Considering the end of the world is a morbid subject, was it easy to adopt an irreverent tone for the show?
Hamm: It depends on the quality of writing. The collaborated work of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett in the novel is commendable. They have created a compelling story. With Douglas Mackinnon directing the episodes, it becomes easier to perform because you are in good hands from an early point. While it's never easy to do what we do, it's not rocket science either.
Arjona: I had a difficult time preparing for the role because English is not my first language. The rhythm and construction of sentences were difficult [to grasp]. So, I would go to Neil, and he'd change the line to make it easier for me. This is the most confident I have ever felt after doing a show. Every time I'd see Neil smile after my scene, it comforted me.
Have you read the book?
Hamm: I had read it back in the ' 90s when it had come out. It was one of the first books I read for the sheer enjoyment of reading, and not because it was assigned to me in class or because I had to write a paper on it [ laughs]. I liked the story, and the credit goes to Neil's writing.
How do you approach a role that is not rooted in reality?
Hamm: You need to find a way to understand the character's motivation and where it exists within the universe of the story. The costume designer, makeup artiste and director also pitched in their ideas. That helped me flesh out my character because it didn't exist in the novel.
If you had an opportunity to switch roles, which character would you play?
Hamm: I would want to play Frances McDormand's part because it's only a voiceover. So, I wouldn't have to take my pyjamas off [and report to the set].
Finally, the show depicts the apocalypse. Do you personally believe that the end of the world is near?
Hamm: I hope it's not imminent. We have done a good job of messing things up here. We won't meet any biblical prophets to help us along the way. I hope we tread towards saving the Earth rather than ruining it.
https://www.mid-day.com/articles/good-omens-stars-jon-hamm-and-adria-arjona-good-writing
Eastwood doesn't boycott Georgia
Clint Eastwood’s forthcoming drama Richard Jewell has added Olivia Wilde and Job Hamm, Deadline has confirmed. The pair join previously announced cast members Paul Walter Hauser, Kathy Bates and Sam Rockwell.
Wilde is set to play real-life Kathy Scruggs who reported on the event while Hamm will play an FBI agent. Bates plays Bobi Jewell, Richard’s mother who was an insurance claims adjuster. Sam Rockwell is playing Jewell’s defense attorney in the film.
New Delhi, July 5 There''s an important message that Emmy Award-winning "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm hopes the audience takes away after watching his latest project "Good Omens.....
Hamm, who had his little tryst with India with "Million Dollar Arm", plays Archangel Gabriel, leader of the forces of Heaven. It''s a role that was mentioned once in the original novel, and it was meant to be expanded in a probable sequel to "Good Omens". But it has got its due in the show, which has been adapted for the screen by Gaiman himself.
What is it that Hamm hopes people take away from the series?
"I hope people think that even an angel and demon can work together for the betterment of the Earth and maybe, conservatives and liberals can, and Arabs and Jews... and everyone can get together and work it out. I hope that''s what the audience takes away," Hamm told in a telephonic interview from London.
The novel was penned almost three decades ago, but there''s a resonance in today''s time.
"It''s interesting. When the book was published in 1990, the Cold War had just ended, and the idea of humanity and planet was sort of not there anymore for the first time in sometime. Over the course of the last 30 years or so, we have accelerated the pace towards what many people may think will be the end of the world, but the idea of the show is that when people work together, that''s how you tend to solve problems.
"That''s what the book says... and the show is about the growth of people across cultures, countries, nationalities and religions and everything else, because it is essentially a story of humanity."
In a career that has seen him transcend from the television to films to the digital medium, Hamm, 48, is only grateful for the pool of opportunities that have opened up in showbiz over the years.
"It is exciting from the creators'' end of things, and also from a consumer point of view. I think it has never been a better time to be a fan of watching things on-screen because there is such a wide variety.
"There are documentaries, short subject, long form television storytelling and there are features, animations and so many things that are being made and distributed at a high level than when you only had the traditional broadcast cable and simply cinematic feature exhibition. By nature, you couldn''t allow a lot of things to get made because of costs... But now there is so much more opportunity. From the point of view of an actor also, I can do a lot more stuff."
He credited Amazon for "supporting the vision and the ability to get ''Good Omens'' made in the way that it should be made".
"Over the last 30 years, there have been several attempts to try and turn into this filmed entertainment. That failed mostly because one couldn''t put this story in a two and a half hour window of a feature film. These guys really came into it and delivered."
Technological advancement, he said, has really driven things in the industry.
It is also one driving factor in his upcoming film adventure "Top Gun: Maverick", the much-awaited sequel to the 1980 film "Top Gun".
Without giving away much about the movie, which features Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer reprising their roles from the first film, Hamm said: "It''s a continuation of Maverick''s story and it is going to be very exciting. The technology has evolved, and it is really really cool. I can''t wait for people to see it in summer of 2020."
That apart, he said he will be a part of a planned movie version of Netflix series "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt".
(adhika Bhirani
The spin-off “sequel” to Coen brothers classic The Big Lebowski has a brand new title and release date.
John Turturro is bringing back his character Jesus Quintana for what was initially titled Going Places, a comedy that begins with him getting out of prison after being framed as a paedophile.It’s now been revealed that the film will be released under the name The Jesus Rolls in 2020.
It’ll also star Audrey Tatou, Bobby Cannavale, Susan Sarandon, Jon Hamm and Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson.
On July 13, the Surfrider Foundation hosted a star-studded, successful One Ocean event in Montauk, New York. Honoring 'Women Making Waves' ......
More than 300 guests gathered at the sold-out event in a waterfront setting to raise funds to amplify Surfrider’s work to protect the ocean, waves and beaches. Attendees were invited to bid on specialty items at a silent auction and enjoy a cocktail hour, beautiful set by singer Kate Nauta, gourmet ....Notable guests included actors Jon Hamm and John Slattery, fashion designer Cynthia Rowley, surfers Kassia Meador and Quincy Davis, actress Sarah Hay, musician Brandon Boyd, artist Tony Caramanico, other leaders from the surf, music and fashion industries.
https://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/celebrating-women-making-waves-and-a-successful-one-ocean-event-in-montauk
They’re using some technology on this that is never before seen. We’re shooting the movie in, I think, 6K. So it’s incredibly hi-def. The aerial footage is mind-blowing. And it’s mostly practical. There’s not a lot of CG. Those guys are really up in planes and getting thrown around in multiple Gs.
It’s a very strange experience but it’s been a wonderful experience as well. It’s basically getting the whole team back together. Unfortunately, [original director] Tony Scott is unavailable, but they’ve achieved a very similar vibe to the first one. I think it’s gonna be, for the people who love the first movie I think it’s gonna’ be very interesting to watch. It very much takes the story in a different direction. But I think for the new fans it’s gonna be something very cool, too. I’ve seen some of the footage, it is out of this world.
It’s a very strange experience but it’s been a wonderful experience as well. It’s basically getting the whole team back together. Unfortunately, [original director] Tony Scott is unavailable, but they’ve achieved a very similar vibe to the first one. I think it’s gonna be, for the people who love the first movie I think it’s gonna’ be very interesting to watch. It very much takes the story in a different direction. But I think for the new fans it’s gonna be something very cool, too. I’ve seen some of the footage, it is out of this world.
TOP GUN 2: MAVERICK Official Trailer #1 [HD]
Jon Hamm Cameo in "Barry"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFaxABMoE8E
on set of Richard Jewell
