Portraying Jane Curtin in Saturday Evening, Kim Matula is fast to confess the “nerves kicked in” as quickly as she heard she bought the half. The movie chronicles the 1975 premiere of NBC‘s Saturday Night (now known as Saturday Night Live) and, while the ensemble cast may be telling the story of one night only, Matula shares the research to get the time period “just right” was real—down to the eyebrows and bell bottoms.
What was it like playing someone so iconic?
Well, after the initial joy and disbelief of getting this awesome opportunity settled in, the nerves kicked in. Not only is Jane iconic on SNL, but she’s additionally nonetheless working and within the public eye, which provides one other stage of feeling, like “I absolutely have to get this right.” Jane has so many iconic roles, from Coneheads to third Rock From the Solar to Kate & Allie, that I’d have overwhelmed myself making an attempt to take inspiration from all of her roles. Fortunately, my job was to assist inform the story of 1 particular evening. Positive, it’s the evening that modified tv endlessly, however it additionally helped pinpoint precisely what a part of Jane I used to be going to embody.
How did you analysis Jane for the half?
I instantly jumped into watching the primary season of SNL. I knew it was essential for me to see Jane in motion in these first few episodes—not solely as a result of I wished to look at her actions and hearken to her inflections, however I additionally wished to see the position she performed. That was an enormous a part of the story Jason was telling. We weren’t directed to be doing strict impersonations. As an alternative, Jason wished the viewers to see who every of those individuals have been to the present.
Photographed by Nick Walker When prepping for the position, did something SNL-related come as a shock to you?
You already know what was a shock? Getting the possibility to speak to Jane on the telephone earlier than taking pictures. I can solely think about how bizarre it should really feel to have a film being made a couple of time in your life virtually 50 years in the past however not truly being part of it. I’ve a lot gratitude for her willingness to speak to me. And, after all, she was pretty. She shared tales concerning the set and the way it felt to be part of it. She was so open and humorous and pleasant. She shared with me that not being a author, along with an actor, made it tough to be seen by her costars or the opposite writers. Which I utterly relate to.
It’s attention-grabbing; I’d at all times considered that as such a present downside for actors, however I see now that it’s at all times been there. She talked to me concerning the vitality of being on a dwell present and the way she felt it rise from her toes on present nights. And there have been days when that’s the way it felt on set. It might be very fast-paced and thrilling, and there was room for improv, and typically the takes would go in a special course than we anticipated. And it was enjoyable, which was one other factor Jane mentioned to me. For all of the instances it felt daunting, or she felt not sure, she was at all times having enjoyable. And I feel that basically comes throughout on this film beneath all of the chaos.
Are you able to share some glam secrets and techniques from on-set for stepping into character?
Oddly sufficient, one of many glam secrets and techniques I actually relied on for Jane was making my eyebrows as skinny as potential. My make-up artist, Leo Satkovich, took that clear eyebrow gel and crafted the tiniest arch. He nailed it!
On high of that, our hair stylists and costume designer have been out of this world. Like most of my costars, I wore a wig, and I’ve to say, it actually added one thing to embodying Jane. However the wardrobe was what actually locked me in. Every bit I wore was an actual ’70s classic merchandise. It was unimaginable. From the bell bottoms to the polyester button-downs, I couldn’t get sufficient. Danny Glicker, our improbable costume designer, was capable of completely recreate seems to be from the present. From the absurd costumes in sketches like “Bee Hospital” to the khaki skirt/go well with in “Victims of Shark Bite,” each wardrobe element was considered and executed exceptionally properly. And so they all concerned pantyhose. Clearly, a decent lady from the ’70s doesn’t go away the home with out her hosiery.
Out of all of your totally different roles, have been there any characters that basically caught out to you glam-wise?
What an excellent query. I’ve had the privilege of attending to play some very totally different characters with very particular seems to be. Clearly on Saturday Evening, attending to put on actual items from the ’70s was so cool. On UnReal, my character was actually girly. She dressed for the male gaze, so I consistently had full glam with lashes and contour and wore issues that should sparkle or use little or no cloth.
Then, on the opposite finish of that spectrum, I did an indie a couple of years in the past. I performed a rock ‘n’ roll roadie so every thing was black and leather-based and asymmetrical. On The Daring and the Stunning, I do know what years we have been in by the peplum clothes and chunky jewellery! The look of the character actually provides a lot by way of my discovering who they’re. It adjustments how I stroll, how I maintain my posture, and even how I communicate. It’s the enjoyable of taking part in dress-up, however with the added bonus of making an actual individual to fill the footwear.
