I've always found it strange that a director can hire any designer he wants from any country. But if he hires a foreign actor, it's like he's stolen the crown jewels and run across the river with them.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Overseas directors who want to work in Hollywood, the language barrier is not a problem. With the right talent, any director can be successful.
Every time I work with a European director, I find they hire the person that captures the spirit of the role. Americans tend to hire the best face. The person that looks more like the role, whether they can perform the role or not is a bonus.
Too often, you see film makers from other countries who have made interesting, original films, and then they come here and get homogenized into being hack Hollywood directors. I don't want to fall into that.
I'll say this, I'm no stranger to working with a foreign cast, foreign directors, that sort of thing. I love it, because I think that when you have people from different countries, it sort of brings everyone together, it's more of a worldly film.
It's so hard to find a director who, when you look at their body of work, you like everything.
Sooner or later, directors in Germany will start casting without regard to where a person is from. It shouldn't matter anymore.
As an actor, you want a director who makes you feel comfortable in a place that you can really create and try a lot of different things.
I've reached a point in England where you can't go much further; I would love to come to America and work with some of the interesting directors here.
In Europe an actor is an artist. In Hollywood, if he isn't working, he's a bum.
My advice to American filmmakers is to marry a European. I'm not kidding. Otherwise they don't qualify for international co-production treaties.