On Cinema - Transcripts
Kataleifos Interview - Clip 2: Working with film director Pantelis Voulgaris over time (Stone Years to Brides)
Kataleifos:
Brides was our third collaboration, not the second. There was Stone Years first, then It’s a Long Road, and after that Brides. We have collaborated three times. The first movie, Stone Years, was basically my first appearance in film. It was my first role. Before it came some small roles; this was the first role entrusted to me by Voulgaris, in 1983-84. Then came It’s a Long Road in 1999 and Brides in 2005. The difference in this third film was that there were producers from the US, Barbara DeFina, if I remember correctly, who collaborates with Scorsese. Since many foreign actors were participating, the entire atmosphere of this film was different, it was a more international film. Less Greek than the previous two films, which were exclusively Greek. It was a nice experience because I met foreign actors, we acted in a different language. Because the film was in English, it was a kind of game for me, since I always act in Greek. It was a nice game.
Brides was our third collaboration, not the second. There was Stone Years first, then It’s a Long Road, and after that Brides. We have collaborated three times. The first movie, Stone Years, was basically my first appearance in film. It was my first role. Before it came some small roles; this was the first role entrusted to me by Voulgaris, in 1983-84. Then came It’s a Long Road in 1999 and Brides in 2005. The difference in this third film was that there were producers from the US, Barbara DeFina, if I remember correctly, who collaborates with Scorsese. Since many foreign actors were participating, the entire atmosphere of this film was different, it was a more international film. Less Greek than the previous two films, which were exclusively Greek. It was a nice experience because I met foreign actors, we acted in a different language. Because the film was in English, it was a kind of game for me, since I always act in Greek. It was a nice game.
Kataleifos Interview - Clip 3: The involvement of Martin Scorcese in Brides
Kataleifos:
Only Barbara DeFina attended some of the filming. Scorsese never came. They just sent some 'rushes' to him, to check for the sound and some other suggestions he had made. Only Barbara DeFina was present at the filming.
Only Barbara DeFina attended some of the filming. Scorsese never came. They just sent some 'rushes' to him, to check for the sound and some other suggestions he had made. Only Barbara DeFina was present at the filming.
Kataleifos Interview - Clip 4: Working with film director Yiannis Smaragdis (Cavafy)
Kataleifos:
[Smaragdis’ Cavafy] was a film that was shot in 1995.It wasn't exactly a realistic biography of Cavafy, rather the film was more abstract. The film director selected for the film to contain some memories. For this reason I didn't speak at all in this film. Only some poems were heard. There were momentary flashbacks from the stance of an older Cavafy, looking back on his previous life. And naturally to be playing such a poet, perhaps the greatest poet in the world, and I am not just saying this because we are Greek, this is a commonly held view, this was a large responsibility and a pleasure that I was engaged in trying to portray this great personality.
[Smaragdis’ Cavafy] was a film that was shot in 1995.It wasn't exactly a realistic biography of Cavafy, rather the film was more abstract. The film director selected for the film to contain some memories. For this reason I didn't speak at all in this film. Only some poems were heard. There were momentary flashbacks from the stance of an older Cavafy, looking back on his previous life. And naturally to be playing such a poet, perhaps the greatest poet in the world, and I am not just saying this because we are Greek, this is a commonly held view, this was a large responsibility and a pleasure that I was engaged in trying to portray this great personality.
Kataleifos Interview - Clip 5: Favorite or most challenging roles in his career in the cinema
Kataleifos:
My favorite film role was playing the life of the artist Theophilos Hatzimihail, who is another myth in Greece, an outstanding artist. This was perhaps my favorite role, but I confess that I have played very few times in the cinema, that is, I have taken part in about ten films. The reason I took on a movie role was always because something drew me to it, since the theater remains my main occupation. I mean that all the cinema roles I have played were roles that I chose and I believed in. I didn't play just to advance professionally. It was something that I was interested in -- both the roles and the collaborations. That's how I played these roles. That is, I cannot say that cinema is my first love; I love the theater above all.
My favorite film role was playing the life of the artist Theophilos Hatzimihail, who is another myth in Greece, an outstanding artist. This was perhaps my favorite role, but I confess that I have played very few times in the cinema, that is, I have taken part in about ten films. The reason I took on a movie role was always because something drew me to it, since the theater remains my main occupation. I mean that all the cinema roles I have played were roles that I chose and I believed in. I didn't play just to advance professionally. It was something that I was interested in -- both the roles and the collaborations. That's how I played these roles. That is, I cannot say that cinema is my first love; I love the theater above all.
Kataleifos Interview - Clip 6: The (harsh) role of Captain in Brides vs. his own personality
Kataleifos:
Just imagine that when Voulgaris first proposed this role to me, I thought that I couldn't play this role. I told him: I'll come to your office and try out the role in full so that you can see it, and if, after this rehearsal, you believe that I can play the role, then I'll do it. Otherwise you'd better find someone else. Finally, I tried it, he said all right, and that's how I played the role. This was a role going somewhat against what I had done before.
Just imagine that when Voulgaris first proposed this role to me, I thought that I couldn't play this role. I told him: I'll come to your office and try out the role in full so that you can see it, and if, after this rehearsal, you believe that I can play the role, then I'll do it. Otherwise you'd better find someone else. Finally, I tried it, he said all right, and that's how I played the role. This was a role going somewhat against what I had done before.
Kataleifos Interview - Clip 7: Favorite co-stars in Brides
Kataleifos:
I had a great rapport and liking for the protagonist of the movie. Damian Lewis. He was an exceptional person, actor, and colleague. He gave me a lot of encouragement regarding my use of English. I had a really good rapport with this actor, who whenever I have seen him playing in various films since then, I admire him immensely. He was an exceptional colleague. He’s the one I liked best during the filming.
I had a great rapport and liking for the protagonist of the movie. Damian Lewis. He was an exceptional person, actor, and colleague. He gave me a lot of encouragement regarding my use of English. I had a really good rapport with this actor, who whenever I have seen him playing in various films since then, I admire him immensely. He was an exceptional colleague. He’s the one I liked best during the filming.
