The Kite Runner - Exclusive: Khalid Abdalla and Homayoun Ershadi

Summary

The transcript from 'movie web.com' discusses an actor's journey in portraying a complex character in a film adaptation of a book. The actor reflects on the character's redemption, the challenges of maintaining sympathy for a child who commits a grave sin, and the process of growing up. The importance of the father-son bond is highlighted, with the actors spending time together to develop chemistry. The actor's background as an architect turned actor adds an interesting twist, and the author's involvement in the film's development is noted, showing a collaborative and supportive environment throughout production.

Takeaways

• 🎭 The actor found the character complex and initially had difficulty empathizing due to the character's actions as a child.
• 🌱 The film and book explore themes of growing up and becoming an adult, challenging the notion that adulthood begins at 18.
• 🔍 The character commits a significant sin at the age of 11, which the actor believes is part of the character's journey to redemption.
• 👨‍👦 The actor emphasizes the importance of maintaining the character's sympathy throughout the film, despite his guilt and awkwardness.
• 🤝 The actor and the actor playing his father developed a strong father-son bond, living and working together for two months to build chemistry.
• 🎬 The actor was present on set throughout the filming, even when not shooting his scenes, to observe and support the younger actors.
• 🏛️ The actor revealed his background as an architect before transitioning into acting by accident, and he continues to embrace acting.
• 📚 The author of the book was closely involved with the film's production, providing support and building a familial relationship with the cast.
• ✍️ The author and the screenwriter had a unique working rhythm, communicating via email across different time zones, contributing to the screenplay's development.
• 🌏 The filming took place in various locations, including Kabul and San Francisco, which may have influenced the actors' performances and the film's authenticity.
• 🎥 The actor's presence and involvement in the film extended beyond his role, as he interacted with the younger actors and contributed to the overall atmosphere on set.

Q & A

What complex character does the actor discuss in the script?

The actor discusses the character of 'a mirror', who is complex and difficult to empathize with due to the actions taken during his childhood.

What is the actor's view on the character's redemption by the end of the story?

The actor believes that the character does redeem himself by the end of the story, as part of his journey and growth into adulthood.

What is the actor's perspective on the public's anger towards the character?

The actor feels it's unfair for people to be angry with the character 'a mirror', considering the sins he committed when he was only 11 years old and still a child.

How does the actor approach maintaining the character's sympathy throughout the film?

The actor's job is to keep the character sympathetic by understanding his desire for love from his father and dealing with the guilt from his past actions.

What was the process like for the actor and his co-star to develop a father-son bond on screen?

The actor and his co-star developed a father-son bond by living together for two months, eating and staying in the same place, which helped them become a family off-screen.

How did the actor's presence on set influence the younger actor playing his younger self?

The actor was present on set the whole time, watching the scenes and providing support, which helped the younger actor playing his younger self.

What was the actor's background before becoming an actor?

The actor was originally an architect before accidentally becoming an actor and subsequently quitting architecture to pursue acting.

How involved was the book's author during the filmmaking process?

The author was very supportive and involved, visiting the set in China and San Francisco, and maintaining close communication with the screenwriter.

What was the unique communication rhythm between the author and the screenwriter?

The author and screenwriter had a unique rhythm of emailing each other, with the author writing from 5 AM to 12 PM and the screenwriter from 12 AM to 5 AM, allowing for continuous communication across time zones.

How did the actor's experience in Kabul influence his role?

The actor spent a month in Kabul, meeting the boys who would play alongside him and learning to fly kites, which helped him connect with his character and the story.

What was the actor's strategy for understanding his character's backstory?

The actor immersed himself in the character's world by spending time in Kabul, meeting the local boys, and learning about their culture and lifestyle.