(On Examining the appeal of the Addams Family Franchise)
by Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
Glenn Taranto loves the cinema from the Golden Age of Hollywood and the stars that emerged from it. During that time, many genres like German Expressionism emerged, and from that, film noir. The influences date as far back as the silent films, but it was the comedic greats that this actor/writer revealed an affinity for. He grew up watching a lot of them on television and film with his brother, and it’s no small wonder that the passion has influenced him in kooky ways that Charles Addams, the creator of the Addams Family comic approves of. Taranto is very familiar with the source material and it helped him prepare for the role of Gomez Addams when production for the New Addams Family began. This program ran on multiple networks (YTV in Canada and Fox Family in the United States) from 1998-1999.
These days, Taranto spends his time in Los Angeles, the entertainment hub of the world. The roles he often plays can be attributed to the fact that “it’s a family business.” To know the quirks needed to play these parts effectively only came naturally for him and he made use of this experience when he crafted his first feature-film debut as a screenwriter with the movie, Stolen.
“I say write what’s in your heart and don’t let your imagination be stifled. Never say ‘That can’t be done’ or ‘I can’t do that’. Just get it all out,” advised Taranto.
Continue reading “In Conversation with Glenn Taranto of the New Addams Family”