Ah, those dry British. Put a bunch of them together and it’s magic, but if you’ve only got one of them, America doesn’t know what else to do with them but make them the straight man. Ioan Gruffudd has to watch other people do crazy things in The TV Set.
Ioan Gruffudd on The TV Set
“That’s equally as hard, isn’t it, to play the straight guy to the comedy?” he said. “They’re both of equal importance, I think.”
It is a character performance though. Gruffudd plays a BBC executive now working at an American network. Though he’s a bit buttoned up, that’s not the real Gruffudd.
“I loved it, and although people wouldn’t necessarily dress like that, I think it was a little bit loud, not necessarily British, I think we were going for a particular style for it to be timeless and not of a certain period. I love all that, it gives you a lot of confidence putting on a suit, and shirt and tie. I don’t envy those people who have to do it every day.”
His character is trying to protect a writer (David Duchovny)’s artistic vision against a higher up (Sigourney Weaver) who wants to make it lighter and more catchy. She’s such a brilliant actress and to create those moments you have to come from a place of trust and Jake [Kasdan] had created that on set, and Sigourney is a brilliant actress, full-stop, she’s a great theatrical actress. We come from the same sort of tradition, so we knew what to expect of one another. Yes, there wasn’t much acting involved when you got given that by somebody as good as her. And it was hard to stand there. I felt somewhat sorry for her whilst I was doing it.”
The TV Set
The TV Set
Coming directly off of Fantastic Four, things were a bit less extravagant on the indie comedy. “To be honest with you, on a daily basis I think it’s more satisfying doing something like this because it is so character-driven and character-based, and a great ensemble cast, and you shoot it so quickly, that’s an infectious energy to be around. But then it’s a different discipline altogether to do Fantastic Four. You’re doing it over and over and over again, and you have to remain to be truthful every time you do a take, because when they take it away and impose all the other effects, if you’re not believable within that then all their work goes for naught. The satisfaction is seeing it all put together as an audience member, wow, I can’t believe that’s me doing that. But on a daily basis this is a lot more fun.”
The TV Set opens to theatres April 6th.
For trailer, poster and more movie info, go to The TV Set
Movie Page.
Stay tuned for updates.
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