Lets get the most important thing out of the way first: I absolutelylovedWes AndersonsIsle of Dogs.
Its like Anderson took what he did inFantastic Mr. Foxand amplified it by ten.
Isle of Dogsis so packed with details that it’s jaw-dropping.
If youre a fan of Liev Schreiber its one of those really fun interviews that Im confident youll enjoy.
The film also features the voices ofBryan Cranston,Bill Murray,Scarlett Johansson,F.
Check out what Liev Schreiber had to say below.
Image via Fox Searchlight
Hes a cool filmmaker.
What did it cost you to be part of his universe now?
LIEV SCHREIBER: It didnt cost me anything.
Image via Fox Searchlight
He called me and I was very excited; I was very surprised.
I felt like I was ideally suited.
I spent my whole life imitating dogs.
Image via Fox Searchlight
I thought, thats an actors worst nightmare.
I was like, oh shit.
Is that specifically what he requested?
Image via Fox Searchlight
SCHREIBER: No he didnt say that at all.
That was my gamble.
SCHREIBER: No, I didnt.
Image via Fox Searchlight
I gambled on that, with Wes that would be the right choice.
I walked out of there convinced I was wrong.
What does that feel like?
Image via Fox Searchlight
(laughs)
Tell us more.
SCHREIBER: Really horrible.
Theres also a slightly political idea at play there.
Image via Fox Searchlight
Can you extrapolate on that?
SCHREIBER: Can I extrapolate on that?
(laughs)
Can you talk more about that?
Image via Fox Searclight
SCHREIBER: I can talk more and I can extrapolate.
Youve been doing yoga, if you could do both things.
SCHREIBER: Well Ill tell you.
Image via Fox Searchlight
The most is- Im a dog lover.
I have loved dogs my whole life.
Ive seen the movie twice now.
Image via Sony Pictures Animation
The first time I saw it I took my kids to a color timing screening with Wes.
I was like, this is amazing work!
Hes really a tremendous curator.
Image via Showtime
Its all put into this kind of playful narrative; this sort of childlike narrative.
Theres always very complex ideas playing in the film.
That was my first experience of it; I was very happy.
Image via Showtime
Then I saw it last night and my experience was much more emotional.
He was going for something more emotional and intimate, and I was surprised by that.
The first time he hears his masters voice, he makes tears in the dogs eyes.
Image via Sony Pictures Animation
How perhaps Ive undervalued that, even as a dog lover.
Ive always had dogs.
That kind of got me last night.
Image via Fox Searchlight
Do you think theres a time and place to watch a film?
Do you think watching it in a different time and place has an effect on the film?
Do you think also being here and-
SCHREIBER: It depends on the film.
A bad film can be made better.
But a good film- last night that was endless- that stage show.
Weve seen it before.
SCHREIBER: Oh, for fuck sakes!
(laughs) The watch was set two hours ahead.
So, Im sitting there going, Oh fuck, its midnight, the movie hasnt started.
That could have made the movie very, very bad.
So, by the time the movie started I was in a right panic.
I talked to- Im going to be screwed!
I turned to Tilda, Im like, This is outrageous.
Tildas sitting right next to me and shes like, Yes, yes it is.
Shes not as alarmed as me.
Im looking around- the mayor of Berlin is next to me, hes like [imitates laugh].
Its fucking midnight and the movie hasnt started.
It was my second viewing.
Its that good
SCHREIBER: I thinks so.
(laughs) I was like, Oh thats why Im fine!
(laughs)
Did your kids like it?
What did your kids think?
SCHREIBER: My kids loved it.
Mostly they loved it because it was PG-13, and they knew it was PG-13.
They were excited that they were getting to see a PG-13 movie.
They were like, its animated but its PG-13!
(laughs) I was like, good shit Kai.
So is this the first thing your kids have ever seen you in?
You dont let them see PG-13?
SCHREIBER: Yeah, I try not to.
This is- is this the first movie?
No, they saw bits ofX-Men Origins.They were so desperate to see that because of all the superhero stuff.
They saw pieces of that.
They saw a little bit ofTaking Woodstockbecause Kai really wanted to see me do drag.
(laughs) Just little bits.
Thats how I felt, honestly.
I was like, Oh wow!
I get to work with Wes!
And I admit, as a filmmaker, there was a certain degree of espionage involved.
I wanted to see his process, I wanted to see what he did.
All I really got to do was hang out in a recording studio for a few hours.
Are you hoping that you would get grandfathered in to the revolving cast?
Ive heard its like summer camp.
When they came from Budapest they were like, It was the best thing.
SCHREIBER: I would be thrilled.
Thats why I brought up- how much did you pay to be part of this group?
SCHREIBER: It would be amazing.
How long did you do your recording?
How long ago was it?
SCHREIBER: I think it was 2016.
Honestly, I dont remember
Were you shooting anything else at the time?
Were you in the middle ofRay Donovan?
SCHREIBER: I think I might have been in a play.
I might have been inLe Liaisons, Broadway.
So, did you ever want to be you?
If youre doing yourself in this.
Did you become an actor to not be you?
SCHREIBER: I wanted to be a writer initially.
I had a very good writing teacher who told me Id be a better actor.
I was like, Oh wow!
Ill take my play back.
It really is his invention.
I was reaching for those ideas.
I was reaching for the shame he probably feels when he can no longer be the dog.
I was reaching for all of those things, but Wes really delivered them.
SCHREIBER: Well, yeah.
I mean I had no idea what I was doing, but now I see what Wes has done.
Its just- realizing his vision, and mine was a small part in it.
The reality is theres a lot of people that make films.
Theres a lot that goes into a performance that has nothing to do with the actor.
Did you actually get to see what Spots would look like?
SCHREIBER: I saw a drawing of him.
I saw a drawing.
It wasnt like [imitates drawing].
It was like a little drawing.
Was it influential in anyway?
I shouldn’t say that.
He was like heres your dog and I was like [mumbles].
Was your dog based on you?
Because the moment we see those brilliant blue eyes we know its you before you even speak.
SCHREIBER: Well thank you.
I like the blue eyes- the blue eyes werent in my drawing.
Then I saw the poster and I said, Oh!
Thats a handsome dog!
Except for the blue eyes.
Theyve been versed in the panoply of state and how to behave in these situations.
Which is just, come on.
What are they kind of dogs that you have?
Do you have one now?
I have one now.
I had a lot of labs and retrievers when I was little.
Then, I had a street dog, Blishka, that was my first dog that was my own.
Then she ran away.
Theyre exhausting, right?
SCHREIBER: Theyre just- they never bite but theyre just fuckers.
I love them but theyre like tyrants.
I have a soft spot for tyrants, especially little ones.
Then, I didnt have a dog for a while.
There was a producer that was after them and I just bullied the producer.
I pulled a full Ray Donovan on her and said, Those are my dogs.
I got them and I gave the girl to Naomi and kept the boy, Woody.
So these are recent additions.
SCHREIBER: Yeah, Ive had them for about five, four months.
SCHREIBER: Yeah, I love them.
Woody is like [imitates dog].
Hes like, Spots, who?
Hes got a little bit of the tyrant thing.
The pillow with the xs and the os I wouldnt have- but thats her, its a different aesthetic.
You said you bullied the producer so it made me think you might be a bulldog.
You yourself, what dog would you be?
SCHREIBER: I would be an Airedale.
I thought about this.
What do they look like?
SCHREIBER: Theyre big, theyre curly, very curly.
SCHREIBER: No, theyre not regal.
They chase bears up trees, thats what theyre used for.
I knew one in Canada that did that.
SCHREIBER: Oh, I dont know if I’m allowed to talk about that yet.
We took some big chances on that and did some real- by the way, it looks amazing.
Im very curious if youre playing the mentor to Peter Parker or the villain.
SCHREIBER: I cant talk about that.
Can you at least say, compared to the amount of time you shot?
SCHREIBER: It was a lot more work.
SCHREIBER: No, one session, but- Im fast.
(laughs) Im good at this.
Ive got a lot of practice at this stuff from doing docs, spending so much in recording booths.
Also from directing a little bit.
Its like, Oh that didn’t work, goodbye.
Is that in your future?
Are there projects-
SCHREIBER: Maybe, I dont know.
Ill do more of the television stuff.
With kids, its hard because you have to go away for so long.
You guys wrapped a really good season ofRay Donovan.
Next season, its almost like a reboot, you guys are going to New York City.
Do you envision the show as turning a whole new corner?
SCHREIBER: We pick up where we left off, and -
Are you filming right now?
They come and go,and there are events that require their presence.
Some of it we will continue to shoot in LA.
Do you like the life of a TV actor?
SCHREIBER: (laughs) I have a very good situation.
Showtime has been really, really good to me.
Very generous with me.
Theyve made it as comfortable as you’re able to make it.
Its a very intense show.
To do it for six months- its hard.
Theres a point at which you go, woah, Ive been doing that for a long time.
SCHREIBER: How medium?
SCHREIBER: You know, I do whatever I can do.
Most of my choices are determined by schedule.
I think that cinema- I mean television- is becoming more cinematic, obviously.
Thats whats so great about things like Berlin.
You really do get a chance to see some alternative films, and really good ones.
I think these guys are really good curators, they pick really good films.
SCHREIBER: How would I compare them?
Well, Im interested especially because you said you brought your kids, and this is much more adult.
In terms of how much he has grown from his first animated film.
SCHREIBER: I think theres a reason why he made another animated movie.
I think he wanted to do it again, I think he wanted to do it bigger.
I think he wanted to go further with some ideas that clearly worked.
I think he has found a way to make stop motion animation cinematic- totally cinematic.
Do you think he has a relationship with fashion as well?
I mean personally, yeah, I think hes pretty stylish.
Was he stylish for that hour and a half?
Or did he wear a t-shirt and jeans.
SCHREIBER: I think Wes is that-
He dresses up.
SCHREIBER: I dont think its a put on, it is who he is.
Theres people that are few and far between.
He is a remarkable guy.
He is- thats who he is.
How did you meet?
SCHREIBER: I dont remember, probably at some film festival in passing.
And it took that long for you to get into one of his movies?
SCHREIBER: Well we werent like, pals.
Youve got to angle it!
SCHREIBER: Well weve never been- Im not good at that.
Only in press roundtables.
Is there another director that you would absolutely love the chance to work with?
SCHREIBER: Wes was really one of them.
I really, deeply admire him.
Certainly borrowed from Wes.
You know, I love Paul Thomas Anderson.
I think he is an extraordinary filmmaker too.
Yeah, you know, these guys are out there recruiting their new ensemble.
Now youre on record saying that you want to do it.
If you dont put it out there it can never happen.
SCHREIBER: Thats right.
So do you ever vacation?
SCHREIBER: I do.
It seems like you like to work, a lot.
SCHREIBER: Well, yeah but look this was two hours.
Thats all I had to do.
Well, you do plays.
SCHREIBER: That kicked my ass.
Thats not going to happen again.
It also came right after the separation and I was, my head was spinning.
Every night to be in a play and not seeing my kids.
One more thing aboutSpider-Man.What was it about that project that said, I want to do this?
SCHREIBER: You know, it was actually the animation team.
Its going to be pretty special, from what Ive seen so far.
And I havent seen much, but its pretty special.
It looks like its inside a comic book, the animation.
SCHREIBER: Yeah, thats what I love about it.
I dont know if I should have said that.
Thats not a story point.
SCHREIBER: Well, no thats- if you know something about film, thats kind of an amazing thing.
Its an amazing thing for an animated film to do that well.
Anamorphic is the stretched out format.
If youve seen the trailer you already get a sense of what it is.
