Digest

This episode of WTF features an interview with actor Michael Rooker, known for his intense and often menacing roles in films like "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" and "Guardians of the Galaxy." The episode begins with host Mark Marin expressing his excitement for the interview and discussing his observations about the differences between Canadian and American egos. He then provides updates on his fall tour dates and warns listeners about scalpers. The interview with Michael Rooker delves into his background, including his upbringing in Alabama and his move to Chicago. He recounts his childhood experiences, his initial interest in football, and his decision to pursue acting after realizing his talent for analyzing literature and subtext. Rooker discusses his early acting experiences, his unique approach to character development, and how his hearing impairment influenced his acting style. He reflects on his breakthrough role in "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer," how he landed the part, and the impact the film had on his career. Rooker also shares details about his audition for "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer," his encounter with the director, and the film's production process. He recounts his early acting career, focusing on his breakthrough role in "Eight Men Out." He describes his audition process, including a memorable encounter with a stern casting director and a pivotal moment where he physically interacted with a photo of a ball player. Rooker shares how he landed the role in "Eight Men Out" after firing his agents and taking matters into his own hands. He emphasizes the importance of persistence and being willing to take risks. He discusses his experience working on "Mrs. Doubtfire," highlighting the talented ensemble cast and the unique challenges of working with a director like Alan Parker. He reflects on the importance of respecting fellow actors and maintaining a sense of mystery. Rooker praises Alan Parker's directing style, emphasizing his ability to read people and create a dynamic environment for actors. He shares a specific anecdote from the set of "Mississippi Burning" where Parker gave him the freedom to improvise and create a memorable scene. Rooker discusses the importance of watching films with intention and taking the time to appreciate the nuances of storytelling. He argues that the current culture of quick consumption and phone distractions hinders our ability to fully engage with cinema. Rooker reflects on his success in pop culture, particularly with his role in "Guardians of the Galaxy." He shares his experiences at Comic-Con, where he enjoys interacting with fans and signing autographs. He also discusses the appeal of playing characters with complex and ambiguous personalities.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction, Canadian vs. American Ego, and Tour Updates

Mark Marin introduces his podcast, WTF, and welcomes listeners. The segment features an advertisement for Amazon Music, highlighting its ad-free podcast library for Prime Members. Mark Marin discusses his observations about the differences between Canadian and American egos, suggesting that Canadians tend to have a more grounded and decent sense of self, while Americans often exhibit a more inflated and entitled ego. He also provides updates on his fall tour dates, announcing reschedulings and reminding listeners to purchase tickets through official channels to avoid scalpers.

00:01:21

Michael Rooker Interview Introduction

Mark Marin expresses his excitement for the upcoming interview with Michael Rooker, known for his intense and often menacing roles in films like "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" and "Guardians of the Galaxy."

00:03:47

Michael Rooker Interview: Part 1

Mark Marin shares his initial nervousness about interviewing Michael Rooker, known for his intense on-screen persona. The conversation delves into Rooker's background, including his upbringing in Alabama and his move to Chicago.

00:17:39

Michael Rooker Interview: Part 2

Michael Rooker recounts his childhood experiences in Alabama, including living without electricity or running water, and the role of a kind neighbor who provided food for his family.

00:26:16

Michael Rooker Interview: Part 3

Michael Rooker discusses his teenage years in Chicago, his initial interest in football, and his decision to pursue acting after realizing his talent for analyzing literature and subtext.

00:38:52

Michael Rooker Interview: Part 4

Michael Rooker reflects on his early acting experiences, his unique approach to character development, and how his hearing impairment influenced his acting style.

00:48:20

Michael Rooker Interview: Part 5

Michael Rooker discusses his breakthrough role in "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer," how he landed the part, and the impact the film had on his career.

00:50:35

Michael Rooker Interview: Part 6

Michael Rooker shares details about his audition for "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer," his encounter with the director, and the film's production process.

00:51:24

The Actor's Journey: From "Eight Men Out" to "Horizon"

Michael recounts his early acting career, focusing on his breakthrough role in "Eight Men Out." He describes his audition process, including a memorable encounter with a stern casting director and a pivotal moment where he physically interacted with a photo of a ball player.

00:58:50

The Power of Persistence and a Little Luck

Michael shares how he landed the role in "Eight Men Out" after firing his agents and taking matters into his own hands. He emphasizes the importance of persistence and being willing to take risks, even if it means sleeping in your car for a day or two.

01:07:46

From "Eight Men Out" to "Mrs. Doubtfire" and Beyond

Michael discusses his experience working on "Mrs. Doubtfire," highlighting the talented ensemble cast and the unique challenges of working with a director like Alan Parker. He reflects on the importance of respecting fellow actors and maintaining a sense of mystery.

01:15:37

The Impact of Alan Parker's Direction

Michael praises Alan Parker's directing style, emphasizing his ability to read people and create a dynamic environment for actors. He shares a specific anecdote from the set of "Mississippi Burning" where Parker gave him the freedom to improvise and create a memorable scene.

01:20:11

The Importance of Watching Films with Intention

Michael discusses the importance of watching films with intention and taking the time to appreciate the nuances of storytelling. He argues that the current culture of quick consumption and phone distractions hinders our ability to fully engage with cinema.

01:22:14

Embracing Pop Culture and Connecting with Fans

Michael reflects on his success in pop culture, particularly with his role in "Guardians of the Galaxy." He shares his experiences at Comic-Con, where he enjoys interacting with fans and signing autographs. He also discusses the appeal of playing characters with complex and ambiguous personalities.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are some of the key differences between Canadian and American egos, according to Mark Marin?

  Mark Marin observes that Canadians tend to have a more grounded and decent sense of self, while Americans often exhibit a more inflated and entitled ego. He attributes this to a different cultural backdrop and a different approach to success and ambition.

• How did Michael Rooker's childhood experiences influence his acting style?

  Michael Rooker's upbringing in Alabama, including his experiences with poverty and hardship, instilled in him a sense of resilience and a keen awareness of human nature. He believes these experiences helped him develop an ability to portray intense and complex characters.

• What is Michael Rooker's unique approach to acting?

  Michael Rooker emphasizes the importance of analyzing subtext and understanding the unspoken motivations and emotions of characters. He believes that by delving beneath the surface of dialogue, actors can create more nuanced and compelling performances.

• How did Michael Rooker land his breakthrough role in "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer"?

  Michael Rooker was cast in "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" after the director, who was working on a play Rooker was in, saw him and recognized his potential for the role. The film became a cult classic and launched Rooker's career.

• How did Michael land his breakthrough role in "Eight Men Out"?

  Michael landed the role after a series of events that involved firing his agents, taking a chance on an audition in Indianapolis, and having a memorable encounter with a stern casting director.

• What was Michael's experience like working with Alan Parker on "Mississippi Burning"?

  Michael describes Parker as a great director who could read people instantly and create a dynamic environment for actors. He shares a specific anecdote where Parker gave him the freedom to improvise and create a memorable scene.

• What are Michael's thoughts on the current culture of film consumption and the impact of technology?

  Michael believes that the current culture of quick consumption and phone distractions hinders our ability to fully engage with cinema. He encourages viewers to take the time to watch films with intention and appreciate the nuances of storytelling.

• How does Michael feel about his success in pop culture and his interactions with fans?

  Michael embraces his success in pop culture and enjoys connecting with fans at events like Comic-Con. He finds it rewarding to interact with people who appreciate his work and share their love for the characters he portrays.

Show Notes