Hi all --
Since there were a few bunches of questions, I'll go ahead and answer those first:
"Anthony- I'm sure we're all curious as to how Ms. Dawson is doing. I think she'll do fine."
Not to be a naive cheerleader type, but I really think she's going to do waaaaaay more than fine. I think she's going to be amazing.
"But how are they planning to do out tonight? I can't really picture it on screen."
Out Tonight will start with her backstage at the Cat Scratch Club, then the first verse and chorus will be during one of her dances onstage there, and then we'll see her head home to her loft, and ultimately she'll climb upstairs to drop in on Roger. Then Another Day begins. So, ultimately, it's pretty much like what's in the show.
"Also, do you think the obc being in this movie will affect box office income? Phantom is doing somewhat poorly, and there aren't any names in it...I'm really excited for this movie though!"
This is a question for fortune tellers, but you're right, it may affect our initial box office interest somewhat. On the other hand, there is hopefully a core group of rentheads who will be interested in seeing the film because we're in it. And if we get good reviews and good word of mouth, that could all help. I liken it to The Lord of the Rings, in a way. There were some known actors in that, but no big box office stars, but the books' fans were very supportive, the critics were very supportive, and the films were amazing, so they did very well. As for Phantom, I have heard very few kind things said about the film (I haven't seen it) and bad word of mouth is never good for a film, no matter who's in it. But Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, and Jesse L. Martin are all pretty famous at this point, albeit unproven box office draws. But they should have interest from the media and all that. But as with everything else, it remains to be seen how we'll do. Of course I'd love for the fillm to do as well as possible, and I will do my part to help get the word out about it, but its commercial success is out of all of our hands at a certain point. And whether or not it's a big hit, I'm enormously proud to have the opportunity to make something that will last *forever.*
"will la vie boheme be shot in the life cafe?"
No, that would be almost impossible. When you shoot a scene like that, it's ideal to be able to do it on a set, because you want to be able to put the camera everywhere you can, which involves moving walls in and out. The real Life Cafe is rather small, and you'd never really be able to have a whole bunch of singers and dancers *and* a camera crew *and* all the other crew members in there doing a big dance number. Sorry...
"could you give us a HINT about when/where the NYC scenes will be shot as the time gets closer? i want to try to watch..."
I'm sorry to say that I don't think that will be possible, because you never know how out of hand the crowd might get if word spreads as to where we are on any given day. I have a feeling word might spread anyway, because when we're on the streets of NYC we'll be pretty apparent. But the people who take care of locations would probably be unhappy to have that much more of a crowd to control. I hope that's understandable...
"I was wondering how different your take is on the "character" (for lack of better word right now) of Mark and how the rest of the cast is approaching their portrayal of their "characters" in respect to the stage show."
I'm not sure that our overall "takes" are different, but I do feel like we're all coming from a simpler, deeper place. One of the gifts of getting to do this story on film after having done it for so long onstage is realizing that we now have no obligation to fill a theatre, to project our energy out to such a big audience, so more intimate moments like "I Should Tell You," :Goodbye Love," and the fight between Roger and Mark, for instance, can be played much more quietly and simply, without losing any of their intensity. That's a luxury, and it will hopefully demonstrate all the more the power of Jonathan's words and music. There's also this thing known as chemistry that we all share after all of our lived experiences together (and Rosario and Tracie are already feeling a part of that) that I imagine will read very well onscreen.
"What events have transpired in your life since you last played Mark that you might draw on to help inspire your sure-to-be awesome performance?"
Well, as I was doing my run of the show in 1996 through the end of 1998, my mom was first struggling with cancer, and then she died in May of 1997, so that alone changed my experience of the show and of what Mark might be going through. I think now that all of these years have past, all of that stuff is deep in my bones, and there doesn't seem to be anything in the way of just responding as fully as possible to the story when I'm in a scene. I hope that makes sense.
"What is your favorite song of all time?"
Oy, what a question! How can I ever be expected to pick only one?
I have too many to count, and they have changed over the years. But a couple of them are "Bizarre Love Triangle," "You Wanna Be Startin' Something," "My Funny Valentine," and most of The Beatles' songs. That's just off the top of my head.
"This is a random question, but where did you go to college?"
I went to NYU film school for one semester. I was a bit disappointed in the program, and it was *very* expensive, so I didn't return. I got cast in Six Degrees of Separation the following spring, so it seemed like a good decision. I'd still love to direct films, but I want it to be a script about which I'm very passionate, and while I've had a couple of ideas over the years, I haven't had one that makes me go YES yet. But I've got a lot of life left to live, so it will happen eventually.
"There has been alot of talk about what rating the movie will get when it's released. Any speculation on that?"
As far as I know, based on my initial meeting with Chris, it will be rated R. (His quote to me was, "this will be my first R-rated film.") Its usage of the word F*CK alone will get it an R, as far as I know, let alone its depiction of IV drug use. Unless the rules of the MPAA have changed over the years, that is.
"Anthony so is Idina still in La Vie Boheme although rehearsals for that scene are continuing without her?"
Of course she is! She'll just get slotted in when she's finally well enough to be able to dance on a table.
"This isn't meaning to sound like an interview at all, but a friend of mine was wondering how or what you did to prepare for playing Hedwig."
There were so many levels of preparation for that particular role, starting with getting comfortable in those five-inch platform heels! I had a great director, Brad Rouse, who encouraged me in every way imaginable, and gave me all the room in the world to experiment and play and see how far I could go. I loved the story and adored the songs, so all I did was what I normally do: I opened myself up to the material and let it tell me what it needed of me. Then Brad trimmed here and there, and brought out more in other places. I also had an amazing band and a fantastic Yitzak, so the whole experience couldn't have been more pleasurable and fulfilling. then there was a final step of creation which involved finding the right makeup look. In that case, Miguel Huidor, (the costume designer) and Ange Vesco (the makeup artist) worked together on several tests until we found the right design. Then I spent almost two hours in the chair before every performance getting made up. She and I became very good friends, needless to say, spending all that time with each other.
I loved playing Hedwig, and in the right circumstances I would be thrilled to do it again somewhere.
"Also do you have a favorite play that your brother wrote?"
I think his most ambitious and powerful play is Gompers, the one we did at City Theatre last year, but I love so many of them, especially Nocturne, Blackbird, and Stone Cold Dead Serious. There are also plays of his that have yet to be seen that are wonderful.
"Have you ever listened to The Postal Service?"
I have, and enjoy it very much. Thanks for the compliments on some of my current favorites.
"Also, have you seen Garden State? Excellent movie, with an even better soundtrack"
Here's where I have to respectfully disagree. I found the film to be more than a little pretentious: trying to be "deep" sometimes, but mostly coming up far short for my tastes. Granted, because the loss of a parent is something that's very close to my heart, I'm probably a little more critical of stories that deal with that theme, but in this case I thought that it was a lot of style over subtance, pretending at times to be substantive. It feels like a very *young* telling of the story, if that makes any sense.
I do agree, however, that the soundtrack is filled with great music. And I did enjoy Natalie Portman's performance, which was nice after being so dismayed by her work in The Phantom Menace and The Seagull. I also thought she was *amazing* in her brief appearance in Cold Mountain.
Speaking of actors who have redeemed themselves for me, I have to give a word to Leo DiCaprio after seeing The Aviator last night: I thought he was incredible, in his best work since Gilbert Grape. That boy is so damn charismatic, and capable of capturing such a deep level of confusion and self-disgust, that it's confusing why so many of his intervening performances have fallen so comparably flat. Well, anyway, he's great in this. Good for him.
"Yeah, just out of curiosity, didn't it get annoying having to put on all that stage makeup, hair (was that a wig?), costume etc etc? "
It was never annoying. It was fun and a great opportunity to transform myself. The highest compliment I got was that people couldn't see *me* onstage. And not just because of the makeup and wig and outfits, either. That made me very very happy to hear.
"Do you have any idea when the movie's soundtrack is supposed to come out since Idina's accident is delaying recording?"
Her accident is actually not delaying the recording at all, and I would imagine that the soundtrack will be released around the same time as the film. Although I have no idea exactly when either date will actually be. Just around Christmastime. I'm sure you will find out in plenty of time to make your plans, though.
So those are the questions...
Today's going to be a big day, since it will be the first time we're all going to read through and sing through the whole script at one sitting. It was supposed to be the first day all eight of us were going to be together, but Taye's staying back in NYC to help tend to Idina, so that reunion will have to wait.
Then tonight after rehearsal the Larson family are hosting a peasant's feast in honor of Jonathan's ritual. So it will be a very sweet ending to a great week.
Hope everyone out there has a great day, too.
Take care --
Anthony
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