Singers and actor switch roles in Begin Again

MANILA, Philippines - The challenge of casting   Keira Knightley, who is not really known for her singing talents, and singers such as Adam Levine and Cee Lo Green, who have very little experience acting, might have been daunting to many filmmakers, but director John Carney has managed to make it a productive, if not magical collaboration.

Begin Again is the latest film from writer-director John  whose movie Once went from being the find of the Sundance Film Festival to winning the Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film, earning a Grammy nomination for its soundtrack, and winning the Best Original Song Academy Award for the romantic ballad Falling Slowly. A stage version based on the film then went on to win the Tony Award for Best Musical.

Now, John has brought his unique perspective to New York City for another film that documents the power of music as it changes the lives and fortunes of two struggling souls.  

In Begin Again, past-his-prime record executive Dan Mulligan (played by Mark Ruffalo) is facing a failing marriage, a career he can’t keep up with, and a daughter he can’t connect to. But at his most desperate moment, he hears a powerful song by Gretta (Keira), an unknown musician on the brink of giving up her musical dreams after unexpected heartbreak and frustration. An unlikely pair who are brought together by equal parts inspiration and desperation, the film follows them as their musical partnership develops into a deep friendship and their lives take unexpected turns.

“I’ve never done anything like this,” admits Keira who is best known for her costume dramas and period films such as Pride & Prejudice and Atonement, as well as the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

For Maroon 5 frontman Adam, who is making his big screen debut in the movie, being asked by John to be part of Begin Again was an honor. “I was honored just to be asked, and right off the bat I fell in love with the script.  To have John believe in me is really exciting,” Adam says.  “John saw something in me that was this character — whether that is flattering or not, I can’t tell, but I would not have considered doing a film unless I was really connected to the material.  I love John’s tone — he is a musician, and I think his sensibilities are those of a musician so we get along famously.”

“The music was easy,” admits Adam after shooting.  “That’s kind of my wheelhouse, I guess, but the acting has been quite a challenge in a really great way.  The only thing people said to me was ‘Know your lines’ and ‘Don’t act, just listen and react,’ and that was great advice.  I’ve also found that being comfortable and receptive to direction makes it a lot easier.  It was daunting going into this new world, but everyone was so sweet and made me feel comfortable and at home, so I felt like I was doing my best even though I had relatively little experience.”

“Performing music and acting are similar,” says Cee Lo, another veteran of The Voice, who plays the part of Troublegum, one of Dan’s former success stories who helps his old friend out by lending a hand to produce Gretta’s album.  “In either case, you reenact the emotion of the experience when you are in the studio or on the set.  There is a rhythm to the way that you walk, the way that you talk, the way that you react.  It’s all poetry in motion.  They are very kindred.”  As for his own work, Cee Lo is cautiously optimistic that he can believably play a hip-hop star:  “I can’t tell if they acted like I was doing a good job or if I really was,” he says with a smile, “but they are making me feel very comfortable. Mark Ruffalo said I did okay, so I think I’ll be all right.”

British-born stage and TV actor Corden, who plays the part of Steve, a friend of Gretta’s from back home who is also on hand to help her record, offers perhaps the most astute summary of his cast mates of various backgrounds.  “Actors and musicians are similar,” he explains.  “I think all actors secretly harbor a dream to be a musician, and all musicians want to be an actor one day.”