Twin Cities Film Fest: Interview With Tom Sizemore, Star of White Knight

GUY is in Minneapolis, Minnesota this week covering the best and brightest film has to offer at the Twin Cities Film Fest. Starting on September 20th and continuing on through the 25th, TCFF is proving to be an exciting event to experience new films not yet in theaters as well as some old favorites. 

White Knight is an unconventional film, even by today’s standards. Tom Sizemore plays Leroy Lowe, a grand dragon of the Ku Klux Klan who’s sent to prison for hard time. Once there, he’s forced to confront everything he hates as he finds himself opening up to cellmate Emilio and maid Madalena, played by Héctor Jiménez and Olga Segura (interview here). If that all sounds a bit heavy, you might be surprised to find out that White Knight is actually a buddy comedy — a lighthearted one at that.

I had the opportunity to catch up with Sizemore and chat with him about the film. As you might pick up from the interview, Mr. Sizemore is every bit as unconventional as the film he stars in.

Interview:

GUY: What attracted you to the role?

Tom Sizemore: Well, it was a combination of factors. It was Jesse Baget, the director, and his vision. It was the challenge of making a Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan funny and then a romantic character.

GUY: Were you concerned at all about tackling such heavy subject matter given that the film’s a comedy?

TS: Yep.

GUY: Okay. I mean, it’s kind of a delicate balance don’t you think?

TS: Jesse [Baget, the director and writer] was able to convey to me how it was going to be.

GUY: Did you know while reading the script that you were going to be able to pull that off?

TS: I could tell a little bit but I had to have a sure hand.

It was the challenge of making a Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan funny and then a romantic character.

GUY: I was trying to rack my brain and figure out if you’ve ever done such a heavy southern accent before. Did you do a lot of research for the role or was that something you were able to ease into, being a veteran actor? Did you research the KKK at all as well?

TS: No, the KKK is in all different states. I did a Kentucky accent.

GUY: Okay, I wanted to talk about Olga’s character. I don’t remember the two of you saying a word to eachother in the entire film. Everything progresses via narration and…

TS: Notes.

GUY: Right, notes. I noticed when you’re narrating [your notes to Madalena] your facial expressions are keeping up with the narration. Was that difficult for the two of you to try and establish a bond on screen? There being no dialogue.

TS: No, just… it was organic.

Sizemore receiving direction from Jesse Baget

GUY: Organic, right. Moving on, what do you think it is about Emlio [Hector Jimenez] that’s able to help Leroy open up?

TS: Hector?

GUY: Yep.

TS: [long pause] He’s kind. He’s kind and he’s forgiving. And… he accepts people.

GUY: Obviously the film’s message ties in with current immigration and border debates. What does it say that it’s Leroy who ends up having to decide whether to cross the border into Mexico?

TS: We’re in trouble.

GUY: [laughs] Okay. That’s a good answer. I read that this screened at OC Film Fiesta as well. Are you surprised at all by the reaction this film is getting? Is it expected? Unexpected?

TS: That people are loving it so much?

GUY: Yeah.

TS: I didn’t have one… I didn’t feel one way or the other. I thought we did a good job. You never know if they’re going to like it. People are fickle.

GUY: One more question if that’s alright?

TS: Aw yeah, take your time.

GUY: Given his ties to the Klan and everything that entails, in your opinion, is Leroy a character worthy of redemption?

TS: Everybody is. I mean, I don’t know. I take that back. Most people are.

He’s never killed anybody. He’s not a child molester. He’s a man who’s been, because of his environment, what he was raised, what he was taught — he was taught the doctrine of hate. But he discovers that’s not the way he wants to be.

I thought we did a good job. You never know if they’re going to like it. People are fickle.

GUY: Awesome. Thank you so much Tom, I hope you’re enjoying Minnesota.

TS: Thanks, I’m loving it so far!