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Post by Cait on Dec 15, 2011 17:16:01 GMT -5
But in Cillian's defense, a lot of the blame for the boring interviews can be placed squarely on the interviewer or whoever wrote the online article. Because it's their job to introduce the interviewee to the reader beforehand You're absolutely right, Pisces! It's all about how the interviewer communicates the subject. Especially in an article, the beginning is extremely important because if the first few lines aren't interesting, people won't read it. The interviewer controls the interview, the interviewee is there to answer their questions which a lot of the time in Cillian's case are very boring questions. The interviewer has to be just as into it as the person being interviewed - there are so many that seem to lack the proper communication skills. Then you get the interviewers who are overkill and try far too hard to be bubbly and outgoing. There has to be a balance between the two. With all that said, I still wish Cillian would relax a bit and let us in a bit more. Even if it's just talking about random things, like baking scones!  That's another thing about Cillian other than wanting to protect his private life, he's only willing to talk about his work, which I do love. But I would love to hear him answer random questions about himself as a person, or like Megan said, funny stories on set with his costars. I'd love to know how he got the scar on his chin, even, LOL. Oh well, I do accept that this is just the way he prefers to do interviews, it just adds to the mystery of him.  |
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Post by Pisces on Dec 15, 2011 19:03:20 GMT -5
With all that said, I still wish Cillian would relax a bit and let us in a bit more. Even if it's just talking about random things, like baking scones! Yep. And Cillian wouldn't even have to talk about himself to be interesting. Think about it - when you are having a fantastic conversation with someone, it's very likely that you're not even talking about yourself. In that fascinating Valo interview I linked, he talks about art, ghosts, South Park, anthropology, physics, reality TV, why Ouija boards are always in English... and that was only some of what he covered. It wasn't all about himself, but he was endlessly watchable because he was interested in what he was talking about. Cillian seems to be always playing it safe with his replies in his interviews; if he took a few risks here and there, it would be awesome. I mean, if he REALLY had 10 minutes left to live, I doubt he'd bake a scone. LOL. Of course, you never know. I'm not picking on the guy - I think he's ACE. And yeah, there is something to be said for cultivating an air of mystery, as Cait mentioned. But that doesn't stop me from thinking how cool it would be if we got a REAL interview with him one day. I think he could knock it out of the park if he wanted to. ;D |
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Post by bunnie24 on Dec 15, 2011 20:15:01 GMT -5
I'd like to think it's his defense mechanism. I think he's so shy to the point that he really doesn't want to expose himself...
that's all I've got. You guys all have excellent points about Cillian and interviews...I really do wish he could open up about ANYTHING besides work...like...idk...his favorite dishes? Were he got that awesome red and blue sweater--and of course, that scar on his chin!
I would love to see him be--OH, we should get him drunk!! *nods* Yeah, maybe then he'll be more open!
but on a serious note. I love Cillian no matter what.
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Post by Pisces on Dec 16, 2011 8:07:20 GMT -5
If the actors don't seem enthusiastic about their projects, then why should the audiences be? I thought about this question. Does Cillian's enthusiasm (or lack of it) during the promotional process affect my own enthusiasm for an upcoming project. I had to conclude that no, it does not. I was ridiculously excited about In Time for the entire year before it was released, and that was well before there was any promo done whatsoever. Same with Red Lights. There hasn't been any real promo yet, and I'm still amped as hell about it. So, for me, at least, and I suspect most of his most devoted fans, Cillian's involvement in promo makes little to no difference in my own excitement about his movies. LOL. That's just my perspective though. |
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Post by Pisces on Dec 16, 2011 8:43:33 GMT -5
That's a good point Megan - that Cillian being so reticent in talking about himself has really helped as as fans to believe more fully in his characters. Example: as much as I love Johnny Depp, when I am watching any of his films, he's till always... Johnny Depp. And a lot of that is because he is JOHNNY - there's so much celeb aspect to him that it melds into his screen performances, whether he likes it or not. That goes for a lot of other actors that we hear a lot from in interviews; when I'm watching Mat Damon, I'm always watching Matt Damon, etc.
But with Cillian, he's never Cillian. He's Leon. Or Capa. Or whoever. And we buy into it completely because there is so little Cillian-baggage brought into the experience (for lack of a better term, sorry). And that's something I wouldn't trade for ANYTHING. That's freakin' priceless.
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Post by cougarlady on Dec 16, 2011 12:58:00 GMT -5
Well, everyone here is pretty much a sure thing for Cillian, lol. A guaranteed movie ticket. I'm not talking about him appealing to his established fan base, but rather, the millions of potential movie goers who just might be influenced by a good looking guy who is enthusiastically plugging his project. I mean, isn't that why they have the actors are out there promoting the films in the first place? I'd like to see him sell the audience on his performance the same way he might try to sell a director to land a role. He doesn't need to sell it to US necessarily, as we are already buying what he is selling (lol), but rather to a broader audience. The more successful his films are, the more access he will have to better scripts and even better roles in the future. Anyway, I feel like I have beat this topic to death, it's just IMO. |
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Post by Cait on Dec 16, 2011 16:22:44 GMT -5
I agree that the promotion by the actor is important, in fact actors spend months promoting their films, especially in the US. But I think a lot of people pay more attention to trailers, posters, and the regular film hype. Personally, if a film has a great trailer, and a seemingly good story, and it grabs my attention then I'm likely to go see it in theatres whether I know the actors or not. If they seem kind of nonchalant about it in interviews, like our dear Cillian is known for, it wouldn't be enough to prevent me from seeing the film. This could just be me, but I usually become a fan of an actor after I've seen them in films. To me, a good actor is a good actor, whether they have good marketing skills or not. A convincing performance is enough to prove to me that they're enthusiastic about the film. Now if they're a complete douchebag in person, that's kind of different, but that's not the case with Cillian. He's just not good at the marketing. I remember when I first watched Cillian in interviews and I thought of him as a mature, intelligent man whilst my friend thought he was boring. But she likes Tom Cruise, and I'm sure you've seen him in interviews, LOL! So I guess it depends on the viewer - everyone has different opinions, and not everyone will like Cillian, but that's just how it is. With all that said, he seems to be attracting new fans still, so I don't think his demeanor in interviews will affect that too much. These are all really interesting points, though, and it certainly makes for interesting conversation. |
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Post by Pisces on Dec 16, 2011 16:30:32 GMT -5
This could just be me, but I usually become a fan of an actor after I've seen them in films. THAT'S a perfect way to put it, Cait!! Thank you!!! That's definitely true for me, too - I'm not a fan UNTIL I've seen an actor in something first. All that matters to me is the performance. I have never - and I mean NEVER - gone to see a movie just because an actor was enthusiastic in a promo interview. And I have seen a lot of actors gushing happily about how much fun it was to make their movie, but if it wasn't something I was interested in from the trailer, I'm impervious to their excitement about it. *shrug* LOL. I agree that the enthusiasm belongs onscreen, not offscreen. The film is what will endure. Like you said, though, an actor being a complete tool can turn me off to them. I certainly don't want to see Cillian jumping on Oprah's couch. LOL.  LMAO. |
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Post by Cait on Dec 16, 2011 16:41:01 GMT -5
I agree that the enthusiasm belongs onscreen, not offscreen. The film is what will endure. Yes, my thoughts exactly! Like you said, though, an actor being a complete tool can turn me off to them. I certainly don't want to see Cillian jumping on Oprah's couch. LOL. LMAO. LMFAO!!! I honestly don't see why my friend likes him so much, but to each their own! Now that you mentioned it, though, I can't help but picture Cillian doing that, and it's a hilarious thought, LOL! Could you imagine? I don't think we'll ever get to see Cilly do something like that. I don't think I'd want to either!  |
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Post by Zombiekitten on Dec 16, 2011 20:25:12 GMT -5
What an interesting conversation !!  While I can't take every statement made here in consideration with my own post (because there were just so many great and interesting things said ! LOL) I would still like to bring in some of my own thoughts about this. I had to think about the shyness factor of Cillian in interviews.... Maybe that aspect is involved in there too and among the reasons why he feels so uncomfortable by being interviewed. Being a great actor and doing badass things on screen or on stage doesn't imply that such an individual is similarly out going in his real life. Cillian is a great actor and he can perform everything without any restrictions or feeling uncomfortable or whatever. But doing an interview doesn't mean to perform a role. Hasn't Cillian once said about his uncomfortableness with interviews: "I'm not good at being myself" ...? Maybe that's one of the reasons why he doesn't likes interviews that much. He has to be himself and maybe he feels uncomfortable to reveal to much of him because of shyness. A lot of very outgoing artists, such as singers or actors, are shy in real life because taking on a role, being someone else, is easier than being oneself. I experienced something slightly comparable myself once as I had to play a mean, spoiled, arrogant biatch in a school play, and managed that rather good (and had a lot of fun  ), while being completely shy and unsure in real life! Maybe Cillian is shy in real life, even unsure, and therefore seems to be off-putting or cold or sober sometimes in interviews. But with Cillian, he's never Cillian. He's Leon. Or Capa. Or whoever. And we buy into it completely because there is so little Cillian-baggage brought into the experience (for lack of a better term, sorry). And that's something I wouldn't trade for ANYTHING. That's freakin' priceless. Bloody nailed it ! That's definitely one of the reasons why I love him so much as an actor! He's never Cillian. He's the perfect actor somehow, he's a plain jar which can be filled with everything. But, to be honest: I actually WOULD like to see Cilly would once make some crazy funny stuff in an interview LOL AND I am actually interested in such little things about him, about people in general, like what kind of sitcom he likes or what he likes to have for breakfast or what's his favorite animal is. These little things about a human being makes them IMO as interesting as the huge aspects of their characters like their intellect. |
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That's another thing about Cillian other than wanting to protect his private life, he's only willing to talk about his work, which I do love. But I would love to hear him answer random questions about himself as a person, or like Megan said, funny stories on set with his costars. I'd love to know how he got the scar on his chin, even, LOL. Oh well, I do accept that this is just the way he prefers to do interviews, it just adds to the mystery of him. 
LMAO. 
), while being completely shy and unsure in real life! 