“…I think that good actors always – or if you’re being good, anyway – you’re making it better than the script.  That’s your f@&%ing job.  It’s like, Okay, the script says this?  Well, watch this.  Let’s just roar a little bit.  Let’s see how high we can go.”

Bill Murray proclaimed this in a recent interview with GQ (just before admitting he agreed to voice Garfield because he mistook Joel Cohen for Joel Coen - I’m betting he had no confusion as to which Benjamin Franklin he was working with when he signed up for the sequel) and it occurred to me that my baby is sleeping unmolested in the confident arms of two such actors.

Just before filming I had met Joe Calarco and Val Curry (newlyweds so back off loverboy) only once.  Myself, Aaron and Marc exchanged story points with them at their criminally inexpensive apartment a few weeks before the start of principal photography.  They had an excellent grasp of both characters, a previous working relationship with Brotherhood Pictures and a flattering opinion of the script (they obviously have great taste – obviously).  My initial impressions where very high but there was no way to tell just how their interpretations of Matt and Alison would translate to film.

Due to scheduling difficulties with extras and Marc’s inspired decision to alter the set-up of the balcony scene, Val and Joe were more or less flying blind.  The situation they found themselves in was daunting – an improvisational meet-cute utilizing props never mentioned in the script.  No pressure, you know?  This scene only OPENS the movie, sets the tone and establishes the main characters’ connection.  No biggie.

Fortunately, these two thespian orators were more than up to the Herculean task.  I watched mouth agape as they extemporaneously discarded what was left of my scripted words and created a scene with greater depth, charm and dimension than my listless utterances deserved.  My crash-course in collaborative art was underway.

Tilting at Windmills is deeply autobiographical so handing over material this close to my heart wasn’t easy.

I’m damn glad I did.

As a side note, I attended Joe’s raw but thoroughly enjoyable one-man show LA Lights Fire at the Los Angeles Fringe Festival.  My girlfriend (the prettiest girl in town – sorry ladies) thought it was the best stage performance we’d seen in Los Angeles since Ed Harris in Wrecks.  I couldn’t disagree (not just because she has a strong right hook) so if you get a chance to see Joe in action I implore you not to squander the opportunity.

-Josh