Correction: It’s the Actors Acting Opposite Andy Serkis Who Deserve Oscars
People love to talk about how Andy Serkis deserves an Oscar for his portrayal of Caesar in Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Look, we get it. His work is nothing short of remarkable. But what no one talks about are the actors who have to stand next to a human male wearing a helmet and lots of sensors and act like it’s definitely an ape. Here is a slideshow of actors professionally not laughing in Serkis’s face despite what he’s doing and wearing. A million Oscars to each of them!
"No one told me I was actually starring in a remake of Driving Miss Daisy where Miss Daisy is now a cyborg with green alien-pimples."
"Sorry, I can't do this. I just keep on thinking about Communist Russia."
"Caesar, give me your hand — I mean, paw. Dammit!"
"An ape riding a horse: Now I've seen everything! Wink ... Yeah, probably shouldn't have said 'wink' out loud. Sorry. That's on me."
People wanted to know why James Franco bombed at the Oscars. It's because he'd spent all his energy laughing nonstop at this.
"Nothing like hugging an ape, with his warm, coarse hair and jagged metal headpiece."
Remember: There are no small parts, only small dots on your face to capture motion.
They have to record all of Caesar's dialogue in post. Not because Andy Serkis can't sound like an ape, but because of crew giggles.
"Can I have a sip of that beer?"
"Sure, Andy."
"I was asking as Caesar. Come on, man."
"Apes drink beer?"
...
"Can I have a sip of that beer?"
"Sure, Andy."
"I was asking as Caesar. Come on, man."
"Apes drink beer?"
"Intelligent ones do. Case in point: you."
"Ha, you got me. Good one."
"Yep, sit on my lap — just like animal friends do."