder was in the Thalamus. True Story.

Is it weird that I found you so attractive as Charlie? I don't know what it is, but there's something about a deep fried accent and neck tattoos. Loved your character, you were great!

Hahaa, well thanks! I know my Mom is glad those tattoos washed off ;)

Brad! Huge fan of yours man; I was on deployment during your live surgery and we all watched in amazement as one of our officers told us about this amazingly brave man who was fighting an essential tremor. I couldn't believe what I was seeing and we watched an hour or two of your surgery in between working. Firstly, you're a huge inspiration for me; the fact that you get up every morning and do these things that you love just blows my mind; I stay so busy that I can't find time to write poetry or paint anymore and I hate that, but when I look at you I tell myself that I can't afford to have excuses. Secondly, I'm a huge true detective fan and although you didn't have the biggest role, your performance was spectacular! I'll definitely be following you more often online, and supporting your cause any way that I can.

You keep rocking and working hard man! Much love!

hey man! Thanks so much! This is really great to read. Thanks for taking the time to write. That's amazing! where were you deployed? I would love to let you know when the album is done so be sure to sign up at the fan page button on my site!

I will definitely be buying the album brother; I was in the Navy deployed to protect the convoy around Syria when the Russians started forming up against us in the Mediterranean. It's so exciting to hear back from you, thank you for taking the time

wow man! Thank you for all you do! That is a damn real job right there! Crazy to think my surgery was being watched in Syria.

Could you feel them working on your brain? And thanks for being here love the show by the way XD.

yes you can feel it. its crazy. there are no pain receptors but you can feel sensations. you can feel pain when they enter however. AWFUL. like an explosion.

Your a trooper dude and thank for the reply.

yep!

If you were trapped on an island and could only bring two people you've worked with, who would it be and why?

Mary Elizabeth Winstead. She's smart and kind. Jes Macallan because she is gorgeous and funny and a great friend. See? if I bring 2 women we can populate the island with our children. Not bringing a dude!

Will you stab me with a key?

Haha. Sure, get in line.

Great job in TD! Sorry to parrot everyone else but you nailed it when you played Charlie.

How does it feel to have your own catchphrase ["Reggie motherf***ing Ledoux"]?

Hahah! Well pretty great considering that was just an improv on my part. I was surprised people like it so much

As a Texan with a lot of shady family in Louisiana, I just wanted to say that is the first time I've heard authentic Coonass on a TV show.

I'm curious, your character will always be bound to Reggie Ledoux but did you ever actually get to meet the actor who played him?

yes we became friends on twitter and decided to start watching the show at my house. He is a really nice guy named Charlie Halford. He is in Atlanta working on a pilot called Constantine.

First, you were great on True Detective. It seems like HBO shows always have lots of talent in supporting roles.

On to the question. I saw in one of your earlier responses that you didn't know how the season would end. What were your thoughts on the finale? Did you feel that there could have been a better ending? Did it feel fitting? How did it mesh with the expectations that you built up?

THank you! Well I think that a show like this sets expectations so high that its almost impossible to please everyone with an ending. The show was never about the case so much as how the case affected these to men and their lives and relationships over the 17 years. This is why I loved it. It was character driven and didn't rely on a crazy twist or anything at the end. Everyone was expecting something at the end but I think the show was never about that. My friend writer Susan Burke said it best, "I wish True Detective had a twist ending" sounds the same to me as "I wish this finely prepared steak came with never ending nacho sauce." @ThatSusanBurke

You ROCKED Charlie Lang ~ sorry to hear about your cold and THRILLED to hear you are doing better after your brain surgery - you are so talented & gifted, please keep it up!!

Thank you very much! I hope you will sign up at my website for news about my album! :)

How great is Alexa Fogel's taste in actors? Awesome as Charlie Lange!!!

The BEST! Are you an actor?

Hi. Loved you on True Detective. What was it like working on the show while trying to manage your music career ?

THank you! Well we filmed in feb of 2014 and at that time I had not had my brain surgery. So I had zero music career because my hands were too shakey. I am so grateful that I am given a second chance. :)

Mike or Joel?

GREAT QUESTION I loved Joels sleepy childlike approach and Mikes biting sarcasm. They both hold a special place in my heart. Did you know they are hosting Nat Geo all day on April fools?

First of all, awesome show, TD was the best thing I've seen recently. Your haircut in that show was unstoppable! Were you happy with how the series ended? I felt like everything worked out a bit too well in the end. Also, who would you pick for Brad Pitt's partner next season?

THanks! For Brad Pitt? I would go with Ashton Kutcher. Kidding. Hmmm. well I think Ian McShane from Deadwood would be BOMB. I was happy. I answered a similar question somewhere below. I felt satisfied in the end. I would have like to see Rust die though.

Harrelson or Mcconaughey?

Depends on what the rest of that question is...

Who would win in a fight?

Well Matthew was coming off of Dallas Buyers Club so he was really skinny, so I would have to give it to Woody.

What is the best advice ever given to you?

"Success is when opportunity meets preparation." Told to me by my acting coach. "Don't shake it more than twice or youre playin" Told to me by some stranger at a urinal when I was 5.

Hey! who are your biggest musical influences? Anyone you're listening to now you can recommend?

hi! Well in my life, the biggest influences were Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd. I am a HUGE David Gilmour fan. I used to only do electric guitar but I hurt my shoulder when I was younger and started playing acoustic more so I could sit down. So I just became an acoustic guy. I played in bars and clubs in bands and solo for many years in the south before becoming an actor. Right now Im really into Nickel Creek Tom Brosseau Avett Brothers Wood Brothers Jamestown revival and of course BLACK KEYS

Congratulations on your job on true detective, it was very well executed. I seriously thought you weren't a trained actor, and that's a hard feat to accomplish.

Wow thanks!

Honestly I don't know all that much about you (hoping to change that) but I loved, loved, loved your accent in True Detective. How did you make it sound so authentic? You were the only one who actually sounded like you were from rural Louisiana.

If that's how you normally talk, I'll be regretting not making a throw away account for this...

Thank you! Im from Georgia. I just studied up on some people in the area and talked to as many as I could., once in a while I would luck up and here that sweet cajuny accent and soak it up.

Reggie LeDeaux?! REGGIE MOTHER FUCKIN LEDEAUX DID THIS?!

Yeah I went around repeating that line in your brilliant accent for a couple days after that episode haha great acting, great show. Congrats!

Thanks! That part was a total improv.

A 'hella' cold? Are you from the Bay Area?

No I got it from Cartman on Southpark and my GF who actually if from the bay area.

Cool. Great job on the show!!

Thanks !

Hi, great work on the show ! Did Nic Pizzolatto was present on the set of TD ? would he and the director interact a lot while filming ?

EDIT: any info on season 2 you can share ?

Yes he and Cary the Director were there. Nic was also the showrunner so he was very hands on and he and Cary worked together. Nic, is an amazing writer and was a college professor before screen writing. He is a badass.

Hey, you were my favorite character on True Detective outside of MM and WH. Do you have a funny or interesting story you could share with us about the making of True Detective?

Thank yoU! Well I was telling someone else earlier that Woody beat the shit out of me and none of those takes got used. So the scenes you see are after me having my ear twisted off and my face smacked around for 2 hours.lol

Why why and why? Not going to lie that is awesome. Glad you are doing better.

THank you!

Prior to True Detective, I wouldn't have known who you were, or that you had a voice role in Red Dead Redemption.

That game is totally awesome.

Also, I like you're music so far. Keep it up.

THank you!

Would you rather fight 100 duck sized Matthew McConaugheys or one horse-sized Matthew McConaughey?

Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized Woody Harrelsons or one horse-sized Woody Harrelson?

Seriously though I'm glad you've recovered from your surgery and you were amazing in True Detective. Very chilling character.

Last question:

I'm totally fascinated with the Tuttles; was there any more information that got left on the cutting room floor?

Well I did not get to read the last 3 episodes so Im not sure what was left out. I guess we as the viewer are left to imagine more. I like the duck idea better.....

Hey Brad - I hear you're going to be in a documentary? What's that all about? ;)

yep I better go add that to my list. I knew I forgot something. Its a documentary called Kickstarted! go check it out! www.kickstartedmovie.com

Great work on True Detective.

I think I also saw you on Longmire. How does the guest actor process go on a show like that? Do you enjoy it?

thanks! yes Longmire was my first job after Brain surgery. Being a guest is a great privilege and you just hope to show up and do a good job. Its a little strange because you are new and everyone else knows each other. You are odd man out. sometimes you are made to feel welcome. sometimes not.

Thanks for answering. I'm a fan of that show too so I hope you were made to feel welcome.

Absolutely! They were great! And Santa Fe is beautiful!

Hi Brad! Sorry to hear about your cold!

If your name was the answer to a crossword puzzle clue, what would the clue be?

What's your favorite hobby that most people would be surprised to hear about?

"Was lasts nights musical guest on CONAN OBRIEN"

Hobby: I love photography!

Hey congrats on being Conan's musical guest! That's awesome!

What's your favorite thing to shoot?

How do you take your coffee?

well I havent been his guest yet, it was more a fantasy answer :) People! No coffee. Caffeine does not mis well with Tremors.

I thought your role as Charlie Lange in True Detective was top-notch, a real stand out in an already well cast show so, Thank You! Charlie was kind of a skeeze - where did you pull his character from?

THanks! From just white trash folks I knew growing up in Ga. and really all around. Just with a Louisiana flare :)

This is such an honor, I loved your character in True Detective. Any upcoming film or TV projects in the works?

edit: Any projects you're feeling especially excited about?

THank you! I am recovering from a motorcycle crash so not at the moment. BUT I am talking to a production company about possibly hosting this AMAZING show. I cant say more but if you sign up at my website I will be sure to let you all know. :)

How do you like working for an HBO series?

its the BEST! HBO has the best shows in my opinion and to be in one is a great thing for an actor. Very grateful.

How's the record coming along? Do you have any tv or movie projects in the works?

Great! got 7 songs done so far! Please sign up at my website so I can let you know more! No TV right now., I wrecked my motorcycle and am on crutches a while. BUT there is something AWESOME in the works and I will know more next week. I could very well be the host of something AMAZING.

Hi Mr. Carter. Great work on TD; you're performance was equal in quality to the critical weight it carried in the show's overall plot and truly deserving of the spotlight your character received both in the show and from fans.

Question: You mentioned elsewhere in this AMA that you watched the show with Charles Halford. I'm curious whether you both sensed that there was something special about the series, and, if so, when did that occur to you (i.e. was there a feeling on set that you all had hit a home run, or did you pick that up while you were watching the final project, or is it still settling in?)

Thank yoU! I knew this was gonna be amazing from the time I read the first episode in preparation for my audition. Because of the actors involved and it being HBO which is known for high quality shows, I knew this would be special. I was ecstatic to be cast in it and so grateful.

Thanks for the response...I look forward to your future work!

THanks!

How did you get casted for the part?

I auditioned for Alexa Fogel at HBO here in Los Angeles. After a month I got a callback. After another month I got cast. I found out on my birthday. :) Dec, 5. 2012

What's your drink of choice?

Well I cut out liquor in 2004 because it absolutely turned me into a bad person. BAAAAAAAADDDDDD So I'm a beer guy now. I love a good HEF, or a nut brown ale. Really love Hoegarden, Im always trying new beers at my spot up the street. Thats why I can't get rid of this beer GUT

Hey I just wanted to say you were awesome in True Detective. Why were you playing guitar during brain surgery? Also did you feel anything during the surgery? Not in your brain, but in how you felt emotionally or how playing guitar felt?

I brought my guitar because I wanted to see it work in real time . The Dr. thought it would be a good idea. We had no idea that it would get so famous and viral. Emotionally it is all quite draining. You dont know if its going to work and its a lot of prep and just really draining.

Just wanted to say that your performance on True Detective was amazing! Seriously impressive. Keep it up and I hope to see/hear you in more stuff going forward.

THank yoU! please sign up at the website so I can let you know about the album release!

What can you tell us about season 2 ? Anything ?

I can honestly say I have no idea. Nic is hard at work writing it up. It's going to be completely a different story. Cast.

Thank you for your honesty and quick response !

youre welcome

I really liked true detective, did someone else write episode 7? it was like a different show.

No it was all nic.

Brad, you did a great job on the show. My question is, when you were filming the show, did you have any idea it would be as good as it was? Could you tell this show was going to become a big hit did and receive the widespread critical acclaim that it has?

Thank yoU! I knew when I read the script for episode one for my audition. I knew with these 2 actors attached and it being HBO that it would be special.

Any funny off camera moments you could share while you were working on True Detective?

I was saying earlier that Matthew kept telling me weird facts about Macon Ga. where I am from, and I was all "Really? WOW! I did not know that."Then Woody busted out laughin and said, "He's just bullshitting you man"

Your bio says you are from Ft, Worth. Did you live there long? Did that help you get the TD job? I noticed a lot of people in TD were from TX or LA.

I was born there, but only because my father was attending seminary there. They moved back to Georgia when I was 1 so really I claim Ga. as my home. There were a lot of local hires from the Louisiana area.

Hey Mr. Carter, thanks for the AMA!

My question: Do you enjoy doing music or acting more? Would you prefer to hear your music used on a TV show/movie or acting in one?

Well I love acting and alway wanted to be an actor. I didnt start till I was 29. I played music since I was a kid so it is closer to my heart. it is personal. it is something where you have total creative control. Its true art and expression at it's core. To be able to have this surgery and be given more time to do this thing I had been missing is a miracle and a blessing. I don't plan on wasting a moment of it. I wasted a lot of time not doing my music before and I don't plan on letting that happen again. I would LOVE to hear my songs in TV/Film!

You seem like a cool dude. You're into acting, music, stand-up--and having success in all of these.

I just want to ask, if you could eat one thing right now, what would that thing be? (cold notwithstanding)

ha! Thanks well I havent had breakfast yet and its 12pm so really Ide eat the ass end out of a dead horse right now.

Banana or Plantane?

Banana

How close is the album to competition? You don't have any acting credits before 2005, did you have any other jobs before this or was that when you were doing the commercials?

THe album is 7 song in! Im so excited! its going great. I am working with a cool producer named Jim Roach and he has his own label called Red Parade. We are looking at doing about 12 songs. You can sign up for a news letter about it on my website. I booked my first commercial in november of 2005. I moved to LA in 2003 having no acting experience. Before that I graduated in 2007 with an art degree from Valdosta State University in south Ga. I played in bands and solo to make money in shithole bars for years after that to live on. I worked at Toys r us, Red Lobster, waited tables at a mom and pop place, A gym, a convenient store, construction, was a radio morning host for a bit till I got fired. lol ( It was hard doing that at 6am when I had played guitar till 2 AM.