Rebecca Hall “waged an aggressive campaign” to land The Listeners role

As I delve deeper into this captivating narrative, I am left in awe of Rebecca Hall’s multifaceted journey. Her life story is as intriguing as any well-crafted screenplay, with its share of drama, humor, and suspense. Born in the heart of London, nurtured by the vibrant cultural scene, and ultimately finding her footing across the pond, Hall’s life mirrors a cinematic odyssey that few have experienced.

Silence is elusive. Does silence even exist? The very question is enough to drive you mad. Pursue it and all you’ll hear is noise. These aural assaults will only be amplified by watching The Listeners, a haunting new BBC drama that tells the story of Claire, a 40-something English teacher who begins to hear a low humming sound whose faintness is in inverse proportion to the chaos it unleashes in her life.

This unravelling is portrayed beautifully by Rebecca Hall, who is mesmerising as Claire.

A veteran of stage and film, it’s a thrill to see her on the small screen again, starring alongside Prasanna Puwanarajah (The Crown, Ten Percent) and Gayle Rankin (Perry Mason, The Greatest Showman). “Claire craves a depth and intensity to her life,” says Hall, when asked what drew her to the role. “Hearing this hum changes her understanding of the world. We all have an understanding that reality is exactly like this and then, when you delve into the physics and scratch the surface, suddenly the fabric of the universe peels away. And actually, it’s chaotic. Nothing about this is ordered or normal.”

Surprised, she abruptly says, “That’s peculiar! I see steam emerging from the top of your head. What on earth could that be? It seems they’re releasing a strong aroma into the air.

Initially, it seems she’s expanding on her recurring theme of disorder. However, upon glancing behind, I realize we seem to be seated near the origin of a potent smell, with wafts drifting through an air vent in the wall that might serve as the hotel’s room aroma. “I get easily sidetracked by my surroundings,” Hall explains apologetically.

The Listeners film, adapted from Jordan Tannahill’s popular novel, is captivatingly filmed with a dreamy ambiance that intensifies its eerie narrative. The story revolves around Claire, who is content in her marriage yet craves a deeper bond. This longing leads her to an unexpected source – one of her students, Kyle – when she learns he too can sense the hum, an unconventional connection she seeks.

The exploration of its origin leads them on a voyage, similar to the enigma itself, which can be interpreted symbolically. Hall concurs, stating that one advantage of extended television programming is the chance to embark on Claire’s mysterious journey and develop a personal perspective as a spectator. This perspective is then repeatedly challenged and reshaped. For those uncertain about their beliefs, this show explores how beliefs are shaped in solitude.

Rebecca Hall “waged an aggressive campaign” to land The Listeners role

One way of rephrasing the given text could be: “Friendship with Kyle is a complex aspect of the story, causing controversy for some viewers due to certain questionable dynamics. However, Claire is not seen as predatory. Rather, she’s desperately seeking balance in an overwhelming situation that’s confusing her perception of reality. So, when she encounters someone who seems equal, it feels vital to form a connection.

This narrative reminds me of the contemporary human condition. It seems to echo our current existence, yet something appears missing. Unlike the 20th century, we lack the communal structures that bound us together – think unions, social clubs, or churches, all places where shared experiences could be verified instantaneously in real life. Instead, we find ourselves immersed in digital landscapes ruled by algorithms, which shape our experiences individually, thus making our perception of reality increasingly disconnected.

Spending just five minutes with Hall leaves no doubt about her brilliant mind. She maintains a kind and approachable demeanor, masking the depth of her intellectual capabilities, which are evident only to those who engage with her on a deeper level. It’s been 12 years since we last saw her on our TV screens, in Parade’s End, though she made a brief appearance in Amazon Prime’s Tales from the Loop in 2020. Some might assume that nothing has interested her during this time, but she chuckles and clarifies, “Well, yes, I suppose it could be that. But there have been plenty of projects that I found appealing, yet haven’t been offered to me.

Working on “The Listeners” held a strong appeal for Hall, primarily because of its director, Janicza Bravo, whom he had previously met. Intrigued by her insightfulness and brilliance, Hall had admired her from afar. When the opportunity to collaborate with her presented itself, he eagerly pursued it. Upon learning about “The Listeners,” Hall actively lobbied for the chance to work on the project. He promptly reached out to Janicza and requested to read the script.

She claims she didn’t delve into the study of hearing impairments – “Not due to idleness, but rather to ensure the character was ordinary and relatable. In other words, the most effective acting job is to consider how you would react if this situation were real for you. Therefore, it wasn’t based on anything more than that.

Initially, they provided her with an earpiece to help her hear a specific hum not audible to others during filming, but she opted against using it throughout the production process. Claire’s character ventures through various emotional landscapes, so Claire preferred for the soundscape to evolve rather than relying on a consistent sound. In essence, her imagination proved more effective in shaping sounds than relying on real-life audio.

Despite Bravo unintentionally assisting her, the distinctive tick-tick-tick sound produced by his 35mm camera while filming The Listeners was a significant advantage for her. This type of film is seldom used in TV production. One peculiarity of it is that when recording begins, there’s a sound of the film rotating inside the camera, which is unique to this format. I am a strong advocate for using film because its grainy texture and softness allow you to concentrate on various aspects, while high-definition (HD) can sometimes feel detached. There’s a sense of immediacy to film that I believe makes it more relatable to our everyday experiences.

She mentions that she has some similarities with Claire, particularly in their sensitivity to sound and sleep patterns. For instance, she finds loud sounds quite distressing, even something as common as a chair creaking can be bothersome for her. Eating becomes challenging if the environment is too noisy. Similarly, she’s had trouble sleeping well since she was just seven years old, much like Claire.

Has she experimented with any solutions? “I’ve tried every possible approach. I have a strategy, you see. I can feel when a difficult period is approaching, and I know how to handle it. It’s a mix of magnesium, a dash of melatonin, CBD oil…” She admits she’s unsure about the exact trigger. “I don’t really know. Well, I might have an idea. My childhood was quite chaotic, so it likely began around that time. However, it soon became something that simply became part of my life. Yet, it also means I always get a lot accomplished,” she says cheerfully. “I enjoy reading a great deal.

2017 saw Hall sharing with The New Yorker anecdotes from her childhood, where her parents – the renowned opera singer Maria Ewing and theatre impresario Sir Peter Hall (who separated when she was seven) would bring her along to social gatherings and let her stay up late just to listen to conversations. It seems plausible that she enjoys listening more than speaking. She explains with a smile, “Indeed, I’m inherently a person who is fascinated by people, though this isn’t my usual behavior.” This statement hints at her reluctance towards being interviewed.

Rebecca Hall “waged an aggressive campaign” to land The Listeners role

She agrees with me that it’s tough for independent filmmakers right now. “It’s challenging to get projects moving these days,” she says. “The environment is quite cautious, but there are certainly some bold moves being made.” She also mentions that she’s currently working on a few different things. “I always have a couple of irons in the fire,” she notes with a smile.

“Nobody really knows what the formula is for success. No one has ever known. I wish there were better avenues of funding for people who want to take artistic risk in this country, and also in America, where there’s no government subsidy at all.”

Born in London and studying English literature at Cambridge, Hall has resided in the United States for the last decade, an unexpected reality for her. “I never truly felt like I moved. Then one day, it dawned on me that I had, without ever consciously deciding to do so. I’ve always considered myself primarily a Londoner first.” Currently, she dwells in upstate New York (a content ‘nowhere rural’) with her spouse, actor Morgan Spector, and their five-year-old daughter, Ida.

She’s moving forward with her 2021 directorial project, Passing, by working on Four Days Like Sunday, a mother-daughter drama based on her personal life where she will also act. “I aimed to get full financing for this over the summer, but it’s a weather-dependent film, so I need to reassess and plan. Fingers crossed, I’ll shoot that next year. I’m also involved in other projects that I might direct. I find myself in a ‘toss ideas at the wall and see what sticks’ phase.

Let’s hope it all sticks, for the world needs more Rebecca Hall.

2024-11-12 04:10

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