HOW CAN I SAY NO TO THREE WEEKS IN PARIS? PARTIE TROIS: GENA ROWLANDS

Did you have you have a hand in bringing on Gerard and Frederic as Directors?

No, I don’t think it worked that way. When I was first approached and they said they were going to do all these films about Paris and going to connect them all and I said “I don’t know about this guy”

So I really wasn’t taking it that seriously, because it seemed totally impossible. Then I heard that Gerard and Frederic said that they would direct Benny and me in that scene. Then I knew it was a legitimate thing. I knew Gerard wouldn’t be there unless he was doing something artistic. He’s such a generous guy. He’ll fly in to do little parts and direct because he knows with his name attached, it will be a great help to them. It’s hard to get money for a project; especially a project like this. So then I thought “It’s possible”

I didn’t think it was really possible to put them all together and I think they did an amazing job. I thought “How bad could it be?” Go to Paris, see all friends and work with them. It was wonderful, like a vacation.

Did they approach you as an actress in this film? At what point did you say “I want to write?”

They sent a couple of scripts. They were nice scripts but they were very French. As long as it’s just going to be Ben and me and we are both of a certain age and in France. What are we doing there? I wanted there to be some conflict, some problem. So I picked one that people recognize immediately in every country; when the husband prefers a younger woman. But I wanted to write it in language that was peculiarly American; our sense of humor is a little bit different. Not everyone thinks it’s funny, but the little teases they do and the little jabs that they do and the little punishments that they give each other. These are the jokes between two people who have known each other for a long time and very intuitively.

You have known Ben Gazzara for a long time. How much of it was written by you and how much was just banter between the two of you?

We didn’t have time. It had to be written. There was some taken out. Some of my favorite lines, I know how writers feel now. There is no time to do a looser way, it had to be done that way. So we wrote it all down and they did take out my best lines.

I think it turned out fine. I think it’s a great movie to go to with your boyfriend, girlfriend husband or wife. Just to see these different stories. I thought the photography was just wonderful. I’ve never seen Paris look so beautiful. I was pleased, I think it accomplished what it needed to in the five minutes.

At the end of the film you share a moment with Juliette Binoche from a window…

When I a smoking a cigarette? It was originally another scene in between when I was riding in a taxi and staring out. Which is an effective shot. But it couldn’t be accomplished in the time they needed to accomplish it. But by me already reaching my home and pulling out a cigarette, you hadn’t seen me smoke before, and you always know that if you see me smoking that I’m gonna die or something bad is going to happen.

Then it is just a bit of recognition with the toast to Juliette. So it was just put in a different place.

What was it like working with two directors on this project?
It was wonderful. We had just a great time. Amid problems, we were laughing all the time. Yeas it was a very cordial wonderful set. Gerard and Fred do that on other pictures. They have shot another feature together they like to work together.

Gerard is one of the greatest actors in the world. There is literally nothing he can not do. I can’t think of anyone I admire more. I wish their were good enough, big enough parts for his talent. You don’t come across a talent like very often

What’s your next project?
I have “What if God were the Sun?” on May 14th on Lifetime. Then my daughter, Zoe Cassavettes, has written and directed her first full feature. I played a prt in that. Just a funny part. Then I am going to do an animated film called Persepolis in August. Then I will see what life gives me.

What was like being directed by your daughter?
VERY funny. She’s a very funny kid. She’s not such a kid anymore, but she always was funny. She makes everything seem like a good time. I thought she would be a little nervous on her first day, because most people are. It was her first full length feature. She seemed as relaxed as anybody I’ce ever seen. She was joking,  She knew everybody in her film. I was impressed with how right it seemed for her personality. Yeah, never know directing is tough. I wouldn’t be a director for all the money in the world. But she seemed to take it all in stride. I’m dying to see it and I hope it all turns out well. That was shot partly in New York and in Paris.

You have really good chemistry with Ben, how much of that was just working previously together?

Yea, if you work with someone as many times as I have worked with Ben. It was long ago, many years so there is a certain comfortableness that expresses itself on film. You can’t hide anything on film anyway. But it is just that much easier.

When the movie screened at Cannes last year, it was the first time that everyone involved had been in the same room. Does anything specific stick out to you from that time?

Well, the thing I remember mostly is that while we were doing our project, everyone else was doing theirs, so we didn’t get to meet. These are all people I would like to meet, because I have seen their work over the years. At Cannes everyone came. And all over the stage there are actors and writers and it was wonderful. We all went out to eat and I’m chatting with Marrianne Faithful, Juliet Binnoce and Steve Buscemi… how could that not be good?

It was such a really perfect time. I don’t see how it could have been more pleasurable.
It’s exciting to see other artists for many years.  To what they are doing and see that they are doing what they never did before. Then some of them were foreign actors and I hadn’t seem a lot of their work. It’s fascinating. I wish I had the DVD (stares at her Publicist) I presume that is going to happen soon?

PUBLICIST: I gave one to somebody already, Sorry it’s gone. I guess this means you want to see the movie again, huh?
There is myth of a French vs. American rivalry. I don’t think it really exists. Do you experience that while you were there?

Never. And I have been to Paris often. I don’t speak French which, perhaps, helps. Honestly,  I really can’t say that treated any way but extremely cordially. I hope it continues that way. 

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