RADIOFREE.COM - MOVIE COVERAGE - BOX OFFICE - CONTESTS - TWITTER










Exclusive Interview: Hanna's
Saoirse Ronan




Thor: Love and Thunder
Jurassic World Dominion
The Menu
Nope
Bullet Train
Clerks III
Doctor Strange 2
The Matrix Resurrections
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Eternals
Spencer
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
The French Dispatch
Prisoners of the Ghostland
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Cruella
Labyrinth
Slaxx
Jungle Cruise
Gunpowder Milkshake
The Water Man
Vanquish
The Vast of Night
She's Missing
Angel Has Fallen
Nobel's Last Will
MORE MOVIES

MORE HIGHLIGHTS

Contact Us







Anna Kendrick
Alexandra Daddario
Antje Traue
Lindsay Sloane
Angela Sarafyan
Saoirse Ronan
Teresa Palmer
Hailee Steinfeld
Odette Yustman
Grace Park
Ashley Bell
Kristen Stewart
Bridgit Mendler
Danielle Panabaker
Helena Mattsson
Carla Gugino
Jessica Biel
AnnaSophia Robb
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Emmy Rossum
Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Angelina Jolie
Keira Knightley
Alison Lohman
Hilary Swank
Evan Rachel Wood
Nicole Kidman
Piper Perabo
Heather Graham
Shawnee Smith
Kristen Bell
Blake Lively
Elizabeth Banks
Camilla Belle
Rachel McAdams
Jewel Staite
Katie Stuart
Michelle Trachtenberg
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Jessica Alba
Famke Janssen
Elisabeth Shue
Cameron Diaz
Shannon Elizabeth
Salma Hayek
Emily Perkins






In director Tod Williams' drama The Door in the Floor, an adaptation of John Irving's novel A Widow for One Year, children's author Ted Cole (Jeff Bridges) and his wife Marion (Kim Basinger) find themselves estranged after the death of their two boys. The complexities of their relationship become more tangled with the introduction of Eddie (Jon Foster), a student hired by Ted for a summer internship with whom Marion has an affair.

We joined the rest of the media to field questions to stars Bridges, Basinger, and Foster about this somber story that explores a dark corner of married life.


JEFF BRIDGES & KIM BASINGER
June 11, 2004

Media: Was there any difficulty in having to play characters who experience the tragic death of their children?

KIM: Jeff and I had a similar response to this. We're both parents. And that's all I really need to say. We're parents, and although we work in different ways, I think he and I both agree that we got to that piece of the moment and just let it go. It is one of your worst fears in your life as a parent, and I don't think it can be rehearsed. Once you've given birth, once you've had children, once you are a parent, I just don't think I can sit here and tell you guys it comes from my character. It comes from me as a parent.

Do you think that particular situation would destroy most marriages?

KIM: I've known people who have gone through that situation and who are no longer together. I understand that. I would hope people could get through tragedies. Unfortunately, some people go down with the death.

What appeals to you about John Irving's novel A Widow for One Year?

JEFF: One of the things I love about John is his ability to combine the tragic and the comedic sides of life. The way he juggles them, it makes me feel that his books are more real maybe than other writers' because they have those two different aspects going. And, of course, he writes great dialogue and great characters. So those are both really appealing to me.

Which of the characters do you think are of an autobiographical nature for Irving?

JEFF: I would imagine he uses different aspects of himself for different characters. Maybe it's a bit like acting--he draws upon himself and the world around him.

Jeff, do you feel that your character goes into the door in the floor at the end of the movie and "kills" himself, only to come out as a new person?

JEFF: There's a certain mysterious aspect of the film that I enjoy leaving with the audience. Even though I had certain takes on it myself, I don't want to deprive the audience of having that kind of curiosity.

So you think the audience sort of makes up the ending?

JEFF: I think so, yeah. The audience fills in a lot of the blanks on this one. You're asked to work with that in this film.

The two of you have worked together in the past. Does that create a certain ease when you are reunited onscreen?

JEFF: Oh, I think so. Yeah, it feels like a long weekend.

KIM: Jeff has always been one of my dearest, most favorite actors of all time since I had the honor of really working with him in Nadine. We were talking about how our methods are so different, that they just seem to work together. And I love working with him because he's so there, he's so available. And I would like to think that as long as I have been in this profession, I really like everybody to be great, you know? I like to give. I like us all in the moment. And I find sometimes, many actors just perform on their own. They're not really performing to you, they're not really great listeners, whatever. And I find Jeff to be right there in the moment with you no matter what happens. And I think that's the highest compliment you can give an actor. [to Jeff] There you go. Did you like that? [smiles]

Kim, what would we be surprised to learn about Jeff?

KIM: How long the rest of us sit back and let him "unpeel the onion," as he says. He likes to just keep peeling the onion until he can find more about the character. And he studies and he reads and he talks about it and talks about it and unravels it and just really, really gets in. And I just sit back and watch him. I don't watch the clock. He doesn't know how many others are watching him as well. We used to laugh. I adore it.

Jeff, what would we be surprised to learn about Kim?

JEFF: [deep breath] Uh...

KIM: I have one more thing. My daughter loves him. He taught her something the first day he met her in rehearsals. [to Jeff] Remember when you met her and you taught her something like [makes a popping sound with her mouth]? That popping? She's been doing that all through school. She loves that.

Jeff, is there anything surprising about Kim you've seen having worked with her?

JEFF: She's got a wild side to her that people don't know too much. Kind of a funky, down home, very accessible sweet side. And uh...what else?

KIM: We love music.

JEFF: But a surprise? I don't know. I don't know what you get for the surprise. What I know of her is that she's a wonderful actress and that's certainly true, that's no surprise.

But you say she's got a wild side.

JEFF: Well, I don't mean wild like going out...and, uh...you know...

KIM: I'm waiting to hear this. [laughs]

We all are. [laugh]

KIM: I'm waiting to hear about this, boy!

JEFF: There are just different aspects. She presents a pretty together spirit...except that there's a loose side that you know when you're hanging around with somebody. She certainly has that.

Jeff, you've played so many likable characters in your films. What was it like playing the role of Ted Cole, a man who is not necessarily endearing to the audience?

JEFF: That's one of the things that drew me to the project. It's a different type of guy that I hadn't played before. Not that I really approached it much differently. Certainly you use different aspects of yourself and the people around you, and you observe. But that's a plus for me.

Ted often does reprehensible things. Do you think he was always like that, or was it an aspect brought on by his fame as a writer or by the loss of his children?

JEFF: I think he was always like that--selfish and narcissistic. And that was kind of his style.

Kim, what's your take on the way your character alienates herself from Jeff's?

KIM: I think there's some history between he and I that maybe has gone beyond repair.

Kim, you've had love scenes in movies before, but in this case, you're working with Jon Foster, a kid who's just out of the chute...

KIM: That's an interesting choice of words, but that's okay. [laughs]

Did you do anything to make Jon more comfortable, or was it not even necessary?

KIM: I cannot say enough about Jon Foster. Gentleman, gentle, lovely, soft-spoken, just a true partner on the screen. It could have been uncomfortable--it really could have--but everything I did with Jon was just a part of the characters. He was great.

Did you have trouble with the notion of being the "older woman"?

KIM: I love that. Jokingly, this was my Summer of '42 and my Harold and Maude all wrapped up together. It was my dance.

Jeff, are there any special things you need in your trailer while filming?

JEFF: Music is a big one. When I'm doing a movie, I go through my computer and burn CDs that I'll play in the makeup trailer.

And Kim, are there any special things you need in your trailer?

KIM: Lots of water, nuts, great music. I have to have my music more than anything.

JEFF: Music is so important.

KIM: Music is my thing. I have to have my music and anti-bacterial soap. And great towels. Clean, white towels. And I don't want the expensive kind. I want the kind that really absorb water. I don't want the expensive ones that don't. [laughs]

JEFF: You're getting specific here.

KIM: And you can get them at K-Mart or Target or drugs stores. [laughs]

Thank you.

JON FOSTER
June 11, 2004

Media: Are you a fan of Kim Basinger's movies?

Jon Foster: Oh yeah, big time. L.A. Confidential is one of my favorites. I've always liked her work.

So how cool is it to be acting opposite her, in love scenes no less?

It is really cool. A lot of my friends, as you'd expect, were all pretty jealous. So I was really excited to work with her, and it was an incredible experience.

How intimidating was it?

It's a new process. It's something that I've never done before, so anything you've never done before can be intimidating. But it was really easy.

Did she do anything to alleviate the tension?

She's such a kind woman, so when she speaks to you, it's just in a very calm way. So no matter what she says, it's always very calming.

Was it difficult to shoot the more intimate scenes?

It's always orchestrated to some degree, but Tod Williams really wanted it to be as real as possible. When you see it, those scenes are usually only one standard shot. It's just in one position, so it's not scanning body parts or anything. It's a lot more like you're actually there rather than seeing something incredibly romantic and not so real. This is very believable.

How difficult were the masturbation scenes?

Tod really made it fun. [laughs] That may sound sick, but when I was doing it, they'd make cracks afterwards. So it was definitely lighthearted. But it was a little awkward, sharing something so private.

What was your reaction when you first found out you'd have all these scenes with Kim?

I was reading the script straight through, of course, as anyone would.

And renewing your membership to the gym at the same time?

No, I actually had to lose 15-20 pounds for the role. I used to box before the movie and they wanted me to be very frail. So they told me not to lift a pen, so i I didn't write anything for months. [laughs]

Did you box regularly or recreationally?

It was recreational.

What was the process of getting your role of Eddie in The Door in the Floor?

I met with the producers and Tod Williams to discuss the role, and originally, they were interested in my brother for the character. But at that point, he was too old for it, so I met with them one summer and started reading with Tod, and then started reading with Jeff up in Santa Barbara. And they filmed that and sent the tape to Kim, and then produced it shortly thereafter. It was a while before we went out to New York, so I did a lot of reading and lot of alone time, because Eddie is definitely a lonely person.

Has your older brother, actor Ben Foster, been like a mentor to you?

Absolutely. I'd go to him and I'd say, "I'm having this problem on the set, and I can't really seem to do this or I can't seem to do that." And he would say one sentence and it would really sum it all up so I could go in and do my thing.

What was it like to work in an ensemble film like The Door in the Floor?

I was just taking in as much as I possibly could. This really is my first breaking role, and I was just trying to learn, and I love Jeff's movies as well as Kim's. Jeff's a big fan of rehearsing, and Kim doesn't rehearse as much, so you've got both atmospheres, which was nice, because I got to learn the different techniques.

And which technique do you prefer?

I kind of just follow the leader, until someday maybe I can choose my own pattern.

Do you like rehearsing or would you rather not?

I don't mind running through it. I think rehearsing can eventually become a little draining. But I do think running it once or twice is good just to get the flow of things. But I do like natural, overall.

What appeals to you about John Irving's work, and this story in particular?

As everyone knows, he's such a wonderful writer. Most of his books have been turned into movies and they've all done so incredibly well. And as much as it is a John Irving adaption, it's still not like his other ones. It's not so much like Cider House Rules, but it still has that John Irving feel. There is that very haunting feel to his writing, and in this movie, they adapted it very well and transferred the emotions that come out.

What was your feeling when you first saw yourself in this film?

I pretended like it wasn't me. It was nice. You get to learn, and watching yourself, you can teach yourself. As much as anything, you just learn from mistakes and you critique yourself. But I was trying to just look at the movie as a whole.

There's a scene with you and Jeff Bridges in which rap music in blasting on the car radio. Were you familiar with the song being played?

I actually brought the idea of that song to Tod Williams. Obviously, the scene consisted of a grotesque song playing in the car. I went to him and said there's this really grotesque song out right now that you ought to check out, and they used it, which was funny.

Are you a fan of rap music?

I'm a fan of all music. I enjoy other music more, but I do enjoy it, yes.

So what were you listening to when you first discovered music?

Sesame Street? I have no idea. [laughs]

Any music recommendations?

I think most of the albums by Pearl Jam are definitely influential to everybody, and they deal with a lot of politics, which is really nice. A very smart band.

Any single record in particular?

Vitology.

Your character and Jeff's have a student/mentor relationship in the movie. Did that translate into your off-camera relationship with him?

I think when you take on a character and you're shooting sometimes 18 hours a day, you kind of automatically take on the characteristics of your character. The nice thing about Jeff was he did treat me as though I was Eddie, which helped me significantly.

Six year old actress Elle Fanning plays the Coles' little daughter. What was it like working with her?

She's adorable. I love that girl. I was the only kid there on that shoot that was really my age, and it was so fun to hang out with her. She's a crackup and she's just so good in the movie. She's truly believable, and it's hard to be that young and act. When I was that young, I'd still be picking my nose. So it was nice to see someone that young be able to pull out what they did. She did an awesome job.

How old are you?

19.

Being from Iowa originally, what was it like to come out to Los Angeles and start a career in acting?

I met with my manager when I was 8, and at that point, I wasn't really ready for acting. My brother was, so he went out to L.A. to pursue his acting career, and I went back to Iowa because I was too young. I needed some more grounding. When I came out here when I was 13, I was very much interested in acting. My manager still was very excited to represent me, which is very nice to know, and eventually I started getting roles, guest spots. But it wasn't too tough. I did have to do a bar job, and I used to sell wrapping paper from door to door.

What kind of bar did you work in?

It was an 18 and under bar, so it was for young kids.

Where was it located?

Here in L.A.

How was that?

It was fun.

And what's the trend in wrapping paper these days?

Sparkly.

What was your experience playing convicted murderer Michael Skakel in the 2002 TV film Murder in Greenwich?

That was my first really demanding job. I was curious about the whole method acting system. I didn't kill anybody, but I spent a lot of time alone. We shot in New Zealand, and the first five days we were there, I stayed in the hotel room, and I didn't leave. Just ordered room service and tried to get very lonely. And it worked. I don't know if I'd really want to do it again, but it worked for the role and it was an emotional time.

Could you tell us a little about your new television series on ABC?

Life As We Know It is a show about three 16 year old boys, their sex lives, and how complicated it can be. I play a very mature 16 year old. So he doesn't really interact well with his own age group, and he ends up having an affair with his English literature teacher.

Who plays the teacher?

Marguerite Moreau. She was in Wet Hot American Summer. She's really talented.

Dawson's Creek took a little heat for featuring a student having an affair with a teacher. Do you think your show will face the same criticism?

I don't think it's going to be an issue. That was the pretty much the first time it ever happened on TV, but now it's been done a couple of times, and I don't think it'll be such a shock to viewers.

Any censorship concerns over the show's sexual content?

Well, the first draft was softcore porn basically, so they really had to keep trimming down, and ABC kept on saying, "You can't do this, you can't do this." So they trimmed it down significantly. And they still have to. They still really have to watch what they do. But it's nice because this show is something that hasn't really been done before. They're pushing the envelope, which is a nice thing to be on a show where they're actually taking some chances.

But you're not too worried about the show being canceled because of risque content?

No, not at all. I really don't think they will. Stu Bloomberg is one of the producers on the show, and he has a lot of push in the industry. So I really think they'll give it a good chance and I think it will do very well.

Kelly Osbourne is also in this series. What are your impressions of her?

Great. She's incredible, she's going to blow a lot of people away. I think everybody wasn't expecting such a good performance. I think she was really excited about the role in general, and the fact of getting into acting. She's really great overall.

Are you prepared to make the five to seven year commitment that could come with a successful television series?

It's nerve wracking, but to be honest, it's such an incredible crew, such a great cast, that you don't feel like it's working. You just go on the set and hang out with your friends and with some really cool people. And if it goes five to seven years, great. If it doesn't, then fine. Just a very small handful of shows go five years, and this could very well do it. But it may not, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Do you do a lot of television pilots?

I did. To be honest, I really didn't enjoy it just because it's such a cutthroat job to go from audition to audition, and eventually you go to network and you come this close, and you're the favorite actor, and they hire the really pretty kid or something like that. So as much as I am doing a TV show and am doing a movie, I have had those really tough experiences.

Is the audition world of kids every bit as ruthless as the audition world of adults?

Yeah, it is. Especially when you're under driving age. Your parents drive you to your auditions and your parents come into the waiting room with you. And the parents will actually try to psyche out the other parents to psyche out the kids. It's really bad. It's frustrating.

When going on auditions, do you continually find yourself viciously competing against the same group of actors for the same parts?

Most of my friends are working actors and well-known actors. We always go out on the same roles and the same auditions. We're just so excited that one of us got it, rather than someone else we didn't really know, so it's really congratulatory. Even if I got the part and a good friend of mine didn't, he's just excited I would get it, and vice versa.

What's it like to have a new movie and a new TV series coming out at the same time?

This is really exciting because it's an incredible movie. And I'm glad it's this movie in particular that was my first. And the TV show is just so much fun. So hopefully it will go through reasonably well.

What's the big difference between acting in a movie and acting on a television series?

Acting is acting, but TV is much quicker. They have a smaller turnaround, they have a smaller time to get the entire episode out. In a movie, you do have the ability to go over budget and you do have the ability to go over the extended time. So it's much different. But like I said, acting is acting. When you're doing your thing, that's all it is.

Finally, are you at a point in your career where you are getting very particular about the roles you take on, or is work too hard to come by to be so choosy?

I don't think it's too hard to find. I think, like anything, you have to be at the right place at the right time. Preferably, I would like to steer clear of some of those jobs out there, but I'm not a very picky person. But I do have a type of career that I would like to pursue.







RADIOFREE.COM - WEEKLY TOP 20 MOVIES - MOVIE REVIEWS & PREVIEWS







© 1997-2004 Radio Free Entertainment
1400-10846223