Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1533885
PROPERTYMASTERSGUILD.ORG 21 This is part of my process, but the director is the boss. By treating him that way and empowering him with that, it takes all the pressure off me. He's the guy who's going to put it all together. I'm also thinking of the props from Starman, those balls. I think they were just giant ball bearings, but they had this great weight to them, and we had one that was triggered to light up through my fingers. I was so pleasantly pleased with what the prop guys came up with on something like that. It's a communal art form! PROP CULTURE: It really is a communal effort, and you hold that very dear. JEFF BRIDGES: Do you remember on The Old Man putting that electronic laser listening device thing together? Do you remember how we worked on that together? Arranging where all the pieces were on the table and what order that we are going to do it. That was something we really worked on. PROP CULTURE: I remember you and I were trying to get it right, and I remember the director was getting impatient because she just wanted to move it along. JEFF BRIDGES: Yeah, right. Sometimes you have to truncate it. You don't always have time to get it exactly right. The director has her point, too. There's only so much time we can do it. Maybe we don't make it as complex. I'm really a team player in this thing. You know, making movies is all about illusion, and this isn't real. And like I said, I'm so lucky to have all these experts around me who are specialists, and I want to encourage them to not hold back. You shouldn't feel, don't bother him. I'll say, if you're seeing something that's a little off, let me know. Keep the channels open. PROP CULTURE: Switching gears a bit, let's talk about Jeff Bridges, the movie fan. Are there any props from Hollywood history that you would love to own? JEFF BRIDGES: Yeah, I'd love my dad's (Lloyd Bridges) boots from High Noon. I'd also love my dad's tanks from Sea Hunt. Also, his mask and his wet suit. That's where I started my career, on Sea Hunt. I was 8 years old. PROP CULTURE: I love what reference you hold for your dad. It's always so heartwarming to hear. What's next for you? JEFF BRIDGES: Well, let's see. I'm getting into music a lot. There's some music that I made back in the '70s, and this outfit called Light in the Attic is putting an album out made of these tunes. So that's kind of fun. I'm looking now on my shelf, and I see my original Tron helmet. It was basically a hockey helmet with a bunch of black tape on it. Then I've got the third installment of Tron. That'll be coming out soon. Movie-wise, you know, I'm pretty tough to drag to the party to make a movie in the first place because I know what it entails. It's a lot of hard work. Very enjoyable but it's a lot of hard work and being away from my family. PROP CULTURE: Well, you can always work with me as a Prop Assistant. JEFF BRIDGES: (Laughs) Oh God, I think I'll pass on that one. PROP CULTURE: Jeff, thank you so much for taking the time and sharing all of this. It's really been such a pleasure. It really means a lot to have you come out and support the Property Masters Guild by doing this Prop Culture interview. Any final thoughts you'd like to share? JEFF BRIDGES: You know, it's wonderful when I make a movie. I go in with high expectations of what it's going to be. This is what keeps me coming back to make movies. Every once in a great while, those high expectations are exceeded. It's even better than you thought it was going to be. It's so incredible! And that's because it's not all about you and your performance and your ideas. You see, it's all this collaboration! The sum of the parts is greater than the whole. When that happens, it's so great. I count on the prop guy to know his shit and bring all his artistry. He is going to take me past myself! And I get to cash in on all those ideas. It makes my performance so much better to take advantage of all these other experts who are supporting me. And that's kind of how I roll, man! Winning an Oscar in 2010 for CRAZY HEART