Canadian Flowers:
Gutter Flowers, the highly awaited movie, based on the award winning book of the same name will be out this May. The film, written by novelist Alicia Price, is the story of a mentally ill girl who meets a junkie. It's a story of struggle, love, and addictions.
It's also a story that's created lots of buzz within Hollywood over the past few months. Who would be cast in the lead roles of Sandi and Boyd? Would the scenes of sex and drug use, so beautifully written by Ms. Price, be including in the final cut? Finally, last February the questions were answered. All scenes of sexual activity and drug use would be filmed, leading to a 'R' rating in the Untied States. As for the roles of Sandi and Boyd? The studio, Price, and director, Andrew Edwards, chose two Canadian actors, Manny Santos and J.T. Yorke.
The two relative newcomers recently did a photo shoot for Vanity Fair, and that's where I got a chance to interview them. As I watched the photo shoot, it was interesting to note the familiarity of Santos and Yorke; the two have been friends since the age of four. Santos laid her head on Yorke's shoulder in between takes as they shared secrets and jokes. "It's that comfort level that allowed them to do some of the more emotional scenes." Notes Edwards. "There were some scenes that involved lots of yelling and physical abuse toward one another, but Manny and J.T. would just talk before the scenes and come up with some of the most heart wrenching stuff."
Price, who had a large part in the casting of the roles, adds: "The studio was suggesting all these large names or up and coming actors. They were good, great even, but I was looking for Sandi and Boyd, not people to play them. J.T. has this funny man persona that seems to be hiding a maturity beyond his years. And Manny, well…she just comes off as so happy, until you look into her eyes. Both are old souls and both became Sandi and Boyd during the shooting of the film."
It's not maturity I find when I stop by Yorke's dressing room an hour after the photo shoot. J.T. Yorke and Manny Santos, both twenty-one, are having a fight over who gets the last candy bar when I walk through the door. They stop when I enter, and Yorke tosses Santos off him and onto the nearby sofa. For a moment, I lose by train of thought. These two don't look as they did in their photo shoot a hour before. (A shoot in which they dressed as Sandi and Boyd.)
"What?" Yorke asks, as if reading my thoughts. "Did you think I'd be shoving a needle in her arm, to make her stop crying?" He lets out a laugh, even as Santos hits him in the arm shouting out a: "J.T.!"
A few moments, and a couple of candy bars later, the three of us settle down and begin talking about the movie Gutter Flowers, relationships, their shared past, the rent, and their future projects.
Caitlin Ryan: Rumor has it you two came out here to Hollywood together.
J. T. Yorke: Oh yeah, in this crappy car that broke down, like, fifty times.
Manny Santos: It was like, on Friday we graduated our old high school, and on the Sunday we were headed to Los Angeles.
Yorke: We literally had a thousand American dollars to our name, two suitcases of clothes, and a mixed CD that our friends made.
CR: So, you two have been in this together for the last three years? Was their any jealously when one would get a role?
Yorke: Oh no, there was a party! We needed to make the rent!
Santos: On the drive out, we kind of made a promise that there wouldn't be any jealously. I was super proud when J.T. got guest staring roles on television or parts in plays. He was so happy when I'd get bit parts in movies or small parts on soap operas.
Yorke: (laughs) Yeah, no matter who got what, there was always pride. Always a sense of 'My best friend did it, so I can too.' We pushed one another. (pause) In a good way, not in an abusive way.
CR: Speaking of abusive, a lot of the scenes in the movie are very emotionally raw. At one point, the character of Boyd actually shoots the character of Sandi up with heroin, as she has a schizophrenic episode. Was shooting those scenes harder or easier, because of your past?
Santos: Kind of both, really. Those scenes would have been hard even if J.T. hadn't been with me. But, it was easier because I had one of my best friends right there.
Yorke: On the days when we were shooting the really raw stuff, Manny and I would get together and talk. We'd try to get into character, but keep it as light as we could. It was us saying that it was okay if we went to town on one another. Just as long as we were there for one another afterward.
CR: The sex scenes in the film are pretty graphic, in fact one could be considered a near rape. Did either of you have issues or nervousness about them, considering your shared past as childhood friends?
Yorke: Well, uh…you know, it would have been hard with anyone. I think there was an added comfort level to be doing the scenes with someone I've known since age four. Really, scenes like that aren't romantic or anything. The sound guy is right in your face!
Santos: I agree. I think I actually had more trouble with the breakdown scenes then I did with anything sexual.
CR: How so?
Santos: Well, during the film both characters have their breakdowns. It was a lot of emotion and it was just so raw and they can act so hurtful toward one another at times. Watching J.T. breakdown and knowing I would have to do the same was very nerve-wracking. In the back of my mind, I just keep thinking that they would fire me if I got overdramatic.
Yorke: (laughs) It's true! For the first week, she keep pulling me aside and telling me she thought they would fire her for over acting. I had to keep telling her that she was perfect for the role and that no one involved wanted her off the project. At one point, I even offered to walk off the set, if they dared fire her. Thankfully, we both stayed on and I'm so glad we did.
CR: Rightly so. Gutter Flowers is already getting buzz from all the awards, and it's not out for another two months. Were you guys expecting such buzz about the film?
Santos: Of course!
Yorke: Not! It was like this: we were staring in a movie based on a screenplay based on a book, about a mentally ill girl who meets a junkie. The book is great, but we were sure the movie wouldn't live up to all the hype. And yet, it has. All the reviews have been wonderful.
Santos: It really was crazy. I thought the movie would be one of those word of mouth things. And yet, a month after filming, there were already critics saying that it was Oscar worthy.
Yorke: I'm so buying a tux.
CR: Has the movie getting great reviews and major award buzz, lead to any big movie offers for you two?
Yorke: I've actually filmed one movie two months ago: Hallelujah, which is a human study, very character driven. And I'm filming a movie now, Tito, which is a comedy-drama written and directed by Kevin Smith. Both should be out next year.
Santos: Really? Do you play Tito?
Yorke: No, Larry.
Santos: I have a movie in the can, it's another drama called Thirty Minutes. I start filming a movie called Thank You For Living, next monthAnd I've got another film in the works, Addictions, which I start filming in the summer. Three dramas, I'll be drained by the holidays.
Yorke: But, we'll be able to pay the rent.
CR: You two live together?
Santos: For the last three years. We lived together at first to make ends meet.
Yorke: Then it was like, why not live together to save money? And now I kind of like sleeping on a daybed.
Santos: If it works, why mess with it?
CR: But, doesn't that cause trouble when one of you brings a date home?
Yorke: Oh, we just roll the rolling bed thing into the living room and whoever is a dateless loser hangs out in the living room for the night.
CR: I see, but isn't 'dateless loser' a bit harsh?
Santos: (laugh) J.T.?
Yorke: Hey, I've had dates! Can we please move on? The world is going to think I spend my Friday and Saturday nights sleeping on a cot-thing in my living room!
CR: Okay, did you two try out for the roles together?
Yorke: I have an agent, and he sent me on an audition for a smaller role in Gutter Flowers. Manny had nothing to do and they were having open auditions for a really small role, so I brought her along.
Santos: And I thank him everyday.
Yorke: Yeah, she does. Lots of "baked" goods. (Yorke winks, and Santos elbows him) Anyway, we had the auditions and no one knew that we knew one another. I don't think they even noticed that we had the same address until the second call back. They really liked me and they offered me a bigger part and then they said that I should read for Boyd.
Santos: At the same time, they were having me read for Sandi. A week later, we screen tested together and the chemistry was there. At that point, everyone was like, "You two know one another, don't you?"
Yorke: We were just way too comfortable with each other. I think we freaked them out. The screen test was this really intense scene were Boyd and Sandi are having this crazy exchange, lots of pushing and grabbing and pulling. Well, Manny and I did the scene and right after started hugging and smiling. Andrew Edwards and Alicia Price were all, "Okay, that's odd."
CR: Lots of people that worked on the film have commented about your comfort level with one another. Were either of you scared that you'd be too comfortable with one another in some of the more intense, abusive, or awkward scenes between your characters?
Santos: You know, they loved the way J.T. and I were together and everyone agreed that we were right for the parts. However, as filming started I could tell Andrew Edwards was nervous about what J.T. and I would be like on screen.
Yorke: I don't think anyone felt really at ease about casting us until day two, when we filmed this really crazy scene, in which Sandi and Boyd do this thing were they touch, but don't kiss. It's just really intimate touching. Very awkward and odd, but it works for them. It's really the most intimate they can be, at that point.
Santos: It was this heartbreaking scene, because Boyd was comforting Sandi, but they had really just met and he had just hurt her. If we were too comfortable, it would have come off badly. That was when everyone knew they hadn't made a mistake in casting us.
Yorke: Thank God, because-
Santos: The rent was due?
Yorke: (laughs) You know it! And I needed new underwear.
CR: Quickly moving on, any last words?
Yorke: Gutter Flowers was one of the hardest things I've ever done. But, it was also my first big film and I think it will always be the one I'm most proud of. So, go see it, because I really am tried of sleeping on a day bed. Help us buy twins beds, America!
Santos: J.T.! (Santos hits Yorke on the arm.) Seriously, I love this movie and hope everyone else will.
-As reported by Caitlin Ryan for The Beat on March 3, 2010.