#INTERVIEW: “THE BOYS IN THE BOAT”

By Mr. Will Wong

The Holidays are a time for inspiration and Academy Award winner George Clooney is back with just that, directing THE BOYS IN THE BOAT. Based on Daniel James Brown’s 2013 best-selling Book of the same title, this is the story of the 1936 University of Washington Rowing Team overcoming destitution during the Great Depression to compete for gold at the Summer Olympics in Berlin. The Team today remains one of the most prestigious in the sport.

We recently got to participate in a global press junket with the Cast and Creators of THE BOYS IN THE BOAT. Joining us were:

George Clooney, Director

Callum Turner, Joe Rantz

Joel Edgerton, Coach Al Ulbrickson

Hadley Robinson, Joyce Simdars

Grant Heslov, Producer

George Clooney is asked about the challenges of making Rowing look intense and exciting.

Clooney: “It’s like Formula 1 in a way – you can’t see speed from far back and you have to be up close. We had to come up with the math to make Rowing look exciting and engergetic.”.

Producer Grant Heslov comments on the battle of securing rights to adapt the New York Times Best-Seller.

Heslov: “We chased the Book when it first came out, and I’m still mad about we didn’t get it.”.

Clooney explains what drew him to bringing THE BOYS IN THE BOAT to the big screen most.

Clooney: “It’s a Depression-era story. Washington was a new state then and a new part of the world. Rowing was on the map here compared to the legacy schools. These men were lumperbacks and got together like The Beatles, and together could be good enough to win the Olympics. They wound up being incredible men who made an incredible team.”.

“I like good stories. I think it’s fun when you can see how they’ve written the Book or the Play. It’s always interesting to find a way to make it a film, it’s very different way to tell a story.”.

English Actor Callum Turner recalls the grueling preparation process for his role as Joe Rantz.

Turner: “None of us knew how to row. It was February and the river is snowing, we’re wearing tight shorts, it’s freezing cold and we have no skills on the boat. We weren’t in a good place and you could see the pain in George’s face. We had to learn a new skill and be in unison – the hardest part about Rowing. If one person is off by a millimetre, the boat suffers.”

Clooney: “They trained every day for five months.”.

Turner: “We ate together, went out together, exercised together, but didn’t sleep together”, he jokes. “The Book so rich, the story so true. It is a beautiful underdog story.”. “It’s remkarable what he was able to achieve.”.

Hadley Robinson gained global recognition on HBO series WINNING TIME, but tackles a different sport here. She plays Joyce Simdars, Joe’s wife.

Robinson: “I’m doing a lot of clapping and a lot of cheering! I love it and I love a period piece. This is an interesting time in history. These people are destitute, struggling to make ends meet. They’re all working to put food on their plates. I love working in this time period. Finding the hope and light within people going through so much. They have such high hopes and need to have light because they’re in this situation.”.

Joel Edgerton plays Coach Al Ulbrickson, a role he looked forward to playing, having had multiple coaches in his life.

Edgerton: “I just loved when I first talked to George and read the Script. He was described as this coach who seemed to derive zero pleasure from his job. I often look at coaches and think, ‘Why are you even doing this?’. I started to realize behind those grimaces, there’s guys who care too much and it reminds me of the relationships between fathers and sons. They’re like dads to me. I had many coaches who were just like tough dads and I really wanted to please them. I was excited to play a coach and not go through what Callum went through.”.

Heslovrov comments on the boats seen in the Film.

Heslov: “We had to build all the boats. Those old boats are made out of wood and incredibly heavy. These boats were made out of fiberglass to look like wood. We had to make about 25 boats.”.

Turner: “The Rowers went into the boats and they were amazed. One of the most grueling experiences of my life. They gave us an Olympic gold medal-winning coach and therapists. The last two weeks were the races and we had to build towards that moment.”.

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release THE BOYS IN THE BOAT in theatres Christmas Day.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)