A breakout star Gavin Goudey making his feature film debut in James Gray’s crime drama, “Paper Tiger.” The 20-year-old actor plays a child at Mile Teller and Scarlett Johanssontwo of the most famous actors in Hollywood. Still, Goudy said he was thrilled to be working with the “Star Wars” alum. Adam Driverwhich he had long admired.
Gavin Goudey says he ‘naturally’ looked up to Adam Driver
“Paper Tiger” is a film written and directed by James Gray. It tells the story of two brothers – Gary (Driver) and Irwin (Teller) – as they pursue the American Dream in New York in the 1980s. When Gary drags his brother into a get-rich-quick scheme involving the Russian mafia, things take a turn for the worse when Irwin’s wife, Hester (Johansson), and their two children are in danger.
At the New York Film Festival preview at Lincoln Center in New York City, Goudey, who plays Driver’s nephew, revealed that he was in awe of the actor even before he met him. “That was, you know, the easiest part of my job — to look up to him — because I naturally do that. So I just had to be there,” Goudey told PEOPLE magazine at the premiere.
Gavin Gousey was a big fan of the ‘Star Wars’ character Adam Driver
Goudey revealed that he loved seeing Driver as the ruthless First Order enforcer Kylo Ren in the “Star Wars” sequel. Driver appeared in all three films: 2015’s “The Force Awakens,” 2017’s “The Last Jedi,” and 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker.”
The driver also worked with the director Stephen Soderbergh on another film called “The Hunt for Ben Solo”, which was supposed to show the return of the character after his death in the 2019 film, but unfortunately, the film was shot down by Disney executives who did not see how Ben Solo could still be alive after the events of that film.
“It’s Kylo Ren,” Goudey told the publication. “So, he was just like, ‘Oh my God, that’s Kylo Ren … I mean, I love that guy.
Gavin Goudey reveals what he learned from Adam Driver on the set of ‘Paper Tiger’
While filming on location in New York City, Goudey revealed that the “Girls” alum taught him the importance of “preparation” in a particular scene where Driver plays the piano. “He plays beautifully, by the way,” said the actor.
“He was playing the piano, and, you know – every scene we did – he did something different. He changed the rhythm, the tempo, the song, and every time it was beautiful.
“Give after take, he did something different. And he made a choice, and he was bold, and it worked so well,” he recalled. “And I was like, ‘How does he do this?’ And it just brought home to me the importance of preparation – and the confidence that comes from your preparation. “
Gavin Goudey also reveals what he learned from Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson plays Goudey’s mother in the film. While talking to E! News, he revealed that while he learned the importance of preparation from Driver, he learned “the importance of physicality” from the Marvel star.
“Before the actual scene, she would use her body – that is our instrument as actors, our body – and she would use that to get herself there, and to get herself back out of it as well,” he explained. “To settle herself after a take and prepare for the next one.”
He also revealed what he learned from his on-screen father, Miles Teller. “Miles taught me a lot of technical stuff,” Goudy said. “Like working on a set, because it was my first time on a set of this caliber. So, just seeing how he acts as the number one on the phone page, how he treats everyone around him. It was really cool to witness.”
“Paper Tiger,” which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, will be released in theaters on November 13.