Character research

Character research for the Father: Emmett Hoffmann

David Thewlis: Father/Ralf in The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas : Here he plays a Nazi commandant of an Auschwitz-type concentration camp where he brings his family. When his son innocently befriends a Jewish inmate, lives change and tragedy occurs. This character is very similar to my character in my Radio play. He is hard working, cares about his wife and he wants the best for his children - this relates a lot to my character - they have the same sterotypes and the same attitudes to certain things. Even though you don't see The Father (David Thewlis) in the camp til the very end when he tries to find his son you still see his actions and behaviour towards the Jews: for example when Bruno asks about the chimneys in the camps he replies back 'Sometimes they just burn rubbish' and when Pavel(The jew servant working for them) is serving them for dinner David Thewlis' character starts getting angry when he wastes time , he also sits down and does nothing when Pavel does wrong and one of the commandants soldiers steps in and starts beating him in front of the children and his wife. This is similar to my character - he has a hated attitude towards the Jews, is stern and stands proud when needed to.

David Thewlis interview on this role:
http://www.filmmonthly.com/paul_fischer_exclusive/thewlis_in_his_most_controversial_role.html

                                        
                                          Character research for the Father : Emmett Hoffmann:

Ralph Fiennes: Amon Goeth : Schindler's List: In this film Fiennes' plays the Nazi Soldier Amon Goeth who took the cold, bloodthirsty arrogance of Nazis to the extreme. Critics said that 'Rarely has a character been so steadfastly vile.' However this character and this film does portray an original story based on true events and people. Ralph Fiennes' character shows the hatred, discust and terror of the real commandants who worked in the camps. He has a short temper, vile attitude and is violent. Many people have actually said that 'Goeth is marked in the film, as well as in history, as one who finds causes for anger everywhere he looks.' which is similar to the Father in my story. Even though Fiennes' character is a more extreme and horric compared to the commandant in my radio play there are still similarities between the two which can be used.  They both have the same consequences towards the Jews which are if they do something wrong they should be punished for instance when Fiennes' first arrives in the Plasz¢w work camp which is under construction. A Jewish woman is the engineer, and she advises Goeth that he needs to re-pour a foundation. For this act, Goeth has her summarily executed and When Goeth is displeased with the number of hinges that Rabbi Levartov has made in a morning, he tries to shoot the Rabbi, only to have two guns jam, increasing his anger even more. He even shoots a woman for stopping to tie her shoe, a man for refusing to report who had tried to smuggle a chicken into camp. This is the terror, horror and hatred i would like the listener to think in my radio play towards the character of Emmett.

http://www2.latech.edu/~bmagee/seneca/senpapr5.htm