Digest

Mark Marin hosts a podcast featuring an interview with legendary actor Al Pacino. The episode begins with Marin sharing his excitement about having Pacino as a guest and describing the experience of having him in his house. Marin then discusses upcoming events and expresses his concern about the political climate. He shares his disillusionment with the political landscape and believes the country is deeply divided. The conversation shifts to Pacino's early life and acting career. Pacino recounts a pivotal moment when he was punched by a man dating his mother, which shaped his understanding of reality. He shares his experiences at the Living Theater in Greenwich Village, where he met Marty Sheen and worked alongside him. Pacino discusses the business side of acting and the importance of finding people you can trust. He reflects on his journey to develop his acting craft, highlighting the importance of doing scenes in front of people and finding a connection to the material. Pacino discusses the importance of repetition in acting and how it can lead to unexpected transitions and discoveries. He shares anecdotes about his experiences in the theater, including a moment when a woman in the audience asked him for a light during a performance. He discusses his relationship with Charlie Laughton, his mentor and friend, and how Laughton influenced his career. Pacino reflects on his experience filming The Godfather and the challenges of portraying Michael Corleone. The conversation continues with Pacino sharing his experiences at the Oscars, his struggles with fame, and his perspective on the importance of vulnerability in acting. He discusses his experience filming Dog Day Afternoon, Justice for All, and Scarface, highlighting the impact of these films on audiences and his own career. Pacino discusses the women in his life, particularly Diane Keaton, who encouraged him to get back into acting after he lost all his money. He shares anecdotes about his financial struggles and the importance of having people who support you. Pacino discusses how his perspective on acting shifted when he had to support a family. He acknowledges that he had to do work for money, but he also emphasizes the importance of finding good material. He reflects on his career and the importance of speaking up when he feels something is wrong. He shares anecdotes about his experiences on various films and how he has learned to trust his instincts. Pacino discusses his role as General Zod in "Man of Steel," revealing that Michael Shannon's character was originally written to be a cocaine addict. He expresses his admiration for the film "Devil's Advocate" and the challenge of playing the devil. He also discusses his role in "Donnie Brasco" and the importance of immersing oneself in the character. Pacino reflects on his later career, mentioning his roles in films like "The Irishman" and "House of Gucci." He discusses the evolution of his acting style and the joy of working with talented actors like Leonardo DiCaprio. The episode concludes with Pacino recounting a harrowing near-death experience he had with COVID-19. He describes the medical attention he received and the surreal experience of waking up surrounded by paramedics. Pacino shares his thoughts on the afterlife, expressing skepticism about the existence of a white light or any other supernatural phenomena. He discusses his friend's experience with a heart attack and their shared disbelief in the afterlife.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction and Al Pacino Encounter

Mark Marin introduces his podcast and shares his excitement about interviewing Al Pacino. He describes the experience of having Pacino in his house and how it was a cherished moment.

00:01:47

Upcoming Events and Political Concerns

Marin announces upcoming events, including a "dynasty typewriter" event in Los Angeles and his tour schedule. He expresses his concern about the political climate and the divisiveness he sees in society.

00:03:39

Political Disillusionment and a Divided Nation

Marin discusses his disillusionment with the political landscape and his belief that the country is deeply divided. He compares the situation to dealing with a family member with an incurable illness and suggests that it's time to "cut loose" from those who are unwilling to engage with reality.

00:05:08

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00:06:34

Movie Shoot and Personal Struggles

Marin shares his experience shooting a movie, describing the long hours and the challenges of maintaining a good mental state. He also talks about his struggles with finding time for fitness and dopamine adjustment.

00:08:28

Minor Heroics and Life Lessons

Marin describes a small accomplishment: fixing his car's sun visors. He reflects on the changing nature of DIY projects as people age and the importance of recognizing and managing anger.

00:10:31

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00:11:56

Al Pacino Interview: Artistic Truth and Humanizing Moments

Marin discusses his interview with Al Pacino, highlighting the humanizing and surprising aspects of the actor's personality. He emphasizes Pacino's dedication to artistic truth and his unique approach to acting.

00:15:02

Al Pacino's Early Life and Influences

Marin and Pacino discuss Pacino's early life, including a pivotal moment when he was punched by a man dating his mother. They reflect on the impact of this experience and how it shaped Pacino's understanding of reality.

00:18:53

The Living Theater and Early Acting Experiences

Pacino shares his experiences at the Living Theater in Greenwich Village, where he met Marty Sheen and worked alongside him. He describes the intense and formative environment of the theater scene and the importance of art in their lives.

00:30:14

The Business of Acting and the Importance of Trust

Pacino discusses the business side of acting and the challenges of navigating the industry. He emphasizes the importance of finding people you can trust and the longing for the kind of trust he shared with his early friends.

00:35:27

Developing a Craft and Finding Connection

Pacino reflects on his journey to develop his acting craft, highlighting the importance of doing scenes in front of people and finding a connection to the material. He shares his process of marking up books and his approach to analyzing characters.

00:47:15

The Power of Repetition and Naturalism

Pacino discusses the importance of repetition in acting and how it can lead to unexpected transitions and discoveries. He shares anecdotes about his experiences in the theater, including a moment when a woman in the audience asked him for a light during a performance.

00:53:51

The Influence of Charlie Laughton and The Godfather

Pacino discusses his relationship with Charlie Laughton, his mentor and friend. He shares how Laughton influenced his career and how he sought his advice on various projects, including Star Wars. He also reflects on his experience filming The Godfather and the challenges of portraying Michael Corleone.

01:10:54

The Oscars and Dealing with Fame

Pacino shares his experiences at the Oscars, including his nervousness and feeling out of place. He discusses his struggles with fame and the pressure to conform to expectations.

01:18:04

Dog Day Afternoon and the Importance of Vulnerability

Pacino reflects on his experience filming Dog Day Afternoon, highlighting the raw vulnerability of the film and its impact on him. He discusses the importance of being fully present in a role and the collaborative nature of filmmaking.

01:22:19

Justice for All and the Power of Observation

Pacino discusses his experience filming Justice for All and the impact of the film on audiences. He shares anecdotes about how people reacted to the film and how it reflected his own experiences with the legal system.

01:25:09

Scarface and the Power of Commitment

Pacino discusses his experience filming Scarface and the unexpected reaction it received from audiences. He shares how the film was embraced by the hip hop community and how it helped to solidify his career.

01:28:02

The Women in Pacino's Life and Financial Struggles

Pacino discusses the women in his life, particularly Diane Keaton, who encouraged him to get back into acting after he lost all his money. He shares anecdotes about his financial struggles and the importance of having people who support you.

01:30:33

Shifting Perspectives and the Business of Acting

Pacino discusses how his perspective on acting shifted when he had to support a family. He acknowledges that he had to do work for money, but he also emphasizes the importance of finding good material.

00:09:50

The Importance of Speaking Up

Pacino reflects on his career and the importance of speaking up when he feels something is wrong. He shares anecdotes about his experiences on various films and how he has learned to trust his instincts.

01:32:23

Pacino's Later Career and "Man of Steel"

Pacino discusses his role as General Zod in "Man of Steel," revealing that Michael Shannon's character was originally written to be a cocaine addict. He shares his perspective on the film and the challenges of portraying a complex character.

01:34:16

Pacino's Favorite Films and Roles

Pacino expresses his admiration for the film "Devil's Advocate" and the challenge of playing the devil. He also discusses his role in "Donnie Brasco" and the importance of immersing oneself in the character.

01:36:35

Pacino's Later Career and "The Irishman"

Pacino reflects on his later career, mentioning his roles in films like "The Irishman" and "House of Gucci." He discusses the evolution of his acting style and the joy of working with talented actors like Leonardo DiCaprio.

01:44:27

Pacino's Near-Death Experience

Pacino recounts a harrowing near-death experience he had with COVID-19, where he lost consciousness and was believed to be dead for a short period. He describes the medical attention he received and the surreal experience of waking up surrounded by paramedics.

01:47:16

Pacino's Thoughts on the Afterlife

Pacino shares his thoughts on the afterlife, expressing skepticism about the existence of a white light or any other supernatural phenomena. He discusses his friend's experience with a heart attack and their shared disbelief in the afterlife.

Keywords

Q&A

• What was the most significant moment in Al Pacino's early life that shaped his understanding of reality?

  Pacino describes being punched by a man dating his mother when he was 13 years old. This experience, he says, brought him into the present moment and made him realize the harsh realities of life.

• How did Pacino's experiences at the Living Theater in Greenwich Village influence his acting career?

  The Living Theater provided Pacino with an intense and formative environment where he learned the importance of art and the dedication required to be an artist. He worked alongside Marty Sheen and other talented actors, developing his craft and exploring his passion for acting.

• What was Pacino's approach to portraying Michael Corleone in The Godfather?

  Pacino initially wanted to keep a low profile and portray Michael as a more reserved and introspective character. However, director Francis Ford Coppola had a different vision, and Pacino eventually embraced the more intense and charismatic portrayal that became iconic.

• How did Pacino's experience filming Dog Day Afternoon impact him?

  Pacino describes Dog Day Afternoon as the rawest and most vulnerable role he has ever played. He felt fully present in the character and embraced the emotional intensity of the film, which left a lasting impact on him.

• What is Pacino's perspective on the importance of speaking up in the filmmaking process?

  Pacino believes it's crucial to trust his instincts and speak up when he feels something is wrong, even if it means challenging the director or producers. He regrets not speaking up on certain films and believes that sometimes it's better to be vocal, even if it doesn't guarantee a better outcome.

• What was the original plan for Michael Shannon's character in "Man of Steel"?

  Michael Shannon's character was originally written to be a cocaine addict, but the filmmakers ultimately decided to cut that aspect of the story.

• What are some of Al Pacino's favorite films and roles?

  Pacino enjoys films like "Devil's Advocate" and "Donnie Brasco," appreciating the challenges of playing complex characters like the devil and a mob informant.

• What was Al Pacino's experience with COVID-19 like?

  Pacino experienced a severe case of COVID-19, losing consciousness and being believed to be dead for a short period. He was revived by paramedics and woke up surrounded by medical professionals.

• What are Al Pacino's thoughts on the afterlife?

  Pacino is skeptical about the existence of an afterlife, believing that death is the end of consciousness. He shares his friend's experience with a heart attack and their shared disbelief in supernatural phenomena.

Show Notes