Tokyo International Film Festival 2000
Keeping the Faith was screened in competition at the Tokyo International Film Festival, which started on Oct 28, 2000 and ends on Nov 5, 2000. The film was screened twice (Nov 2 and 4). After the second screening, Edward Norton and Stuart Blumberg sat for a Q&A session with the audience. EN arrived in Japan a few days earlier to promote the film. To see photos of EN in Japan click here. EN spent time in Osaka after he graduated from Yale and speaks fluent Japanese. To see a video clip from an interview he did in Japanese, click here. The following pictures and text are from the Tokyo International Film Festival
After the screening, Edward Norton (Director and Actor playing the role of Brian), and Stuart Blumberg (Screenwriter) answered questions from the audience. With Norton's witty interjections in Japanese, Orchard Hall, full with capacity audience, was filled with laughter and applause.
Set in New York, the story features a comic love triangle of two men and a woman. Norton, who plays a rather comic role contrary to his past films, was asked why he chose this film for his directorial debut. "Because I get bored with the same type of films all the time. Stuart and I have been friends since college, and we always talked about the two of us collaborating to make a film set in New York some day. He showed me a script he finished. It was funny, and I wanted to be in a comedy if I had the opportunity. I love comedies, but when it comes to making one, it's not easy, because relationships between characters have to be woven to become more intricate," Norton explained.
Asked whether he collaborated in the screenplay, Norton replied: "It's usual for a team of writers to collaborate, but concerning the screenplay for this film, Stuart had written everything, from character detail to...well everything. And I as the director talked over the script with him, and perhaps made some minor additions, but all within the sphere of what directors usually do."
"As for the character of Brian, I had Edward contribute in polishing him up. By the way, I wrote Jake with Ben Stiller in mind from the very beginning. So, when we offered the role to him, I felt like praying so that he would say 'yes,'" confessed the screenwriter.
About Ben Stiller, "As a result, it was good, that he, too, is an actor and a director. When we were about to take the first shot, I was so nervous, but Ben gave me a piece of advice, and that saved the scene," commented Norton.
When asked about Jenna Elfman, who plays the heroine, Norton answered: "It was necessary to chose an actress with a very strong image. And I didn't want a well known face, because like the two men discovering her in the story, I wanted the audience to see her in the same way. After many auditions, I met her. With her intelligent looks, classic beauty and a special air she carried around, I instantly knew it had to be her. And since she is a true professional, it was easy working with her."
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