Jason Schwartzman Is the American Jean-Pierre Léaud: The Actor on ‘Between the Temples,’ ‘Queer,’ and the Coppola Dynasty

Jason Schwartzman’s been a totemic determine so lengthy it may be exhausting to separate participant from half. Starting as idol of teenage revolt Max Fischer in Wes Anderson’s “Rushmore,” the actor’s spent a quarter-century inhabiting quite a few sorts — stuffy writers, disgruntled husbands, mourning widows, drug addicts, a bumping PI on HBO’s perPetually ill-appreciated “Bored to Demise” — which have doubled as progressions {of professional} versatility and real-life growing older. 

Like Jean-Pierre Léaud earlier than him, Schwartzman is seemingly now forged for the load his title and visage can carry. (Look no additional than the sensible, self-lampooning episode of “Tim and Eric’s Bedtime Tales.”) This sequence continues with “Between the Temples,” which finds him taking part in Benjamin, a cantor whose mourning for his deceased spouse finds focus in periods with Carla (Carol Kane), a fellow widow who decides now’s excessive time to obtain the Bat Mitzvah she missed 60-or-so years prior. A brilliantly formed scriptment from Nathan Silver and C. Mason Wells makes excellent scene companions of the 2 — they type one in every of cinema’s snuggest odd {couples}.

IndieWire sat down with Schwartzman in New York, discussing “Between the Temples” amidst inquiries into and observations on his exceptional profession, and started with a dialogue of his uncle Francis Ford Coppola’s e-book “Stay Cinema and Its Strategies.”

This interview has been condensed and edited for readability.

IndieWire: Whereas prepping this interview I used to be studying this e-book. [Pulls out “Live Cinema and Its Techniques.”]

Jason Schwartzman: Oh, wow. Oh, wow. That’s so humorous. It is a nice e-book.

Oh, so that you’ve learn it.

No, I’ve learn it. It’s incredible.

I’m actually having fun with it. Appropriate “Megalopolis” prep.

Effectively, that is like… [taps book] Actually it’s like theater, which he loves.

You come from possibly the good, preeminent creative American household.

[Pause] Mmm…

Effectively, it’s fairly good.

Thanks.

And being on this massive artists’ household, is there some expectation that everyone is watching, listening to, studying all people else’s work?

Do you imply now, within the current tense, as I’ve gotten older, or do you imply as you’re youthful?

Possibly each. Like in case you, rising up, had nights the place you watched “You’re a Large Boy Now” or found them in your individual time.

[Points finger]

The latter.

That one. Yeah. [Laughs] If this implies something, I didn’t see “The Godfather” till I used to be 17. I don’t know why. However I suppose I used to be into… I don’t know.

Spending 16 capturing “Rushmore” is a superb excuse for not seeing “The Godfather” till you have been 17.

No, no, I had seen it earlier than I shot “Rushmore.” So I suppose I noticed it once I was 16 … Are you asking about sharing concepts and that sort of factor? As a result of I like your query; I need to provide you with an attention-grabbing reply. That’s query.

It’s truthfully much less romantic than that. If, when “Priscilla” comes out, it’s anticipated you’ll go see that. There’s a burden of expectation on you.

I don’t really feel a burden of expectation, however I really feel that I need to see it. And I did. And I cherished it… I imply, I went and noticed “Longlegs” the day it got here out as a result of I’m a fan of my cousin Nicolas [Cage]’s work, and I like to see the place he’s at. As I’d be with any individual I’m a fan of. To me — and possibly that is nuts — simply in the way in which you may study a lot about somebody from the e-book they’ve of their bag, seeing a film of anyone, it’s form of like that’s the place they’re at.

I do know it’s a collaborative course of and never simply the actor’s full… you realize, it’s edited, it’s labored on, it’s a collaborative factor. That’s what I really like a couple of new album popping out and going to see a brand new film by somebody. As a result of I’m like, “What are they going to do subsequent? The place are they at now?” Not that I don’t additionally communicate to my household personally, however I feel there’s one thing else that, in case you’re a fan of somebody, you may solely actually get from seeing their work. Particularly one thing like “Priscilla”: [Sofia Coppola has] written and directed this factor. I need to learn about the place she’s at and what she’s enthusiastic about. What she’s taken with. What she needs to movie. The place the digicam’s going.

It’s simply that form of factor. So there’s no expectation different than simply the respect that I really feel for her — particularly, in that instance. And it’s exhausting to make a film, and I need to know the way it goes. It’s not like I’m getting updates. I do know she’s making this film. However I need to see what she’s been doing, however it’s not required. And my emotions actually don’t get damage if nobody sees mine.

You weren’t calling them each week asking in the event that they watched “Bored to Demise.”

I may say nearly the alternative. “Please, don’t watch something.” I don’t just like the imposition. There are such a lot of issues to see and do, and everybody’s so busy, I’m not telling folks. In the event that they discover it, they discover it. I’m not telling anybody about it. [Laughs]

My microscopic model is that, once I write one thing new, it’s simply… please go away me alone.

That’s the factor: That’s simply your loved ones. It’s so embarrassing. [Laughs] However that stated, I’m attempting as exhausting as I can. Everybody’s busy. It sounds such as you and I are a bit related; I’ve a factor the place I don’t need to bug anybody. However that may, as time goes on, I notice be interpreted as “you don’t care.” The reality is: You actually care. You simply don’t need to additionally… not inconvenience…

To folks my age, you’re a totemic determine. I watched “Rushmore” once I was 16 — nice film then, nice film now, however the good age to find it. My buddies and I noticed ourselves in Max Fischer — for higher and worse — whereas round that point “Bored to Demise” premiered, and it was such a imaginative and prescient of what our lives as adults in Brooklyn could possibly be.

Proper. Proper, proper, proper.

Then “Hear Up Philip” comes out once I’m a senior in faculty. Its irascible-intellectual character fascinates at the same time as you attempt to heed the film’s warnings. And within the final two years it’s been “Asteroid Metropolis” and “Between the Temples,” each of which I discovered very transferring for underlining how lengthy I’ve been watching you onscreen.

Mmm. Thanks — very a lot.

The comparability I make — which hopefully you don’t blanche at an excessive amount of — is that you simply’re the American Jean-Pierre Léaud.

Oh, my. Don’t say that. However he’s my man … Yesterday I did a factor for MUBI. I talked about “Stolen Kisses,” and I stated he’s my favourite actor, and I even have a signed poster, to me, from Jean-Pierre Léaud. It’s the best possession. It says, “To Jason — Jean-Pierre Léaud.” I didn’t get it; somebody acquired it for me as a present. It’s, like, the best factor. I can’t imagine it. A part of me nonetheless believes they only acquired it signed for a generic “Jason” they usually acquired it to me, however — nonetheless.

He’s additionally now forged for the dwelling historical past that’s. “Biography” is a giant phrase to make use of, however in a quarter-century you’ve gone from precocious teen to, twice, a widower.

Nathan [Silver] was not blissful about that, by the way in which. In the course of whereas we have been making [“Between the Temples”], he stated, “What? You’re a widower in ‘Asteroid Metropolis.” “Yeah.” “However you’re a widower on this.” I began pondering, “Effectively, what number of issues are you able to… be?” For those who’re gonna attempt to act in stuff, there’s solely so many issues that may occur to you.

Within the span of your profession, do you see your self as having a form of onscreen narrative?

Of my very own life? Probably not … Maintain going with the query a bit bit, as a result of I need to get it proper. I feel there’s two variations of a solution. Like, am I conscious of it?

If there’s a development of a lifetime onscreen that you simply’ve lived, and if there’s curiosity in persevering with to play roles that aren’t actually your individual biography, however they comprise a sure span of human expertise.

Is there one thing that connects them, in a approach, to my human expertise? Effectively, to begin with: I don’t spend an excessive amount of time enthusiastic about [it]. I haven’t seen lots of these motion pictures in a very long time. It’s humorous, as a result of I used to be speaking to Carol [Kane] about this. I’ve by no means actually been ready the place I do know what I’m going to do subsequent. It’s so exhausting [laughs] to get in a film. After which for a film to get made, as you realize, so many little issues need to go proper. Like I say: I feel, over time, I’ve by no means been in a scenario the place I knew what I used to be going to do whereas I used to be doing one other factor. In a approach, every mission has actually been its personal standalone expertise, and I actually have tried — once I work, on a technical stage — to faux that is the primary film I’ve performed. I attempt to deliver my expertise, however I don’t attempt to get hung up on one thing being performed otherwise.

I really feel like lots of people get upset on set. “Effectively, it wasn’t like this on my different factor.” And I simply form of suppose, “Proper. As a result of that is how we do it — this one.” So I strive to not maintain onto any issues like that, by way of the way in which it’s performed — the method. I simply go, “That is how this one’s being performed.” So: no. However I’ll say that I feel once I look again — even simply wanting again on this film — I see, to do that film, Nathan and I’ve been speaking about it for thus lengthy. He was like, “This character talks slowly. And he strikes slowly. And he’s actually inert. And he’s simply moping.” I feel that, wanting again, I feel that I ended transferring loads earlier than making this film and going within the solar. Like, once I take a look at myself within the film, I see an inert individual. what I imply?

Completely.

And I see this lack of vitality. It’s bizarre. Every factor is form of like, it turns into like a biography. I can take a look at it and bear in mind how I felt on the time, once I see a film. I bear in mind how I felt or what I used to be listening to.

They’re attention-grabbing in that approach, the place they do chart my private expertise. Even when the films aren’t biographical, they’re private in that they’re who I used to be, in a approach, behind them. In order that’s been attention-grabbing to consider. Simply in the way in which that you simply look again and also you see a photograph, and also you see your self in a t-shirt and go, “Oh, my God. I suppose that man wore that shirt.” what I imply?

I feel, as you grow old, you’re not even enthusiastic about it, actually — it simply begins to occur. It’s simply, like, there turns into a report of you, and that turns into your quote-unquote “life.”

I feel that’s a significantly better approach of framing my query.

However I will say one factor: This was the primary film I ever did the place I knew I used to be going to do one other film proper after. The Luca Guadagnino. And in [“Queer”], my character could be very a lot the alternative — very, simply, stuffed with exuberance — and I feel it was attention-grabbing. As a result of I consider them as being, although they’re completely unrelated, as being associated. As a result of I knew I used to be going to get to be so exuberant in that film, I knew I used to be simply going to decide to holding it again on this one. As a result of I’m simply going to place all of the eggs within the basket of this man, right here, and that was form of cool. It was attention-grabbing. I’d by no means performed that earlier than.

I talked to [“Between the Temples” screenwriter] C. Mason Wells a pair weeks in the past. He raved about you as an excellent author. However you, as a author, are likely to work collaboratively. And also you solely have one directing credit score — an episode of “Mozart within the Jungle.” I ponder if there are ambitions to go extra into both — solo as a author, longer-length as a director.

, it’s humorous. You’ll do one thing in your telephone, and somebody seems at it and goes, “You gotta be a director!” You’re like, “Why? As a result of I made this video on my telephone? That’s not a film.” I love to make issues, and I like to movie issues and I really like tales.

You’ve made lots of music.

And I really like music. If there was one thing that I may direct that I’m like, “I’d love to do this.” However that hasn’t… I additionally really feel like there’s lots of people making motion pictures, and there appears to be this factor of like, “Oh, it’s best to make a film.” No. You shouldn’t simply “make a film.” [Laughs] I don’t know. Why? Additionally, I don’t know if it comes from being, initially, a drummer, however I like being a part of the… group. Like, I all the time performed teen Sports activities rising up. I by no means performed Tennis; I performed baseball. I really like the collaboration of Sports activities. However writing, for positive. And for me, collaborating is extra enjoyable as a result of I already know what I’m pondering. It’s a lot extra enjoyable to listen to what another person is pondering based mostly on… like, I all the time favor conversations once they spin uncontrolled, and it’s exhausting to spin uncontrolled off your self. Though, I’ve tried to do it. Truly, I had my radio present on Sirius XMU, and I used to do lots of the episodes the place I’d report 4 of myself, and I’d simply discuss to myself, and that was actually enjoyable, really. Sort of cathartic.

However I’d like to direct one thing. I’ve some concepts for issues. However on the finish of the day, it’s form of bizarre. As a result of once I directed “Mozart within the Jungle,” I fucking cherished it. However I can even say that it’s bizarre, as an actor, to provide a notice to Gael García Bernal. He would do a take, and I’m like, “…OK. So ought to we simply go?” Who am I to be like, “Are you able to strive…?” It’s bizarre as a result of then I’m like, “That’s how I’d suppose I’d do it. I like how he would do it.” However I’d love to direct one thing. I’d like to co-direct one thing! Despite the fact that you’re speaking about solo, I feel co-directing can be actually enjoyable to do. However what I’ve form of realized, the extra I’m watching somebody: Most individuals are co-directing, anyway. Simply the enter from all people is so important. Everybody’s form of co-directing — besides some folks.

In different phrases: It’s such a collaborative factor, and I feel as I’ve gotten older, possibly I used to be simply held again; possibly there was lots of concern. However I don’t know. I’d love to inform the story. However what’s the story? I don’t know. I’ve all the time been so envious of people who know the factor. Spoon put out its demos of the “They Need My Soul” album. I used to be simply listening to the demos — Britt Daniel’s dwelling demos — and I’m like, “How did he know that’s the…”

I perceive this too nicely.

“How did he know that’s gonna be the one to work on that’s gonna turn out to be that?” It’s so exhausting. That’s what’s spectacular about anybody who makes one thing: the choice to spend the time on it. That’s the baffling factor. And I’ve form of gotten away with it, for higher or for worse: form of liking it when my resolution will get made. I really like when there’s a storm and you’ll’t go away your own home. So if there could possibly be a artistic model of that [laughs], it will be good.

“Between the Temples” opens in theaters from Sony Footage Classics on Friday, August 23.

Jason Schwartzman Is the American Jean-Pierre Léaud: The Actor on ‘Between the Temples,’ ‘Queer,’ and the Coppola Dynasty