Wednesday, December 20th, 2006

An Interview with Christian Oliver from THE GOOD GERMAN

How did you get started in acting?

Acting has always been a part of my life since I was in school plays and local theatre companies but I never really thought of becoming a professional actor, it was more like a hobby. After school I moved to New York and worked for an advertising company. But only for three month before I was mesmerized by the city and the great theatre culture it has to offer. I dove back into the acting world and decided to give it a try. 

How were you cast in THE GOOD GERMAN?

I had an audition with the casting director Debra Zane. I always wanted to read for her and I was really excited just to get the foot in the door. She ran the scenes with me and it was more like two actors doing a scene together than me actually reading for her. I walked out of there feeling great. Ten days later I got a call from my agent, telling me that I had booked the job. No callbacks, no producer sessions, nothing. I was cast straight from the tape.

What was working with Soderbergh like?

It was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had as an actor. He is able to create an environment that feels intimate and safe. He surrounds himself with a great crew. I didn’t encounter any egos and it felt like everybody was pulling in the same direction. Even with hundreds of people running around he remains calm and gives you confidence and guides you to trust your instincts. I really hope I get the chance to work with him again.

The film reminds me so much of the great Warner Bros. movies of the 1940s. Did you watch any of these films in preparation and did they serve as inspiration in any way?

Actually Steven Soderbergh sent us a letter and a couple of old Warner Bros. movies to watch like Mildred Pierce, The Maltese Falken, Notorious and Casablanca, etc. With that in mind I did a lot of research how movies were made during that time and also checked out some German movies that were shot during that period. It was fascinating to be part of recreating this unique style of filmmaking.

What actors & directors would you most like to work with in the future?

With good ones…

What’s next for you?

In 2005 I started my own production company CHABO FILMS. We just finished shooting principle photography on the second movie, a comedy called READY OR NOT, which will keep me busy with postproduction for a while. I am always looking for new and interesting stories to tell.

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