Bronson Pinchot on Acting, ‘The Residence,’ and the Importance of ‘Being’

Bronson Pinchot, a seasoned stage and screen actor, shares his experiences, reflecting on a pivotal moment when a seemingly insignificant pause in a play drastically altered audience reaction. This incident, he recalls, taught him a valuable lesson about the nuances of performance.

Pinchot recounts an encounter after the performance where audience members expressed their displeasure with the pause. Their reaction, initially surprising, led to a shared laugh and a deeper understanding of the impact of even the smallest choices in acting.

With extensive experience in theater, film, and voice acting, Pinchot offers a pragmatic perspective on his craft, distinguishing between acting and embodying a character. He playfully declines to divulge his internal monologue process for character development.

In Netflix’s “The Residence,” Pinchot plays Didier Gotthard, a restrained pastry chef with a hidden secret. This role represents a notable departure from his more expressive past roles, such as Balki Bartokomous in “Perfect Strangers.”

A Subtle Script, a Restrained Performance

Pinchot describes “The Residence” script as masterfully economical, allowing for subtle acting choices. The script’s suggestive nature, he notes, made the character a truly engaging project for an actor. The writing’s suggestive nature provided ample opportunities for nuanced acting.

The actor’s role in the show allowed him to explore restraint, contrasting with his tendency to play more demonstrative characters, a contrast which he found appealing. Pinchot reveals his innate tendency to be more expressive than he might desire.

He draws parallels between his stage and film work, explaining that while demonstrative acting works on stage, a more restrained approach is essential for film, allowing the camera to capture the actor’s inner emotions effectively.

[[img alt=”Giancarlo and Bronson Pinchot in ‘The Residence'” src=”/_next/image”]]

Less is More: Finding the Right Balance

Pinchot discusses a specific instance where he purposely chose to underplay his character, Didier Gotthard. He describes creating an internal “iron door” to prevent his character’s emotions from being readily apparent.

He contrasts this with his past role as Balki Bartokomous, where his demonstrative performance led to constant engagement from the public, a stark contrast to the likely response to his more subdued role in “The Residence.”

He emphasizes the importance of strong scene partners, advocating for a collaborative approach in which actors focus on “being” rather than solely “acting.”

A Memorable Scene and Unexpected Connections

Pinchot highlights a scene with his co-stars as a particularly memorable moment. He recounts shooting the scene with different actors and how the dynamic changed depending on the scene partner. The scene with Giancarlo Esposito, in particular, was highly impactful due to their shared history in acting.

The shared history of the actors and their parallel careers created an emotionally resonant scene.

[[img alt=”Netflix” src=”/_next/image”]]

The Mystery of ‘The Residence’ and Personal Joy

Pinchot discusses the multi-layered narrative of “The Residence,” revealing the filming of multiple versions of scenes to reflect varying perspectives. He enjoyed the complexity and ambiguous nature of the storytelling.

He reflects on the show’s exploration of characters’ misbehavior, adding depth beyond the central mystery. He further discusses his fondness for whodunits and his uncanny ability to quickly identify the culprit.

Finally, Pinchot shares his personal joy derived from renovating his properties in Pennsylvania. He likens this process to his acting career, noting that he is able to create an oasis of peace and tranquility within challenging environments. He describes this as the best work he has ever done.