Clifton Collins Jr. and Molly Parker on Riding Two Career Performances in 'Jockey'
Molly Parker and Clifton Collins Jr at the TIFF 2021 opening of ‘Jockey’
Collins Jr & Parker discuss the character driven ‘Jockey’ and the realness both actors bring to their characters.
Clifton Collins Jr, an actor who defines what it is to be a character actor, is ironically everything you would expect if you’ve watched his films and the myriad of characters he’s played. Perhaps it’s the effortlessness he brings to his roles, whether it be a Romulan in the 2009 reboot of Star Trek, his high energy Romeo in Boondock Saints II, or even his uncredited cameo as a 'Vegan Police officer’ in Scott Pilgrim vs the World, the man carries himself with an approachable, laid back, Angeleno energy. Yet the more one studies this mans’ work, the more one has to realize that there is a lot of process and preparation put into every role. The former word being one that Collins holds as dearly as a personal mantra.
‘Jockey’ follows the story of an aging racer, Jackson Silva (Collins) who aims for one final championship. His life of relative solitude is only broken up by his close bond with horse trainer Ruth (Molly Parker), his debilitating injuries, and when a rookie rider (Moises Arias) arrives into his life, claiming to be his son.
When asked about a specific scene where Jackson is in a state of pure bliss, finding the perfect racing rhythm with his steed, heading towards the finish line, Collins was quick to answer in terms of how he finds his happy place. “Whenever I'm creating, I love process. I love process, and I love collaboration, and I love the ‘a ha’ moments. I love the discoveries”. Collins has become known for his character roles, and seamlessly fitting into anything that’s required of him. With ‘Jockey’ however, Collins is receiving just praise for how comfortable he seems wearing the role of Jackson, even referring to his characters as ‘suits’. “I love making all those suits fit perfectly. But obviously, this is a much bigger role. So I started prep early. Because I wanted to learn everything about that world. So [I studied] old horse races, new horse races, finding old [documentaries], obscure under the radar interviews, things of that nature. And then getting out there to a turf paradise quite a few weeks early, allowed me to spend time with all the jockeys. So I spent every day with them. So my life was there.”
“I love making all those suits fit perfectly. But this is a much bigger role. I wanted to learn everything about that world. ...My life was there.”
As mentioned, Collins has played anything from an alien, to a robotic host in ‘Westworld’, to a fictional cop with Vegan powers, but this role is so much more beautifully subdued than anything audiences have seen from the veteran character actor. Typically, when an actor takes on a role as someone at the ‘end of their path’, art imitates life. Look no further than Mickey Rourke in ‘The Wrestler’ or Collins’ own father-in-law, Clint Eastwood in ‘Unforgiven’ or several of Eastwood’s recent films. But Collins is still a relatively young man, with more exciting opportunities down the line, if his fans have their way. How is it that he is so comfortable in this kind of role, and can relate to this kind of story? Once again, the answer goes back to his process. “I love to blur the lines. So, it's easy, I came home still feeling like Jackson for quite some weeks. Because I did delve so deeply. I am still in touch with quite a few of those jockeys… I was still dieting when I came on for like a week and a half, like, what am I doing”?
Collins’ costar, and Canadian national-treasure, Molly Parker is another actor who has made her success by seeming effortless in everything she does. There’s a realness to her talent; she too, makes the ‘suit’ fit, much like Collins. In Parker’s case, often that’s a literal suit, as she has become known for her well-tailored politicians or lawyers; strong female characters who always fight for what they believe in, often in cut throat or antagonistic ways. The real Molly Parker, at least during this interview is a graceful, reticent and soft-spoken professional. Someone who almost seems embarrassed to talk about delving into the more forceful side of her persona. “I guess I I know what you're talking about”. This was as much as Parker was willing to admit in terms of being drawn to that kind of role. “One is attracted to certain roles. And then I think also they bring certain things out in you”. The other type of role Parker seemingly gravitates towards seems like the type she would be more familiar with, a salt-of-the-earth and spiritual person. Parker however, sees Ruth in Jockey as a combination of those two afforementioned halves. “Particularly for [my role] Jockey, I had been thinking about a band of horses. In wild horses, it's always a female, [who is] the lead mare, [and] sort of the alpha of the community. And I so I was trying to make Ruth, that kind of leader”.
Parker and Collins are perfect ambassadors for the breadth of storytelling you can achieve in film, regardless of the production. Parker’s filmography is a nearly-unmatched mix of massive Hollywood epics, Netflix binge-worthy giants and independant films. Yet Parker will be one of the first to admit, sometimes these smaller projects, like Jockey are the best move for the process of the actor, and the art form of film itself. “This was a film that was sort of intentionally very small, the crew was about ten people, we shot on a working track. So we were really kind of embedded in this community. I did my own hair and makeup. I bought my own costumes. It was one of those kind of films. I haven't done anything like that, to that degree, in a long time. And it just reminded me why I love doing this. It really made me remember how much I love acting”. Her costar would agree, as Collins succinctly reveals why he feels so connected to the role of Jackson, and why one the film’s many strengths lies in the realness: “It's all those nuanced details that make these characters real and allow one's capacity for empathy and a deeper understanding of what they go through”.
It is because of this deep connection that not only allows the artists to feel at home within the roles they portray, but allows audiences to feel the connection to this independent passion project. It makes Jockey something special, and makes witnessing these roles intimate as audiences feel that they are possibly witnessing two career redefining moments from Parker and Collins.
Jockey is in select theatres now.
Be sure to check out the full interviews, below:
