Since George Washington hit theaters in 2000, director David Gordon Green has impressed me again and again.  Whether tackling a big studio comedy like Pineapple Express, an intimate drama like Snow Angels, or outrageous characters like Kenny Powers on HBO’s Eastbound & Down, Green has repeatedly shown he’s a gifted filmmaker that can handle any subject.  In his new film, Joe, which just premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, he tackles the story of an ex-con (Nicolas Cage) who becomes a role model to 15-year-old Gary Jones (Tye Sheridan), the oldest child of a homeless family led by a drunk father.  Loaded with fantastic performances (including some incredible work by non-professional actors), Joe really impressed me at this year’s festival.

Shortly after the premiere I got to sit down with Sheridan for an exclusive video interview.  He talked about being at TIFF, making Joe, working with Gordon Green and Cage, working with non-actors, the way he prepares for a role, what it was like to work for Terrence Malick on The Tree of Life, what he collects, future projects like Dark Places and The Forger, and a lot more.  Hit the jump to watch.

Click here to watch  my video interview with David Gordon Green and Nicolas Cage.

Tye Sheridan Time Index:

  • :18 – Being a part of the Toronto International Film Festival. Talks about doing all the film festivals over the past year.
  • 1:13 – When he got cast in the role, had he seen David Gordon Green’s earlier work?  Talks about how he landed the part even though Green wanted to cast a non-actor.
  • 2:25 – Talks about working with non-actors in the film.
  • 3:50 – The energy in between takes with Gary Poulter, who they found on the streets of Austin.
  • 4:39 – His preparation process.  Talks about how he prepared for Tree of Life, Mud, Joe, and Grass Stains.  Said he read the script at least thirty times for the latter.
  • 6:18 – Working with Terrence Malick, Joe Nichols, and David Gordon Green.  Tells a story about working in the schoolroom with his tutor on the set of The Tree of Life and Malick busting in and telling them they had to go outside and play in the rain so he could film it.
  • 8:05 – Is there anything that he collects?
  • 8:53 – Dark Places.  Says he starts shooting his scenes next week and talks about what the story entails.
  • 10:57 – The Forger.  Starts shooting that in November in Boston with John Travolta.
  • 11:27 – Says he feels like the luckiest kid in the world to be able to work with the actors and directors he’s worked with.

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