Overview
- The film opened in Germany this week and has nine Oscar nominations including Best Picture and Best Actor for Timothée Chalamet, with awards set for March 15.
- Boll says he spent about two weeks in New York with four shooting days, some running to around 2 a.m., for a role that is visible for less than 20 seconds.
- He and Chalamet filmed five precisely scripted rallies, only one of which made the final cut, with some shots using a digitally inserted ball.
- Director Josh Safdie, a table-tennis enthusiast, specifically sought Boll to authentically recreate 1950s play on large sets with hundreds of extras and roughly 70 hair, costume and makeup staff.
- Boll reports the U.S. actors’ union contacted him about potential membership and casting listings, though he does not plan to act further, as local interest grew through a Düsseldorf preview and a Berlin club tournament.