Uma Thurman confessed to having jittery nerves at the thought of working alongside filmmaker Paul Schrader heading into the shoot for Oh, Canada.
It turns out she is a big fan of his work as both a screenwriter and director, considering he wrote or co-wrote such classic as Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), and The Last Temptation Of Christ (1986), and helmed such others as American Gigolo (1980), Cat People (1982), Light Sleeper (1992), Affliction (1997) and First Reformed (2017).
While working her way along the red carpet and a Q-and-A session for the premiere of his latest production, Oh, Canada, the actress dished about her collaboration with Schrader on the movie that also stars Richard Gere, Jacob Elordi, Victoria Hill, Michael Imperioli.
‘I mean, Paul Schrader!” Thurman said with obvious excitement to her tone. ‘I’m a really big fan of Paul Schrader. So to get to contribute, to lend myself to his piece, and get to see him working was a real, real privilege.’
For Schrader’s latest production he delves into the life of a tormented writer on the brink of death, who happens to be a Canadian-American leftist who fled to Canada to avoid the Vietnam War draft.
Uma Thurman confessed she was ‘nervous’ about working with Paul Schrader heading into the shoot for the drama film Oh, Canada, but was put at ease after learning he’s a Swiftie
Looking chic in a back suit with a white dress short, Thurman, 54, recalled being ‘nervous’ about working with Schrader initially, but that all fell to the wayside when she learned about his taste in music.
‘I was very nervous to meet him, you know, this macho filmmaker [who] made these legendary films,’ the Pulp Fiction star said, before sharing how she quickly was put at ease.
‘And as I was on my way to the meeting, a person driving me was Googling and she’s like, “Oh my God, he’s a huge Taylor Swift fan,”‘ she shared. ‘I was like, “What?” And then I read Paul’s quote or tweet about defending Taylor and I was like, “Oh, I’m fine.”‘
Over the years, Schrader has shared a number of posts on social media heaping praise of Swift, 34, and even talked about her in interviews, including last month when he admitted to Variety about being in ‘awe’ of the pop superstar and the empire she’s built.
‘It’s not so much the music that entrances me, it’s the phenomenon. The Elvis-ness of it all,’ the Grand Rapids, Michigan native explained. ‘You have to look in awe at how well she and her people have created this empire.’
Thurman went on to reveal how Schrader had a great working relationship with her and the rest of the cast and crew, and that it was inspiring to watch him work his magic.
‘I think the cast and crew were all there for Paul and learned so much, just watching him as a master. So centered and I would say a big softie,’ the Academy Award nominee explained.
While watching from the sidelines of the set, Thurman saw how Schrader had a ‘very precise, quick way’ to his technique shooting the film.
‘There was not a lot of time. And to see a sort of master of cinema who is going to have to go in and get precisely exactly what he wants and needs,’ and has the entire vernacular language of cinema at his fingertips was just breathtaking.’
Written and directed by Schrader, ,whose stories often feature isolated, troubled men confronting an existential crisis, Oh, Canada is based on the 2021 novel Foregone by the late Russell Banks.
Gere, 75, plays the older version of fictional documentary filmmaker named Leonard Fife, who sits down for a final interview with one of his former pupils (Imperioli), where he looks back at the ‘unvarnished facts of his life, reflecting on his relationships, regrets and mortality’ and the Vietnam War.
The actress arrived to the premiere looking chi in a black suit with matching pumps and a white dress short
‘I mean, Paul Schrader!” Thurman said at the Oh, Canada New York premiere. ‘I’m a really big fan of Paul Schrader. So to get to contribute, to lend myself to his piece, and get to see him working was a real, real privilege’
Oh, Canada writer and director Paul Schrader has shared his love of Taylor Swift on social media and in interviews
For Schrader’s latest production he delves into the life of a tormented writer on the brink of death, who happens to be a Canadian-American leftist who fled to Canada to avoid the Vietnam War draft, which includes The Sopranos alum Michael Imperioli
Thurman went on to reveal how Schrader had a great working relationship with her and the rest of the cast and crew, and that it was inspiring to watch him work his magic
Gere, 75, plays the older version of fictional documentary filmmaker named Leonard Fife, who sits down for a final interview with one of his former pupils (Imperioli), where he looks back at the ‘unvarnished facts of his life, reflecting on his relationships, regrets and mortality’ and the Vietnam War
Schrader is best known for his work on a number of acclaimed film such as being the screenwriter for Taxi Driver, which starred Robert De Niro and was directed by Martin Scorsese; pictured in 1975
Elordi, best known for his role on Euphoria, plays the younger version of the character Leonard Fife in the film.
Along with the main cast such as Gere, Thurman, and Elordi, the cast of also features Penelope Mitchell, Kristine Froseth, and Zach Shaffer.
The film had its world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 17 in Cannes, France.
While the date for the widespread release in theaters hasn’t been disclosed just yet, Oh, Canada is expected to have a widespread theatrical release in December.
