21st Century Fox
Tara Brady talks to uber-hip actor - and scion of the Coppola clan - Jason Schwartzman about his latest film with cult director Wes Anderson, an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Tara Brady, 28 Oct 2009
"I like how we’re sitting right now. See the way we’re both curled up? We’ve got a mirror thing going on. It’s a good sign, I think."
Jason Schwartzman is right. It is a good sign. It’s been seven years since the young star last wandered onto Hot Press’ beat and in the intervening years, the blandishments of Hollywood have failed to leave any traces of pretension.
“Is it rude if I have coffee during the interview?” he asks. “I can get you one, but if you think it will get in the way of us talking, I can wait until later for coffee.”
He still talks in amusing, offbeat quips. He still smiles all the time. He still gets excited if he happens on a word that tickles his fancy.
“Swathes,” he cries. “That’s a beautiful word, isn’t it? Almost like onomatopoeia. But not really.”
This lively mind has, of course, been keeping busy. Since his departure from the band Phantom Planet, he has taken on movie scores (Funny People) and popped up on old flame Zooey Deschanel’s She & Him album. His solo efforts as Coconut Rock are achingly hip and studded with celebrity cameos from the likes of Kirsten Dunst and Incubus.
When he isn’t making noise, Mr. Schwartzman can usually be found in the family business. His late father, Jack, was the producer behind Never Say Never Again. Mom is Talia Shire, star of The Godfather and countless Rocky films. His cousins include Nicolas Cage and Sofia Coppola. Oh, and then there’s Uncle Francis. Was there any chance young Jason could have escaped from the ‘biz’?
“I didn’t have any interest until pretty late on,” he says. “I remember sitting in a room waiting to audition for Rushmore and I was so, so nervous. I was surrounded by all these kid actors. I wasn’t a kid actor. I wasn’t any kind of actor. I just loved that script. I remember thinking these guys are going to slaughter me in there.”
Don’t family connections count for anything these days?
“God, no,” he laughs. “Connections don’t count for much in Hollywood. Not for actors at any rate. Actors can’t just call people up. The people who decide things in Hollywood are weird money people that nobody ever sees. My uncle has trouble getting movies made. What hope would I have? And I’m not the kind of guy who hangs out with producers. I like to keep to myself. I love acting but I don’t like the business.”
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