Asylum Interview/Chat with Ken
January 19, 1998
*Please note that this transcript is an edited version of the
interview
EAMC Host : Mr. Branagh is starring
in the new film "The Gingerbread Man". Remember: For
the most fun online, check out the Entertainment Asylum. Keyword
Asylum. Mr. Branagh, welcome to Entertainment Asylum. We are
happy to have you chatting with us today!
Ken : Thanks its so great to
be your 100th person.
EAMC Host : Welcome. We are all
very excited about your new film "The Gingerbread Man"
Ken : I think this will be a
terrific thriller.
EAMC Host : Here is our first
question from the audience.
Question : Do you find there
is an added pressure when making your Shakespeare films, knowing
for instance that your Hamlet will be compared to Olivier's and
Zefferelli's versions? If so, what's the pressure like?
Ken : The pressure is great because
you first start by having to raise the money and then you gave
to convince people its worth it to make it; sometimes because
its been made before.
EAMC Host : Here is a question
from Dana08096 for Kenneth Branagh
Question : When you were growing
up, who were your heroes in film?
Ken : Well I watched a lot of
different movies, but I loved Burt Lancaster, Steve McQueen,
Paul Newman. I also loved movies like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
I loved Dick Van Dyke.
EAMC Host : Do you want to do
more action roles?
Ken : Well its hard to find good
films that have the excitement and action without diluting the
character.
EAMC Host : Here is a question
from EGuitar94.
Question : Is this film a film
all types of people will enjoy in your opinion?
Ken : This is a film now that
I've seen 2-3 times and I'm very self-critical but I really think
this is something that people will really enjoy. Its a weird
movie but it moves along. Its not too long but keeps you on the
edge of your seat the whole time. This is a movie that a lot
of people won't get.
EAMC Host : Here is a question
from BloodRdRs.
Question : What draws you to
do films with such rich historical settings?
Ken : Well you get great production
value with movies like Hamlet. You can make things unconventional
and its gives you a lot of freedom. Sometimes it just gives you
a different feel or texture working on a period piece.
EAMC Host : Here is another question
from the audience from VoodoDoll
Question : Did you like Shakespeare
as a child
Ken : First time I heard Shakespeare
was in grade school and they made us read aloud Merchant of Venice.
And it made no sense to me at the time. Then a teacher of mine
played this Diana Ross/Marvin Gaye song with a lot of ooh baby
grunts and shrieks - he then takes the needle off the record
and asks us what we think about it and he's like its SEX that's
what it is about -- just like Romeo and Juliet Its SEX - so then
he made the point about Romeo and Juliet being about a lot of
frustrated sexual energy.
EAMC Host : Here is one from
MonkMuse
Question : Kenneth, do you prefer
to act or direct?
Ken : I think the more immediate
gratification is acting. But directing has a terrific satisfaction
if the final products comes anywhere to what you thought it would
be. But along the way with directing all the psychiatric nursing
that you have to do.... )
Question : It sounds like you
did a good job with your accent in "The Gingerbread Man"
I admire you as a director. Do you have any upcoming directing
projects?
Ken: I have no immediate plans
to direct. Right now I'm looking and reading and hoping. But
after this movie is another movie called "The Proposition"
where I'm acting and stars Madeline Stowe. Then next I'm acting
in a Woody Allen movie.
EAMC Host : The Woody Allen film
is not opening until the fall. :) Here is one from Stefnuchk
Question : How did you get your
first big break?
Ken : My first break was in a
weekly newspaper in Britain which advertised in Sept 1981 advertising
for someone to do a Belfast acting job and send a photo. I had
one photo and sent it in and I got a interview and got the part
and did a TV play. I'm originally from Belfast, so getting the
Belfast accent was easy.
EAMC Host : We are chatting live
with Kenneth Branagh here in Entertainment Asylum. Here is a
question from Quelin.
Question : Thank you for Hamlet.
It changed my life. Do you play instruments other than the guitar
& piano? Are you self-taught? What Beatles song is your favorite
to sing?
Ken : I'm very much self-taught
on both those instruments. I'm struggling with the piano but
I play with a bunch of pals called Fishmongers - only privately
and one of our least bad numbers is "Here, There Everywhere"
and we do have a very good drummer. I'm really trying hard to
play the piano and its such a great way to relax.
EAMC Host : Here is a question
from Kitipurr for Kenneth Branagh
Question : First I want to say
it was an amazing honor to work on Woody Allen's set with you
(I was an extra, so you have no clue who I am). Are you planning
to ever do A Midsummer Night's Dream? You'd be an amazing Oberon.
Ken : Well I'm glad you were
on the Woody Allen set - it was amazing to work with him. I don't
think I will be making a Midsummer Nights Dream but Baz Luhrman
who did Romeo and Juliet will probably be doing it with Fox.
EAMC Host : Here is one from
WLDIRSHCO
Question : how do you prepare
yourself for the characters you portray?
Ken : It depends. Something may
be based on some real life scenario. For instance, Gingerbread
Man, I met the lawyers in the south and did a little investigation
and found out how a typical day goes for a lawyer, how you break
into the partner mode and make money -- its a long road and you
have to put the hours in.
Question : If there were a movie
to be made about your life, what actor would you want to have
play you?
Ken : Oh no, don't do that -
give me the money and I'll make it about someone else. There
is a guy named Max Beasley who is working on the BBC and A &
E and they are doing Tom Jones so this guy would be great.
EAMC Host : Does it annoy you
that you get labeled as only a classical actor?
Ken : Thanks very much - it does
surprise me that there is such a strong identification with the
Shakespeare stuff because I've done all kinds of movies. But
the way I make them is that I make them like contemporary films.
EAMC Host : Here is a question
from Vermaladi
Question : How do you believe
Shakespeare's plays could best be taught in a school classroom?
Ken : Well, certainly show my
movies! I think that whatever way, its important to try and stress
the situations that occur over and over again in our daily lives.
Try to connect it to now. But in general terms people need to
be reminded that the plays are about young people, violence,
gangs but if you can explain it to people then they can have
fun.
EAMC Host : Here is a question
from Sockgirl1.
Question : which role has been
most enjoyable for you?
Ken : I think the most challenging
and enjoyable role was Hamlet because its so complex. Perhaps
the mostly purely enjoyable was Iago in Othello. I really enjoyed
that. I enjoy things that are pretty far away from me. Like the
Gingerbread Man when I play a southern lawyer.
Question : Are you a fan of Grisham
novels or movies?
Ken : I enjoy the novels. I find
the plotting very ingenious. I enjoy the movies. I am pleased
though that this one, Robert Altman's version, is different from
Grisham's other novels. This had an edge because its an original
screenplay. The screenplay was written by Grisham a long time
ago before any of his novels were published.
EAMC Host : We are chatting live
with Kenneth Branagh of the new film "The Gingerbread Man."
Here is a question from LilNikita
Question : I've noticed that
you use Patrick Doyle as a composer in a lot of your films. Is
there any reason (besides the fact that he's very talented)?
Ken : Well besides the fact that
he is really talented! He is a Scot and one of 13 children. He's
got this enormous accent that is very hard to follow but he has
a sensibility that appears to me. He has a strong sense of melody
and accepts my layman's terms. He definitely makes up for lack
of musical knowledge! He is very talented. When a scoring session
for a movie comes together, we had Simon Adler as the conducted
without a click track and it was a 13 minute cue which covers
a battle scene in Henry V which Patrick had written - when we
did the score and played it back, we all looked at each other
and knew it was wonderful!
EAMC Host : Here is a question
from Mferencz for Kenneth Branagh
Question : Are your biceps always
as nice as they were in hamlet???? :-)
Ken : I wish my biceps were as
nice as they were in Hamlet! But of course with the movies you
do have the additional help with makeup artists - but I did work
hard for that part and we were always practicing the fight -
for months and months! Film vanity is the greatest spur! You
can look on film and want it back.!
EAMC Host : Here is a question
from Sunshine9.
Question : Mr. Branagh....is
there a role that you have yet received a chance to create that
you hope to in the future?
Ken : Well there's a bunch of
things I would like to do - different genres but I love comedy
and I would like to do more comedy. I think its a cliche but
comedies are the hardest things to do - tragedy is easier! If
its a comedy and they are laughing then you have to work harder.
EAMC Host : Question, This is
Cheryl. :) Now that you are an established film director, do
you feel funny directing your role models like Derek Jacobi or
Jack Lemmon?
Ken : Good question Cheryl -
well is always intimidating - especially like people like Jack
Lemmon but he makes you feel very at ease and they want to be
directed they don't want to act alone. So mostly, I've been able
to say, well its a job and I've been able to offer at least comments
to what they are doing. With one exception, Sir John Gielgud,
I am very intimidated and so I offer no comments or advice.
EAMC Host : Here is another question
from the audience.
Question : Hi Ken. What did you
think of the Golden Globe awards last night? Thanks. :)
Ken : I thought it was very compelling
- especially Ving Rhames giving his award to Jack Lemmon it was
a very sweet gesture. I was delighted about Michael J. Fox. I
haven't seen all the films that were nominated but I did just
see Titanic and James Cameron totally deserved the award.
EAMC Host : Here is a question
from EponaGlim
Question : What was it like working
with Robert Altman?
Ken : He's a very charming gentleman.
He's generous and has a very unique way of moving the camera.
He makes you feel very free, he pushes you a bit but he is a
wonderful director.
EAMC Host : We are chatting live
with Kenneth Branagh, renowned Shakespearean actor and the star
of the new Grisham thriller "The Gingerbread Man."
Here is one from LtjgRopho
Question : do you know any of
the Spice Girls?
Ken : Oh I wish I did -- I wish
I did. I was on a show the other day and the Spice Girls were
there and I was so keen to go knock on their door but I didn't.
I admire them in all sorts of ways!
EAMC Host : Here is a question
from Les Misfi.
Question : Just wanted to let
you know what an influence your work has had on me--it's unlikely
I'd even be in theatre if not for the passion your work has given
me. Any advice for a young actor who wants to do Shakespeare?
Ken : Well its very nice to hear
that. Thank you. You know we all start somewhere and many people
inspired me. If you can, if its possible, try to practice. Try
to find places across the country where you can be involved in
the plays or do speeches but its mostly practice - the more familiar
you become with Shakespeare the more creative you can be with
it. Try to practice as much as possible - oh and of course, watch
my movies!
EAMC Host : Here is one from
PPica4417
Question : Hi, I have seen many
of your movies and noticed that many of the same actors appear
in them. I was wondering if they were part of a special acting
group?
Ken : Its just that if you work
with people over a period of time you can just cut to the chase
and its makes for a good movie. But more and more I feel a little
braver working with new people so I think the next time I direct
it will be with a completely different group of actors.
EAMC Host : Another question.
Question : Do you work with directors
differently because you are a director as well as an actor?
Ken : Well I think I can't help
but feel a certain sympathy for a director because he's under
tremendous pressure so I think I'm pretty sensitive to them.
I have changed some because I've developed more patience being
a director so that has helped my acting.
EAMC Host : Mr. Branagh, thank
you for chatting with us this afternoon here on the Entertainment
Asylum. We look forward to seeing your movie "The Gingerbread
Man" this weekend!
Ken : Thanks so much for having
me. It has been great fun and again, I'm so glad I got to be
your 100th guest!
EAMC Host : Thank you to everyone
for joining us today for your chat with Kenneth Branagh. Good
night everyone!
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