Mike Lowery
The always-dependable Jonathon Schaech (“That Thing You Do!”, “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”, “Ray Donovan”) appears alongside Tye Sheridan, Ana de Armas, John Leguizamo and Helen Hunt in writer-director Michael Cristofer’s “The Night Clerk”, opening Friday in select theaters.
The film, also available On Demand and Digital, tells of a young, socially challenged hotel clerk (Tye Sheridan) who witnesses a murder in one of the rooms but his suspicious actions land him as the lead detective’s (John Leguizamo) number one suspect.
While there’s a couple of roles you’re definitely best known for, you certainly don’t seem to gravitate to any one genre. How do you decide your projects?
I have always felt the roles I was supposed to play found me through other creatives. Mostly from other writers/directors.
Nowadays — it’s all about what brand or box are you? I’m not a brand — not a box — so I rely on the spirit.
I’ve always relied on the spirit.
And in the case of “The Night Clerk”, was it about the character? I imagine getting to work with Helen Hunt and John Leguizamo would been one draw?
I have always gravitated to writer/ directors like Michael Cristofer. I had worked with Michael on a movie called Hush with Jessica Lange/ Gwyneth Paltrow. He was the writer they brought in to spice up the dialogue.
I read the script and made some phone calls. Next thing I knew, I was in Utah.
And what makes your character tick?
I think Ana De Armas’s character makes my character tick, but she’s making the entire world tick right now. she is the IT girl! (It’s exactly like when Gwyneth won her Oscar. )
Tell us about working with Tye Sheridan.
Tye produced this film as well. He’s got a taste for great material. You don’t start at the top too often in this business — he’ll be making movies way into his 80’s.
You’ve worked with filmmakers with many, many extensive credits but not many have acting experience like Michael Cristofer.
Michael’s a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer with an uncanny ability to act. We did Ray Donovan together, too.
But I’ve worked with director’s who’ve won academy awards for acting? 🙂
How does it help, you think?
Actors are storytellers and Michael, being an actor, knew to hire really good actors.
but of course–The actors all signed on to an incredible well-crafted script.
I imagine he’d be rather wonderful with actors, being one himself?
It was beautiful to see Michael working with Ana De Armas — it was pure poetry. She’s truly a unique talent. Her ability to be strong and vulnerable at the same time was unprecedented. If Ana was the candle — Michael was her wind.
Michael and I had done a lot of work before we got to the set. I felt at ease with him and Ana.
Michael has a strong theatrical background as well. So he’s wise in all the arenas.
You’ve done great TV work in recent years — with your role of Jonah Hex on The CW particularly popular. Has there ever been any talk of having Hex headline his own series?
I talk to Jimmy Palmiotti about it daily! Taking Hex straight from the comics would be ideal. In the style of Clint Eastwood’s bloody spaghetti western…
