There's lightness amid the dark
Director David Cronenberg, stars Naomi Watts and Vincent Cassel, and screenwriter Steve Knight were all on hand to answer questions at the press conference for Eastern Promises. Ricky Ghoshdastidar was there...
The script was written a long time ago. How did it get made into a feature film?
SK: It was originally written as 2 hour-long television scripts and the brief was “Eastern European people trafficking”. It was only after completion that we decided it would work better as a feature film. Then a long process began that eventually ended with David Cronenberg’s attachment and we also found a fantastic cast, so patience, in the end, really was a virtue.
What were your immediate reactions to Steve Knight’s screenplay?
DC: My Hollywood agents sent me the script and I was quite surprised because I usually hate everything that they show me! They dig around in obscure corners and in this case, the obscure corner was BBC films, and they managed to find a script which I really loved. I was then very interested to talk to Steve and the producers and work out a way to make this work.
What attracted you to the role of the volatile Russian mobster Kirill?
VC: With Naomi, Viggo and David already on-board, I had no choice but to agree to do the film. The biggest challenge for me was to be believable as a Russian with the accent and the Russian language, so I worked very hard at it. I was a little bit concerned with my character being such a bad guy so I was tempted to say “no”, but in the end I said “yes”!
After playing a number of very dark roles, do you have plans to turn to something a bit lighter?
NW: Of course, I think about this all the time but I actually find the lighter stuff harder to find. Female roles in comedies are usually quite silly. I think film is a director’s medium and the good film-makers that I like tend to tell the darker stories and I am always inclined to follow people like David Cronenberg.
When dealing with such dark subject matters, is it still possible to have fun on the set?
NW: I think you have to have fun on the set.
DC: Well, why would you want to do anything if you are not going to have fun? I think the set was very funny!
NW: I was very surprised because I hadn’t met David previously and I was expecting this intense and brooding man who wouldn’t have much time to talk to me but it couldn’t have been further from the truth. David has a truly wicked sense of humour!
How was it working with Viggo Mortensen again and how did his preparation and concentration affect the rest of the team?
DC: Well, I knew Viggo’s methodology from A History of Violence. He does a lot of research and is very thorough but also maintains a sense of humour. As professionals, we use the word “seriously” a lot but it really is fun if you do it right.
I wasn’t surprised by his performance because what’s exciting about working with someone a second time is that you understand each-others’ creative process and you can start work at a higher level. It’s like being in 3rd gear instead of 1st gear right from the very beginning.
NW: It is not only helpful to him but also to those around him. I got the feeling that he was pretty much that character the whole time.
DC: Well, it’s not method acting because he didn’t ask us to call him by his character name the whole time or anything like that but he did it in a much lighter way. For example, if you went to his trailer or his apartment, he would have Russian stuff and research materials scattered everywhere, so it’s very natural and organic for him. Viggo is a brilliant actor, beyond what people realise, and I believe that with Eastern Promises, that is going to be more evident.