Shoot was inspired by Cronenberg's films (pic references at the bottom).
Stills from Cronenberg's films (The Dead Ringers, Videodrome and Scanners)
Amazing shoot. Amazing interview. Don't miss it after the CUT!
More about the Photoshoot
Page 2 Thanks to SomeLostBliss
More about the Photoshoot
Article Premiere Fr
Star of Cosmopolis, the new movie by David Cronenberg, in competition at
Cannes, RP was a willing participant to a crazy photoshoot that lasted
13 hours! Find out more in the May issue.
In general, when you organize a photoshoot with an actor, whose movies
made more than 2.7 billion of dollars all over the world, you except
someone cold and shy, someone with a controled image and with a
safeguard. Everything is timed to the last minute, especially if the
actor arrives late, everything has to be started over again. I say 'in
general' because all of this doesn't apply to Robert Pattinson!
It's at the end of our interview that the actor comes up with the
idea of a photoshoot dedicated to David Cronenberg's movies. Like an
hommage to his respect for the filmmaker, who by casting him in
Cosmopolis, offered him not only a passport for after Twilight but
aslo the opportunity to come and celebrate his entry to the adulte age,
on the steps of Cannes on May 25th.
To say that he got involved n the making of the photoshoot is an
euphemism. The first images of Scanners and Videdrome we prepared for
him as an inspiration for the future snapshots came back to us with an
unexepected commentary: Rob was sorry that they weren't more daring,
wanting to push all the limits with this shoot - the complete opposite
of what someone in his position would have asked Two days later, the
photograph Eliot Lee Hazel and his crew - sort of strange for this kind
of shoot (a special effect makeup artist, a pregnant lady ...) - met in a
glummy hotel in downtown L.A. to give the go-ahead of this shoot that
lasted for exactly 13 hours.
After seeing the results of this shoot, we're ready to bet that you
won't look at Robert Pattinson the same way again. That the last
pretence who might still weigh on the actor will fly away as fast as
they appeared.
Translation (Page 1). Thanks to Sonia of RPlife
"Filming Cosmopolis with Cronenberg changed something in me. It gave me balls"
It's 1:30pm in the halls of the Solo House, a private club on Sunset
Boulevard in Los Angeles, Members only ... If the hostess let us in the
elevator with a smile, it's because we said the magic words :' We have a
meeting with Robert Pattinson at 2pm.'. Surprise, the actor arrives 30
minutes in advance ... with a heavy beard. he didnt let it grow to throw
off the paparazzis but to prepare himself for a next role in a movie
about a rock back, The Band. But the project that reunites us today is
Cosmopolis, the adaptation of Don DeLillo's novel for david Cronenberg.
Electric shock movie set to be at Cannes this year.The Canadian director
surprised everyone by giving out the role of Eric Packer to the
Twilight star. This 28 years old yuppie from New York that decides to
travel through the city in his limo so he can get a haircut, while
demonstrations makes chaos prevail in the streets and threats are
hanging over the millionaire's head.
A ride to hell that will change him forever, the 'him' could apply to
Pattinson as well, who delivers a shocking performance with a perfect
timing. Mid-November, when the last Twilight movie will be out, the teen
hearthrob can definitely let the grown up actor, revealed by
Cosmopolis, take his place. The transformation starts now!
P: Rob, last time we talked, you were coming out of the Cosmopolis
shooting and you told me: 'I didn't understand what we were doing and
when I asked David, what it was about, he told me: 'I don't know, we
don't care'. But after seeing the movie, I found it extremely clear.
RP: For the first screening, I was alone and I came out of it puzzled.
At that time, the music didn't register in my brain yet. I then saw the
movie again with other people and they were really responsive. They
couldn't stop laughing and I thought: "Oh, well it works after all
(laughs)" I can't wait to see how the audience will react to it. It's
the first time I can watch something I made as 'a movie' maybe because
Cosmopolis belongs entirely to David Cronenberg. It's really his movie.
P: It's yours too, let's be real ...
RP: It's still pure Cronenberg, there's no doubt about it. Most
directors try to take you by the hand and tell you: 'I'm gonna help you
go where you need to go'. David films a scene and then go: 'Ok, that's
good, let's move on!' But he's really sensible to the actors'
performances, he's not going to give you a lot of instructions but he
has an uncanny accuracy. Nothing escapes him, you just need to lose your
focus for a second and he notices right away. It's almost unsettling to
work with someone like this. At the wrap party, I asked him if he saw
some edited scenes and he told me he saw the whole movie! He already
edited it. Since I was so curious, I asked him, 'So, do you know what it
is about?' 'Not at all, but it's good, it's funny.' He then quoted
Fellini to me, asserting that a movie is dead when it doesn't raise
questions anymore.
On the set, David was delighted by the confusion that ruled, including
among the more experienced actor, like Paul Giamatti.
P: The director is supposed to have a head start ...
RP: And he's supposed to fear nothing as well. I never worked with a
screenwriter who was this confident in his abilities. If he was stuck on
a way to film a scene, he did something else. He knew the script by
heart so he could afford it. It's kind of unnerving at first, but since
I'm in every scene I memorized the whole script, like a play.
P: It's healthy for an actor to be fearful, isn't it?
RP: On the first day of shooting, I wasn't showing off. While we were
getting ready for the first shot, Sarah Gadon (who plays his wife) asked
me: 'So how did you prepare for your role?' I broke down and left the
limo really pissed off and yelled: "How dare you judge me like that? Are
you trying to test me or something?" *laughs*
P: Cronenberg told us that you were stressing out about filming the movie ...
RP: I'm going throuh a phase were I'm trying to determine what I can
accomplish or not as an actor. It's even more complex when you know you
have a past, even though people like David don't pay any attention to
it.
P: I recommend David to see the last Twilight movie, that is almost 'Cronenbergian' at some times ...
RP: *laughs* I can't believe there's still one more to come (Breaking
Dawn Pt 2 is out November 14th) and I have some reshoots to do in a few
days.
P: You thought Twilight was behind you?
RP: Yes, I'm not the same as I was at the beginning. First, I'm older
... When I have to go on the makeup chair, I see all those wrinkles that
came with time, it's scary. I thickened/filled out too. Since I didn't
have any clothes when we shot the first movie, I stole some from the
movie when we done and I can fit any them anymore!
P: when you first went to Cannes in 2009, you triggered off a riot on
the beach where 700 fans were waiting for you. The security had to
carry you out to your car to get you out of there ...
RP: This year they won't even notice me: 'We don't care, he's not in The Hunger Games!' *laughs*
P: It looks like you have a date with one of your Twilight costar on
la croisette, since Kristen Stewart will be there for On The Road too.
The Festival almost looks like graduation day ...
RP: I'm thrilled to go. Filming Cosmopolis with Cronenberg changed
something in me. It gave me balls. *laughs* I have 5 projects lining up
right now that follow the path the movie opened for me. Before, I spent
my time doubting myself. As soon as I read a script that I liked, I was
working myself up, asking myself if I was good enough. Now, I tell
myself: 'Fuck it! If they want to hire you, go!"
PREMIERE: You haven't shot any movie
since Cosmopolis, as if you were waiting for more offers that the movie
would bring you. Is that the case, here?
ROB: More or less. Breaking Dawn had me busy till the end of the year
and there are not a lot of movies shot in the winter. I started
panicking three months ago, but that's when all those projects started
to come. If everything goes well, I will start shooting in the fall.
PREMIERE:Two years ago, you seemed
surprised that some people would hire you for certain movies and you
said that you would still act as long as you would have that
opportunity. I feel like the way you think about acting has changed. Now
you know where you want to go.
ROB: I've always wanted to make good movies. But before, I was more the
type to get drunk and say: "If people don't like me, they can go fuck
themselves!" (laughing) It's different nowadays : I want the people that
I respect to respect me as well. It seems easy when you say it like
that, but sometimes, you need time to undertsnad that having the respect
of others is what is the most important. And whining about it won't
make you succeed. When David came out of nowhere to ask me to be a part
of Cosmopolis, I asked him tons of questions. I wanted to know
absolutely what he has seen in me, what he thought about me... But he
couldn't answer me.
PREMIERE: The Cosmopolis teaser had the effect of a bomb on the internet...
ROB: I've been doing movie for 8 years and I've been criticized often
and all of a sudden, this teaser is released and everyone is excited.
"It looks great! His acting is good in it!" It's ridiculous! It's what
makes you understand how the critical mind of some people work.
PREMIERE: Most of the critics said you sucked without having seen you in any movies. And you were good in Twilight!
ROB: In some scenes maybe... I tried anyway.. I'd like to ask a question
to those people who think I just started acting well: What do you think
I was doing in twilight? Do they think it's how I act naturally? No, I
had to take decisions as an actor. I find it funny when I read stuff
like (He uses a dramatic voice) "Will Cosmopolis finally prove that he
can act?" What does that even mean?
PREMIERE: Before he was discovered by
Burton and Fincher, Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt were more or less known as
'pretty faces'. I feel like the same thing is happening to you with
Cosmopolis.
ROB: The good news is that the way the industry perceives actor is
changing, even if Brad Pitt is to me, one of the most unfairly
underestimated actor in the world. It's not said enough but he never
delivered a bad performance. Nowadays, no one wants to make drama for
adults because people say no one is going to see them. No one. Except
Brad Pitt. It's how you make a career last. We still see those kind of
movies in the world of independant movies, but those dramas, held by
stars have almost disappeared. It must be because those stars lost their
part of mystery. How do you want to play roles like that if people know
everyone about you & your life?
PREMIERE: Before, talented actors were
turning into big stars. Nowadays, we become a star before we've had time
to prove that we're a talented actor.
ROB: Celebrity is one of the only thing that we can access without
having any qualification. And when you dare to say something negative
about fame in the media, you're sure that you're going to get a lot of
crap. People don't want to hear about that at all. It's not jealousy,
it's just that they don't want you to shatter their dreams.
PREMIERE: You have to maintain the illusion, no matter the price...
ROB: The paradoxe is that they want to maintain it and shatter it at the
same time by accumulating as many things as possible about your private
life.
PREMIERE: Am I wrong or it seems like you're going to favour ambitious projects, without giving up to the Hollywood sirens?
ROB: It's almost more dangerous to try the Hollywood adventure, in fact.
Recently, I read the script for a big movie worth 80 million dollars
that I liked a lot. it was the first time a studio was sending me a
script that I liked and I was really excited. I was telling myself:
"This is it, I finally have that cool blockbuster that i was looking
for!" But when I went to the meeting, I was told that I was too marked
by Twilight and that it wouldn't be possible. I was disappointed. Then I
read the script again and realized that, in the end, it wasn't that
good. (laughing)
PREMIERE: It's like destiny was trying to tell you something...
ROB: Possible. It's said often that you need to alternate the projects
that you do for yourself & the ones you do for the studios. But I
don't believe that. If you shoot a shitty film.. well, you just made a
shitty film. The money it will make at the box office won't change a
thing about that. And success is never a sure thing: look at "Wrath of
the Titans" which just failed at the B.O...
PREMIERE: Have you ever tried to accept a role for money?
ROB: Yes. But something always happened at the last minute and; it ended
up not happening. Of course, I've done five Twilight, but I never did
that for the money, even if I would have found that really unfair to let
that money go to somebody else. (laughing). I learned one thing and
that is that everything that makes you win money is never "free". I feel
like, the more money you gain, the more problems you have on the side.
Like.. to barricade your house for example. When someone tells me: "But
it's just a movie!", I want to tell them: "Yes, but you can pay it for
the rest of my life!"
PREMIERE: It's hard to get your soul back once you've sold it.
ROB: Especially in Hollywood, where everyone is judging you. I've always
admired Nicolas Cage, who always did whatever he wanted with
his career without caring about what others thought about it. And after
15 years, they finally realized that he was a genius. He's not only one
of the most fascinating actors in the world, but he's also a real
artist.
PREMIERE: The hostility that Twilight
received might have made you used to not live your life according to how
people perceive you..
ROB: When you suddenly become known, you have no control over what
people think of you anyway. You need to learn how to fight the storm,
especially when you understand that you're just a pawn within an
enormous machine.
ROB: When you're doing interviews, one after the other, to promote a
movie but no one asks you about your work, you end wondering if you'r
even an actor. I often ended up in front of people who had probably
never seen any Twilight & only wanted to know what it was like to be
a celebrity.. "People recognize you in the street, they take your
picture all the time and it's really weird, Here you go.."
While i'm talking about that, something happening to me at the beach not
long agao. I was trying to learn how to surf - So I looked like an
idiot, you can't even imagine -, when I thought I had seen paps, trying
to hide behind rocks. When I got the confirmation, my body acted on
impulse and I ran in their direction. But in the middle of my run, I
started asking myself what I would do once I was in front of those guys.
I wasn't afraid of being beaten up, what you would be scared of in
those kind of situations, but I was scared of ending up in court if I
hit one of them. Fortunately, Those paps were such cowards that they
left immediately. I have no idea what would have happened if they had
not left.
PREMIERE: The good news is that the hysteria will be over soon...
ROB: I'm going to be 26 and I can tell you that it's starting to freak
me out that I'm appealing to girls that are 13 yo. I'm often wondering
how things will change now.
PREMIERE: Things will change starting this months, when the public will discover Cosmopolis.
ROB: I've always felt like people judged the performance of actos as if
we were in American Idol. That we need to cry or scream really loudly
for people to find you good. That way, I'm trying not to delude myself.
PREMIERE: I'm surprised that you're
still able to keep your head on your shoulder. Have you ever found
yourself acting like a star/diva?
ROB: It might have been different if people kept telling me I was a genius all day long, but that's not the case.
At the beginning, I tried to break through as a model, without being
offered a single job. When you've done more that 2, 000 castings and the
guy in front of you doesn't even look at you once in the eyes, looking
at your pictures one after the other while saying "No, no.." in a
disgusted tone, you end up being immune to a lot of things.
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