Xtra-vision goes behind the scenes of The Soloist with Oscar-winning star Jamie Fox.
Directed by Joe Wright, best known previously for his work on Atonement, The Soloist is a dramatic biopic based on the incredible real-life relationship between LA Times journalist Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr) and a schizophrenic homeless man who turned out to be Nathanial Anthony Ayers (Jamie Foxx), a former classical music prodigy.
"It's so seldom you find a character captured with so many nuances and have everything work so well together on the page," said Foxx of the screenplay. "I thought it was amazing. It's a story about how trying to understand someone else's world can take you a long way in your own."
Soon after taking on the role, Foxx met the real-life Nathaniel Ayers, which kicked everything into high gear. "It was just great to meet him, to get to know him up close and personal, to really be able to see his passion for music and his day-to-day life," says the actor. "I wanted to get his speech down, I wanted to get all his subtleties down but, most of all, I wanted to capture his spirit."
Foxx understood that accomplishing the latter was going to take him to some dark and uneasy places. "It was tough," he admits, "because I had to try to submerge myself into the mind of a schizophrenic in order to really understand what Nathaniel's journey is all about. You have to kind of slip off the deep end a bit, and the biggest challenge was letting go.
"Artists are halfway crazy anyway," continues Foxx. "We go places in our minds, that's why we are who we are. So the first day I had to go see a psychiatrist and I've had some things happen to me in my previous years where I felt like I was a little weird. So I walk into this guy's place and you really feel antsy about playing someone who has lost their mind. If I was to lose my mind that would be everything. All of my creativity comes from there. If I'm not able to draw from it I would be nowhere."
No matter how strange Nathaniel's reality could be at times, Foxx held on to a deep respect for his individuality and his sheer resourcefulness in navigating the twists and turns life throws at him. "The thing that makes Nathaniel like everyone else is that he is a person who is trying to make sense of the world. He has all these thoughts floating around, and he's trying to make sense of them.
"From the outside looking in, it looks like he's disturbed but actually I think he has figured out how to remain functional in his own way in our society. What seems abnormal to us is normal for Nathaniel. That's his mojo, that's how he gets around. And, even while he's in this homeless situation, he's toiling with these great dreams."
The deeper he got into Nathaniel's way of seeing the world, the more Foxx realised just how strange his first encounter with Steve Lopez must have been. "I think he thought maybe this guy was a dream or something," observes Foxx. "And he certainly didn't get why someone would want to write articles about him. They start off butting heads because Steve wants to save this guy's life and Nathaniel doesn't think his life needs saving. Yet, these two people who begin on opposite ends of the spectrum end up discovering each other's worlds."
The more Lopez allows Nathaniel to be himself, the deeper their friendship grows, culminating in a moment that brings Nathaniel face-to-face with his lost dreams of musical greatness at Disney Hall. "For Nathaniel, to see musicians in perfect harmony playing the most beautiful music is heaven and he is amazed that someone could give him such a special gift," says Foxx.
Foxx himself found a special harmony in working side-by-side with Robert Downey Jr. "I was in awe working with Robert," he says. "I think he's one of the greatest actors you'll ever see. His talent is just so deep. On the set, I watched every little thing he did and took note of it. The way Robert plays Steve Lopez, showing all his trials and tribulations, gives the film a breath of fresh air."
For Foxx, the role was not only a chance to dive into a mind unlike any other, it was also an opportunity to tell a new story about the power of something very close to his own heart: music. Like Ayers, Foxx trained most of his young life to be a classical musician – a pianist – and knows first-hand the kind of single-minded dedication that is required to become a world-class artist. For the film, however, he had to train all over again, this time to transform himself into a virtuoso cellist in a matter of months.
"For me, it was essential that Nathaniel's playing be genuine," says the star.
To take Foxx through a musical boot camp, the production recruited L.A. Philharmonic cellist Ben Hong, who had the distinct advantage of being a real-life friend of Ayers, and familiar with his musical style. "Ben made it fun," says Foxx, "but he also challenged and pushed me. We sat up for hours every night trying to make sure every aspect of the cello playing was seamless."
As much as the reality of the film's music was important to Foxx, he also wanted his performance to get across the metaphor of how we all strive to lead harmonious lives. "I think both Nathaniel and Steve can ultimately be seen as soloists," concludes the actor. "They're each trying to find a way to play the music of their life - and have it be heard by someone."