Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

TheCentralScrutinizer · 19 Jan 07 :: 20:13

FANTASTIC ARTICLE ABOUT NICK. NO SPOILERS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nick Cassavetes: Top 'Dog'

January 18, 2007
By Sarah Kuhn

Nick Cassavetes is known mostly as a writer and director these days, having successfully helmed projects ranging from the lightning-paced thriller John Q to the sentimental weepie The Notebook. But he started out in this business as an actor, appearing on television shows such as Quantum Leap and Matlock and in movies such as Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle. Does he ever get a hankering to return to his roots in front of the camera? "Never say never," he says, chuckling. "But there doesn't seem to be a huge demand for my [acting] services."

The same cannot be said of his writing and directing. Over the past decade, Cassavetes has carved out a reputation as a respected filmmaker with an affinity for actors. "I think, because I'm not such a naturally gifted actor, that I understand the complications of what actors go through," he says.

His latest project, the gritty drama Alpha Dog, came about thanks to an actor-centric connection. The filmmaker's actor pal Kevin Connolly, who appeared in John Q and The Notebook, had the opportunity to helm a feature-length project and asked Cassavetes to write a script for him. "I decided to write [Alpha Dog], and at that point, Kevin got a TV series called Entourage, so he went off and did that, and I was left with a script that I loved," Cassavetes remembers. "I had never really considered directing it, but there I was."

Alpha Dog, which is inspired by true events, focuses on young Southern California drug lord Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch) and his loyal gang of friends. When Johnny is double-crossed by mercurial Jake (Ben Foster), his friends kidnap Jake's younger brother Zack (Anton Yelchin) and start a dangerous chain of consequences. The film features Sharon Stone, Bruce Willis, and a talented ensemble of up-and-coming young performers. Cassavetes worked closely with casting directors Matthew Barry and Nancy Green-Keyes to populate the film. The filmmaker notes that he prefers to simply meet with people rather than hold standard auditions. "I don't audition people; I don't like auditioning people, because I believe that there are some people who can act and can't audition and some people who can audition [but] can't act," he says. "So we talk about characters."

Mr. Sunshine

One casting choice that has attracted a lot of attention is that of pop star Justin Timberlake, who plays Frankie, a sympathetic member of Johnny's gang. It is Timberlake's first serious dramatic role and one of his first acting gigs, period. It's also a crucial piece of the film: Frankie becomes something of a big-brother figure to the impressionable Zack. "Everybody wants to hate on Justin, and after they see the film, they can't hate on him anymore," says Cassavetes, laughing. "I don't understand why he gets hated on at all; he's such a sweet and fantastic guy. I kind of hate on him a little bit because he's so good at every damn thing he tries to do."

Cassavetes was aware of Timberlake's other high-profile career but confesses that he'd never heard any of the singer's radio-friendly hits. "I'm almost 50; I listen to a different type of music. I'm a jazz guy," he says. "I knew he hadn't done a lot of acting, but I met him for [the lead role in] The Notebook, and he was such a mature presence at such a young age. He wasn't right, in my opinion, for The Notebook, but I knew I wanted to work with him. There's kind of a thing you feel with Justin when you're around him in real life: You always feel, like, sunshine. He's got a good sense of humor." Timberlake's inherent likability, notes the filmmaker, made him perfect for the part of Frankie.

Cassavetes says the key quality he sees in all of Alpha Dog's young actors is a willingness to fully commit to believable performances. "If you look at the performances in this film, you look at Emile: He could have done some really showboaty type of *beep* performance that they teach you in school, like 'Make active choices,'" he says. "This wasn't 'make active choices.' He really was a grinder; he ground up his performance and sacrificed the showiness of his performance for the good of the film and the believability of the film, and the film is much better because of it. Same thing with Shawn [Hatosy, who plays a put-upon member of Johnny's gang]; he could have twisted his mustache all the way around and let you know why his character was so beat up, but he didn't. The fatal mistake of acting and filmmaking in general is easy solutions to complicated problems. We rush to get to the result."

In the Genes

Cassavetes never set out to be a filmmaker, despite having a famous one for a dad: the late actor-writer-director John Cassavetes, who helmed such critically acclaimed projects as Husbands and Faces. "I was making a paltry living as an actor, and it was fine," he says. "But my talent and my circumstance led me to parts that weren't fulfilling me. I complained loudly to anybody who would listen, and finally somebody said, 'Well, why don't you write your own stuff? Why don't you do something about it?'"

He wrote his first script, Unhook the Stars, as an exercise, to see if he could create a fully developed character. He showed it to his mother, who happens to be accomplished stage and screen star Gena Rowlands. "I said, 'What do you think?' She said, 'What do I think? When are we doing this?'" he remembers. "I said, 'No, it was just an experiment.' She goes, 'Uh-uh. We're doing this.'" Unhook the Stars, directed by Cassavetes, was released in 1996 and netted Screen Actors Guild nods for Rowlands and co-star Marisa Tomei.

Cassavetes followed it up with She's So Lovely, from a script written by his father. Rowlands was also featured in that, as well as 2004's The Notebook; thankfully, the filmmaker says, directing his mom hasn't resulted in any family tension. "My mother has a lot of experience working with her husband [John Cassavetes], so she's well practiced, and when we get to the set, we separate and we become actor and director," he says. "We're real comfortable like that. Most of it is because of her, because she's had that practice. Me, I don't find social things as interesting as movie things anyway, so when we're on a set, we have lots of things to do and lots of things to talk about. I try to treat all my actors-big part, small part, anybody that works with me-with the same amount of respect. So I wouldn't want to show my mother any favoritism, even though I like her best."

So what should an actor lucky enough to meet with Cassavetes keep in mind? "The instinct for actors is always to please and it's always to accommodate," he says. "From my side, I'm not looking for someone to accommodate my material. I'm looking for someone to come in and own it and tell me where it's wrong. I don't think you should come in and throw your weight around, but my advice would be to not accommodate the scene and not accommodate the director or try to be nice. Be your character. Really do your work on your character, and be able to talk intelligently about the way you think that that person's clock ticks."

And always remember that he, like so many other actors-turned-filmmakers, empathizes and wants to help you succeed. "So much of the audition process is nerves and getting the audition, and it's a horrible, horrible process that's humiliating for both sides," he says. "[If you] come in and you are asking yourself, 'I wonder if I can do this,' the answer's always yes. Do whatever you want, man. That's what being an actor's all about: being free. And my job as a director is to give the actor everything they need to be free."

http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_revie … 1003534768

Deb

domesticelefant · 19 Jan 07 :: 21:19

I'm sure that this is a cool article, but it's still a little too much English for me.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 19 Jan 07 :: 23:56

DUDES!!!

Some of the Alpha Dog clothes and props are up for sale, including Chris's blue t-shirt and No Bootie shorts!

http://cgi.ebay.com/1080-ALPHA-DOG-Keit … dZViewItem

Another outfit, his leather bracelet, wallet and the infamous hackey-sack are also available!

Thanks to Illinoisguy for the heads-up!

Deb

domesticelefant · 20 Jan 07 :: 00:44

They're selling the flower shorts? Hahaaaahaaa!!! :lol::lol:
You know what, if I would live in the US, I would totally buy it. LOL

TeeJay · 20 Jan 07 :: 09:34

Would you wear it too, Anne?

-TeeJay

TheCentralScrutinizer · 20 Jan 07 :: 09:58

I want the bracelet! I would totally wear it every day!

Deb

London · 20 Jan 07 :: 10:16

TeeJay wrote:

And I have to grin every time I see Justin's torso tat with the est. 1976 writing. That's my birth year too.

I thought Justin was born in 1981?

TeeJay · 20 Jan 07 :: 10:23

I'm sure he was, but I'm guessing his character on Alpha Dog was born in 1976. Thus the tattoo.

-TeeJay

TheCentralScrutinizer · 20 Jan 07 :: 10:30

Yeah, remember the movie is set in 1999. So his character would've been 23 at the time.

Deb

domesticelefant · 20 Jan 07 :: 11:52

TeeJay wrote:

Would you wear it too, Anne?

Actually no. I'll just keep it in my closet and look at it at times to have a good laugh. LOL
I would wear the T-Shirt, though.

TeeJay · 22 Jan 07 :: 13:26

Cool, thanks for the info! Guess if I can't catch it without dubbing in Germany in March, I'll go visit my friend Freddie in the UK in April.

-TeeJay

domesticelefant · 22 Jan 07 :: 19:17

Hey, uhm ... could I come with you maybe? LOL, joke!
But I really, really, really wanna see this undubbed. I guess, I still have to watch the dubbed version at some point, but I'll definitely see the original first. At least I am planning to do this. If I can't catch it here and can't go to Britain either, I'll just wait for the DVD, which has both languages. So I can cover my ears when Chris is talking. LOL

TeeJay · 22 Jan 07 :: 19:49

Well, turns out Freddie can't accomodate me around April 20th, so I guess it's either gonna be the Netherlands or the DVD. But I'll try to drag Lars to the Netherlands with me, provided I can find a theater close-ish enough that shows AD, once it's on. I'm really curious if Lars would like the movie or not. I'm sure he'll totally tease me for weeks about Chris's role in it, though.

-TeeJay

domesticelefant · 22 Jan 07 :: 20:07

If he doesn't want to come with you, I'll buy a train ticket and come over. LOL

TeeJay · 22 Jan 07 :: 20:42

Deal!

-TeeJay

Steph8705 · 23 Jan 07 :: 03:27

Man, that ebay stuff is COOL. They have a whooolllleee bunch of em. Including Zack's clothing

***SPOILER***

***********************

***SPOILER******

*******************

Even the bloody jacket/shirt Anton whore in his final scene, you can see the bullet holes and everything...weird..creepy..and sad. here's the link for that: http://cgi.ebay.com/1028-ALPHA-DOG-Zack … dZViewItem

*****END SPOILER*****

There's others too, pretty cool

Here's some other stuff, they have like screenused margarita glasses..other props, and there's one of Emile's full outfit...Denim Shirt, Jeans, Boots & Cap, pretty damn cool if you ask me!

Steph

TheCentralScrutinizer · 23 Jan 07 :: 03:38

Yep, I'm trying to get Keith's bracelet. If I win it, I'm going to have it shipped overnight so I can wear it to the con this weekend. That should give Chris a giggle. I'd love to have the hackey-sack too, but I can only afford one item.

Deb

Steph8705 · 23 Jan 07 :: 09:42

Haha, that'd be funny Deb, if you wore "his" bracelet. I get what you're saying about the money thing, they can get EXPENSIVE. I saw one that was way up there..almost 300 dollars! But that was an article of clothing, pretty crazy, still.

Oh, and good luck, hope you win it, cause that would be cool

Steph

domesticelefant · 23 Jan 07 :: 13:46

Illinoisguy1 wrote:

I'm surprised that they aren't putting up anything worn by Justin yet up for auction on ebay.
They would get a fortune for those.

Yeah, that's what I thought, too! LOL
I still would buy the flower shorts if I could ... but unfortunately I can't buy from overseas. Wait, I said unfortunately ... I guess I should rather say fortunately. LOL

TheCentralScrutinizer · 23 Jan 07 :: 17:45

Don't wanna jinx it but it's looking good so far. When I left to come to work this morning I was still high bidder. The auction ends tonight at 11:30.

Deb

Steph8705 · 23 Jan 07 :: 22:20

Cool, almost there Deb, good luck.

Yeah guys, I was thinking the same thing, I was looking through the pages for anything on Jusitn but couldn't find anything..I wonder why that is..cause yeah..can we say PROFIT? lol. Who here remembers way back when when Justin's "un-eaten french toast" was put up for auction on eBay? Yeah um..that was ridiculous, and he said it wasn't even his!..haha.

Steph

TeeJay · 23 Jan 07 :: 23:58

Hey, I'd buy Chris's uneaten French toast any day! LOL Uhm... okay, can you say "Ewwww"? Imagine what it would be like after a week in some envelope to be shipped to Germany? Hello fungi, you're very hairy!

-TeeJay

domesticelefant · 24 Jan 07 :: 00:07

TeeJay wrote:

Hey, I'd buy Chris's uneaten French toast any day! LOL Uhm... okay, can you say "Ewwww"? Imagine what it would be like after a week in some envelope to be shipped to Germany? Hello fungi, you're very hairy!

LMAO
ROTFL
LOL

:lol::lol:

TheCentralScrutinizer · 24 Jan 07 :: 03:16

Well, some jerk is warring with me for the bracelet again. I've got the high bid at the moment, but I can't go much higher so it's getting "pretty f'ing dubious", as Keith would say. Damnit! Nobody deserves to have this more than one of us and it drives me nuts that I have to fight some idiot who has no idea for it. The auction is actually over at 10:30, not 11:30, so only two more hours to go.

Keep those fingers and toes crossed!

Deb

TheCentralScrutinizer · 24 Jan 07 :: 05:39

We did it! We won!!!

And here's our prize...

Deb

Chris Marquette Message Board

#301 19 Jan 07 :: 20:13

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#302 19 Jan 07 :: 21:19

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#303 19 Jan 07 :: 23:56

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#304 20 Jan 07 :: 00:44

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#305 20 Jan 07 :: 09:34

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#306 20 Jan 07 :: 09:58

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#307 20 Jan 07 :: 10:16

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#308 20 Jan 07 :: 10:23

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#309 20 Jan 07 :: 10:30

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#310 20 Jan 07 :: 11:52

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#311 22 Jan 07 :: 13:26

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#312 22 Jan 07 :: 19:17

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#313 22 Jan 07 :: 19:49

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#314 22 Jan 07 :: 20:07

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#315 22 Jan 07 :: 20:42

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#316 23 Jan 07 :: 03:27

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#317 23 Jan 07 :: 03:38

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#318 23 Jan 07 :: 09:42

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#319 23 Jan 07 :: 13:46

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#320 23 Jan 07 :: 17:45

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#321 23 Jan 07 :: 22:20

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#322 23 Jan 07 :: 23:58

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#323 24 Jan 07 :: 00:07

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#324 24 Jan 07 :: 03:16

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

#325 24 Jan 07 :: 05:39

Re: Alpha Dog (STRONG LANGUAGE & ADULT CONTENT)

Board footer