Nick Offerman’s Great SXSW Adventure Embraces the Weirdos: From Ron Swanson to Leading Movie Man — This Actor Loves Texas’ Character

AUSTIN – You might know him as the staunch, breakfast loving, government hating Ron Swanson on NBC’s hit sitcom Parks and Recreation, but Nick Offerman‘s talent and career go far beyond his days in the Pawnee, India, Parks Department. Offerman was in town for the SXSW Film Festival, premiering his film, Hearts Beat Loud with the director Brett Haley (known for I’ll See You in My Dreams and The Hero). 

 Offerman stars alongside breakout musical talent, Kiersey Clemons to portray a father daughter relationship in the seams of teenage growing pains combined with single parenthood. The two find common ground in their love of music.

The impressive cast in this feel-good indie flick includes Toni Collette, Blythe Danner and Ted Danson. The movie explores the relationships of love and family amid the realization that nothing else really matters.

The film premiered at the Paramount Theatre and is up for an Audience Favorite Award at SXSW. It’s a film that will tug at your heart strings. Following the screening, the audience roared with laughter and applause as Offerman and Haley entertained with candid and humorous answers to audience questions.

On the eve of the film’s premiere, PaperCity sat down with the actor/director dynamic duo as they explained how this film came together.

Tell us about how Hearts Beat Loud came together?

Haley: “The film comes from my love of music and creativity and the fact that the creative process brings people together. I wanted to tell a story about the creative process and I thought the most interesting and fun way to do that would be through a father/daughter relationship and a band movie with musical elements to make people feel some hope and goodness out in the world. I have had this move in my mind for a really long time.”

How did you get Nick involved in the project?

Haley: “Nick was in my last film The Hero and we wrote this part specifically for Nick because we adore him and we think he’s amazing. We wanted to see him be the front and center of a movie because I believe he is a wonderfully amazing leading man. We wanted to give him something and I’m glad he accepted what hopefully now we can call a gift.”

Offerman: “I’m a fan of the gift. I have never sat in an interview and heard someone say I was a worthwhile leading man so I would say that’s a very enjoyable gift.”

Haley: “That’s part of the thing about what I do. Of course, these people can carry movies, they have been doing the real work forever. They have been doing the supporting roles, the character roles forever and you know let’s give them a leading moment. I think people get really excited about that. I sure do. I want to see people like Nick carry a movie.”

Nick, How does this role compare to what you have done in the past?

Offerman: “In style and scope its similar to a lot of great festival sized films I have gotten to work on, but the biggest difference was that I have just never had a part this big that is fully realized that I have gotten to work on. There were scenes in the movie particularly with Toni Collette where I feel like a freshman at a dance.

There is a scene on a porch, I have never gotten to shoot this type of scene, where I’m just on a porch and I’m just a vulnerable guy trying to get a woman to love me. I said to myself this is awesome! I have fired many of kinds of weapons, but not this particular kind of pistol.”

What do you both hope that the audience takes away from the movie?

Offerman: “No matter how hard or well your life is going, if you pay attention to your loved ones, things mights turn out alright. You may win or lose out on the playing field of life, but it you take care of your love relationships you’re always going to get kissed at the end of the day.”

Haley: “To put it very simply, I hope they feel good. I hope it makes them feel a little bit better about the world for a time. That they have laughed, they have felt emotion and have been reminded that people are mainly good. If you’re feeling like there is a little bit too much negativity in your life, come to our movie for a little bit of respite.

What do you both love about Texas and Austin in particular?

Haley:  “Well Austin in particular, much like our movie is full of love, music, its quirky and its full of incredible food. I am a huge fan of Uchi and obviously the barbecue cannot be beat. I enjoy establishments like Justine’s and Cheer Up Charlie’s. There is so much to discover here. I had a breakfast taco this morning. Incredible.”

Offerman: “The thing I love the most about Texas is the people. I think it gets a bad rap. I think the headlines are grabbed by the whole macho, don’t mess with Texas sensibility and I feel like that, at least in my perception, is fading. All the people I meet are more interested and open to the arts, especially in Austin.

It’s such a great proliferation of weirdos, I feel like its my people.”