Koteas was hired by reclusive director Terrence Malick to play a character named Capt. Stein, a young Jewish officer who feels ostracized because of his race. Koteas arrived in Australia only to discover that Stein had become Staros. Terry was apparently intrigued that I was Greek. He asked if I'd be willing to change my character from Jewish to Greek.
Terry is a director with vision.
As an actor you either trust him or you pack your bags and go home. I took the change as any soldier would, but I have to admit it was a bit confusing at times because all my costumes were labelled Stein. The confusion actually added to my character's angst. So did the natural inhabitants of the Queensland jungles. After a while it seemed the spiders, snakes, bugs and ants all wanted a piece of me.