Being John Malkovich
Ever wanted to be someone else? Now you can.
Country
Production
Budget
$13 000 000
Box office
$23 106 995
Director
Actors
Scenario
Producer
Camera operator
Composer
Artist
K.K. Barrett
Audition
Justine Arteta, Kim Davis-Wagner
Editing
Eric Zumbrunnen
Whole Team (49)
Whole Team (49)
Short description
One day at work, unsuccessful puppeteer Craig finds a portal into the head of actor John Malkovich. The portal soon becomes a passion for anybody who enters its mad and controlling world of overtaking another human body.
What's left behind the scenes
- In the film, John Malkovich's full name is John Horatio Malkovich. In reality, his name is John Gavin Malkovich.
- The director's father-in-law, Francis Ford Coppola, helped with the creation of the film; he personally convinced Malkovich to participate in the filming.
- John Malkovich was repeatedly asked about participating in the project, but the actor refused each time. Malkovich stated that he would be better off as a producer of the film and would assist director Spike Jonze in every way. A couple of years later, he finally agreed to act for Jonze.
- According to John Malkovich, he approached his character 'John Malkovich' as he would any fictional hero, and the only authentic element of the image he created on screen was the actor's wardrobe.
- Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman sent the script to Francis Ford Coppola. Coppola liked the script and showed it to his nephew – Spike Jonze. Jonze was so delighted that he directly contacted Kaufman with an offer to direct a film based on the script.
- Spike Jonze initially didn't want to film the scene where John Malkovich is hit in the head by a half-empty beer can thrown from a passing car, but he gave his approval, and the scene was filmed on the first take, hitting the actor directly in the head.
- Kevin Bacon was originally cast as John Malkovich's friend in the initial script, but Malkovich recommended replacing him with Charlie Sheen.
- Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman later recounted that when he presented the script to John Malkovich's representatives, they mistook him for a stalker – based on an incorrect address they provided him with – perceiving his inquiries as obsessive attention and harassment (stalking is understood as intrusive attention and pursuit, potentially violating personal boundaries and even posing a threat to the pursued person's life).
- To prepare for his role, John Cusack took several lessons from professional puppeteers.
- Charlie Sheen was in rehab when he learned that up-and-coming director Spike Jonze wanted to cast him in his debut film. Sheen agreed to the role without even reading the script.
- In the first version of the script, Dr. Lester, played by Orson Bean, and his friends did not use the portal in Malkovich's head to prolong their own lives, but with the aim of seizing power over the whole world.
- Charlie Kaufman's screenplay couldn't find a producer willing to finance such a risky project since 1994. Kaufman was offered to rewrite the screenplay into something more commercial, like "Being John Malkovich," due to Malkovich's lack of popularity. However, Kaufman was drawn to Malkovich's figure as one of America's most enigmatic actors, and he wasn't even afraid to play on the fact of Malkovich's relative obscurity.
- John Cusack asked his agent to find him the "most outrageous" screenplay, read the one found, and told his agent to sign him up for a casting, after which he was cast as Craig Schwartz.
- In the film, Malkovich's full name is John Horace Malkovich. In reality, his name is John Gavin Malkovich.
- Since 1994, Charlie Kaufman's screenplay struggled to find a producer willing to finance such a risky project. Due to Malkovich's perceived lack of popularity, Kaufman was urged to rewrite the script into something more commercial, such as 'Being Tom Cruise.' However, Kaufman was attracted to Malkovich specifically as one of America's most enigmatic actors; furthermore, Kaufman was not afraid to play upon the very fact of Malkovich's lack of mainstream popularity.
- John Malkovich was approached several times regarding his participation in the project, but the actor refused every time. Malkovich claimed that he would rather become a producer of the film and support director Spike Jonze in every way possible. A couple of years later, he finally agreed to act for Jonze.
- According to John Malkovich, he viewed his character "John Malkovich" the same way he would view any other fictional character, and the only authentic element of the image he created on screen was the actor's wardrobe.
- John Cusack asked his agent to find him the "craziest" script possible; after reading the script he found, he told his agent to sign him up for a casting, and he was subsequently cast in the role of Craig Schwartz.
- Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman sent the script to Francis Ford Coppola. Coppola liked the script and showed it to his son-in-law, Spike Jonze. Jonze was so thrilled that he contacted Kaufman directly with an offer to direct the film based on this script.
- Spike Jonze was initially reluctant to film the scene in which a half-empty beer can thrown from a passing car hits John Malkovich in the head; however, he gave the "go-ahead," and they managed to film the scene in a single take, hitting the actor square in the head.
- In the original screenplay, Kevin Bacon was cast as John Malkovich's friend, but Malkovich recommended replacing him with Charlie Sheen.
- Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman later recounted that when he offered the script to John Malkovich's representatives, they mistook him for a stalker based on the actor's address (which turned out to be incorrect) that they had provided him.
- While preparing for the role, John Cusack took several lessons from professional puppeteers.
- Charlie Sheen was in a rehabilitation clinic when he learned that emerging director Spike Jonze wanted to cast him in his debut film. Sheen accepted the role without even reading the script.
- In the first draft of the script, Dr. Lester, played by Orson Bean, and his associates used the portal in Malkovich's head not to extend their own lives, but to seize power over the entire world.
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Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
