Culture

Becoming Donald Miller

Marshall Allman plays the author of ‘Blue Like Jazz.’

Becoming Donald Miller

Becoming Donald Miller

While filming Blue Like Jazz (see our review on page 80), Marshall Allman—who plays the Donald Miller character at the center of the story—was to ride an unsteady “tall bike” across Portland, Oregon’s Hawthorne Bridge. Director Steve Taylor, concerned that Allman might “plunge over the rail” into the Willamette River, considered a stunt double, but Allman declined. Says Taylor, “For Marshall, it’s all just part of the work, and he approaches it with both a singular intensity and a great sense of play.”

Allman, 28, has received thumbs-up for his acting—for Blue Like Jazz as well as recurring roles in TV’s Prison Break and True Blood. He recently finished filming Jayne Mansfield’s Car, a 1960s-era drama starring Robert Duvall, John Hurt, Kevin Bacon, and Billy Bob Thornton. Taylor believes Allman can go a long way: “He takes the craft of acting very seriously, and he wants to get the role right.”

Allman was a soccer star and award- winning art student in high school, but ultimately pursued acting instead because of a knee injury and the likelihood of earning a steadier income in acting than as an artist. “When I discovered the art of acting, and that it combined the physicality of soccer with the craftsmanship of art, I thought, Why paint when I can be the painting? For me that was enough.”

Question & Answer

How did you get this role?

I got an e-mail from Steve Taylor saying I was on his shortlist. I hadn’t read the book, but I was really excited when I read the script. I e-mailed Steve and said that I was 1,000 percent in. He responded that he loved my enthusiasm but it wasn’t an offer yet—he wanted to meet in person. We met for lunch a week later, and he told me I had the part.

What did you like about the script?

It was funny and moving at the same time, which is rare. And though it dealt with issues of faith, it wasn’t trying to force any beliefs on anyone. It just happened to be a story about a kid wrestling with his beliefs and his identity. That’s a story anyone can identify with.

How did you capture Don’s personality?

It wasn’t a literal interpretation of Don’s book or the actual person; I wanted to capture the spirit of both. I watched videos of Don and read all his books; I basically stalked him. Eventually, I got to know him and found those two to be consistent. The main qualities that struck me about Don are his pursuit of adventure and a razor-sharp sense of humor.

Did you “become” Don for the role?

That’s what makes acting sort of like magic. If people believe I am Don, then I’ve done a great job. As an actor, I strive to be no more than a vessel for the story. Here to serve you, the audience.

How would you describe the film?

A Southern Baptist kid is set to go to seminary, but gets burned by the very church that raised him. He instead attends Reed College in an attempt to run as far away from his upbringing and God as he can. And it’s funny too.

More: BlueLikeJazzTheMovie.com

Hometown: Los Angeles

Family: Jamie Anne (wife)

Reading now: Lots of scripts

On Your iPod: Gary Clark Jr., Foster the People, Menomena

Favorite movie: The Princess Bride

Favorite book: A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole

Favorite Bible verse: Hebrews 4:12

Your hero: Brad Bird or Stanley Kubrick

Best meal you cook: Conversation

Hometown: Los Angeles

Family: Jamie Anne (wife)

Reading now: Lots of scripts

On Your iPod: Gary Clark Jr., Foster the People, Menomena

Favorite movie: The Princess Bride

Favorite book: A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole

Favorite Bible verse: Hebrews 4:12

Your hero: Brad Bird or Stanley Kubrick

Best meal you cook: Conversation

For a more in-depth interview with Allman, click here.

Copyright © 2012 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

Learn more about Marshall Allman and the film Blue Like Jazz at their respective websites.

Previous “Who’s Next” sections featured Michael Patton, Bethany Hoang, Bobby Gruenewald, Julie Bell, DeVon Franklin, Shannon Sedgwick Davis, Jon Tyson, Jonathan Golden, Paul Louis Metzger, Amena Brown, David Cunningham, Timothy Dalrymple, John Sowers, Alissa Wilkinson, Jamie Tworkowski, Bryan Jennings, L. L. Barkat, Robert Gelinas, Nicole Baker Fulgham, and Gideon Strauss.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

News

Is the Lord's Prayer a Christian Prayer?

News

Nontraditional Believers Recover Christian Community

Defending Scripture. Literally.

News

Violence in Nigeria: Breaking the Country's Fatal Deadlock

Discipling the Eyes Through Art in Worship

Review

Polarizing Politics by Defending the Declaration

Chuck Colson: Evangelicals Should Be Uniters, Not Dividers

'God Is Not a Genie in a Bottle': Ways We Misuse the Bible

My Top 5 Books on Christianity in North Korea

Review

Tolerance—Or Else: Coercive Attempts to Impose Secular Beliefs

Editorial

How Pastors' Ponzis Affect Our Gospel Witness

News

Mass Appeal: Evangelicals Copy More of Catholic Playbook to Oppose Contraception Ruling

Review

Blue Like Jazz

Do Pets Go to Heaven?

What Good Grief Looks Like When a Daughter Dies

Excerpt

Connecting Christ

News

Sex Sect The Family Cleans House

News

Go Figure

Jesus Disappoints Everyone

Proof of a Good God: 'Crucified Under Pontius Pilate'

News

Quotation Marks

News

The Problem 'Son': Debate Continues Over Translating 'Son of God' for Muslims

News

Passages

Letters to the Editor

Journaling Grief: How Web-Based Publishing Is Changing Everything

Jesus Through Jewish Eyes

Books to Note

Wilson's Bookmarks

Employers Can Limit Employees' Speech, TBN’s Lawsuit, Bar Boots Catholic Group, and More News

News

Contract Concern: USAID Policy on Hiring Alarms Charities

Review

October Baby

Jeremy Lin, Tim Tebow, Josh Hamilton: Muscular Christianity's Newest Heroes

Interview: Why Sarah Macintosh Ran Away from CCM and Went Back

Review

Wrecking Ball

Review

The Clearing

Review

Feathers & Twine

Review

Songs of Praise & Scorn

View issue

Our Latest

My Friend, Bill Pannell

A reflection on the trailblazing Black theologian and his influence on American evangelicalism.

What Are Parents For?

Scripture has a clear vision for parents as stewards of our children. It’s not an instruction manual for modern parenting spats.

News

When the Elder Calls—From Outer Space

Two sick church members in their 90s got a pastoral “visit” from a friend—an astronaut stuck on the International Space Station.

Being Human

Trauma, Tenacity, and Trusting God with Beth Moore

The Bible teacher and author reflects on the Lord’s presence throughout her life.

News

Died: Jack Iker, Anglican Who Drew the Line at Women’s Ordination

The Texas bishop fought a bitter legal battle with the Episcopal Church and won.

Why Can’t We Talk to Each Other Anymore?

Online interactions are draining us of energy to have hard conversations in person.

How Priscilla Shirer Surrenders All

The best-selling Bible teacher writes about putting God first in her life and how healthy Christian discipleship requires sacrifice

Church Disappointment Is Multilayered

Jude 3 Project founder Lisa Fields speaks about navigating frustrations with God and fellow believers.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube