Right now, we have our actors who are playing the SlingBlade and the [PWJ/GoldenBoy/El Bingeroso] characters pretty much decided. They are both fantastic actors and nailed the auditions. We have a bead on the two female leads, and will probably have those locked up by the end of the month. We even have a few of the smaller, but still important, roles filled or close to being filled.
But we aren't even close on Tucker Max.
When this whole thing started, I thought for sure the hardest part to cast would be the SlingBlade role. I said this to Joseph, and he immediately disagreed:
"No, that won't take too long. There are a LOT of actors in Hollywood who are like that character. It's Tucker that's going to be hard. That's going to take someone with star power."
I thought he was out of his mind, but as usual, he was 100% right. We had at least four guys come in who could have played a very good SlingBlade, and the one we picked is going to knock it out of the park. But man...we have struggled just to find two guys who are even close on the Tucker character.
At this point, the only male character we are reading for is Tucker. All day, every day actors pile in to read for Tucker, and all day every day Joseph and his associates have to sit through guys getting it completely wrong. I only see the 5-10 every week who are close, and even those drive me nuts they are so far off.
It's so weird to listen to these guys pretend to be me. There is one line in particular that affects me. The relevant part goes like this (don't worry, it gives nothing about the movie away):
"...my name is Tucker Max..."
I have heard at least 40 guys say that so far, and without exception, I have cringed every time I've heard it.
Picture the scene: There I am, Tucker Max, the real person whose given name at birth is Tucker Max, sitting in a small room, watching an actor stand up and recite words I wrote, about my life, pretending to be me, declaring for the world to see that he is "Tucker Max." It's so fucking surreal I can't even really think about it, because the implications go on infinitely, like a fractal--you can look at it as close as you want and never see the end.
But the point is this: No one has come in there and really owned the role. No one has made ME believe it when he says, "My name is Tucker Max." And if I don't believe it, why would any of my fans? Or a random person?
I don't know why this role is so hard to get. Everyone has their own theories. Max says that it's all about the eyes. Bob says it's about the improv aspect, that the actor has to see it as a process and not a destination. Nils says it's about having fun, about inhabiting the joy of the character. Bunny says it's all in the naughty smile. Joseph says the role needs that spark that only star power brings, that makes audiences love the character no matter what he does. They are all right--it'll take all of that.
These guys will read the lines too desperate or too aggressive or too obsequious or too angry or too something. I try to make them understand it's not about getting pussy, it's about having fun. It's not about getting drunk, it's about being with your friends. It's not about dishing out put-downs, it's about the thrill that comes with improving a witty line. It's not about being an asshole, it's about refusing to let others define your life. It's ultimately about being the person you want to be, and all the manic happiness that comes with that.
No one gets this, but it seems so obvious to me. Then again, this actually is my life. Which makes it doubly weird--I have to deconstruct my own life so I can explain to someone else how to pretend to be me.
This whole post went in circles. Just like the process for casting Tucker Max has gone.
EDIT: I misspoke when I said no one is close. There have been two guys who were in the ballpark. We may end up having to go with someone who is kinda close, and just bust our ass to get him there. I don't know. Like Nils said, there just may not be two of me.
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