How did you prepare for the role?
Jennifer Garner: I always kind of wish I had gone to med school, so I am a little bit of a frustrated geek in that way. I love medical journals. I read everything from ‘82 to ’88 that I could find on HIV and AIDS. I went and found the real copies of them — you can just Google stuff and buy it. I went back and read all the old magazines to see the puzzle pieces they had and how much we were ignorant about and what we know now. So I loved going back. I remember that Time magazine that was in the movie, on my parents’ coffee table. I remember reading every word of it.
Was it tough playing against characters like Ron and Rayon?
Jennifer Garner: It was! I talked to Jean-Marc a lot because it’s natural to want to play up to the fun stuff and that just wouldn’t have worked. It wasn’t my job to ask for eye-balls. It was my job to settle and be as simple as possible and let them do their thing or else it was too much. There were already two huge performances in the film, I just had to be quiet and more grounded.
Can you speak about working with director Jean-Marc Vallée and what you enjoyed about his directing style?
Jennifer Garner: Oh, he’s just so great. What is he not good at? [Laughs] There were a couple of things in the movie that everybody loved that were very movie-ish moments. You know, something is mentioned early on in the movie then comes back at the end and you have a tear. Well, Jean-Marc looked at those and went [*cuting noise*] “goodbye, we don’t need this, this isn’t our movie, this isn’t what we do.” Instead he would find something and say,” well that was real, that’s human.”
He had a real nose for what he wanted, he had good taste. He had a nose for something small and funny, like Jared fixing his heel through the window of Matthew’s car as he was driving. The way he calibrated Matthew’s performance was so beautiful, he really gave Matthew the room to go where ever he wanted, but he always made sure he got something really simple. He chose the moments to let him be emotional in the film and he did it so beautifully. He definitely could have gone for more is more in the film.
Do you prefer dramas or comedies?
Jennifer Garner: I mean, aren’t we so lucky that we get to do both? Besides, in every comedy there is a lot of drama. I’ve done comedies where I’ve cried more than in any drama and in every drama you’re looking for comedy. You are always trying to find a way to balance.
What was the experience like when your husband Ben [Affleck] won an Oscar last year?
Jennifer Garner: Oh, when Ben won that was an amazing moment. I kind of just floated for a couple of week after. It was so cool.
How are you reacting to the Oscar buzz for your co-stars, Jared and Matthew?
Jennifer Garner: It’s great. I’m sure I’ll be sitting up on stage, doing a Q&A, talking to you guys a million times over the next few months for Matthew and Jared. But I’m happy to do it, and I’m excited. You can’t watch Matthew and Jared go through this movie and not want that for them. They just did such a good job.
Are we allowed one Batman question?
Jennifer Garner: Just one! [Laughs]
Ok, what was your reaction when you found out the news?
Jennifer Garner: Well it wasn’t like I found it out [Laughs]. It’s a conversation that starts months before you guys even heard anything about it. Ben and I discussed it for a long time before it was announced. I’m excited for him though. He has a real take on what he wants to do.
Was there not a particular day though when he got a yes for the role?
Jennifer Garner: It’s not like that, not at all. I’ve known for a very long time. He’s going to be incredible in the role, I can’t wait for it.
That concludes our interview but we’d like to thank Jennifer for taking the time to talk with us. Be sure to check out Dallas Buyers Club, in theatres this Friday!