Warmth, The Dark Knight, Hypnotic…: William Fichtner tells his story in 5 films and 5 directors

William Fichtner is what is called a “character actor”. A specific profile and very popular, based on the ability to blend in important secondary characters, rather than in the main roles. This is how the American comedian has been wearing his angular and disheveled face on our screens since the early 90s. “to study”Whether it’s in front of the camera with Christopher Nolan, Michael Mann, Ridley Scott, Michael Bay or Robert Rodriguez with Hypnotic, which hit theaters this week.

“I don’t want to play myself, you know. I like myself, but I don’t want to play myself.” He explained AlloCiné at the Cannes Film Festival last May, where the film was presented in the Séance de Minuit. “I want to find something else, another rhythm, another look. That’s what’s fun. Then they offer me the lead roles, that’s great too! (laughs)”

Travel as many new routes as possible

“But there have been many times when I’ve read a script that I’ve been interested in a character other than what I’ve been offered. Even if it’s a more modest role. It doesn’t matter. It’s a really fascinating journey, and I’ve always tended to gravitate around it. I think that’s the character actor’s Heart. Travel as many new roads as possible.”.

Back to five directors (and a bonus) on this US “face” tour we love.

Robert Rodriguez – hypnotic

Of course, as an actor, I’m always going to prepare my role: I’ll have ideas about the character’s state of mind, how to play it… but Robert Rodriguez He has a very specific vision of what he wants to do. I wanted to know him more than I thought! is turned on hypnoticI was definitely, in some ways, more inclusive than I’ve ever been on set. Because I really wanted to copy Robert’s vision. And that’s why – and I’ve said this a hundred times since we finished this shoot – that I’m putting together my collaboration Robert Rodriguez Very high, on the same level as a Ridley Scott, with whom I shot La Chute du Faucon Noir. It’s one of the best moments I’ve had on set.

Christopher Nolan – Dark Knight

I do not know Christopher Nolan before filming Dark Knight. He was a good friend of my friend. And so I ended up meeting him. He explained the scene to me, warning me that it was a unique scene, early in the film, and I’m such a fan of his work, I got it without reading the sequence. But the one I’ll always remember is the first day of filming with the Joker, when Heath Ledger showed up. I’m a fan of other actors, especially people who really find character. And I remember Heath quietly listening to his music in his corner. Then we did the first take and I remember thinking to myself, looking from one actor to another: “Wow, I really like what this guy is doing!”

Ridley Scott – Fall of the Black Falcon

I adore it Ridley Scott. Fall of the Black Falcon Inspired by a true story. And we met a lot of people who were in Somalia when this event happened. Every time you work on a project based on a true story, you want to honor it, you want to get it right. The soldiers we met wanted us to do things right. And Riddle was determined to get it right. So we had a whole group that really cared about what we were saying, and Ridley was the leader.

Michael Bay – Armageddon

We were able to do something Armageddon What people can only dream about! We went to launch control in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at an altitude of 85 meters, where they launched missiles. We shot there! Just look around and you know you’ll never forget moments like this. Not to mention that I spent my days with an interesting, talented and eclectic group. Especially Bruce Willis. I loved working with Bruce. I loved working with everyone. Especially the producer Jerry Bruckheimer, with whom I made five films. Anytime you get to work on a Jerry movie is pretty cool. After Armageddon ends, Michael Bay He asked me if I wanted to appear at Pearl Harbor. He gave me a choice between three cameos and I chose one at the beginning of the film.

Michael Mann – Heat

warmth It was my third film. I was still living in New York, trying to work on films in Los Angeles. I went to the audition, went and met Michael Mann. And as soon as I sat down with him, I asked him to play another character: he was a real gentleman and told me “That’s interesting, Bill, but why don’t we read instead?”. And then I remember the first night of filming. It’s a true story.

It started at seven in the morning and was about two in the morning. The team was tired. Then I approached Michael Mann and said: “Mr Mann?“And he said: “call me michael”. And I said: “Mr. Man, is there anything else you’d like to try?” He answered me: “No, I like what you did. Why?” I answer him: “Well, it’s just that we’re on 26 and I was wondering if there was anything else to try?” 26 catch! And he answers: “No, we got what we needed in the first two, but let’s get back to it”. Michael was really cute.

I was a young actor, at least young in film, and I remember it well, except months later the film comes out and there it is warmth To Know. A film that redefines everything in many ways. Just incredible.

William Fishner – Cold Brook

I produced, directed and co-wrote, played the main role and made the coffee! I did everything Coldbrook, it was low budget. I remember that I never had time to stop each take because I really didn’t need to: I was on stage, so I knew when it was good and what I wanted. However, the main thing for me was to verify the opinion. When I get the shot I want, do we have it in frame and in focus? When the operators gave a thumbs up, then I moved on.

But I never thought of it as “self-leadership.” My on-screen partner in this film is my best friend. An actress named Kim Coates that I met Fall of the Black Falcon. So after one shoot, I looked at Kim and asked her how I was doing. And sometimes he looked at me and shot me “It’s not scary, mate”. And we moved on. The fun of this movie was finishing the shoot, then editing it, finding the interesting moments, telling a simple little story.

Thank you for asking me these questions. I loved him.