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Brooke Shields, Jared Leto, Robert Downey jr, on the set of Black & White |
Photo: Steve Azzara

M: In many ways Claudia Schiffer is already a character , in preparing how did you escape the Claudia character to become Greta?

C: It's difficult because people see you and already they have assumptions but that's what I like about doing very small, independent movies. You see, as a beginner, you are not perfect and people look at you and they don't give you a lot of breathing space to explore and evolve. It's like when a television actor leaves that world and makes a feature film . If they turn in a great performance, everybody applauds that but they never see the years of training and preparation that leads to that performance. But I decided I wasn't going to worry about what people would think of me. I forgot my life, forgot myself, went without make-up and just decided to take on the role.

M: Yours is not a name that would leap to mind for a role in a film about the dynamics of urban culture. How did you get plugged into this mix?

C: One of the producers had, interestingly enough, seen me in Blackout and thought I'd be really good for the part. So he had me speak to James. We spoke for a long time. It was hours really and later he said "I'm offering you the part of Greta." and I said "I'll do it!" And he said, "You can invent the background life of the character" So after thinking about it and trying to justify her, I decided she was going to be an anthropologist.

M: Interesting , because the film has the fascinating feel of an anthropological study gone out of control.

C: That's very true.

M: Did you personally feel the pressure of touching the racial taboos that James Toback confronted through Greta?

C: No. Actually I didn't . Because James is the one who wrote the script. I have so much respect for him as a writer and a director. I took on whatever challenge he thought was relevant for the part. I mean he is really an actor's director in that he pushes you to your limits so what you do is not compromised but strong...resolved . But I must say that I like that these issues ARE being adressed. I mean people have very strong feelings about the whole question of race and are so delicate when it comes up, but I think that is very powerful and very courageous of James to say --out loud--what most people feel, but never confront. This movie provoked a lot of emotions and extreme reactions in people but I think that is good. A movie SHOULD raise issues. It SHOULD make you think and reflect and decide where you stand.

-- I mean people have very strong feelings about the whole question of race [...] A movie SHOULD raise issues. It SHOULD make you think and reflect and decide where you stand.--