Zimbabwean actor and filmmaker Daniel Lasker chatted about starring in Season 2 of the fantasy adventure series “One Piece” on Netflix.
The synopsis of the second season is: Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) and the Straw Hats set sail for the extraordinary Grand Line—a legendary stretch of sea where danger and wonder await at every turn.
As they journey through this unpredictable realm in search of the world’s greatest treasure, they’ll encounter bizarre islands and a host of formidable new enemies.
Margaret Mead once said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” This quote applies to Daniel Lasker.
Experience filming ‘One Piece’
On his experience, Lasker shared, “It was incredible. I felt every sense of joy that you could imagine when watching that show… it was a huge blessing and I’m very grateful for it.”
Playing ‘Mr. 9’ in ‘One Piece’
Lasker was drawn to his eccentric character, Mr. 9, for several reasons. “I think my favorite thing about his war really his attitude and his eccentricity, where as an actor, it was a joy to play that over-the-top nature,” he explained.
Lessons learned from the ‘One Piece’ screenplay
On the lessons learned from this screenplay, Lasker reflected, “There were many things. I believe the biggest theme of the show is pursuing one’s dreams, as well as family, friendships, and loyalty.”
“As a fan of the material before joining the show, that is why I connected with Luffy so much in his journey while also connecting to my own life,” he acknowledged.
“We both come from a small place and we both knew that our dreams —in order to pursue them — we would eventually have to leave our homes and set sail across the world,” he elaborated.
“I just really connected with that strongly, and I think of the parallels of how sometimes art can imitate life and vice versa,” he noted.
“I think so many people connect to ‘One Piece’ because of that… it’s such a universal theme and I feel that it’s an incredible world that inspires so many people,” he added.
‘Raised by Wolves’
Lasker recalled his experience in “Raised by Wolves.” “That was such a joy to work on,” he admitted. “I was still young at that point, I was straight out of high school. So, it was my first big set that I had the opportunity to step onto.”
“I am also a big fan of Ridley Scott and the sci-fi genre, so it was great to experience the alien world that they created,” he noted.
“We went to locations that were so beautiful… you just felt you were on another planet, so it was a total joy to experience that,” he added.
‘Abraham Lincoln’ mini-series
Lasker spoke about being a part of the “Abraham Lincoln” mini-series, where he worked opposite Emmy nominee Graham Sibley as Abraham Lincoln.
“I loved that project,” he exclaimed. “I love any character and any role you can get the opportunity to step onto… it’s a great privilege. I love experiencing radically different worlds.”
“I’ve done some history projects and some sci-fi. ‘Abraham Lincoln’ was the first project where I wore a fake mustache, which was fun,” he admitted.
Working with Graham Sibley as Abraham Lincoln
On working with Graham Sibley, Lasker said, “Graham was wonderful. Even though I only had two scenes with him (with limited time together), he has such a beautiful heart and soul, and Graham is so, so talented. I would love to work with him again.”
The digital age
On being an actor and a filmmaker in the digital age, Lasker said, “I think it’s a huge blessing what the digital age has provided for us, not just as actors, but as artists all over the globe.”
“It has really opened the games and it has allowed for anyone to create their own content and make their own work, and just get it out there to be seen by people,” he said.
“This way, people are able to share their voices and their visions, and that’s an incredible thing,” he added.
Advice for young and emerging actors
For young and aspiring actors, he said, “Create your own work, learn the craft and try to learn all the different sides of filmmaking.”
“Speaking from my own experience, I’ve spent so much time learning how to direct, learning cinematography, and editing,” he noted.
“What I’ve found is that you don’t have to master all of these disciplines, but if you have an understanding of every aspect of the craft of filmmaking, then you have so much more to draw from as an actor,” he elaborated.
“Therefore, when you are delivering your acting performance, you can draw from all these areas to help elevate your work,” he added.
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Lasker revealed, “Setting Sail.”
“I’m originally from Zimbabwe, a beautiful country, and I just moved out here to Los Angeles, and so far, it has been incredible,” he admitted.
Superpower of choice
If he were to have any superpower, it would be “flight. “I would love to be able to fly,” he admitted.
A career-defining moment for Lasker: Inspiring kids, and the future generations of filmmakers in Zimbabwe
On his career- defining moments, Lasker remarked, “A defining moment was when I screened the sci-fi short film ‘The Signal’ at ZimKids Orphanage in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.”
“The kids were so happy to see a movie that was made in their hometown, and in the local Ndebele language too,” he admitted.
“Ever since we screened that film for the kids, there were so many of them that decided that they wanted to be filmmakers and actors themselves,” he said.
“These kids started creating their own skits, short films, and TikTok videos,” he said. “That moment meant so much to me because it inspired the kids to start pursuing their dream, and have fun along the way!”
Success
Regarding his definition of the word success, Lasker said, “To me, success really just means being able to create and do the things that bring you the most joy.”
“It’s an incredible blessing to be able to tell a story that reaches people and getting to do that alongside other incredible, talented people,” he said.
“For me, that has brought so much fulfillment and joy to my life,” he said. “So, I would personally describe success as getting to live out your dream and being able to share it with others.”
Message for his fans and supporters
For his fans and supporters, Lasker expressed, “Thank you so much for all the love that has been shown to ‘Mr. 9.’ I put so much care and dedication to doing justice to this character and this world.”
“As a fan of the existing material, what was important to me, first and foremost, is how can I best serve the overall arching narrative of ‘One Piece,’ and the fans have been so receptive,” he elaborated.
“I just want to say a big ‘thank you’ to them. I put my heart into this series, and I’m so glad that it resonated with the audience,” Lasker concluded.
To learn more about actor and filmmaker Daniel Lasker, follow him on Instagram.
