Angelina Jolie stars in the Clint Eastwood directed film Changeling about a mother who is desperate to find her kidnapped son, but when her son finally returns, she realizes it’s the wrong boy.  Eastwood discusses why he chose to make this film and the impact being an actor had on the directing process. Jolie explains how she identified with her character, Christine Collins, and what about the script made her decide to do the film. 

Filmazing: What was the significance of the script being a true story?

Eastwood: It’s fascinating that this is a true story and if I didn’t know it was true I’d think this is amazing, I mean an amazing fictional story, but it’s true, sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. What this woman had to go through is really amazing and the fact that she actually could bring down the whole political structure of Los Angeles in 1928 is amazing, with the help of a Presbyterian minister.

Jolie: If it wasn’t a real story, I don’t think anybody would buy the script.  They would just think this is too much. It’s not realistic enough to be a movie, but because it is real, there’s so much more to it. There is so much more to the North Cot killings, it could have been even longer, and it could have even been more interesting.  There are more layers to it, so it’s extraordinary.  I remember when I first read the script, I kept saying I’m not going to work through this, I’m not going to do it.  Then I found myself telling everybody the entire story because I couldn’t get it out of my mind.

Filmazing: Angelina, of course, is cast as the mother who fights the sexist system to find her kidnapped son.

Eastwood: She’s a tremendous actress and she’s a very intuitive, as intuitive as any actress I’ve worked with and she kind of understands things, comes well-prepared, loves to do the work and gets it done very efficiently which I like. Right up my alley.

Filmazing: Angelina, how did you decide to work on this film?

Jolie: I read the script and thought it felt accurate.  As a mother I couldn’t stop reading it.  When Christine would get back up, I’d think good you’re back up.  And when things happened to her, I’d think I hope you do something about that, and when she did, I’d think good for you.   She is just a woman who from reading her story and reading her articles, I came to admire and felt very sorry for. 

Filmazing: How did this script personally affect you?

Jolie: You find yourself wanting to get very aggressive about the situation because you believe you’ve be wronged, and instead you are kind of feeling like a little woman facing this authority of men at a time when that was such.  Men were the final word at that time period.  They could easily say that you’re emotional, you’re a woman, you’re a mother, you’re not thinking clearly, and a lot of people at that time would say that’s right, and that was what was so terrifying.

Filmazing:  What was it like working with Clint as your director?

Jolie: He is extraordinary.  He is the greatest; I can’t say enough about him, I could go on forever.  He’s so decisive, and he’s got such a great way about him.  He’s got that great leadership quality of a great man who values every single person on the film and they know it.  So they bring their best, and it’s appreciated. 

Filmazing: Clint, how did you decide to cast John Malkovich for the role of that Presbyterian minister?

Eastwood: I just thought that he would be interesting casting rather than get somebody who was more seemingly gentile, slightly pious or whatever you might say.  John I figured would bring a little edge to it, a little quirkiness to it.  

Filmazing:  Angelina, what was it like working with John?

Jolie:   John’s always one of those actors I’ve always respected. I’ve always felt he’s one of those real artists, he’s a great artist and he knows his craft.  But you don’t know John.  John’s one of those odd ones. I wonder if he’s normal.  It’s so nice to get to know him because he is a pleasure.  He is a very intelligent, kind man.

Filmazing: Clint, how has your experience as an actor affected your career behind the camera?

Eastwood: Everything I do as a director is based upon what I prefer as an actor and it’s all a learning process over the years of addition and subtraction.  You find things that directors do that you like and you find things that they do that you don’t like and I just direct the way I like to be directed, I like to come in, I like to bring what I’m gonna bring to the table and then if the director doesn’t like it he’ll critique it and tell me where he thinks something could be added or something could be subtracted.