Jonathan Ames, Writer
The last two decades have found comic writer Jonathan Ames, known for his slanted wit and brutal honesty, become a veritable chameleon of pop-culture mediums. By turns novelist, essayist, journalist, theatrical performer, and amateur boxer, the Ames style has remained unmistakable—as the Times put it, Ames "has rarely strayed far from himself."
His latest incarnation is that of TV writer/creator/showrunner of "Bored to Death," the noir-otic comedy which just completed its first season on HBO last week. We caught up with the busy Ames via email, reflecting on the first season, doppelgangers, and favorite Brooklyn haunts. Tomorrow night he co-hosts the Moth Ball with Garrison Keillor.
How similar is fictional J Ames to real life J Ames? Not too similar. We do share some biographical traits, though—we wrote the same first novel, I Pass Like Night, we both went to Princeton, and as children we had back spasms and were forced to wear a corset by an orthopedist who should have been practicing in England during the Victorian era.
Did Jason Schwartzman follow you around for notes? We spent a few weeks before the pilot, going over the script, hanging out in Brooklyn, and just acclimating him to New York.
Do people confuse you with your fictional character's personality/exploits? Not that I know of, but people do have all sorts of strange ideas about me, though these ideas all come from my books. But it's all very odd to me because I have artistic amnesia—once I write something it's almost like it never happened. I perform my own Stalinaztion on my own life—by recording my life I sort of erase it.
Do you think it's somewhat egotistical to name a fictional character after yourself, or just sign of a healthy sense of ego? Definitely egotistical. Not to mention self-centered and self-absorbed.
Do you see your fictional character as closer to idealization or projection? Projection — he gets to be a hero, which I would love to be.
Zach Galifinakis has had a breakout couple of years — he's generally played pretty out there, explosive, LOUD characters. But as Ray, Ames best friend in the show, he's surprising contained, but still great, and seems to have different kinds of depths than we're used to from his comical-bestbud part. Had you pictured him for the role? Yes, I wanted Zach from the beginning. I think he's marvelous in the show. In addition to being wildly funny, he's a fine actor.
How involved were you with the day to day creation/feel and look of the show? Very involved. As the showrunner/creator, I was on the set for nearly every shot and worked very closely with the various directors, explaining to them and the actors what I wanted. I would only leave the set for meetings on the next episode we would be doing or to do my final edit on the previous episode. Basically, you have experts do their thing—costumes, set-design, lighting—but then as the creator of the show, I'm in the privileged position of signing off on everything and making slight tweaks if I want.
The show uses NYC, particularly Brooklyn, as its backdrop. How many of the locations were chosen by you/based on personal experiences? Many of the locations were places that I loved and thought it would be great visually, such as Fort Greene Park, Brighton Beach and Cafe Tatiana, which I had been to a few times, the Gowanus Canal, which is right by my house, Ditmas Park, and Grand Army Plaza. The hill where Jason sits on a skateboard and rolls down to escape some vengeful skateboarding boys is a street I used to jog on and is where I got the idea for him sitting on the skateboard and then we shot on that exact street.
How different was the creative process between writing your fiction and writing the show? Were you given many "notes" from HBO? Writing a novel is a very solitary act, with some dialogue with an editor. Writing scripts, while the act is solitary, is a much more collaborative process—you first have to get the story approved, then the outline, and then the script. But HBO is lovely to work with and I find that their notes are almost always very helpful and make the work better.
What sort of reactions did you get from first season? Did your fiction fans embrace it? Were there any areas you felt needed improving/ characters you wish you got to focus on more? (You had unbelievable group of guest and recurring stars). Who else would you really want to work with next season? The reaction has been wonderful, I think. Then again, people only tell me their nice thoughts. My parents have been thrilled by the whole experience, which has made me feel good—I like to please them. There are always things that could be improved—nothing is ever perfect—but, overall, I'm pleased with what we achieved the first season. As for next season, I'm just now figuring out the stories, so I'm not sure who our guest-stars will be.
How do you like your new television? Have any strangers come over to watch it? I've watched my new TV twice now and quite enjoyed it. I'm still not in the habit of putting it on, but I really should indulge in it more often. I haven't had any strangers over to watch it, but hosted a party for fans of the show Friday night at a local bar in Brooklyn, Sample on Smith Street.
What other projects are you working on? My novel The Extra Man has been turned into a movie and it stars Kevin Kline and Paul Dano. I co-wrote the script with Shari Berman and Robert Pulcini, who also directed the film, and we're hoping that it will make it into theaters in 2010. I also have a screenplay for my novel Wake Up, Sir! that I'm looking to do one more revision on and there is some interest in turning my graphic novel The Alcoholic into a movie. And this summer, I had a new collection of fiction and non-fiction, The Double Life is Twice as Good, come out.
What's the latest with Mangina? He's still making beautiful paintings and tonight, Thursday, November 12th, he's participating in the Mr. Lower East Side contest at Bowery Poetry Club. This event is hosted by Rev Jen, whose memoir, Live Nude Elf, came out this spring and for which I acted as the literary agent, selling it to Soft Skull Press.
Please share your strangest "only in New York" story. I have too many, but a few of them can be found in my memoir What's Not to Love?
Which New Yorker do you most admire? Patrick Bucklew, aka the "Mangina".
Given the opportunity, how would you change New York? I would somehow lower the rents so that young artists could come and live here and make work.
Under what circumstance have you thought about leaving New York? I haven't.
What's your current soundtrack? The Kinks and Donovan.
Best cheap eat in the city. The herring at the Russian baths; it's very inexpensive.
