The actor explains why and how he transformed into the legendary jazz star in ‘Born to Be Blue.’
Hawke, 45, discusses the films surreal approach to Bakers life and reveals why actors love playing musicians.
That was a real burning itch that didnt get satiated.
I was hypnotized by it.
The movie zooms in on a brief period of Chets life and also distorts some facts.
I like the idea of trying to dive into the myth and just play around with it.
He had this detached coolness about him that allows for people to project onto him whatever they want.
It was a unique challenge to make him somebody specific.
You cant just play a cool stud smoking cigarettes and saying tough guy things thats probably not accurate.
How did you get into character?Id get dressed in these crazy outfits from the period.
You could find videos of him playing and of him talking.
It was easy to conjure his spirit because I had so much to draw from.
[Laughs]Being Chet Baker has its upsides: beautiful women, jazz.
If you love jazz and you love this world, its difficult to call it work.
As a filmmaker you have to make it assuming nobody knows anything.
You cant rely on the baggage of the subject matter to carry you through the day.
The movie needs to be just as interesting if his name is Chet Baker or Dan McGillicuddy.
Chet Bakers not the only one to really suffer with insecurity and a midlife crisis.
Hes not the first to walk that razors edge.
Even the ones you dont like, you have to admire the artistry of.
Theres two high-water marks for me.
[Bandleader] Gerry Mulligan had gone to prison.
He was being asked out of his comfort zone.
If jazz kept being retro, it was going to die.
Dick ODed shortly after that album [in 1955].
There are people that blame Chet Baker for Dicks overdose.
Theres a musicality to language.
Music is just about as powerful a unifying force as we have.
Its without language, its without race, its without so much.
I felt like this movie should operate inside of that same trance.
