Jay Tavare

Jay Tavare: Be Fearless. The most important virtue to have in show Biz is persistence. You are being judged every time you audition but not getting the role does not make you a bad actor. Many times a casting agent is looking for specific type for a role and you may not fit that image or you are too tall or too young or not dark enough. There are times that you can change their mind by doing a great audition and making them rethink the role like Laurence Fishburne in the Matrix, Morpheus was not written for a black actor but now I could not imagine anyone else. When you get the chance to audition remember it is an opportunity to show case your talent and have fun and don't let the nerves get to you. I know this can be hard but I always reward myself after an audition no matter what the out come, this way I always look forward to the next one and I have got rid of the negative feelings that are usually attached to a casting call.

Jay Tavare:(About "The Missing") It's good to show both extremes. Before the 1990s, every Western or period piece had Native Americans who were these double-braided, bronzed savages running around going, 'Woo! Woo! Woo!' And after Dances with Wolves, the tables turned, and all the Indians were benevolent and all the white folks were evil. But our film strikes a balance-there's good and bad on both sides, like there is in real life.

Jay Tavare:(About Ron Howard) You have to hand it to Ron. In this age of political correctness, he's been daring enough to have a villain who's not just a witch, but an Apache witch. Early on in the project, Ron told me, 'Jay, your job is actually very difficult. Because what I want from you, constantly, is contrast, contrast, contrast.'