, has been a major player in American independent cinema for over three decades.
Writer and director John Sayles has significantly contributed to American independent film for more than 30 years.
After participating in a cameo for the 1978 film Piranha, which I wrote, my colleagues and I were inspired to create a documentary about the Texas border. During a day off, I visited the Alamo in San Antonio, only knowing the Disney-fied version of the famous battle. However, I was met with Chicano-American protestors, urging for the full story to be told. This sparked my interest in the complex racial dynamics involved, such as the involvement of Mexican soldiers fighting for the United States and the ironic notion that Texans fought for “freedom” to own slaves. Unfortunately, this crucial aspect is often omitted from historical narratives.
The story of Lone Star, which focuses on the downfall of Sheriff Charlie Wade, who is portrayed by Kris Kristofferson, is not an unusual one. The protagonist holds an immense amount of power. While my screenplay included elements of a western, it primarily followed a detective storyline. Surprisingly, we were able to secure funding for production immediately after I completed writing it.
I chose Chris Cooper to be the current sheriff in charge of investigating Wade’s murder due to his embodiment of the iconic American Gary Cooper persona. He excels at conveying subtext, a crucial element in the interrogation scenes. In those moments, he is essentially questioning the type of man his father was: the previous sheriff who bravely challenged and took over for Wade. It is no easy feat to maintain the performance when shooting scenes out of order. Chris diligently had to consider where his character stood in the mystery plot and his emotional state.
I do not rehearse as I crave the element of surprise. Matthew McConaughey, who portrays Chris’s dad Buddy, had previously only acted in one film: Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused. I required an actor without much star power but with the charisma to act alongside Kristofferson.
I avoided using traditional scene cuts to transition between the present and past timelines. Instead, I incorporated live transitions which brought a lot of enjoyment to the crew as they worked out the logistics. In one particular transition, the camera starts on a basket of tortillas as we shift from the present to Kristofferson’s past. However, Clifton James, the elderly narrator of the story, struggled to exit the shot quickly enough. As a result, the grips had to physically move him and his chair to make room for Matthew in the past. These smooth transitions conveyed the idea that these characters carry their histories with them always.
I do not believe that we have seen any improvement in border problems since the movie was released. In the past, there was not as much tension as there is now. Border patrol agents would simply warn undocumented immigrants by saying “no me hagas correr” – do not make me run – and then deport them. In my opinion, building a wall is not the solution; it is similar to a costly art installation by Christo. Recently, I went to see it with a friend and we even urinated on it.
Chris Cooper, actor
During dinner with his partner, the film’s producer Maggie Renzi, John initially shared the story with me. It wasn’t until the end that I realized he was considering me for the role of Sam Deeds – the current sheriff. I was taken aback by this unexpected offer. John described the character as “laconic” and I questioned this choice. He explained that he wrote the part with me in mind, knowing I possess this quality. It took me some time to fully embrace the idea.
I enjoy scripts that involve direct, in-person interactions, and that is exactly what this project was. It was refreshing not to have to deal with any artificial green-screens. One of John’s unique qualities as a director is that he provides actors with detailed character backgrounds, which helps us connect with his vision. However, being from Texas myself, I was already well-versed in the culture. My entire extended family has been rooted in Texas for many generations.
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I drew inspiration from my own father-child relationship when creating the characters of Sam and his father, Buddy. While we shared a strong bond, we also experienced challenges. My father held traditional views and we had differing political beliefs. He didn’t understand my passion for acting and would often joke, “If you want to see real drama, come to the emergency room with me.”
At first, I didn’t fully comprehend the controversial nature of the events occurring between me and Pilar, the character played by Elizabeth Peña. But during my second read-through, it became clear. Maggie emphasized the importance of making the dance and subsequent love scene between Pilar and my character believable. For the love scene, the director, John, captured it from the chest up as we fell back onto the bed. Maggie was pleased when I reached over and playfully touched Elizabeth’s hair and tickled her ear, as it was a natural action that I also do with my wife.
John is two decades ahead in his storytelling. Observe the current circumstances we are facing. The border conflict is a harrowing situation. The transitions executed by John indicate that history remains closely tied to the present. This is the enduring impact of the film: change occurs slowly or not at all.
Source: theguardian.com
