|
Waitress is a story
about a young woman once romanced and
now abused by her husband who is trying
desperately to runaway. Unlike the
storyline, its filmmaker Adrienne Shelly
lived a far cry from that fictional
life. As current as the day, the
longevity of women in Hollywood is
barely shy of a ’15 Minute Fame’ stint;
as Tinsel Town always awaits the next
hottest thing, Shelly an actress
featured in ‘Factotum’ and ‘Trust’ began
to create her own opportunities through
writing.
Her untimely death
just months shy of the New Year in which
Adrienne’s final film ‘Waitress’ would
get the go ahead to premiere at the 2007
Sundance Film Festival. The horrible
murder of such a vibrant actress, writer
and now director doesn’t plague the
memory of most movie goers. It does
however raise many eyebrows once the
story is resurrected by someone who best
remembers her life in death.
Waitress, a dramady is
Adrienne Shelly’s final film production
and actress Keri Russell talks about the
making of the film, Adrienne and her new
role as mom-to-be.
How far along are you?
Keri: You know I'm at the end. I’m being
kind of vague because those pesky
photographers make it really fun at the
very end.
Are you an expert pie maker now?
Keri: Expert no. God no. and Cheryl and
I keep laughing cause we get questions
you know because they want to make
everything pie themed. No I’m not an
expert.
Your screams were so convincing.
Keri: My screams...
Of when you were giving birth.
Keri: Oh... cause I was like… lol.
Did you watch many
tapes, go to maternity hospitals...stuff
like that?
Keri: No I think we were trying to be
funny and silly.
Now that you’re giving birth are you
doing Lamas I mean what method are you
going to go for?
Keri: That’s a personal question and
I’m not sharing. Because it’s secret.
Lol
You did share with us this uncanny
ability to be funny. Did you have that
in mind? Were you being that sensitive
when you were making it?
Keri: I definitely had a sense of the
character that I read on the page. But
when you’re doing it you have such an
experience making it and then you go see
it in the movie a year later. But when I
was seeing it I was surprised watching
it at Sundance. It’s always really nice
to watch it with an audience. Usually
the first time you see it as an actor
you see it with like two people; agents
or something. And it’s awful. You’re
like oh god, what are you wearing. Too
big. Oh your face is so weird. But this
time because it was with an audience I
was surprised how hopeful the movie was.
And kind of uplifting and I forgot about
that because the characters experience
in the movie is kind of depressing but
everyone else is having real fun.
You get it when you see the movie but I
don’t know if you get it when you’re on
the page.
Keri: Yeah it was totally on page.
Adrienne had very much control over this
movie. Every frame was hers and she got
her way on everything in this movie.
Honestly it wasn't like yeah do what you
want with this scene. It was like I
don't like that stop doing that and this
is how I want you to do it. It was very
much her thing.
With your dialogue can you talk about if
she had any kind of suggestions for you
to use as far as how to create that
character and dialogue?
Keri: Hmm. I don’t know if we ever
talked about the specific dialogue. I
think words just kind of come out your
mouth.
But these words are very characteristic.
It’s not like the normal...
Keri: You mean because it's southern?
Southern very dead pan.
Keri: Yeah ... right!
Any references?
Keri: We didn't talk about that too
much. I just thought it was the beauty
of the character. It was so great.
That’s what I loved about the script is
that she was unhappy and wasn't afraid
to hide it. She was like oh whatever lol.
Would have slapped her on the head and
shoulders if you had known her for
staying with that guy?
Keri: Of course. Anyone would. But you
know people are in those types of
relationships all the time in varying
degrees and shades of those
relationships. But what I think Adrienne
did with that bad guy with that bad
husband... first of all he's really
funny in it. I know it’s awful but
calling her porky all the time. I mean
that’s so rude. And just at the end when
you use how weak he is and how childlike
and needy. That’s how most monsters are
and you see how she could kind of be
stuck there. Women have a problem about
not leaving people and taking care of
them. Even if they are real shitty. And
that's how it is.
Can you comment on how you found out
about Adrienne? She was a part of the
film community and it shocked us all. It
was a sad sad thing.
Keri: Yeah. It is a sad sad thing. I
found out like everyone else. Someone
called me and told me. It's still
shocking. I don't believe it yet. I know
it’s been awhile but it’s just she was
so young and her family and her mom and
her daughter. I don't know it’s so
unfair. I don’t know what to say. I
don't know if I really processed it
completely.
When you read a screen play and you say
this is great and you find out you have
to be in it with two men and you don't
know who they’re going to cast from our
opinion you were lucky in this film.
Keri: Very ‘unlucky’ in fact.
Has that happened to you in a film?
Keri: Sure. It’s like dogs. Some dogs
don't just get along. Like at the park.
It’s a perfectly nice dog. But yeah
human beings. You like some more than
you like other people whether you have
to kiss them or not. And luckily these
people were nice and if not it was 20
days of shooting but they were both so
lovely and Nathan was so funny and good
in it. We called him the doctor through
the whole thing. Adrienne is short and
I’m like 5'4. And Adrienne is maybe 5
feet. And Nathan would come around. He
was like a giant this 6'4 guy. And he
was so sweet. And I just thought Jeremy
did such a good job, he was funny and
cruel and hilarious.
How did you keep yourself from laughing?
Keri: I didn't. I ruined so many takes.
So many takes. I was working on
something else at the time and we had to
shoot a lot of scenes all at the house
and very late at night one night. And
you’re so loopy and tired. And he had to
do all this stuff like snuggle up to me
which was so gross. And he was just like
illlllll. I just kept laughing. I
remember Adrienne saying do you want to
go home for Christmas? Do you want to
go? And I remember like saying... I
can't help it! I’d laugh a lot and I
think in the movie I can see that I’m
clearly laughing a lot. I'm like ...mmrrrmrr.
It's like that thing where you’re at
church... don't laugh. Don’t laugh.
This is going to last for some time with
this movie?
Keri: He is gross. Even his clothes are
so gross. Big belt buckles and
everything.
There is a scene in
the film that’s pivotal where it’s a
voice over and your writing to the baby.
It’s such a beautifully developed scene.
Was it
always going to be a voiceover?
Keri: That was always a voiceover. the
only part that was that she did say to
the doctor that I don't think made the
film that was kind of a voiceover when
they are having that cozy moment when
their making pies together. He's like
why are you here? You’re so unhappy and
she's like have you ever been poor? And
he's like well yeah I’ve been broke in
college. And she's like well broke is
different than poor. Poor is like no
options. I think that's a big
difference. Broke is your going to have
money again. Poor is something
different. But that is some kind of
strength. Those women are kind of tough.
Since you’re a Cover Girl. What makeup
do you always have?
Keri: I can't live without waterproof
mascara which I do really like and they
have a gloss tube squishy thing and
sunscreen.
What insights did you have that maybe
came from the movie? This is a rare
chance for influence.
Keri: Well for the last 4 movies I’ve
been pregnant which has been sort of
strange. I’ve been crying a lot. I don't
know if it’s my age or what. For this
movie is as funny as it is... not
wanting the kid it’s going to ruin her
life. It’s really kind of brave the
letters to this kid. We should be lucky
to know our mothers most inner thoughts
during that time. How cool would that
be? And honest and harsh that is that's
really brave. She’s like I look around
and I think life really sucks. I’m
really nervous to bring another person
into this world when I know I’m so
unhappy and so unsatisfied with my life.
I think what I think that it’s ok to
have these sort of fleeting negative
thoughts cause then you see the baby and
everything’s fine.
You’re not doing ‘dear babies’ are you?
Keri: I'm not doing dear baby... noooo!
This is sort of a highly feminist film
which we haven’t' seen one lately. It's
still primitive like the 70s. Does it
upset you because it’s so vital?
Keri: It doesn't upset me. It’s just
part... look, people are who they are.
There are things in life... I think it’s
all has to do with income. It’s hard
when you feel stuck. Granted I think
that there are many rich people with
problems too. I didn't grow up with a
lot of money. I think that is why there
are so many films about women as
waitresses. It’s a job that anyone can
do. You don't need an education. A lot
of times there are these colorful women
that have these great stories trying to
get through life. I know what you mean.
Things are just the way they are you
can't fight them like that.
Do you ever watch an older actress and
think that's the career I would like to
have or there is something about that
career I want. Do you think long-term?
Keri: There are definitely people I
admire. As far as crazy as actors are
when their good their real good. The
people I love watching are people like
Joan Allen or Kathy Bates; I just think
everything she does is just so funny.
And so sweet still at the same time. So
heartfelt.
Are you going to be doing writing? With
sitting home for awhile?
Keri: I don't know. Eating. Lol.
How much time are you going to take off
after you have the baby?
Keri: Umm... a little bit but at the
same token I just brought a house so I’m
available for work.
Where do you live?
Keri: I live in New York. I've never
waitressed.
|
