'The Lookalike' (2013). Interview with Steven Bauer as 'Frank'.

BREAKFAST WITH BAUER on the set of ‘The Lookalike’ (2013).

In the midst of eating a Craft Service egg-white omelet, actor Steven Bauer (‘Scarface’, 1983; ‘Traffic’, 2000; ‘Breaking Bad’, 2011; ‘Ray Donovan’, 2013) spoke about his experience filming in New Orleans on the set of Australian director Richard Gray’s new film ‘The Lookalike’.

ME: How do you feel being on the set of ‘The Lookalike’ by Australian director Richard Gray?

BAUER: Richard Gray really knows what he’s doing, really has good taste. He has tremendous energy and vitality, as does everyone else he has brought with him to New Orleans. I for one feel like the energy, the vibe on this set, the photography, the lighting- so far what I have seen- is really beautiful, and really gritty too.

ME: And what about that cast!

BAUER: We have an ensemble of actors. People are going to be envious. I think that Richard is very lucky because he got the people that he wanted and that’s fortunate, man. That’s half the battle, you know, to fill what the writer only dreamed of. And when you get the right actors to breathe life into the paper you’re half way there, and then the photography, lighting, editing, music. What’s really great about Richie is that he’s got this approach that’s very light and very fun and that allows the actor to not take himself too seriously, not take the material too seriously, but to just imbue it.

ME: Can you tell us about your character, ‘Frank’?

BAUER: My character is a very heavy person, a very heavy guy. Again, I’m very hyper aware not to make him over serious, or to over-emphasize the heaviness of it. I mean, I know what it’s like to be heavy inside. That’s all you have to do and the camera will read it. The camera will read what you’re thinking. And my character gets to do some really horrible stuff, because the movie is about people in the underworld involved in crime and violent people. And I’m one of those violent people. There’s no doubt about that. It’s not my favorite place to go character wise, but I’m embracing this opportunity because it is complex and because of the person directing the film. I have faith and more flexibility to not make it two dimensional, to make him a really complex and nuanced person and no, I don’t have to show my true colors in every scene. I’m just a guy, but my agenda is very clear. And that’s the cool thing, that my agenda as the character is crystal clear to me. I want to move ahead, move up in the world at the risk of others.

ME: Can you tell us about the many strip club scenes? 

BAUER: Well, it's a scene at the club. It’s about finding one girl. We are trying to cast ‘the lookalike’ because of what happens in the story with a girl that was supposed to do something for Bobby, my boss and partner. Bobby is the club owner and this girl was supposed to do something for a lot of money but she expires. So, we’re on the hook for that to happen, or else we don’t get paid, but probably worse things can happen.

ME: And you’re shooting with John Corbett. What is that like?

BAUER: John is really great. John and I have a really interesting contrast in terms of energy and personality and just physical, because he’s got like this wild hair and wild energy about him, which is great for his character and great because it puts me in a very very austere and demure place when usually I’m very goofy and wild. But he’s rambunctious and it’s infectious so I have to be very disciplined. I love him as a person because he’s an amazing, great big sweet guy. It’s amazing because it’s like I’ve known him for years but we met the other night when I arrived, and yet it’s like we’ve known each other for years. It was instant energy.

ME: Instant love on set.

BAUER: Yes. Instant chemistry. Love at first sight.

ME: So, how do you like New Orleans?

BAUER: I’m thrilled just to be here because the energy of the town gives everyone energy. You know we’re not faking it. We’re doing a real story about this town and about ‘The Big Easy’.

ME: And what is the ‘The Big Easy’?

BAUER: ‘The Big Easy’ is what they call New Orleans because that’s what it is; everyone and everything is easy. Isn’t that cool? Like the film ‘The Big Easy’ or Eastwood's film ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’.

ME: Everything is easy in ‘The Big Easy’, and yet it’s really tough too. It can be pretty rough too no?

BAUER: Oh yeah, it’s rough…It’s really rough too.

Bauer finished his breakfast and then brought out his guitar and sang perfectly and passionately The Animals’ ‘House of the Rising Sun’.

Interview by Vanessa McMahon

‘The Lookalike’ (2013) stars: Jerry O’Connell (‘Joe’), Justin Long (‘Holt’), John Corbett (‘Bobby’), Steven Bauer (‘Frank’), Scottie Thompson (‘Mila'), Gina Gershon (‘Detective Garner’), Gillian Jacobs (‘Lacey’), Luis Guzman (‘Vincent’), Felisha Terrell (‘Drew’), Rio Hackford (‘Alby’).

Richard Gray - Director / Producer, Michele Davis-Gray - Writer / Producer, Mike Gillespie - Producer, Kaine Harling - Producer, Virginia Kay - Producer, Christian Long - Producer, Justin Long - Producer, Frank Lotito - Thomas Scott Stanton - Cinematographer, Ryan Martin Dwyer - Production Designer, Christopher Kroll – Editor

Visit ‘The Lookalike’ Facebook page here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Lookalike/157537381004486

Actor Steven Bauer ('Scarface', 1983) plays gangster 'Frank' in Richard Gray's 'The Lookalike' (2013).

Actors John Corbett and Steven Bauer on set of 'The Lookalike' (2013)