Ecco un'intrevista che mi è stata appena segnalata e che, pur non essendo recentissima (è del 21/3/2004, quando Alan era al Festival cinematografico di Mar del Plata), per me è però "nuova"
TRADUZIONE in Italiano
Ecco la traduzione in inglese.Alan Rickman: “I’d rather starve to death than to act for money”.
The actor built his career both in Hollywood and in indie movies.
Pedro Squillaci/Escenario
Silver Sea (Special sender) – Alan Rickman, one of the most famous stars in the Silver Sea festival, said that he’s not interested in winning an Oscar and preferred not to give any further details on his character in Harry Potter until the saga finishes.
- Forgive me Mr Rickman, I don’t speak English...
- You forgive me, cause I can’t speak Spanish.
The first dialog, in a basic English, happened in the Hotel Hermitage’s bar, between the daily La Capital and the British actor in an interview before the masterclass of the responsible for giving life to the enigmatic professor Snape in the “Harry Potter” film saga. The courtesy gesture is not a minor thing. It’s a sample of the typic British gentlemen gentleness, even if he refuses this denomination. “British are Churchill and Lennon, and I don’t see any similarity between them.”, he said.
The actor never looked at his watch during the whole interview, explained himself for the time he considered necessary for each question and made sure that the translator understood every detail of his explanation. Plus, he asked the photographer very kindly – and with a smile – not to take more photos because he couldn’t focus in the answers.
He left pretty clear some basic questions. Affirmed that he doesn’t dream in winning an Oscar, nether believes that any of the “Harry Potter” movies will ever be as prized as “Lord of the Rings” was. And about his character in that saga he said: “I can’t talk about Snape, because Harry Potter hasn’t finish yet”. Acting is his passion and he explained it like this: “ I dedicated myself to acting because I felt it was something I did better than other things. But I never acted for money, and I’m sure that I would never do it, I would rather starve to death instead”.
- You participated in “Die Hard”, “Sense and Sensibility” and “Harry Potter”, what elements did you consider to act in films with such different characteristics?
- There are thing that you can measure and others you can’t. One can measure a good script, but not always can see how that text adapts to the character.
- Have you ever privileged the economic over the acting?
- No, I’d rather starve to death. I’ve had a lot of luck because I’ve always done the works that I’ve wanted. But, like all other actors in their careers, I’ve had long periods in my life that I had no work.
- Why did you choose acting, what triggered you to this profession?
- It’s like an impulsion one fells. It’s not something that a person gets up in the morning and decides to be an actor. It’s the same way that a painter, a singer, a tennis player fells, if you want it. It’s that thing that one knows that it can do better than other people do and it’s the best that comes from him. Before I became an actor I studied graphic design.
- The elaboration process of a movie is enjoyed or suffered until it’s premiere?
- You’re asking me as a director or as an actor?
- If you could be kind to tell us both ways.
- As a director I have only one movie, “The Winter Guest”, staring Emma Thompson and her mother the actress Phyllida Law, and the good thing about it is that one doesn’t have to go through makeup sessions (laughs). As an actor, each project is different, and is determined by a different text and a different director. One thing that is always the same and never changes is that one knows that he is surrounded by experts, that have the movie in their heads. But I highlight the need for discipline overall.
- Why do you highlight that?
- There are actors that don’t like to rehearsal. And I believe strongly in the need for rehearsals. The true freedom comes from discipline. To be professional is to get to the set ready and play it’s own keys. The directors virtue is to play the keys that one didn’t know it had. One is it’s own instrument and that instrument changes all the time. Discipline has a lunatic food which are the director and the actors, on the other hand one has like that great cushion or shock absorber, that gives him endorsement to all the process of the film. Anyway, sometimes I think that the theater is a more solitary place.
- Have you ever had to compose a character so complicated to approach that you said “this is not for me, I’ll leave it”?
- I don’t fear the subjects, I made a character in theater in “Les Lieson Dangerouse” that was a character completely immoral until the last three minutes of the piece. This character, Valmont, admits it’s errors in his death stream bed. I found out that to play such a self destructive character for such a long time is something too dangerous to face. Part of the problem in being an actor is that one knows that the acting is a simulation but you simulate from the neck up the rest you can’t simulate. One can suffer damages.
- Do you dream in winning an Oscar?
- No, absolutely not.
- You turn more for the independent cinema or the north American film industry?
- My career was intended to survive both fields. Unfortunately people who do independent cinema when need money have to resort to investors, and these last ones are the ones who decide who will be part of the movie. Because if there isn’t that one actor surely there isn’t the money either. I think that this is something completely foolish and is like a prison to independent directors. But, well, life’s like this.
- What attracts you more in your character Snape?
- I won’t talk about Snape because the story isn’t over yet.
- Do you think that like “Lord of the Rings” had it’s recognition by the academy, “Harry Potter” will also get it’s turn?
- I don’t believe that it will win as much Oscars, unless they have a continuation of seven films. But when it’s a product so oriented to children one is dealing with a different animal, a distinct product. Nevertheless, there’s a fantastic work done by both cinematography experts and production designers in these movies, that work should have it’s recognition.
- Have you ever done testimonial films, of political sort?
- Every time one comes out to the scenario it’s a political act. I was never offer a part as a construction worker or a mine worker who suffered (or supported, I’m not sure) Margaret Thatcher’s operating policies. But in fact, I would do a character like that, I have hope that some day I’ll do it. The important thing isn’t the character but what is written.
- Is there a special subject that you would like to get involved with?
- A subject like Malvinas I would get involved. We suffered a lot because of that in England, and I imagine that you have suffered the same or even more in this country. But I would do it in the present not like a trip to the pass.
- Did you know Argentinean cinema?
- When I saw “Memorias del saqueo”(something like,Memories of sacking) by Pino Solanas I measured my own ignorance. It would be good if Pino made a film on Tony Blair. It’s more, I’ve already said it.
- Do you take every directors’ orders that you work with, or, with your experience, you suggest ideas and ask for your time?
- To take is to obey. The truth is that I don’t like the word obey. But I’m accustomed to act with directors of different nationalities and the truth is they’re not that different. “We’re worried” and “We’re out of money” are two sentences that always sound in film sets. Sometimes one has to ask for 30 seconds of concentration. Concentration is the most powerful weapon an actor has. Other times one has to say “Hey, there’s a person here, one moment”. But if I worked with Fellini I would surely do everything he asked me to. (laughs)"
Edited by chiara53 - 22/6/2022, 18:14
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