Though he often plays deadpan serious characters, famously as Fox Mulder and other variations, David Duchovny has a great sense of humor. He’ll even respond to the question, “David Duchovny why don’t you love me?” saying, “Mostly because I don’t know you.” On the set of his latest film, The TV Set, his costars forced him to face that song.
David Duchovny on The TV Set
“They got a hold of that song and they were playing it a lot which doesn’t bother me,” he said. “I think it’s a nice song. I enjoy the tune. I’ve already given instructions to my wife to play it at my funeral only as a slowed down acoustic.”
Duchovny plays a frustrated screenwriter watching his pilot get reworked by the network. With a full beard and a fake tummy, Duchovny channeled a famously haggard TV writer. “He’s based on Judd Apatow who is a writer and director you probably all know, but you didn’t know him then, but you know him now. Actually the first read through we had of The TV Set, he was there because I think he’s one of the producers and that was the night of the 40-Year-Old Virgin premiere which made life different for him. So I’ve known Judd for a number of years through Garry Shandling. He said, ‘Yeah you know, don’t tell anybody at the time. But it’s kinda of like based physically and a little temperamentally on Judd’ so that gave me a real handle which is great because anytime you can base a character physically or temperamentally on something outside of yourself, you shouldn’t ever give it away like I just did, but it’s really helpful as an actor to get outside of yourself.”
The TV Set
That said, Duchovny wasn’t method enough to gain the wait for real. “When I talked to Jake [Kasdan] at first about doing the role he said, ‘You should put on weight.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, no. You’re not paying. I’ll grow a beard and I’ll wear a fat pad. I think a fat pad will be fine. I don’t have any nude scenes.’ It feels like you’ve got a really thick cumber bun on. It’s not bad. It’s a little sweaty. We shot during the summer and I was so vain, I had to make sure everybody knew I had a fat pad on.”
The beard was real though. “[It took] a while. It’s a good beard. I was happy with it. I’m not beyond cheating on that kind of look and stuff. It’s amazing how that kind of stuff actually helps just in terms of getting away from yourself. I got some sympathetic looks. I didn’t know it was the out of look work. ‘Yeah he’s really gone to hell.’”
A veteran of the TV business, Duchovny has somewhat avoided characters like those in The TV Set. “I’m sure there are examples from Jake’s life that are told for this movie, but not mine. I never had the experience of being a show runner on television. My experience is more like where I’m just a silly little actor listening to music in my trailer while the big boys fight it out about what the show is. So, no I didn’t have any experiences as a show runner and I still don’t. I don’t want to either.”
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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