Edward Burns is no stranger to the Tribeca Film Festival.
For his new film, he not only got in front of the camera, but directed too.
His new film, Nice Guy Johnny, centers around Johnny Rizzo, who is about to trade his dream job in talk radio for some snooze-ville gig that’ll pay enough to please his fiancée. Enter Uncle Terry (Burns), a rascally womanizer set on turning a weekend in the Hamptons into an eye-opening fling for his nephew. Nice guy Johnny’s not interested, of course, but then he meets the lovely Brooke, who challenges Johnny to make the toughest decision of is life.
NYGossipGirl had a chance to chat with the 42-year-old actor. Here’s what he had to say:
NYGG: Hi Ed, thanks so much for taking the time to talk. How are you?
Ed Burns: Pretty cool, how are you doing?
NYGG: I’m doing pretty good. My first question to you is about the movie that you’re doing and your character is Uncle Terry. Do you see him as the antagonist of the film or do you see him as someone who is helping Johnny reach his goals?
Burns: He’s sort of like – he’s a mentor of sorts, but it’s almost like the devil on one shoulder and the woman he meets on this journey, played by Kerry Bishé, as sort of maybe the angel on the shoulder. The interesting thing is like I think my character is a mentor that is always – he’s sort of the dumbest guy in the room. He’s always giving this kid terrible advice, but only at the end of the journey when he comes through and you see these decisions he’s made you realize like, oh, maybe the idiot knew something after all, if that makes any sense.
NYGG: Out of all the films that you have done which one would you absolutely, honestly say is your favorite other than Brothers McMullen?
Burns: Obviously, well, hopefully you’re always madly in love with the one you just finished. I think Nice Guy Johnny is definitely my favorite because it is my most personal. Other than that Sidewalks of New York is hands-down my favorite.
Reporting by Ashley Henry.
Edited: April 25th, 2010