What drew George Clooney to his latest role in Jay Kelly | 7.30

Key Concepts

• Character Study: The exploration of a character's motivations, flaws, and internal struggles.
• Self-Involvement: A character trait characterized by excessive preoccupation with oneself.
• Regret and Lack of Love: Emotional states often associated with flawed characters, representing difficulties in life.
• Courageous Craft: The act of portraying a character that is a "lesser version" of oneself, requiring a specific approach to make them likable.
• Actor's Confidence: The state where an actor, with experience, no longer feels the need to prove their acting ability and can inhabit characters comfortably.
• Ensemble Performance: The collaborative effort of multiple actors in a scene, requiring synchronization and understanding of each other's timing.
• European Theater Style: A theatrical approach characterized by its distinct style and performance quality, often seen in European productions.
• Grossly Overqualified Actors: Highly skilled actors taking on roles that might not fully utilize their extensive talent, indicating a shared commitment to a project.
• Gypsy Camp Mentality: A metaphor for a collaborative and itinerant working environment where a group travels and works together with shared enthusiasm.

Role of Jay Kelly and Character Appeal

George Clooney discusses his role as Jay Kelly, a character created by Noah Bambach. The primary appeal for Clooney was the opportunity to work with Bambach. Upon reading the script, he found the character of Jay Kelly to be "so self-involved" and filled with "sad" qualities like regret and a "lack of actual love." Clooney views this as a significant character study, exploring difficult aspects of life that resonate with people regardless of their profession. He describes the character as embodying traits that are "difficult things for people in life."

"Courageous" vs. "Complicated" Craft

When asked if playing a character who resembles him but is a "lesser version" was a "courageous piece of craft," Clooney distinguishes between courage and complexity. He reserves the word "courageous" for individuals he deeply respects, such as human rights lawyers and Nobel Prize winners like Maria Reza and Nadia Morant, who have survived extreme adversity. For his own acting, he labels the task of making a flawed character like Jay Kelly likable as "interesting and complicated." The challenge lies in finding a way for the audience to engage with and "sit through two hours" with such a character.

Collaboration with Adam Sandler

Clooney expresses admiration for Adam Sandler's performance in the film, calling him "great." He highlights their long-standing friendship of approximately 30 years, including playing basketball together. Clooney was confident Sandler would excel in the role, stating, "he's going to knock this out of the park." He observes that Sandler has reached a level of confidence where he doesn't need to "prove you can act anymore," allowing him to inhabit characters comfortably and not just focus on being funny. Sandler's performance, according to Clooney, can "break your heart in the film."

On-Screen Chemistry and Dialogue

Clooney describes the dynamic between him and Sandler as one where they "talk on top of each other through the whole film." This requires confidence to avoid stepping on lines while ensuring the dialogue blends seamlessly. He notes that even when not directly looking at Sandler in a scene, he knew "exactly where he is and what he's doing," indicating a strong sense of connection and understanding between them.

The Train Scene: A European Theater Experience

The transcript highlights a specific "incredible train scene traveling through Italy," which Clooney likens to "a piece of European theater." Despite acknowledging that filmmaking is "work," he describes the experience of shooting this scene as a "joy," contrasting it with past manual labor like cutting tobacco for $3 an hour.

Details of the Train Scene:

• Duration: Shot for five weeks.
• Length: A 50-page scene.
• Actors: Featured highly successful actors from Italy and England who were "grossly overqualified" for their roles.
• Atmosphere: Described as a "gypsy camp of all of us traveling together and doing stuff," with a sense of shared enthusiasm and no "misery." The actors were "gung-ho for it the whole way."

Clooney expresses great respect for the actors involved in this scene, emphasizing that they "had a blast" and it "felt great."

Conclusion

George Clooney concludes by thanking the interviewer, acknowledging their kindness. The conversation centers on his role in Noah Bambach's film, his approach to character portrayal, his admiration for Adam Sandler's performance, and the collaborative and joyful experience of filming a significant scene in Italy. He differentiates between personal courage and the complexities of acting, emphasizing the latter in his own work.