Interview: Jon Hamm and Jonathan Trupper
After eight seasons with « Mad Men », Jon Hamm is forever associated with the role of Don Draper, one of the most iconic figures of television history. An as sly as charismatic advertisers who sold dreams while being tormented by internal demons.
Now Jon Hamm is back in the limelight with a new big series that revolves around yet another complex and privileged white man from New York – in free fall. In « Your Friends & Neighbors » he plays Andrew « Coop » Cooper, a hedge fund manager who is forced to saddle into gentleman thief after losing both jobs and marriage. In order to maintain his social facade and pay the bills, he begins to steal from his rocky neighbors in an exclusive suburban idyll.
– The series is about how the absurd wealth has a high price. One of the main themes of the series is about the consequences of trying to maintain the social mask at all costs. We ask high -rise questions about how much prosperity is really enough and about more money always better? says Jon Hamm in comfortable everyday clothes, red -toned glasses and a coffee mug in his hand in a hotel room in the Manhattan that was once a playground for Don Draper.
About Don Draper Be responsible for selling the American dream and Andrew Cooper is responsible when it comes to buying it, says Hamm.
– Nowadays, it is not only we Americans that are spoiled with materialistic ideals, it is a cultural idea that has spread globally – not least through social media. Already at a very young age you can look at a screen and feel that you have to chase others, says Jon Hamm, who himself has never used social media.
– We are in the midst of an awakening – social media is abused and is now more about commercialization than socialization. But we will have to pay dearly because we have turned small children into consumers, it will have a lot of serious consequences.
« Your Friends & Neighbors » Is written by Jonathan Trupper, who was previously behind series such as « Banshee » and « Warriors ». In the 00s he wrote novels such as « This is where I leave you », « The book of Joe » and « How to talk to a widower ».
-« Your Friends & Neighbors » really has more DNA from my novels than from my previous television series, says Jonathan Troops as he shows up on the screen.
-When I wrote books in the 30-40s, it was a lot about the emptiness and boredom of the suburb. Then I slipped into the TV world with large action series and high budgets. But at the age of 55, I took the chance to return to my novel world – though with a more mature perspective – sometimes more cynical and sometimes more hopeful.
The new series is Above all, his observations and personal experiences from his upbringing in well -off Westchester County, north of New York.
– The emotional truth of the series is definitely influenced by the years I was part of this environment and lifestyle. When it comes to the act itself, very little of the one who comes from real life is. The sad truth is that most of us do not live particularly interesting lives, smiles Jonathan Tropper who now lives in picturesque Hudson Valley north of New York.
– When I pitched the series, I mentioned feature films such as « American Beauty » and « The Ice Storm ». I was also clear that I did not try to make any new « breaking bath », but have more in common with « The White Lotus ». I am more inspired by writers other than TV series and of course want to create something in the end.
Just like in Series such as « The White Lotus » and « Succession », he explores the emotional soap holes of the super -rich, the void that can occur when material wealth and social status are set against inner loneliness and vulnerability.
– On the surface, it may seem that the series is about trying to stick to what you have – but really the series is more about the realization that what we thought was permanent may not be. And how little control we really have over our own worlds. Pandemin showed us how fragile everything is and has forced many of us to re -evaluate their lives, says Jonathan Trupper and sends with a fireplace:
– I do not do television to teach – but rather want to highlight things. The hope is that the series evokes conversations about wealth, waste, status and gaps – both in the US and globally. What do we really need to live a meaningful life?
What was the biggest challenge during recording?
– To get people with very nice houses to let us film in them, haha. The houses we wanted to include in the series are owned by people who do not need the money. So we needed to find homeowners who wanted to suffer for the art, or because they were just curious, smiles.
In the series First scene, Jon Hamm’s « Coop » wakes up in a blood pool next to a dead man in a neighbor’s big house. His own storytelling explains that he will tell about « the swirling chaos » in his life that began four months earlier. This will be the prelude to how he is sucked into an evil Malström as filled with secrets, lies, drugs and toxic masculinity. In one scene it is found that the riculars around him are drawn to « whiskey and cigars, specially made golf clubs OCH Luxury Squares – Whole Industries built to Casha into the silent desperation of rich middle -aged men ”.
– The narrative voice gave me an opportunity to write a little more like when I was a novelist and give the series a novelly feeling. At the same time, I wanted to find a voice that could convey both humor and irony – remotely with the facts in hand. I have always loved noir films and their voice-over-which do not always run the action but give an extra layer, says Tropper.
As soon as he came up with the idea for the series, he got Jon Hamm on the retina. After Hamm lit on all cylinders, they together sold the idea for Apple TV+ which has already given green light for a second season.
– I couldn’t imagine anyone other than Jon in the role – even though we knew that everyone would compare him with Don Draper as soon as we put on him a nice suit and gave him a glass of whiskey. But Jon is almost ten years older since « Mad Men » ended so our series quickly deconstructs the old picture. Andrew Cooper is a significantly « hotter mess » than Don Draper ever was. The fun lies in disassembly mythology around Don Draper and meet a much more vulnerable, much more human character, says Jonathan Trupper.
As a series creator was He careful to give Hamm’s new role figure the right kind of attribute that reflects his character. It was no coincidence that Coop plays tennis in expensive designer clothes, sips on 25 years old Scottish whiskey from Macallan and runs Maserati.
– I thought that Cooper is the type that could have bought a Ferrari – but think it is a little too clumsy. He wants something that stands out but still shows his wealth. Maseratin is not the most expensive or fastest car, but it signals exclusivity and personality. Although he is really just trying to be unique in a way that still follows the norm, says Troops.
In the series he lets Coop steal from his neighbors who own splendor villas « full of expensive shit that no one would ever miss, piles of forgotten wealth that lies just in boxes », as Coop puts it while he calls swindling watches from Patek Philippe and Birkin handbags from Hermès.
– Part of the driving force and humor in the series is that Cooper is not very good at stealing either, says Jon Hamm Roat. He must learn on the move as well. There was never talk that he would be some kind of superhuman Bruce Wayyne figure but rather quite foolish-although he must be good enough to not end up behind locks and booms.
Jon Hamm had No particular working method when preparing for the role.
– Well, I definitely didn’t hang out with any thieves – consciously. But, who knows, maybe we all really spend time with thieves without knowing it? But on the other hand, I have always trained to be a good neighbor. I really think it is important to get to know their neighbors – which is something other than that one must always like them, says Jon Hamm who mostly lives in Los Angeles with his wife Anna Osceola who has a supporting role in the series.
But inviting the neighbors to watch TV series is everything a little above the border, he smiles.
– It happens that we can invite some friends and look at, type « The White Lotus » or the like. But usually it’s just my wife, me and our dog. Sitting on the TV couch and watching a movie or series after cooking is like our thing. A perfect evening for us, says Jon Hamm and smiles:
– Maybe « Your Friends & Neighbors » will be our next thing to see together, now that we are both in it …
« Your Friends & Neighbors » premiered on Apple TV+ on April 11.
