The Kite Runner - Exclusive: Khalid Abdalla and Homayoun Ershadi

MovieWeb

19 Sept 201004:37

Summary

TLDRThe 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.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 Character Complexity and Redemption

The speaker discusses the complexity of a character in a film, who commits a sin at the age of 11, and the challenge of maintaining audience empathy. The character's journey is about growing up and dealing with childhood issues into adulthood. The actor's role is to keep the character sympathetic despite the anger directed towards him. The character's motivations include seeking love and approval from his father, and dealing with guilt from his past actions. The actor also mentions the importance of the father-son bond, which was easily established with the help of living together and developing chemistry before filming.

🌏 International Filming and Actor's Background

This section talks about the filming process, which took place in various locations including Kabul and San Francisco. The speaker, who plays the character throughout different ages, was present on set to guide the younger actor portraying his younger self. The actor also shares his background, revealing that he was originally an architect before accidentally becoming an actor. He emphasizes the close collaboration with the author of the book on which the film is based, who was supportive and involved in the screenplay writing process, even corresponding with the screenwriter at odd hours due to time zone differences.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Empathy

Empathy refers to the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. In the context of the video, the speaker mentions having difficulty empathizing with the character's plight due to the actions taken during childhood. This concept is central to the discussion of the character's journey and the audience's ability to connect with his experiences.

💡Redemption

Redemption is the act of making up for past wrongs or mistakes. The script discusses whether the character has redeemed himself by the end of the story, which ties into the broader theme of personal growth and the possibility of change. The character's internal struggle with guilt and desire for acceptance from his father are key elements of his redemption arc.

💡Growing Up

Growing up is a process that involves maturing both physically and emotionally. The video script touches on the misconception that adulthood begins at a specific age, emphasizing the ongoing nature of personal development. The character's journey from childhood to adulthood is a central theme, with the actor discussing the complexities of portraying a character who matures over time.

💡Childhood

Childhood is the early stage of life, typically marked by innocence and development. The script mentions the character's actions during his childhood as a significant factor in his later life. It also highlights the unfairness of judging the character harshly for actions taken at a young age, suggesting that childhood experiences shape an individual's path.

💡Sympathy

Sympathy is the feeling of compassion for someone else's misfortune. The actor's role is to maintain the character's sympathetic qualities throughout the film, despite the character's actions. This is crucial for the audience to engage with the character's journey and understand his motivations and transformations.

💡Father-Son Bond

The father-son bond is a relationship dynamic that is central to the video's narrative. The actors worked to establish a believable and strong familial connection on screen. The script describes how they lived together to develop a genuine father-son relationship, which is essential for the emotional depth of their on-screen interactions.

💡Charisma

Charisma refers to a compelling charm or attractiveness that can inspire devotion in others. The script mentions the charisma of the younger actor who plays the character in his youth. The presence of the older actor on set with the younger one helps to maintain continuity and a sense of authenticity in the portrayal of the character's development.

💡Backstories

Backstories provide the background information or history of a character or person. The video script reveals the actor's own backstory, transitioning from architecture to acting, which adds depth to his character's journey and shows how personal experiences can influence one's path in life.

💡Author Involvement

Author involvement refers to the participation of the original writer in the adaptation process of their work. The script mentions the author's supportive presence on set and his close collaboration with the screenwriter, indicating the importance of maintaining the integrity of the original work while adapting it for film.

💡Screenwriting

Screenwriting is the process of writing a script for a film or television show. The video discusses the author and screenwriter's unique working relationship, which involved a transcontinental exchange of ideas, highlighting the collaborative nature of bringing a book to the screen.

💡Cultural Exchange

Cultural exchange is the act of sharing and learning about different cultures. The script mentions the filming locations in Kabul and San Francisco, indicating a cross-cultural experience that likely influenced the actors' performances and the film's portrayal of the story.

Highlights

The actor found the character complex and initially had difficulty empathizing with him.

The character's actions as a child were questioned for their morality.

The theme of the film and book revolves around growing up and becoming an adult.

The actor believes the character's journey involves redemption.

The character's actions are considered in the context of his age, highlighting the unfairness of judging a child's actions as an adult.

The actor's job was to maintain the character's sympathetic nature throughout the film.

The character's motivations include a desire for love and approval from his father.

The actor and the actor playing his father developed a strong father-son bond during filming.

The older and younger actors portraying the same character spent time together to establish their on-screen chemistry.

The actor was present throughout the filming of scenes with the younger actor to maintain consistency.

The actor shared his backstory of being an architect before becoming an actor.

The author of the book was involved in the film's production and provided support.

The author and screenwriter had a close working relationship, influencing the screenplay's development.

The author visited the set, contributing to a familial atmosphere during production.

The film's production process fostered a sense of family among the cast and crew.