Written by Lilli Donohue, Photos by Madelyn Conlin-Day
Adrien Brody received the Vanguard Award from SCAD Savannah Film Festival and was kind enough to do a Q&A after a screening of “The French Dispatch.”
It’s not about the awards for Brody. “What else would I do?” he questioned. His love for acting is infectious, and can’t see himself doing anything but that. “Do it because you can’t do anything else, and I don’t mean because you can’t get another job. I mean you’re so compelled to do that and that you’re so curious about it you’re willing to behave and do and understand the life of an artist or actor or anything creative is more often than not challenging,” he said. This is meant as an encouragement for the students. Make your passion work for you. Acting is air for Brody — it’s all he wants to do. Of course, there are triumphs and tribulations, but that’s life. Brody has had many triumphs throughout his career.
Working with Wes Anderson seems to be just as delightful as the colors in his movies. Filming together is like magic. “It’s like a fun dance.” Anderson is a genius with a camera, getting actors and cinematography to move in sync. A camaraderie is built with all of his casts, especially since he uses many of the same actors time and time again. As recounted from Brody, Anderson creates a family out of every movie crew. Whoever shows up enjoys a communal dinner together, and there are even special guests from time to time. Brody’s mom makes an appearance much to everyone’s excitement.
