CHRISTOPHER GUEST ON THE SET OF MASCOTS
“GUEST WALKS A VERY
FINE LINE BETWEEN
BEING A LITTLE TOO
ABSURD AND BEING
ACTUALLY BELIEVABLE.”
—BOB BALABAN
And so, it’s evident that the true glue hidden in the seams of a Christopher Guest
movie is simply the man himself. The director is able to articulate what he wants
from his actors in a general sense without constricting them. He takes disparate
fringe groups and unites them into one bizarro universe that betrays a personal
touch. Most of all, he’s earned the trust and friendship of the people he works
with. Just ask Balaban.
“I would say that Christopher evolved into this way of doing it, but he was
kind of like this from the beginning,” he says. “I think part of his instinct that’s
pretty unerringly correct is to more or less let people feel empowered in these
situations. It’s really helpful, and the truth is, you are your own engine in these
things. It’s definitely controlled by his overseeing of everything. It’s all very fun
and relaxed, and it’s a thing I’m very grateful to have been a part of.”
In short, to riff on a classic Nigel Tufnel lick, how much more Guest could a
Christopher Guest film be? And the answer is none. None more Guest.
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FLOOD