Nicolas Cage explains transformation for new movie Dream Scenario
Nicolas Cage is taking on another unique role in new movie Dream Scenario, undergoing a dramatic transformation for the role.
The comedy sees Cage play tenured professor Paul Matthews whose unremarkable life is turned upside-down when he starts appearing in everybody's dreams, turning him into a viral sensation.
Talking to Digital Spy, Cage explained why it was so important that Paul was completely unlike to himself in real life, both in personality and looks.
"Paul is nothing like me, by design, in terms of the physicality. A lot of thought went into the look, we wanted to – Kristofer [Borgli], the director and I – wanted to get it as far away from my own so-called presentation, if you will," he noted.
"You weren't thinking about so-called Nic Cage but that it was Paul Matthews, a professor of evolutionary biology who works in a college teaching students. He's an academic, not a movie star, not a rock star. He has no interest in the limelight, has no interest in the spotlight."
But while the look and personality of Paul is as far from Cage as possible, Dream Scenario evolves in a way that Cage could relate to.
While Paul's sudden appearances in peoples' dreams is initially treated as a fun, quirky occurrence, it soon turns sour for Paul as the dreams morph into nightmares where dream Paul does unspeakable things.
It's an experience that Cage could relate to his connection to the internet and social media where you can see numerous memes involving his performances.
"I might have been the first actor who experienced a kind of memefication where my scenes that were specifically designed to have meltdowns or nervous breakdowns had been cherry picked in such a way that it would just meltdown after meltdown after meltdown without any linear narrative," he reflected.
"Then I saw it go viral and I saw it grow exponentially, compounding on itself into memes and to t-shirts and what not, and I thought, 'Well, this isn't really why I became an actor. What the heck is going on?' And I couldn't stop it.
"So, I had similar feelings that Paul is having with the dreams and then they turn into nightmares. I think it was a chance to put those emotions somewhere, to apply those emotions, to take the lead and turn it into a little bit of gold, take a negative turn into a positive."
With early awards buzz for Dream Scenario, at least the only things Cage will be seeing online for his performance will be praise.
Dream Scenario is released in cinemas on November 10.
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