Photo credit: www.billboard.com

Timothée Chalamet Honing Bob Dylan’s Essence for Upcoming Biopic

In a recent interview focused on his portrayal of Bob Dylan in the forthcoming biopic A Complete Unknown, Timothée Chalamet revealed the depth of preparation he undertook for the role. Speaking with Zane Lowe on Apple Music, Chalamet shared that he learned to play 13 classic Dylan songs, dedicating five years to harmonica training to accurately capture the iconic musician’s unique sound.

Chalamet’s dedication extended beyond music; he also engaged a movement coach to help embody Dylan’s physicality. He undertook a “spirit-gathering” road trip echoing Dylan’s early life, starting from Hibbing, Minnesota, and continuing to Duluth, Chicago, and Madison, Wisconsin, where Dylan’s folk music journey began.

The actor reflected on his experience, stating, “The best experience I’ve had as an actor or the most rewarding experience doesn’t necessarily translate to the impact it may have on audiences or the final product.” This long journey allowed him to immerse himself fully in the essence of Bob Dylan, with Chalamet expressing a sense of devotion to his craft. “I feel like I’m in the Church of Bob, a humble disciple, bridging music and a pivotal time in history,” he noted.

Interestingly, Chalamet emphasized that his approach to Dylan was interpretive rather than imitative. “This is interpretive. This is not definitive… This is a fable,” he articulated, noting that his fellow cast members—such as Edward Norton as Pete Seeger and Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez—were not attempting impersonations either.

Chalamet explained that the narrative revolves around the significance of this cultural moment in the 1960s. “This is not just about me interpreting Bob, but also about creating a connection to a time when American culture was a kaleidoscope,” he said, underlining the revolutionary spirit of personalized music and poetic expression that characterized the era.

As for his technical challenges, Chalamet addressed his concerns with recreating Dylan’s distinct vocal style. He mentioned that while he did not play guitar during the pre-recording sessions, he felt that the guitar’s sound was too polished compared to the “falling apart” instrument Dylan was known to use in the early ‘60s. He voiced his struggle with his own voice, which he described as having a baritone quality that felt overly “clean” for the character.

He worked closely with vocal coach Eric Vetro, who also assisted him on the film Wonka. Despite the extensive training, Chalamet remained critical of the results, referring to the role as the “most dignified work” he has undertaken.

In a testament to his performance, Chalamet shared an anecdote about Dylan’s manager visiting the set. After watching Chalamet, the manager praised him for capturing Dylan’s spirit. His excitement was palpable as he recounted jumping for joy with Norton, although they both recognized Dylan’s notoriously contrarian nature and joked about his possible reaction.

Now fully engrossed in the persona of Dylan, Chalamet feels equipped to connect Dylan’s voice to a new generation. In trailers for the film, viewers can see Chalamet’s transformation as he narrates Dylan’s ascent and his landmark decision to embrace electric guitar at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.

A Complete Unknown is set to premiere in theaters on December 25.

For a deeper understanding of Chalamet’s journey and insights, watch the full interview below.

Source
www.billboard.com