Pinning Down Heath Ledger
by Babs Vilander

Before the film festival began, we guest Edhat writers met at a local coffee shop to go over press procedures, writing guidelines, learn the secret handshake and (drum roll, please) get our assignments. As we introduced ourselves to one another, I learned that I was in the presence of reel (he, he) writers. I mean, there was a college writing teacher and an Emmy award winner within secret handshake range! So, it’s Game On and I’m trying my best not to look like a total dork. My act was, I think, actually going rather well, right up until the point that an Edhat staffer announced to the group that I would be covering the award ceremony honoring Heath Ledger. The totally blank (Game Over) look on my face betrayed me. “Do you know who he is?” someone asked. “Uh, no,” I said. A long silence ensured, only to be broken by a muttered “Brokeback Mountain.”

Well, after having sat through a two-and-a-half hour long award ceremony, during which Mr. Ledger was interviewed, numerous film clips were shown and, finally, he was awarded The Imperia Breakthrough Performance of the Year, I still have no idea who he is personally. But I can tell you that he’s an amazing actor of astonishing range and depth.

I can also tell you that Mr. Ledger was not all that comfortable sitting in front of the standing room only crowd at the Lobero and being the subject of all that attention. Shoulders hunched forward, hands and feet nervously flying into action (he said his wife had actually suggested he sit on his hands, a feat that lasted about 5 seconds) he gamely answered the requisite questions: how did you become interested in acting (watching his sister perform in high school plays), how do you choose your scripts (initially by where filming would take place, nowadays by who would be directing)…It was, at times, almost painful to watch. You wanted to say, “Ok, we’ve tortured you enough, you can stop being Heath Ledger -- here’s a film character for you to inhabit.” Not that he wasn’t thoughtful, articulate, humorously self-effacing and appreciative of the award -- he just clearly would rather have been enjoying his wife and baby daughter, or working.

And when Heath Ledger is working, the range of characters he brings to life is stunning. He purposely challenges himself, hence his swing from skateboarder dude Skip in “The Lords of Dogtown” to clench jawed, emotionally suppressed Ennis Del in “Brokeback Mountain.” His characters, he explained, come from observing and listening to people he meets, intermixed with his own honest responses to those characters and their situations. For example, in “Brokeback Mountain,” he acknowledged to himself his fears and insecurities about shooting the sex scenes. He then used his own emotions to convey the similar feelings he imagined Ennis to be feeling.

Throughout his interview and during his acceptance speech, Mr. Ledger mentioned that he has made mistakes in his films, but that he chooses to learn from his mistakes to improve himself as an actor. I would imagine that being that honest would tend to make one critical of oneself. Lucky for us, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Check out more festival Coverage on Edhat.

We want to hear from you ... tell us what you think of this tidbit