« ID10T with Chris Hardwick

William Fichtner

2013-03-26
The extremely talented William Fichtner sits down with Chris and Matt to talk about the lessons he has learned from being an actor, his admiration of cars and racing and his new movie Wrong! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This is an unofficial transcript meant for reference. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
This is that it is broadcast number three. Thirty, eight course of the force last year started a light Sabre relay the five days leading up to Santiago COMECON. It started in Santa Monica, ended preview night of COMECON and was called course of the force, and basically we passed a lifesaver all the way down the California Coast person to person in play mostly in costly, and it was offered to make which wish foundation. We were able to raise enough money to grant around a thousand wishes for kids, and it was a big partnership with Lucas Film and this year. It went so well last year that were expanding it by a couple days in this year, actually starting course of the force at Skywalker Ranch July. Ninth,
Through July sixteenth will start Skywalker Ranch run across the Golden Gate Bridge run through San Francisco prelates skip the grapevine is primarily safe. If you live in the West goes, you would agree with that, but yeah we're gonna start in northern California this year. It's all for charity come, join us goaded, star wars, dot, com, slash course of the force and figure out how you can sign up and and contributing come join us and you causeways even have to be star wars based billions of years. Marty Mcfly there last year by the day, was all tat kind of conduct cosplay. But it's great. If you come dressed up as the the pace vehicle, we had this job ass, a job with a hut, sale barge built and that's the pace vehicle for recourse to the forest. You'll see that
went on the freeway, and then you know some guy. You know someone dress like Bob Effect or you know general grievous or whoever, and then the buses in their parties long awaited Superfund its offer charity so again, star wars, dot, com such course. The force join us this year's late night through sixteenth. Like think for sponsoring this observatory, Purkis legally start a business. You know if you want an LLC or an S corp or sole proprietorship or a non profit legal to take care of you from start to finish its award winning service they're. Going to help you out, eighty percent illegals, because Romania would recommend the service to their family, so you'll be in good company. Legal zoom is now law firm. It provides Self help services at your specific direction, but there's so much more now. Every other scene of corporation package includes easy to use business account. We're a tutor. Sixty nine dollar value for free be sure to enter nervousness for a box, a check out start your business, protect your family and safeguard your ass. Its illegal.
Dot, com and affordable way to file eagle documents. This episode Pike S is William figure who I've Douglas guy for a super long time and if you dont know by name, even though you probably do. But if you listen, you didn't, you saw me go, oh, my god that guy he's awesome and everything he's been in dark night blades glory. Mr Mrs Smet Pearl harbor black hawk down Spinnin Video games, grand theft, auto by city, modern warfare. Three is, then, I'm gonna tell him shows you will not arise for awhile prison break is just a cool guy, represents greenhouse gas, fuckin cool and, as numerous called wrong, and it opens the twenty. Ninth I believe March. Freddy, March twenty knife, and so here we go. There's podcast number three. Thirty, eight, with William figure now entering new stock.
So. This is really the ages if they get up on the microphone as its it sort of like radio style, and then we just are recording and that's it. We should do it like. They did be first talkies, where we just put up of plants in front of you with the microphone summarily slowly into the subject of people. Don't know the allowing the oligarchy. I ever see old footage of it if you really early talkies you'll see the actors gathering around an object, because that's where they put the microphone, they had to scare them somewhere. The MIKE with three hundred pounds, a billion and a half hours?
William bill. What do you prefer worryin about for today, but I was there was I will start with William dynamically you an me more fit. The bill will see if we can. If, if you feel like you a good enough time. Then we will see by the end of the podcast. Do we gonna get If I feel like it's going to say, call me bill. Ok, Mediterranean, as their wondering I wasn't. Even we're gonna be chaotic. Definitely was that we definitely added yet ok shining Starbucks Guard at that. Me. I do assure you Starbucks card. That's one point toward bill stairs ten steps to be laughed at the guys from you from I grew up in Memphis Tennessee, but I've been an elephant from Boston, Boston life from Mr Vista. Worse than right now for ninety five, a buffalo guy you're from coal.
The tundra danger of it, do you live in a later, I don't fucking. So how long did you live and lay before sixty degrees started to feel cold to you, but I cardigans. Now in a very negative there very practical, I you know, I still can't take legs one day, the sunshine and around it really is like an average out now. I just I need a clue, you know I've got cloud among my there's a cloud on my ice Phil I've lived the Monsanto since nineteen eighty eight and I still when the skies are blue. I just feel better. I just feel nice or walk outside and like we're so lucky there,
blanketed an ice right now we can spoil by. We really do the only day. I have to tell you I've. It's only been since my mom has to its. This is the second Christmas that I've spent here, and I like as I, what I was trying to get back to Buffalo and and I pray on Christmas morning. It's raining somewhere. I don't think I like Buffalo. Now I don't I would take Christmas. I would like a weird Christmas whether I would be fine with Einstein it makes you feel, like you, there's a reason to be home and I can't go to the beach on Christmas day now that there are Where do I get my mom's from Miami, and so she would always want to do these Bt Christmases, where it's like all of the Christmas. Aren't Sir, like PETE, colored like you, did he's weird: they like not to make it a little. Like my way christmases sand and like notes, they please don't tell them I know it's Christmas I know you got a lover, dormer, Seeger UP and Buffalo. What did you did you
Are there pretty quickly, as you go to New York, went to college in New York two years in a school on long island and then transfer it for another two years up near Rochester kind of back in the same area? Okay and then after I graduated with my criminal justice degree, I decided to go to New York and wait tables. So- I've been in New York and offered twenty nine twenty nine years other than your after college with criminal justice degree. What what what is involved in criminal justice, I dont know, was even president of the club. I don't know I just like the guy. We try to throw the virus. And get a rock then make the most money. He also Letterman January and have Letterman jackets for the club. You know you see things, you know police things you should put its size is that you know then did have you ever now's halfway through my thanks,
What am I doing that? I'm a man the greatest down on my life, I'm never going to do this if I took one police exam after I graduated, and I think I was about halfway through it and I really heavy epiphany were like what am I doing her method, I mean I, I went down a basin, suggestion. My dad said you know that might be an interesting thing to do and I would like to add that would be kind of cool butter it never came anything and I figure but its home. I graduated college. I would probably do something else, but by then I was taken a couple of theatre classes and had an idea that in a while That's gonna! We are that acting thing. Into a less stable business than the the onset of the universe. There's no shortage of crime must not be a shortage of acting job. So now you know just play cards that
So it's sort of boy eleventh hour when people ask me it's all here today. Degree like help you placed like now. Stop I don't have that degree actually helps cops. I think, just being a cop helps people be cops, I think so too do. When did you start to cause? mean anyone about their own people about. Obviously people know who you are. But if you look at your I d be page. It's a may like it's insane, you ve done so many of every thing. It's incredible! Wended! That's a do! You feel, like you been working pretty such was there above a real like oh yeah, I may everything's bade the jobs are common high and hard. Now I still don't think I look at it that way, really not only in that way, it's hard to say I just there I know when I first went to New York and I was waiting tables and that an people say playing on anyone audition for it in this, and I and I felt for the first three or four years I was there
now, maybe it's my buffalo sensibilities and not putting the cart before the horse, but I did I was ready to audition. I mean I was just getting in was for of kids, and I know the time. Are you young adults. I know the time united. They they did theatre in high school. They did it cost I feel, like I had a sense of what a way of working. I really wanted to get some sort of technique, aircraft or whatever least feeling I had experience that if I walked in or Roma not gonna bears myself like. I know what I'm doing here so I have always kind elected that way just taken away at a time just just gonna, really the focus and I can honestly say still read that a couple of the same acting books that I read when I first moved to New York. I still poem I still Rita mom and I just feel like I'm mom in a kind of a student of the game.
Being an actor for me like what is enacting book. Tell you like. Does it just teach you how to go to certain places? It is just sort of expand your mind philosophically about acting. What is it that you know the two best acting boats that ever got one by this Joam call? Michael Chekhov was a lot of Stanislaus Keys russian School gotta. And at another one. At my teacher, my first acting teacher nearer gave me tell me to go. Get from the sport section called the inner game of tennis were all about playing tennis, his red epoch, the great acting book, his rights to great acting book, but you know what they give. You is that you know that everybody talks about your nose who was that the active studio or the Meissner technique in all of these different way, the Stella Adler School of of acting in that? I think that you find at about these have never been one to think that one is these the be all and end all answer, but I think of you, you read a book on something you find something outer you take a class here and there
There might be something in there go. You know what that's that's called up that works for me, so I think people develop- or at least I feel like a hopefully I have developed a way of working, which is you know, works for me- is the little bit of everything. What's in the tennis book? It's you know: it's been a long time as ever the inner game of tennis by TIM Galloway, but I still remember the guy's name, but it's basically, if you want to play tennis really well, what's really great tennis players like you can learn, take lessons that but go watch a great tennis player and watch what does watches form, because what you will do without you know a hundred fifty two steps of like how to add a tennis ball, like you gotta turn here, get your thumb, their nose, watchin and your body will try to recreate that and you watch great tennis, poison, you're gonna be a butter tennis player. You can absorb that. Your body will do things that you know little absorb. You know what it sees
and it'll try to replicate that, and you will do things that will surprise you buy anything in it. Acting senses it sang. Basically, you know, Watch thinks feel things you know being the moment sort of thing. You know you don't have to figure out just trust yourself a little but yeah. Well, that's the biggest. I mean I think, with any kind of artistic anything. You have to get to know yourself and trust yourself and then be comfortable. Do you feel, like you feel it a comfortable yourself in a way that maybe you wouldn't have been if you have caught the criminal justice or out of it? If you like, acting made you more you Norman S, man, I gotTA tyres settlement You know, I don't know, I think it's Sidra Nike business to be in an arm. You know find your own joy, so I think it in a life sense, like you know, yeah, I like doing us. I, like I like this journey. I dont. All I want to do is call for action. Ass current,
You guys got ok, explain it to me because I'm I'd aside other. I should stand NASCAR, but to my stupid brain like all right, they're going around fast in circles, but it was what is it that you're watching for? But you know I, like. I love all motor sports, probably. You know the nature of the National Heritage Sosius in those at the top feel drags. There. Isn't funny cars first love right off the bat right there NASCAR indicates a racing. Any of that stuff, I think, is if you like motor sports, which you know it's one of those. I think you do or you don't, but I do that, if you really have you ever been to a NASCAR race in never been to one high, so once you go to a NASCAR race like the whole world changes, I'm not saying it's going to be yours forever, you're going to get it you're going to love it, but you're definitely going to have. Feeling in an understanding about it. Did you not going to see on television? I think all motor sports come up short on television into become a fan of them. Then you can watch it and in kind of far you know, take take the right a little bit more, but I think that
they would NASCAR maskers, that's caustic wrinkling brothers on steroids, it's a big deal like the weekend. Races, it's not like a little. Action in a couple of signs, hang it up on the way in a you know: let's go watch a mask. I have a beer, it's big. It's well run its huge. I the more you understand about it, and I have raised the little bit myself and the more you honestly, by the more you dig it you realize that is not just forty three cars going around a circle. You know and Turner plus miles an hour. There there's a lot of stuff going on and I think the last lap of the Daytona five hundred the other day really shows. Yet you know just a little tiny moves, because somebody smart enough to know how to do it at two hundred and five miles an hour. Right now, what was it? That is what is the name of the woman who want to know the woman antiquated? We want, we lack a patchwork. Ok, then it came out of India Car after I think, seven years of racing any girl came in and ass guard. She s guys to tears, yet they she might series in spring cups,
which is kind of like another major leagues, did to triple a ball, but it's a lot closer than that. It's really close anyway. She came in and ask our energy run a couple of select big, big races in the CUP series, which is the top. You know the top series and NASCAR and but for her to come in this year, and you know a lot of people like everybody in a lot of people get on. Why does she know how to drive in this? Let me tell you something: you get out there and there's fifty some cars trying to qualify for forty three spots and you qualify number one at Daytona. You should know what you're doing you know was in third up until the final lap and then you know, a couple of things happen ended up an eighth, but but it was great was grateful, was great for the sport for sure. Well, it's I mean people are. I do understand that the rapid culture behind nascar- and I think I was sort of like coastal nerds with easy to kind of make fun of me. I got NASCAR, but obviously there is something compelling about. It are people it wouldn't beads is huge, is it is it is? It is pretty massive in its scale. Do you Rais D like to Rachel, you know ideas if you up
unity that I've had like that. The prosperity raised on the long beach, Grandpapa Toyota we'll get it out of one of your seen that adds its there's. Nothing I needed. So it's not like cancer for you know you bring your golf clubs, a racket and, like that's gonna, do a programme thing. Are you get invited? These her face, grew out of danger is that We are going to put up they're gonna money right did to do like a race but Toy Otis, but this is the thirty six, their thirty seventh year. They do this pro. So every right I mean people have been in this George Locust, Jean ACT ramming address steward. I repeat: my girlfriends dad loves to race cars as India yeah, it's so rare to get the opportunity to raise cars, especially for somebody, I'm and I'll have my race, car ever really cherry nineteen. Seventy road runner that's did my wife. I asked me if the giants boiler, not all that super per year. My wife, you, why are you kids not on,
That's really cool. Do just drive that around or is that sitting in a distant like my big toy, California, outrun, that's really fun. Kyle has brought the threat that China we get. The frat goin on one step closer to bill. Deerlike. Take it attractive. Subject Burma be ready. Then I'd known alone. I want you that if the idea is to baby, I guess I got no less than four thousand original my anyway. That's that that race, not along, reaches a unique thing, and I've done it a few times, and this is nothing like it. Is he send you to race car school? You know they've, not putting anybody out there. That's a yahoo! You really got to you got to commit to get a permit to go to race car school. You get there and then on Saturday. This year I believe it's an April twentieth and it's all for you, no kids against cancer and in the money the toy Yoda puts The children's hospital in long Beach in Orange County, which is you know everybody-
zombie. Half Toyota puts money on behalf in your name. If you're a participant to these hospitals, they raised millions of dollars over the last thirty some years. It's it's an awesome thing. You visit the hospital to visit the kids, you bring a ton of toys and it's a big day for them and they come there. A lot of them get a chance to come to the track and it's really. It's really not unlike it. That's really cool when, as is coming up sooner tat comes up, I believe, at the weekend of April. Twenty of I think nineteen, twenty eight ideology does it's: it's that weaken Anna. And the bottom line is the anti car races on the Sunday in that and the pro celebrity races and salary, but the truth. Butters. When you go through authors, race, car school, innocent this in this, and then you show up and there's tens of thousands of people that are there to watch that race and that day, then we do you get to race, but it's a real deal street course two miles, but you do in front of genome tenth
the people. It's it's us. There must be some part of the like, maybe we'll get to see a celebrity blow up like there must have used up even more or two years ago. Looked his car. The final apple qualifying he's a vampire he's. Fine, I mean the sea more data from the sun rises. God I don't get he'll be fine, that's why flipped that it was too much that must be like every public. This must be our age. It must be like. Please don't do that waste. Our fears are interrelated.
The brave men. That's you know, I mean people mentioning casually to the people they work for yeah, but to do this pro celebrity races from unites for kids and everybody seems like excited about it until someone posted a picture of his car about six inches clearly clearly in flight upside down with a minute before it like re, hit the ground. Somebody took this beautiful photo of you know you could see all space rate between the roof or that car in the ground, and I think it was about within. Like twenty minutes, I think you got a phone call that was that was the rumour that was going on it. You get a phone call from. I believe lovers. Boss of his shell, saying we really in that car because the races to monitor the Amazon, their colonies in, and you will not be in that car anymore right, the private of an island ball. I would guess
Whoever was just dumb in on said. Not you can do the seasons still gonna kill. You can't be in that car. You can't die You can't get in there, you can die when we're done with the theory, and you know I must tell you so he was such a gentleman to because to go through. All of that. All of that the training you know gone for the week to race, car school and all of this finding out at the eleventh hour you not doing the race and equal. If I'd number one too oh wow, and he couldn't he couldn't to the race him and I were in the front row. Qualified number one in two couldn't do the race, but you know what the next day he was there for a race. He was there for the bank with the following evening. He was such a gentleman about but mostly I like the idea that you're such a good actor that you called him as his boss, David you can't do, furthermore, take with number this zero by one minute, and we are looking forward to this dual really. What's your name, tat passed by and Teddy Bosman billboard.
I am not William thinner, is that what you're worried about I'm, not William Ventnor, I'm not used to think who else? Who else, because for the celebrities who, over the other draggers not only If you don't need to get some pro guys in there too cuz it's pro celebrity, get some NASCAR guys you get so you know professional off road racers and that you don't do it for a living. So you get together with them and they start thirty seconds I can they just they just let us go they. Let him go to and usually those those pro guys they will catch up to almost everyone. You know, I would say fifty percent of the years the race has been held in that it did a pro driver, wins it. You'll catch? The groping pass them. So is the celebrity learn of regular where, while so seeing a script like Dr Angry, like ah now we're talking? We are talking with what are you guys? You ve done a lot of cool stuff that we know besides
a million and a half movies, but you also, you run a couple. The GPA video games and modern warfare, three and so people. So a lot of different generations of people. Have absorbed. I want you to do a charity work and his eyes into the chair. Your dick do that I've heard Meda, voice over doesn't pay much. What videogame voiceover may not pay a ton, but the effect that, like p, fucking lose their minds if they find out, like all your Sandman or whatever the recovery of the game. You know, I have a lot enough use. It were like I'm gonna get it I know that the fact that work another by word than ever played it myself, but real have copies of economists, and I guess you know what they say. Like video games, you play video games at all. Did I do know Atari stalled eyes ass. Your speaking time is now. Are you back in November, one thousand schools, seventies and in college skimming great pinball machine?
wait just a Pinta all about pinball. What was your game? We remain open. You remember the name of it, but it was one that had a spinning rang right about twelve inches right above the flippers there, and if you hit that rain, I think spent in you? Could I don't know the name of the game, but that was the Want Jim Jeffreys under my job at all my home town, that was, that was the game at I loved it. Do you have people machines in your house? No matter. What would you do come on? Let's get you can maintain and I'll come on. Let's do you know what you know what will do is work will help you, biological, somewhat or the outward with no dispute about your incompatibility supervision. We need, we need to build Europe. Really cool garage were like a great race car and then fuck em, like of just a wall of pinball machines. I got a pretty cool grounds, goin, I've, I've. I could make the space for a pinball machine you? Are you? Are you super handy? Can you fix soup up cars and now now not listen,
Emily! You change oil arrived here but It's too now. There's bad people do that, for you A change of my reared did my friend. If I trains, I gotta get a guy that lives and in the valley- and you know it did he loves to cars and that in its great men I go to visit him. His name is Nick Nick Jennings and drop it often Nick to see no yeah Mammy limited it up for you, but you have a job, Some of those days are gone. I dont know how to run a lift to get under right. You just get under it anyway. That's the beauty of a regular, reversible other hard doo doo doo doo have the one card, you have a collection or single. I like it. I don't know- and I have just recently got a new pickup truck at Tacoma afford order, and I love it and I have for you, I get listen. I get cars and a fall in love.
And an eye baby, I'm clean on my arm, while the engine I just I'm one of these people are pleased you take our cars and have a really great did they take care of you so apparently, been pointed out to me by someone that, Twenty one years I have a car over seventy road runner, ninety one Montero and now in two thousand twelve to come pick up, you're, honest that you weren't even aware of its crazies crease, so I guess it's com am I bought up I'll, get rid of the ninety one Montero, my two sons, ten and twenty years older, like you're, can what benefit Rail lands like I came home from in Oslo and you can get rid of that non level. What am I gonna do with it, so it's it's a driver and I want to cover on just to keep your pretty accurate. I grant he comes home from college and he's like a really my drive that car. What are you going What it was. What's, what are your kids studying? What are they would have? They want to do my older boys in English, major Boden College College in not the little ones ten he just wants.
They had a home run in about an hour and a half from now with the gambler game tonight. Oh shit, that's ok is Bay, is big, just like a regular seas, are all big finance is whether that age, big MAC, I dont, know, base vote up aid while we wanted a first practices like two weeks ago. I thought this is bad. News bears personified. We had our first came. I set out, they were not bad. Are you a good or you're good debt? In the stands you got out, I want to talk as they go and what that got bio. You can't you know the leak that were in its it's an awesome league out of like the locker centre area, and No, the guys that run his leg there. There, gentlemen, there's no screaming parent thing not been in for real. If that goes on that they'll come over an absolute d, you get a calm down We don't. We don't do that here, I mean are enthusiastic and they love baseball, but I'm not one of these parents have ever been wanting involved. You know or excuse.
Sort of behaviour that I think is just absolutely insane. Like I'll do that are made of if we ended up with a coach, it was a screamer I'd say: look at my son and go it's fine. Another team, I'm not going to do that. Now. That's nice! You sports! The gets into that insanity is just comment. If he's not M fun, doing it here. I am not trying to grow up to be a major league. Baseball player want to have confidence in, but to be fair would be nice if he grew up to be a major. We base also was a race car driver. Alternated. You know guys, look you set up you're, not going home, you damn it still, William! ok, we're syllable yeah we're about halfway through, but William, ok, fine we're! Finally, you worked on so many great leg. When did you start to feel comfortable? Did you ever I mean you know you you're you're working on films and it's like even temporarily, on with big actors, and in do you feel pretty cool.
Well in a rumor. Is there any sort of did you have to adjust? To that? Are you just a naturally grounded dude? Not you know, you know I in my late twenties. I guess I got a job and I swear. I think I was the last person than I knew. I'd have everybody living in New York all my contemporaries and people that I know everybody was getting parts and films except maggot apartments, and Malcolm X, it was one scene almost like. Finally, I got a part in the movie. The you know that they called me the night before they go. They wrote it out, oh my god, but I took a job once I remember I had no money. Nothing was going on. I had to get a job I was living in the village and I get to thousand one day when was was as the world turns herself and mom was doing a play at a regional theater in Portland Maine. It was a tough call. One looks like the kind of money I've never met before a date.
Television show the other one was a really good play. A laugh Wilson play an almost like cloud is gonna be hard. I took this up I was out of soap about a month when I went to the executive producing. I said I want to thank you very much. This has been great. Can you read me out to use, let me know what he thought about that request. So after about a year and a half they came back, they said you still want to go gazetted three or contract, and I said yes so then they figured out. I think I'm married my cousin and I left and as the world Thursday months that I was on that on that, so I swore tat boom picked up. My heart beat I mean I was so may have just two nerve, racking and on roll out on all my look at in the right place. It's those its those two years that I was on that soap that you know what, when finally things started, a shift in third, it spending more time and allay and work in a film in that it's the two years on the self. The really ground me out, citing on work.
Do theater and Allah that in China you now get your craft together and be a better actor. But but it's that time on, as the world turns the just really gave me a comfort ability in full. The camera that to this day I mean you know in all, especially like last summer I was I play this part Butch Cavendish and the new the long range it comes out, disarm just just one of the most awesome experiences ever what work, what a great seven and a half months work and honest Army Hammer, Johnny, Depp Corver been ski directing at it. I did have a low ranger. It was the biggest production at ever daddy. I may now about energy. Have we got some big? I hear you ve got some some big felt with this was just a massive moviemaking. You know, and as such joy to be around all of the scope and the size of all of that and just feel really comfortable and that sort of atmosphere. I wonder if it's not,
fill those moments where you, Canada, realise, because you just going through live in your life, you and your staff and then something like that happens. Then you can and you can establish, go oh yeah. I guess I I guess I did grow a bit cause, I'm not freaking out about this and it feels like it.
Like this should be. I mean a when you're a yet when you're young and you first our working. If someone just hands you something like that, you must know what to do with it. I think it's true, and I think that you know I mean people have said this is not like. I sit around and you know right papers about it, but a lot of you know a lot of people. It did at least have noticed overtime that that have major success. You don't lay teens early twenties and that without a real, you know, grounded sense of work and believe me, there's a brilliant actors out there that are that are just gifted in young, but there are a lot that have a moment and maybe don't sustain that throughout the entire career entire lifetime. Don't on that sure of all the reasons and that, but I think that I think that you know at least in its unfair to citizen agenda
sense, but I think for me, I think, coming out of New York and in and out of working in the theatres gives you a kind of a basin on how to work a thoroughgoing actors all the time they say. Hey we're finished I go to Chicago guerrilla item gardening or go to New York and tried to figure out a craft. What were you doing? O l is not a good place to go as an actor in order to rise right off the bat, unless you want to start auditioning for be noticed. Just you it's the truth, theatre saying you know not that there's not great theater and ally, which you know if I was to save somebody, said I really want to learn theatre, I'd. I'd turn got any art yeah go to Chicago, but also to studios out You know you know you pull up. Is the young actor? You look at that big studio gate you're? Not you know walking through that. Not unless you have somebody, that's going to be an open that door or asian or something I supposed to be young actor, that's in New York and living in the village, and he walks by and he runs into a playwright that he knows a. I wrote a play
we're gonna do a reading of an I got a director over and all of a sudden you, you know, you got twenty five people and you start to theatre company happens all the time and it works and you'll learn. What was your for it to work when you were doing Theatre New York? What was your favorite kind of young when you got this job? You're like yes, this is exactly what I was talking about before. I was part of this, which is no longer a theatre company called circle rat and not the american playwright. Lefferts Wilson began this this theatre company back, back in the sixties, and that an in some time in the eighties early nineties, their resolve there was a production with Julie Harris five times. Tony one or Julie Harris was in this play this off Broadway play that circle wrappers producing and there is a real kitchen sink I would only like a five character plain, and I remember when I read that I thought
man, I know they're gonna, look for some, like you know, movie star, committed play this or something, and now ended up getting that role, and that was that was a big thing. Those really big thank as that was a sufficient use. A great great part. Do you like pressure. Do you like the pressure of ok? I got this thing now now, I'm is it oh shit? I got the. I wanted now. I want to fuck it up or you good, with going. Ok now this figure it out and must have fun with it and try not to let you know the whole scene also with the theatre scene, which was taught me a big lesson on online share in this third short story, but I'll make it a short one. I did a plain wasted: the public theatre, which is a very reputable place to work in New York. It's down in a village, a Lafayette Street started by gentleman named Joseph Pap, and it became something brothers.
Several theatres within this old building in and a created this off Broadway space, where these theatres, amazing work comes out of there and I did a player and an opening night of his plate was a play that was done in the nineteen twenties and and naked angels, this theatre, company, resurrected display and and and they did at the public theater, and it was a big deal when it was written by a woman in the twenty, so that was like a big deal and Clark Gable play the part that I played like regional production and I was down Broadway. So opening night comes in and am you know everybody's way? the party for other reviews to commit in everything and daily comes in and its liking, oh yeah, Raven either you know they pick out three or four people, and they mentioned me. It's great
your post comes in and I love it may pick three or four people, and I mention in the New York Times, comes in and hate they pick three or four people and they say you don't love this love the production and any save the latter. Paragraph two like and now we're gonna tell you would didn't or oh no, it was unfair graph me and you know you're still going to shut the next day and you're gonna. Do this thing for as long as it runs in the New York Times its genome? That's it certainly, I'm sure it's the same today that everybody wants that, but I always say the next two and a half three months, while I shall read what it took to leg, to go every day to work on their play in fine somewhere to take that information of that review, and put it away where that had like like zero meaning in your life. That was my next. That was the rest of that run and that slow and after that I said to myself, you know what you take
good with the bad. You believe you know if you wanted, if you want to hop in and believe what everybody's going to say about you go ahead. Take that journey at for the most part I've chose to step away from that Do I really care about everything that is happening in the review under it? No, I really care about it. My finding what I what I think I need to find a make this guy real. Well, that's the whole idea of. Trying not to internalize too much when the whole- I you know like, especially when you're an actor when you cannot be in your head and then you just This thing, knowing in your head, we determined our this. What they saw, oh shit, am I not do my doing it? How about like that sucks
Remember that the average is so I mention this thing with you in areas where there was it there are reviewer at the time. His name was Frank Reggie, not a now. I rights and the Op Ed page am frank, wretched. The time was absolutely no doubt about it, the most powerful man and in a certainly in the world of you in New York, Theatre in Frank Ridge, wrote you a bad review and you were on Broadway, there's a good chance. You're not gonna, be around for the second neglect sweet smell, a success, yeah just gone so frank, rich rice, this review for the show that I did at the public their fast forward. I do not know how many years, few years later, I get this thing that Circle Rep, Frank, rich.
Since that he's retired it may be his last production that he's got a refugee. Who is this one that I'm doing with with Julie hairs at a Adam, not sure if it was his last one, but I think it was certainly was one of them anyway. So Frank Riches, commerce. So there is no doubt that I had this little bit side of like oh boy. Here we go Just let it go. Let it go. Let it go top everyday reviews. I told all the other actors in a play. Tell me anything. I don't want to know anything. Just all I want to do is do this production, do it for the joy of doing it, and we ran for like three months and at the end of the circle, Rep gave me a packet with all of the reviews and everything it was written about the production in that frightened centre? The first moment I hope- and I and I looked at it the night after we closed the show- and I pull it out- and it is the review from Frank, rich on the show and, unlike I recall, and if I asked him to if I wrote down like a couple of paragraphs in two,
they say this about me like that's what he rob. That's nice. I believe me, I'm I'm I'm I'm sure you didn't delicacy forbad above the other one, but it was an interesting thing and the lesson learned in an deal was when I sat around that last night: I read the reviews for this and there was a nice mention in Time magazine for this play and me in, but you know what I felt a lot better, not to look at any of it and that really care about it, because it was good to read it but It is good as they do in the whole thing and not caring about it. Yeah yeah well, especially because you know of your bad review. It doesn't really Help you in any way it still and I feel like it- could get in your head either way it either get in your our they think of doing a bad job. Hey, I'm awesome. You know
but either way, you're still thinking about it too much that can happen. You know I've seen it happen and I want to go there. What's a movie that's or what the character that you that maybe people art in a surly familiar with, but you really feel like this- is a real Strong representation of my work like film work like what's a movie that somewhere to say, hey what movie do you like that like what? What what would you tell people for the characters that I played the air? I you know I really like in a lot of stuff you they takes me. Three viewings of a film to first time. I see you film in a minute. I usually let love everybody in it and make the movies pretty good. Second time, I think the movie is really good. Hopefully, of everybody and it still wonder what the fuck were. You dont bill, and usually it's about the third time where I can
I can get out of my own way and watch it and think it's not bad. I think I think goes. Zalm is a pretty interesting character. Also. Think Dr Angry was something that I I really immensely enjoy playing their part. It's a shame that the Mai forced sisters and to answer, maybe by some. Contacts, there's been some, you know. Hopefully the John August Movie go yeah, yeah fucking great movie. Most them these in that for, like a minute was laying her first movie? I think it might have been a first movie and she's in it for a second
it's one with Jane, Bore and the guy and cheese, and that's my that's my sequence with Detective Burke, yeah and she's, like you guys, almost missed each other so many times like she's the room, yeah yeah, that's that that's Melissa, Mccarthy, but that movies fucking awesome and I assume that everyone listen to the park cast has seen go, but if they haven't, they should absolutely see them. Regos goes Doug lines, it is. It is very bastards Timothy all offence in it. It's a girl policies, just amazing yeah. I like that movie so so go. Dr Angry liked what else a contact you. I thought that was, you know I'll, listen, I'm it's not like I! can things right thing, maybe I'll like this after I do it in a vital. If I don't love something, I really want to be a part of it. I dont really do not pursue. It is that's it. Would you say that that really, the best advice you can give to young performer is just fine stuff that speaks to you and do it as opposed because here the whole theirs
a whole political business involved, which seems shitty and hard to navigate, you know that there is so much to the young performer cannot continue, no cannot control. You know you can't yourself right I mean I remember one. My mother came to visit me when I had an apartment in queens right by were the Mets play by the old Chase stadium and my mother came to is it in. She was around for the weekend just seeing what I was doing. Waiting tables- and that and she said to me well, it seems like there's only two things you can control and you know what she was right. She said how clean your apartment is and how much work you put into what you're doing and that's the bottom line. How much work do you put into being a bed actor and cleaning your apartment is about the something that you have control over everything else. So much of it is out of your hands. I mean everybody's gonna, get a shot in our view, if you're in it and you care, one of these days, whether they say you know somebody opens the door for you, whatever you know, sometimes the doors open uranium realize it
Are you ready when it happens? You know you ready to throw it out there. I tell you is all the time I said. Listen, you know what you need to find inside yourself. It's a positive fuck you and what that is. It's like! Listen, walk in that room and don't worry about you know I try to make it like fourteen people happy about what you're going to do walking at room the thing you want to do to get a positive thing inside gulp, listen, fuck, you everybody! I do my thing. Lay your thing Believe me if they hire you they're going to lay it down, because you did your thing and even even with that you kind of have to. I think people have to not you just can't control the outcome. There are so many things about the business that have not even that much to do I mean maybe it's different and Phil. But certainly in television that have- and I really hope to do- the performance of your good, that's a bonus, but do you look right for this thing
how the hell are you next to this person that they cast invites all that other share? You know, there's this sure, there's thirst, absolutely. You know a large element of that, but I think for the most part that the sort of projects that everybody wants to be and because their good, I think, the people that are involved with that have certainly worked with dozens of directors that are keen on Thursday irish people because well is six to his tears block any has one green. I brought he's the guy right, I think they're looking for somebody to go in and rock their world and find out. You know what that's not what we were thinking about. A point at guys. Good. I hear more stories about that from directors are friends of mine that had an idea of something we have we're gonna worth thinking about this, and somebody else comes in and just Knox their socks right off. I gotta take up they're, probably gonna get it
How do you keep? How do you keep surprising yourself? What how do you? How do you keep it exciting and fine? And you know well, you know I go home and I told my wireless and honey. You know I'm in a big movies alone, rangers they get take the garbage homo daily. I think it's always you know if it ain't underpaid, Janina stage, you read the script and you think my god that was good. While it was really that was river in a lot of times, I'll get some in my manager singing. I check out this part in there and I read it and it's something else that I find really exciting. What's, you know I mean yeah, you never know what it's going to be here or what's going to hook, you want something for me. You know I played we'll characters at times, bad guys or whatever you want to call it, but you know I sometimes
really gonna, you read it. You think. Ok, this guy's got somethin else going on. It makes him like he's crazy, but he's real see. You never know. Every time I open up a script rigid some news, gonna come what's the key to what's the key to really playing an effective villain is it that he doesn't think he's a villain. It's I'm telling you had a red on the nose. You know and assholes There is an asshole. I know this much I've read scripts before, were you know I'll look at it in it could be the villain in a piece, I mean it every line he has to. The entire thing is just like: it's like slightly whiplash, a mustache homage meaner. Can you get to the next thought at I dont know how to play the cause. He's not he's not a real guy, I think, did I think, with all characters, whether good bad, whatever
if you find out with somebody, cares about you, don't like the character. If you find out what he cares about him, you know whatever. That is, then he, then you got a guy. Then you gotta, guided operating. It is worth thinking about. You know, then, all of a sudden he's kind of ground in his own way and you go through they need to get something to finally get some some some journey to take with them. Here Do you? Are you a comedy guide? All you do for you. Do you mean I do things that? Are you know of a comedic nature? I think certainly in the coastal areas, but I mean: are you a huge comedy fan like do you like? Do you like stand up or do you like comedy film or dirty it? Does it give zero specific love? Love new doesn't like to laugh. I dont see enough comedy live. I went to care about three years ago I went to accommodate love for the first time I went to the improvement and Louis UK was there for Georgia for some, I wanna know comedy club and of course, who is so you get him
could not, but with him yeah yeah. Commissioner, first time you see alive comic in its him, but I truly the funniest hour of my existence and the deadline. The worst thing that could have happened to you, because I already got you go around making their lives like why my first contact with Paul Macartney like yours, rock ass. It was black Sabbath after that, what has users three times a man What are the poorest zeppelin like live? Not messy, not is crazy. Because you can remember back in the early seventies if you went to a bar and saw banned. You know they got like four Marshall lamps up on the stage when you would see Zepplin they had like forty Marshall.
Up on this. Sound quality was not you know, I mean it was great. It was that when you're seeing Zepplin, I think the first time I saw Zepplin was the houses of the Holy tour, and then I saw the physical graffiti tour, but it wasn't I remember the first acts the came along that really like olives and got sound quality together. Yes, all of a sudden and then the first time I saw yes in Rochester at the other, the civic auditory. Yes, was the first better sort. It put the speakers up near twelve Sonny. I used always close off behind the stage. You know that nobody sat there. Yes, put the speakers up in here and also sound quality got a completely changed and then, when I saw the first time, I saw that the Yellow Brick Road tour without John
Then then that was like closing your eyes and listening to the album it get really good and from there you know, and then the eighties came along and on things started to go. Digital and people could really gonna reproduce on quality, live on an auditory him. That way, you know a blow your mom I went to this and with his concert and nineteen eighty six it was it landed. Records did a fortieth anniversary concert in Madison Square Garden, and it was like an eleven our concert, all people, their label. I get off from yesterday's debate. Jeez genesis. Phil Collins get all of the coasters. I mean everybody that recorded on on Atlantic records and at the end of the night they said the last hour
or the three remaining members of Zepplin plus John Bonham son Jason laid the jobs that and they came on a plate, five songs, but that was seeing Zepplin for the first time we, like I qualities, do you know a whole different deal in over a decade and a half later of of of the technology advances in like some production and alive space, it was tat. Was my blog yap you'd, like your seat shook when they played Kashmir Remember that, oh, my god, I can't imagine Bob, and I guess you can do that if your Zepplin but forget what had learning that your I've just thinking about all the logistics of like every fuckin bands, gonna have a specific thing and specific. Putting on the sound board in a specific way. However, they did it. Do you know not all day long Crosbie, stills NASH, just witches, went on. Nobody came out two three or four songs. Next person ass, a great concert, you gotta make sure you prepare for thing
did you go for the whole eleven hours. The whole thing, oh shit, have slowly. How are you see? It's not bad. Now bear rhetoric like literally stage level. All the way on the other side would send out an indoor. You know Medicis, where of course epic. So cannot. I level with the stage you know: maybe five rose up from the other side. Looking straight at this stage is bear is Is it something you would have you know it in another life? Would you would you like, maybe maybe I'll, maybe I'll, be banned or play guitar do do you kind of when you're watching music you like fuck? I really want to be up there or do you just watch is a fan unit. You know Marvel at at Marvel at the the people that end up being in bands and- and you know, make a massive success. If you know making music there's a kids that, like you, know that the kids at seven eight years old at the one guitar- and they don't put it down
really tough. Imma who figures out back then you know I all I wanted to do was run. You know run with the guys and just run all over to town and you know. Sometimes you know we all know. Given we re younger than like just E. He had that thing. I want to do that and you know what that's the guy you gonna go watch on stage someday. I think it's just occurred to me like that you mentioned earlier. We seek a show you when he comes back You should totally fuckin beyond that show. If any one from ethics is listening, you would be perfect it Louis. I would be show in a hard, but he loves really like so many really great actors just pop up on that show, and just do like one vignette. You know like on the show. You would be one of those guys in art. Be that's great yeah, but he's amazing did you. Any other shows after Louisa, without really want one until done. We're gonna ruin. This yeah he's,
those guys that'll just he'll. Just like his mission. He is so finely tuned that he'll talk for thirty straight minutes up stuff. That he's never really said before, but it just comes out as like comedy like it's such a fuss. Pretty pretty work, is pretty incredible. The largest talkin about his kids in. The way the moments were happening between the audience, there's no way that it was something that was wasn't. It wasn't anything, but what was happening in the moment right then, and there you could just tell just exactly what you're saying it was just right. There I mean, depending on how big the laugh was, would depend on where he went but he didn't. I was brilliant. Does the stage performer a new kind of girl? I got ya like maybe that's where we're less terrifying. That's the only thing it's more terrifying and standing up at my trying to be funny is probably karaoke. At least here
you people are forgiven, cause they're like well, it's supposed to be bad, but with cavity up it's that good via redo karaoke will be alone in my garage affects european machine yeah we're Dario Design, we would it be cashmere. Now. What has waiting around for that have to go into some eighty deasey thing or such Nice really want to do We want to do a celebrity karaoke show where people just come on in things, They always want to thing. Let me a tape with a lie. What will it take ology today you could do it in your garage and then we could just project. You want to stay in a hologram. You probably could, and then you wouldn't even know you define you re totally fine, but this has been a real fun. Having you on is it? Is there anything you want to promote or people should look out for what's well. You know I got a few things that are there
come out this year, and now I'm excited about that. There's a phone call wrong, and now that's that's coming out soon and in March, in its it's so wrong come on, go online, look at the trailer toward its just like, while just this amazing french director, who made the film rubber imperatives, that amazing, french director and it's called raw entirely. Yes, yes, yes, Clinton that I read this like a year and a half ago in my incentives. Many said I have no idea what you're gonna think about this pudding did the guy would like to meet you, the director and, and I read it, and he said what what do you think I said I have to meet this guy he's just crashed dissidents. Vain and now so are we made this little film on a wing allowing prayer and plated Sundance some a year ago
and now it's finally um hidden. I think the art house, theatres in its pretty whacked pre out there and then his film phantom, I did without Harris comes out of March. First. I think this weekend, russian submarine movie based on a true story, low ranger himself. Fourth of July. We can indeed you see district nine ass? They got in your blood. Have the director of that his next movie Eliseo August nine, the today they show the trailer so that a comic very Medina yeah. Now that looks fuckin awesome. That guy's incredible he's amazing, I mean, like you know, district nine is one of those these were you gotta go. Ok, we got the Michael Bay transformers, hundred two hundred million dollar movie and you got blob camps, district, nine, which looks better and is more compelling for, like a hundred costs at his ease
he's a wonderful to be around and work within a true vision. Gosh through vision. Here I was, I was in Prague to three weeks ago here: you're in journey fosters only to cypher I think tat. You saw that achievement badger. They I gotta call. Did they needed a couple of lines, eighty ard and was going to get back to the states? I was going to be back here for a couple of weeks ago, so I went to a sound stage there and they sent legged. Ninety second clip this. Ninety second clip that And I can't get in too much detail. Has anyone it give anything away, but I have to tell you I headed out loud reaction when I saw this ninety second clip when I sent kneel and email right away- and I was like, oh my god, while that was just freakin amazing body, just amazing, I can't wait to see what he's gonna die was the language it. I just you know you listen, there's nothing new.
You know I mean it's just the way people tell stories or visually the way. You know you know everyone. So while a new war film comes out, not that this is that, but I'm just using the added as an example that you know platoon came out it up the bar vague it. Oh it's like. While I never saw a quite like that. I saw ninety seconds of Elysium and I thought ok I've never seen that I've never seen what I just saw onscreen. That's that's pretty amazing. If one is what does leads him come out August knife, Ok August, nine, I'm excited for the notion of a good solution, and then the other south african actor who, when he was four nine and yeah Sholto, yes, yeah he plays into insane pardon. This really insane is great care,
I mean I. I say that for me the little interaction that my character had with his put just watching and seeing a couple clips and that in very special met to me wayward is magic everybody. I think Neil Justino, he he's one of those guys that he just finds the right pieces of the puzzle and in let's go and finds the rose for the people. It you know are most right. It seems to really like minimum fulfil them. He seems. One of those gear, most I'll directors where it's like yeah. This is exactly what you should be doing and even if no one gave you money to be doing this, you would still be making really cool things because they just have a way of this is just how they they are fair and they are fed on. No doubt no doubt he is, he is one of those guys This has been so much fun men I it is an honour to have you on, and it's been nice to see you William.
Can we build Turkey an hour and twelve minutes only fifty five minutes. Fifty five minute I got from William to Bill and fifty five minutes might take. I might take what are those no don't start taking away the word comic book ass. He could see a man and- and you know when you have others- have completed the or come back on the progress. The hang out with us against the chairmen of the good are right enjoy every to everyone now leading noticed. Com. This episode of unnoticed by gases. You by legal zoom dot com. Whatever your legal document needs, Elysees, wheels, trust, trademarks and more you ve got it over twelve years and two million Americans of use legal zoom. So your business and protect your family, legal zoom dot com using the offer code noticed.
Transcript generated on 2020-07-13.