"Shopgirl," a film based on Steve Martin's 2000 novella of the same name, brings together three different but ultimately complementary actors. Martin, who plays millionaire Ray Porter, woos the young Mirabelle, played by Claire Danes. Meanwhile, Jason Schwartzman plays Jeremy, who spends the movie on the road with a rock band in order to ready himself to come back to Mirabelle.
In a movie with three very different main characters, it was important to have actors who would work well with each other. Great casting allowed the whole to be greater than the parts.
Each actor obviously has great admiration for the other and this is the most telling feature of their chemistry.
Danes' admiration for comedian Steve Martin is most evident. There's something unique in the relationship between the cool and suave man who cannot help but say the right thing at the right time and the woman who admires and envies his ease. It seems that this synergy is a hallmark of "Shopgirl," both on- and off-screen. Martin's involvement in the film as author of the material, screenplay writer and actor made the process unique for Danes.
"I was a little intimidated by [Steve Martin] initially because I was so desperate to please him and satisfy his expectations," Danes said. "But he was incredibly gracious and generous, and my anxiety dissipated completely because he was so inclusive. He made it really clear to all of the collaborators that it was our story too, and we could interpret it however we needed to."
Schwartzman has the same kind of admiration and respect for Danes, who helped Jason find Jeremy for himself.
"My character came to life the first time I worked with [Danes]," Schwartzman said. "I remember walking to the set the first time thinking, 'I don't know if I can do this. I told them I could do this but I don't know.' And then they called action and something happened when I connected with her."
Danes said she found great inspiration in Martin's novella to better understand Mirabelle.
"[The novella] is an enormous asset," she said. "There's always a glut of ideas that I can cultivate for my own aim, my own intentions. It's good, but after a certain point I have to deviate from it, internalize it, and disengage and make it my own."
Schwartzman's take on his approach to Jeremy was very personal, and it is evident in his acting that he ultimately embraced Jeremy as deeply as an actor could hope for. Despite improvisation in some extremely funny scenes, he insists he was able to become Jeremy in other ways.
"I didn't improvise to take ownership," he said. "To be honest, the character was there for me. ... Because I had this great blueprint and [director] Anand [Tucker] framed it for me, within that ... Steve [Martin] would come to the set and say, 'Hey, maybe don't say that line,' or, 'try this,' or, 'cut that word.' He's a creative scientist or artistic wizard. We were always trying new things and getting different tones, getting the dose right."
As for the future, the two young actors are ready to take on more roles that challenge them. Danes explains, "I am curious and experimental and I like doing different things. Once I have defined something for myself I'm not inclined to do it again and again. I've played a lot of different kinds of roles, and people are accustomed to see me in some way but that's their experience and it's separate from my own."
Schwartzman is constantly waiting for his next challenge. "I'm less cerebral when I'm choosing things. I go on my gut feeling. ... I just read a thing and it's in its own world. I think that's the way to approach that"
