Joan Allen on Working with Simon Abkarian: “It was a really wonderful, joyful experience. I don’t speak French and was embarrassed because Sally speaks French very well. It was a global cast and crew and Simon speaks Arabic, French, Armenian, English…
This was [Simon's] first English-language film. He knows English and working on our relationship was wonderful. I think a lot of that was because we have both had extensive theater backgrounds. He has his own theater company in Paris and I was part of the theater company for many years and there’s that sense of the most important thing, which is the story. And I think we both approached our work in a similar way, so interesting things happen.”
Freedom to Play with the Rhythm of “Yes:” Sally Potter’s background as lyricist contributed to her decision to write the movie as if the dialogue were part of a song. Potter explains it by saying she chose verse “because its deep rhythms and its long tradition (from medieval sonnets to Icelandic sagas to rap) enable ideas to be expressed in lyrical ways that might otherwise be indigestible, abstract or depersonalized.”
Allen said Potter allowed the cast a little play when it came to the dialogue. “There was a fair amount actually. Some of it has its own rhythm. Within the structure of the rhythm there’s a lot of freedom and Sally just wanted it to be emotionally true more than anything. Then the words would come out as emotional content. We had three weeks of rehearsal and Sally would tweak some things. She’d be counting the number of syllables and that was really cool to watch her do that.
It was our objective to make it accessible conversational. Most people who see it who aren’t aware…like half way through they go, ‘Oh, this is rhyme,’ and I love that that’s what is does. It would be horrible to turn people off thinking it’s all verse.”
On Taking Her Career a New Direction: After making a name for herself in Hollywood playing Pat Nixon in “Nixon,” a repressed housewife in “Pleasantville,” and Elizabeth Proctor in “The Crucible,” Allen’s last few roles have featured a whole different side of the multi-talented actress. Joan Allen was gardening in the nude in "Off the Map" and she’s involved in a few hot, sexy scenes in “Yes.” Does she view her most recent choices as indicative of a change in the direction of her career? “I hope so – I love it,” laughed Allen, adding, “Working in the garden in the nude, that took some decision [time]. I didn’t decide to do that right away, but I finally did.
I had said I would never really do that [and] they had a body double ready. But I started getting superstitious that if I didn’t do it, I would be cheating the character somehow. I said, ‘I think I won’t understand this film unless I do it.’ And the way Campbell Scott handled it, and the fact that it wasn’t a sex scene, made a bit of different to me. I characterize it as my ‘National Geographic’ shot because she’s naked in the garden and mesmerized by a coyote. I think it’s innocent in that sort of way.”
Joan Allen on Taking Risks: “This business is tough, and Sally familiarized me with a term the other day when we were talking about what is the hardest part of this business. She said, ‘The financing.’ It’s difficult and she struggled, ultimately making it for a million dollars. She said it’s a very risk-averse atmosphere we live in. As an actor I like to do different things, and if no one is willing to take that chance to take their risks financially, you get put in a place that maybe you don’t want to necessary stay in.
I did ‘Nixon,’ ‘Ice Storm’ and ‘The Crucible’ within a year and a half, and ‘Pleasantville’ shortly thereafter. So all those happened very quickly and, to me, at the time they were vastly diffident characters. It’s only in retrospect after some journalists have pointed it out to me, they all have a strong moral center. I’ve done the best in those roles and am proud of all of those films. They were interesting characters, but I don’t want to do that anymore. The vein has collapsed for the junkie; it’s not going to give anymore. So fortunately I had Campbell Scott come along who so wanted me to do that film and for many years was trying to get it financed.”
What She’d Like to Do Next: “I’d like to do more comedy. I had a great time on ‘Upside of Anger.’ Many parts of it were great fun. I think it’s cool when there’s actors who are couples that is somewhat authentic, and there was a mini version of that with me and Kevin [Costner]. We were of similar age, trying to have an adult relationship with all the baggage that goes along with it.”
