StudioLA's Jim Ferguson interviews Sean Connery Star of Finding Forrester

Jim talks to Sean Connery in his starring role in Finding Forrester

Jim: Sean, it's so good to see you again, and talk about the wonderful movie "Finding Forrester." It couldn't be a happier time. Talk about opposites attract. Here, you have this black athlete in the Bronx, a sixteen year old, loves basketball... befriends this former Pulitzer prize winner, played by you [as] William Forrester. Opposites attract and yet they develop this wonderful friendship. It's like a miracle.

Connery: Well, I'm very pleased. Everybody who's come from it, your world, you know... have all been touched by the movie. And it's very refreshing. I must say I'm thrilled that it's had that impact and effect.

Jim: Why do you think on doing the back story on William Forrester, Sean, why would this character stay in the Bronx when this neighborhood has changed so much over the years?

Connery: Well, because as he says himself, he didn't change, the Bronx changed. And that people moved up and people moved out. But he stayed in that one building. And when I was in the Bronx I was asking people because I don't know anything about baseball. And we have a scene when we were in the stadium there. And apparently the Bronx at one time was a very, very substantial neighborhood. And they used to have the Yankee Stadium and the other one was called the...

Jim: The Giants, the Polo Grounds.

Connery: The Polo Grounds, yeah, and they used to walk with their bats and their equipment to one stadium to the other. Well, can you visualize that today? So, in that short space of time, the place has been changed enormously. And you can see when you go into it that there's something quite moving about the place.

Jim: Now I love baseball, and I had tears in my eyes in that Yankee stadium scene. That's where we find that Jamal has something to give to William Forrester.

Connery: Right. It's nice, it's something that we don't do that many films about, an actual relationship. And friendship. And the title also has many connotations. Like Finding Forrester, he finds himself. Then Jamal finds him. And then they find each other, and they're finding out that they have something for each other.

Jim: Exactly, it's such a beautiful story, and I think as a former teacher myself. I love the message of the importance of the written word.

Connery: You have no idea how many people...that were talking about how they were affected. The literacy and the literature that's not being read now, what they really miss...there's one chap that was talking about his daughter saying now that's she gotten on to reading, it's changed her. ...And she's changed his life and her life and their kind of relationship because suddenly she's got something internalizing going on. It's so pleasing to hear people are moved by it and caught by it, because you're right. Who would imagine in that setting, the Bronx, this guy and this guy would become friends? When they have all the problems of a friendly relationship, the ups and the downs.

Jim: And William Forrester of course recognized in this young sixteen year old black boy, a part of him.

Connery: Yes, and the cement in the relationship is writing.

Jim: I do want to remind the audience that this is a movie that they should put at the top of the list. Go see "Finding Forrester," now. You are going to be totally entertained. And what else, it's just another outstanding performance by Sean Connery. Thanks so much Sean.

Connery: Thanks!