Shadowing Practice: Joaquin Phoenix Interview about Thomas Vinterberg's IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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And so I get the script for It's All About Love,
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And so I get the script for It's All About Love,
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and it was just probably the most unique script I'd read in a long time,
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filled with beautiful imagery, but very ambitious.
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I didn't really know what to make of it, in some respect.
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I had kind of a visceral reaction to the screenplay,
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which this great sense of warmth.
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And I felt that it was very relevant to our times.
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But I just didn't know whether it was possible to pull off.
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And then I saw the celebration
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and saw what Thomas did in that film and felt that there wasn't really a false moment in that movie,
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particularly when it came to the acting.
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And it gave me great faith in him.
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And then I met him,
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he came down to the set of the film I was doing, Buffalo Soldiers.
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And we were across this lot from each other.
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He'd kind of arrived and I was doing the scene.
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I looked up and I looked across at him and I just smiled and I was filled with this warmth
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and this great feeling and I just knew that he was somebody that I could trust.
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And I knew right then that I definitely wanted to do this movie.
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I mean, we always joked that making this film was the antithesis of dogma.
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It was the anti-dogma film.
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I think I did more green screen work in this than I've done in any other film, including Gladiator.
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But what, certainly what made me what made me had faith in Thomas was his ability to find
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and explore the human aspects of the story so that I felt that it would never,
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that the the characters wouldn't get lost in this kind of exceptional,
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extraordinary world that he was creating.
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It's one of the most freeing experiences as an actor working with Thomas
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because it's almost impossible to fail in his eyes once he's cast,
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in a sense which frees you as an actor to explore so many aspects of the character that under normal circumstances,
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answers or perhaps with a different director,
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you might be somewhat fearful or at least more reserved about exploring.
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But he encourages you to explore what in other films would be on the floor of the editing room.
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He wants you to find those little pieces,
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those little character traits that one might have,
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whether it be that somebody blinks obsessively or that somebody seems to always have a dry throat.
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Whatever it is, we talked about this in rehearsal,
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like what are your character's flaws or what are they great at?
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And these things that oftentimes,
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a lot of directors when making film don't really concern themselves with.

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Context & Background

In the recent interview, acclaimed actor Joaquin Phoenix discusses his experiences working with the talented director Thomas Vinterberg on the film It's All About Love. Phoenix describes the unique and ambitious script that captivated him with its rich imagery and emotional resonance. He shares insights into the creative process behind the film, reflecting on Vinterberg's ability to elicit authentic performances from actors. This conversation provides a valuable understanding not only of the craft of filmmaking but also of the themes that resonate in today's world. For English learners, this dialogue serves as a practical source for improving language skills through listening and speaking practice.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "I had a visceral reaction to the screenplay." - Expressing a strong emotional response.
  • "It gave me great faith in him." - Trusting someone’s abilities or vision.
  • "I looked up and smiled." - Describing a warm interaction or moment.
  • "It was the antithesis of dogma." - Discussing contrasting ideas or approaches.
  • "He encourages you to explore." - Highlighting support for creative exploration.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively utilize the shadowing technique while watching Joaquin Phoenix’s interview, follow these concise steps to enhance your English speaking practice and improve your pronunciation:

  1. Select a portion of the video: Choose a segment where Phoenix discusses his emotions regarding the script. Breaking it into smaller chunks can facilitate easier learning.
  2. Listen carefully: Play the selected clip and focus on Phoenix's intonation and pronunciation. Pay attention to how he shapes his words and the emotional undertones.
  3. Repeat aloud: Use a shadowing app or simply pause the video after every few sentences, repeating what you've heard immediately. Try to mimic not just the words but also the emotion and rhythm.
  4. Record your voice: After practicing, record your attempts. Listening to your recordings can help identify areas for improvement in your pronunciation and fluency.
  5. Revisit and expand: Repeat the process using different sections of the video. Over time, challenge yourself to use the phrases you've learned in your daily conversations.

By systematically practicing these steps, you can effectively harness the power of the shadowing technique to improve your English proficiency and gain confidence in your speaking abilities.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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