tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post113385273891790997..comments2024-03-24T13:26:57.317-07:00Comments on Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule: "I DON'T THINK I'VE SCRATCHED THE SURFACE" A Conversation with Actress SHAWNEE SMITHDennis Cozzaliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01954848938471883431noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-1136879717286572762006-01-09T23:55:00.000-08:002006-01-09T23:55:00.000-08:00^What he said! Loved her in Becker and X-Files, an...^What he said! Loved her in Becker and X-Files, and in Saw and Saw II. Thought it couldn't get much better than good TV and movies. Then I tried out Fydolla Ho and I love it! Thanks for being so good at basically everything, Shawnee. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-1134027967745600752005-12-07T23:46:00.000-08:002005-12-07T23:46:00.000-08:00I especially liked her mention of the Uta Hagen bo...I especially liked her mention of the Uta Hagen book and how it had influenced her work--I, too, have benefited from Hagen's teachings, without actually studying with her in person (and I like her second book, "A Challenge for the Actor," even better). Any actor, or anyone interested in the craft of acting, could find some enlightenment in Uta Hagen's books, even if you skip over parts; I wouldn't skip the part at the beginning of "A Challenge", though, where she talks about what it takes to make an actor. Quite a bit of what Shawnee Smith says about acting and its relationship to one's life reflects what Hagen wrote.<BR/><BR/>I also was intrigued with Shawnee Smith's discussion of how so many women's roles are all about the sexuality, and her assertion that "owning" one's sexuality doesn't necessarily make everything right.<BR/><BR/>The quotation from Friedrich von Schiller, and ensuing comments from Peet, are heartening and thought-provoking about critics and criticism: I've had a hard time figuring out why, when I read some criticism, it's exhilarating, and when I read other criticism, it's totally deflating and discouraging. So this had shed some light on it for me.<BR/><BR/>Finally, Dennis, I know it's difficult to be friendly with a person and also to admire their creative work, particularly if they're famous, without somehow appearing to be a boob, and I think you did a great job of interviewing your friend whose work you also admire and respond to. You managed to bring forth her charming personality and intelligence at the same time as you allowed her to reveal quite a bit of her way of working.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-1133976332303007622005-12-07T09:25:00.000-08:002005-12-07T09:25:00.000-08:00I have seen Shawnee Smith four times in the three ...I have seen Shawnee Smith four times in the three years I've lived in Los Angeles, and I have never once had the guts to talk to her. I've always been a big fan, but this interview makes me like her even more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-1133972882024819792005-12-07T08:28:00.000-08:002005-12-07T08:28:00.000-08:00Dude, you know the front woman for Fidolla Ho? (T...Dude, you know the front woman for Fidolla Ho? (That's how I remember her, along with her being the sole bright spot on that otherwise useless sitcom <I>Becker</I>).<BR/><BR/>That is just too cool.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-1133912335823115642005-12-06T15:38:00.000-08:002005-12-06T15:38:00.000-08:00This girl is the real deal, that's for sure! Let's...This girl is the real deal, that's for sure! Let's hope Hollywood is paying attention. What a refreshingly relaxed and attentive interview, Dennis!<BR/><BR/>By the way: Shawnee's quote is from Friedrich von Schiller. Here's the full version:<BR/><BR/><I>You worthy critics, or whatever you may call yourselves, are ashamed or afraid of the momentary and passing madness which is found in all real creators, the longer or shorter duration of which distinguishes the thinking artist from the dreamer. Hence your complaints of unfruitfulness, for you reject too soon and discriminate too severely.</I><BR/><BR/>Not that I knew this by heart, mind you... I googled it.<BR/><BR/>Wonderful quote. I'd say good criticism is creative itself. Evaluation, however, is most likely to stop creativity in its tracks. That's the way we feel about it at 24 Lies A Second, anyway. Too bad 95% of the criticism out there is all hype, bashing and star ratings.<BR/><BR/>To quote Marcus Tullius Cicero:<BR/><I>I criticize by creation, not by finding fault.</I><BR/><BR/>And yes--I googled that too...<BR/><BR/>PeetAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-1133892236599521712005-12-06T10:03:00.000-08:002005-12-06T10:03:00.000-08:00Dennis, I should be asleep right now after working...Dennis, I should be asleep right now after working all night but the moment I saw Shawnee’s picture on your front page I was hooked.<BR/><BR/>First let me say this. When I was in film school at the tender age of 40, I began to find myself surrounded by an unusual group of people who all had very different motivations for wanting to make films. The most obvious were the group that wanted to become famous. Then there were those that wanted to make bushels of money and become famous.<BR/><BR/>Yet the group that I found the most fascinating to be around were those that were interested in doing good work. It didn’t matter to these people about how much money they could make or the kind of rewards they could receive, it was about working with other talented people and making something that everyone could be proud of and sharing it with others. Being the oldest guy in the bunch was very interesting to me but to my surprise it really didn’t faze the others because they understood me and I felt what they felt. <BR/><BR/>Now naturally if the work we did garnered praise and rewards, obviously they would be greatly appreciated especially if they came from other film makers. It’s a natural instinct to want yourself or your work to have value and meaning and ever since childhood we have valued being rewarded for a job well done. Those wants and desires never change as we grow older. Most of us just learn how to prioritize their value. <BR/><BR/>Because as we grow up and mature a great many of us want to pass our values and our inner beings to our children and those precious gifts become the most valuable reward we will ever receive.<BR/><BR/>Am I rambling???<BR/><BR/>What I’m getting at is that I’ve had a couple of opportunities to meet and speak with a few actors and actresses and I will tell you that Shawnee Smith beats them all. Here is a successful actress who has managed to find that happy medium in her life where she can do the work she wants to do and still find her life's center. Shawnee makes no attempt to “pretend” how important acting is compared to being a great mother. She sounds like a really great, interesting, mature, thoughtful woman and frankly Dennis I’m a little jealous she’s your friend. <BR/><BR/>Invite her out to the drive-in sometime. Maybe Jeff and Frank can arrange a screening of The Blob. I hope that didn’t ruin my chance to meet her someday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-1133890553941483382005-12-06T09:35:00.000-08:002005-12-06T09:35:00.000-08:00Oh my god, what a great interview! I have way too ...Oh my god, what a great interview! I have way too much work to do this morning to have spent all this time reading it, but who cares? I enjoyed every word of it. I look forward to seeing what she does next--well, I mean after the baby comes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com