Interviews – Page 19 – MaryEWinstead.net

Ain’t It Cool News Interviews Mary on Alex of Venice

on April 14, 2015 by Jessica Comments Off

As the title reads, Ain’t It Cool News recently chatted with Mary about her upcoming film, Alex of Venice. Below are some highlights from the interview, and be sure to click on the link above to read the full Q&A:

With this film, when you first read this script, what was it about Alex that jumped out at you? Was there an aspect to her life or the upheaval that happens to it that made you think, “I’ve seen that before,” or “I know someone that’s happened to”?

MEW: I think in general, the complexity of the role was really exciting to me and the reliability of it. I loved the fact that you get to see her with her sister and her husband and her father and her son, and you get to see the full spectrum of relationships and how she handles herself in each one. I am really drawn to characters who are trying to be better people and in every scene are striving to figure out what it is about their lives that isn’t working and how they can grow from that and move on and become better. So that was something that really spoke to me about this role, too, is you feel like all the way through the end she’s trying to figure out how to do this. How do I be a good sister? How do I be a good mom? How do I be a good daughter? How do I be a good wife? And I think that that is something for me that is incredibly relatable and universal.

I heard about these crazy long takes that he did, too. How did you like that experience?

MEW: I loved that. I absolutely loved getting to play. A lot of times he let the camera play out and see what happens, and other times he would stoke the fire. He would go behind the camera and he would just shout stuff out: “Tell her you love her. Tell her you can’t stand her anymore. Tell her you’re sick of her,” just to switch things up and see what happens. I loved that. I really loved that energy when you don’t know what’s going to happen in a scene and if something brilliant can come about that you never expected. I love that.

Don Johnson is phenomenal in this. I’ve seen him in quite a few things in the last few years, but usually they bring him in just for the vibe or comic relief. But here, he’s actually digging in, and just eating this thing whole. What did you learn from him just watching him work and embody this this character?

MEW: He’s a really inspiring person, because he’s just so committed as an actor. He came to it and hit the ground running in terms of wanting this character to feel authentic and doing whatever he could to get it there. He’s maybe not synonymous with a being serious actor, because he’s known for “Miami Vice” and other things, but I think when you go back to the beginning of his career, he was in acting school and alongside really serious actors. That’s always been where his heart lies. To me, I always loved watching him. And I really felt like I was getting to act along side somebody who was the real deal, who has seen a lot as an actor, and experienced a lot, and is someone I can really learn from.

Alex of Venice Interviews

Mary Talks Alex of Venice in New Video Interview

on April 13, 2015April 13, 2015 by Jessica Comments Off

With Alex of Venice being released in limited release this Friday and available on Video on Demand on the same day, new interviews with Mary will be released throughout the week. Another new interview with her has been released with Mary and her co-star/writer of the film Katie Nehra. Check it out below:

Alex of Venice Interviews

New Alex of Venice Interview; Second Clip Released

on April 13, 2015April 14, 2015 by Jessica Comments Off

Following the release of its first clip, a new Alex of Venice clip has been released via Vulture. In the clip, we see Messina’s George on this way out — a cruel acknowledgement that he isn’t getting what he wants from his supposedly happy little family. Alex is blindsided. You can view it by visiting the site here.
Also, a new interview with Mary discussing the film has been posted online via RamaScreen. Here are some highlights:

How challenging was it to work with an actor who was also directing you at the same time? Did that get awkward on the set? Was that your first time experience like that?
Mary Elizabeth Winstead: “It was my first experience like that, but it never really got awkward. I think my fears about working with an actor/director would be that, exactly like you said, it would be that instead of acting with me in a scene, they would be sort of watching and judging me, and then I’d be thinking, ‘Am I doing it right?’ And that’s the last thing you want to be thinking about when you’re acting in a scene, you just want to be connecting and bringing the character to life in the most authentic way. That was never an issue with Chris [Messina] when he was directing, I never felt like I was being judged, or micro-managed in any way. He really was just so open and giving and he just wanted everybody to have an opportunity to be great and to shine brightly, and to let them do that on their own term, he was just lovely in every way.”

So what was it like working with the great Don Johnson?

Mary Elizabeth Winstead: “It was fantastic. He was such a brilliant actor. Remembered so much for “Miami Vice” there are things people remember about that show, and also the personalities. But I think that may overshadow the fact that he’s just flat out great actor and I think he always has been, he’s really about the craft and becoming better and that’s hugely inspiring for me. He was talking to me about writing something. He’s still expanding in terms of who he is as a creative person and I love that, I love being around people like that.”

I’m glad you’re doing all these indie movies and I’ve been enjoying them, but do you miss doing studio movies? When will you come back to the studio circuit?
Mary Elizabeth Winstead: “Ya know, I would love to do studio movies. I think I’m just drawn characters that I find complex and materials that excite me. So ya know, there are certainly studio movies that I talk about and haven’t worked out for one reason or another, I have a film coming out later this fall, it’s for Paramount, so that’s a studio film. So I’m happy to do any kind of movie and any kind of project that speaks to me in terms of the character and the material. I think the main issue for me is that it’s hard for me to find big studio movies, for me, that have roles that are exciting for me, just in the past couple of years, but I’m on the hunt for that for sure.”

Alex of Venice Faults Interviews

First Alex of Venice Clip Released; New Faults Interview

on April 10, 2015 by Jessica Comments Off

The first clip of Mary in Alex of Venice has been released via Indiewire. The scene also gives us a first look at Don Johnson playing Mary’s father in the film. Check it out below:

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In other news, a brand new interview with Mary talking about Faults and her other projects has been posted online. Click on the link here to read it in full. Below are some highlights:

SCREAM: Riley told me he would show you about ten pages each day as he wrote them. How much input would you say you provided in terms of the story and characters?

MEW: I definitely gave my thoughts on everything that I read and, for the most part, I loved what I was reading so I didn’t have a tonne of stuff to say. I would give little notes about my character and would just kind of gently push him along the way to make sure he gave me something juicy to do, which he did in spades. Some of those notes he took and others he didn’t but I knew that he was making something great so I gave as much constructive criticism here and there as I could but everything ultimately was exciting to me and I knew he was working towards something that I was going to be really excited to be involved in.

SCREAM: I know you had your doubts about taking on the role but you must be delighted that you did in hindsight.

MEW: I’m certainly thankful that I did it now. I always wanted to do it but I think I just had fears about the character and whether or not I could pull it off. I wondered that if I wasn’t his wife that I wouldn’t be the person that he would cast. I guess that, as an actor, because you go through so many rejections you kind of get used to being told you’re not right for something. *laughs* Pretty much any time I get offered something I kind of go, “Are you sure?” I mean, I’ve been told so many times over the years that I’m not right for these kinds of parts that I wonder if can really pull them off. But it’s nice to get the challenge and to feel like you’ve achieved something that you didn’t know whether or not you could do.

Alex of Venice Gallery Updates Interviews

Mary Stuns at the Alex of Venice Premiere

on April 9, 2015 by Jessica Comments Off

Mary looked totally gorgeous at the Los Angeles premiere of her latest film, Alex of Venice where she was joined by her co-stars Katie Nehra, Don Johnson and Chris Messina (who also directed). Head to the gallery to check out over 150+ photos and view some videos of her below on the red carpet and giving an interview to a reporter discussing her movie and her show, The Returned.

Glamour Magazine also caught up with the cast at the premiere and Mary revealed what it was like to be directed by Messina:

“It was my first time being directed by an actor, and that’s such a luxury. He is somebody that really understands where you’re coming from and can talk to you in a way that makes sense as an actor. He just had such an open, giving, collaborative spirit, and let the camera roll and let us do whatever felt right in the moment. It was a dream scenario for an actor.”

Alex of Venice Gallery Updates Interviews

Chris Messina Praises Mary’s Acting in Alex of Venice; New Silicon Valley Pics

on April 8, 2015 by Jessica Comments Off

Chris Messina, who directed (and co-stars) in his new film Alex of Venice, got interviewed by Backstage Magazine and gave some insight into Mary’s acting ability:

For Alex, the anchor of the film, Messina knew he needed more than the best actor for the role. “I needed a captain, a team leader. It’s a small movie; we were changing in the car and going, ‘Let’s run over here, the light’s really nice.’ Mary Elizabeth was not only fantastic every day as an actress but a real leader and friend.”

Mary goes on to confirm what a great director Messina is:

“Chris is an unbelievably giving person who goes out of his way to make everyone feel special and important, while being the most self-deprecating person alive toward himself.” She also speaks highly of his prowess as a director. “When he wants something different from an actor, he just lets the scene play out until he finds it. He never forces anything. It’s such a fun way to work.”

In other news, I have added more new photos of Mary at the Silicon Valley premiere from earlier this week which you can view in the gallery.

Gallery Updates Interviews Scott Pilgrim Vs The World The Returned

Larry King Interviews Mary

on March 27, 2015March 28, 2015 by Jessica Comments Off

Larry King sat down with Mary recently where they discussed her new show The Returned, and how even though Scott Pilgrim wasn’t a box office success, it’s managed to find cult status. They also talk about the rest of her career and what’s next.

Edit– I also added over 300+ screen caps of Mary’s appearance to the gallery.

Alex of Venice Interviews

Mary’s SAG Conversation for Alex of Venice

on March 25, 2015 by Jessica Comments Off

Mary and her co-stars Katie Nehra and Chris Messina (who is also the director) took part in the SAG Foundations conversations panel for their new film Alex of Venice, out on video on demand and iTunes April 17. They talked about the film, audition process and their worst auditions, advice to other actors, the most difficult scene to shoot and more. Watch the full interview below:

Alex of Venice Interviews

Mary Appearing at SAG Foundation Screening for Alex of Venice

on March 19, 2015March 19, 2015 by Jessica Comments Off

Mary will be taking part of a Q&A with her Alex of Venice co-stars Katie Nehra and Chris Messina on Tuesday, March 24 at the SAG Foundation in Los Angeles where they will discuss the film after a screening. You can grab your tickets by clicking here. Address and time is as follows:

Time: 7:00 PM
Check-in begins at: 6:30 PM

Address:
SAG Foundation Actors Center – Los Angeles

5757 Wilshire Blvd, Mezzanine Level
Los Angeles, CA(free validated parking)

Alex of Venice follows the story of a workaholic environmental attorney, Alex Vedder (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), who is forced to reinvent herself after her husband (Chris Messina) suddenly leaves the family. Dealing with an aging father (Don Johnson) who still aspires to succeed as an actor, an eccentric sister (Katie Nehra) and an extremely shy son (Skylar Gaertner), Alex is bombarded with everything from the mundane to hilariously catastrophic events without a shoulder to lean on. Realizing she will thrive with or without her husband, Alex discovers her hidden vulnerability as well as her inner strength as she fights to keep her family intact in the midst of the most demanding and important case of her career.

Now that Faults is out in select cities and available to stream online either via iTunes or Vimeo, a couple of new interviews have come online. The first comes from Collider where Mary and Riley discuss about wanting to work together, Mary directing in the future and working with John Krasinski in The Hollars:

Did you try to influence your husband, in regard to the character?

WINSTEAD: Oh, yeah, definitely. Part of it was that he always knew I was gonna play it, so I was worried that the character would be underwritten and that he wouldn’t really put as much detail into it ‘cause he’d be like, “You’re the actor. You’ll fill in that.” So, I was preemptively like, “Make sure you make this character really interesting.” My character doesn’t come into the script for quite a long time, and the first 30 pages are so strong. I was like, “Please don’t, when you introduce the girl character, make her the least interesting thing in the whole script.” That’s happened to me, a few times, in reading scripts. So, he definitely knew, going into it, that the pressure was on for him to write an interesting female lead. And as it was going, there were a couple of times that I [pointed things out]. The first chunk of the movie, there was a lot of talking about the cult and explaining things and explaining who she is. I was like, “I don’t want that to be all that she does. Let’s make sure that there’s other layers of things going on.” So, he added a couple scenes, early on, that showed a bit more of her strange personality. That was helpful for me, in terms of getting excited about it.

What was it like to be directed by John Krasinski for The Hollars?

WINSTEAD: It’s a small part. I was actually shooting The Returned, so I just went and showed up on his set for a couple of days, on a break from [the show]. It was a very small part, but super fun. He’s a sweetheart, and I was really happy just to get to work with him. He was just so full of excitement and passion. He was really lovely, and he wrote a really nice letter to me, asking if I would do it. I had met him before, but only briefly, so I didn’t actually know him. But, I was super happy to be amongst that really great cast. It was a great script on that, so it was fun.

After working with your husband, in that capacity, and then John Krasinski, did it inspire you to also want to direct?

WINSTEAD: It did. I think every film I do, I’m paying more and more attention to all of those things, and watching the directors and how they work. It’s making me feel more like I could eventually do it. I do want to direct, eventually. I don’t know if it will be a short film or a music video or a feature, but I know that I want to at least try it and see.

You can also read the full interview Mary and Riley did with Den of Geek discussing how they felt about filming Faults:

The family creative partnership is an interesting one to me. Do you take the work home with you? Do you try and leave it on set?

Stearns: We’re pretty good about not taking it home.

Winstead: I was going to say, when you’re doing this kind of movie you’re just never home.

Stearns: Her mom came and stayed at our house and watched our dogs, so we didn’t have that to worry about. One thing though is that I was editing at the same time as we were shooting because we were trying to see if we could possibly submit it in time for Sundance, so there was some stress and lack of sleep in that regard. We were staying at a hotel nearby our Long Beach soundstage so that I wasn’t driving far every night. Mary would just stay with me a lot of those nights and I would wake up in the middle of the night sleepwalking basically.

Winstead: Sleep directing. Every night.