interview with footy flick star kuno becker
- You’ve just got back from Barcelona where you were shooting an Adidas commercial with David Beckham, what was that like?
(laughs) That’s meant to be confidential but it seems everyone already knows about it. Adidas has been really supportive as have a load of big companies for the film so it’s really a tie-in for the film’s advertising campaign.
- As this is the first film to be backed by the FA, did that come with any constrictions?
Not really, they were very supportive giving us access to the stadiums and matches as well as the players. We used footage from actual matches and we couldn’t have done that with out their help.
- Before getting the part, were you a big football fan?
No not really. I had to train for several months to become the character. It was a beautiful transisition but also painful. I broke both my ankles and my nose, but it helped me to become the character.
- This is your first really big movie, are you nervous about how it will be received by audiences?
No, I’m not nervous. We showed the film to audiences in France and they loved it which was surprising as we thought they wouldn’t as its set in England. Also the premieres in Newcastle and London went really well. I think audiences love it because the story is more than just about football.
- What was it like training with the actual players? Were they easy to work with?
Working with the players made the whole experience more real. They were really great especially when they had to play against us actors.
- So if we put you on the pitch for a professional game, how would you fare?
(laughs) Not well at all. I’m an actor, not a footballer. I’d be rubbish against all those guys.
- Was your character always going to play for Newcastle United? No chance of playing at Anfield?
(laughs) You never know. In Goal 2, my character moves to Spain to play for Real Madrid so you never know.
- You speak 3 languages (English, Spanish, and German) fluently, but did you have any problems understanding the Geordie accent?
(laughs) It took a couple of weeks to get into it, but now I’m used to it. It’s a beautiful accent and they’re really friendly people.
- Was it hard to make the move from sunny L.A. to rain drenched Newcastle?
Actually it’s great not to shoot a film in LA. Newcastle has its own charm and it was great to work there even if we were shooting lots of scenes in the cold.
- Football is generally a hard subject to make a film about, what makes Goal! so different?
The thing about Goal! is that it’s not just about football even if it does have great match scenes and sequences. It’s more about the story and it has messages that all ages can relate to. Even women who have seen it, love it which I was surprised about.
- The film is all about achieving your dreams, what dream do you aim to achieve?
Well, everyone has dreams. My dreams are simpler than Santiago’s (his character in the film). I just want to work lots, play different characters and make the audiences really feel and care when they watch the film. Oh and stay healthy.
- You’re also an accomplished violin player; did you find a way to weave any of your playing into the film?
(laughs) No I didn’t. As a kid, I was much more into classical music than football. I started playing the violin at six and finished when I was sixteen. I was always much more into the arts than football which is why I took the role as it’s something really different.
- Goal! is the first part of a trilogy, what can we expect from Goal 2 and 3?
Well Goal! is all about getting the dream and how good it feels. In Goal 2! which we’re filming now,, Santiago moves to Spain and it deals with becoming a big star showing the good and bad ways. It shows what happens to a person who comes from a simple beginning when they get all this money and fame like many footballers today. Goal 3! Is set during the 2006 World Cup so we’re going to be filming in during the tournament and it’s all about how Santiago gets there.
- The World Cup? But which team will your character be playing for?
(laughs)I’m not sure yet, they’re still writing it.
- Word is that you’re a big Transformers fan – any plans to vie for a part in Spielberg and Michael Bay’s live action film version?
He’s making one? Wow, well I’ve been a Transformers fan since I was a kid so you never know!
