Episode 97 - Memories of Filming the Iconic "Saturday Night Fever" With Actor Paul Pape - Part 1

In the latest episode of “Hollywood Obsessed”, host Tony Miros interviews actor Paul Pape, best known for his role as "Double J" in the 1970s classic “Saturday Night Fever”. 

Paul reflects on how he’s no longer surprised that the film remains beloved after 47 years. How after he finished his education, he apprenticed at the Collonades Theater Lab in New York City alongside future stars like Danny DeVito and Jeff Goldblum. He also had the thrill of performing in “The Cherry Orchard” with Kim Hunter. He notes how “Saturday Night Fever” was the first film he auditioned for. Interestingly, he mentions that he hadn’t read the New Yorker article that inspired the film before his audition. He remembers that he had been a doorman at a New York jazz club during his audition and used his background going to an intercity high school with working-class kids to connect with his character. How filming drew thousands of onlookers because of John Travolta's fame, how the cast bonded during the process, and Travolta was gracious with everyone. He also shares that working with director John Badham was a fantastic experience and appreciates how the story authentically represented the area. He also expresses his doubts that a film like this could be made today. He notes that Paramount Pictures was unprepared for the film's success, which contributed to a revival of disco culture, and highlighted the soundtrack as particularly memorable. Additionally, he mentioned that he and Donna Pescow have remained close since filming, praising her extraordinary performance in "Fever." He recounted the memorable White Castle scene in "Fever," revealing that he chose to moon the people inside the restaurant to elicit the reaction that director John Badham needed from the crowd in that scene.

PAUL PAPE

Paul Pape began his professional acting career in New York as one of the original members of the Collonades Theater Lab (a repertory company). He did his apprenticeship with CTL, that also featured future notables Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Jeff Goldblum, Kathleen Noone, Peter Scolari and Michael O'Keefe. After going Off-Broadway to appear with Kim Hunter in "The Cherry Orchard", Paul was cast to co-star as 'Double J' opposite John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever".

He still appears on-camera and on-stage, while also enjoying a successful voice-over career with 8000+ credits. Paul's voice has been heard in virtually every form of media - including commercials, animation, ADR, narration, promos, video games and trailers. In addition, he has been a prominent voice for four Presidential campaigns, as well as hundreds of Senatorial, Congressional and Gubernatorial races for Democratic candidates.

As a producer, Paul founded Red Wall Productions in 1998. The company had their offices at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood and produced several short films, which garnered fourteen film festival nominations - resulting in awards for producing, directing, editing and writing.

A member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Paul served on the Board of Directors of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation for eight years, where he is a Founder of the Don LaFontaine Voice-over Lab - a half million-dollar facility dedicated to the development and success of voice-over artists. He is currently Co-Chair of the Lab's Advisory Board, in addition to serving on the SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local Voice-over Performers Committee. 

For more information on the Don LaFontaine Voice-over Lab go to - https://sagaftra.foundation/voiceover-labs/  

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