Pedro Pascal calls learning cello for Behemoth! the biggest challenge of his career
At the BFI London Film Festival premiere of Behemoth!, Pedro Pascal said learning the cello for the film was the most challenging thing in their career. Director Tony Gilroy praised Pascal and described how hard the film was to finance.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Pedro Pascal said learning to play the cello for the film Behemoth! was the "most challenging" thing faced in a career, speaking on the red carpet at the UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. Evening StandardN “Speaking on the red carpet for the UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, Pascal said learning to play the instrument was “the most challenging” experience” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “Appearing on the red carpet at the UK premiere for the BFI London Film Festival” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2Pascal, 51, plays Alex Serian, a gifted, classically trained musician who returns home to Los Angeles and the world of film scoring after travelling the world playing music, and had to learn the cello in a very short time. Evening StandardN “stars in the upcoming feature film Behemoth! as Alex Serian, a gifted, classically trained musician who returns home to Los Angeles” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “the actor had to pick up the cello under strict time constraints” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2Pascal joked they would rather "choose fighting the Mountain", the Game of Thrones warrior, or be thrown "off a cliff with Nicolas Cage", a reference to a scene in 2022's The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent, than learn the cello convincingly. Evening StandardN “The actor said he would rather “choose fighting the Mountain”” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “he would also prefer being tossed "off a cliff with Nicolas Cage" over learning the instrument” Read at The Independent ↗
Mixed · 2Pascal added that they are now "in love with the instrument, and in love with the sound", calling the cello their secret favourite instrument and "really nice physical company", though one that is sometimes "not on your side when you want to make it sing". Evening StandardN ““Although now I’m in love with the instrument, and in love with the sound,” he said.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “but boy sometimes it is not on your side when you want to make it sing.” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2The drama is directed by Tony Gilroy, of The Bourne Legacy and Michael Clayton, and also stars Olivia Wilde, Eva Victor and Will Arnett. Evening StandardN “stars alongside Olivia Wilde, Eva Victor and Will Arnett in the drama directed by The Bourne Legacy and Michael Clayton filmmaker, Tony Gilroy” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “alongside Olivia Wilde, Eva Victor and Will Arnett” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2The role was originally meant for Oscar Isaac, who reportedly dropped out in August of last year, after which Pascal was recast as the lead. Evening StandardN “The role was originally set for Frankenstein star Oscar Isaac, however, he reportedly had to drop out in August last year” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “he reportedly stepped down last August, leading to Pascal taking over the lead role” Read at The Independent ↗
Mixed · 2Gilroy praised Pascal, saying "I don’t have a movie without him" and that the film was about to fall apart when Pascal came in, crediting the performance with giving the film its "effervescence". Evening StandardN ““The movie was about to fall apart when he came in, and he didn’t just resurrect the movie, he made it possible.”” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “I don’t have a movie without him.” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2Gilroy also said the film was hard to finance because it is set in Los Angeles, calling it a "mid-level" picture that is "not a sequel" and "not IP", and said it had to be shot in Southern California, which is more expensive. Evening StandardN “It’s a mid-level. It’s not a sequel. It’s not IP.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “It’s a movie about Los Angeles as a character, and the music community of LA” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2Behemoth! is due in UK cinemas on December 4. Evening StandardN “Behemoth! is out in UK cinemas on December 4.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “Behemoth! hits UK cinemas on December 4.” Read at The Independent ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Independent runs the same event report by the same byline as the Evening Standard, with lightly reworded phrasing and a focus on Pascal's remarks about the cello.
- Emphasis
- Pascal's jokes about the cello and Gilroy's praise and financing comments.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No notable omissions compared with the centre report.
- Charged language
- “most challenging”“confessed”
- For example
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“Pascal confessed that learning the instrument was "the most challenging" endeavor” — The Independent
“Gilroy offered high praise for Pascal” — The Independent
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- The Evening Standard reports the premiere remarks as a light entertainment piece, leading with the cello challenge.
- Emphasis
- Pascal's comparisons to fighting the Mountain and the cliff dive with Nicolas Cage, plus Gilroy's praise.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No notable omissions compared with the left report.
- Charged language
- “most challenging”“effervescence”
- For example
-
“Pedro Pascal has said learning to play the cello for Behemoth! was the “most challenging” thing he has faced in his career.” — Evening Standard
“Gilroy praised Pascal and his performance for giving the film its “effervescence”.” — Evening Standard
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Pascal called learning the cello the most challenging experience of their career, speaking at the BFI London Film Festival UK premiere.
- Pascal plays Alex Serian, a classically trained musician returning to Los Angeles and film scoring.
- Oscar Isaac was originally set for the role and reportedly dropped out in August last year.
- Tony Gilroy directs and praised Pascal; he said financing was difficult.
- Behemoth! opens in UK cinemas on December 4.
Pedro Pascal person
Says the cello was the hardest challenge of their career but that they now love the instrument.
““Although now I’m in love with the instrument, and in love with the sound,” he said.” — Evening Standard
Left1 article
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Pedro Pascal says he took on biggest challenge of his career for new film
Neutral Near-identical premiere report with reworded phrasing, same quotes and details.
Centre1 article
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Pedro Pascal: Learning to play cello for new film biggest challenge of my career
Neutral Light premiere report quoting Pascal's cello jokes and Gilroy's praise and financing remarks.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 13 Oct 19:56 First Evening StandardN Pedro Pascal: Learning to play cello for new film biggest challenge of my career
- 13 Oct 20:48 +52m The IndependentLC Pedro Pascal says he took on biggest challenge of his career for new film
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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