Clint Eastwood and Gran Torino Cast Interviews
Clint Eastwood was joined on the red carpet by his 'Gran Torino' co-stars for the film's World Premiere in Burbank. Eastwood did interviews despite the fact he wasn't feeling well, while his co-stars talked about what makes Eastwood so special.
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Transcript: Clint Eastwood and Gran Torino Cast Interviews
Rebecca Murray from About.com Hollywood Movies at the World Premiere of Gran Torino.
Clint Eastwood – Director/Producer and Star of Gran Torino
Clint Eastwood: "I enjoy being politically incorrect because I think political correctness is kind of boring. I mean it's kind of… You talk to people who are walking around on eggshells all the time and it's kind of boring."Do you think it's difficult to teach an old dog new tricks?
Clint Eastwood: "Yeah. That's kind of what this story's about, an old dog learning new tricks. And that's why you have to have him on one polar opposite to take him on the journey."
Bee Vang
Working with Clint Eastwood on your first feature film, was that intimidating or was it actually a fun experience?Bee Vang: "It was a fun experience and I will not say that it wasn't intimidating because it was. I'm going to work with this legend but I tried to tell myself… It turns out once I met him I was like, 'You know what? He's really down to earth, really humble.' You kind of sometimes forget that these stars are also human beings, so that helped me to calm my nerves down a bit on set."
Ahney Her
Ahney Her: "I wanted to play the role just because I want to do acting and it was a role that played my kind of people, Hmong people, and so I wanted to represent us."Do you think it represents your people really well?
Ahney Her: "I think it represents specific struggles. Not all Hmong people are like that but, yeah, it's good."
Christopher Carley
Christopher Carley: "When I first found out I got the part there was a smile and then the nervousness set in. And then once I met him and I started working with him, then it was great. Then it was all smiles."How long did that take for you to get used to being opposite Clint Eastwood?
Christopher Carley: "A couple of hours. I mean, once you meet him he's a very different presence off-screen than he is on-screen. You know, on-screen he doesn't really play the nicest guys but off-screen he's a really nice guy. He's very supportive and very welcoming, you know? You kind of feel like you're walking into a little bit of a family atmosphere with the whole set and crew and everything, because everyone's worked together for so long."
Brian Howe
Brian Howe: "Even when he's off camera those eyes are boring holes into your skull. There's a full performance happening next to the camera. He's not even there and he's there. He's there for you. He's doing the full character and the full voice. He's not just kind of rattling off the lines. He's giving you everything."
Geraldine Hughes
Geraldine Hughes: "The wonderful thing about this project was he had a little party for us before it started. He walked around the room and sort of thanked us all for being there."Had that ever happened to you before on another project?
Geraldine Hughes: "No. No, not at all. That was just lovely. And then so you have met him. You have been in his presence and met him because you know you don't audition with him or anything. Well I certainly didn't. And I was the first scene of the film – I was first up – so I was terrified. But you know you're standing there and he walks on, he comes over and says something lovely, and then we start. And then you're finished by lunch."
John Carroll Lynch
How difficult is it to act opposite someone who's directing you?John Carroll Lynch: "In this case it wasn't. He's done it for so long. As a matter of fact have I done it much? Maybe a couple of times. You know, it's funny. You would think it would be hard but because the directing is so separate in time from the acting, I don't think that's necessarily the case. And he was certainly… He's a pro at it."
Brian Haley
Brian Haley: "We did a couple of scenes together and he's so unassuming as a director that when he's acting it just doesn't seem any different. He's not a big, loud presence on the set. He creates a vibe that is conducive to just doing your best. And people leave you alone and you're hired to do your job and so you come in and do it."
Cory Hardrict
How tough is it to play opposite Clint Eastwood?Cory Hardrict: "How tough? I fainted. It was amazing though. It was tough until you get to know him and you just kind of know the type of guy he is. He opens up to you and you're like, 'Wow, he's the nicest man on the planet.' Best director I've ever worked for thus far, yeah."