Acclaimed Hollywood director Martin Scorsese was inspired to shake things up in his moviemaking approach by interviewing a mystery guest as a potentially new muse in a charming TikTok video.
Many of Scorsese's critically acclaimed works have often featured longtime muses, including Robert DeNiro in films like Raging Bull (1980) and Goodfellas (1990); and Leonardo DiCaprio, who currently stars in Scorseses's newest Western revisionist film Killers of the Flower Moon, based on the 2017 novel of the same name by David Grann.
Scorsese's daughter Francesca, also a filmmaker and an actress, allowed him to take over her TikTok for the occasion of his interview.
“I have been working a long time making pictures, almost 50 years," he told the interviewee who was yet to be revealed.
He explained:
"One muse [for] many, many years, 10 pictures, is Robert De Niro, another muse, Leo DiCaprio is extraordinary, six films with him so far."
"Over the years I’ve worked with great actors, from Ellen Burstyn to Paul Newman, Michelle Pfeiffer, Margot Robbie, and…I need a change."
“I need to find something that I could take further...to another level."
The camera then cut to the family dog, Oscar, who looked completely uninterested.
You can see the TikTok clip here.
Scorsese continued, telling his furry companion:
"What that is? I’m not quite sure. But I’ve heard some extraordinary things about you."
"I don’t wanna embarrass you, I heard some extraordinary things. And I think we might be able to work something out.”
Just to remind viewers the Academy Award-winning director wasn't talking to them, the camera panned back to Oscar, who stared back into the camera, waiting for the charade to be over so he could have a treat.
Scorsese then put Oscar through his paces by having him demonstrate a range of emotions including fear, laughter, and even transcendence.
"I wanna take you a little further, I don't wanna take you out of your comfort zone. I just want you to give me a little more."
Oscar then shifted from his hunched position to lying down, much to the delight of the director.
"Bring it! Bring it!" he triumphantly shouted.
The clip ended with Scorcese confirming with a huge grin:
"You've got the role."
The rave reviews came in.
@francescascorsese/TikTok
@francescascorsese/TikTok
@francescascorsese/TikTok
@francescascorsese/TikTok
@francescascorsese/TikTok
@francescascorsese/TikTok
@francescascorsese/TikTok
@francescascorsese/TikTok
Scorsese's comedy short on his daughter's TikTok was a happy surprise for fans, especially since he admittedly doesn't use a computer.
The 80-year-old tech-challenged filmmaker opened up about his short attention span in a recent interview with AP.
“I don’t use a computer because I tried a couple times and I got very distracted. I get distracted as it is," he said, adding:
“I’ve got films, I’ve got books, I’ve got people. I’ve only begun this year to read emails. Emails, they scare me. It says ‘CC’ and there are a thousand names. Who are these people?”
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
