Film is in competition for Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival
By Lindsey Bahr, Film Writer
VENICE, Italy (AP) --Tiffany Haddish may have Martin Scorsese to thank for her role in Paul Schrader's "The Card Counter," at least indirectly.
It was Scorsese who opened Schrader's eyes to the power of the comedic actor when he cast Albert Brooks in a vanilla — seemingly plain — role in "Taxi Driver." Schrader asked him why and he said he thought Brooks would find something in it.
"You cast a comic, they will break something in a role, even if it isn't laughs. They will make themselves interesting," Schrader said. "It's in their DNA."
And it's a theory he's often gone back to, from casting Richard Pryor in his debut "Blue Collar" to bringing Cedric the Entertainer to his last film "First Reformed." So when Haddish's name came up for the role of La Linda, a gambling agent who gets entangled with Oscar Isaac's mysterious card shark William Tell, he was intrigued.
"She brings a little joy, she brings her charisma," Haddish said Thursday at the Venice Film Festival before its world premiere. "Every good drama, no matter how dark it is, needs a little light so people can take a breath, that's what I was looking to do."
The 41-year-old actor consulted with some professional gamblers she knows to learn more about what their agents are like. She wasn't impressed with what she heard.
"It sounded like a bunch of slimy people to me," she said. "I wasn't feeling that. I was like, 'I'm not making her slimy, that's for sure."
Though she's dabbled in some serious roles, it was a bit of a learning curve for Haddish at first. But it was one that she was game for.
"For someone with Tiffany's background one of the hardest things to learn is you don't have to hit every line," Schrader said.
Haddish put it a little more bluntly.
"When we came into rehearsals the first day I sucked. I sucked bad. I was horrible because I feel like that's where you should be horrible at, in rehearsal," she said. "We played a lot, and what I love about Paul is he was blatantly honest with me, which is the most refreshing thing in the world. I learned a lot from him, and I'm very, very grateful, Paul, that you let me be in the movie. And that you didn't fire me on that first rehearsal."
Haddish is not much of a gambler herself, she said. She keeps her bets to a $20, two-hour limit. But she did take one big gamble, on herself, when she spent her rent money on an acting class and ended up homeless for a time.
"I told myself it would pay off in the long run and here I am in Italy, in Venice!" Haddish said triumphantly. "So darling, it paid off."
"The Card Counter" is competing for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, up against films like Jane Campion's " The Power of the Dog " and Paolo Sorrentino's " The Hand of God." "The Card Counter" opens in U.S. theaters on Sept. 10.
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More