Spinning Gold Star Jeremy Jordan Compares Talks Playing Casablanca Records Founder Neil Bogart

In the ever-evolving world of cinema, there's something fascinating about actors who take on the challenge of embodying real-life individuals. It's like painting a portrait of someone everyone recognizes, yet you still need to add your artistic flair to make it stand out. Jeremy Man, the man of the hour, has done just that. He's taken on the role of Neil, the founder of Casablanca Records, in a biopic that promises to be as iconic as the man himself.

You might wonder, how does one transform into an iconic music record executive? Jeremy Man shares his insights, and it's nothing short of magical. What makes this journey even more thrilling is the fact that Jeremy played Winn in Supergirl before this. Fans of superhero stories can be quite the serious bunch, but when you're portraying a real-life legend, the stakes get higher.

Jeremy’s approach to these two roles is intriguing. Lesser-known characters, whether from the comic book realm or reality, provide an actor with room to breathe. There's no need to imitate someone or do a caricature of their personality. Instead, it's a canvas on which they can paint their own interpretation. It's like taking a familiar landscape and giving it a new perspective.

The Dance of Playing Real People

Now, portraying real people, that's a whole different ballgame. In this case, Jeremy took inspiration from interviews and sources, which isn't too different from playing a comic character. In an interview, you're essentially a heightened version of yourself. You're in your happy mode, the best version of you. But there's so much more to a person than what you see in interviews. There are moments of sulking, introspection, and ordinary days.

Jeremy had to take all these nuances into account when embodying Neil, a man who passed away when the director, Tim, was still a child. It's like building a puzzle with missing pieces, and you need to create those pieces from scratch. What's truly remarkable is that Tim allowed Jeremy to find his own path into the character. There were no judgments or constant reminders of, "Neil wouldn't do that." Instead, it was a journey of exploration, of crafting a character anew.

A Balancing Act of Script and Improv

In the world of film, the script is your foundation, the solid ground on which you build your performance. It's not about making things up as you go, but about giving life to words and actions already crafted. However, that doesn't mean there's no room for spontaneity.

Jeremy lets us in on a little secret. They did a lot of improv during the making of the biopic. This freedom to play within the structured confines of a script is where the magic happens. It's where an actor breathes life into a character, adds depth, and brings out the quirks and subtleties that make the character uniquely their own.

Embracing Honest Embellishment

What sets this biopic apart from the rest is its unapologetic honesty about embellishment. It boldly declares, "Yes, some of this is dramatized, and it's on purpose." The story is told from a rather peculiar perspective—a man recounting his life from the afterlife. It's like getting the greatest hits of Neil's life, narrated by the man himself.

As any showman would tell you, a good story gets better with every telling. The narrative becomes more extravagant, more vibrant, and more outlandish. It's a testament to the charisma and extravagance of Neil's character. The film doesn't shy away from presenting a version of events that's both spectacular and whimsical, even when it's clear that reality was more nuanced.

In a world filled with serious dramas and somber biopics, the sheer fun and vibrancy of this film are a breath of fresh air. It's a reminder that storytelling is an art, and sometimes, the most captivating stories are the ones that take liberties with the truth.

Jeremy Man has brought this unique vision to life, capturing the essence of Neil and the flamboyance of the music industry in a way that's bound to leave a lasting impression. As we embark on this cinematic journey, we're invited to suspend our disbelief, embrace the embellishments, and get lost in a world where reality and imagination coalesce into something truly spectacular.

The Takeaway

In the hands of an actor like Jeremy Man, playing real characters becomes a symphony of creativity. It's a fusion of research and intuition, script and improv, reality and embellishment. It's about breathing life into the past and making history dance on the silver screen. So, the next time you're at the movies, take a moment to appreciate the incredible art of portraying real people, where the boundaries of truth and fiction blur, and the magic of storytelling takes center stage.