An Interview With Nick Cassavetes of "She’s So Lovely"

Cassavetes: John was different. John came in a little later. We slipped him the script and he read it. John had always been a big fan of Dad's work, so I thought maybe we'd have a chance to get him. He read the script and loved it. I think he was going through that business with Polanski back then and so he just kind of became available. Usually you have to wait a couple of years to get John. He became available and we were in production. It was very easy.

iW: Did you feel pressure to meet certain expectations because it was a script that your father had written?

Cassavetes: No, not really. The script was so good. You don't go into work everyday going, "Gosh, I better do good. Dad would have been really disappointed if I didn't." There is so much to do on a film and so little time to do it. You just go in and try to do the best job you can everyday. I remember one day on the set I was sitting there and things were going well and we were on schedule and the performances were great. The notion came to myself, "Gosh, this is going to be my favorite film I ever do. Here it is. I'm in it. I'm experiencing it. My mother is in the film, three wonderful actors and a script of my Dad's." It doesn't get a whole lot better than that.

iW: Did you have any trepidation about working with a real life husband and wife, considering the emotional intensity that their roles required?

Cassavetes: No. My Mom and Dad did it pretty good, so I know it can work. The foremost thing I would say about working with Robin and Sean is that they were devoted to this project and devoted to their characters. You can't ask for any more from talented actors like that.

iW: Having worked so many years as an actor, how has that influenced your work as a director? Do you allow more freedom with your actors?

Cassavetes: Sometimes. I try to. I'm probably in the minority among filmmakers because I really like actors. I like their complications and insecurities and their desire to do something terrific and artistic. I like to give my actors a lot of room. Basically what you do as a director is you talk to your actors, set up the situation, set up the moment, and talk to them until they say, "Nick, I don't want to listen to you anymore." And then you talk to them a little bit more. When they are prepared emotionally and intellectually you turn the camera on and let them go. I really like actors, so I guess I'm glad I was one. I went back and did "Face/Off" as an actor after this.

To read the rest of this interview, click here.

[Tom Cunha is an assistant research editor at Movieline Magazine in Los Angeles.]