From the GATW Archives: Video Interview: Christian McKay and director Richard Linklater (ME AND ORSON WELLES)
It’s not every day you get to sit down and chat with someone who portrays the notorious and iconic Orson Welles in a movie. So what do you do when that happens? You just do it - one second at a time.
This happened to me a few weeks ago when I spoke with Christian McKay (who plays Orson Welles in the film ME AND ORSON WELLES) and Richard Linklater - all around nice guy and Texas resident who directed the film. I can tell you firsthand, it was very intimidating interviewing McKay (pronounces “muh-kye”). This being his first film, one probably wouldn’t think so. But with an appearance uncanny to Welles, the first thing that crossed my mind was, “If McKay’s behavior resembles that of Orson’s, I’m fucked.” It didn’t and I wasn’t.
I got through the interview with very little “ums” and pauses (fshew), and after looking over this video, I really think it went really well(es). Check out the after the jump, as we talk about the inspirations and research Christian did to prepare for such an intimidating role, and Linklater’s thought process when choosing which film to work on.
Oh, and I almost forgot, Christian does a marvelous impersonation of Alec Guinness. If STAR WARS gets a remake in 20 years, all Hollywood needs to do is watch this video to find their Obi-Wan.