Movies: 'Rescue Dawn'

Steve Zahn-- best known for comic turns in movies like "Happy, Texas" and "Reality Bites" -- takes on a more serious role in "Rescue Dawn." Directed by noted documentary filmmaker Werner Herzog, "Dawn" tells the story of Dieter Dengler, an American soldier who escaped from a POW camp in the jungles of Laos during the Vietnam War. The film stars Christian Bale as Dengler, and Zahn as a fellow POW who gets involved in his escape plan.

Zahn was online Monday, June 18 at 12:30 p.m. ET to discuss his role in the film and his movie career. In addition to "Happy, Texas" and "Reality Bites," Zahn's numerous other credits include "Sahara," "Shattered Glass," "Daddy Daycare," "That Thing You Do!" and "Out of Sight." "Rescue Dawn" opens in limited release on July 4 and in Washington, D.C. on July 13.

____________________

washingtonpost.com: Steve Zahn will be with us momentarily.

_______________________

Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: Did you speak to many Vietnam vets while researching this role? How else did you go about finding out more about the Vietnam War and POW camps?

Steve Zahn: As a kid I was always fascinated with military history and my ceiling was littered with model airplanes. I was outside whether it be 10 below or 95 degrees with a helmet on and some old surplus coats and my guns, sneaking around. To this day, really all I read is nonfiction and military history. So I had done all the research that I needed to do.

Then I had also been a big fan of the documentary "Little Dieter Needs to Fly," which really inspired me. I knew the story so well. I think I'd seen it a dozen times before I even talked to Werner. I did try to research Duane Martin, the character I played. It was difficult, I didn't find a lot of information. Which sometimes is good, it gives you a little more license. Even if I had found out a lot of interesting traits, those traits wouldn;t work in this film because it's just about them in the POW camp. At the time Dieter comes to the camp, I was already near death. The fact that he would have liked hockey or whatever wouldn't really have mattered.

_______________________

Atlanta: Hi there!

I am really looking forward to the new movie. My husband and I have always enjoyed your comedic roles, particularly "Sahara." What prompted you to take on this new character?

Steve Zahn: If there's anything I pictured myself doing, it would be this genre, this type of thing. Ironicially when I was younger, I played a lot of burnt-out potheaad comedic dudes, sidekicks. That couldn't be furthest from me. I've grown up hunting and fishing. I'm that guy.

So if there's anything I seen myself doing, it's this type of thing. Not that I don't like those, I love "Sahara" and "Saving Silverman" As you get older, the roles change just because you change. It's just automatic. But I was desperate to be in thei movies.

_______________________

Del Ray, Va.: How was it working with Herzog? I suspect, given the nature of the subject matter and the director, that it was intense. Were you a little crazier every day until you turned into a Klaus Kinske style head case?

Steve Zahn: No. Kinske was kind of a headcase to begin with.

It was extremely intense, It's what you would imagine, but also, there's a lot of contradictions in what we perceive Wener as. He can be very compassionate and simple and subtle, calm, you know. But with Werner, it changes daily. You never know what to expect. And it was wonderful, it really was. It was such a fun job for me and Christian because we really expected anything to happen, you know. If you expect the worst, that doesn't happen, it turns into this real fun job.

But very untraditional. No chairs on set, let alone trailers. Werner just didn't want any distractions and I think that was smart and good. It's all about the environment with him. When we waited for a shot, we sat in a rice patty, shot the s--- and ate bananas. By the way, those bananas over there are awesome. We don't even know what bananas taste like.

_______________________

Tenafly, N.J.: I loved you in Saving Silverman: "Die replacement friends!!" What has been your favorite role to date?

Steve Zahn: There are a couple. Lenny in "That Thing You Do!" Wayne in "Happy, Texas" I loved. Gus in "Commanche Moon," which isn't out yet.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Mr. Zahn -- Unfortunately, I have to submit early. I was browsing the Internet and came across a movie clip for "Rescue Dawn." Those few minutes watching the movie clip has me hooked for a few reasons: it seems like a smart movie (focusing more on how these guys are going to survive each barrier) and Christian Bale (no offense). For Christian Bale to go into "The Machinist" and jump into "Batman," he seems to be supernaturally intense. That being said, was Christian Bale intimidating to work with?

Steve Zahn: Yes, because he's so good. And no, because he's such a cool, laidback dude. And I can't imagine doing this movie with someone who would freak out over no chairs, bananas, it would have been horrible. Interestingly enough, Christian is one of the funniest guys I've worked with. We laughed constantly. Werner had no idea what we laughed at, it would go right over Werner's head. You don't get any better than Christian.

_______________________

Philly: How enjoyable was it working on "Out of Sight," a fantastic film which I feel is truly underrated?

Steve Zahn: I agree. Completely underrated. That was an experience where the product, I had no idea what that movie would come out as, the tone. When I saw it for the first time I was blown away. Steven Soderbergh is just so good, what he gets out of peple and what he turns it into is just amazing. But that film was a lot of fun. I haven't had many that have sucked; making movies is fun. That's why we'll do it for free a lot of the time.

_______________________

Herndon, Va.: Hi Steve: Did you know you're sharing the washingtonpost.com stage today with Suge Knight and Bob Woodward? Love your work by the way. Has it been hard to transition from the funny sidekick role to more meaty parts?

Steve Zahn: No, when I was younger as an actor doing theater I was an ingenue. Perception in film is very interesting to me. You do a movie where you're funny and then people think you're a stand-up comedian. I can only categorize myself as simply an actor. When I go do a gig, I don't think about other parts, I just focus on that one.

It's as hard for me to get some straight-up comedy as it is to get this. In fact, this was easier than it has been for comedies. I'm not on the wacky-comedy list, I didn't get "Wedding Crashers," I don't get those scripts. I did one called "Strange Wilderness" which comes out in January, which is wrong on every level and so funny. It's my favorite comedy I've done.

Now that I'm almost 40, there's not a whole slew of 40-year-olds out there. You end up playing a variety of parts.

_______________________

Rockville, Md.: Can you tell me about your experience making "Reality Bites"? I seriously love that movie and think it was one of the great, underappreciated flicks of the '90s.

Thanks, Steve!

Steve Zahn: Yeah, that was my first big gig. I had been doing a play with Ethan, who was already a friend and Ben Stiller came to see the play and let me audition for the part. I just remember being very frightened going into it, and after a day, feeling extremely comfortable in that medium. I loved it. And mind you, up to that point, I had been doing theater for six years. I always thought of myself as an actor who would end up at a rep company in New York doing theater, movies were for other people. I had no reference to that. It wasn't like this big goal because it was so foreign.

_______________________

Pittsburgh: Hey, have you been told that Steve Zahn in "Rescue Dawn" looks a lot like John Savage in "The Deer Hunter" ?

Steve Zahn: Oh, really? What, dirty and hairy?

_______________________

Alexandria, Va.: You mentioned Gus in "Comanche Moon" -- is that an adaptation of the Larry McMurtry novel? If so, I can't wait to see it. Gus is a great character, and you'd be great! When will it be released?

Steve Zahn: Thank you. McMurtry wrote the screenplay with Diana Ossana, who co-wrote "Brokeback Mountain." It's the same director, producer and art design as "Lonesome Dove." And it's a six-hour miniseries on CBS. I've seen it and it's great. I'm also a huge fan of "Lonesome Dove," and I'd be the first to say it's fun to ride a horse but it takes quite a bit of work. I'm very proud of it.

It airs at the end of October.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Hi Steve! I first found out about you from "That Thing You Do!" and then I read that you live on a farm somewhere, and well, that's pretty cool..

Steve Zahn: I live on a horse farm in central Kentucky. I have horses, goats, sheep, five dogs and too many cats to count, some possums. We haven't named them, they come and go as they want. We call them spacerats. I love it.

When I'm not working, I'm making waffles, driving the kids to school, catching bass and shoveling s---. I do it, I don't hire anybody to do it, I do it myself.

_______________________

Boston: Hi Steve,

As an actor do you feel this role was twice as difficult and twice as rewarding beause you had to go through both a physical change as well as prepare yourself emotionally for the role.

Thank you and I look forward to seeing you in this film!

Steve Zahn: Definitely. I had the Dwayne Whitney Martin, I had his picture on my refrigerator, in my truck on my visor, so the five months that I had to prep, I was constantly reminded of this soul who I grew to respect a great deal.

I lost 40 pounds, and I grew one hell of a gnarly beard.

_______________________

Vienna, Va.: How much of "Reality Bites" was ad libbed? I gotta think your dialogue about "PFLAG, parents and friends of gays and lesbians" had some ad libbing.

Steve Zahn: No, that was scripted. You know, everybody wants to know that, was there a lot of improvising? Most of the time there's not. I do a gig because I think the script is amazing. It's too much of a risk to think it could potentially be something I want to see. The adlibs are great are so subtle they're not even worth talking about, but when you work on a comedy like "Strange Wilderness" or "Saving Silverman" and you work with people that do adlib and it serves the scene and it serves the movie, there's nothing better. It's so much fun. And I am like a sixth grade girl. I laugh at everything. I have this outtake reel of "Strange Wilderness," the entire outtake is just me laughing. To the point where it pisses this crew off. Which makes me laugh harder.

_______________________

Annapolis, Md.: Mr. Zahn,

I've admired your work in four movies to date. This seems to be a very different role than others you've taken (such as your role in "That Thing You Do!," my favorite of your other roles, or even "Shattered Glass"). I know that most actors seek new challenges. To what extend are you actively -seeking- different material, and how much are you being -offered- different material?

Do you have other upcoming projects that will continue in this vein, or go in new directions?

Steve Zahn: Great question. There are very few actors that sit with a pile of scripts trying to decide which one to do. I actively sought this character and yet, the role of Gus in "Comanche Moon" was offered to me. I like to think that I just make great decisions and pick the right stuff, but so much of the time, you gotta work. And if you ever find youself going, "Why did that guy do that movie?" It's usually about they need some new farm equipment. Stuff's expensive.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Mr Zahn,

No question, just a comment: My wife and I recently caught "That Thing You Do!" on HBO (probably ninth time I've seen it) and enjoyed it all over again. What a fun movie.

Best of luck with "Rescue Dawn" and your future roles.

DB

Steve Zahn: Tom Hanks just put out the tenth anniversary and there's an extra 45 minutes. I still haven't seen it yet. To this day, I still talk to those guys. Tom Everett Scott is one of my best friends.

_______________________

Virginia: Wait a second...did you play Phoebe's gay ice dancing husband?

Steve Zahn: Yes. In a matador outfit. What blows me away is that, as many people remember that as any movie I have done. I did one TV show in my entire life, one episode of a TV show. It just shows how powerful and how many people see TV, it's incredible.

_______________________

Rockville, Md.: Hi,

I'm a big fan and definitely looking forward to this new movie. I have cable (including HBO) and swear that at least four of your movies have been showing this past week. Do you think you're getting more name recognition with movie goers?

Thanks.

Steve Zahn: I think it's inevitable. The more movies you go, the more circulation. Recognition has been very gradual for me. I used to just get weird stares. Then people started approaching. And now it's like stop at a gas station in Kentucky, and the person says, "You know you look just like that actor Steve Zahn. Do you get that?" And I say, "Yes. Constantly. All the time." And it goes no further.

I'll be watching TV and sitting there with my kids. Sometimes it's strange to go through and you're on, like, three different channels. It's weird. I never get used to that.

_______________________

Herndon, Va.: Steve,

Thanks in advance for responding.

Your introduction to this chat lists several movies that you have been in, however, it does not list your unforgetable performance in the movie "Saving Silverman". Your work with Jack Black and R. Lee Ermey was nothing short of brilliant. One-liners from the film, such as "She torched Neil" and "They're making you wear dresses!?" are frequently overheard on college campuses and near water coolers at work.

Question: What movie would you say you are most recognized for by the public?

Steve Zahn:"Saving Silverman." "That Thing You Do!" would come close.

_______________________

Minneapolis: Steve, a fellow Gustie here. I've loved your work ever since we worked together on a play in college, Lysistrata. Tell me, how much influence has your early training and experience in Minnesota had in your development as a successful actor?

Steve Zahn: I remember that vividly. I played the leader of the men's chorus and I was 111-years-old or something. It was a fun gig. Also in that show was Peter Krause. I was a senior and he was a freshman. He left to go to NYU and I left to work in a machine shop and live in my parent's basement.

As far as development, quite a bit. I mean, to the core.

_______________________

Rockville, Md.: Did you realize your chat is competing with Suge Knight? Do you think he'd ever sign the Wonders to Death Row?

Steve Zahn: Yes.

_______________________

Foggy Bottom, D.C.: Just wanted to say thanks for the effort. I've enjoyed your work and always look forward to seeing what you do next. Speaking of which, after this film, what is next?

Steve Zahn: The first is the "Comanche Moon," then the "Strange Wilderness." Then there are two others I finished that will probably be more festival movies.

I live on a farm so it's nice to get off the farm and have people interested in what you do and like what you do. Thank you for all the questions.

_______________________

Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.