Pedro Pascal's Cello Preparation for Behemoth! Reveals

Pedro Pascal learned the cello in three months for his role in 'Behemoth!', calling the process the hardest creative task he has ever faced. The film, written and directed by Tony Gilroy, screens at the New York Film Festival and opens in Australia on December 3 and in the US and UK on December 4.

Pascal played Alex, an orchestra virtuoso cellist. He had only a week to learn how to hold the bow correctly, a skill that typically requires a year of study. The actor took the instrument everywhere with him during preparation. He described the experience as both 'hell and heaven,' stating he never fully mastered the bow technique, which he called the ecstasy of the performance.

Gilroy's return to feature filmmaking

Tony Gilroy directs 'Behemoth!'. Gilroy, known for directing the Oscar-winning performance of Tilda Swinton in 'Michael Clayton' and serving as showrunner for 'Andor', returns to the big screen with this project. Pascal recalled his initial reaction when Gilroy asked if he was up for the challenge: 'I was like, 'I really don't know.'' He committed by telling the director, 'I understand the assignment and I'm gonna jump right the hell in, but I can't tell you if I'm going to get an A.'

The character and story of Alex

Alex is an inscrutable cello maestro and former child prodigy. He moved to Los Angeles after nearly two decades on the road, now doing session work scoring TV shows and movies. His personal life drives the film's emotional core. His mother is a respected harpist suffering from ill health. Alex had a brief, passionate affair six years ago with a violinist named Nadia, played by Eva Victor. He now wonders if he could be the father of Nadia's 15-year-old daughter, a musical prodigy played by Alexa Swinton, a distant cousin of Tilda Swinton.

Alex's current love interest is the tempestuous Carol, played by Olivia Wilde. The film employs a disorienting, Russian doll-like structure with timeline leaps. In one scene, Pascal's character is chased by a pack of cuddly corgis. Alex is revealed to have performed on the Johnny Carson show at age six and tells a lover he lost his virginity at age 13 to a vocal arranger who later had sex with his father.

Collaborative score and cast insights

The film's score comes from nine A-list composers who formed The Behemoth! Collective, including James Newton Howard, Alan Silvestri, and Michael Giacchino. During a festival Q&A, the cast shared their connections to the music. Pascal cited 'The Color Purple' and 'Empire of the Sun' as favorite film scores. Will Arnett named 'The Last Temptation of Christ', admitting he has listened to the score thousands of times but has never seen the movie.

Eva Victor, who plays Nadia, found personal significance in her role. Her grandfather was a violin and cello teacher who passed away a couple months before filming. She practiced violin for two months, three hours a day, and had to play 20 seconds of 'Happy Birthday' for her role. She said reading the script felt like kismet and that learning the violin felt like a final connection to her grandfather. Victor was initially nervous to act opposite Pascal, recalling thinking, 'You're gonna make out with him.' She found him warm, and they discussed the importance and tragedy of their characters' relationship. In a flashback, her character tells Alex, 'You’re a monster. Really fucking good.'

The film 'Behemoth!' will be released in theaters on December 4.