Well, it's funny because being on film sets as a little girl, and not just watching, but participating, I've learned on every film that I've made. I've learned something whether I worked with someone who was impossible and gave me no feedback, [where] you learned to direct yourself in some way, or working with someone who gives you as much support and sends you in every direction that you could possibly want. [Someone] who gives you all that room to breathe, you learn so much from that experience because you're able to explore. You learn a lot when someone restricts, too.
Working with Sofia, watching her take this idea and turn it into something that we were making not that long after [she came up with the idea] was inspiring. You don't have to run the circuit for five or seven years before you get your film done. If you're passionate and with the right strings to pull… Fortunately I'm in that position where hopefully it won't be quite so hard. Whereas coming right out of college, coming out of some screenwriting program and trying to get your screenplay made is a totally different experience. So, that's very inspiring.
How was it to work with Bill Murray?
I've always been a huge fan of Bill’s and “Groundhog Day” is one my most favorite movies ever. When I saw him... I don't really get star struck. The only time that I've been star struck, and I could count them
on one hand: Patrick Swayze, Bill Clinton and I think a few others. But seeing Bill was like one of those experiences. It was like
seeing Bill Clinton. It was like, "Whoa, there he is. It looks like him, it sounds like him, and it looks like the way he moves." It was funny because he's someone I've been watching for so long. It was even different
than seeing someone like, I don't know, Meryl Streep who I've also been
watching forever, because I associate him so much with the characters he plays. With him it's like, "Oh, it's Bob from 'What About Bob.' It's Phil from 'Groundhog Day,'" or whatever, and it was great. It was a lot of fun. He's very serious as an actor, like most comedians are, and he was very giving on camera and off.
While shooting this movie, did you have a “Lost in Translation” moment?
Yes. Normally, I don't come with an assistant or anything, but it was just impossible. You need to have one. It's a necessity over there because I was really surprised, but a lot of people don't speak much English. Either their English was like, “Wow, you speak amazing English,” or it's like very little. There wasn't really an in-between. So, when I was needing things at a pharmacy, or practical things, I needed to have the translator. Otherwise, it was a lot of hand movements. “I'm looking for a small, smaller,” and you're gesturing with your hands. It's international.
Interview with Writer/Director Sofia Coppola
Interview with Bill Murray from "Lost in Translation"
