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August 16, 2007
Dentler Takes The Stairs: The Kent Osborne Interview
This time next week, Hannah Takes The Stairs will have just opened at the IFC Center. I'll have more to write about it soon, but right now I'm going to turn things over to Matt Dentler:
On the eve of the theatrical debut of Joe Swanberg's SXSW 2007 hit, Hannah Takes the Stairs, I wanted to check in with each of the film's principal collaborators. The film has been documented as a successful collaboration between acclaimed film artists from around the nation, each one offering their own trademark influence on the final film. Hannah Takes the Stairs will open at the IFC Center in New York, on August 22, as well as be available on IFC VOD the same day. As part of an ongoing series you can find throughout the film blogosphere, here is an interview with Hannah co-star Kent Osborne (also the writer/star of Dropping Out).
Dentler: How did you first get connected to Hannah Takes the Stairs?
Osborne: I met Joe and Kris and Kevin at SXSW in 2006. Dan Brown took me to see LOL and I thought it was amazing. On the flight home I remember wishing that someone would put me in a movie like that because I'm really good at talking about my feelings. And then my wish came true! Joe and I stayed in touch and six weeks later I was flying to Chicago to hang out with Joe and Greta and talk about Hannah.
Dentler: What do you remember most about the shoot in Chicago?
Osborne: My first night in Chicago, Joe took me to the movie house (where the cast and crew stayed during production) and then left to spend the night with Kris so it was just me and Kevin. Everyone else would arrive the next day. Kevin and I didn't really know each other that well, so we stayed up really late, drawing pictures and listening to Steve Reich. It was awesome.
Dentler: How did the production process differ from your own other projects, or projects you've acted in before or since?
Osborne: Well, I don't like to talk about it, but I was in a movie called School Ties and that production was TOTALLY different. There was a script, and a set, and a big light to simulate the sun, and there was a P.A. whose job was to fetch grilled cheeses for Ben Affleck.
Dentler: What are your thoughts on the issues of sex and relationships that come to the forefront of the film?
Osborne: Going from relationship to relationship, not wanting to be alone, having the relationship you're in identify who you are, being addicted to crushes.... These are things I relate to, but I didn't realize I related to them until we made this movie.
Dentler: Ever been in a love triangle?
Osborne: Well, once I had feelings for this girl whose brother hooked up with my ex and then I traded pictures of my genitals with the brother's girlfriend and so ... I guess that's a love pentagon?
Dentler: Did you ever work with "the stairs?" Any thoughts on why they didn't make the cut?
Osborne: We had stairs in the movie house and one night while I was drunk I attempted to kiss Ry Russo-Young on those stairs and she laughed and said, "Aw Kent." It was awesome!
It's David again. I was hoping to procure a copy of the photo Kent mentioned above to accompany the interview, but alas, it was not to be had. Stay tuned for more of Matt's interviews at other film blogs throughout the week: Michael and AJ already have Hannah's leading ladies covered, and Karina is hosting the Dupes.
UPDATED: Andrew Bujalski gets the GreenCine Daily treatment, and Todd Rohal's tete-a-tete is up at Movie City Indie. That just leaves the director, producer and composer/crew member...
UPDATED AGAIN: Joe's interview, is online over at Filmmaker, while his collaborator and better half Kris gets her spot in the limelight (bloglight?) via Aaron Hillis. And Matt's got his chat Anish Savjani at his own blog.
AND FINALLY: Kevin Bewersdorf gets Self Reliant!
Posted by David Lowery at August 16, 2007 12:07 AM