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Angela's Ashes  Working with Kids
Emily Watson, knowing that children played an important role in "Angela's Ashes," explained her strategy when it came to making the film. "Bobby (Robert Carlyle) and I decided that we had to come in with our performances already there. The process of filmmaking is very much built around the needs of the smaller children. At the same time they are fantastic. They are really spirited, very funny and very natural."
Said Carlyle, "You can't act with children -- they show you up because they are so natural. You can't ask them to keep doing retakes. Any actor could learn a lesson from them. They are one-take wonders. I've learned a lot from working with them. They fill you with an energy -- they don't have the same cynicism as adults do. It's a joy to work with them."
Watson concurred with her costar. "Alan (Parker) works with the kids as if they're adults, really. He doesn't compromise anything -- just tells them what he wants, and they do it. They've got very used to him being demanding. He doesn't make concessions because they are little. And because of it the kids are quite disciplined, actually."
Sometimes, however, the little children act like little children. Watson said, "With the twins, who are 18 months, they scream a lot -- which is great for the film as that's what they're supposed to do." She continued, "When the little ones go away and we get the 12-year-olds, it's like, 'Oh, we're with adults now.' You forget how young they are."
Director Alan Parker always tried to ensure that the kids on the set were conducting themselves properly. "Alan is like a respected schoolteacher with the kids, if you like, they love him but there is healthy respect with them -- he's not slow in telling them if they're not behaving or not concentrating," said Carlyle. "To be working with up to 11 children day after day for four months is incredible."
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