About sixty students at Schenectady High School met with independent film-maker John Sayles and his creative partner Maggie Renzi, last Friday in the Black Box Theatre located in the Sayles School of Fine Arts.  Sayles, who was in town for the upstate premiere of his newest movie Honeydripper, answered an array of questions about movie-making, auditioning and acting as well as the creative process that leads to a screenplay.

The aspiring actors, directors, videographers and writers were well-prepared for Sayles’ visit.  The students viewed Honeydripper in class earlier in the week, talked about the movie and analyzed the scenes.



 

Honeydripper is set in rural Alabama in the 1950’s and is about the transition of music from Blues to Rock n’ Roll.  The movie stars Danny Glover, Charles Hutton, Stacey Keach and Mary Steenburgen.

“Auditioning is one of the hardest things actors have to do,” said Sayles in response to a question about how he selected cast members for Honeydripper.   He spoke about Lisa Gay Hamilton who plays Delilah in the movie. 

“She is a great actress but I thought maybe she was too short,” Sayles said.  Glover is 6’4”. 
“She is not 6’4” Sayles pointed out.  “This kind of difference,” said Sayles as he widened his hands to show the difference, “can be very difficult to shoot when they are standing next to one another.” 

Sayles said Hamilton was perfect for the part despite the height difference.   

“Auditions are a really good time to show off your stuff even if you are not right for the part,” he told the students.    Sayles said one general thing he looks for when casting a part is talent. 

“I’m looking for a person who makes me think they are the character,” Sayles said.  “Listening is something else I look for.”  He also said that age and physical appearance are often specific criteria for a part.

“We also look for actors who have good work habits,” added  Renzi.  “We check actors out who we don’t know."

 Renzi and Sayles both agreed that strong work habits are important because the actors in their movies don’t get trailers, a special car or any extra perks.  “We can’t work with actors who have to wear an ankle bracelet or have drug or alcohol problems,” said Renzi.

Sayles talked about the difficulties that movie actors face.  “There are things going on all around you,” said Sayles.  “You have to act relaxed and natural as well as pay attention to the other actors.” 

“Honeydripper came from music,” said Sayles.   He recalled listening to mainstream rock n roll on radio stations WTRY and WPTR.  “I started listening to music backwards,” Sayles said.  “There is something behind the music.”   He said he started thinking about what was in the music.

Sayles said “working with the musicians,”  was his favorite part of making this movie.  “Musicians have their own language,” he said while smiling.  “Everybody in the movie is playing live except Danny Glover, who doesn’t play,” Sayles told the students.   

He raved about Gary Clark Jr. who is now only 23.  “He has been playing with a group of members who were playing before World War II.”  Prior to this movie Clark has never acted.

Sayles talked about the obstacles an independent filmmaker faces in both shooting and promoting a film.

“Writing screenplays is a special situation because anything I write I have to pay for,” he told the attentive group.  “When I’m writing I know I don’t have much money.” 

Sayles explained how he can’t shoot scenes that won’t show up in the movies.  “Deleting a scene after shooting can cost $100 thousand dollars,” said Sayles.  “Everybody is getting paid by the hour and the equipment is rented for the day.” 

Sayles addressed the difference between movie acting and stage acting.  “People come and go,” said Sayles regarding movie actors.  “Schedules are different and scenes are not shot in sequence.”  He explained how when he goes to a location to shoot for a few days, all of the scenes have to be shot there within those days regardless of where they will appear in the movies.

“My movies don’t usually have one message,” was Sayles response to a student question regarding whether the movie maker usually has a message in mind.   “I want you to get in to the characters and walk away thinking about it,” said Sayles. 

Advice.

“It helps to be lucky and that’s when stuff just lands in your lap,” said Sayles. 

Sayles’ advised the students not to sit around and wait for opportunities to come to them.  “You can make your own movies and work with each other,” he said.  “Do as much as you can.  See as much as you can.” 

“Don’t wait for somebody to give you the job,” added Sayles.

Helpful Link:  http://www.johnsayles.com