Interviews

Film Review Interview with Eric Thal - July 1993
Interviewed by David Aldridge

Before he became an actor, Eric Thal was a magician, working children's birthday parties in around his home town of Philadelphia. Now, he makes an aptly spellbinding film debut in Witness - type 'closed community' murder mystery Close to Eden (aka - A stranger among us), out on June 11.

But the handsome 26 year olddidn't find it easy to conjure up the start of what he hopes will be a movie career. Eric was 14, going on 15, when the acting bug bit. Four years later, he quit college, where he'd been studying engineering, and went to learn stagecraft in New York. He landed two TV commercials within a month - one for shoes, the other for American Express. But it was to prove a false first work impression. For he didn't do any other significant acting for six whole years.

They were desperate, eviction-threatened times. Then came the auditions for Close to Eden (aka - A stranger Among Us), which premiered in competition at Cannes last year under it's US title A Stranger Among Us. Incidentally, the 'Stranger' of the US title is the lady homicide detective (Melanie Griffith) assigned a toughie murder case. The 'Us' are the Hassidic Jews, in whose closed, ultra-religious New York community the killing in question takes place. And Eric is the Hassidim who becomes the bridge between her world and his.

Audition Message

"It was a five - week process" affable Eric says of the auditions. "And a very gruelling one. Looking back, it scares me to death - the idea that all the wonderful things that have happened to me since could have been nullified by a bad audition". However, he did still almost blow it. Because the auditioning process coincided with his enforced move from one apartment to another. And one crucial element occured when he hadn't yet had the chance to transfer his phone from one to another.

"I was using a message service", Eric recalls, relaxing at Cannes, and basking in the first flush of film success. "But, l must admit, l was'nt being too scrupulous about checking for my calls. Anyway, l rang one Thursday, about 5pm - and was told by the service that there was a screen test that very same night, at 6:15pm".

Eric barely had time for the self - massage that he administers to relax himself before performing. But he made the test. Eric actually auditioned for a supporting role - and was elevated to male lead by discerning director Sidney Lumet, who saw something special in this young complete unknown.

Hassidic Conviction

Eric isn't Jewish. He's of mixed Swedish, Norwegian, German, English, Welsh stock. And he readily admits to having known no more about the Hassidim prior to making Close to Eden than the average New Yorker does. Which is not very much. Because the Hassidim, as a matter of course, keep themselves to themselves.

"I just knew them as people who dressed differently." Eric tells me "I knew next to nothing of them or their culture. But l like to think l'm as unprejudiced as any man can be. And l was determined to portray an Hassidic Jew with as much conviction as possible - and with absolute respect for them and their ways".

He read as much about them as he could - and even dipped into their Cabale, the religious teachings by which they live their lives. And he paid a fleeting visit to the section of Brooklyn where New York's Hassidic Jews live and work. But it was still a tense time for him, that first day on location. For the production was filming on the Big Apple's 47th Street, in the Hassidim heartland."I'd tried to pick up some subtleties and sophistications for my potrayal", says Eric. "But l was still fearful that l wasn't close to getting it right. However, the Hassidim on the street were extremely co-operative that first day of filming among them. Only one fellow was hostile to me. The others were all very helpful. There l was, all dressed up in costume, and walking down 47th Street. It was a Sunday, but there were a few Hassidim about, watching me work. It was really weird. I'd walk past them, and l could feel their eyes following me. One particular fellow really came up close, and looked at me in bewilderment. He obviously thought there was something not quite right about me, but he couldn't quite figure out what. I was braced for the worst - the worst being, the biggest insult, that these people had ever seen or suffered. But that wasn't the case at all. Some people came over, and were constructively critical. They said my hair was too long - that it should be shorter for greater conviction. Others said l looked very good, very accurate. That l seemed to carry myself with the right degree of dignity. I couldn't have asked for a more flattering appraisal".

Eric understandably enjoyed his first bite of filming. And now he's gone back for a second. And it's in complete contrast to Close to Eden. In the evocatively titled The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag, he plays a smalltown policeman whose neglected wife (Penelope Ann Miller) finds a gun - and, in a bid to attract attention, confesses to a murder that she didn't commit. "It's a drama, a comedy and a romance", says Eric. "And it's a completely different experience". But the ex magician will be trying to pull another rabbit from his new hat.

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Eric Thal interview

Q. Mandy, Paris, France
This question may sound strange but l am doing research on names and l have come across many people who hate their first name. Do you like your name (Eric) if not what name would you prefer to be called?

Starting off with a tough question. This is the kind of thing that slows me down and makes me put off answering a questionnaire like this for months. I like my first name fine. I don't think I ever hated my first name, in answer to your question. I can remember being upset as a child when I wasn't so sure what I thought of my middle name, William. Of course at seven or eight, I was more affected by what others thought, and perhaps just one other child laughed at that name.

So I think there was a good solid day of -- or at least a half-hour of -- hating that name. But, now I'm very fond of the name William and it's shortened version, Will. But you're not asking about that, you're asking about "Eric", which I like fine. (I know this sounds lame compared to the glowing review I just gave to Will and William, but I think there is more at play here, and if I'm not careful, I'll spend an entire day thinking about this, so it's better I just say, in answer to the simple question, do you like your first name? Yes.)

Q. Karen, London, UK
How tall are you?

Oh great, a simple direct question with an answer even I can't elaborate on: just under 6'2" .

Q. Francis, Ontario, Cananda
What is your ethnic origin?

My ethnic origin? A whole bunch of stuff. Can't even trace some of it, so I can't answer the question completely. There's some German, a little Swedish, a touch of Norwegian, maybe even a hint of Irish and English-Welsh...

Q. Greg, Amsterdam, Holland
Do you have any hobbies, sports etc?

Hobbies, yes. I'm really interested in playing and creating music. I enjoy writing. I enjoy acting. I like gardening and am an aspiring farmer. I have one bee hive. I'm very interested in alternative energy, especially windmills. At different times I'll paint canvases, but recently I've tried to be careful and focus my creative energy into writing.

I love doing lots of things, but sometimes I do spread myself a little thin. But I've watched very little television since around 1995, so imagine the thousands of hours that's freed up. Sports -- I loved and still love baseball. Sometimes in the summer I'll pitch a ball against a piece of plywood I set up, or bat some balls out into a field. I do some bike riding. I used to do a bit of weight-lifting for about a decade or so. I wrestled in high school for The Fords under Neil Buckley. And recently I've been studying karate with Kaicho T. Nakamura. I like water-skiing a lot too, but haven't done much of that lately.

Q. Dawn, Nairobi, Kenya
Do you have any other talents - singing, dancing, musical instruments etc?

Yes, I'm very interested in music. Dancing? I've just done enough tostay humble, but hope to do more in the future. I think it's great. I've been blessed with great teachers through the years, and one of the greatest was my voice teacher of about the last five years, Mario Lisanti, who unfortunately died in June of 2001. I've not studied voice since, but hope to again, and hope to continue to learn and play music, and write, and one day put that music out there. I play mostly guitar, but also some drums and keyboards.

Q. Bev, New York
What is your favourite film?

My favorite film? That's a tough one... I donut see many, so its probably not fair for me to say, especially since I haven't seen much of what's come out recently. I'll mention a few of the favorites I can think of, and I'm sure after I send these questions off, I'll think of some of the obvious ones I'd forgotten. Network. The Elephant Man. My Left Foot. Dog Day Afternoon. Shine. Ordinary People. I can think of some other really good ones, but since you asked for the singular favorite, I won't go on.

Q. Jack, NY
Is there an actor, actress or director that you admire and would love to work with?

I've been fortunate to work with some great people already, actors, actresses, and directors. Again, my fear is I'll leave someone out if I make a list. Here goes my brain now, and if I'm not careful, I'll go on forever. I won't list the great people I've worked with, because I'd just as soon not exclude anyone. Although I guess I have to mention Sidney Lumet, who was wonderful, and gave me my first chance in A Stranger Among Us. I admire Martin Scorcese and Terry Gilliam. I'd like to work with Peter Wellington (again)... Too many talented people to try to list them all...

Q. Seldom Seen (Nickname), Queens NY
You've done films, theatre tv. any plans on doing anything in music?

Yes, one of the great opportunities acting has given me, or I should say my good fortune in the acting profession, is the time to learn and focus on music. Also, as an actor only, one is dependent on scripts to interpret in order to work. I think I've been led into music and writing out of a desire to create and say something original. It can be really hard as an actor giving a performance, and seeing how much it can be changed through editing.

They say you can make a hundred (or more) different films based on how you edit it, and it's really true. As an actor, you are part of a big collaborative process, which is really wonderful when it works, but there is something really desirable about being in a position to say something, to be able to say something in a creative work, and know no one is going to alter it. Hopefully the time will come where I have something to say musically, and it's put out there.

 

Q. Charlie, Birmingham, England
Is it true that you are a magician? If so what type of magic do you do? Do you do live performances? Do you try to instill magic and mystery into your acting?

Yes I was a magician as a teen-ager and enjoyed it very much, but l feel the art fled me when I sort of sold-out. A hard and valuable lesson about "selling out". I did parlor magic -- mostly birthday parties for kids. It started out as a hobby. Beer can collecting was big then, and I acquired some old magic sets lying around friends' basements by buying them for a few bucks or trading some beer cans. Being a bit more eccentric than popular in eighth grade, I had all that free alone time to practice magic (thereby making me more eccentric). The hobby grew and grew. I ordered tricks from mail order magic companies. I read books and made tricks. I carried coins in my pocket to practice my slight of hand. Before I knew it I was booked on my first birthday party. I earned a whopping ten dollars of cold hard cash for thirty minutes of work. This beat shovelling snow.

Everything was fine for a few years as my interest in the hobby grew, and I bought more and more tricks and continued to do more and more shows. Then some dastardly practical-thinking got into my mind that I was spending more money on tricks than I was making on shows. Why I needed to be a Magic Empire at 17, I don't know, but I stopped buying tricks and just stuck with my one show that worked (rather than changing it up and keeping it interesting for me to perform with new and different tricks). It became work. It became uninteresting. My interest in it faded. I brought no tricks with me when I went to college for a year, but a year later, when I moved to New York, I gave it one more shot. I was waiting tables, studying acting, and I thought I could make more money doing magic shows. This was true, and I did a couple shows in New York, but having returned to it just for the cash, something was missing. The shows weren't terrible, but not really loving what I was doing, I don't know, it wasn't really "magic". There's nothing wrong with being paid for it, but for me it's important to keep being excited by it. I think if you're performing, you owe that to the audience. In answer to your question, I think there are a lot of principles that I learned in magic that I've applied to acting. And yes, there should be magic and mystery in acting.

Q. Ben, Scotland, UK
What or who inspired you to become an actor?

It's been a long process and many along the way, especially teachers, have inspired and encouraged me to act. The one who started it all for me, was my first acting teacher, Richard Brewer. He had a summer acting session when I was about 15. We did various scenes and monologues, including Mourning Becomes Electra. It was really exciting.

Q. David, Canada
When l told my mum that l wanted to change my career aspirations from being an aeronautical engineer to a film maker, she was against the idea and asked how l would be able to pay the bills. Did you encounter similar opposition? What effect did it have on you? It made me more determined to succeed.

Criminey, if it takes me twenty words to answer how tall I am, how am I ever gonna answer this question? This is a book, my friend. I'm trying to write a script, I've got auditions on Monday to prepare for, my place is a mess, and now you hit me up with this question. I know it's just some question on a website for you, but now I gotta try to answer it?... Now how can I advise you? I don't want your mum showing up at my door or saying nasty things about me because I ill-advised her son. Oh, well now I see you're talking about being a film-maker, and not an actor, that's slightly different... (Listen forget about proper grammar and punctuation at this point, I just gotta talk)... Who knows?... I'll tell you my story. I knew I wanted to act, but nonetheless went to college for what turned out to be a year. That's what most people did where I came from, went to college.

I studied engineering the first semester. Although I loved math, some of that was being drilled out of me in the intense work load of college. I switched to more of a liberal arts program, and I studied Education, which I enjoyed and found valuable. I had been thinking about dropping out of college and moving to New York, but it was a very tough consideration. Certainly, there was nothing practical about it. Maybe aspiring to be a film maker is an ounce more practical than to be an actor, but who knows? It depends on your situation. You may be the most gifted up and coming film-maker, in which case I hope you drop out of college, get a property, raise some capital, and call my agent. Frankly, I could use the work.

So there you go. For me, as I was trying to get one other human being to acknowledge maybe it wouldn't be insane for me to move to New York and become an actor ("Oh, what, you're going to be an actor?!!" to the nth degree, often accompanied by laughter and funny looks), something became clear to me. I thought if I changed what I was doing, and moved to New York, that the day might come where I said to myself: "I made a mistake. I should have stayed in college." But I knew, if I didn't take the chance to do what I really wanted to do, that the day would definitely come when I said, I made a mistake, I should have gone for it. I guess the saying or the cliche would be: "Regret what you do, not what you don't do." On the other hand, I hear people say all the time about acting or the business, "If you don't have to do it, don't do it." Maybe if you haven't done so, you'll check out Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet. Must you be a film-maker? If you must... If you don't "must", aeronautical engineering ( I mean I don't know much about the job market, but it) would probably be a "safer" bet. But I don't know? Maybe you're lousy with numbers...(I'm kidding.)

As I read the rest of your question now, it looks like you've already made a decision as you say: "It made me more determined to succeed." And I believe this is true. I remember a friend when I first moved to New York showing me a newspaper article, with all of these people, including The Beatles, and famous quotes of people telling them they'd never succeed. A list of dozens of them. I know I heard someone told that to Sigourney Weaver. So, (still referring to the question) paying the bills may or may not be a problem some times, but I can definitely see that oppostion helping. Sometimes someone or everyone telling you "You can't." can be a really good thing. Good Luck!! (Or should I say, What are you kidding me, YOU want to be a film-maker!!)

 

Q. Carol, NY
Do you still use classical acting methods or have you incorporated other techniques like the method?

I've studied a number of different acting techniques, including classical with Ada Brown Mather. I remember a friend saying studying the classical form of the art you're interested in is extremely valuable. I agree with that. That's where it came from. And a lot of the actors, maybe most, who I admire seem to incorporate both techniques. You could probably see them on stage or in film. I've certainly read a lot of Stanislavsky, which is great. My understanding is that was the original "method" and the term now applies to the work of Lee Strasberg. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I've studied very little (but some) Strasberg. The main American technique I studied was that of Sanford Meisner.

Q. Sharon, Arizona
Have you identified your strengths and weaknesses in your acting technique, if yes what are they?

Having a hard time answering this one. I don't know if I've specifically identified my strengths and weaknesses, but I do constantly think about acting, and what can make it better. I know what I like when I see it, but the whole thing at times alludes me. The minute I think I understand it all, I feel like I know nothing. Maybe it's that when it really works well, you're just sort of on automatic pilot, and not thinking about anything, just "in the moment."

Q. Charo, Spain
Has there been a role or script which has educated you on issues which otherwise you would not have thought of or been exposed to?

Yes, I have been exposed to things that I wouldn't have been were it not for acting. It's nice when you get a role that requires you to learn about something. I learned a lot about Hasidism and related things in A Stranger Among Us. I had to learn about shooting guns for several roles. I learned some things when we visited an advertising agency in preparation for Mixing Nia. The main thing however I think has been learning about people, and I believe having a broader and greater understanding of people. There's a belief that you have to love (or identify) with any character you play. That you shouldn't have an "opinion" of your character, or you end up playing a caricature, and not a real person. I think that's one of the real gifts for an actor. It's easy to think a certain person is so very different, and then when you have to play that person, you gain such an understanding (ideally) of where they're coming from, what motivates them, how people are affected by their backgrounds and their environments. (This is what I believe.)

Q. Angela, Ohio
Has there ever been an occassion when you have been so absorbed into a character that you have found it hard to snap out of it at the end of the working day? If yes for which film and why do you think this happened?

A little bit. It's a little bit of an odd profession in that way. Even in theatre, but maybe even more so in film, when you're working a lot, you're this other character for more hours -- far more hours -- in the day than you're yourself. People like to joke about this, but I do think that it's easier to do truthful work if you stay a little bit or completely "in character". Different opinions exist of course. But I don't finish a take and go back to thinking about my world and my reality. I try to stay either in a neutral place, or in the world of the character... So I think there can be odd feelings sometimes. You can arrive on location, you don't know anyone there, so you're already in this slightly artificial, or I should say foreign, setting, and then you're given your "new" life: This is your father. This is your partner. This is the woman you're in love with. This is where you work. Study these new pages; we'll see you tomorrow at 6 a.m. I like the idea of playing very different characters, and if I've been working on something for a while, as soon as it's done, I like to make some change to shed the character: cut my hair, grow facial hair, something different.

Q. Henkwan, China
Have you ever spent time watching ALL your films back to back? If yes have you noticed any similarities in the characters that you have played eg. Personalities, motivations

A year ago I assembled a reel of selected scenes of my work, and watched bits and pieces of a lot of stuff I did. I'm sure there are some similarities as any character you play melds your own personality with another personality. You subtract qualities from yourself that the character doesn't have, and add qualities that the character does have. I think most of the characters I've played have been pretty different from one another.

Q. Nazeli Hambarian, Armenia, Yerevan (3 part question)
1) Did you feel pride, big responsibility in playing Samson and Delilah? If you are Jewish, was it symbolic for you to play this part considering your roots?
2) Did you agree at once when you got the proposal to act in this film from Nicolas Roeg?
3) What do you think about Elizabeth Hurley? Was she a good and easy partner to work with on the film? Do you maintain contact?

Yes, I think there is a big responsibility in acting and definitely when it's in stories that deal with sensitive issues, such as religion or religious interpretations or historical events. I think the line "It's just a movie" is a load of bunk: movies and television definitely influence people. Art also influences people, and under fortunate circumstances an actor gets to work on a film that is art. On the other hand, as an actor for hire, I've reluctantly come around to the way of thinking that my job is just to play the part I'm hired to play. I've had many a conversation and disagreement with producers over the social content of a piece. Sometimes my points were considered and changes ( I hope for the better) were made in the piece.

Other times, I've just been viewed as being difficult. One thing that's certain is that unless an actor is also the producer (with creative control), (s)he has virtually no creative control. You have control when you decide whether or not to take a project, but no control on how it's edited or over scenes that may be added. You have no control over the "movie", only over the "part". The project of Samson and Delilah was appealing to me, because of several of the quality actors who were already involved, as well as Nicolas Roeg being attached to direct, as well as the character of Samson seeming like an interesting one to play. So while there was no symbolic meaning to me (in answer to your question), playing an historical figure and a biblical one was a responsibility in terms of my trying to be as truthful and accurate as possible as that character within the framework of the script I was given. Regarding your question about Elizabeth Hurley, no we have not maintained contact, and yes she was great to work with and I thought she did a wonderful job in her performance as Delilah.

Q. Wayne, Canada
Has there been any repocussions eg. Teasing as a result of showing your birthday suit in Puppet Masters? If another director asked you do a nude scene would you do it?

I think the scene you referred to was appropriate for the film. The director felt there should be that nudity if I was comfortable with it, and I agreed. Repercussions? I don't think so. I suppose I couldn't enter the Miss America pageant. Yes, I don't know a concise way to say this without it sounding like a cliche, so here goes: If the script justified it, I'd do it.

Q. Linda, South Africa
Sex scenes for most actors are embarrassing. Has there ever been an occassion when you have refused to do a sex scene? If yes for which film and why?

No, I don't believe I've ever refused to do such a scene.

Q. Michael, Malaysia
I find it strange that l can not find any interviews for you anywhere and you have made a lot films. Why is this?

There are interviews out there that I've done. Most of them were around the time of A Stranger Among Us and then some around The Puppet Masters. Disney was going through changes as they say around the time of The Puppet Masters (not The Puppet Master mind you, but The Puppet Masters with Donald Sutherland -- how unfortunate to have to have said that sentence hundreds and hundreds of times. If only we could have changed the title. Unfortunately the title "tested" okay), so there was not much press to do for that. I have enjoyed the occasional thoughtful interviewer, but the run of the mill interview in search of cute and cleverless sound bites is about as appealing to me as paying penalty and interest to the IRS. And you think, they can -- hard not to curse here -- mess up your performance in the editing room, you can't believe what a -- another good spot for a curse word -- fool they can make you look like in an interview. There's all these questions that to me are traps. You answer them and you look stupid, naive, or egotistical (especially when they don't include the interviewer's questions, so it looks like you're volunteering the information as opposed to answering a question).

And there's a whole popular trend nowadays to make fun of actors or celebrities. I guess sometimes it's deserved, but sometimes it's just so hateful. That's why I can barely watch tv or listen to the radio. It just seems like they're dishing out so much fear and hatred. So at least under these circumstances (i.e. this interview), if I seem stupid, naive, or egotistical, it's my own fault. I guess my interest is in being an actor or actor/writer, etc. and some of the personality stuff that goes along with that, people wanting to know about you, etc., is fine. But my interest is not in being a celebrity -- in selling my personality or a more interesting (false) version of myself to the public for their consumption and entertainment.

Q. Geri, Denver, CO
Are you pleased with your career? Do you prefer the independent films more or is work just work? Why in heavens name are we not seeing so much more of you in mainstream cinema? I look at the other so-called hot actors out there and I'm so amazed that you aren't being seen in that same light in terms of exposure. You have the talent and the looks. Explain please, and/or fire your current agent.

Thanks for the kind words. My agent is great. His name is Philip Carlson and he believed in me a decade ago and got me my first role in A Stranger Among Us. Unfortunately I left him a few years later and went to some other larger, more powerful agencies. Looking back, I made things difficult for the agencies I was with. After a couple films I became extremely particular about the films I wanted to partake in, and passed on almost everything (the opportunity to audition that is, not generally flat out offers to work on films without auditioning), and focused on writing my own script.

The agents had a more practical approach which was generally along the lines of keep working. Work begets work. Work in a film and by the time it comes out and is seen for the piece of dreck it is, you're already working on another film. And so on. And so on. Makes sense. Makes good short-term business sense. But it's not what I wanted. My approach would have been fine if I had just completed that script. Instead it's years later now and I've not had the film career I would have liked to have had. On the other hand, I don't have a lot of films that I would be embarrassed of. I've spent the time growing as an actor, a writer, and a musician. So I feel like I'm in a good place, and rather than feeling like the prime of my career is over, I really feel like I'm just beginning and my dreams are ahead of me. I've been back with Philip Carlson for over a year now, and just a few months ago started working with a manager in Los Angeles named Paul Nelson who I met five years ago at Sundance. He seems smart and determined to get me working a lot more now, so I'm looking forward to that.

Q. Janet, Sydney, Australia
Do you think your decision to stay out of the limelight and not do any kind of publicity has effected your career and choice of roles in anyway?

Yes, there's no doubt that there are great roles out there that they offer to people who have a box office, people who are known and generally liked by the public. Whether that could have been me if I had pursued it, I don't know.

Q. Helen, Manchester, England
Do you see yourself acting until retirement age or do you have plans/ideas for a second proffession?

Yes, I still love acting and hope not to cash in on it in order to retire and do something else. I don't know what else I'd do. I am interested in farming and hope to do more and more of that each year that my schedule allows. I'm interested in building with stone too. But professionally, I hope to continue to work as an actor, writer, director and musician.

Q. Stewart, London, England
If you had the chance to see through the eyes of anyone in human history who would choose?

This question is the premise for a book. I'll try to answer it briefly as I agreed to answer these questions months ago, and I need to send them in. I had thought about this question earlier and I won't glamorize any of them by naming names, but I thought it would be interesting to see through the eyes of one of the great hate-mongers. Would that give me greater understanding of how to deal with the world today? Of course if I could only choose one person, it would be a lot more fun to see through the eyes of one of the great lovers of humankind in history. But if we can understand our enemy and see the humanness in our enemy or in one consumed with hate, that could bring us closer to understanding. ( Question 20: Imagine the fun they'd have ripping down this sincerity. "Contempt for Sincerity on Radio and TV." And isn't tv popular culture, and isn't popular culture tv?)

Q. Drew, Los Angeles
On the website for your last film 'Down', Dick Mass stated that the whole crew loved you and he remembers you commenting on how relaxed you felt walking around Amsterdam and how it reminded you of home. Do you still feel relaxed walking around NY?

Yes I feel relaxed walking around New York. I love the city and love it even more as for several years I've combined it with an existence in the mountains. Those two together, going from one to the other, has really been nice for me. Of course New York and New Yorkers have been through a great deal recently, and I could never respectfully try to sum up all of that here, but I've seen in the last several months the absolute best of the people who live in this great city.

©Tori Lyons - Eric Thal Fansite 04/2002
Do not copy any part of this interview
without seeking permission first.
Ericthal@excite.com

 

 

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