[ ♪♪ ]
>> WELCOME, EVERYONE.
LOVELY TO SEE YOU ALL.
WELCOME TO THE ASSEMBLED MEMBERS
OF THE PRESS.
TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING 
ABOUT A FILM CALLED "BLACK BIRD"
WHICH HINGES ON A TERMINALLY ILL
MATRIARCH PLAYED BY SUSAN 
SARANDON WHO REUNION IDENTITIES 
THREE GENERATIONS OF HER FAMILY 
AT THEIR COUNTRY HOUSE FOR ONE 
FINAL TIME.
ROGER MICHEL, YOU'VE BEEN HERE 
MANY TIMES AT T.I.F.F. AND YOU 
JOIN US TODAY AS THE DIRECTOR OF
GOINGS BLACK BIRD."
SUSAN SARANDON, YOU'RE HERE AT 
THE FESTIVAL A SECOND TIME DRY 
WHITE SEASON WHICH IS PLAYING AT
THE CINEMATEQUE.
PEOPLE CAN GO SEE THAT AGAIN.
SAM NEILL YOU'VE BEEN HERE MANY,
MANY TIMES.
 YOU PLAY PAUL IN THE FILM.
RAINN WILSON, JUNO, SUPER, PEEP 
WORLD AND SHERWOOD CLARK IS 
BLACK BIRD'S PRODUCER AND 
PRESIDENT OF THE AGE COLLECTIVE.
WELL CHERYL, I'M REQUESTING 
START WITH YOU.
THE GENESIS OF HOW THIS SCRIPT 
GOT TO THE SCREEN IS -- MAYBE IT
HAPPENS EVERY DAY BUT IT ALMOST 
DIDN'T HAPPEN.
SOMEONE HANDED YOU A SCRIPT AND 
PICK UP THE STORY FROM THERE, IF
YOU WOULD.
>> I WAS AT A DINNER PARTY AND I
WAS SEATED NEXT TO A WRITER WHO 
I DIDN'T KNOW AND WE WERE 
SITTING HAVING A LOVELY DINNER 
AND I SAID, OH, HAVE YOU EVER 
WRITTEN A FEATURE?
SCOMBE SAID -- HE WAS WRITING IN
TELEVISION.
AND HE SAID, YES, I HAVE ONE.
IT'S A MOVIE I WROTE IN DENMARK,
AND I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO TAKE
A LOOK AT IT AND I WASN'T SURE 
TO BE HONEST, WHEN YOU GET 
HANDED A SCRIPT AT A DINNER 
PARTY, AND I READ IT AND FELL IN
LOVE WITH IT AND IMMEDIATELY 
SENT IT TO ROGER.
I'M SURE PEOPLE ARE HANDING 
SCRIPTS TO YOU ALL THE TIME.
WHAT WAS IT ABOUT IT THAT MADE 
YOU WANT TO EVEN CRACK THE SPINE
OF THE SCRIPT?
>> I THINK WHEN CHRIS MAN 
PITCHED IT, HE WAS QUITE 
EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT.
AND I DO LOVE A GOOD FAMILY 
DRAMA.
AND I HAD BEEN LOOKING -- ROGER 
AND I WORKED ON "MORNING GLORY" 
TOGETHER AND I HAD BEEN LOOKING 
FOR A SCRIPT FOR HIM FOR TEN 
YEARS, AND SO WHEN HE PITCHED 
IT, I THOUGHT, OH, THIS COULD BE
SOMETHING FOR ROGER.
TO BE HONEST.
AND SO I CRACKED IT OPEN AND 
THEN COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN.
-WHEN YOU RECEIVED THE SCRIPT, 
SO YOU'RE NEXT IN LINE -- WHEN 
YOU RECEIVED THE SCRIPT, FOR 
YOU, WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THIS?
IT FEELS TO ME DIFFERENT THAN 
SOME OF YOUR OTHER FILMS AND 
WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHY IN A FEW 
MINUTES.
BUT WHAT WAS IT FOR YOU THAT 
DREW YOU IN?
-WELL, I WAS SENT A -- I GUESS A
SORT OF ALMOST A LITERAL 
TRANSLATION FROM THE DANISH OF 
THE FILM THAT WAS MADE AND 
INDEED WAS SHOWN HERE AT 
T.I.F.F.
AND I SAW WITHIN IT A KIND OF 
IDEA OF SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT
COULD BE VERY POWERFUL AND 
STRONG.
IT'S A FILM ABOUT A DEATH.
IT IS A FILM ABOUT EUTHANASIA, 
BUT IT'S NOT A FILM WHICH IS AN 
ISSUE FILM.
IT DOESN'T REALLY DEBATE THE 
ISSUES AROUND EUTHANASIA.
THE EVENT HAS BEEN PREORDAINED.
IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED BY THIS 
FAMILY.
THE FAMILY ARE ALL MEETING FOR A
FINAL WEEKEND AT THIS VERY 
ISOLATED COUNTRY HOUSE BY THE 
SEA.
SO IN ALL WAYS, IT'S LIKE AN 
AGATHA CHRISTIE MOVIE.
WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A 
DEATH.
IT'S WHAT SURROUNDS THE DEATH 
WHICH IS SO FASCINATING.
AND IT'S BRILLIANTLY USING THE 
EVENT OF THIS WOMAN'S DEATH TO 
ANATOMIZE OR EXPOSE, IF YOU 
LIKE, THIS VERY COMPLICATED 
FAMILY.
I SUPPOSE THAT'S WHAT I FOUND 
INTERESTING ABOUT IT.
A LOT OF THE FILM IS PEOPLE 
SITTING AROUND TALKING.
AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT
INTERESTS ME MOST ABOUT MAKING 
FILMS OR MAKING PLAYS IS PEOPLE 
SITTING AROUND TALKING AND THIS 
FILM IS THE ABSOLUTE APPEAR 
OTTAWA SIS OF THAT.
>> THE GREAT CANADIAN FILMMAKER 
DAVID CRONENBERG SAYS THE BEST 
PART OF CINEMA IS JUST THAT, YOU
KNOW, INTERESTING PEOPLE SAYING 
INTERESTING THINGS.
-YOU CAN SIT IN A ROOM WITH 
PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW AND YOU 
CAN SIT NEXT TO THEM AROUND A 
TABLE AND YOU CAN EAVESDROP ON 
THEIR REALITY AND THIS WONDERFUL
CAST ABSOLUTELY PERSUADES YOU OF
THE TRUTH OF REALLY EVERY MOMENT
OF THEIR PERFORMANCES.
AND I THINK THAT'S A TESTAMENT 
TO THEM.
BUT IT GIVES THE FILM ITS LIFE 
AND ITS HUMANITY AND VITALITY 
AND IT'S FUN.
IT'S QUITE A FUNNY FILM.
IT'S NOT A DREARY MISERABLE FILM
ENTIRELY.
IT GETS PRETTY SAD AT THE END, 
BUT IT'S GOT WONDERFUL LIFE AND 
TRUTH IN IT.
-I SAW IT AS A CELEBRATION OF 
LIFE, A CELEBRATION OF LOOKING 
BACK, OF LOOKING FORWARD, WHAT 
HAPPENS AFTERWARDS.
AND WE'LL GET TO SORT OF SOME OF
THE NITTY-GRITTY HERE.
I'M GOING TO FOLLOW THE SCRIPT 
ALONG THE PATH THAT IT MADE, 
BECAUSE EVENTUALLY, IT MAKES IT 
TO SUSAN AND YOU WERE FINISHING 
RADON VAN.
YOU WERE WORKING.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME 
AND THEN THE SCRIPT WAS SENT TO 
YOU.
AND AGAIN, THE SAME QUESTION.
I MEAN, I'M TOLD THAT FOUR HOURS
LATER, YOU WROTE BACK AND SAID 
-- 
-EVERYBODY ELSE WAS ALREADY ON 
BOARD SO I HAD THE -- I HAD THAT
TO VOTE FOR.
I KNEW WHAT THE CAST WAS AND 
ROGER'S WORK AND THEY WERE ALL 
GREAT PEOPLE.
SOME OF WHOM I HAD WORKED WITH 
BEFORE.
I WORKED WITH KATE BEFORE.
-YOU'VE BEEN MARRIED BEFORE.
-I WORKED WITH MY HUSBAND 
BEFORE.
-PEOPLE THAT I ADMIRED.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN AND I 
THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, IT'S 
INTERESTING TO ASK YOURSELF WHAT
YOUR DEFINITION IS OF LIFE AND 
WHEN YOU DRAW THE LINE AND WHAT 
MATTERS TO YOU AND WHAT DOESN'T.
BECAUSE WE MET SOMEONE, YOU KNOW
-- WHEN YOU START TO ACTUALLY 
LOOK INTO THIS DISEASE, AND THE 
VARIOUS STEPS -- 
-IT'S ALS, BY THE WAY.
-ALS.
YOU KNOW THERE'S DIFFERENT LAND 
MARKS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE 
DECISIONS OF HOW YOU'RE GOING 
FORWARD AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING 
AND WE HAVE SOMEONE IN THE 
UNITED STATES THAT'S KATIE 
BARKIN WHO'S AN ACTIVIST WHO HAS
BEEN FIGHTING FOR MEDICARE FOR 
ALL THROUGHOUT HIS ENTIRE 
DEGENERATION OF HIS BODY, BUT HE
IS SO CLEAR IN HIS PURPOSE, AND 
HAS A SMALL CHILD AND IS 
CONTINUING ON, BUT IF, YOU KNOW 
-- WHAT IS YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE?
WHAT DO YOU -- I REMEMBER IN THE
HUNGER SAYING THAT IT WAS FOR 
ME, ABOUT WOULD YOU LIVE FOREVER
IF YOU WERE ADDICTED?
YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE LIMITS TO
HOW YOU DEFINE WHAT YOU'RE LIFE 
IS TO BE?
AND SO IT BRINGS UP THOSE 
THINGS.
AND, OF COURSE, EVERYTHING THAT 
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, FAMILY AND 
FAMILY SECRETS AND, YOU KNOW, 
HOW YOU SEE YOUR PARENTS, WHICH 
IS HARDLY EVER WHO THEY REALLY 
ARE.
NOW YOU SEE YOUR CHILDREN, WHICH
IS HARDLY EVER WHO THEY ARE, 
AND, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S A LOT 
OF REVELATIONS, BUT I JUST 
THOUGHT, YEAH, I'LL JUMP.
YOU KNOW.
WE'LL GIVE IT A WHIRL.
AND WE WERE IN THE MOST 
EXTRAORDINARY BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN
ENGLAND THAT I HAD NEVER BEEN 
WORKING -- I MEAN, I'VE WORKED 
IN ENGLAND BEFORE BUT NEVER IN 
THE COUNTRYSIDE AND THAT WAS 
VERY SPECIAL.
-1 THE HOUSE THAT WE SEE, THE 
HOUSE OF THE HOUSE, IS IT THE 
SAME AS -- BECAUSE THIS PLACE IS
FANTASTIC?
I CAN SEE JUST SENDING PHOTOS OF
THAT AROUND SAYING, YOU GO ET TO
SPEND FIVE WEEKS HERE, AND 
EVERYONE WOULD SIGN ON.
-IT WAS GORGEOUS.
MY DOG WAS SO SAD TO LEAVE.
AND HE REALLY -- PENNY TOOK SOME
GORGEOUS PICTURES.
WE WERE REALLY SAD.
AND WE WERE ALL NEIGHBOURS.
WE KIND OF ALL -- SOME OF US 
LIVED ATTACHED RIGHT BEHIND THE 
PIZZA PARLOUR.
AND JUST GETTING TO KNOW THE 
ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE AND THE PUB 
LIFE AND, YOU KNOW, CATHEDRAL 
LIFE.
-WE BECAME A SORT OF WEIRD 
FAMILY OURSELVES, AND THAT KNITS
INTO THE FABRIC IN A STRANGE 
WAY.
-HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT?
I MEAN, I SOMETIMES WONDER WHEN 
YOU TALK TO ACTORS AND THEY SAY,
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BECOME A FAMILY.
BUT HOW MUCH OF IT DO YOU THINK 
REALLY TRANSLATES TO THE SCREEN 
OR IS IT JUST ALL ON THE PAGE?
-I DON'T THINK YOU WORRY IF IT 
TRANSLATES ONTO THE SCREEN.
ONE OF THE REASONS I DO IT IS 
THAT THIS IS ALWAYS EXPOSES THE 
BEST AND THE WORST OF PEOPLE.
THIS BUSINESS -- MAYBE ONLY IN 
THE CIRCUS YOU GET THE SAME 
CHANCE.
IT IS A KIND OF -- YOU'RE SO 
DEPENDENT ON THOSE PEOPLE 
SHOWING UP AND BEING THERE ON 
AND OFF CAMERA, AND THAT JUST 
MAKES YOU FALL IN LOVE.
-AND RAINN, LET'S TALK ABOUT 
MICHAEL A LITTLE BIT.
MICHAEL, THE CHARACTER, IS 
SOMEONE, FOR ME, WHO I THOUGHT 
THAT I KNEW AND THEN -- WE GIVE 
NOTHING AWAY HERE -- BUT THERE 
IS A FIRE IN HIS BELLY THAT GETS
DISPLAYED AND IT'S FASCINATING 
TO WATCH.
IT IS THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE OF 
ALL THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT I MADE 
ABOUT HIM IN THE FIRST NUMBER OF
SCENES THAT I SAW WITH HIM.
AND I LOVED IT.
I LOVED WATCHING THIS GUY 
CHANGE, SHOW HIS TRUE SEVERAL, 
COME THROUGH.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT 
YOU THINK ABOUT MICHAEL.
WHAT DOES HE MEAN TO YOU?
-WELL, IT'S -- IT'S AN 
INCREDIBLE SCRIPT IN THAT THERE 
IS THIS EIGHT-PERSON ENSEMBLE 
AND EVERY CHARACTER GOES THROUGH
A REALLY EXQUISITE JOURNEY.
NOT HUGE KIND OF SHAKESPEAREAN 
TERMS, BUT BUT VERY SLIGHT BUT 
PROFOUND KIND OF CHEKOVIAN ONES 
WHERE YOU THINK YOU KNOW SOMEONE
AND THEN OTHER ASPECTS OF THEM 
ARE REVEALED GRADUALLY.
THEY MAKE SUBTLE SHIFTS 
EMOTIONALLY AND WITH HUMOUR AND 
I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT ABOUT 
THE FILM.
YOU KNOW, IT'S A YES, DEATH IS 
AT THE CENTRE OF THE FILM, BUT 
REALLY IT'S A MOVIE ABOUT LIFE.
AND IT'S A LIFE OF A FAMILY, YOU
KNOW.
THEY'RE ECCENTRIC.
THEY'VE GOT SKELETONS IN THE 
CLOSET.
THEY BUMP UP AGAINST EACH OTHER 
IN VARIOUS TENSE, DIFFICULT AND 
FUNNY WAYS AND YOU KNOW, DEATH 
IS THE MIRROR THAT REALLY KIND 
OF ILLUMINATES WHAT BEING ALIVE 
IS ALL ABOUT.
SO WHEN FACED WITH DEATH, YOU 
KNOW, LIFE KIND OF SPRINGS 
FORTH, AND THAT'S SOUNDED 
INCREDIBLY PROFOUND JUST THEN.
-I DID.
-I WANT IT ON A T-SHIRT, 
ACTUALLY.
-IT WAS JUST A JOY TO TAKE THAT 
JOURNEY AND TO GET TO PLAY 
MICHAEL, WHO DOES HAVE A REALLY 
KIND OF BEAUTIFUL TRANSFORMATION
AND ARC, YEAH.
-HE DOES.
SHOOTING THIS -- IT WAS SHOT IN 
ORDER BY AND LARGE, WHICH IS 
UNUSUAL FOR MOST FILMS.
FOR YOU, HAVING SPENT TEN YEARS 
ON STAGE IN NEW YORK AS AN 
ACTOR, DID IT FEEL LIKE THIS 
LARGE ENSEMBLE PLAY, DID IT FEEL
DIFFERENT THAN SHOOTING A 
REGULAR FILM?
BECAUSE YOU'RE SHOOTING IN 
ORDER, THE SETS ARE LIMITED, IT 
ALL TAKES PLACE INSIDE A HOUSE 
BY AND LARGE.
DID IT FEEL DIFFERENT TO YOU?
-YEAH, IT DEFINITELY FELT LIKE A
MORE THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE.
PLUS NOT TO MENTION WE HAD A 
WEEK TO REHEARSE BEFORE WE 
STARTED SHOOTING.
SO WE GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER, 
READ THROUGH THE SCRIPT, ASK ALL
THE QUESTIONS, SO ALL THOSE 
QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE AS AN 
ACTOR WERE PRETTY MUCH ANSWERED,
SO WHEN WE SHOWED UP, WE COULD 
JUST KIND OF GET TO WORK, BUT IT
WAS A PLAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL 
IN THIS HOUSE.
IT'S ALL THE SAME EIGHT PEOPLE.
THERE'S NO BACKGROUND ACTORS OR 
EXTRAS OR VISUAL EFFECTS OR 
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO IN THE TRUEST SENSE OF THE 
WORD, THEN IT'S ALL ABOUT THE 
ACTING, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY 
BEAUTIFULLY CAPTURED ON CAMERA.
-AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S EIGHT 
CHARACTERS, BUT EVERY CHARACTER 
HAS A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP -- 
HAS THEIR OWN RELATIONSHIP TO 
EVERY OTHER.
SO IT'S ACTUALLY 64 
RELATIONSHIPS AND PLAYING 
RAINN'S FATHER-IN-LAW, I MEAN, 
THE RELATIONSHIP -- THE ONES 
THAT ARE EXPLORED WAS THE MOST 
DEPTH IN THIS ARE THE MOTHERS 
AND DAUGHTERS THING AND AS A 
FATHER OF DAUGHTERS, I, YOU 
KNOW, RECOGNIZE ALL THOSE KIND 
OF TENSIONS AND THE GLORY -- THE
WONDERFUL GLORIOUS THINGS ABOUT 
MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS AND THE 
WORST THINGS THAT HAPPEN BETWEEN
THEM AS WELL.
AND ALSO AS A FATHER-IN-LAW, 
THIS IS THE KIND OF DILL THAT 
YOUR DAUGHTERS END UP WITH.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S MARVELLOUS 
BUT ALSO YOU THINK OH, MY GOD.
THEY ENDED UP WITH THIS GUY?
YOU KNOW.
THIS IS -- THERE'S SO MUCH IN 
THIS FILM THAT ANY OF US -- WE 
ALL ARE PART OF A FAMILY -- 
RECOGNIZE VERY INTIMATELY.
>> YOUR CHARACTER, MICHAEL -- 
WHAT'S HIS NAME?
PAUL.
YOUR CHARACTER, PAUL, IS 
RERESERVED IN THE FILM.
YOU HAVE COME TO GRIPS.
YOU PLAY A DOCTOR.
YOU HAVE COME TO GRIPS WITH 
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
THERE WAS A DATE SET FOR THE 
ASSISTED SUICIDE.
THERE IS A SENSE OF CALM ABOUT 
IT.
SUSAN, YOU HAVE A SPEECH WHERE 
YOU TALK ABOUT THE REASONS WHY 
YOU WENTED TO DO THIS BEFORE YOU
LOSE USE OF YOUR ARMS AND YOU'RE
FED THROUGH A TUBE BUT YOU TALK 
ABOUT THE CALM THAT COMES WITH 
KNOWING THE LAST DAY, WHEN THE 
LAST DAY IS GOING TO BE.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SCENES, 
SAM, AS YOU'RE RESPONDING TO 
WHATEVER THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING 
AROUND YOU THAT ARE REMARKABLE 
IN THEIR QUIETNESS.
THEY ARE SUBTLE, BEAUTIFUL 
SCENES, SO I'M THINKING OF A 
DINNER SCENE, AGAIN, I DON'T 
WANT TO GIVE ANYTHING AWAY, BUT 
I THINK WE KNOW HOW THE MOVIE 
ENDS.
AND SO THERE IS A DINNER SCENE 
WHERE LILY IS GIVING AWAY PIECES
OF HER LIFE TO MEMBERS OF HER 
FAMILY AND WHEN THEY GET DOWN TO
THE LAST PIECE, AND SHE GIVES 
SOMETHING TO YOU, I WON'T SAY 
WHAT IT IS.
THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL SHOT OF YOUR
FACE IN JUST THE SUBTLEST 
MOVEMENT ON YOUR FACE THAT 
ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED ME.
IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL TRUE 
MOMENT OF SOMEONE WHO I FELT WAS
TRYING TO BE CALM IN A SITUATION
THAT MAYBE WAS TEARING HIM UP 
INSIDE, BUT HAD TO BE STRONG FOR
EVERYONE AROUND HIM.
-I'M NOT SURE HOW SUBTLE IT WAS 
BECAUSE IT CRACKED ME UP EVERY 
TIME.
BUT NOW, I WOULD SAY THE TERM IS
NOT SO MUCH CALM.
IT'S KIND OF CONTAINED 
HEARTBREAK THAT HIS HEART IS 
BREAKING ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE
FILM, BUT IT'S -- IT'S 
NECESSARY, MOST PARTICULARLY FOR
HER, THAT A SENSE OF ORDER IS --
AND NORMALITY IS ABOUT AS MUCH 
POSSIBLE TO THE MOST 
EXTRAORDINARY OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
-I SAW IT AS, YOU KNOW, THE 
ULTIMATE ACT OF LOVE AT THAT 
POINT TO MAKE SURE THAT 
EVERYTHING WAS IN PLACE AND THAT
EVERYONE WAS JUST GOING TO GO 
ALONG WITH THE WISHES.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SCENE.
-I THINK LOVE IS SOMETHING THAT 
IS EXPLORED ON MANY DIFFERENT 
LEVELS.
NOT THE LEAST OF THEM RAINN 
WILSON SHAGGING IN A BARN.
-OSCAR WINNER KATE WINSLET.
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE IN COMMON 
WITH LEONARDO DiCAPRIO.
SO... 
-DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS FROM THE 
AUDIENCE?
GO AHEAD.
YOU'VE GOT A MICROPHONE COMING 
YOUR WAY.
-THANK YOU.
I HAVE A QUESTION TO SUSAN.
SINCE THE MOVIE TALKS ABOUT 
EARLY LIFE AND DEATH, HOW WOULD 
YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED IN THE
FUTURE?
-ME?
-BOTH OF YOU.
-I ONCE HEARD, YOU KNOW, THE 
GREATEST AMBITION IS TO BE AFTER
ONE'S DEPARTURE, A SWEET SOUND 
ON SOMEONE ELSE'S LIPS.
AND I THINK THAT'S AS MUCH AS I 
COULD HOPE FOR.
-THAT SETS THE BAR PRETTY HIGH 
FOR YOU, SUSAN.
-I JUST -- I TRIED.
I GAVE IT A SHOT.
-I'LL GET TO YOU IN A SECOND.
-ANDREW MALLS FROM AFP.
THIS IS MAINLY FOR SUSAN.
IN TERMS OF EUTHANASIA IS A VERY
CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC, 
POLITICALLY, ILLEGAL IN MANY 
PLACES.
I WAS WONDERING WHAT YOUR 
POSITION WAS ON THAT STARTING 
OUT AND IF IT CHANGED WHILE YOU 
WERE RESEARCHING AND THEN TAKING
PART IN THIS ROLE?
-IT'S LEGAL IN NINE STATES IN 
THE UNITED STATES AT THE MOMENT 
OR IT'S GOING TO BE NINE.
MAINE IS ABOUT TO VOTE, I THINK,
IT'S MAINE IS THE LAST ONE.
I DID A THING WITH AL PACINO 
ABOUT KEVORKIAN SO I RESEARCHED 
IT YEARS AGO AND SAW THE ACTUAL 
TAPES AT THAT TIME WHEN IT WAS 
SO ILLEGAL, YOU HAD TO DO A TAPE
RIGHT BEFORE YOU PUSHED THE 
BUTTON OF THE MACHINE THAT 
ALLOWED YOU TO DO IT AND I THINK
THAT EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO 
MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THAT 
WITHOUT YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS 
BEING CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE OR 
ANYONE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE 
SURROUNDED BY THOSE PEOPLE.
I THINK IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL 
CHOICE AND IT SHOULD BE LEGAL 
AND CONTROLLED AND THERE ARE 
VERY, VERY STRICT PERIMETERS 
AROUND, YOU KNOW, TALKING TO 
DOCTORS BUT THE FACT OF THE 
MATTER IS THAT IF YOU'RE 
WEALTHY, JUST LIKE ABORTION, 
YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE ACCESS TO 
THINGS THAT ARE CONTROVERSIAL.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE WEALTHY, 
YOUR DOCTOR WILL MAKE SURE 
WHETHER IT'S UPPING YOUR 
MORPHINE, OR WHATEVER, THAT 
YOU'RE NOT SUFFERING.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S NEW.
SO GIVING OTHER PEOPLE REAL 
ACCESS TO THAT AND THERE'S SO 
MANY BABY BOOMERS NOW, THIS IS 
BECOMING SOMETHING THAT IS 
DISCUSSED MORE IN THE UNITED 
STATES AND THERE ARE NOW DEATH 
DOULAS THAT ASSIST YOU EVEN IF 
YOU'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING 
ABRUPTLY, BUT JUST TRY TO MAKE 
IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO STAY AT 
HOME AND FOR YOU TO BE 
COMFORTABLE AND I THINK THAT 
ACTUALLY TAKING ON THIS PROCESS 
OF LETTING GO OF YOUR BODY IS 
SOMETHING THAT TAKES A LOT OF 
THOUGHT AND THE MEDICAL 
PROFESSION HAS BEEN WAY, WAY 
BEHIND.
HOSPICE ONLY CAME INTO BEING 
FAIRLY RECENTLY, SO IT'S NOT 
JUST ENDING YOUR LIFE BUT BEING 
ABLE TO END YOUR LIFE WITH 
DIGNITY AND WITHOUT PAIN AND I 
THINK ANYBODY THAT HAS HAD A 
FAMILY MEMBER THAT HAS REALLY 
SUFFERED IS VERY, VERY MUCH 
INTERESTED AND PRO HAVING THAT 
CHOICE.
-SAM, IF YOU EVER DECIDE TO TAKE
YOUR OWN HLIFE, I WOULD LIK
E TO 
BE THERE TO HELP IN THAT 
PROCESS.
-YOU ARE SO SWEET.
-HOWEVER YOU WOULD LIKE SOME 
HELP.
-WE HAVE A QUESTION.
-GOD BLESS YOU, RAINN WILSON.
-MY NAME IS MANON.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU, SUSAN, 
HOW DID YOU PREPARE FOR A ROLE 
LIKE THIS?
DUFF TO SAY TO YOUR FAMILY, 
YOU'RE GOING TO DIE?
HOW DO YOU PREPARE?
-THIS IS FOR ME?
-THIS ---HOW DO YOU PREPARE MY 
FAMILY FOR ME DYING?
-NO, WHAT DO YOU THINK -- WHAT 
IS THE INSPIRATION?
-IT WAS VERY TORTUROUS THE FIRST
TWO WEEKS JUST EVEN DREAMING 
ABOUT ALL OF THAT AND -- BUT I 
THINK AS A -- WHEN YOU GET TO A 
CERTAIN AGE, IT SEEMS LIKE ALL 
THE THINGS YOU'RE OFFERED, 
YOU'RE EITHER DYING OR HELPING 
SOMEONE DIE.
SO I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS A 
NUMBER OF TIMES AND I APPRECIATE
HAVING TO THINK ABOUT THIS 
BECAUSE I THINK WE SHOULD ALL 
LIVE EACH DAY AS IF IT COULD BE 
THE FINAL DAY, SO THAT IS A GIFT
WHEN YOU GET SOMETHING LIKE THIS
THAT YOU HAVE TO REALLY THINK 
ABOUT THOSE THINGS, BUT I THINK 
THAT IS THE THING THAT TIES YOU 
TO EARTH AND IS THE MOST 
DIFFICULT, OUR CHILDREN FOR 
SURE.
-I'LL GET TO YOU IN A SEC.
ROGER, THIS FILM TAKES ON SUCH 
BIG TOPICS ABOUT THE VERY 
ESSENCE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE
OR DIE.
HOW DO YOU AVOID THE 
SENTIMENTALITY THAT COULD GO 
ALONG WITH THAT?
HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW TO BALANCE 
THIS SO THAT WE ARE HAVING 
MOMENTS -- WE'RE HAVING PEAK AND
IS VALLEYS.
WE'RE HAVING MOMENTS WHERE 
THERE'S A LAUGH WHICH BREAKS THE
TENSION A LITTLE BIT.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT 
CONSTRUCTING THAT, IF YOU COULD.
-WELL, I THINK WITH THIS SORT OF
SUBJECT MATTER, YOU HAVE TO -- 
YOU GUARD AGAINST, AS YOU SAY, 
TOO CHEESY, TOO MUCH FROMAGE IN 
THE MIXTURE.
BECAUSE IT WILL JUST BE 
REPULSIVE.
BY THAT, I MEAN, IT WILL REPEL 
PEOPLE FROM WHAT YOU'RE TRYING 
TO DO.
THEY'RE VERY PRACTICAL IN THE 
FILM.
THEY MADE A SERIES OF PRACTICAL 
DECISIONS, WHICH THEY FOUGHT 
THROUGH VERY CAREFULLY.
SUSAN'S CHARACTER IS QUITE A 
CONTROL FREAK, WHICH IS VERY 
CHARACTERISTIC OF PEOPLE WHO 
EUTH
EUTHANIZE.
THEY'RE NOT DEPRESSIVE.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY EXTREMELY 
COHERENT.
AND LOGICAL AND CONTROLLING 
ABOUT EXACTLY HOW THEY WANT TO 
DIE.
AND I HOPE THAT WE'VE REFLECTED 
THAT.
I MEAN, IT IS -- IT'S VERY HARD 
TO IMAGINE A SITUATION WHERE, AS
MARK TWAIN ONCE FAMOUSLY SAID, 
NEVER PUT ON 'TIL TOMORROW WHAT 
YOU CAN PUT OFF TO THE DAY 
AFTER.
AND I THINK THAT IF I WAS 
APPROACHING THE WEEKEND WHEN I 
WAS GOING TO TOP MYSELF, I WOULD
FIND AN EXCUSE.
THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE ONE MORE 
DAY, YOU KNOW.
WHY DON'T I WAIT 'TIL MONDAY?
THEN AT LEAST I CAN SEE THIS 
THING ON TV THAT'S ON SUNDAY.
SO THAT'S WHAT'S SO TELLING AND 
WONDERFUL ABOUT THIS STORY IS 
THAT SUSAN'S CHARACTER, EVEN 
WHEN OFFERED THE CHOICE OF 
POSTPONEMENT, IS ABSOLUTELY 
SAVAGELY DECISIVE WITH WHAT 
SHE'S GOING TO DO, AND I THINK 
THAT --
I THINK THAT HELPS LEVE 
IN THE SENTIMENTAL INGREDIENT, 
IF YOU LIKE.
-CAN I SAY ON THAT SUBJECT, 
REGARDLESS OF WHAT ANY OF US 
THINK ABOUT IT, I THINK ONE OF 
THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT 
THIS FILM, IT NEITHER ADVOCATES 
-- IT DOESN'T CONDONE OR CONDEMN
ASSISTED SUICIDE.
IT'S COMPLETELY NEUTRAL ON THAT.
-AND CHERYL, HOW IMPORTANT WAS 
THAT TO YOU AS A PRODUCER OF 
THIS FILM?
-IT ACTUALLY WAS EXTREMELY 
IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE DIDN'T 
NECESSARILY GET ON A SOAP BOX 
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, AND I KNEW
ROGER WELL AND KNEW HE WOULD 
APPROACH IT IN THE RIGHT WAY.
AND THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT 
WITH THE CAST, WITH THE 
DIRECTOR, YOU KNOW, THAT WE WERE
ALL MAKING THE SAME MOVIE AND WE
ALL HAD THE SAME INTENTION.
SO IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT.
-WE'LL GO RIGHT HERE.
-HI.
MY NAME IS DANIEL FROM DENMARK.
AND BEING A DANE, I WOULD LIKE 
TO KNOW WHAT IS YOUR 
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ORIGINAL 
MOVIE AND WITH THE DIRECTOR, 
BILLY AUGUST, OR ALL OF YOU?
-I INTENTIONALLY DIDN'T WATCH 
THE ORIGINAL MOVIE.
I'LL PROBABLY WATCH IT AFTER 
THIS IS OPENED AND I'M LOOKING 
FORWARD TO SEEING IT.
BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO BE 
CONSTRAINED OR TO BE IN SOME WAY
INFLUENCED BY WHAT I HEAR IS A 
LOVELY FILM.
BUT, OF COURSE, I WORKED VERY 
EXTENSIVELY WITH THE WRITER, THE
SAME WRITER, CHRISTIAN TOP, ON 
THIS SCRIPT.
SO THROUGH THAT GENEALOGY, I 
SUPPOSE, I HAD A CONNECTION WITH
THE ORIGINAL.
-DID ANY OF YOU WATCH THE 
ORIGINAL?
-I DECIDED NOT TO WATCH IT AS 
WELL.
AND I PROBABLY WILL WATCH IT, 
BUT I'M JUST VERY AFRAID THAT 
THE GUY WHO PLAYS MY PART IS 
GOING TO BE BETTER THAN ME.
[ Chuckling ]
-HE IS.
-OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS?
YEP.
GO AHEAD.
HAVE YOU GOT A MICROPHONE HERE?
-HI THERE.
JOSH FREEMAN, CP24.
I'M JUST CURIOUS IF ANY OF YOU 
CAME TO THIS FILM WITH DIFFERENT
IDEAS ABOUT ASSISTED SUICIDE OR 
FOUND ANY PARTICULAR INSIGHTS AS
YOU WORKED WITH THE MATERIAL IN 
THE FILM?
-
-I LEARNED HOW YOU DO IT, YOU 
KNOW, WHICH IS SLIGHTLY MORE 
COMPLICATED THAN I THOUGHT.
IN TERMS OF THE BLAME TRAIL 
BEING VERY SKROUP
SCRUPULOUSLY 
OBSERVED AROUND THE PEOPLE WHO 
ARE DYING.
SUICIDE IS PERFECTLY LEGAL, 
ISN'T IT?
YOU CAN COMMIT SUICIDE WITHOUT 
BREAKING ANY LAW.
IT'S THIS VERY COMPLICATED AREA 
WHICH WILL BE VERY COMPLICATED, 
I THINK, TO LEGISLATE AROUND OR 
HELPING SOMEONE ELSE COMMIT 
SUICIDE.
SO I BECAME AWARE OF THOSE 
ISSUES.
BUT I SUPPOSE I BECAME HAVING 
READ A LOT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAD 
GONE DOWN THIS ROAD DEEPLY 
COMPASSIONATE ABOUT THOSE WHO 
HAD REALLY STRUGGLED TO BE 
PERMITTED TO KILL THEMSELVES.
THOSE WHO WERE INCAPACITATED TO 
AN EXTENT, WHERE THEY COULD ONLY
DO WITH SOMEONE ELSE'S HELP.
AND, OF COURSE, IN ENGLAND, MANY
PEOPLE GO TO SWITZERLAND TO 
DIGNITAS, AN ORGANIZATION WHICH 
CARRIES OUT THESE PROCEDURES 
LEGALLY.
BUT IF YOU ARE THE SPOUSE OF 
SUCH A PERSON IN ENGLAND AND 
YOU, FOR EXAMPLE, DRIVE THEM TO 
HEATHROW AIRPORT, YOU CAN BE 
ARRESTED FOR AIDING THEM IN A 
CRIMINAL ACT.
SO IT'S QUITE COMPLICATED.
-LET'S TALK ABOUT THE WAY YOU 
SHOT TOO.
IT'S ALL NATURAL LIGHT FROM WHAT
I UNDERSTAND, SO YOU HAD A 
SPECIFIC SET OF HOURS THAT YOU 
COULD WORK.
-IT'S ALL NATURAL LIGHT, 
ACTUALLY.
WE DECIDED TO SHOOT AS YOU SAID,
TO SHOOT IN THIS HOUSE WHICH IS 
VIRTUALLY ENTIRELY MADE OUT OF 
GLASS.
SO THAT CONDITIONED AND 
ABSOLUTELY CONTROLLED OUR 
SCHEDULE SO THAT WE WERE 
SHOOTING IN THE AUTUMN, THIS 
TIME OF YEAR.
SO WE HAD INCREASINGLY LESS 
DAYLIGHT.
WE HAVE LOTS OF NIGHT STUFF, 
WHICH IS GOOD.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO START 
SHOOTING OUR NIGHT SCENES AT A 
REASONABLE HOUR, FIVE OR SIX 
O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING.
BUT IT WASN'T LIKE A 
CONVENTIONAL MOVIE SET.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TONS AND TONS OF 
LIGHTS AND WE DIDN'T -- I DIDN'T
LIKE SPENDING TIME ON SET 
WATCHING PEOPLE LIGHTING.
I LIKED SPENDING TIME WATCHING 
PEOPLE ACTING.
SO WE MANAGED TO ACHIEVE THAT.
-WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW QUICKLY 
YOU RESPONDED TO READING THIS 
SCRIPT, WHEN YOU CHOOSE THINGS, 
IS IT -- INSTINCT WALL?
HOW IS IT THAT YOU CHOOSE YOUR 
PARTS?
-NOW THAT MY KIDS ARE GROWN, 
THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE, A 
LOT OF IT USED TO BE AROUND 
SCHOOL SCHEDULE.
OF COURSE, WHO'S INVOLVED.
I HAVE TO BE MOVED BY THE 
SCRIPT.
WHETHER THE PARTS, BIG OR SMALL,
DOESN'T REALLY MATTER TO ME IF 
THEY'RE SCENES THAT MATTER.
BY MATTER, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, 
HAVE SOME BEARING ON THE ACTUAL 
OUTCOME OF SOMETHING.
AND I WANT TO HAVE FUN.
SOMETIMES THE LOCATION IS 
FABULOUS, YOU KNOW.
LIKE, THIS ONE WAS.
AND -- BUT I THINK THEY'RE JUST 
ADVENTURES AND, YOU KNOW, MY 
KIDS WOULD GO, ANOTHER 
ADVENTURE.
WE HAVE TO PACK OUR BAGS.
AND I WOULD DRAG THEM WITH ME, 
SOMETIMES, DURING THE SUMMERS 
AND OTHER TIMES BUT NOW IN A MY 
KIDS ARE CUTTING MY OWN MEAT, I 
DON'T HAVE TO ACTUALLY CONSIDER 
THEM AS MUCH.
YOU KNOW.
UNLESS THERE'S NUDITY OR 
SEXUALITY INVOLVED AND THEN HAD 
A DOES GIVE ME PAUSE.
-SAME QUESTION TO YOU.
HOW IS IT THAT YOU LOOK FOR THE 
NEXT PROJECT?
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR?
-I ALWAYS LOOK FOR A CHALLENGE 
AND A STORY THAT I'M INTERESTED 
IN HELPING TO TELL AND THAT'S 
PRETTY MUCH IT.
AND PEOPLE -- 
-ON SOMETHING YOU CAN TALK 
FOREVER ABOUT IN A JUNKET.
-SOMETHING THAT I CAN SPEAK 
ABOUT FOR EIGHT HOURS STRAIGHT.
AS I'VE DONE TODAY.
-YOU ONLY GET ASKED THE SAME 
FOUR QUESTIONS OVER AND OVER 
AGAIN.
-YOU'VE BEEN THE BEST.
YOU WIN THE AWARD.
-YOU'VE ACTUALLY SEEN THE MOVIE.
THAT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE, I 
THINK, THAT YOU HAD SOME GREAT 
QUESTIONS.
-THANK YOU.
-SAM, YOU HAVE -- WHEN I LOOK AT
HOW MANY MOVIES YOU HAVE COMING 
OUT, YOU SEEM TO ALWAYS BE 
WORKING.
IS THAT THE CASE?
WITH YOU?
OR DOES IT FEEL LIKE THAT TO 
YOU?
-I ALWAYS THINK OF MYSELF AS THE
LAZIEST ACTOR ON THE PLANET AND 
PEOPLE SAY, YOU NEVER STOP 
WORKING.
BUT IT DOESN'T SORT OF FEEL LIKE
THAT.
I THINK IN MY CASE, IT'S JUST --
I'M -- I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO 
THE DAY WHEN I ACTUALLY GET A 
HANDLE ON HOW TO ACT AND I'M 
JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING 
IT RIGHT.
-I THINK YOU MIGHT BE THERE.
I THINK YOU MIGHT BE THERE 
ALREADY.
-THAT'S VERY KIND.
-SPENDING MORE TIME IN YOUR -- 
AT YOUR WINERY MAYBE.
-YEAH.
I'M VERY DIVIDED ABOUT THAT.
I DO LIKE TO BE AT HOME AND I 
HAVE PETS AND PIGS AND I LIKE 
DRINKING WINE.
-IS THERE -- AS WE DISCUSSED, 
THERE ISN'T A POSITION TAKEN IN 
THIS FILM.
IT IS SIMPLY DOCUMENTING AN 
EVENT AND A FAMILY AND ALL 
THAT'S KIND OF MESSY GLORY.
IS THERE A MESSAGE TO BE TAKEN 
AWAY FROM THIS?
OR IS IT A CONVERSATION SPARKER?
OR WHAT DO YOU ALL FEEL THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE PEOPLE SAY 
WHEN THEY WALK OUT OF THE 
THEATRE?
-I THINK REALLY THE ONLY MESSAGE
OF THE FILM IS LIFE IS PRECIOUS.
YOU KNOW, LOVE EACH OTHER.
THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT THIS AND 
ANY OTHER WORK OF ART TO SPARK 
IN SOMEONE.
-SOMETIMES WHEN RAINN WILSON 
SAYS, YOU KNOW, THAT THE 
SIMPLEST THINGS, THEY TURN OUT 
TO BE VERY PROFOUND AND THEN 
WHEN HE'S FRYING TO BE PROFOUND,
YOU THINK, THAT'S REALLY DUMB.
THAT WAS A GOOD ONE.
-I'M GO TO GO HELP YOU DIE.
[ Chuckling ]
-BEFORE THE END OF THIS JUNKET.
SO... LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW YOU 
WANT TO DO THAT.
I THINK ACCIDENTALLY FALLING OFF
OF THE C.N. TOWER WOULD BE A 
GREAT WAY TO GO.
-IF HE INVITES YOU TO DO THE 
EDGE WALK, IT'S CALLED, DO NOT 
DO THE EDGE WALK.
SUSAN?
FOR YOU?
IS THERE SOMETHING TO TAKE AWAY?
THIS WAS A FILM AFTER MY WIFE 
AND I WATCHED IT, WE TALKED 
ABOUT IT A GREAT DEAL 
AFTERWARDS.
AND THERE WERE MOMENTS THAT -- 
THAT ARE PROFOUNDLY SAD IN THIS 
MOMENT, I THINK, BUT -- IN THIS 
MOVIE BUT THEY'RE, FOR ME, THE 
SMALLER MOMENTS.
THE LARGER MOMENTS, I JUST 
THOUGHT, PUSHED ME TOWARDS 
THINKING ABOUT THE COURAGE THAT 
IT TAKES TO MAKE THIS DECISION 
AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOUR LIFE
MEANS TO YOU AND TO THE MEMBERS 
OF YOUR FAMILY.
AND IT'S -- YOU KNOW, PRIMAL.
WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE 
DECISIONS LIKE THIS AT SOME 
POINT.
BUT THE FILM, I THOUGHT, WAS A 
GREAT CONVERSATION STARTER IN 
THAT WAY.
-YOU HOPE THAT EVERY FILM -- MY 
FEELING ALWAYS IS THAT THE NUTTY
PROFESSOR WAS ONE THE MOST 
POLITICAL FILMS THERE IS BECAUSE
YOU IDENTIFY WITH THAT GUY AS A 
HERO AND WANT THE GAL TO BE WITH
THE FAT GUY.
EVERY FILM TELLS YOU SOMETHING.
WE ONLY TALK ABOUT ONES WHICH 
CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO, BUT 
EVERY FILM DOES GET YOU -- IF 
YOU DO HAVE A CONVERSATION, THEN
I THINK YOU'VE BEEN SO 
SUCCESSFUL.
I PERSONALLY NEVER WOULD HAVE 
BEEN ABLE TO LEAVE MY FAMILY AT 
THAT MOMENT.
I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY PUT IT 
OFF BECAUSE IT WAS STILL SO 
TUMULTUOUS AND I COULDN'T HAVE 
DONE IT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND 
SOMEBODY THAT WOULD.
BUT I PERSONALLY -- NOT IN A 
MILLION YEARS.
EVEN KNOWING WHAT'S IN STORE 
LATER FOR HER.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY 
DIFFICULT FOR ME TO LEAVE MY 
KIDS BEHIND AT THAT POINT.
SO THAT IS A CONVERSATION YOU 
CAN HAVE.
SOMETIMES WE FIGURE OUT OUR 
BOTTOM LINE BY WATCHING TV.
I MEAN, OTHER PLACES THAN THE 
BACHELORETTE.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THINGS OF WHAT
YOU WOULD DO AND WOULDN'T DO AND
WHO YOU WOULD LIKE AND ALL OF 
THAT.
SO I THINK, YEAH, THAT'S EVERY 
FILM THAT YOU CAN DINE OUT ON 
AND HAVE A HEATED DISCUSSION OR 
CRY OR WHATEVER, IS A -- IS A 
STORY THAT'S WORTH MAKING.
-YOU WERE GOING TO SAY 
SOMETHING?
-I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT 
ALTHOUGH THE FILM ISN'T AN ISSUE
FILM OR A CAMPAIGNING FILM, I 
THINK IT'S UNAVOIDABLE THAT THE 
FILM DOESN'T CONDONE, BUT IT 
ALMOST CELEBRATES CERTAINLY 
NORMALIZES OR MAKES ACCEPTABLE 
WHAT THIS WOMAN AND HER FAMILY 
END UP DECIDING TO DO.
SO IN THAT SENSE, I SUPPOSE IT 
IS ADVOCATING A CHANGE IN THE 
LAW.
-GO AHEAD.
-... KIND OF THE PLATFORM WHERE 
ALL THE ACADEMY AWARDS, YOU 
KNOW, NOMINEES ARE AND THIS IS 
THE KIND OF MOVIE THAT WE MIGHT 
SEE THERE.
WHAT DID IT MEAN FOR YOU TO WIN 
THE OSCAR?
AND WHAT WILL IT MEAN TO GET 
ANOTHER ONE?
-THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ALL SAYING.
IF SUSAN'S GOING TO GET 
NOMINATED FOR EVERYTHING AND NO 
ONE'S GOING TO REMEMBER ANY OF 
US.
-OH, THANK YOU.
HONESTLY, THE FILM NOW -- FILM 
NOW HAS BECOME SO CORPORATE.
TO GET AN OSCAR -- WHEN I -- I 
GOT NOMINATED FIVE TIMES AND WON
ONCE, AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO 
SPEND -- THEY DID -- THE STUDIO 
DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW I GOT THE 
FIRST NOMINATION WHEN I SAID, 
WHAT AM I NOMINATED FOR?
THEY SAID, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW 
HOW THAT HAPPENED.
THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN NOW.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE SO MUCH BEHIND 
YOU, SO MUCH MONEY -- YOU HAVE 
TO START LIKE SIX MONTHS OF THE 
CAMPAIGN TO GET A NOMINATION.
NOW, SO THINGS HAVE REALLY 
CHANGED.
AND I'M -- I'M HAPPY TO BE PART 
OF THAT CLUB OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE 
BEEN RECOGNIZED BY MY PEERS.
AND IN THAT SENSE, IT MEANS A 
LOT.
BUT ALSO IN PART OF MY BRAIN, I 
KNOW THAT THERE IS SO MANY 
PERFORMANCES IN LITTLE FILMS 
THAT NOBODY REALLY -- MAYBE THEY
SEE THEM OR THEY SEE THEM ON 
SOME OF OTHER FORMAT OR 
WHATEVER, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE 
THE MEANS TO GIVE ALL 
SCREENINGS, TO GIVE ALL THE 
BRUNCHES, TO GIVE YOU WILL ALL 
THE OPINION MAKERS.
YOU HAVE TO WORK YOUR ASS OFF 
NOW TO BE ABLE TO GET A FILM TO 
KEET WITH SOME OF THESE FILMS 
THAT ARE THE HARVEY WEINSTEINS 
OF THE WORLD ARE PUSHING.
THAT'S JUST A FACT.
AND PART OF MY BRAIN, OF COURSE 
I WOULD LOVE IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I GOT NOMINATED A
LOT IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME 
AND I REMEMBER LARRY FISHBURNE 
BEHIND ME SAYING, IF YOU DON'T 
GET IT THIS TIME, WE'RE BURNING 
THE PLACE DOWN.
I THOUGHT, THEY'RE SO GLAD TO 
FINALLY GET RID OF ME.
AND I WAS VERY HAPPY BECAUSE IT 
WAS ALSO A PROJECT THAT I HAD 
FOUND THAT I FORCED HIM TO MAKE,
THAT NOW A SISTER HELEN WAS A 
FRIEND.
LIKE, OF ALL THE FILMS HAD AN I 
WAS NOMINATED FOR, THAT WAS THE 
ONE THAT FELT LIKE IT WAS FOR 
THE TEAM, YOU KNOW.
TO GET FIVE NOMINATIONS FOR THE 
FILM AND SCRIPT AND EVERYTHING.
SO I MEAN, I CERTAINLY WOULD 
LOVE THE IDEA OF THIS GETTING A 
NOMINATION OR THE FILM GETTING 
RECOGNIZED, BUT ALSO IN PART OF 
MY BRAIN, I REALIZE, YOU KNOW, 
THIS IS JUST THE WAY IT IS, SO 
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT 
THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT 
DESERVE TO BE RECOGNIZED THAT 
AREN'T RECOGNIZED.
LIKE SAM.
-AND RAINN.
-AND RAINN.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
I'M KIDDING.
SO, YES, IT WOULD MEAN A LOT BUT
ALSO I TAKE IT WITH A GRAIN OF 
SALT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT'S UP
AGAINST, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER 
MERYL STREEP IS DOING THIS YEAR 
OR CATE BLANCHETT OR, YOU KNOW, 
ALL THE BIG HEAVY HITTERS.
THERE'S SO MANY, SO MANY 
TALENTED FEMALE ACTORS OUT THERE
WITH SUCH GOOD PARTS AND 
EVERYTHING.
I THINK WE'RE ALL IN A CLUB 
WHERE WE RESPECT EACH OTHER AND 
CHEER EACH OTHER ON AND SUPPORT 
EACH OTHER, WHETHER WE GET 
NOMINATED OR NOT.
-DID IT CHANGE ANYTHING AT ALL?
-NO.
EXCEPT NOW THEY DON'T SAY 
ACADEMY AWARD LOSER.
[ Chuckling ]
-FOUR-TIME ACADEMY AWARD LOSER.
-ONE-TIME WINNER.
-ONE FINAL QUESTION, AND I'LL 
DIRECT THIS TO YOU TWO ON THE 
ENDS HERE.
BECAUSE WHAT YOU WERE TALKING 
ABOUT IS THE SMALLER 
CHARACTER-DRIVEN FILMS, SMALLER 
DRAM AS CAN SOMETIMES GET BOWLED
OVER.
I THINK WE'VE BEEN SEEING IT IN 
THEATRES.
DOES IT MATTER TO YOU, A FILM 
LIKE THIS WILL PLAY WHERE THE 
FILM FESTIVAL PLAY IN FRONT OF 
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHILE IT'S 
HERE, BUT IT COULD ALSO STREAM.
IT'S A PERFECT MOVIE, I THINK, 
TO STREAM, AND YOU CAN REACH A 
HUGE AUDIENCE THERE.
AS FILMMAKERS, DOES IT MATTER TO
YOU THE DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR 
YOUR FILM?
-I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO'S 
JUST HANGING ON TO FILM AND 
SEEING MOVIES IN A THEATRE WITH 
AN AUDIENCE.
I LOVE THE EXPERIENCE.
I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.
IT'S ALL I EVER WANTED TO DO AS 
A KID IS TO MAKE MOVIES AND HAVE
THAT EXPERIENCE.
SO WHILE THIS IS A REALLY GOOD 
FILM FOR STREAMING, AND I DO TOO
STREAM MOVIES
-THANKS SO MUCH.
-THANK YOU SO MUCH.
