Wendy R. Williams talks to Chazz Palminteri, Channing Tatum, Producer Trudie Styler and Writer/Director Dito Montiel of A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints Opened Friday September 29, 2006 Press Roundtable Regency Hotel September 18, 2006 Photographed by Wendy R. Williams See review

Chazz Palminteri

Writer/Director Dito Monteil’s A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints is a semi-autobiographical film based on Monteil’s novel of the same name about his coming of age in 1986 Astoria, Queens. There are two stories interwoven throughout this film: the story of the younger Dito (Shia LaBeouf) and his struggles to leave his violence-ridden life (much of it instigated by Dito’s friend Antonio) and the story of the older Dito. played by Robert Downey Jr. The second story is about Dito’s return to Queens and his attempts to reconcile with his now elderly sick father Monty (Chazz Palmenteri), who never forgave him for leaving.

The Interview with Chazz Palminteri

Chazz Palminteri is a member of a special club of Italian-American New York actors. His first big hit was also a semi-autobiographical movie, based on his one man show of the same name, 1993’s A Bronx Tale (directed by his friend Robert De Niro). Palmenteri went on to create memorable roles in many other films. Who can forget Palminteri’s mesmerizing turn as the gangster with the heart of a playwright, Cheech, in Wood Allen’s Bullets Over Broadway?

Question: How did Dito work with you?

Chazz Palminteri: I asked him to tell me about his father.

Question: How was your relationship with your own father?

Chazz Palminteri: My father encouraged me to dream. He encouraged me to act.

Question: Why do you think this film has so much buzz before it even comes out?

Chazz Palminteri: It is an honest movie. Many people see themselves in it. I can see some of my relationship with my father. I wanted to get out but I couldn’t.

Question: How was it to work with Shia LaBeouf?

Chazz Palminteri: He is a really good young actor. When we did the bathroom scene (an extremely intense scene where the young Dito tells his father he is leaving), we would improv between takes to help get to that point.

Question: You have directed before ( Noel , Women vs. Men, "Oz" ), what is the secret to a great film?

Chazz Palminteri: You have to cast well. If you have to tell someone how to play the part, you have the wrong actor. Everyone in this film was from that element [of life].

I want to direct again.

Question: Would you contrast working with an experienced director like Robert De Niro (Palminteri’s A Bronx Tale) and a first time director like Dito Monteil?

Chazz Palminteri: Robert is a pro. And this is certainly not my first rodeo. Anytime you get a chance to work with really great actors, you get to achieve. I like working with first time directors because they are fearless, they will try anything.

Question: Have you seen De Niro’s latest movie, The Good Shepherd (starring Angelina Jolie)?

Chazz Palminteri: I’ve seen it seven times; it is great.

Question: Which is harder, writing or directing?

Chazz Palminteri: Writing is harder.

Question: What is the secret to your long marriage (Palminteri is married to Gianna Ranaudo)?

Chazz Palminteri: I trust her. Life is really hard. Life is so hard that if you don’t have someone you can trust…..I can leave her in the room (with anyone) and know that it will be okay.

Question: What is up for you next?

Chazz Palminteri: I am acting in a film called Safe that is being directed by David Rodriguez.

The Interview with Channing Tatum

Channing Tatum

Channing Tatum has become the “next hot thing” with his starring role in Step Up. And some of the buzz for A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints may come from teenage girls eager to get another glimpse of his moves.

Question: What kind of advice did Chazz Palmenteri give you?

Channing Tatum: He told me that this is my moment so don’t fuck it up – to stay focused on the work. I also learned another great thing from Chazz: He told me that everyone does not have to like your character; they just need to understand it. Chazz has been a mentor to me.

Question: What did you think about the script when it was sent to you

Channing Tatum: I cried my eyes out in my tub, which is where I read scripts. My best friend growing up was just like my character in the film, Antonio. He was basically the nicest person, but he had no one to teach him anything.

Question: What was it like to have Eric Roberts play the older version of you?

Channing Tatum: I never met Eric Roberts and did not know he was going to play me until I saw it on the cast list. There is some resemblance in the photos.

Question: Would you speak about the relationship between Antonio and Dito in the film?

Channing Tatum: Antonio always felt that he was messing things up but as long as Dito was around he felt he was okay. That if Dito liked him….

Question: What was it like to work with Shia LaBeouf (plays the young Dito in the film)?

Channing Tatum: We only had one day together before we began the film. We hung out all night. Those kids (the real ones) had years to develop their relationship. But we went out and got a little drunk…..but we did not go to jail.

Question: What was it like to film in Dito’s old neighborhood?

Channing Tatum: It was nerve wracking to film in Astoria. Everyone knew Antonio; he was a God in that neighborhood. {I had to keep telling myself that} I was interpreting Antonio, not being him. I was recreating the relationship he had with Dito.

One old man told me that the real Antonio would not have just knocked that refrigerator over (the opening scene), he would have peed on it too. He would do things like dress up like an old lady and fall down and when people tried to help him up, he would beat them up.

Question: Do you know what Antonio thinks about your portrayal of him?

Channing Tatum: Dito has not given me a clear answer about whether Antonio knows he is in the book or the film.

Question: What are you working on now?

Channing Tatum: An untitled film by Kimberly Pierce about a soldier who comes home from the Iraq war and refuses to return. {Ryan Philippe stars.]

Question: What is it like working with Ryan Philippe?

Channing Tatum: Ryan has taught me more about preparing for a film than any film class I have ever taken. He really thinks it through. Ryan is one of the better actors or our age.

Question: What do you do for fun?

Channing Tatum: I bowl. I am such a nerd, we have shirts and everything.

The Interview with Dito Montiel

Monteil’s semi-autobiographical novel, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, covered his entire life, including his stints as a punk rocker with Gutterboy and Major Conflict. But when deciding which portions of the book to use in the film, Monteil and producer Trudie Styler (who was brought to the film by Robert Downey, Jr.) decided to use the events that led up to his leaving home and his home coming.

Question: Does Antonio know he is being portrayed in the movie?

Dito Monteil: Yes he does. But the character of Antonio is based on three different characters. It is loosely based on this kid who had a horribly abusive home.

Question: This film has an amazing cast, would you like to comment?

Dito Monteil: I fought against every actor in the film and I am so glad I lost those arguments. I wanted to use real street kids. I love films like Fernando Meirelles’s City of God.

Question: Where do you get the balls to do the things you do?

Dito Monteil: I like to make noise. Some people hate the noise I make, but I’m going to make noise.

Question: How was it to edit the film?

Dito Monteil: Editing is like drumming. It is an art. You are born a drummer; you can take lessons to get better, but it is a gift.

Question: Tell us about working with Robert Downey Jr. and Trudie Styler?

Dito Monteil: At one time Robert thought he would direct the film and he brought in Trudie Styler and then he couldn’t get free to direct it. So he suggested to Trudie that I direct. And Trudie called me and said, “Mr. Downey thinks you can direct the film.” She asked me to make a six minute film about the essence of the film and if she liked it, I could direct. She asked me to show here the texture of the film. It would also be a good tool for fundraising. It is hard to raise money for a film without a proven director.

Question: Why do you think there is so much anticipation for this film?

Dito Monteil: Well Channing hit it pretty big with Step Up. And if it will help this film, I don’t care if they call it Step Up II.

Dito Montiel and Trudie Styler

The Interview with Trudie Styler

Trudie Styler was introduced to this film by her friend, Robert Downey Jr. Trudie is an actress and a producer and also the wife of Sting (who invested in the film). Trudie is also the mother of four children, ages ten to twenty-one. Another (not inconsiderable) claim to fame is that she was instrumental in introducing Madonna to her husband, Guy Ritchie, and she is the Godmother of Madonna and Ritchie’s son Rocco.

What attracted you to the movie?

Trudie Styler: My husband says that I like bad boy movies (She produced Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Barrel). Bad boy movies do appeal to a certain demographic, nineteen to twenty-six year old males. But this film has a wider appeal. We all struggle to leave home, we all struggle with parents – it is universal. {But, that is the theme of the film] people who are your adversaries, become your saints.

Question: Tell us about the decision to let Dito direct.

Trudie Styler: I could tell from the book that he has a vision. He really wants to direct. He did a Glamour project with Gwyneth Paltrow for Film Aid.

Question: Tell us about your interest in organic farming and the environment.

Trudie Styler: I have two organic farms (one in England and one in France) where I raise food for my children. You should not put a lot between yourself and your food. We are using the earth as a huge trash can. Have you seen the Al Gore movie? We are not fulfilling our obligation to leave this precious planet they way we found it. {Speaking of Katrina and the Tsunami) We have had our wake up call.

Question: How do you do all the things you do?

Trudie Styler: I have a lot of help. I am blessed. I love my life.

Question: Would you tell us to what do you attribute the success of your marriage to Sting?

Trudie Styler: We are very good friend. We are pretty honest with each other. We are very lucky because we have chemistry. We also have six kids between use (Sting has two from a previous marriage), between the ages of ten and thirty.

Question: What are you doing right now?

Trudie Styler: I am acting in a film called Alpha Male, directed by Dan Wilde.

Many thanks to Chazz Palmenteri, Channing Tatum, Dito Monteil and Trudie Styler for talking to www.newyorkcool.com