20th Century Women Interview with Billy Crudup (“William”) By Harrison J. Pierce on 4/10/17 For Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Q: How did you get involved with 20th Century Women? A: My agent called to say that [writer/director] was doing another movie. And I really liked his movie (2010) and loved speaking to him on the phone. He seemed like such a great collaborator and an authentically artistic writer and director. That being said, had I been asked to do anything with Annette [Bening] and Greta [Gerwig] and Elle [Fanning], I would have jumped at the chance because they’re all doing such fantastic work right now.

Q: They play, respectively, the mother, her punk artist tenant, and the best friend and crush of Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann), a teenage boy growing up in ‘70s California, each of whom has a profound influence on his life. When you were growing up, who were your strong female influences? A: My Mom, absolutely. My Mom was politically involved; she was a single mother; and she was aware of the changing nature of the roles of sexuality and status in American society. So I had no problem relating to [this movie’s] affection for that kind of person.

Q: Growing up in the ‘70s, did you know anyone like your character, William, this hippie, lady-loving handyman that lives with Jamie and his mom? And did you base your performance on that person? A: I remember so much of the ‘70s so vividly -- like the sociopolitical aspects of it -- but I think I knew more people like Dorothea (Bening). I don’t really remember anybody quite like William. But I knew all of the components that went into making a William.

Q: We see him in the movie fixing cars and hanging drywall. Do you yourself possess those skills to any degree? A: Sure, I can do it all! [Laughs] No, sadly, pretending is my strong suit. That being said, I’ve gone through periods of my life where I’ve enjoyed trying to construct things. So, I knew the engine in me that I could sort of reference when it came to having affection for working with your hands.

Q: The entire cast of 20th Century Women has very natural chemistry playing this makeshift family that exists around Jamie. Was that something you tried to achieve during a rehearsal period? Or did it happen on set? A: I don’t think it’s any mistake that people pick up on that [chemistry] because Mike created the opportunity for us to have rehearsal and he insisted that we build a dynamic amongst the group. So we spent time dancing together, improvising together, [and] traveling together. I love that kind of s**t. I feel like it always pays off, especially when you’re shooting.

20th Century Women - Interview with Billy Crudup

Q: Working with the great , was there something in particular that struck you about her approach to acting? A: [With any] artist who’s been able to create a career with the kind of substance and longevity that Annette has, you expect them to be highly intelligent, incredibly capable in their craft, open to collaboration, and with a strong understanding of the cinematic vocabulary -- and she is fearless in all of those categories. I grew up watching movies, so I have had the experience where acting heroes of mine have wilted in the face of reality. But Annette is one of those people whom you meet and think, “My God, I am in the presence of a heavyweight here.” It was really exhilarating.

Q: What was your favorite scene to act in with her? A: We had a number of different scenes that were [originally] not in the movie that were great fun to try and create. There’s a scene where I try to kiss her in a bar – actually, I do kiss her -- and none of us was really sure what the scene was about. We knew that it seemed essential in some way but it was sort of up for discussion: What is the experience for each of them? Why is it important in the storytelling? What is it we should be attentive to when we play it? I remember working on that scene vividly and the moments of confusion and the moments of discovery that we had together.

Q: Greta’s character, Abbie, teaches Jamie about punk music. Growing up, was there someone who similarly introduced you to a band or type of music you ended up loving? A: I dated this girl who taught me about Motown. She actually took me to a Marvin Gaye concert during his Sexual Healing Tour; I think it was in the early ‘80s. From that point on, I listened to Motown almost exclusively until my first or second year in college. And I had another high school friend name Robert who introduced me to alternative music by way of the Violent Femmes and R.E.M.. But I can’t even approximate the kind of history and understanding of music that Mike [Mills] has.

Q: That’s one of the great things about this movie: It’s filled with little essayist moments about ‘70s music and history and politics… A: I couldn’t agree more. It’s the soundtrack of our lives.

Q: What’s up next for you? A: I did a show for Netflix with Naomi Watts called “Gypsy” that will be out in the summer. And the movie Alien: Covenant will be out in the middle of May, which was a crazy, incredible experience. So I’m feeling very blessed and grateful.

2