Looking the most relaxed and displaying a warmth rarely seen in the public eye Ralph Fiennes talked to Radio 4's Mark Lawson about his directorial film debut Coriolanus during a National Theatre platform event this evening.
Before opening up the questions to the audience Lawson talked to actor about the challenges of not only making and starring in a film but turning Shakespeare play into a film - not immediately a concept that gets film studios salivating. Three clips, chosen by Fiennes were also shown all of which gave a tantalising taster of what audiences can expect when the film opens in cinemas on January 20.
This is a slightly abridged version of the interview:
On his approach to the film:
Wanted to approach the text in a filmic manor making the dialogue conversational dialogue rather than keeping it in verse which is very theatrical and can be alienating.
With everything that has been going on around the world, Arab Spring etc felt the play had many parallels and therefore wanted to give it a modern setting.
Felt strongly that the world of Coriolanus should be multicultural and cast actors from different cultural backgrounds with a variety of accents.
On working as an actor/director
Had people around to give him an honest opinion on his own performance and because the filming process is such a whirlwind didn't get too much time to think about watching himself on the monitor. But it was tougher during the editing process "everything felt very exposed and I thought everything was shit, especially my own stuff".
Says the acting/directing roles are less defined than people imagine "The geography of where you are in a scene is defined by the camera."
Had a dialect coach who gave a critical view of his performance but if he felt something was right in a scene would encourage it.
"Often it is collaborative between actors and director and the collaborative experiences are the best. For example working with Anthony Minghella never felt a strong finger suggesting what you'd done was wrong. Directing is about managing."
"Vanessa is extraordinary, always searching for new levels of truth in the character"
On choosing Coriolanus
"It's the most political play but asks a lot of questions about social dis-function. It doesn't offer a nice little parcel of hope at the end. It is very bleak."
Recalled seeing Ian McKellan perform Coriolanus from the very back of the National Theatre and being very moved by the performance.
We were shown a clip of a battle scene which Mark Lawson described as "Die Hard without the vest"
He wanted the battles to feel real and had a military adviser to check that what they were doing was authentic so that the audience gets the thrill of the fight. Action sequences often used handheld cameras to give more pace.
On getting the right script
The art of a good screenplay is that the reader becomes a viewer and John Logan (screenplay) has that ability on page to make the writing immediately visible.
Favourite scene
When Coriolanus's mother (played by Vanessa Redgrave) is trying to persuade him to apologies to the people and he stubbornly refuses. "It's a most powerful umbilical moment between mother and son and displays an extraordinary tension that Shakespeare builds into the play."
Questions from the audience:
Did he get to choose the cast and did he make them audition?
Jokes that he did make them audition. "Vanessa was the first phone call. Had to run my suggestions by the people who were putting the money in but had the freedom to choose."
What was the editing process like?
"Editing is very important with a complex script and what I have learnt is that editing can reshape, re-form, add tension where there isn't any. Have learnt to disagree but at first I was in awe of Nick's (Gaster, editor) ability. Nick would spot missing links and make suggestions for what additional shots were needed to make scenes work and we were able to squeeze in some additional filming."
Why make Coriolanus bald and what was it like having a shaved head?
"Well as you get more folically challenged...Being shaved is a military look, a tougher profile."
Do you have plans for another Shakespeare/film adaptation and if so which one?
"Don't feel inclined to rush into another Shakespeare but Anthony and Cleopatra is something I've talked about with John."
Stan's thoughts on the clips shown
Coriolanus is not a Shakespeare play I know anything about but from what I saw the contemporary setting worked with the conversational dialogue and it certainly seems to have both pace, action and plenty of dramatic tension. Of the three scenes shown it was Vanessa Redgrave's performance which immediately stands out. Breathtaking in fact and alone worth seeing the film for.
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