- [on being cast as Geralt of Rivia in the Witcher game series] I was at the seaside with my family when I got the call from Eli Bednarek [Elzbieta Kopocinska-Bednarek] and it was casting, as a matter of fact, it was already decided, but they still wanted to hear my voice. Because it was thought that I would be of use for just one of the characters. We arranged to meet about three times. There weren't many times when I could be in Warsaw. Later I was, but I didn't have much time to get there. And so I caught a flight at the last moment, having only a moment for recording. I entered the studio and only there did I get oriented as to what casting was. We had no special materials, only several sentences on a board. I entered the studio, we recorded the first rehearsal and I'll be honest, I waited with great impatience for the next thing to happen, how everything would be, whether it would work or not. Some time later, more or less after three or four days, I got the call that it was OK. We'll come over to do this once again, carefully, because it probably was not satisfactory. I came, I saw the intro to the game [The Witcher (2007)], which in any case is excellent. I was inspired by these intros. Meanwhile, of course, I brushed up on [Andrzej] Sapkowski. And we began recording.
- [on the current state of Polish cinema] Polish cinema is quite good at the moment and is getting even better. We raised the generation of 40 years old actors, mature and excellent actors who we will admire for the next 40 years, such as [Robert] Wieckiewicz, [Arkadiusz] Jakubik, [Izabela] Kuna. Directors have enough experience, however, the more the better. I have a positive opinion about our cinema and an even better one about its future. I feel the lack of a few light comedy movies - in this area we are still at the tail end. Looking at the situation in Polish cinema, I feel the need of acting and participating.
- [on positive thinking] I am an absolute enemy of any form of mind enema, which is positive thinking in my understanding. Let me bring an example. Imagine that you stand between the railroad tracks seeing an upcoming train. "Positive thinking" (the majority which I witness on the coaching market) relies on telling yourself: "it's going to be all right, I am a lucky man, and nothing wrong is going to happen. The train driver will surely notice me and they must have some kind of safety system that will stop the train, it's going to be fine... You have to think positive and not assume the worst scenario..." After a while you don't think anymore, because it's hard to think after being run down by a train. But I have to add that I am a big fan of "positive attitude". In this case, when standing on the tracks and seeing the upcoming train you mobilize every single strength and intelligence to avoid the danger, while knowing that you have the resources to handle the situation and regardless of how bad it is, you won't give up because you believe in yourself and you believe in a positive ending to this situation. In such state we do not lull ourselves into a false sense of security and we are very realistic, full of faith and belief in ourselves.
- Acting allows experiencing emotions and situations, which probably wouldn't ever happen to us in a real life. It's an unusual experience indeed, where we give up our bodies and imagination to a movie or theatrical character and, in some way, we are not "we" because we couldn't have ever behaved in such a way in real life, moreover, we are also not a "character" (we are aware we act and we can stop any time). We are in the in-between space where something really happens and is untrue at the same time. This is a state arousing great satisfaction. One day you murder your own brother on the stage, and the other day you play a loving husband or a priest who disavowed the pleasures of this world. Acting does indeed give a chance to multiply personality.
- [comparing his different activities of actor and business coach] Acting teaches humility. There is no quick and easy solutions. Most of the roles require time and space to mature and evolve. The dialog between what we already know- my experience, way of thinking, habits, intelligence- and acting intuition which comes from within, the inspiration is very important. Same with coaching. To achieve results, you need time and and then the answer to "how", "what" and "why" comes from within. At first, we do not know these answers. That's the same with coaching- every questions and- what is more important- answers are already inside us- but for some reason it is hard for us to find them. Then we need a mirror in the form of a coach. The director is the mirror for the actor, but mostly it's the audience.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content