The Elephant in the Room

Paranoid Park's young stars discuss working with Gus Van Sant as the auteur presents Cannes with another dark tale of youth.

by Karl Rozemeyer

Gabe Nevins Photo by Matt Carr

Director Gus Van Sant, winner of the Palme d'Or in 2003 for Elephant, returns to the Cannes Film Festival with another meditation on disaffected youth. Adapted from a coming-of-age novel by Blake Nelson, Paranoid Park is the story of Alex (Gabe Nevins), a 16-year-old trying to cope with his parents' messy divorce who becomes more fascinated with the gangs of homeless kids and drifters that conglomerate around Paranoid Park, a skateboarding rink in Portland, Oregon, than with trying to seduce girlfriend Jennifer (Taylor Momson). But, one night, he accidentally causes the violent death of a security guard and his world spirals into guilt and confusion. As in Elephant, Van Sant searched amongst amateurs for most of the roles.

Premiere spoke exclusively with the two young leads from the rooftop terrace of the Noga Hilton in Cannes.

PREMIERE: Gus Van Sant placed a casting call announcement on MySpace. Is that where you saw it?

But, Taylor, you are an established actor, right?

Taylor Momson: Sort of, yeah. I have been acting so I got the audition material from my agent and I made a tape and set it to Gus. That is how I booked the role. I sent a tape of me doing asides and the first time I met Gus was the first day of filming for me.

So there was no pre-audition process for you?

TM: Not for me. Normally, you go back-and-forth, back-and-forth. But I live in Maryland, so I wasn't close and I couldn't have flown out.

Was it very difficult for you in terms of the audition process?

GN: I really didn't know what was going on. After I went to the casting call for extras, I [had my picture taken] and Gus Van Sant pulled me aside and he asked me a couple of questions like what school I went to and what I like to do with my spare time. A week later I got called back to read lines and I was like: "For what? I only wanted to be an extra." That is all I wanted to be. So I went in for a series of weeks, back-and-forth. And he was saying: "You know, I am thinking about giving you one of the lead roles." I didn't really want it because it is a big responsibility but after I found out who Gus was and talking to him and hanging out with him, it really made me want to be in this movie more.

Had you seen any of his films before this project?

GN: No. But after working with him, I saw a couple of his films such as Elephant and My Own Private Idaho. And I have to say that watching Elephant definitely inspired me to do better in the film.

TM: I knew of Gus Van Sant. I had seen Elephant but I really didn't understand it that well. I liked it but once I met him and worked with him, he gave me a whole new perspective on art films and made me understand them more. So, I then when went back and watched it again, I loved it so much more.