Peter Krause as Terry Allen and Khaled Abol Naga as Gabe Hassan in the Psychological Thriller Civic Duty

A Civic-minded Peter Krause
By Jon Chattman

Whether it was portraying funeral parlor director Nate Fisher for five seasons on the acclaimed HBO Series Six Feet Under or a man obsessed with the war on terrorism in his latest film Civic Duty, actor Peter Krause readily admits it’s time to do a light comedy. “I’d love to do it,” the 41-year-old actor said in a recent interview. “[It’d be] a welcome change.”

For now, however, Krause is focused on treading those deep psychological waters in Civic Duty. In the film, which opened last week after premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival, he plays Terry Allen, an accountant who becomes obsessed with the country’s war on terrorism after he loses his job and especially after Muslim student Gabe Hassan (Khaled Abol Naga) moves in next door. Fearing his new neighbor might be a terrorist, Allen takes matters (and the law) into his own hands – tracking Hassan’s every move, rummaging through his garbage, and alerting the FBI.
Krause said given the world’s current climate the timing couldn’t be better for the film to open in theaters. We spoke to the Emmy-nominated actor about Civic Duty, the events of 9/11 and thereafter, and got an inside track on his upcoming new ABC television show Dirty Sexy Money.

What drew you to this film? It certainly raises a lot of questions…
I was drawn to the script, because I hadn’t run across anything that addressed the American psyche: the emotional/psychological fallout. I thought it was a good thing to do. Obviously, Terry is an extreme expression of our paranoia or fear, thoughts, and feelings after 9/11.
The film also explores difficult things like the line in between justifiable suspicion, racial profiling, and the role of the media in terms of exasperating fear. It also asks the tough questions if we’re watchful and suspicious enough.

If you look at a situation like the shootings at Virginia Tech, if you could look into the future, and you felt suspicious of this guy – [you said] “I think this guy’s going to snap,” and you did something about it, and people knew if you hadn’t [the shootings would’ve occurred], you’d be hero. But, if you did shoot the guy before the shootings happened, people would be like “what are you doing? He was harmless” There’s no way of knowing that. I don’t have any answers.

The movie asks a lot of tough questions, and I think people are ready for it. If there is one thing we’re doing, it’s meant to be a metaphor that Terry Allen is a member of the silent majority. When he raises his loaded gun and screams, “I don’t care anymore” – that’s the unintended voice of the silent majority

How would you best describe Terry?
I think he’s a sane person. I don’t think he’s particularly insane. I think, like a lot of people, he doesn’t like his job… He’s a person on the brink.

Where were you on 9/11?
Surfing in San Diego of all places… I used to work actually at the World Trade Center. I went to NYU, and lived in [New York] for three years, and worked there for two months. I was a caterer for the corporate dining room. I spent most of the time making salad, serving people lunch, and vacuuming the lunch and dining room. I guess when I was there in San Diego, and heard news, I immediately thought of [that].

With your film, Reign on Me, and World Trade Center, why do you think we’re seeing more and more movies with a 9/11 theme?
I think people want to deal with it. This movie is obviously about the world we live in now, but it’s about the time just after September 11th. I think people are ready for it, investigate it, and reminded where we’ve been recently.

On to something much lighter… you bounce between television and films with a bit of stage work thrown in. What drives you to a project?
It’s all about the material. I prefer the large canvas in serial television in character development – - especially if you look at a show like Six Feet Under. I’m a little spoiled. I’ve gotten to work with Aaron Sorkin (on Sports Night) and Alan Ball, and even before that with Carol & Company. I do like film because it’s a clear beginning, middle and end. But, I find television more difficult and more challenging. I will continue to do both.

You’re coming back to the small screen next fall. What can you tell us about your new ABC television series Dirty Sexy Money…
It’s a neat show. Its different than anything that’s on television right now. It’s an allegorical piece about a very wealthy New York family, but it’s very funny [and it’s by] Craig Wright, who was a writer on Six Feet Under. I play Nick George, an attorney to the very darling New York family – Donald Sutherland and Jill Clayburgh play the patriach and matriarch.

Do you think we’re in another golden age of television? It seems more people are interested in television then film…
It’s all the same work. The great thing about movies is it’s the last place for absolute strangers to share a story – watch a story together on the big screen. As for a stigma, people enjoy watching entertainment at their home. It’s user friendly with Tivo and obviously going to a movie is not quite that experience, but I do so value the movie experience.

Are you an avid moviegoer?
I’m a parent so I don’t go. While I was filming a miniseries in Mexico, I saw [a lot]. I went to see The Departed, World Trade Center, Little Miss Sunshine, and [pauses] Jackass 2, which is one of the most provocative films I’ve seen. If you’re not covering your eyes through that movie, there’s something wrong with you.

You do such heavy work – Do you ever want to let loose?
When I was doing a show on Broadway, I have to admit I would watch South Park. I haven’t seen Borat yet but I want to see that.

Last question, and obviously it’s about Six Feet Under… So many shows Jump the Shark. Yours didn’t. Do you feel that way, and were you happy the way the series ended?

I do feel that way, and I’ve gained objectivity as time goes on [the finale]. I think Alan did a really terrific job driving home the grand theme of show: we all die, it’s sudden, and it’s final – live your life the way you want to live it right now. It was an incredible exploration of human life.

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