I was fortunate to interview actor Vincent D'Onofrio, who has been in such films " Full Metal Jacket," "The Player," "Jurassic World," and the brand new western hit "Magnificent Seven." He has also been in great shows like Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Daredevil. This is our full interview and I hope you enjoy it.
First sir, let me thank you again. I am a huge fan of your work. #1 You play a tracker in the Magnificent 7. What did you learn about the men who were the trackers for the civil war? He certainly came off to me as a man who carried many wounds from that war. Was that intentional?
Horne had some Demons from his past. When I play a character. All the interior is based on my life. Unless it's talked about in the story. I always use real pains & sorrows. Always use regrets & memories I can bring up in my minds eye. The same type of stuff you and the rest of us have in life. Joy as well. That's my favorite. I bring these types of thing up inside me and as I'm connecting to the other actors I speak the authors words. That's how I Carry my characters life around with me. It translates onto film and helps tell the story correctly.
#2 What Westerns do you love that you could see getting remade?
The question of what should be remade has always been A big one. I don't know really. I guess it comes down to an individual wanting to remake a certain cinematic story.
I think if someone is passionate about remaking something then they should try. The great films can't be remade. Different versions of an original can be of course .Only a great film stands alone. Forever.
#3 My uncle was influenced to join the Marines after seeing "Sand of Iwo Jima." which he told me was nothing like the Korean war he later fought in. I just saw "Hacksaw Ridge" and was very impressed with it, and what it says about war. Since you have been in one of arguably the best war films made, what responsibility do you think we have as film makers to not sugar coat war? Is it ok to take the viewer on that violent trip? or should we limit it for stories sake? Just so we don't think violence is all it is?
Don't think you can make a war film without violence of some kind. Whether it's an internal violence being experience by the soldiers or family of the soldiers at home. It is emotionally as violent as physically I believe. A war film by nature is violent in its title. WAR. The politics of war can also be so terrible and horrific I think it matches actual physical violence as well.
That of course all depends on the storytellers point of view. Personally to me it's obvious that there aren't a lot of war comedies because it's just not funny.
MASH & Catch 22 . Vonnegut's - Slaughter house 5. All very dark comedies. Hardly comic . But the irony of war can not be left out of the story. Those 3 films I just mentioned handle the irony and the emotional depth of War . They also all have very violent scenes here and there.
#4 Your Altman experience happened when you were much younger. Do you think that film making has changed that much or do you think its as political as it was in "The Player?"
You mention THE PLAYER in your question. You have to understand that when THE PLAYER was made it was not the typical film experience .
Altman was on of the last film mavericks out there. Oliver stone ,Maybe Tarsem Danwhar is a the only Maverick left we'll see. Tarsem shoots like the old mavericks shot . So if it quacks like a duck. It's a duck. Mavericks are great to work for. It takes them forever to get a film made not because of the material or because they suck. In fact it's because they are so good but they do not give in to financial pressures. They are the boss. The buck stops with them. Literally sometimes.
It's debatable whether every filmmaker should be this way. I say that because of worked with great directors whom use a studio or a financier as part of the team. They make the film with them, include them. They also can be great filmmakers. I don't think the business really changes as far the actual productions go. Things get more expensive . Trends happen. New types of venues happen such as streaming . The biggest change is the modern studio is not a production house . The modern studio is a collector of content. They stack rights to everything they can. And farm them out. And that's when the fun starts us filmmakers and actors go to work
#5 As a HUGE fan of Daredevil, I think you were fantastic as "KingPin." Would you relish working with your friend Robert Downey Jr. in a couple of side episodes? Would you make an appearance on Luke Cage if asked?
As far as working with Downey . I'd love to do whatever with him. He's always involved in cool stuff so it's pretty much a no brained. I don't ever think about me being with him in the context of a marvel show or film.
Marvel is a very smart company with a lot of decision makers and you just never know what's coming next. Yes if they ask me to do Luke cage I would. If I was free. I love that show.
#6 Do you think really good story telling is going to be more about huge arcs that you can have in something like a netflix show? I'm very impressed with the scope of what something like that can do. As an actor.. you are in, do your work, and get out for 6 months. IS that kind of work appealing to you?
I think good storytelling is good no matter what the form. If its compelling and it is deep &/or entertaining in some way it's good. As n actor I prefer film. The writing has gotten great for tv but the productions are mostly still a little rough around the edges . They still don't spend enough money most of the time on the actual productions . After the first season or two they immediately try to start shaving the budgets. Us actors we get what we get and that doesn't get cut. They start cutting other stuff and it effects the production value that they end up delivering to the audience. A lot easier to budget most films.
One knows going in what the production value will be most of the time and that rarely changes. Film is as you know a collaboration of many arts. All of them need a budget. If you want to make a good production it costs. Of course there are exceptions for small intimate films . But most of the stuff that's on tv these days is hardly intimate . But still great.
#7 Seems to me that Westerns are making a bit of a comeback. Why did attracted you to accepting the part, and would do more? Do you like a good western?
I love westerns . Yes I'd do more if asked . I will direct one this summer.
I can't really talk about yet but it's gonna be super cool. I wrote the story and will direct. Mag 7 was brought to me by Fuqua . I first heard about it through Hawke then Antione called me .i mean with that cast and Antione shooting I couldn't say no. The script was rough but Antione knows what he's doing so I put my trust in him. He let us build our characters ourselves and make them fit in the story. Antione had a lot of talented dudes on that film .
#8 Was it nice to get a repeat in working with Chris Pratt again?
Last but not least question 8.
Chris Pratt is one of the kindest men I've ever met. His wife Anna is also super sweet. There Son is amazing. I'm sure Chris and I will work together again. Not sure what but I just feel like we will. He is so awesome to work with . He's a very responsible actor . Works super hard . Never complains and is just funny as hell I consider him a friend . So to actually have a friend like him or Hawke on set with me is just glorious There is no judgment no competition it's just about the work. And of course the friendship is at all times present so we take care of each other. So fricking cool. I'm very lucky.
I guess that's it. Thanks for the questions Jake. Glad I could do it for ya kiddo.
V.
Thanks sir! I hope to be a director and writer and producer when I graduate . When i do i hope to be as cool and awesome as your are!
U got it kiddo. Good luck to you!
:)
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