Paul Mescal hates films being called “content”: “That’s a filthy word”

nme.com:

Paul Mescal has said he hates films being called “content”, describing it as a “filthy word.”The actor made his comments in a new interview with The Times while promoting his new film, Gladiator II, which is released in cinemas later this month.Speaking about content and the difference between that and the craft of acting, the actor explained: “Over the last few years people have been talking about films as content.

That’s a filthy word. It’s not ‘content’, it’s fucking work.“I’m not being snobby, but there are two concurrent industries. One that works with a lack of care, artistic integrity.

Go nuts, make stuff with Instagram followers as a factor, whatever…“But the other is what has always been there — the craft of film — making, directing, lighting and production design.

That keeps artists alive.”Recently, Mescal revealed he landed his role for Gladiator II after a 30-minute Zoom call with director Ridley Scott.The actor made the comments on The Graham Norton Show, which aired on BBC One last month (October 25).In the upcoming sequel, Mescal plays the grandson of Richard Harris’s Emperor Marcus Aurelius from the original film, who was killed by his son Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix.On how he landed the role, Mescal told Norton: “Ridley does not waste time – I thought there would be camera tests and auditions, but we Zoomed for half an hour, spoke for 10 mins about the part and then 20 minutes about Gaelic football, his dog and his wife.“I thought there would be more, but he called a few weeks later to offer me the part.