With “Napoleon Dynamite” finally behind him, writer/director Jared Hess will try to duplicate the cult success with the release of the new Jack Black comedy, “Nacho Libre.” Jared found time in his incredibly busy schedule to sit down and talk with Bullz-Eye.com, and after speaking with him for only a couple of minutes it was clear that this guy is Napoleon Dynamite (though he only admitted to being 85%). Jared also discussed more about the world of Luche Libres, his earlier experiences working on independent features, and what the future has in store for him.
BE: What possesses you to create such oddball characters, and why do you think they’re so appealing?
JH: I’m just very interested in characters and personalities that you’re not really used to seeing on screen. Hector was someone who came to one of the first auditions in Mexico City, and Mike White was in town, and he was actually auditioning for a different role. After he was done, I said “this guy can play this character and this character, but ultimately we decided that the dynamic between him and Jack was too much fun, and it was too hard to pass up.
BE: I completely agree. Hector was by far the best part of the film, and it’s always nice to see a pure comedic duo. In fact, “Dynamite” and “Nacho” are what I like to refer to as pure comedies. And by that I mean that it carries a PG rating. Do you feel that, as a Mormon, you bring a different style of filmmaking to Hollywood?
JH: Yeah. Just the accumulation of experiences for me growing up and how I was raised. You know, I moved around a whole lot, and coming from a big Mormon family of six boys, and all those things have an effect on the type of filmmaker that I am. I don’t really think about a rating when I’m involved in something, it’s just whatever better serves the characters and the story. That’s what I try and stay focused on.
BE: It seems that the Mormon film community has its own little genre – my personal favorite being “God’s Army” – but you actually worked as a camera assistant on “The R.M.,” possibly one of the most popular Mormon comedies. How was that experience being a novice entering the industry?
JH: I worked as a camera assistant, and started interning for a cinematographer when I was fourteen. And when I was in college, working as a crew member totally helped to pay the bills at the time. I think that I learned a lot from a production standpoint while working on different independent films, and just learning the logistics and what was required to make the movie. Any kind of experience definitely helps that wants to be a director or work in this town.
BE: Well, that experience has certainly paid off. You’ve actually established yourself as a quirky director in the same vein as Wes Anderson. Is this a trend that you plan on continuing to follow, or is this just your comedic prowess hard at work?
JH: I just want the freedom to do what inspires me, and to make films that I would want to see myself. Whatever that it is, it just comes down to how I see things, and how I want to do things.
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