The Agency's Posts

Dark Knight Rises: Michael Caine on Alfreds Final Scene: Dark Knight Rises: Michael Caine on Alfreds Final Scene Michael Caine as Alfred in “The....
Read More>

Do models need more rights?: Viewpoint: Do models need more rights? Sara Ziff (in blue) with fellow models Amy Lemons,....
Read More>

AUDITION WORKSHOP FOR KIDS: HOW TO BOOK THE JOB !!!: PALADINO CASTINGis offering audition technique classes which will enhance and improve your child's....
Read More>

Anne Hathaway on 'Les Mis' hair: 'I looked like my gay brother': Anne Hathaway spared vanity in taking the part ofFantine, thedying young mother abandoned by....
Read More>

'Liz & Dick' romance fizzles in graceless biopic: An epic love story, like a good horror movie, relies more on possibility than actuality.....
Read More>

Rolling Stones myth, fact swirl in 'Crossfire Hurricane': 'Crossfire Hurricane' on HBO has the Rolling Stones telling their own story in an energetic,....
Read More>

Review: 'Rise of the Guardians' gives the storybook an edge: It's Santa Claus, Jack Frost, the Easter Bunny and more as never seen before in a tale of....
Read More>

Ken Burns' 'The Dust Bowl' a timely, exceptional endeavor: Ken Burns is at his storytelling best in PBS' 'The Dust Bowl,' a moving, four-hour chronicle of....
Read More>

Box office: How 'Twilight' and 'Harry Potter' are radically different: In many respects, the "Harry Potter" and"Twilight"movies have a lot in....
Read More>

The Contenders: Jake Gyllenhaal looks at his 30s, contemplates his 60s: With 20 years of screen credits behind him,Jake Gyllenhaalis a 31-year-old actor with a ré
Read More>

Gather moss? Not the Rolling Stones at 50: Rock's original bad boys are marking their unlikely milestone with another greatest hits album, a....
Read More>

In 'Lincoln's' beginning was the word: Steven Spielberg, Daniel Day-Lewis and Tony Kushner talk about the story, the voice and the....
Read More>

The Hobbit: Peter Jackson’s unexpected journey to three films: Nearly a decade after the New Zealand filmmaker concluded his massively successful “Lord....
Read More>
Actor John Goodman does both silent and 'Extremely Loud'
Posted on: 02/02/12
Share/Save/Bookmark
 

John Goodman has stolen plenty of scenes with midsize and supporting roles, including memorable turns as the unhinged bowler and Vietnam veteran Walter in “The Big Lebowski,” the everyman father Dan on the TV series “Roseanne” and the lovable blue beast Sulley in the animated film “Monsters Inc.” This year, Goodman pops up in two high-profile Oscar contenders, playing a movie studio boss in the old Hollywood-inspired silent film “The Artist” and a doorman in the 9/11 drama “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.”

Goodman spoke to 24 Frames from London, where he is working on the BBC miniseries “Dancing on the Edge,” about his work in two very different films.

You’re in two movies up for best picture at the Academy Awards. That must be gratifying.
Right now it’s cool. It would be cooler if one of them wins. But it’s just nice to be in successful things.

Let’s start with “The Artist.” How different was it acting in a silent film?
It goes back to the old days where you’d put up a scenario and then improvise your dialogue. The only challenge really was improvising with Jean Dujardin, who doesn’t speak any English — or, he didn’t at the time. He’s learning very rapidly. And I done flunked high school French. But we knew what we were talking about, and we listened very closely to each other, which led to a great ensemble feeling. Everybody knew they were doing something that was a little off, a little different, a little special. It created a great camaraderie in the cast. [But] the acting wasn’t really any different. You just look at each other and pay attention and listen.

Are you a big fan of silent movies?
Yeah. The older I get, the more I appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into what we do. Watching those guys creating, especially like Buster Keaton, [Charlie] Chaplin, I can’t believe that they did the stuff they do. Incredible skills went into it. What I’m learning to appreciate now is like my character [in “The Artist”] — these were really tough. They wanted to entertain people and wanted to put butts in the seats. To do that, they had to wrestle all kinds of stuff but ultimately have a gut feeling about what looked good up there and what people wanted to see.

What was it like working with director Michel Hazanavicius?
He presented me with a scenario for the movie since they couldn’t show me a screenplay, which was a beautiful printed scenario — it had pictures of old Hollywood movies. The way he presented it to me, I said, “Well this guy really knows his onions and he knows what he wants and he obviously has a passion for it.” So he kind of sold me there. And then we met on Wilshire Boulevard and talked about what he wanted to do, and I was ready to go.

You’re also in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close,” a very different film in terms of tone, story and setting. Do you see any similarities between the two films?
Well, “The Artist” is a story of loss and redemption, and I guess in a way, “Extremely Loud” is as well.

What was it like working with director Stephen Daldry?
Oh, he was great. He’s story-first. He seemed to me like a theater guy, because he set up a  rehearsal space in Brooklyn and we went over the scenes over and over and over again. I just love that. I really like to rehearse, figure out what I’m doing. I actually only wound up working one day on [the film], and they kept asking me if I still wanted to do it, and I said, “Yeah, I’m in.” The screenplay was very moving when I read it, and I wanted to be a part of it. I’ll follow Stephen Daldry off a roof.

It sounds as though there was a lot of improvisation on “The Artist” and more rehearsal on “Extremely Loud.” Do you have a preferred way of working?
I do whatever they tell me to pretty much, but I do like to rehearse to get it down. To me it pays off because I’m a slow learner. I don’t trust myself to improvise. Thank god the microphones were not on [for “The Artist”]. But the more you do it, you get better and better at it.

They say comedy is one of the hardest things to do in show business. As someone who’s done his fair share, do you find that to be true?
It’s difficult, but I don’t think it’s as hard as people say it is. It’s something you feel. You either got it or you ain’t.

You’ve been to the Academy Awards before. Is there anything you’d add to, subtract from or change about the show?
No [laughs]. The show is what it is. I don’t think they should worry about pleasing people. I think that’s been a fault in the past. They worry about trying to get a new audience or whatever — just relax and be the Oscars.

COMMENTS
Be the first to post a comment!


Post A Comment:




  • It's 2020! Start booking roles in commercials, fashion, films, theater and more with The Agency Online!

  • NEW WORKSHOP with Barbara Barna & Sean De Simone!

    Hi Everyone and Happy Summer! Sean at Sean De Simone casting and Barbara Barna are teaming up for a super informative and fun Hosting for Home Shopping workshop. A great opportunity for established or experienced TV Hosts and Experts interested in learning how to get noticed and how to get in....
  • MASTERCLASS W. Robin Carus & David John Madore

    A Special Offer for the Agency Community, from one of our favorite NYC Casting Directors! EMAIL FacetheMusicWithUs@gmail.com Or Eventbrite To Sign Up! Class Size is Limited.
  • Don't Fall Into The Comparison Trap

    Hi Everyone! As the second installment in an ongoing series of features by the Agency's amazing community, here's some sage advice from our own Regina Rockensies; a humble (& awesome)veteran we've had the pleasure of working with for a long time. Have an excellent week! : ) - The Agency....
  • One Model's Agreement

    Hi Everyone! As the first piece in an ongoing series of original articles by the Agency community, here's a short reflection on some of the values of professional acting & modeling that we can all keep in mind for our next casting. Good luck on your castings &shoots this week! : ) -....




 
home       castings&news       privacy policy       terms and conditions      contact us      browser tips
Official PayPal Seal