Star Apps: Michael Pitt
Actor Michael Pitt is best known for playing a gangster on "Boardwalk Empire," a murderous psychopath in "Funny Games," and a drugged-out grunge rocker in "Last Days." With "I Origins," he demonstrates range with his credible portrayal of Dr. Ian Gray, a molecular biologist studying the evolution of the eye, who makes a discovery that challenges all his deep-held scientific theories and spiritual beliefs.
Weird scientist: Michael Pitt plays Dr. Ian Gray in I Origins.
(Credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures)
This role seems like a definite departure from your previous work. What drew you to playing a scientist?
Maybe that. One of the things I was really interested in was that people have never seen me play a character like this. That's interesting for me, and I hope that's interesting for my fans.
What interests you about scientists?
Their quest for unlocking the mysteries of the universe. That's a very noble thing to be passionate about, and I draw a parallel between scientists and artists.
Do actors function in the same way?
I think any good actor is trying to understand and break apart and contemplate the human condition, so I think that can be similar.
In the movie, you play a molecular biologist, who is obsessed with eyes. When you meet someone for the first time, do their eyes stand out to you?
Absolutely. But I would be really curious to hear that someone doesn't notice the eyes, or the eyes don't speak to them. There's an intuitive sense that people gain about another person, and I think it usually comes -- at least for me -- when you look into their eyes.
She blinded him with science: Dr. Ian Gray fixates on Sofi's eyes in I Origins.
(Credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures)
You filmed part of the movie in India. Had you been there before?
No.
How did India treat you?
It was an amazing experience, going to India. It's India. I would have loved to stay even longer than we did. We would shoot in this very low-income area. It wasn't that uncommon to see the kids playing in mounds of garbage. Then we'd go back to the hotel that was this billion-dollar estate. Having that intense experience and the big contrast between those two worlds was just amazing. Also, working with the young actors was amazing.
Did you feel enveloped by spirituality there?
Absolutely. I think there's so much of the country where the religion is all around you. I could see why people go there, who have maybe spiritual breakthroughs in a place like that.
Has this movie made you rethink your views on science versus spirituality?
It hasn't changed what I think. But that's also one reason why I wanted to do it. But it certainly has given me time to think about those two things, to contemplate them, to celebrate them, to debate them.
You're perhaps best known for your work on "Boardwalk Empire." Do you have plans for more TV work?
I definitely consider myself a film actor. I've made more films than worked on TV. I don't seek out a film or a TV show; it's all about the work. If the work is good, I try to focus on the integrity and meaning of the work. So I don't judge the medium or form in which it takes place. But going to the next level with a TV show after working on "Boardwalk Empire" and having the involvement of Martin Scorsese is a hard thing to top.
What are your top five mobile apps?
1. GarageBand, because I'm on the road a lot, so I'm able to record music and work on songs without carrying around gear.
2. iMovie, because I'm also a director, and there are ways to put together little visual notepads of ideas and shots -- things you wanna try out.
3. I have a [dictation app] called Dragon, where I speak into it, and it will type out what I say. That helps me put together synopses and emails and stuff.
4. I have another app that will read scripts for me out loud. It's called Voice Dream. What that allows me to do is multitask. If i'm getting ready in the morning, I can play it while I'm getting ready. If I wanna exercise, I can exercise and listen.
5. Then my Lomo app. It's an application where I can take pictures and put different filters on them.
