28
Aug
2009
Big Fan writer/director Robert Siegel: the readandreact interview
Patton Oswalt and Kevin Corrigan star in Big Fan
Big Fan opens in select theaters nationwide today (Aug 28th), after premiering to rave reviews at Sundance earlier this year. It tells the tale of Paul Alfiero – a 35-year-old parking garage attendant from Staten Island who describes himself as the “world’s biggest Giants fan”. One day, Paul finds himself face-to-face with his favorite player, and things don’t go quite as planned, leading Paul to question everything he holds dear. (ed. note – our excitement for this film is already well-documented. Watch the trailer here)
Writer/Director Robert Siegel first made his mark on pop culture as editor-in-chief of the satirical publication The Onion, but really burst into public consciousness in 2008 with his screenplay for acclaimed film The Wrestler. Clearly this guy is on a roll, and he makes his directorial debut with Big Fan, which he also wrote the script for.
For some inexplicable reason that we choose not to question, Rob was kind enough to take the time to answer a few of readandreact’s questions about football, film and this wacky world we live in.
As such, we are thrilled to present you with Robert Siegel: The readandreact interview:
___________________________________________
Robert Siegel: life long Steelers fan
Q: The trailer shows evidence of time spent in the parking lot at the Meadowglands. Being from Long Island, are you yourself a Giants fan? Have you personally attended many games there?
RS: I’m not a Giants fan. I’m a diehard, lifelong Steelers fan. Back in the late ’70s when I came of football age, none of my friends were into the Giants or Jets. Everybody liked either the Steelers or the Cowboys, and for me it stuck. But I’ve definitely spent my fair share of time out at the Meadowlands, I’ve got a lot of friends with Giants season tickets, and I usually go to one or two games a year. Unfortunately, though, they usually invite me to that crappy Week 15 game against the Texans when the Giants have locked up a playoff berth and Eli’s not starting. That tends to be the one where an extra ticket magically opens up.
Q: With Plaxico Burress heading to prison, Michael Vick returning to the game just months after getting out of Leavenworth, and Donte Stallworth suspended after DUI manslaughter, your film is incredibly relevant to today’s sports landscape. How much of this story was pulled from the headlines?
RS: There definitely seems to be a lot of that stuff going on right now. But in reality, it’s always been happening. Ten years ago, you would’ve been asking me if this movie was based on Rae Carruth or Ron Artest. If it seems like today there’s more bad stuff going on, I think it’s just because the media scrutiny has intensified. More people are getting busted, and when they do, more attention is being paid to it. But I don’t think there ever was a time when athletes were model citizens. You think Mickey Mantle never drove drunk?
Q: You raise some vital questions about priorities in our society today, and what people are willing to forgive in the name of athletic talent … do you think our values are a bit out of whack?
RS: Singers, actors… It’s the same with all celebrities, not just athletes. They’re our heroes, and as a result, we give them a free pass. Or at least try to look the other way. I’m not really sure why, I guess it’s just human nature.
Q: What do you hope people take away from watching Big Fan?
RS: Mainly, I just want them to enjoy it. I’m not looking to take anybody down. Despite what I’ve said here, it’s not like I’ve got some agenda, some axe to grind against pro football. I’m a fan. I love football. But you can love something and still be aware that it’s flawed.
Q: Sports radio plays a big role in the film … It’s definitely a unique sub-culture, and Scott Farrell actually plays your radio host here. Did you spend time listening to WFAN and other sports radio growing up?
RS: Growing up, I used to listen to WFAN pretty obsessively. Every night, for hours on end, I’d lie awake under the covers way past my bedtime listening to Steve Somers. I’d hear these regular callers… Joe From Bayside… Massapequa Mark… Vinny From Kew Gardens. I felt like I knew them. That was a lot of where the character came from.
Paul from Staten Island calls into his favorite sports radio talk show
Q: What are your feelings on the role of the blogosphere in the sports media landscape? More and more the lines between sports and entertainment are being blurred, and athletes are being put under a microscope, hounded by paparazzi, etc. Now, anyone with a computer can start their own blog and write whatever they want … is this a good thing?
RS: I think the Internet has pushed the tone of public discourse, on all subjects, in a more angry, negative direction. Most of what you read on blogs and whatnot is pretty hostile in tone. The anonymity of the Internet it frees people up to unleash their hate. It’s become more of a venting mechanism than anything else. As a result, personally, I don’t read very many blogs. I know there are exceptions, but I just don’t have the energy to seek out the good ones. To me, the blogosphere is mostly made up of people who can’t spell and just want to curse and tell you what sucks in all caps.
Q: Based on The Wrestler and Big Fan, your filmmaking focus so far seems to be on people who are not “making it”, even if one, Randy The Ram, was once at the top of his game. Why this interest? This has often been the path of important film making, but it is not likely to garner the big pop culture rewards.
RS: For some reason, I’m just a sucker for underdog stories. From Taxi Driver to Rushmore, most of my favorite movies focus on outsiders, misfit, loners. I guess if I were to self-analyze, I’d come to the conclusion that that must be how I see myself.
Q: Are you an admirer of the late Budd Schulberg? In addition to writing On The Waterfront, among other, he was also the chief boxing correspondent for Sports Illustrated.
RS: Of course. How could I not be? He’s the originator of a kind of blue-collar poetry that you didn’t see in movies before he came along. He was an influence on just about everybody else who influenced me, from Scorsese on down.
Q: What was it like working with Patton Oswalt in this role? What led you to choose him to play Paul?
RS: Patton was fantastic, everything I’d hoped. I cast him because I simply thought he would feel real and believable in this part. He looks just like I pictured Paul in my head. The fact that he came from a comedy background wasn’t a concern to me. In fact, it was a plus. Few people are darker than stand-up comedians. And although he’s not a sports fan at all, as a huge comic-book and movie nerd, I knew he’d come to it with an understanding of fan obsession.
___________________________________________
Once again, many thanks to Robert Siegel, as well as Steven Beeman, Angel An and the rest of the Big Fan team. Go out and see Big Fan today!
Q: The trailer shows evidence of time spent in the parking lot at the Meadowglands. Being from Long Island, are you yourself a Giants fan? Have you personally attended many games there?
I’m not a Giants fan. I’m a diehard, lifelong Steelers fan. Back in the late ’70s when I came of football age, none of my friends were into the Giants or Jets. Everybody liked either the Steelers or the Cowboys, and for me it stuck. But I’ve definitely spent my fair share of time out at the Meadowlands, I’ve got a lot of friends with Giants season tickets, and I usually go to one or two games a year. Unfortunately, though, they usually invite me to that crappy Week 15 game against the Texans when the Giants have locked up a playoff berth and Eli’s not starting. That tends to be the one where an extra ticket magically opens up.
Q: As a 35-year old “Big Fan” of the Giants myself, I can’t help but see a little of myself in the main character, Paul Aufiero. Fortunately, I don’t live at home or work in a toll booth, but I think anyone who is passionate about sports can all relate to this character on some level. What can you tell us about the genesis of Paul’s character?
Q: With Plaxico Burress heading to prison, Michael Vick returning to the game just months after getting out of Leavenworth, and Donte Stallworth suspended after DUI manslaughter, your film is incredibly relevant to today’s sports landscape. How much of this story was pulled from the headlines?
There definitely seems to be a lot of that stuff going on right now. But in reality, it’s always been happening. Ten years ago, you would’ve been asking me if this movie was based on Rae Carruth or Ron Artest. If it seems like today there’s more bad stuff going on, I think it’s just because the media scrutiny has intensified. More people are getting busted, and when they do, more attention is being paid to it. But I don’t think there ever was a time when athletes were model citizens. You think Mickey Mantle never drove drunk?
Q: You raise some vital questions about priorities in our society today, and what people are willing to forgive in the name of athletic talent … do you think our values are a bit out of whack?
Singers, actors… It’s the same with all celebrities, not just athletes. They’re our heroes, and as a result, we give them a free pass. Or at least try to look the other way. I’m not really sure why, I guess it’s just human nature.
Q: What do you hope people take away from watching Big Fan?
Mainly, I just want them to enjoy it. I’m not looking to take anybody down. Despite what I’ve said here, it’s not like I’ve got some agenda, some axe to grind against pro football. I’m a fan. I love football. But you can love something and still be aware that it’s flawed.
Q: Sports radio plays a big role in the film … It’s definitely a unique sub-culture, and Scott Farrell actually plays your radio host here. Did you spend time listening to WFAN and other sports radio growing up?
Growing up, I used to listen to WFAN pretty obsessively. Every night, for hours on end, I’d lie awake under the covers way past my bedtime listening to Steve Somers. I’d hear these regular callers… Joe From Bayside… Massapequa Mark… Vinny From Kew Gardens. I felt like I knew them. That was a lot of where the character came from.
Q: What are your feelings on the role of the blogosphere in the sports media landscape? More and more the lines between sports and entertainment are being blurred, and athletes are being put under a microscope, hounded by paparazzi, etc. Now, anyone with a computer can start their own blog and write whatever they want … is this a good thing?
I think the Internet has pushed the tone of public discourse, on all subjects, in a more angry, negative direction. Most of what you read on blogs and whatnot is pretty hostile in tone. The anonymity of the Internet it frees people up to unleash their hate. It’s become more of a venting mechanism than anything else. As a result, personally, I don’t read very many blogs. I know there are exceptions, but I just don’t have the energy to seek out the good ones. To me, the blogosphere is mostly made up of people who can’t spell and just want to curse and tell you what sucks in all caps.
Q: Based on The Wrestler and Big Fan, your filmmaking focus so far seems to be on people who are not “making it”, even if one, Randy The Ram, was once at the top of his game. Why this interest? This has often been the path of important film making, but it is not likely to garner the big pop culture rewards.
For some reason, I’m just a sucker for underdog stories. From Taxi Driver to Rushmore, most of my favorite movies focus on outsiders, misfit, loners. I guess if I were to self-analyze, I’d come to the conclusion that that must be how I see myself.
Q: Are you an admirer of the late Budd Schulberg? In addition to writing On The Waterfront, among other, he was also the chief boxing correspondent for Sports Illustrated.
Of course. How could I not be? He’s the originator of a kind of blue-collar poetry that you didn’t see in movies before he came along. He was an influence on just about everybody else who influenced me, from Scorsese on down.
Q: What was it like working with Patton Oswalt in this role? What led you to choose him to play Paul?
Patton was fantastic, everything I’d hoped. I cast him because I simply thought he would feel real and believable in this part. He looks just like I pictured Paul in my head. The fact that he came from a comedy background wasn’t a concern to me. In fact, it was a plus. Few people are darker than stand-up comedians. And although he’s not a sports fan at all, as a huge comic-book and movie nerd, I knew he’d come to it with an understanding of fan obsession.
Love this.
The Big Fan looks good, I should check it out……….
The fact that Siegel listened to WFAN in the middle of the night — I can’t think of better background material for directing this film.
Nice interview!