The Fantastic Mr. Schwartzman
Actor and musician Jason Schwartzman discusses his role in the upcoming film The Fantastic Mr. Fox and shares with Parent & Child a list of his favorite animals.
Offbeat actor and musician Jason Schwartzman seems to be hitting his stride with his latest role in The Fantastic Mr. Fox, a film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s acclaimed children’s book of the same name. The film marks Schwartzman’s debut as a voice actor, breathing life into Ash, a fox who makes up for his small stature with moxie. Parent & Child sat down with Schwartzman to learn more about his interests, inspirations, and favoriteanimals, apart from foxes, of course. (You can also check out our Inspiring Words piece with Jason from the November issue.)
 |
Parent & Child: What was challenging about voice acting for The Fantastic Mr. Fox?
Jason Schwartzman: That’s a good question. That is a very good question. We are off to the races with that one. Sometimes when you’re acting in a film you’re able to use your face, your hands and your body to do things physically that you’re unable to do when you’re just using your voice. And even though you’re relying completely on your voice, it’s almost more fun because there is this incredible mystery as to what you’re going to see when you watch the final product in theatres. Also, the puppets are able to do things that I can’t do—like run up a fence really fast. I think it’s really cool because Wes Anderson, the director, is able to do things with physical comedy that he’s been pushing actors to do to their physical and human limits. And now he can do so much with these puppets; for instance, he can have two puppets in the frame and then exit the frame and be five hundred yards away in three seconds. And he can do funny things with the puppets’ hands, or he can change the eyeballs of the characters to have little x’s. So, it’s really fun to watch, and it’s cool to see the new body that you get to have your voice be in because your new body can do really fun stuff. And my new body is a fox!
 |
P&C: Speaking of your “new body,” how are you similar to or different from your character, Ash?
Schwartzman: I’m different from Ash because I’m not actually a fox. We’re also different because Ash sometimes is mean to his cousin, Kristofferson, and I would never be mean to my family members like that. I’m similar to Ash, however, in that I always wanted to be a big-time athlete in my school, but I wasn’t big enough. Like Ash, I also wanted my father’s approval when I was younger. I wanted to be as good as him, and I wanted the reputation that he always had as a man.
P&C: What’s your favorite animal and why?
Schwartzman: Boy, my favorite animal . . . that’s rough. Well, I love so many animals. I love turtles, just because I like that they have a little shell that they can tuck into whenever they feel like having some peace and quiet. I like how they are slow on land and fast in water, I like their faces, and I like how they can live a long time. I love the hippopotamus, too. I love a hippo because when you see them up close they don’t even look real. They look fake. Now, whenever I see one, I say, “C’mon, you’re not real.” I also love pigs. Pigs are some of the smartest animals in the world, I think it’s sad that we eat them because they’re so brilliant and cute. I want a pig as a pet, but I don’t think I’m allowed. My favorite, favorite animal, however, has to be the elephant. They are so incredible to me. Elephants have these unbelievable memories, they travel as families, and I love their big trunks. I think when you look in an elephant’s eyes you see so much wisdom.
P&C: Did you have a favorite children’s book growing up?
Schwartzman: I always loved Oh, The Places You’ll Go, and Tin Tin. There was another book I loved, but I don’t remember the name of it. It was about how in the future we can all have underwater houses and go swimming with all the fish in the sea.
P&C: What do you love about your job?
Schwartzman: What I love about my job is that I get to meet different people every time I work. I get to work with an entirely new group of talented, interesting people every time I do a movie, and I get to know them very well. And these people, in a way, become your family for a little while, and then you move on to a new group and a new project. It never gets old for me. I also love how so many different people come together to work on just one thing. I think it’s amazing that everyone working on a movie has a specific role. There’s a composer, a person who makes sets, a lighting expert, a person who has mastered the camera, a director, and everyone is the best at what they do. So, they all come together to make a movie, and you know the movie wouldn’t be as good if even one of them was not involved.
P&C: What advice would you give to a child who wants to become a musician or an actor?
Schwartzman: I would tell them to get an education because the more you can learn the better you will be as a musician or an actor. So much of anything you do is influenced by how much you know and how much you’re willing to learn. I would also say that sometimes, especially with music, there is a lot of work that may be boring and tedious—like scales and repetition—but all that practice is worth it.
P&C: Do you have any advice, jokes or last words for our audience?
Schwartzman: One of the greatest things that I learned from my parents is patience. One of the things that upsets me is when I see parents getting frustrated with their kids for just being kids. I understand it’s important to teach kids not to be loud and disrespectful in public places, but also I don’t think a kid should be punished or embarrassed for being a child. I think there is a balance. I also think it’s important to encourage kids to be imaginative and artistic, and to let their minds wander and be free. Lastly, I think it’s important and fun when parents talk to kids and learn about who they are. For kids, I would encourage them to listen to as much music as they can.
