posted by thehollywoodreporter, written by Alan Friedman
The actor touched down in Italy for a screening of his new directorial effort, ‘Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness,’ at the Rome Film Festival.
Exclusive: Alan Friedman, Editor-in-Chief of The Hollywood Reporter Rome, Interviews Johnny Depp.
His flight arrived late in Rome, so Johnny Depp missed the Rome Film Fest ‘s scheduled press conference on Saturday to talk about the new film he’s directing, Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness . Depp introduced the film on Saturday night, accepted an award, and then left on Sunday morning. However, he graciously took the time to sit down with The Hollywood Reporter Rome for an exclusive interview. During the conversation, he opened up about his personal struggles, jokingly comparing his reputation to that of O.J. Simpson. He also said he identifies with the protagonist of his new film, the brilliant and tormented painter Amedeo Modigliani .
Depp has become a controversial figure in Hollywood following years of legal battles and a complicated divorce from ex-wife Amber Heard, which included domestic violence allegations and the highly publicized defamation trial between him and Heard.
The new film, which premiered at the San Sebastian Film Festival last month, tells the story of three turbulent days in the life of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani. It is set in war-torn Paris in 1916, in the Montmartre neighborhood, which was home to many bohemians and artists at the time. Here are the highlights of the conversation with Depp, which took place at the Soho House venue in Rome.
Alan Friedman , THR Rome: Al Pacino suggested this film about Modigliani to you as early as 1997. Why did it take so long to make it?
Johnny Depp: Al was supposed to direct it at the time, and he was talking to me about it when we were working on Donnie Brasco. He wanted me to play Modigliani. Then he passed away and over 20 years later Al calls me up and says (doing his Goodfellas accent ), “Hey John, I think you should direct the Modigliani movie.” And I said, “Why?”
AF: How do you feel about directing? This is your second attempt at directing a film; the first, The Brave , in 1997, didn’t go so well.
Depp: The Brave didn’t do well. I remember very well the critics’ judgment on The Brave , and all that did was make me understand. What do you do? You learn from it.
[Riccardo Scamarcio, protagonist of Modi , interrupts:] “ By the way, Antonioni said ‘Bravo, bravo! ‘”
Depp: Yes, he did, bless his heart. It really happened.
AF: Do you identify with Modigliani? He was a wild guy, he loved sex, drugs and rock and roll. He couldn’t stand rejection.
Depp: And that’s the exact opposite of me. I love rejection. [laughs]
AF: But are there ways in which you identify with him as a character?
Depp: Of course. My upbringing was not the same as Modigliani’s, but you understand the levels you have to climb, on a ladder or a wall, to get to a point where you earn your recognition. I understand it in the sense that he remained true to his particular style, which was too brutal for the time.
AF: He’s been in the wilderness for a while, like you, because of your personal problems. Is that a good description?
Depp: It was a vast wilderness, and ultimately that vastness taught me a lot.
AF: What lessons have you learned?
Depp: Oh, let’s see. Should I be funny or should I be sincere? [laughs]
AF: Tell me the truth, because you told my colleague Lily Ford last month that your life has become a soap opera. Do you still feel that way?
Depp: Honestly, I can sit here right now and think about all the attacks, how everyone was against me, and yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s out of the question, and bing bing, endless stuff. I can remember it all. I’ve been through it all. Some of it wasn’t nice, some of it was hilarious. Some of it was crazy. It just WAS, and it just IS. So, for me, it happened… I don’t have any negative feelings toward anyone, I don’t have this huge reservoir of hate, because hate requires caring… why should I carry that baggage.
AF: You also said that you feel like you don’t need Hollywood anymore.
Depp: I’ve had some clashes with Hollywood about their easy way of doing things and the fluid three-act structure and all that predictable stuff. And I’m sorry, but I had to get in there and shake things up a little bit…
Scamarcio intervenes: “In this process of making films, in many films the way they are made, you follow the program, not the script.”
AF: My last question is this: With all the challenges you have faced in your personal life and career, you continue to deliver flawless and unforgettable performances. Do you have an instinct, an intuition or a method that allows you to focus on the authenticity of your roles?
Depp: Oh yeah, sure, it’s my responsibility, but it’s also helpful in some situations, especially when everything around you is falling apart. It’s weird. Being able to escape, not into a character, but it’s nice to be able to inhabit a character, and because everything is in your toolbox, some of that stuff can be used as available stimuli. It’s great. So yeah. Everything was, is really like that, and to a certain extent it always will be like that, like OJ Simpson. But hey, it happened. And that’s it.
