True “face” of US cinema, William Fichtner is the mysterious villain of “Hypnotic” by Robert Rodriguez, in theaters this week. The opportunity to come back with the actor on his career, through the prism of the great filmmakers for whom he shot.
William Fichtner is what is called a “character actor”. A particular profile, and very popular, which is based on an ability to blend into significant secondary characters, rather than into main roles. This is how the American comedian has been carrying around his angular and weathered face on our screens since the beginning of the 90s, “to explore”whether in front of the camera of Christopher Nolan, Michael Mann, Ridley Scott, Michael Bay or Robert Rodriguez with Hypnotic, released this week in cinemas.
“I don’t want to play myself, you know. I like myself, but I don’t want to play myself”, he explained to AlloCiné at the Cannes Film Festival last May, where the film was presented in Séance de Minuit. “I want to find something else, another rhythm, another look. That’s what’s fun. Afterwards, offer me lead roles, that’s fine with me too! (Laughs)”
Travel as many new routes as possible
“But there have been so many times when reading a script, I was interested in a character other than the one I was offered. Even if it was a more modest role. It didn’t matter. importance. It’s really a fascinating journey and I’ve always tended to gravitate around it. I think that’s the heart of a character actor. Traveling as many new roads as possible”.
Back in five directors (and a bonus) on the journey of this US “face” that we love.
Robert Rodriguez – Hypnotic
2023 Hypnotic Film Holdings LLC
Of course, as an actor, I’m always going to prepare my role: I’m going to have ideas about the character’s state of mind, about how to play him… But Robert Rodriguez has a very specific vision of what he wants to do. More than my own point of view, I wanted to know his! On Hypnotic, I was really, in some ways, more inclusive than I may have ever been on set. Because I really wanted to transcribe Robert’s vision. And that’s why – and I’ve said it a hundred times since we finished this shoot – that I place my collaboration with Robert Rodriguez at the very top, at the same level as a Ridley Scott, with whom I shot La Chute du Faucon Noir. It’s one of the best moments I’ve had on set.
Warner Bros.
I do not know Christopher Nolan before filming The Dark Knight. He was a good friend of a friend of mine. And that’s how I ended up meeting him. He explained the scene to me, he warned me that it was a unique scene, at the beginning of the film, and I am such a fan of his work that I accepted without even reading the sequence. But what I will always remember is the first day of filming, with the Joker, when Heath Ledger appeared. I’m such a fan of other actors, especially people who really find characters. And I remember Heath, in his corner, silent listening to his music. And then we shot that first take, and I remember thinking to myself, from one actor looking at another: “Wow, I really like what this guy is doing!”
Ridley Scott – The fall of the Black Falcon
Jerry Bruckheimer Movies
I adore Ridley Scott. The fall of the Black Falcon is inspired by a true story. And we met a lot of people who were in Somalia when the event happened. Every time you work on a project that’s based on a true story, you want to honor it, you want to get it right. The soldiers we met wanted us to do things correctly. And Ridley was determined to get it right. So we had a whole band that really cared about what we were saying, and Ridley was the leader.
Touchstone Pictures
We were able to do things Armageddon that people can only dream of! We went to launch control at Cape Canaveral in Florida, 85 meters high, where they launch the rockets. We shot up there! You just look around and you know you will never forget moments like this. Not to mention the fact that I spent my days with an interesting, talented and eclectic group of people. Especially Bruce Willis. I loved working with Bruce. I loved working with everyone. Especially the producer Jerry Bruckheimer with whom I made five films. Anytime you work on a Jerry movie, it’s pretty cool. After finishing Armageddon, Michael Bay asked me if I wanted to make an appearance in Pearl Harbor. He let me choose between three cameos, and I chose one at the start of the film.
Michael Mann -Heat
Warner Bros.
Heat was my third film. I was still living in New York, trying to work on movies in Los Angeles. I landed an audition, went there and met Michael Mann. And as soon as I sat down with him, I asked him to play another character: he was a real gentleman, and he said “That’s interesting, Bill, but why don’t we read this one instead?”. And then, I remember the first night of filming. It’s a true story.
She had started at seven in the morning, and it was something like two in the morning. The team was exhausted. I then approached Michael Mann and said to him: “Mr Mann?“And he said: “Call Me Michael”. And I said: “Mr. Mann, is there anything else you would like me to try?” He answered me : “No, I like what you did why?” I answer him : “Well, it’s just that we’re on take 26, and I was wondering if there was anything else to try?” 26 catches! And he replies: “No, we got what we needed in the first two takes, but let’s get back to it”. Michael was really very sweet.
I was a young actor, at least young in the cinema, and I remember that well, in addition to the fact that months later the film comes out and it’s the Heat that you know. A film that redefines everything in many ways. Simply incredible.
William Fishtner –Cold Brook
Vertical Entertainment
I produced, directed and co-wrote it, I played the main role and I even made the coffee! I did everything on Coldbrook, it was a low budget. I remember that I never had time to stop each take because I didn’t really need to: I was in the scene, so I knew when it was good and what I wanted. What mattered to me, however, was to verify the point. When I get the desired performance, do we have it in frame and in focus? If the cameramen gave the thumbs up, then I moved on.
But I never thought of it as “directing myself”. My on-screen partner in this film is my best friend. An actor named Kim Coates that I met on The fall of the Black Falcon. And so after one take, I would look at Kim, and ask her how I was. And sometimes he would look at me and throw me “Not terrible, mate”. And we moved on. The fun with this movie was finishing the shoot, then editing it, finding the interesting moments, telling a simple little story.
Thank you for asking me these questions. I loved.