I am Sam Rockwell. I'm an actor. You probably know me from a bunch of stuff, AMA!

How much different was it to shoot Moon?
Nobody else on the set, ever? That is, unless Kevin Spacey was actually inside the robot (if true, THAT's commitment).

Anyway, I wanted to ask some silly question about Moon because I really enjoyed Moon. And you were 99% of the reason.

^Moon

Nobody else on the set, ever? That is, unless Kevin Spacey was actually inside the robot (if true, THAT's commitment).

It was actually really cool because you were sort of forced to be in character. Because you were really alone. It felt like a ghost town, but I had a blast. It felt isolating but it fit.

Do you ever have plans to play the role of Justin Hammer again?

Yeah I would be happy to do it! i'm just waiting on the avengers to give me a call

You just want to say "It's Hammer time!".

I mean who doesn't want to say that?

Are there any roles you've turned down you seriously regret and would leap at the chance if there was a reboot? or remake..

Are there any roles you've turned down you seriously regret and would leap at the chance if there was a reboot? or remake..

Yes. I could have been in The Incredibles. Missed on that one. But you learn!

Loved your performance in The Way, Way Back. Where do you think the character would be now? Would he have evolved at all?

If Owen never changed that would be fine with me. He's such a great guy. But I do love the idea of characters growing after movies, continuing their lives. That's actually what has me most excited about Sweet Thing, that aspect. Check out the Kickstarter!

You are all asking so many great questions, it's sort of overwhelming but I'm having a great time! I'm trying to answer as much as possible. Before I forget I want to mention Alex's new project again, Sweet Thing, and their kickstarter to get finishing funds. It's really a great film, and it's important for me he's able to get his work out there. That's why I'm giving out these rewards - like personalized voicemails and signed photos and more. Please check it out!

https://i.imgur.com/YunyhZo.gifv

Somehow I am more grossed out watching that clip that I was filming it. Ick

My dad is a huge fan of yours. Could you do me a solid and say “Hi, Jerry”? Thanks, Sam.

Hi Jerry!

What's your favorite song to dance to?

I like that No Diggity song. There's a lot. Marvin Gaye, James Brown. I mean, I love Elvis Presley. Honestly I think I just like to dance

You are such a good dancer

Thanks! It wasn't something I was always comfortable with so this all is wonderful to hear

I don't know if you're into scifi at all but what are your thoughts on the way Galaxy Quest has become a cult classic? It seems rare for a satire or comedy to be so appreciated as an earnest work of the genre. What do you think of The Orville?

I think his character Guy in that movie is my favorite of his roles. I hope he doesn't mind, because he was fucking genius in that role and he really made the movie

I had so much fun playing that role, but I think most of the credit should go to the writers on that one. I was just lucky to stumble into it.

Are you, just like the rest of Hollywood, a part of Denis Villeneuve's Dune?

No, not at the moment, but the cast looks fantastic!

Sam, you're probably my favorite actor and I adored you in Box Of Moonlight. This little sleeper is so underrated. How do you feel about that film? Was it fun to make? Any little anecdotes that you can share about the filming? Did you actually dive off the cliff rocks into the water below?

That movie was hard, because it was kind of a big break for me. I was cast before the financing came through, and a bunch of other, more famous guys wanted to play the part. But they stuck with me, and I think that was one of the problems with the financing. Now when I look back at my performance, I see a nervous actor. But that movie will always be important to me, and yes, it was fun to make

The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford is probably my favorite movie, and your performance was great. What’s your biggest hobby?

Thank you so much!

​

I don't really have one, that's my problem.

I like boxing, but I don't spare much anymore. Strangely enough, I lasso a bunch (i needed to learn it for a Sam Sheppard part). I'm sometimes in the streets of London just lassoing garbage cans.

Hey Reddit! I have to log off now, I only had about an hour to spare, and answering these questions took longer than I had expected, so I'm sorry if there were some great comments I never got to.

​

But the conversation doesn't have to end here! Check out Alex Rockwell's kickstarter Sweet Thing (here's the link again: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1328225661/sweet-thing?) and look out for my rewards. Maybe we can continue on in person! Over coffee? Lunch? Whatever works for you, it's all on the kickstarter page!

​

Thanks! I had a blast.

Mr Rockwell!

You've become a bit of a regular collaborator with Martin McDonagh, through Seven Psychopaths, Three Billboards and A Behanding in Spokane. How did that collaboration come about, and do you see it continuing in the future? (I have to say, you're one of my favourite actors and I wrote my dissertation on McDonagh's plays, so being able to enjoy both of your work at once has always been magnificent.)

Good luck with the Kickstarter!

I honestly think Martin is one of the greatest writers in film. Annoyingly good-looking. We're very close, just saw him last night in fact.

Have you or would you ever star in any of his plays? I think you would be great in The Pillowman.

Anything involving Martin is something I'd be excited to do.

Hi Sam :)!!! Which of your characters did you enjoy most playing? Which one was the most challenging?

I think the most challenging was actually Fosse but I'm really happy with how it turned out.

And I actually think I've grown to most enjoy playing supporting roles. Iron Man was a lot of fun. And I had a lot of fun on the set of The Sitter

Hi. Which of the film characters you've played would you most like to hang out with?

It's gotta be the guy in The Way Way Back, Owen. I mean Justin Hammer's kinda fun. But I gotta go with Owen. That's a good guy.

Who has been the most difficult character to shake off after filming has wrapped? Do you stay in character often when not shooting?

I played this born-again Christian guy, suicidal alcoholic, in a movie called Snow Angels. It's based on a fantastic book. A lot of great actors in that flick. But for that character I went to all these sermons and services for fundamentalist born-again Christians, and I watched the way they talked and prayed. That one kinda came home with me.

Hi Sam! What is your favorite animated film? And why?

You know what animated film really had a big impact on me was Robin Hood, the Disney film. And a movie called American Pop. It's a great movie, an adult animated movie. And Heavy Metal. And of course Bambi is amazing. That's an amazing film

i have galaxy quest memorized!! IS THERE AIR? YOU DONT KNOW!

​

thanks for giving me my love of sci fi and sci fi parody all in one.

That's impressive! You probably know the lines better than I do now.

Hey Sam!

You’ve been in this business for a long time, what are some of the biggest differences between acting now than say in the 90s/early 2000s?

hi thrill_ho

well again independent film has all gone to tv, there are very few people like Alex Rockwell out there making his own way.

I also think we had more takes back in the day. We would shoot for about 25-30 days. and you would only have 3 takes before the light was gone or before some other uncontrollable thing came into play. There was more pressure, which made for a lot of better performances.

Hey, can I see your spaceship?

Hey now, I don't give out a free rides to everyone...

​

but I am offering a coffee meetup and a lunch on the Sweet Thing kickstarter, maybe if we're both lucky we can fly around for a bit after.

Hey, I really enjoyed Mr. Right. Is Anna Kendrick as delightful in person as I imagine she is?

She's fantastic.

Hi Sam!

If you hadn’t pursued a career in acting, what other profession would you have liked to pursue?

Thank you!

Pumping gas, probably

Are there any actors or directors in particular that you really want to work with?

Passion is by far the most important trait in a director, I think. David Gordon Green is a director I always love to work with. I've never been on an Alex Rockwell set that I didn't love. They're both fantastic guys. And passionate as hell

Hey Sam, I loved you in Three Billboards, what was it like working on such an interesting and intense movie?

Thank you, it was a great experience. I've said it before and I'll say it again - working with Martin is an unbelievable gift. He's one of the best writers in the history of film.

What role have independent films played in your life?

Well, Alex Rockwell got me started in independent films. I had down a few things before I met him, but i really hadn't done anything like that until Alex got me into In The Soup. And it was a great way to sort of give my career a little boost. That was a really great time for independent film, it was really thriving in New York. Now that's all changed, i think in a way TV has replaced independent film.

I forgot to mention this in my last question but have been really curious:

Why did you move to New York to pursue acting rather than stay in your home state? Was there something specific about the NY film scene that spoke to you, as opposed to Los Angeles?

Well, as i've said before, the New York independent film scene was really thriving in the 90s. People like Alex Rockwell, Jim Jarmusch, Spike Lee, Tom DiCillo, and Susan Seidelman really spoke to me. I didn't get lucky enough to be in all of their films, but I did manage to sneak myself into Alex and Tom's movies.

You and Steve Buscemi are two of my favorite actors ! That's exciting, are you two pals? Have you ever worked together?

Yeah we worked on about three movies together. But we've never really worked together worked together. If that makes sense. It has never been extensive. I've done a few with Steve and Alex Rockwell, actually. In The Soup (which is one of my favorites) and 13 Moons come to mind. And the Search for One-eye Jimmy but that was without Alex.

I already asked a question but you're basically my favorite actor and I have another question that I meant to ask: What was the hardest role you had to prepare for? Is there anything about that/those roles that makes them especially challenging?

Well I broke my hand while shooting Somebody to Love with Rosie Perez, not on set, but it was a problem. That's not what you asked but man it was not easy. Don't break your hand

Hey, Sam, thanks for agreeing to answer the questions.

I really liked your work in three billboards, Dixon is my favorite character and my questions about him, I want to know your opinion.

How do you see Dixon's life after the end of the movie? He's gonna be a cool cop? Will he and Mildred become friends?

And what do you think about his line with Red? What do you think might happen next?

I think Dixon needs a lot of therapy. He's got work to do.