How Chris Messina Compelled Matt Damon to Up His Recreation in ‘Air’

Most viewers, although, most likely know Messina greatest for his work on “The Mindy Project,” starring because the typically ill-tempered, typically charismatic Danny Castellano reverse the collection creator, Mindy Kaling. When casting started in 2011, Kaling was particularly searching for actors she “hadn’t seen do a number of comedy” or, in the event that they have been skilled, “weren’t the standard suspects they all the time ship you,” she mentioned in a latest interview.

She knew he was excellent immediately. Describing him as probably the most comical actors she’s labored work, she mentioned Messina was “so rooted within the reality of his character that he can’t assist however be humorous.”

She attributes that expressly to the truth that he’s not a conventional comic. “Your common sitcom actor desires to hit their moments, make the day, and go dwelling. Chris isn’t like that,” she mentioned. “It’s virtually exhausting, the extent of honesty and reality he brings to each scene. He was actually listening to my character and reacting if the character did one thing humorous or absurd. He made me a greater actor. I used to be listening higher once I was with Chris, as a result of he set the bar so excessive.”

Although Messina proved effectively fitted to the function, he initially didn’t even need to do it, turning down the half a number of instances earlier than relenting. (“Mindy wouldn’t take no for a solution,” he defined.) He was, he mentioned, “very apprehensive about each facet of it,” together with the dedication to a community comedy with 20-plus episodes per season, doubtlessly for a few years — maybe making it tougher for him to do the type of severe work he dreamed of as a performer.

“I wished to do ‘Dog Day Afternoon.’ I wished to do ‘Midnight Cowboy,’” he mentioned. Though he preferred the function and Kaling, “I used to be afraid of it operating ceaselessly.” And, in fact, he was afraid of one thing else: the style. “I used to be afraid of not having the ability to sustain with them comedically,” he mentioned. “I’m afraid of jokes.”

On the opposite hand, being afraid is what Messina desires. “Being afraid of a task, of a possibility, being challenged, that’s what I’m on the lookout for. Maybe it’s corny or too actorly, however I do like discovering closed doorways inside me.”