By: debbie lynn elias
By now, the entire world knows who Victor Garber is (and if they don’t, they should be horsewhipped). The consummate professional, we have seen him dazzle us on stage, screen and television playing everyone from the quiet and unassuming architect of the Titanic to the flamboyant over-the-top Liberace and now, Prince Charles. And the man can go toe-to-toe with Betty White! A multiple Tony Award nominee, Garber is one of the few who tackles musical theatre and comedy as easily and comfortably as the high drama of being super spy dad Jack Briscow. And while he has often played heavy dramatic psychologically demanding roles on stage, it’s not often we see that side of Garber in film so it comes as a welcome surprise to see him in the new thriller, THE ENTITLED.
Written by William Morrissey and directed by Aaron Woodley, Garber stars alongside fellow veterans Ray Liotta and Stephen McHattie, as a wealthy parent whose child is being held hostage. With a cast of young counterparts headed up by “Gossip Girl’s” Kevin Zegers, the plan is to extort money from these privileged fathers in exchange for the lives of their socialite children. And as to be expected, deception, betrayal and dirty little secrets are spilled as the story unfolds. Garber who was “intrigued” by the “really well written script” and “the idea of playing this guy [who] was a departure in some ways” from his usual characters saw THE ENTITLED as a “golden opportunity”.
I had a chance to speak with Garber not only about THE ENTITLED, but his character Master Rhino in the “Kung Fu Panda” films which has now exposed him to a new generation of fans, and tackling the role of Prince Charles in Hallmark’s “William & Catherine: A Royal Romance.”
Victor, you really come into THE ENTITLED rather late in the picture, probably two-thirds of the way in, and you immediately jump into these heavy scenes with ray [Liotta] and Stephen [McHattie], and it just flows so organically. Did you have a lot of prep time with the two of them or did you guys, being the consummate veterans that you are, just jump in and go for it?
I knew Stephen. We had worked together many many years before in the theatre. And I knew Ray sort of socially. But we actually just had dinner the night before. No, we didn’t have prep time. It was like, we arrived, we had dinner and we shot the next day. My experience with really good actors is that if everybody’s on the same page in terms of telling the story, it usually can work out pretty well. In this case it did. We had so much fun. I did a play years ago called “Art” which was three old friends getting together over a period of time. It was a similar sort of situation in that something happened. In the movie, of course, it was much more dramatic. But it was just the idea that you have to somehow know that these guys were friends for years, almost immediately. I felt that that occurred.
It most definitely did. Right away you knew these guys had a history going back to childhood.
Good. That’s great to hear.
Aaron Woodley is a relatively inexperienced director. He’s got some shorts under his belt. This is his first really hands-on meaty feature. How do you feel about working with relatively new directors, first-time directors? Do they inspire you? Hinder you?
First of all, everyone is different. I loved working with Aaron. Again, I’m always attracted by the material. If it’s a first-time director you basically just hope for the best and hope that it won’t be like 15 hour days and a lot of confusion. This was really run very smoothly. I think he really wanted to tell the story. He knew how to tell this story. He was really great to work with. Honestly, he did leave us kind of on our own to kind of find the tone and the temperament, when you’ve got three kind of veterans as I guess I would describe us all, it’s often the best way to do it because we’ll find it eventually. I think a really good director knows how to trust an actor or trust actors, and also, to guide if they’re kind of going in a wrong direction. And he seemed to have that pretty well under his belt so I was impressed.
The film has the ending that we see and then there’s an alternate ending on the DVD. Which ending do you personally prefer and why? [SPOILER ALERT]
Honestly, I just saw the movie for the first about a week ago. IAnd I was shocked. The original ending the way it was written and the way I assumed it would be, was not the ending that they chose. I think the one they chose is good for a couple of reasons but for my money, I kind of prefer the other one because it’s the final twist, the final turn. You really do think [Kevin Zegers’ character Paul] going to get away with it and, of course, he does in this version, which also has a plus side. But maybe it was because I was expecting the other one, I was waiting for it to happen and to see it depicted on screen because it’s such a kind of shocker. You forget. But the voice over is always the clue. If you hear a voice over in the beginning, you know the person is still going to live, unless they don’t. [Laughing] Unless it’s like that movie where the girl is talking from another sphere. And when the cop says “We’re gonna have to check your car for fingerprints”, you see his face go a little weird on the screen, but in fact, he gets away with it. Maybe that’s just a better ending for the world today and the way we are.
I think it’s an interesting, very unique twist of an ending but like you, I think I would have preferred the DVD alternate because I think as the ending now stands it sends a bad message about crime and getting away with stuff.
Yes. On the other hand it does sort of say how people are in a desperate place. You do feel, I think, because of [Kevin Zegers] performance, I think he’s really good, you do feel that great empathy and sympathy for him. I think. It’s kind of limited on his side the way it’s written. But, you’re right. It does send a wrong message absolutely but it will be interesting to see how it’s received.
Victor, you’ve also branched out and you’re doing voicing. You very successfully voiced Master Rhino in “Kung Fu Panda 2”.
Thank you so much! My 4 1/2 lines! Thank you!
Let me tell you. With my 6 and 9 years old nephews, it did not go unnoticed by them.
Well THANKS!!! That’s very encouraging. I’ll stay in it then!
They love Rhino and they hope Master Rhino is back for “Kung Fu Panda 3.”
So does my agent! [Laughing]
How did you prepare for, albeit a 4 1/2 line grunting? How do you prepare to do voicing because that is a totally different aspect of performance?
It’s so funny when people say “How do you prepare?” I don’t prepare. I wish I had some kind of really glossy answer for you but I don’t. I just show up. I look at the cartoon and I sort of come up with something and they say, “Oh, that’s great” or “Oh, could you give us a little more of this or a little more of that.” I’ve done so many kind of characters all my life and I’ve played so many different musical over-the-top comedic performances that I don’t have a problem coming up with voices that seem to be appropriate for that kind of genre. So, really my preparation is how do I get to the location where I’m supposed to go and what time do I have to be there.
You’re not one of those showing up in the fuzzy bunny slippers and pajamas?
Not yet! Then you can just cart me away.
“William & Catherine: A Royal Romance” is premiering on Hallmark this weekend [August 27]. And you are playing Prince Charles.
Okay!! Yes I am! Thanks for reminding me!
Now, how daunting or cumbersome is that to play a life figure who is living and has been so much in the media for years now?
It is daunting. I just hoped and prayed that it wouldn’t be offensive and people would say, “What did you think you were doing?” I’m hoping that’s the case. Honestly, I really don’t know how it turned out. I haven’t seen the thing put together. I did the best I could. The thing I always have to remember, having played Liberace, is that it’s a fiction. It’s not a documentary. You just have to somehow find an essence of yourself that connects with the guy you’re playing and really hope for the best. And that’s really all I did. I have a great deal of respect for Charles and I really think he’s kind of been mistreated in the press and in the media over the years. Certainly I’m not going to have any effect whatsoever, but I just wanted him to be credible and somewhat dignified. Hopefully that worked.
Well, you look really good in the commercials…
You can’t do better than that!
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