Articles and Interviews
That Thing You do Interview:
Listen to it VIA REAL
AUDIO: 14.4
| 28.8
Patrick Stoner:
You know, I'm going to have to tell you up front: I've had it with
you. Two Oscars, everyone likes you, a great wife, and now directing
your own film that you also wrote [THAT THING YOU DO]. Enough is
enough, already.
Tom Hanks: Patrick, stop now.
My megalomania is already so close to the surface that - hearing
this - it may just slip right out. Stop ... or DON'T stop. I'm not
sure which. Because I enjoy hearing it.
Stoner: I'll stop -- for now.
Share with me something, will you? We were at the world premiere
last night [at the Toronto Film Festival]. You had your cast there,
your wife, you stood up and talked with the audience. This was your
baby, about to be shown to the public in a very big way. Can you
share your feelings?
Hanks: You know, I'm just
waiting for the moment when I throw up in the back seat of the limo
on my way to a premiere. But that's what's nice about directing a
film and having it done: There's nothing more I can do about it.
It's done. That's it. All I can do is let it go and hope that people
are kind to it.
Stoner: And people clearly
WANTED to like it last night.
Hanks: They DID want to like
it [laughs]. It's true. They WANTED to like it. I could feel that.
Stoner: But, as you know,
once it's up there and running, THAT doesn't make a bit of a
difference.
Hanks: Not a BIT. And I'm
sitting there thinking, "Oh, the sound mix isn't right."
"Ah, that line would have gotten a bigger reaction if I had
just punched up that other thing there." "Oh, damn, they
can't even hear the music in the balcony." Nothing feels like
it's working.
Stoner: And I imagine you're
also feeling for your cast?
Hanks: Very much. I'm rooting
for each of them to be a hit. We got to know each other so well on
the set. It was a good set -- no tantrums, no scenes, just a lot of
people doing what they love to do. So, I wanted them to feel that
their work was as appreciated as it ought to be.
Stoner: Well, OK, since
you've opened up so much, I have to admit -- I'm not really upset
with you. We still love you.
Hanks: Thank heavens, Patrick
[laughs]. You had me reeling there for a few minutes. OK. . . I'm
better now. What a relief!
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