Jeremy Piven, star of HBO’s Entourage and the new Paramount Vantage film, “The Goods: Live Hard. Sell Hard.” answered questions about the nature of comedy versus drama, avoiding typecasting and his new film in a conference call with college publications from across the nation. In Piven’s new film, he plays Don Ready, a used car liquidator brought into a struggling car dealership to move excess merchandise off the lot at low, low prices. The film also stars Ving Rhames, Ed Helms and Craig Robinson.
Here are the highlights of the interview:
Question What made you want to do this kind of comedy?
Jeremy Piven I read the script and the last time I laughed this hard at a script was a movie I did called “Old School.” It’s one of these moments where I knew immediately I just kind of had to do it and I knew the right person for a car salesman comedy that was really sharp and funny, but also lowbrow was Adam McKay, who had done “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” and “Step Brothers” and “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.” And so I brought it to him and he immediately got it and said let’s do it.
Q Do you think this will have the same college popularity as “Old School” did?
JP I think it’s definitely in that vein. It’s that comedy that we can all kind of relate to and it’s been interesting because I’m so proud of this movie and the response I’ve gotten to the movie itself and to the trailers has been like nothing I’ve ever seen. So, I think it will be, you know, for the people that did dig “Old School.” I think it’s the kind of comedy that will hold up as well.
Q Do you ever feel that you’ll be typecast as some sort of like fast-talking salesman type of person?
JP As an actor … what we do is we play these different energies in these different characters. So I kind of relish anyone that will kind of have this notion of me as only having that gear. Because it’s a fun gear and I love it and you can do so much with it, and at the same time it’s not my only gear. So I’m so excited about presenting and showing everyone this Don Ready guy and other things that I’ll be lucky enough to come my way. So, I don’t feel by any means to be a one-trick pony, and I look forward to mixing it up and playing other roles.
Q What do you think it does for a comedy to incorporate actors known for drama alongside some guys who are known for their comedy chops?
JP Well, I think the root of comedy without sounding pretentious, is sincerity. So when you get guys like that are so good, they lend this authenticity to the scene, and it feels so real that it allows you to get really big or goofy or whatever because you root it in sincerity. So they only make you better having these great actors in your movie. And you know it’s always been a recipe if you look at any of the funny movies. You’ve got you know real good, solid dramatic actors mixed in with all the kooks … There’s a great quote, “The way to play comedy is you play it a little more serious than the serious stuff.”
Q Do you have any advice for any of the students planning on getting into the business?
JP I think now it’s all about original content. So if you can go and get a piece of property and make it your own or write your own, your original ideas. And if you’re an actor just keep working as hard as you can. Get on every and any film or short film or stage that you can get on and log the hours because it’s all so incredibly valuable. You’ve got to get to the point where it’s kind of second nature to you. And that’s when you start kind of growing as an artist.
Q Do you think that Don Ready redeems himself?
JP It works on many different levels. It can be just a raucous, lowbrow, fun romp that’s hysterical. Or it can work on different levels where you actually have a comment on what’s going on right now with our economy and also kind of a comment on the ugly American in different forms. We have a character in there that is clearly outwardly kind of this inappropriate kind of racist to the point where it’s above and beyond anything you’ve ever seen. And he’s wildly inappropriate and thus really funny. Don Ready seemingly is this road dog who is a pig, but evolves by the end of the movie. Like you can get it on a bunch of different levels or not. That’s one of the great things.
“Entourage” airs Sundays at 10:30 p.m. on HBO. “The Goods: Live Hard. Sell Hard.” opens nationwide Aug. 14.