Video:The Visitor - Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Michael London

Transcript:The Visitor - Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Michael London

Rebecca Murray from About.com Hollywood Movies at the 2009 Film Independent's Spirit Awards.

Richard Jenkins – 'Prof. Walter Vale' in The Visitor

What was it like playing this guy? He's an incredible guy – how tough was it to get into that?

Richard Jenkins: "It wasn't hard to get into it. It was just hard to trust not to kind of explain him, just let him unfold before the camera. That was the real challenge, but Tom [McCarthy] is a great director and a real collaborator. It was just very cool."

Does it make it easier when he is the writer and director?

Richard Jenkins: "Well I don't know if that ever… It made it easier with him because he's great at both of them. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't."

How tough is it to find a script like this? I know you get a lot of offers.

Richard Jenkins: "Never read one like it. None that they're interested in me for, no. This was, for me, the best part I've ever been offered."

And next up is Rum Diary?

Richard Jenkins: "Rum Diary, which is also a great script."

Haaz Sleiman – 'Tarek' in The Visitor

The Visitor is one of my top 10 movies of last year. It's amazing and your character is so fantastic. He's so optimistic despite the circumstances. How tough is it to get into that?

Haaz Sleiman: "I mean as an actor you always want to be dramatic, right? But the idea is like what's more profound is someone who's fighting and trying to not give up. You don't connect with someone who's given up or being a victim, so that's really why. I think he is truly trying to fight for what he believes he deserves. He knows he didn't do anything wrong and so he's just being real and honest. And so that's where the optimism comes from I think. And plus also culturally speaking, he's from the Middle East and Middle Eastern people are very hospitable and loving and warm and inviting and kind, and I wanted to bring that to this character as well. And he's very passionate because they're very passionate. It's a very passionate culture. If you ever go to Lebanon or whatnot, you go to someone's house and they over-feed you. 'No, eat more! Eat! Eat!' They're just so kind and generous. I hope I brought that into the character."

Do you have a musical background?

Haaz Sleiman: "I do, actually. I first moved to New York to get a recording deal and become a recording artist. That didn't work out but every now and then I get to sing in movies now. It's funny. I just did a show on Showtime right now, I just finished shooting it and I had to sing again which is really cool. So okay, maybe I'll get a record deal sometime. But I think that helped me with the drumming because I never drummed in my life. So it just helped a little bit later. In the beginning I was a mess."

Did you find that was an interesting connection these guys have, through the music?

Haaz Sleiman: "Oh yeah, absolutely. I think music is universal. As a baby, a baby understands music and yet doesn't understand language. You don't need to learn it, you just feel it. I think it breaks down so many barriers, either it's differences whether it's culturally or religiously, and then you sort of connect on a more pure level because we're all in this together and that's why I'm so proud of this film and the Spirit Awards for always endorsing films like that, that brings understanding. Especially in these times, if you know what I mean."

Were you familiar with the deportation issues in this film?

Haaz Sleiman: "Before I did this film, no, and that's the beauty about being an actor. You learn so much. I'm so lucky in that sense. I actually went to a detention center with Tom and Richard. It was a very good thing for me to do though because I really connected on a deeper level with the character. It was really, really heartbreaking to see those guys being held unknowingly. They don't know how long they are there for, no legal access – none whatsoever. And the stories that they had to tell…some were there for like 10 years. Listen, we need laws but it's a matter of like, 'Well, do we need to look at those laws and reevaluate them?' I think that's the question. And I think every human being has the right to at least figure out what's going on, get some legal help, you know? Never mind the medical stuff that happens in those detention centers. I don't know if you heard stories. Some guy died because they thought he was like making up a story that he was sick, and he died. He was not lying, he was really sick. So things like that shouldn't happen. We're all in this together. This is our planet."

Producer Michael London - The Visitor and Milk

Has it gotten together in this industry know with the financial crisis?

Michael London: "Everything is tougher right now. There's fewer movies getting made and fewer movies getting distribution. I think everyone is scared and everyone is trying to figure out how to sustain a business model and it's not easy."

Well is it going to fall back that the smaller films get cut or are we going to see less larger budgeted movies?

Michael London: "I think we will see more large budgeted movies, but then there will be eventually audiences want to see smaller movies so it will start to circle around."

You're involved with two of my favorite movies of the year - The Visitor and Milk. The Visitor particularly is such a character-driven film. How'd you get involved with that one?

Michael London: "I'm a friend of Tom's. He showed me the script and I just really fell in love with it."

Did you do The Station Agent with him?

Michael London: "I did not. I didn't get to do that one but I got to do this one, which was really great."

Do you expect it to get recognition?

Michael London: "No. It's amazing that this happened for a small movie like that."

Also of Interest:

Complete List of 2009 Film Independent's Spirit Award Nominees and Winners

Exclusive Interview with The Visitor Writer/Director Tom McCarthy