Breaking Bad Q&A: Bryan Cranston

Video Description

This talk conatins SPOILERS if you are not caught up with Season 5A. The Film Society of Lincoln Center recently hosted free screenings of every currently available episode of the critically acclaimed series Breaking Bad. Along with these marathon screenings, the Film Society held panels during which the show's cast chose two favorite episodes, discussed their experience with the show, and answered audience questions. Here, Bryan Cranston, who plays central character Walter White, speaks with New York Magazine's Matt Zoller Seitz. Cranston talks Walter's core, playing a character honestly, and the ease of performing great writing. 00:48 - Bryan greets crowd 01:29 - Moderator asks first question (before Malcolm in the Middle, Cranston was known as Robert DeNiro type) Cranston - as an actor, you want to be able to display all emotions. 04:42 - Moderator mentions Dick Van Dyke's praise for Bryan Cranston at a TV Critics award event 05:26 - Cranston brings physical comedy to that particular episode of Breaking Bad (fly swatting), and he begins to talk about well-written scripts. "Always follow the well-written word" 07:24 - Moderator: So you're not one of those actors who are only interested in his/her character? Cranston: "They are fools." "Everyone loves a good story" 08:11 - Cranston on not reading the scripts ahead; not jumping to know all of Walter's twists and turns 10:00 - Relationship between Walter and Heisenberg. Who is the puppet and puppet master? Cranston talks about tighty whities in Malcolm in the Middle and Breaking Bad, the emotional core of Walter, his depression, imploding, the body language of Walter and Heisenberg. 15:30 - Sopranos: "Depression is anger turned inward." Walter is Willy Loman in many ways. Why was Walter was a teacher? To avoid criticism from friends and colleagues. 18:40 - Was Heisenberg dormant in Walter White the whole time? Every person in this room could become dangerous given the right set of circumstances. 21:32 - Anger management. Walter starts to walk out of the room but then his ego won't let him let things go. Cranston: "How can this man leave Leaves of Grass on the toilet? Walter became impulsive and is no longer as careful as he used to be, same reason for killing Mike." 23:40 - Walter's hair is growing back but he decides to shave his head anyway: significant of Walter liking who he has become. 26:14 - The body language of Walter vs. Heisenberg. "I AM THE DANGER" 29:36 - Is Bryan Cranston able to let go of Walter at the end of shooting day/season? Cranston: it should be difficult. Actors have to pay that price. When you show vulnerability, you are embraced. On Jane's death, and how it changed from original script. 33:45 - Allowing yourself to show ugliness as an actor; portraying honesty 35:15 - Audience Q&A - On Aaron Paul, teaching younger actors he works with to appreciate the job, have fun, and be grateful 37:17 - Walter loses fear of death and gives him bravery to do things. Example: when Walt defends Jr. in a clothing store. As a man, the need to provide for his family was the # 1 motivating factor to do something risky for the first time in his life. 40:49 - Bryan's future plans; doing theatre and playing Lyndon B. Johnson 42:36 - Bryan talks about his Breaking Bad tattoo 45:02 - "Do you prefer to be bald or have hair" Bryan doesn't care what he looks like in real life. He can't dress himself. Vince Gilligan says Bryan "grew hair faster than any man he ever met in his life." 47:08 - Bryan on physical releases: screaming in the crawl space or after the explosion at Tuco's 50:57 - Bryan doesn't believe in the "tortured artist" approach to work. 52:35 - The funniest moment of the show - when Jesse and Walt are stranded in the desert and Jesse asks Walt to build a robot.