ift.tt/1tITgaz With Rosewater , based on the true story of a tortured journalist, the Daily Show frontman stepped behind the camera. “I think the best decision I made was to be cognizant of my own ignorance.” Jon Stewart, journalist Maziar Bahari, and actor Gael García Bernal at the gala screening of Rosewater during the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 8. Sam Santos / Getty Images TORONTO — When Jon Stewart famously took off much of the summer of 2013 from hosting The Daily Show to make his feature directorial debut Rosewater — which just screened at the Toronto International Film Festival — he knew at the very least that he didnt know much at all. I think the best decision I made was to be cognizant of my own ignorance, he told BuzzFeed News at the festival. The film is based on the memoir by British-Iranian journalist Maziar Bahari (played by Gael García Bernal) about his 118-day incarceration and torture in the wake of the nationwide protests following the 2009 Iranian presidential election. While in Iran in the run up to the election (and prior to his arrest), Bahari did a tongue-in-cheek interview for The Daily Show, which his interrogator — whom he only knew due to his rosewater-scented cologne — subsequently used against him as evidence that he was a spy. The claim is absurd on its face, of course, but it didnt assuage Stewarts guilt over the unfortunate circumstance — if anything, it drove Stewart to adapt Baharis memoir himself into a screenplay and ultimately agree to direct the film as well. As Stewart waded into the vagaries of independent film production, there were at least a couple helpful similarities to his work at The Daily Show. For one, Stewart was very much used to having to improvise with limited time and money. Theres a still a bit of a seat-of-the-pants mentality for our show, he said. For another, Stewart was also used to being The One Whos In Charge. That felt the most comfortable, because thats most akin to what I do on a more normal basis. But otherwise, Stewart pretty much had to learn how to direct a movie as he was directing his movie, while on location in Jordan, in the middle of the summer and the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. We were operating on a very small budget, in a very difficult place, he said with a chuckle. So there had to be a little bit of that Little Rascals, Lets put on a show [attitude]. You know, What can we use as a hat? Ive got this colander! Here are some of the lessons he learned. Open Road Films View Entire List ›
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 01:22:49 +0000
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