FilmBronson Pinchot on "The Residence," Acting, and Finding Joy in Personal Projects

Bronson Pinchot on “The Residence,” Acting, and Finding Joy in Personal Projects

Bronson Pinchot: Acting, “The Residence,” and Personal Oases

Bronson Pinchot, a seasoned actor, recounts a pivotal moment in his career where a seemingly insignificant pause in a play led to a critical mishap. A post-performance encounter with audience members brought this error into sharp relief, highlighting the subtle impact of even the smallest acting choices.

With extensive experience on stage, screen, and in voice acting, Pinchot offers insights into his craft, emphasizing the distinction between acting and authentic being. While protective of his acting techniques, he readily discusses his role in Netflix’s “The Residence,” where he portrays Didier Gotthard, a restrained executive pastry chef with a concealed secret.

Pinchot’s initial reaction to the script for “The Residence” involved immediately recognizing the layered nature of the writing. He appreciated the subtle way the script conveyed emotion, creating a rich environment for acting. He likened this experience to a dancer finding the perfect stage for their performance.

Playing a character characterized by emotional reserve presented a unique challenge and opportunity for Pinchot. He contrasted this with his prior role as the expressive Balki Bartokomous, noting how his tendency toward expressiveness often needs careful moderation, particularly in film.

A memorable theatrical experience involved a moment where a malfunctioning prop forced improvisation. The audience’s powerful response to his understated reaction highlighted the effectiveness of conveying emotion through complete presence rather than overt gestures.

While filming “The Residence,” Pinchot consciously chose restraint in his performance to match the character’s reserved nature. This approach, he explained, went unnoticed by the crew, suggesting its appropriateness.

Pinchot spoke about the importance of strong scene partners, emphasizing collaboration over mere acting. He finds that excellent collaborators enable him to focus on authenticity and “being,” as opposed to “acting.”

A particularly memorable moment on set involved a scene with either Andre Braugher or Giancarlo Esposito, both of whom he had compelling interactions with. This scene brought home the passage of time and shared history in their careers.

The layered approach to the storytelling in “The Residence,” involving multiple perspectives on events, impressed Pinchot. He enjoyed the ambiguity and the exploration of multiple interpretations of the same event.

Pinchot’s keen observation skills allow him to quickly identify the guilty party in mystery stories. This talent mirrors his ability to quickly assess his acting partners and their roles.

Currently, Pinchot finds fulfillment in creating a personal oasis, a project born out of home renovation and caregiving. He sees this as a parallel to his acting work in requiring him to maintain focus and build a personal reality from sometimes chaotic environments.

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

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