ALISON PILL

J—He is. How was it watching him work?

A—Insane. I mean, it’s just like, he’s Sean, and then suddenly, he’s this gay man from New York. And it would be just about that quick of a change. Very few actors can act a scene with their back.  But, there was this one time we were watching – it’s a scene when Diego Luna walks up and he’s drunk, and it’s the first time he’s introduced in the movie…

J—… I remember…

A—… And the whole scene Diego has almost all the lines, he’s drunk and he’s just talking to Sean. They shoot Diego’s side and then the producers are expecting Gus to turn around and shoot Sean’s close up from outside the door. And Gus was like, “No, you know what, I have it.” You watch that scene and you get everything from Sean’s back. Not many people can do that. That sort of says a lot about the both of them.

J—Too much of the time it’s about finding ways to explain what’s going on, as opposed to… I was having a conversation with my friend the other day about this, after seeing a film called Brothers.

A—Oh, I haven’t seen it yet. I want to see it!

J—It’s good. Great performances. There’s a scene where Jake Gyllenhaal was talking about this horrible act that he committed and you never go into the act, you never see the act, but the way he is describing it is so involving as an audience member. I forgot how appreciative I am when filmmakers do that, you know? They don’t show you every bit; they don’t go into every detail to show how people reacted and what they’re doing… we get to experience it through these two characters talking about it. It’s refreshing to be involved that way, with a film.

A—It’s like mental involvement versus an emotional involvement. I mean, I can mentally put together the story, but it’s another thing to feel like you’re watching somebody live through it again.

J—Your right. What’s in our imagination is so much more fearful, more vivid… Or maybe it’s just mine? I’m sure it’s picking and choosing, but it diminishes whatever feelings were there in the first place.

A—Yeah, it’s like, “Mine was scarier.”

J—So Milk…

A—[laughs] Milk was really neat. You realize it’s the end of the decade soon?

J—I know, it’s crazy. Are you a reflective person?

A—I’m trying to be. I think it’s kind of worthwhile to say what works and what doesn’t. You know, things I would improve upon… I think that’s a valid thing to think about.

J—Do you have anything you want to share? Resolutions?

A—Um… keep a cleaner house. [laughs]

J—I’m going to send that resolution your way too. I think that’s a great resolution.

A—[laughs]

J—Is there a certain day of the week that you love the most?

A—I love Wednesdays.

J—You do? Why do you love that day?

A—I love it because it’s usually my favorite crossword day. [laughs] It’s in the Dining section of the New York Times and a challenging crossword, but a doable crossword. Then Thursdays are my favorite, because I know I have Thursday night and there’s not a matinee until Saturday.

J—So, you have that full stretch open, to yourself.

A—Yeah, yeah. But usually Wednesdays.

J—The Hump Day.

A—Right.

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