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criminalxminds2011-03-24 06:54 pm
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Carly Fleischmann's Interview with Joe Mantegna:
This is a great interview with Joe Mantegna, done by 16-year-old, Carly Fleischmann. Carly has autism, and cannot speak. However she is able to type, and recently interviewed several celebrities (including Joe Mantegna!) for a school project. Questions range from what it is like having a daughter with autism to Criminal Minds:
Contains Spoilers for episode 6x16, Coda
Carly Fleischmann’s interview with Joe Mantegna
Transcript– March 14, 2011
1. You have played lots of memorable roles in your career such as Fat Tony, Springfield’s Mafia don on the Simpsons and you played less-comic mobsters in The Godfather: Part III and the Mario Puzo-derived television movies The Last Don and The Last Don II. Currently you are playing David Rossi on CBS’s Criminal Minds. Out of all your characters, who would you say is more like you and why?
Joe:
That’s a good question. I’d like to think that David Rossi is closer to me than my other characters. First of all, it’s the current character I’m doing so he’s based on 40 years of me being an actor. And second of all, because if I had a desire to do something, it would be to play a positive character. A positive character like David as opposed to a character like Joe Azazza in Godfather III or Fat Tony.
Well of those three characters, I’d like to think David Rossi is closest to me because the other two characters, like Fat Tony or the characters in the Godfather, tap into the negative side of what people do for a living. You know, playing a criminal. Whereas, I’d like to think of myself as somebody who sees good in people or does good in the world. So David Rossi, the character I play now – it’s important for me to try to make that as close to me as possible.
Carly: Cool
2. You have played a couple of cartoon characters like Fat Tony on the Simpsons and on the upcoming Cars two movie. What are the challenges and differences of playing a cartoon character?
Joe:
I think the big challenge is that you have to create a character just with your voice. So for instance, right now I’m talking as Joe. But if I change my voice like this, now of all of a sudden I sound like Fat Tony. This is the way Fat Tony talks. Or if I want to sound like the guy on Cars Two…I kind of talk more like this. This is the way the guy in Cars Two talked. Up in this kind of a thing. So you have to learn to create a character just with your voice.
Carly: That is so interesting.
3. In just one month I will finally get to walk on a star on the walk of fame that has your name on it. What does that mean to you and your career?
Joe:
It’s kind of a nice affirmation. I’ve been doing this for a long time. And now apparently people think I’ve done it well enough and long enough that it could be recognized. And I’m very flattered and humbled that I’ll be on this star in the street with all these people…many of them were idols when I was growing up.
4. I love curling up on a couch and eating chips after along day. What would you say would be your three vices and why?
Joe:
Well, I’d say one of them would be smoking a cigar. I like smoking cigars every once in a while. I like….I think I drink too much diet cola. And the third vice, I`d like to think I only have a couple.
5. You have worked with a lot of famous people and great actors such as Madonna and Billy Crystal. Who would you say you learnt the most with, and why?
I don’t know if there’s one person I’ve learned the most from. But I’ve been lucky enough to be doing this for over 40 years now. I get something from everyone.
Joe:
Billy Crystal is a good example. What I admire about him is that he raised a family way before he was successful and I know that’s not an easy thing to do. And so from all the people that you work with, you try to pick up things that will help you in your life. It`s just like having a teacher. Different teachers help us in our life.
I don’t know if there’s one person I’ve learned the most from. But I’ve been lucky enough to be doing this for over 40 years now. I get something from everyone.
6. Your character David Rossi on Criminal Minds is known for not showing a lot of emotions. Do you ever cry and what was the last thing you remember crying about?
Joe:
My character, David Rossi has elements of heavy emotion. It`s just that he’s learned to keep it inside. But there’s an episode, it airs tomorrow night, that comes closest to David showing his emotions.
7. On one of the latest Criminal Minds there was a story about an Autistic boy who witnessed his parent’s abduction. Did you push to have a story with a autistic child on? How well did you feel the actor portrayed being autistic?
Joe:
I pushed to have an episode that dealt with autism. It wasn’t as important to me that the actor really had autism as much as it was that it would be correctly portrayed. And I thought he did a wonderful job.
8. So as every one who knows me knows, I have autism just like your daughter. What was it like when you first found out your daughter had autism and what was your reaction?
Joe:
Well, it was a difficult thing to hear. No parent wants to hear that their child will have to deal with a disability in their life. But then after that initial thing, you get over that and realize we can’t change that, but how are we going to deal with it? How are we going to go forward and make her life as best as it can be; make all of our lives as best as possible? So it’s not something you wish for, but nobody gets a free ride in life. You play the cards you get in life and move forward.
9. What were the daily hardships and rewards having a daughter with autism?
Joe:
The hardships, it’s that whole thing of two steps forward and one step back. And so those are the rewards and the hardships. In other words the wonderful things are when you make progress, you see progress, joy and happiness and learning and all those things. And the hardship is when you see discomfort, when there’s frustration, what you perceive as unhappiness. But there’s less and less of that. I think the autism is harder on those of us without it, harder for the people who love the person with autism than it is for the person with autism.
10. What has been your proudest moment you had regarding your daughter and why?
Joe:
One of my daughters was Miss Golden Globe this year. And my daughter Mia, my daughter with autism, I would think when she graduated from high school with honors. For her to be able to graduate from high school with honors was a big achievement. And she worked very hard at that.
11. People ask me all the time what I think of a typical person playing a autistic person. Do you think we will ever see an autistic actor? Why or why not?
Joe:
Yes we will. I think we already have. I think there are actors who are on the spectrum. So it’s just a matter of what degree we’re talking about. But sure. My daughter took a lot of acting classes. She had a flair for it. She decided she would rather do makeup ultimately than acting. But yeah, I think there will be. Because they can use the positive attributes of focus and getting into the moment of doing a role. I don’t see any reason why we can’t have an autistic person in the acting profession on a regular basis.
12. Is there one person dead or alive that you would love to work with on a movie or TV show? Who would it be and Why?
Joe:
I guess it would probably be Errol Flynn who is dead. But he was my idol when I was a kid and when I get my star in the walk of fame it’ll be next to his. So it would be nice to a movie with Errol but I know that can’t happen. But this is the next best thing.
13. In my life I have overcome being silent. What major hardship would you say you have overcome and why?
Joe:
Well, that’s a good question. I’d like to think I’ve overcome the fact that we’re raising a child with autism. And it’s difficult for us as a family. But it’s all we know and it’s taught me a lot. It’s taught me that there are all different kinds of people in this world and it takes all kinds. It’s humbled me. In a lot of peoples’ eyes, I’m a successful person. And I understand that. And I’m very blessed. And on the other hand I know it hasn’t been easy this past 20 years within our family life. But it’s okay. It’s part of what life is. Life has its challenges. I’d like to think that every day we’re overcoming whatever challenges we have to overcome just like I’m sure you do everyday.
Carly: What one question would you like to ask me?
Joe’s question: if you could be transported tomorrow to someplace to spend a day doing something, what would it be? What would be your favorite thing to do tomorrow if you could magically be there?
Carly: I would have to say it would be in my bedroom listening to my dad reading me a book. And you?
Joe:
Wow. Where would I want to be if I could be anywhere. I think I’d want to take my whole family with me and go to Italy and visit my cousins in Italy. Because I’ve been there and it’s a great comfortable, quiet, pleasant place to be. My cousin owns a resort there. And I’d like to be there. Just sit with everybody and eat. And sleep. And relax. That’s what I’d like to do tomorrow.
Carly: Thank you Joe for your time.
Joe: That’s great. That’s great.
Tweeted by: @JoeMantegna: Have a look at my interview with Carly. http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/20101126/carlys-blog-101128/
Link: http://www.carlysvoice.com
@CarlysVoice on Twitter
Contains Spoilers for episode 6x16, Coda
Carly Fleischmann’s interview with Joe Mantegna
Transcript– March 14, 2011
1. You have played lots of memorable roles in your career such as Fat Tony, Springfield’s Mafia don on the Simpsons and you played less-comic mobsters in The Godfather: Part III and the Mario Puzo-derived television movies The Last Don and The Last Don II. Currently you are playing David Rossi on CBS’s Criminal Minds. Out of all your characters, who would you say is more like you and why?
Joe:
That’s a good question. I’d like to think that David Rossi is closer to me than my other characters. First of all, it’s the current character I’m doing so he’s based on 40 years of me being an actor. And second of all, because if I had a desire to do something, it would be to play a positive character. A positive character like David as opposed to a character like Joe Azazza in Godfather III or Fat Tony.
Well of those three characters, I’d like to think David Rossi is closest to me because the other two characters, like Fat Tony or the characters in the Godfather, tap into the negative side of what people do for a living. You know, playing a criminal. Whereas, I’d like to think of myself as somebody who sees good in people or does good in the world. So David Rossi, the character I play now – it’s important for me to try to make that as close to me as possible.
Carly: Cool
2. You have played a couple of cartoon characters like Fat Tony on the Simpsons and on the upcoming Cars two movie. What are the challenges and differences of playing a cartoon character?
Joe:
I think the big challenge is that you have to create a character just with your voice. So for instance, right now I’m talking as Joe. But if I change my voice like this, now of all of a sudden I sound like Fat Tony. This is the way Fat Tony talks. Or if I want to sound like the guy on Cars Two…I kind of talk more like this. This is the way the guy in Cars Two talked. Up in this kind of a thing. So you have to learn to create a character just with your voice.
Carly: That is so interesting.
3. In just one month I will finally get to walk on a star on the walk of fame that has your name on it. What does that mean to you and your career?
Joe:
It’s kind of a nice affirmation. I’ve been doing this for a long time. And now apparently people think I’ve done it well enough and long enough that it could be recognized. And I’m very flattered and humbled that I’ll be on this star in the street with all these people…many of them were idols when I was growing up.
4. I love curling up on a couch and eating chips after along day. What would you say would be your three vices and why?
Joe:
Well, I’d say one of them would be smoking a cigar. I like smoking cigars every once in a while. I like….I think I drink too much diet cola. And the third vice, I`d like to think I only have a couple.
5. You have worked with a lot of famous people and great actors such as Madonna and Billy Crystal. Who would you say you learnt the most with, and why?
I don’t know if there’s one person I’ve learned the most from. But I’ve been lucky enough to be doing this for over 40 years now. I get something from everyone.
Joe:
Billy Crystal is a good example. What I admire about him is that he raised a family way before he was successful and I know that’s not an easy thing to do. And so from all the people that you work with, you try to pick up things that will help you in your life. It`s just like having a teacher. Different teachers help us in our life.
I don’t know if there’s one person I’ve learned the most from. But I’ve been lucky enough to be doing this for over 40 years now. I get something from everyone.
6. Your character David Rossi on Criminal Minds is known for not showing a lot of emotions. Do you ever cry and what was the last thing you remember crying about?
Joe:
My character, David Rossi has elements of heavy emotion. It`s just that he’s learned to keep it inside. But there’s an episode, it airs tomorrow night, that comes closest to David showing his emotions.
7. On one of the latest Criminal Minds there was a story about an Autistic boy who witnessed his parent’s abduction. Did you push to have a story with a autistic child on? How well did you feel the actor portrayed being autistic?
Joe:
I pushed to have an episode that dealt with autism. It wasn’t as important to me that the actor really had autism as much as it was that it would be correctly portrayed. And I thought he did a wonderful job.
8. So as every one who knows me knows, I have autism just like your daughter. What was it like when you first found out your daughter had autism and what was your reaction?
Joe:
Well, it was a difficult thing to hear. No parent wants to hear that their child will have to deal with a disability in their life. But then after that initial thing, you get over that and realize we can’t change that, but how are we going to deal with it? How are we going to go forward and make her life as best as it can be; make all of our lives as best as possible? So it’s not something you wish for, but nobody gets a free ride in life. You play the cards you get in life and move forward.
9. What were the daily hardships and rewards having a daughter with autism?
Joe:
The hardships, it’s that whole thing of two steps forward and one step back. And so those are the rewards and the hardships. In other words the wonderful things are when you make progress, you see progress, joy and happiness and learning and all those things. And the hardship is when you see discomfort, when there’s frustration, what you perceive as unhappiness. But there’s less and less of that. I think the autism is harder on those of us without it, harder for the people who love the person with autism than it is for the person with autism.
10. What has been your proudest moment you had regarding your daughter and why?
Joe:
One of my daughters was Miss Golden Globe this year. And my daughter Mia, my daughter with autism, I would think when she graduated from high school with honors. For her to be able to graduate from high school with honors was a big achievement. And she worked very hard at that.
11. People ask me all the time what I think of a typical person playing a autistic person. Do you think we will ever see an autistic actor? Why or why not?
Joe:
Yes we will. I think we already have. I think there are actors who are on the spectrum. So it’s just a matter of what degree we’re talking about. But sure. My daughter took a lot of acting classes. She had a flair for it. She decided she would rather do makeup ultimately than acting. But yeah, I think there will be. Because they can use the positive attributes of focus and getting into the moment of doing a role. I don’t see any reason why we can’t have an autistic person in the acting profession on a regular basis.
12. Is there one person dead or alive that you would love to work with on a movie or TV show? Who would it be and Why?
Joe:
I guess it would probably be Errol Flynn who is dead. But he was my idol when I was a kid and when I get my star in the walk of fame it’ll be next to his. So it would be nice to a movie with Errol but I know that can’t happen. But this is the next best thing.
13. In my life I have overcome being silent. What major hardship would you say you have overcome and why?
Joe:
Well, that’s a good question. I’d like to think I’ve overcome the fact that we’re raising a child with autism. And it’s difficult for us as a family. But it’s all we know and it’s taught me a lot. It’s taught me that there are all different kinds of people in this world and it takes all kinds. It’s humbled me. In a lot of peoples’ eyes, I’m a successful person. And I understand that. And I’m very blessed. And on the other hand I know it hasn’t been easy this past 20 years within our family life. But it’s okay. It’s part of what life is. Life has its challenges. I’d like to think that every day we’re overcoming whatever challenges we have to overcome just like I’m sure you do everyday.
Carly: What one question would you like to ask me?
Joe’s question: if you could be transported tomorrow to someplace to spend a day doing something, what would it be? What would be your favorite thing to do tomorrow if you could magically be there?
Carly: I would have to say it would be in my bedroom listening to my dad reading me a book. And you?
Joe:
Wow. Where would I want to be if I could be anywhere. I think I’d want to take my whole family with me and go to Italy and visit my cousins in Italy. Because I’ve been there and it’s a great comfortable, quiet, pleasant place to be. My cousin owns a resort there. And I’d like to be there. Just sit with everybody and eat. And sleep. And relax. That’s what I’d like to do tomorrow.
Carly: Thank you Joe for your time.
Joe: That’s great. That’s great.
Tweeted by: @JoeMantegna: Have a look at my interview with Carly. http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/20101126/carlys-blog-101128/
Link: http://www.carlysvoice.com
@CarlysVoice on Twitter