Jack Black, Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. are the stars of the new film Tropic Thunder. Check out EW’s interview of the trio:
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: This movie mercilessly ridicules the self-important aspects of acting. Ben, you were telling me earlier that there’s nothing actors love more than to sit around telling stories about other actors behaving like jerks.
JACK BLACK:But not in aninterview!
ROBERT DOWNEY JR.:Literally, I once heard an actor say, ”This whole process us trying to shoot this scene this isgarbage. We need to put on animal masks and get primal with each other, and then we’ll understand who really has the status in this scene. I’ve got the masks.”
BEN STILLER:Wow.
DOWNEY:I remember looking at this dude and going, ”You broughtanimal masks? You honestly think your, like, improv summer-stock idea is going to break it open for me? We’ve gotmoneyon the line. I’m not going to put on rabbit ears and figure out who’s king of the forest.”
BEN STILLER:I remember being in a car scene with a jaded actor who pulled out a flask: ”It’s 4 o’clock. Time for a little nip.”
ROBERT DOWNEY JR.:[To Stiller] But you’ve never worked drunk or loaded?
STILLER:Um, no.
DOWNEY:Liar.
STILLER:I haven’t! Just out of fear of screwing up.
DOWNEY:Jack?
JACK BLACK:No. I had an improv class in high school and I came stoned one time. And I was so paranoid that I never tried to f— with it again. I marvel at some people’s ability to party and then act. I’m not built that way. [Pauses] But what blows me away is how quickly someone who’s new to the industry can go from being, like [breathlessly], ”Whoa, what? I have my owntrailer?! Oh my God, you guys, this is insane!” to [smugly] ”But I deserve it. And actually now Iexpectit.” The transition into the spoiled actor happens really fast. That’s why you hear about a lot of actors who live on a farm out in the middle of the country to shield themselves, so they can stay grounded. But that’s its own kind of spoiledness too.
STILLER:I was directing an actress once who was taking a nap on the set and I had to gingerly wake her up. [Whispering] ”We have to film now.” ”But I’m so tired.” ”I know, but everyone’s here and we’re ready to do the scene.”
BLACK:There is an infantilization that happens to actors. I had to catch myself a couple of times while we were making this movie from falling into the trap of ? being the character. I got a really bad sunburn on the very first day of rehearsals, and I was so mad and I really wanted to blame someone besides myself for not putting sunblock on.
STILLER:”How could you not tell me how strong the sun was going to be?!”
Read the rest of the interview here.
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