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Everybody's Fine

Coverage by Nobuhiro Hosoki

Story : “Everybody’s Fine,” a remake of Giuseppe Tornatore’s “Stanno Tutti Bene,” follows a widower (De Niro) who embarks on an impromptu road trip to reconnect with each of his grown children only to discover that their lives are far from picture perfect.

Opens December 4, 2009

Runtime:1 hr. 35 min.

Press Conference with Robert De Niro, Sam Rockwell, Kirk Jones

 

Q: Robert, at what point did you enter the process?

(Robert De Niro): Kirk and I, we had a meeting and he told me the story and he told me what it was based on. And he had photos of the whole project, the traveling across the country, and I was impressed with how passionate about the project he was.

I could see that he just was special and he doesn't do movies often. This will have been his third. And so that informed for me that he cares so much obviously. So then I saw the original and then I saw his other two movies and then I read the script. And then we just decided when to do it.

Q: Sam, at what point did you decide you about the project and what was it about the film that attracted you?

(Sam Rockwell): I was excited to work with Kirk and the girls and especially Bob was a big incentive because I grew up watching Bob's movies. So I was really excited to do that. I jumped on board.

Q: Mr. Deniro -- your father was an artist, you would consider yourself an artist of a different type? How does your personal life affect the roles you pick and the way you play them?

(Robert De Niro): I relate to Frank obviously and drew on my own experiences like I do in all my parts. You draw on whatever's relevant to the part you're playing. Makes it more personal. There was a lot here of course. I have five children, two grandchildren. But also going back to Kirk being the director and caring - that's the anchor of the whole thing. So that's really, really important.

Q: That's more important than the role itself?

(Robert De Niro): Well, yeah I mean it's not more important but it's equally as important. He has to steer the ship, it's his baby, so he's got to make choices and all that. So I put myself in his hands so to speak.

Q: Bob, i love this movie so much. The most moving parts for me were when we see the telephone calls. We live in a society now where -when was the last time you heard a busy signal? Do you guys get nostalgic for those times? Are you into the techno-gadgets? Could you each talk about that?

(Sam Rockwell): Twitter?

(Robert De Niro: Twitter.

Q: Do you Tweet?

(Robert De Niro): I don't twitter. Somebody told me about it. I didn't know what it was.

(Sam Rockwell): I'm twittering right now.

Q:  How do you feel about new technology ?

(Sam Rockwell): I have memories of calling my agent from a phone booth. I can still remember great diners that I went to when I got a callback for that movie. Memories of being frustrated and hitting phone booths. For one audition or another. So yeah, sure, but the texting thing is very –it gets to be too much. For me, certainly. Multi-tasking.

I read an article in 'The Week' recently where they said, 'what's the special- what makes a multi-tasker great at being a multi-tasker?' And they said 'nothing!' Because they can't really do anything well because they're trying to do too many things.

(Robert De Niro): I only know how to use a computer. I don't even know how good I am at it. I slowly use the little things and get emails and I look at videos on the computer and I use an iPhone. I guess I use it adequately.

Q: Mr. Deniro, did anything in this movie remind you of an experience you had with your own father or as a father with your own children. Secondly, do you approach your comedic work differently than your dramatic work?  

(Robert De Niro): Well, to answer your first question, yeah, my father was pretty easy on me about what I wanted to do, to be an actor and stuff like that. My grandfather was much more strict, more old-school, old time Italian than my father ever was. That was my impression of him.

My father came from that to New York City to get away from certain things and they raised me kind of easily. And the fact that I wanted to be an actor, well, that was okay with them and my father. And my kids I try not to be too strict with them because certain things they have to do. But at the same time I don't want them to get away with anything.

But I think I try to rationalize with them, and argue, 'Now look I'm very good with you about certain things unless you do this. You have to now do this. That's only fair.' Of course, there are times when that stuff doesn't work. I'm not the all-knowing, all-seeing... But I think in general it works pretty good.

Q: You mean curfew kind of things?

(Robert De Niro): I don't put a curfew –you know 'do this'- I'm flexible with certain that the kids have to do. It's not like a curfew where they have to go to sleep at a certain time.

Q: And about the comedy?

(Robert De Niro): Well, this is a more gentle sort of –what would you call it- comedy than say 'Meet the Parents'. More of a dramedy.

Q: Bob, you worked on every scale of film from megaproductions to an indie like this one as a producer and an actor. What's the difference in working in indies versus large films.

(Robert De Niro): Yeah, I think- Well, the difference is you have more time. You have more- just a lot more- there are a lot more people on the set, a lot more trucks, it's a big production. I don't know. I mean, making movies that are very simple, ultimately- I always wonder when I walk around a big movie and you see all these trucks and this- and I think, 'Just to get this, you've got to get all these people.'

And of course, those are only certain movies that do that. It was good. This to me is a normal time to shoot- I think we shot eight weeks? So eight weeks is a pretty good schedule. It's an independent film. An independent is going to be less than what goes on this film I think. It costs less to make. And a shorter schedule, like five weeks. Four weeks.

Q: will you be doing more like this?

(Robert De Niro: I will.

Q: Do you have some things in mind?

(Robert De Niro): Some, yeah.

Q: Are you doing another 'meet the parents'?

(Robert De Niro): We're doing a third. 'Meet The Little Fockers.'

Q: Mr. Deniro, you've built your career on playing tough guys, gangsters, police officers.  How important is it to you to do something different, something softer? Do you think at all about how people perceive you from movie to movie or does that not concern you at all?

(Robert De Niro): No, some people do that and sometimes I play off that because it's a certain thing you do- you can make fun of it in certain movies. Like in 'Meet the Little Fockers' it's also titled 'Or The Godfocker.' And I ask Greg, because I have a feeling- if something happens to me- will he be the Godfocker.

Q: When is that one coming out?

(Robert De Niro): I don't know.

Q: Sam. How was it growing up with your father? Do you feel that you impressed him growing up?

(Sam Rockwell): Oh, sure. Yeah, yeah. My dad was very cool with me, you know, as far as becoming an actor. He was an actor at one time. So it was pretty easy with him. Yeah.

(Robert De Niro): Mr. Deniro, i read that you watched the original movie three times. How did you relate to the mastroianni character? What do they have in common?

(Robert De Niro): I only saw it once.

Q: And what was your impression of it?

(Robert De Niro): It was just a different type of movie. I love Mastroianni. Since I was kid I always watched his movies. He's been in great films. Part of the great Italian tradition, obviously. But it was a different thing, totally. Kirk made it his own. The structure was there and all that stuff. But it was totally different.

Q: The film in many ways addresses dealing with adversity. Do you have any special ways that you deal with adversity in your own lives?

(Sam Rockwell): Depends on the adversity I guess. I do different things to calm myself down. Exercise. That's a good thing. Different ways to battle adversity. I can't think of any other ones.

Q: Mr. Deniro, you've overcome 9-11. You've dealt with a lot of adversity. How do you deal with it?

(Robert De Niro): Which adversity are you talking about?

Q: Any adversity?

(Robert De Niro):  I'm here, aren't I?

Q: This is a question for mr. Deniro as a producer. Friday you signed a deal with cbs for three pilots shot in new york city. What kind of shows do you watch and could we imagine seeing you taking a part on television?

(Robert De Niro): Maybe. I don't watch much TV other than the news. Really. I'm busy and I'd rather be reading and doing stuff. There's good television. I just don't watch a lot of it.

Q: so your interests are in producing?

(Robert De Niro): Yeah, we're producing these shows. That is –that's good. But to this point- and once those start happening I will watch them. Work on them. But in general before that, I'm not that tuned in to television and such. But there's a lot of good stuff.

End.