[IMG:L]While filming in NYC a concerned passerby recognized Nick Stahl from his film work and mistook him for being paralyzed inquiring, “Are you alright man? Did you get in an accident?”
It made an impression on Stahl as he told us, “I think it’s scary for people to see someone who is paralyzed because they ultimately put themselves in that person’s shoes. So, that’s what I wanted…I wanted to see what it felt like…I wanted to gauge people’s reactions and then combine the two.”
Quid Pro Quo‘s Nick Stahl (Carnivale, Sleepwalking) portrays the inquisitive Isaac Knott, who despite the restrictions of being in a wheel chair leads a fairly normal life: he has close friends, a healthy dating life and works as an investigative reporter for public radio. That is, until he is sought out by an anonymous caller (Vera Farmiga) who tells him about an underground group of people who have the innate desire to be perceived as paralyzed.
Isaac soon becomes feverishly intrigued by the “wanna-bes”–and the mystery woman on the other end of the phone.
Nick Stahl takes time out of his day to talk to Hollywood.com one-on-one going into detail about his unique role and the rare–and to most, unimaginable-disorder examined in Quid Pro Quo.
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Hollywood.com: Early on in the movie your character describes being paralyzed and how people sneak looks at him and sometimes come across as almost jealous of his situation. Not to sound weird, but could this also be said of being a celebrity in the public eye?
Nick Stahl: That’s an interesting idea. I mean, yeah, possibly. I think the two are very different and the one similarity is that you maybe stand out in some ways. What I found what was interesting was that people more often or not, self conscious or not, they sort of avoid you. They sort of avoid making eye contact with you. I think wheel chairs and disabilities, sort of makes people uncomfortable. That’s sort of the conclusion I came to. I sort of noticed more people in wheel chairs than I had ever before so maybe I did that as well? Maybe I just kind of blocked that out?
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HW: Is the desire to become paralyzed, or feign paralysis, an actual disorder or completely fictionalized?
NS: No. It’s real! There are people … I saw a documentary about this subculture of people who have fantasies or who want to be amputated. They honestly, for whatever psychological reasons, don’t feel that they should have a right arm–or whatever it might be. I actually saw it before we started filming. I wondered if people would know if it was real or not but I don’t think it really matters actually–I think it’s equally as intriguing of an idea if people don’t know if it’s real. I don’t think it’s necessary information necessarily.
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HW: Can you talk about the instant chemistry between your character and Fiona (Vera Farmiga)?
NS: In the story Isaac, my character, was just recently broken up with by his girlfriend who is also a paraplegic. It was sort of a tragic way to start the film that his girlfriend who was in a wheelchair basically left him, because she felt if they were going to raise a family she wanted one of the parents to be able to walk. I think the love affair with Fiona–I don’t think he’s over his ex-girlfriend and it’s more of a sexual thing with her–you know, it gives people a little, you know, sexual intrigue…bringing the viewers in.
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HW: This movie is rare in the fact that its lead characters are restricted by wheelchairs–did that play a part in your considering the role?
NS: I think it’s unusual to have the leads of your film, in some ways, be physically handicapped…that’s part of the uniqueness of the story. I look for roles that have real arcs to them–a character that starts out in one place and ends up in a totally different place–so, yeah I read it and wanted to do it right away.
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HW: Do you think people might have a preconceived notion of the film before going into it?
NS: If there is something that I would hope for: is that they would think it’s an accessible film–and I’d hope it doesn’t scare people away…sort of like some people don’t want to watch scenarios that are uncomfortable. I think director Carlos [Brooks] has made an accessible movie out of it–I truly think it is more of a mystery than some sort of edgy, independent and I look at it as having a lot of potential.
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HW: The story is so intense and brings viewers in instantly–did the script grab you in the same way as you read through it?
NS: It’s such an amazing idea to me and it made so much sense when I read it, but yet it was so surprising. It was such a well-written script and all the characters were thoroughly interesting and the dialogue was great–and the story was one of the most unusual detective stories I’ve ever read or ever seen.
