James Gandolfini: Tribute to a Friend Page #3

---

And somehow or other,

good boy Jimmy Gandolfini

was able to fill those shoes.

I had so much respect

for the way he worked.

Cut.

Are you sure my hand

was down here?

It wasn't up here?

The freedom that he had

as an actor

was a constant source

of inspiration for me

and something I still aim for.

Here, okay.

Sorry, let's do it

one more time.

And wherever my hand falls,

that's life.

Jimmy and Edie

made everybody better.

Both of them

were extraordinary.

And totally two different

styles of working.

Jimmy would argue

about everything.

"This doesn't work.

Why is he saying that? I don't wanna... "

Edie came in,

had it all memorized.

Never any discussion.

Just did it.

And yet look at how

well-matched they seem.

Sometimes you get to work

two hours early

or, you know, you have to

sit around for two hours

and what... I'm not gonna sit

in my camper by myself.

I'm gonna go watch

Jim and Edie film a scene

and I felt like I was

in the greatest acting class

of all time.

They came to work

and they did their job,

and they had this thing

called chemistry.

The last year,

I have been dreaming

and fantasizing

and in love with Furio.

What?

Every morning when he'd come

to pick you up,

I would look forward to it

all night long in bed,

next to you.

It's a very strange alchemy

that goes on

when you work with somebody

that closely for that long.

There was one scene

that took place

on chairs by a pool,

I guess in our backyard,

and it wasn't about anything.

The scene was a nothing scene.

And David didn't want us

to look at each other.

So we were just looking straight ahead

and talking about nothing.

I remember ending

that day of shooting

and thinking, "It will never be

this good again. "

You know, with an actor,

with this writing,

with the storyline,

with a marriage, you know,

with a relationship.

It's funny, I hadn't thought

about it till this second.

Oh, papi.

Papi.

Oh, papi.

He wanted to make sure that

the love got spread around.

I guess that's what

I would say.

Jimmy was kind of

a leader in a way.

I think we all took

our cues from him.

This is a family,

this is a team.

This is not about

who's the star and whatever.

There was no egos going around.

We were so lucky to go to work,

and he made it feel that way

from the top.

Jim set the tone

for the entire spirit

of the cast and crew.

From the first moment,

he gave me the utmost respect.

Not being an actor

at the time, you know,

I'm concerned

what are these actors

gonna think of me at all

coming onto the show.

I'm a f***ing rock 'n roll

guitar player.

You know what I mean? What am I doing

here in the first place, right?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes