What a delight meeting Bryan Cranston last night at a
Q&A after a screening of Argo. He
was gracious, forthcoming and very funny. He spoke on everything from his new
film Argo, to his Breaking Bad co-star Aaron Paul, to the
Yankees.
On Argo –
“It’s the best bad plan we have.” - Jack O’Donnell in Argo.
As soon as he read the script, he wanted the role. After 33 years in the business, he says it’s
all about the script, the writing. “A
role like this is like catnip… you’ll kick and scream to get it.”
Prepping for the role, he sat down with four different
CIA agents and found it refreshing they didn’t look like James Bond. At first they were all reticent – their jobs
after all are all about not talking, not divulging what they do, their
missions. “Actors would never be in the
CIA,” he joked, “because they can’t get credit (publicly) for their work.”
But soon, the agents opened up to Cranston. He discovered
their jobs, what they deal with, are not that dissimilar from other professions…
they have a boss who’s a jerk, the coffee in the break room is stale. They’re
devoted, dedicated. “I find them heroic,” he said.
At first, Cranston had prejudice against Ben Affleck…
from his playboy days, but then saw that he’s very intelligent and in fact was
a Middle East scholar in college so he was very determined to get the story
right. Ultimately, “he set a lovely tone on the set. He’s a great director.”
Cranston says Argo
is a celebration of transcending all differences, all parties, for the right
thing. “It’s humanistic in scope. Maybe Congress can learn from this and stop
finger pointing. The film is about the potential people have when there’s a
greater good, a greater cause, and what they’ll do against, and in spite of,
the odds.”
If you watch carefully, you’ll see the real Tony Mendez,
the Ben Affleck character, in a cameo appearance in an airport scene.
Cranston pointed out the film is based on a true story, but
it’s not a documentary. His character
Jack O’Donnell, for instance, is a fictional character and the dramatic final plane
chase scene “is Hollywood.”
On Breaking Bad –
Cranston was intrigued by the story of a good person
changing to a bad person in the course of the series, something he doesn’t
believe has ever been done before.
On Aaron Paul –
Sweet, talented kid from the Midwest, not corrupted yet, “always
feel like I have to protect him like a little bird.”
On secret ambition –
Always wanted to sing on Broadway. Why? “Because it
scares me.”
On how he became part owner of the Cinemas Palme D’Or
movie theater -
Twelve years ago Cranston wrote a script for his wife as
a birthday present. When he gave it to her, she absolutely loved it and asked him,
“So when are we making it?” He was gob smacked.
It hadn’t actually occurred to him to make the film. But, well, why not? So he stepped up and started
raising money for the film and ended up making it. They shot in the desert
mostly, Yucca Valley, Pioneertown, Palm Springs. It was called Last Chance, and screened at the Palm
Springs International Film Festival.
“But if you thought writing a script, fundraising for the
film and shooting it was hard,” he joked, “try selling a movie!” But he did end
up getting it on Showtime and WE channels.
One day during his Last
Chance filmmaking adventure, he bumped into an owner of the Cinemas Palme D’Or
Theater and they started talking. The guy told him about his theater and how
they were expanding and what his plans were for the venue. It sounded
interesting. Plus, as a boy, Cranston always thought it would be cool to own a
movie theater because then he could watch as many movies as he wanted to for
free. So he jumped in and partnered with
the owners of the theater. All well and good, dream come true, but it turned
out to be one of his most expensive endeavors ever.
On the Yankees –
“Nothing pleases me more than seeing the Yankees
struggle.”
Next up -
Shooting final
season of Breaking Bad.
His next role is a
blind, Polish hit man.
And he’s written a script, a murder mystery with a family
drama backdrop.
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