Woody Harrelson

The conversation delves into the intricacies of acting, emphasizing the importance of believability and connection to the character, as highlighted by Actor A. He stresses the significance of a good script and director, recounting personal experiences where he felt disconnected from roles due to poor writing. The discussion also explores his career trajectory, from early performances in high school and college to significant roles in movies and TV shows like "Cheers." He shares insights on the creative process, the impact of certain roles on his activism, and the challenges of maintaining authenticity and relaxation in performances. Notably, he discusses his unique live film project, "Lost in London," and his views on societal issues like vaccine mandates and environmental conservation.

• Actors often resonate with characters they play, feeling an immediate connection upon reading the script or book.
• Believability is crucial in acting; if the audience believes the actor, the performance is successful.
• Internal critique is significant; actors may feel a sense of regret or disconnection if they don't resonate with the character.

"Sometimes I feel like these characters I've gotten to play like, I feel like I resonate with this character, you know, already just as soon as I've read the script or read the book or whatever it is that introduces me to the character."

• Actors often feel an immediate connection with certain characters upon their introduction.

"If the audience believes you, then you're golden, and if they don't, you're screwed."

• Audience belief is pivotal to the success of a performance.

"If I don't believe the character, there's a disconnect that I can't get over."

• Personal belief in the character is essential for a convincing performance.

• The quality of the script is paramount; even great directors can't fix a broken script.
• Trusting the director is vital for a successful performance.
• Other actors and the Director of Photography (DP) also play crucial roles in the overall production.

"The writing is always the number one thing because even if you get the greatest director, which you would always think that's number one. But even if you get Scorsese or someone great, they can't necessarily fix a broken script."

• The script's quality is fundamental, even for top-tier directors.

"You gotta trust your director. That's. I mean, really, it's like one a and one b script director. And then the other actors would be number two."

• Trust in the director and the quality of the script are top priorities.

• Many actors start their journey in unexpected places, such as church or school plays.
• Early performances, even if unplanned, can significantly impact an actor's career path.
• Encouragement from peers can lead to pivotal moments in an actor's journey.

"I started in high school, and I actually started in the church. I was quite religious, and, well, you don't have to be quite religious to be in a church, but I was."

• Early beginnings in unexpected places can shape an actor's career.

"I tried out for the play the next. I think it was the next term or whatever, the next year, maybe. I tried out for it, and I got a little part, and that's what started me getting on stage. It's thanks to Elvis and Robin, you know."

• Encouragement from peers and initial successes can lead to a career in acting.

• Being a class clown or performing in front of classmates can be an early form of acting.
• Early performances can reveal a natural talent for entertaining and engaging an audience.
• Personal experiences and anecdotes often shape an actor's approach to their craft.

"I think they perceived me as, you know, I was a bit of a class clown. So in that sense, there was also another kind of a performance."

• Early performances in school can reveal a natural inclination towards acting.

"So I'd come to class frequently, and I was just. So I had the trajectory of the sugar, and then, of course, takes you down, and I'm, like, slumped over on the desk, you know, barely keeping my head up."

• Personal experiences and anecdotes often shape an actor's approach to their craft.

• Comedy requires a different set of skills compared to drama; it involves timing and delivery to elicit laughs.
• Early professional experiences, such as working on a comedy show, can shape an actor's career.
• The transition from theater to television or film involves adapting to different styles and audiences.

"To me, it's more interesting, you know. Well, I mean, when you're getting emotional or something. Yeah, there's, you know, obviously things you have to access for that."

• Comedy requires specific skills and timing to be effective.

"My first professional thing was actually a Goldie Hawn movie."

• Early professional experiences can significantly impact an actor's career.

• Working on a long-running TV show like "Cheers" involves a collaborative process with writers and other actors.
• The show had a unique process for script development and rehearsals.
• The cast developed strong bonds, often likened to a family or sports team.

"It had been on for three years, but that three years, you know, I quit once I went to college. So it was while I was in college that cheers started airing."

• "Cheers" had a significant impact on the actor's career during its run.

"We'd literally read it at the table with the writers and everybody there listen to it, and then we'd go home."

• The script development process involved table reads and collaborative input from writers and actors.

• Substances like marijuana can negatively impact an actor's performance by affecting timing and inflections.
• Personal experiences with substances can serve as lessons in maintaining professionalism.

"That was the first time I learned that marijuana and acting do not mix."

• Substances can negatively impact an actor's performance.

"It wasn't that. It's just everything that you take for granted in terms of, you know, like, just doing a performance. All of the little things with timing and little inflections or whatever, you know, whatever nuance you give to the verbiage, you know, it. Suddenly all of that goes out the window when you get high."

• Timing and inflections are crucial aspects of a performance that can be disrupted by substance use.

• The cast of "Cheers" developed strong, lasting friendships, often likened to a family or sports team.
• Regular social activities, like playing foosball, helped strengthen these bonds.
• The head of the show, such as Ted Danson, played a significant role in maintaining a positive and collaborative environment.

"Ted Danson, and he was just the greatest fucking guy. I mean, he is. He's the greatest guy."

• Strong, positive relationships among the cast contribute to a successful show.

"Every Tuesday night, we'd play foosball, me and Teddy and Kelsey and George, and we'd have battles."

• Regular social activities helped strengthen the cast's bonds.

• Theater is considered the ultimate form of acting due to the immediate audience feedback.
• Performances can vary significantly from night to night based on audience reactions.
• Theater offers a different kind of fulfillment compared to film, often described as more rewarding despite being less lucrative.

"I feel like theater is what acting is. It's the ultimate in acting."

• Theater is considered the ultimate form of acting due to its immediacy and audience interaction.

"And, you know, to make people laugh, I gotta say, that's where it all started for me."

• Making people laugh in theater offers a unique and fulfilling experience.

• Acting is often described as reacting, with a significant focus on listening and responding to other actors.
• Being in character and staying engaged even when not speaking is a crucial aspect of acting.
• The craft of listening and reacting is an area many actors strive to master.

"Acting is reacting like, I did a play recently in London, and there was me, Andy Serkis, and Louisa Harden."

• Acting involves a significant amount of reacting and staying engaged with other actors.

"You see some of these actors who are so gifted at listening and so compelling when they're listening."

• The craft of listening and reacting is crucial for a compelling performance.

• Trust and camaraderie among cast members are essential for a successful production.
• Acting exercises often focus on building trust and understanding among actors.
• The creative process involves developing a familial bond, which enhances the overall performance.

"If it doesn't turn into a family, even a dysfunctional family, it doesn't work."

• Trust and camaraderie among cast members are essential for a successful production.

"There are these exercises in acting workshops and everything, wherever I. The thing they're trying to do is get you to trust each other."

• Acting exercises often focus on building trust and understanding among actors.

• Consistency in Audience Reactions: Generally, jokes receive consistent reactions from different audiences.
• Cultural Differences: Different regions may have varying audience reactions; for example, London audiences were expected to be more muted but still gave standing ovations for a well-received play.
• Impact of Familiarity: Working closely with someone in a play can lead to intense professional relationships that might not continue after the project ends.

"Most audiences have similar tastes. But I remember one night we did it where it was every night, standing ovation."

• This quote highlights the general consistency in audience reactions across different performances.

"When I first did a play in London, I was told, now, listen, they're a very muted crowd. They're not gonna stand for you."

• This quote illustrates the preconceived notions about audience behavior in different regions.

• Dislike for Certain Plays: Personal dislike for a play can significantly affect the experience of performing it.
• Emotional Impact: Plays that are emotionally heavy or depressing can have a lasting negative impact on the performer.
• Preference for Comedy: Due to negative experiences with emotionally heavy plays, there is a preference for performing in comedies.

"I hated it. I hated the whole experience. And it was like a six-month experience where when you're in a play that you don't like and you don't feel it's working."

• This quote reflects the negative emotional toll of performing in a play that the actor doesn't enjoy.

"I will only do comedies from now on, only."

• This quote signifies a shift in preference towards performing in comedies due to past negative experiences.

• Controversial Content: Plays with controversial ideas can lead to strong audience reactions, including walking out.
• Moral Center: The importance of a play having a moral center, even if it is not immediately apparent to the audience.
• Divisive Work: The best work often divides the audience, with some loving it and others hating it.

"Many nights people walked out of the theater based on the language or based on the ideas."

• This quote highlights the strong reactions that controversial content can provoke in an audience.

"The best work often people love it or people hate it."

• This quote emphasizes that divisive work can often be the most impactful.

• Emotional Detachment: Performers can develop a negative emotional relationship with the audience if the performance is not going well.
• Impact of Audience Reaction: Audience reactions can significantly affect the performer's emotional state and performance quality.
• Consistency in Performance: Despite negative reactions, it is important to maintain consistency in delivering lines and performance.

"I developed a hate relationship to the audience. I hate these fuckers. How did they not get how funny that was?"

• This quote shows the emotional detachment and frustration that can occur when a performance does not receive the expected reaction.

"I try not to try harder. You know, I try to deliver the lines the way they're supposed to be delivered."

• This quote highlights the importance of maintaining consistency in performance despite audience reactions.

• Nervousness: Knowing someone personally in the audience can increase nervousness and affect performance.
• Neutrality: It is important to stay neutral and avoid knowing who is in the audience to maintain performance quality.
• Focus on Performance: Performers often prefer not to know if someone they know is in the audience to avoid distraction.

"I can't know. I make sure they don't tell me. I make sure Laura doesn't tell."

• This quote emphasizes the importance of not knowing who is in the audience to maintain focus and performance quality.

"I'd be like, okay. What did Rick think of that?"

• This quote illustrates the distraction and nervousness that can occur when a performer knows someone personally in the audience.

• Preference for Physical Laughter: The preference for receiving physical laughter and immediate feedback from the audience.
• Admiration for Anti-Humor: Admiration for performers like Andy Kaufman who excel in anti-humor and performance pieces without immediate audience feedback.
• Improvisation in Movies: The value of improvisation in movies to achieve more natural and real performances.

"I like an actual physical laughter. Yeah."

• This quote highlights the preference for immediate audience feedback in the form of laughter.

"I love watching some of these Andy Kaufman things that are just like, he's amazing. Nothing coming back to him. He just keeps going."

• This quote reflects admiration for performers who excel in anti-humor and can continue performing without immediate audience feedback.

• College Experience: The breakthrough moment in college that led to a realization of a passion for acting.
• Creative Investment: The importance of being creatively invested in a character to improve performance quality.
• Encouragement from Peers: The impact of encouragement and advice from peers in improving performance.

"I did all of it. I changed the way I walked. I changed my clothes. I took his advice fully."

• This quote emphasizes the importance of creative investment and taking advice to improve performance.

"It had this unbelievable effect on me, like this profound impact on me when I did that little nonverbal half loop, and I was like, oh, I love this."

• This quote reflects the breakthrough moment and realization of a passion for acting.

• Crew Reactions: The importance of crew reactions in judging the effectiveness of comedy in movies.
• Need for Audience: The need for an audience, even if it's just the crew, to gauge the success of comedic performances.
• Director's Feedback: The role of the director in providing feedback and guidance on comedic performances.

"Usually from the crew. The crew laughed. And, I mean, they can't laugh while you're rolling, but if they like it at the end of it, you hear it."

• This quote highlights the importance of crew reactions in judging the effectiveness of comedy in movies.

"Thank God for the crew because otherwise, I mean, I'm really that kind of guy who needs an audience."

• This quote emphasizes the need for an audience, even if it's just the crew, to gauge the success of comedic performances.

• Value of Improvisation: The value of improvisation in movies to achieve more natural and real performances.
• Ad Libbing: The practice of ad libbing and improvising big chunks in movies to enhance the script.
• Preparation for Improvisation: The importance of preparation and thinking of ideas in advance for effective improvisation.

"I do improv, you know, while doing movies and such, do a good deal of improv."

• This quote highlights the value of improvisation in movies to achieve more natural and real performances.

"I remember working on when I did kingpin and Bill Murray would be in between every take. He'd sit there and he'd have a pen and he'd be thinking, writing shit down."

• This quote emphasizes the importance of preparation and thinking of ideas in advance for effective improvisation.

• Breaking Character: The frequency of breaking character and laughing during performances, especially with comedic actors like Bill Murray.
• Impact on Takes: The impact of breaking character and laughter on the number of takes required for a scene.
• High Level of Funny: The high level of funny that some actors bring to a performance, making it difficult not to laugh.

"Oh, yeah, all the time. Speaking of, with Bill Murray, that's. He's probably caused it more than any other."

• This quote highlights the frequency of breaking character and laughing during performances with comedic actors.

"How many takes we ruined because me and Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone, you know, like, we're all laughing."

• This quote emphasizes the impact of breaking character and laughter on the number of takes required for a scene.

• Initial Hesitation: Initial hesitation to take on the role of Larry Flynt due to negative media portrayal.
• Personal Meeting: The importance of meeting Larry Flynt in person to form an accurate opinion and decide to take on the role.
• Admiration for Honesty: Admiration for Larry Flynt's honesty and unique personality after meeting him.

"I was really torn because, well, I grew up in Texas, but then we moved to Ohio when I was twelve. And then I'm in Ohio, and while I was there, this obscenity trial happened for Larry Flynt."

• This quote reflects the initial hesitation to take on the role of Larry Flynt due to negative media portrayal.

"Within five minutes, I'm like, not only am I doing the movie, I think this is one of the most unique, incredible humans I've ever met."

• This quote emphasizes the importance of meeting Larry Flynt in person to form an accurate opinion and decide to take on the role.

• Political Boldness: Larry Flynt's boldness in using his magazine as a political tool and fighting for First Amendment rights.
• Media Censorship: The role of media censorship in shaping public opinion and the impact of initiatives like the Trusted News Initiative.
• Personal Experience: Personal experience with media censorship and the removal of videos that challenge mainstream narratives.

"He was bold and he was fighting for First Amendment rights. And, you know, he's saying, hey, you know, they take it away from me, they'll take it away from you."

• This quote highlights Larry Flynt's boldness in using his magazine as a political tool and fighting for First Amendment rights.

"I can't tell you how many videos I sent to friends. Man, this is incredible. Watch this video, you know, because it's someone kind of debunking the way they're either debunking the vaccine or the COVID narrative and gone."

• This quote reflects personal experience with media censorship and the removal of videos that challenge mainstream narratives.

• Initial Meeting: Initial meeting with Bobby Kennedy Jr. on a plane and the humorous exchange that led to a friendship.
• Political Discussions: Engaging in political discussions and forming a bond over shared interests and views.
• Media Perception: The negative media portrayal of Bobby Kennedy Jr. and the impact of media narratives on public perception.

"I met him on a plane, and he ridiculed my. I had hemp shoes on. This is many years ago. They probably were ugly."

• This quote highlights the humorous initial meeting with Bobby Kennedy Jr. that led to a friendship.

"Now people think he just recently said this thing, I got a worm in my brain, and then they ridicule him. Well, that's the way the mainstream media works now."

• This quote emphasizes the negative media portrayal of Bobby Kennedy Jr. and the impact of media narratives on public perception.

• Great experiences in movie-making can be life-defining.
• Working with talented actors and directors can be transformative.
• Improvisation and creative freedom are valuable in filmmaking.

"It's one of the great experiences, for sure. I ever had a. I still love Courtney and, you know, Ed, so I feel like maybe that could be the best movie I ever made, and it might, at the end of my life, be the best movie I ever made."

• Reflects on the profound impact certain movies and collaborators have had on the speaker's career.

"There was a whole scene that he let me direct and edit...I actually went as far as negotiating with agents of photographers. Can we use that? How much?"

• Highlights the creative freedom and responsibility given by the director Milos Forman during the making of "The People vs. Larry Flynt."

• Directors' openness to improvisation can significantly shape a film.
• Confidence in directors allows for creative risks and exploration.

"Milos, let me. There was a whole scene that he let me direct and edit."

• Illustrates Milos Forman's trust and confidence in allowing actors to contribute creatively.

"He was so confident about that kind of thing. So he just wasn't risk adverse, as you might say."

• Emphasizes Milos Forman's willingness to take creative risks.

• Playing real people carries a unique burden and responsibility.
• Authenticity and respect are crucial when portraying real individuals.

"Definitely put somewhat of a burden of, you know, like, I remember because there was an obscenity trial in Cincinnati, and Larry played the judge, who, by the way, he hated this guy."

• Highlights the added pressure of portraying a real person, especially in front of them.

• Auditioning can be a challenging and pivotal part of an actor's career.
• Breakthroughs often come unexpectedly and can change the course of a career.

"Auditioning is. That is a whole nother animal. I had a hard time with it."

• Acknowledges the difficulties and stresses associated with auditioning.

"I was understudying two roles. And, I mean, I gotta say, I did well. And then later that day, they called me. You got it."

• Describes a significant breakthrough moment in the speaker's career.

• Luck and timing play crucial roles in an actor's career.
• Unexpected moments can lead to major opportunities.

"If I got it, great. But I'm already going to be on Broadway. Like, it didn't matter to me."

• Reflects the importance of being in the right place at the right time and having a nonchalant attitude towards opportunities.

"And Jimmy told me later, you had the part. That moment. You had the part."

• Illustrates how a seemingly insignificant action (blowing nose) can lead to securing a role.

• Real-life experiences and observations can deeply inform a character portrayal.
• Staying connected to the real world is essential for authenticity in acting.

"I think there are some people who live in a bubble, but I do feel like I get a lot of time among, you know, just regular folks."

• Emphasizes the importance of staying grounded and connected to everyday life.

"I was following my brother on the motorcycle, and then we got to wherever we were going, and he took off his helmet, and he had this long blonde hair down to almost his shoulders, and he kind of shook his head. And I'm like, and I had just gotten the part for Haymitch, for hunger games, and I was like, that's the hair."

• Shows how real-life observations can directly influence character development.

• Extensive preparation, including studying professions and lifestyles, is crucial for authenticity.
• Immersing oneself in the character's world helps in delivering a convincing performance.

"You know, whatever the profession is, I might study that profession as much as possible."

• Highlights the importance of thorough research and preparation for a role.

"I studied all those motherfuckers, Gacy Manson, and, like, read his autobiography, saw documentary after documentary, everything I could try to."

• Describes the intensive preparation undertaken for the role in "Natural Born Killers."

• Transitioning from television to film can be challenging and rare.
• Success in TV doesn't always guarantee success in film.

"I was six years where I couldn't get anything."

• Reflects the difficulty of transitioning from a successful TV career to film.

"It was a Quentin Tarantino script, which I do admire Quentin Tarantino, but that particular script it had."

• Discusses the transition period and working on significant film projects.

• Relaxation and avoiding nervousness are key to successful acting.
• Unique practices and personal techniques can enhance performance.

"The big thing you need to do is just to be as relaxed as you can so you can be in a state of basically dynamic relaxation."

• Emphasizes the importance of relaxation and staying calm under pressure.

"Whenever I've, you know, they're rolling and I'm just tense. It just doesn't fucking work, man."

• Highlights the negative impact of tension and the need for relaxation during performances.

• Some roles require significant physical and mental transformations.
• Prosthetics and voice work can be crucial in embodying a character.

"It might have been LBJ because I got, you know, there was good deal of prosthetics, which I thought they did a good job with the prosthetics."

• Describes the extensive transformation process for the role of LBJ.

"Like when I'm in the makeup chair every single day, you know, I'd listen to his phone calls because he. He recorded all of his phone calls."

• Illustrates the detailed preparation and use of recordings to perfect the portrayal of LBJ.

• Discussion on the report about JFK's assassination and the Warren Commission's findings.
• Mention of influential figures like Alan Dulles and LBJ in the context of JFK's demise.
• Personal conviction about LBJ's involvement in the assassination.

"This was the 7th, this is 29th. And there was that report on his desk saying, oh, lone gunman."

• Reference to the report suggesting a lone gunman in JFK's assassination.

"Alan Dulles, creator of the CIA and certainly influential, and, shall we say, the demise of JFK."

• Alan Dulles' role and influence in the context of JFK's assassination.

"Oh, LBJ was definitely involved, no question."

• Strong personal belief in LBJ's involvement in JFK's assassination.

• Admiration for Rob Reiner's work.
• Discussion on whether Rob Reiner believed in LBJ's involvement in JFK's assassination.
• The film's focus on LBJ's accomplishments and political career.

"He's amazing, man. I was. I'm nuts about Rob Reiner."

• High praise for Rob Reiner.

"I don't recall him ever saying that. I don't think he did."

• Uncertainty about Rob Reiner's stance on LBJ's involvement in JFK's assassination.

"The movie was about LBJ did some good shit. You know, he got the voting rights act through and other, you know, he was a guy who got shit done."

• The film's emphasis on LBJ's positive contributions and political achievements.

• Importance of initial script discussions with directors.
• Personal approach to reading and taking notes on scripts.
• Interest in a variety of books, including historical and biographical works.

"It's usually in the beginning about the script. I always take notes on scripts and I think good notes."

• Emphasis on the importance of initial script discussions and note-taking.

"I'm reading interviews with Fellini, but I'm also reading this book. It's called the Russian Tradition, which is really fascinating."

• Current reading interests, including interviews and historical books.

• Active involvement in script development and improvement.
• Example of working with Will Smith and his approach to enhancing scenes.
• Impact of doubt and insecurity before shooting scenes.

"Well, I'm very involved in the script. If the script is great, hallelujah. But frequently there's a lot needs doing with the script."

• Active role in script development and addressing issues.

"When we were doing rehearsal, what can we do to get more emotional charge into this scene?"

• Will Smith's approach to enhancing emotional impact in scenes.

"The night before I shoot any movie, yeah. I'm flooded with doubt. I'm awake through the night."

• Personal experience of doubt and insecurity before shooting scenes.

• Differences between working on sequels and first-time movies.
• Familiarity with characters and co-actors in sequels.
• Trust in directors and co-actors to reduce anxiety.

"Like, I did the Hunger Games. I got to do four movies. I mean, you eventually do adopt a great familiarity with the other actors, the director."

• Familiarity with co-actors and directors in sequels.

"Jesse Eisenberg, man, that guy's a fucking genius, man. He's a genius."

• High praise for co-actor Jesse Eisenberg.

• Personal favorite movie: "Cool Hand Luke."
• Directing "Lost in London," a one-take, live-streamed film.
• Challenges and unique aspects of shooting "Lost in London."

"My all-time favorite movie is Cool Hand Luke. I don't know. Why, you know, a guy who's been wronged by the system, a rebel."

• Personal favorite movie and its thematic appeal.

"I became kind of mystified and fascinated by these one-take movies like Veronica, because I'm fascinated by theater."

• Inspiration behind directing "Lost in London."

"There was something to do with line of sight, where if you're outdoors, you need to be able. The antenna needs to get to the big antenna on top of this building."

• Technical challenges faced during the live-streaming of "Lost in London."

• Influence of playing certain characters on personal actions and activism.
• Example of being influenced by the character Larry Flynt to engage in activism.
• Difficulty in shaking off the effects of certain characters.

"I think playing Larry changed me because it was after playing Larry that I did the thing on the Golden Gate bridge where I protested."

• Influence of playing Larry Flynt on personal activism.

"I had a hard time shaking the effect of playing NBK."

• Difficulty in shaking off the effects of playing certain characters.

• Writing and delivering a personal monologue on SNL.
• Incorporating a message about personal choice and vaccination.
• Reaction to the monologue and media response.

"Well, you know. Well, you know, I'm going to write my own thing. I learned a long time ago, you better write your own thing."

• Decision to write a personal monologue for SNL.

"And then they said, you know, when I get my papers, they're like, and send us your vaccination thing card. So we know you da da da. And, well, that's gonna be hard because I wasn't vaccinated."

• Personal stance on vaccination and its incorporation into the monologue.

• Advocacy for regenerative farming and criticism of pesticides and factory farms.
• Historical context of chemical fertilizers and their negative impact.
• Importance of natural methods to nourish soil and protect the environment.

"I love kiss the ground. I think the regenerative farming is absolutely imperative."

• Advocacy for regenerative farming.

"His name was Liebig. Lie. Big, big lie."

• Historical context of chemical fertilizers and their negative impact.

"It's affecting the bee population. It's affecting so many things. It's in our bodies."

• Criticism of pesticides and their widespread negative impact.