tagged w/ Dramedy
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The Sunday Conversation: William H. Macy
The actor discusses his new Showtime series, 'Shameless,' Chicago theater and his respect for writers.
Actor William H. Macy on the set of "Shameless," a new Showtime series. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
By Irene Lacher, Special to the Los Angeles Times
January 2, 2011
Oscar-nominated actor William H. Macy, 60, takes on his first regular series role with "Shameless," Showtime's new dramedy also starring Emmy Rossum and Joan Cusack, which premieres Jan. 9. It's based on a British series created by executive producer Paul Abbott that he and John Wells adapted for American audiences.
Your character, Frank Gallagher, is introduced with someone saying, "Who the hell is that?" A lot of people would consider him a pretty dreadful dad, but I get the sense that you love him. Am I right about that?
Well, I do on many levels. I have a poetical license to kill here. What can be better than to have a character who's inebriated much or most of the time? There's pretty much nothing that's out of bounds for Frank.
And you do get to spend a lot of time lying down.
I do indeed. I like the character because it's novel for me, although I've played more than my share of misfits and losers and guys behind the eight ball. This is a little bit different because the reality is, Frank is quite a powerful fellow. He's very smart, he's very driven. He's got a wickedly good sense of humor. It just so happens he's decided to live outside the law.
How did you create the character?
I guess I would have to say Paul Abbott really created the character. It's based on a British series. The character was very well formed before I ever got to it. I watched their pilot before we shot our pilot, and before we shot our first season, I watched their season, and I've held myself to that because it's outrageously good.
"Shameless" is like the anti-"Brothers & Sisters." It's a big family dramedy but on the other end of the economic scale, which is not new territory for British film and television, but it is here. It's unusual to see an American series about poor people, even though it's timely.
It couldn't come at a better time. I do know it took [executive producer] John Wells almost eight years to get this thing off the ground for many reasons. It's bold, it's shameless, it's not by any stretch of the imagination traditional television. It is to a certain extent groundbreaking material, and I can understand the networks would have some trepidation before doing something like this. But it seems perfect now with the economic meltdown. It seems completely timely.
How would you describe a William H. Macy role?
I would hope and flatter myself that there is depth and breadth to the different kinds of roles I've gotten to play. I certainly was worried that after "Fargo" I would repeat that role ad nauseam, but in fact it's not turned out that way. I've been a lucky guy. I've gotten to play all different kinds of characters, and this one is a grand amalgam of all of those.
There a couple of scenes that stand out from early episodes: Pink furry handcuffs. Need I say more? Your sex scene with Joan Cusack is hilarious.
What an actor she is! I've known Joan for a long, long time. I actually babysat Joan Cusack. I started acting in Chicago, and I knew her dad and I knew the Pivens, who lived across the street. And I babysat them a couple of times, or at least that's my story and I'm sticking with it. Byrne Piven [father of Jeremy] was one of the stalwart Chicago actors. I had a theater company called the St. Nicholas Theater Company that I'd started with Dave Mamet and Steven Schachter. And Byrne Piven acted with us several times, and he took me under his wing. He would hire me to come up to Evanston to do light carpentry. I think half the time he actually needed something fixed, and half the time he was throwing work my way because he knew I needed it. And the Cusacks lived right across the street. Joan's mom still talks about a set of bookshelves that I built that are right inside their front door.
It must have been difficult to film that sex scene with her without bursting into laughter.
I must say, every once in a while the cast and I stop dead in our tracks. I love the way the series combines this high farce — it's hilarious — but it's got this underbelly of reality to it. Times are tough in this country, and this family reflects that. I've never seen this on television, the combination of farce and kitchen sink drama, it's quite new.
How important do you think good writing is, and why do you think Hollywood undervalues writers?
On the one hand, they don't undervalue writers. Everybody realizes the script is all. That's why every once in a while there will be a bidding war and they'll pay outrageous amounts of money for a good script. The most common Hollywood story is that they'll go crazy for some script and spend a million and a half dollars for it and then rewrite the whole thing. It all starts with the writer, and to my way of thinking, it basically ends with the writer. If you get a good boffo story that's well written, that's irreplaceable. There ain't an actor born who couldn't be replaced. Directors, scenic designers, all of that can be replaced. Writing is the bottom line. Why are writers treated with such disrespect? I do not know.
I'm wondering whether an influence on your respect for writing is David Mamet, whom you've worked with since you met at Goddard College.
Certainly he taught me everything I know, so I got a good dose of respect for the writer. The way I grew up, you learned the lines, you learned them dead on accurately and you say exactly those lines, and I've always been scandalized when I've seen actors come in and paraphrase or put all these grace notes before the lines.
Hollywood isn't known for its long-lasting marriages. Why do you think yours is the exception to the rule?
I would say, marry Felicity Huffman and you're golden. We grew up onstage together. We do love what we do for a living. We ask each other about our roles, we ask acting advice, we get notes from each other. It keeps us close. There's nothing more flattering than getting a call in the middle of the day from Flicka saying, "I've got this moment. It's just not working." We brainstorm about what possibly could help. I do the same thing with her.The Sunday Conversation: William H. Macy
The actor discusses his new Showtime... more
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ElectricSistaHood & Boston Bastard Brigade writer King Baby Duck reviews the under-the-radar Australian claymation film "Mary and Max," starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Humphries and Toni Collette. Now available on DVD and Blu-Ray.ElectricSistaHood & Boston Bastard Brigade writer King Baby Duck reviews the... more
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Episode 2.7 - "Girlfriend?": Sarah, Maggie, Yasmine, and Hunter have a girl sesh in the kitchen - lots of OMGs and spoonfuls of yoghurt to help the gossip go down - and a revelation about one Mr. Adrian surfaces. Everything is quite delightful until Gwen calls the house looking for Sarah; everyone's confused and Sarah stumbles out after she stumbles over her explanation for leaving. No one seems too phased tho' since Maggie and Yasmine have some drama for drama queen Rox... and it's something she won't be pleased about.
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"Orange Juice in Bishop's Garden" (OJBG) is a fiercely local and independent web series set in Washington, D.C. about the lives of a group of teenagers in the summer of 1994.
Make sure to visit us at http://www.OJinBG.com/ to check out our episodes, blog, news updates, character bios, and more!
Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/OJBishopsGarden/
"The bad things we do. The things we get caught for--and how they are never the same."
http://www.koldcast.tv/video/girlfriend_ep_27Episode 2.7 - "Girlfriend?": Sarah, Maggie, Yasmine, and Hunter have a girl... more
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After gashing open that arm at Yas' party, Maggie is OK, but her feelings are irreparably damaged from catching Sarah and Jake together. Meanwhile, everyone else is more than happy to have Sarah be the scapegoat-- so that they can, uh, avoid the fact that they were more concerned with partying than getting Maggie to a hospital when she OBV needed stitches. So, *scapegoat time*-- thanks to Travis, the crew instigates a crank calling jag -- harassing Sarah as "revenge" for her evils against Maggie... and THIS is what happens...
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"Orange Juice in Bishop's Garden" (OJBG) is a fiercely local and independent web series set in Washington, D.C. about the lives of a group of teenagers in the summer of 1994.
Make sure to visit us at http://www.OJinBG.com/ to check out our episodes, blog, news updates, character bios, and more!
Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/OJBishopsGarden/
"The bad things we do. The things we get caught for--and how they are never the same."
http://www.koldcast.tv/video/operator_ep_9After gashing open that arm at Yas' party, Maggie is OK, but her feelings are... more
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Written and directed by Peter Stebbings, and starring Woody Harrelson and Kat Dennings, Defendor is a superhero dramedy which centers around three characters: an everyday guy who comes to believe he’s a superhero, his psychiatrist, and the teenager prostitute he befriends.
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This short film is about John who was born deaf and has gained his own understanding of the world through his conceived notion of what the world sounds like. At this point in time in his life, he is presented with a reason to restore his hearing. After gaining the ability to hear, he realizes something about the reality of sounds.This short film is about John who was born deaf and has gained his own understanding... more
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“John dumped Sherrie. Now John wants Sherrie back. But is it too late? Will he find things with this Sherrie to be on the rocks?"
DANCING LIGHT FILMS presents a film by JOEL VETSCH 'HOLD ON' starring MARK LAMBECK, TRACY JAMES, BARBARA GRANT shot & edited by JOEL VETSCH produced by JOEL VETSCH screenplay by ERICA LEE directed by JOEL VETSCH“John dumped Sherrie. Now John wants Sherrie back. But is it too late? Will he... more
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DANCING LIGHT FILMS presents a film by JOEL VETSCH 'HOLD ON' starring MARK LAMBECK, TRACY JAMES, BARBARA GRANT shot & edited by JOEL VETSCH produced by JOEL VETSCH screenplay by ERICA LEE directed by JOEL VETSCHDANCING LIGHT FILMS presents a film by JOEL VETSCH 'HOLD ON' starring MARK... more
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spooly
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2 years ago
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Writer/director Alan Ball discusses the controversy surrounding the title of his movie, TOWELHEAD.
This was recorded at the New York roundtable by the digital miracle that is the RCA EZ201. Also, please check out the companion piece, TEEN SEXUALITY & CONTROVERSY: ALAN BALL ON TOWELHEAD: http://current.com/items/89290467_teen_sexuality_controversy_alan_ball_on_towelhead .
Comments are always invited. Thanks!Writer/director Alan Ball discusses the controversy surrounding the title of his... more
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SMOKIN YOGI VISIONS is a Minneapolis-based Production Company dedicated to creating high-quality, unique, and forward-thinking Film, Literature, and Communications. Balancing a love of art with a passion for supporting women in commerce, SMOKIN YOGI provides products that are as meaningful as they are entertaining.
SMOKIN YOGI focuses on projects that offer the public an avenue to thoughtfully consider subjects that are prevalent everywhere, and yet remain taboo for manye.g., divorce, mental illness, sexuality, money, etc. Co-authored by Smokin Yogi founder, Julie Rappaport, along with her former husband of seventeen years and their teenage daughter, their newly published book, 'RELATIONAL SHIFTS, A Family Doesn't Have To End Just Because A Marriage Does,' details one such story--their own family's personal story of their journey through divorce to the other side of their 'relational shift.' (See BOOKS for more information and to order your copy today.)
As SMOKIN YOGI values projects that develop themes that have been unmentionable, SMOKIN YOGI also values the ability to create an open dialogue for discussion of these difficult subjects. As such, SMOKIN YOGI provides peer-to-peer social therapy as well as related links of interest to all through EZINE, where individuals can find important social, spiritual, and emotional resources.
In addition, SMOKIN YOGI is building a library of short films for distribution via the net, ipods, and cell phones. Please see FILM for more information regarding the upcoming Abnormally Normal, a series that parallels and highlights many of the issues discussed in the book, Relational Shifts. The demo-pilot for Abnormally Normal, Just Breathe, Part I, She Says... has been awarded a Fiscal Sponsorship by the IFP MN, as an Independent Feature Project. Abnormally Normal had its premiere screening at the Swansea Bay Film Festival, Wales, UK, June, 2007.
SMOKIN YOGI VISIONS is a Minneapolis-based Production Company dedicated to creating... more
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Relational Shifts is a new book that provides families with an intimate portrait of the realities of divorce while offering a potentially positive alternative. Divorce affects all aspects of every family members physical, mental, emotional, social, sexual, and spiritual self. This book asks: Does a family have to end just because a marriage does?
Co-written by Julie Rappaport and former husband Lee Liberman, with their teenage daughter Tasha Liberman, Relational Shifts offers three unique perspectives on divorce voiced personally by each family member.
In their respective, distinct voices, Julie, Lee, and Tasha reveal their emotions while voicing their perspectives as they recollect their individual experiences about specific events and issues in this familys true story about divorce. Each chapter is followed by a provocative discussion of the preceding chapter, along with Evocations, which readers can personally utilize to evoke thoughtful consideration of the presented themes. The books covers many of the different facets of very difficult subjects regarding divorcemoney, sexuality, traditions, custody, remarriage, and more.
Relational Shifts is a new book that provides families with an intimate portrait of... more
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WWW.E-ZINEDIVORCE.COM for FREE sites and links to great books, sites, and places like the collaborative law organizations that keep divorces out of court and families interests first. Readers share their own personal stories of inspiration to empower others in their Relational Shifts. Check out the blogs and articles that deal with Relational Shifts.WWW.E-ZINEDIVORCE.COM for FREE sites and links to great books, sites, and places like... more
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Abnormally Normal is a life-affirming episodic dra-medy that cleverly captures the exhilarating highs, the desperate lows, and all of the moments in between that describe the ever-evolving journey of family life, even when its flow changes course with a divorce. The production's theme is: "A Family Doesn't Have to End Just Because a Marriage Does." Abnormally Normal offers a range of characters with whom audience members can readily identify. Every viewer can see themselves and their own feelings reflected in the compelling, comedic, and sympathetic dialogue of Abnormally Normal. Comedic relief is found not only during the Head Trips, spiraling into the constantly bickering archetypes within themselves, where internal, emotional conflicts are exposed as the characters wonder what will become of themselves and their family. These scenes reveal what the choices they make are based upon. In the 2005 U.S. Census Report, almost as many divorces were filed as marriages, and research shows over 40 million living Americans have been divorced. In 2006, there were more women single than ever before. Abnormally Normal is a life-affirming episodic dra-medy that cleverly captures the... more
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Abnormally Normal is a life-affirming episodic dra-medy that cleverly captures the exhilarating highs, the desperate lows, and all of the moments in between that describe the ever-evolving journey of family life, even when its flow changes course with a divorce. The production's theme is: "A Family Doesn't Have to End Just Because a Marriage Does."
Abnormally Normal offers a range of characters with whom audience members can readily identify. Every viewer can see themselves and their own feelings reflected in the compelling, comedic, and sympathetic dialogue of Abnormally Normal.
Comedic relief is found not only during the Head Trips, spiraling into the constantly bickering archetypes within themselves, where internal, emotional conflicts are exposed as the characters wonder what will become of themselves and their family. These scenes reveal what the choices they make are based upon.
In the 2005 U.S. Census Report, almost as many divorces were filed as marriages, and research shows over 40 million living Americans have been divorced. In 2006, there were more women single than ever before.
Abnormally Normal is a life-affirming episodic dra-medy that cleverly captures the... more
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