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Recently, we were invited by New Line Home Entertainment to spend 15 minutes interviewing film director John Herzfeld and film co-star, Karel (pronounced kor-EL) Roden , who makes quite an impression in his American film debut as a murderous psychopath who shares a unique moment in U.S. cinema history with Robert DeNiro...
The BIG Picture gratefully acknowledges the effort of those who made this rather unusual inteview possible. We submitted our questions via e-mail and Mr. Roden responded via cell phone recently through a studio liason while driving through Austria...
TBP: Greetings, and thank you for consenting to this interview.
KR: Thank you.
TBP: I enjoyed your performance a great deal. I've never seen your work before, so it was difficult for me to tell how much of it was really an act. How did you get along with your fellow cast members? Robert DeNiro and Oleg Taktarov in particular?
KR: I was nervous when I knew I was to audition with Robert DeNiro. When the time came to read with him, he made me feel very comfortable and at ease. When iI got the part and we started rehearsing it was a great experience working with Bob and the rest of the actors. I would have liked to have had more scenes with him.
I enjoyed working with Oleg Taktarov as well. He was open to working together on the scenes, so that made it a lot easier. John Herzfeld was teasing me during rehearsals and during filming saying that I hated Russians. It's not true and I enjoyed working with Oleg.
TBP: Can you tell me briefly what it was like to live under communist rule in Czechoslovakia during your youth, and how this experience shaped your views of Russia, the West, and in particular, your distaste of the Russian language?
KR: This is a difficult question because there is so much to say about these issues. Let me say that I think the Russian language is beautiful. I like the way it sounds. To read a writer like Dostevsky in the original language is great because the language has so many nuances. Having said that, we were forced to learn Russian in school. We had no other choice. It was either learn the language or get kicked out of school. Let's just say I came very close to getting kicked out of school...
We had no idea of what the West was like when I was a child and a teenager. We did not have the freedom to travel anywhere. As children in school and even outside of school we had to be very careful of what we said and to whom we said it. If we said something that was thought to be subversive we could get in really serious trouble and jeopardize our parent's jobs and status within the community. So you can imagine, we did not like Russia because of this. We were 'asked' to join the communist party and if you refused you could be in serious trouble. It wasn't really an invitation. I refused and did not suffer because of it but I know people who did.
We watched bootleg copies of movies from the West that had been duplicated and dubbed in someone's home. This was our only real exposure to life in the West. We also collected bumper stickers that were from the West - oil company bumper stickers like Shell and Esso. We would steal them off cars and trade them. It was very exciting and thrilling at the time. When the Czech's beat the Russians in sports like ice hockey (the Czechs were the world cup winners this year, by the way) there were practically riots in the streets. And of course it would turn really nasty when the police became involved. But (it) was a form of protest, I guess.
TBP: Tell me about your home in Czechoslovakia, and how filmmaking differs in your country versus the United States.
KR: Filmmaking is basically the same. We work with much smaller budgets but I think the actual process is very much the same. Remember that the Czech's have a long tradition of filmmaking and internationally known filmmakers like Milos Forman and Ivan Passer.
I have a small cozy house on the edge of Prague. I have a beautiful garden, which gives me a lot of pleasure. It's one of my favorite ways to spend my time when I am not working.
TBP: I understand that you are highly acclaimed in your country as an actor. What are your favorite kinds of roles to play? Why?
KR: I love what I do and feel very fortunate to be able to make a living doing it. I like all roles be they comedic, dramatic, villainous, whatever. But most of all I like a role to challenge me.
TBP: How did you become aware of this part in 15 MINUTES? What was the audition process like?
KR: This part literally came out of nowhere. I was asked to put myself on tape by some casting people in Prague. From there it was a long and grueling process before I was actually offered the part.
TBP: Describe the thoughts you had when Robert DeNiro spat in your face during
the tense scene in which you are informing him that he is about to die. I
understand that this was a surprise to you?
KR: Well it wasn't actually a surprise. We were improvising in the scene and DeNiro spit at Oleg. I asked him if he could spit at me. The rest is cinematic history (laughing). The unfortunate fact is that I had an allergic reaction to the fake blood they used which Bob had in his mouth. I still suffer from it. But the great thing about that scene was Bob's willingness to improvise and john (Herzfeld's) allowing us to. It was great. Really great.
TBP: What did you enjoy most about the filming of 15 MINUTES.
KR: The catering... Seriously, the thing I enjoyed most was my ability to really focus on the role. I was away from home and the distractions of my daily life there, so I was really able to focus and explore all the facets of the character. It was also an honor and a pleasure to work with people who were open to new ideas and improvisation - John Herzfeld, Robert DeNiro, Oleg Taktarov, Ed Burns...everyone was really focused on the work. The crew was great as well.
TBP: What did you dislike the most? Why?
KR: I don't like the fact that I die at the end of the film because it pretty much rules out the possibility of being involved in a sequel.
TBP: How does it feel to be one of the most hated men in America? I don't mean that literally, of course, but you know that knocking off a character played by Robert DeNiro in this country isn't going to win you over with many fans.
KR: Hmmm..... maybe that's why I haven't really been offered another acting job in the states....
TBP: What are your immediate future plans? Are you heading back to Europe or do you plan to stay in the United States for awhile? Have you been here before?
KR: I have been in the states before I did 15 MINUTES. I will continue to travel back and forth between Los Angeles, New York and Prague. I am contemplating a few film projects in the Czech republic and I have ongoing theatre performances in Prague.
TBP: We're well aware of your character's contempt for the United States in the film, but how do you personally feel about this country? What do you like about our way of life? What would you change if given the chance?
KR: I can really only speak about my experiences in Hollywood and actually - I'd rather not. I do like the states but my home and heart will always be in the Czech Republic.
I will say that I think that the film really speaks about issues that need to be addressed, especially in the states but internationally as well. The media really does have a dangerous amount of influence and I think that unless the issue is addressed the situation could get out of control, not unlike what happens in the film.
TBP: Thank you for speaking with us. We wish you much continued success.
KR: Thanks so much for your thoughtful questions.
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