Hallström's son Johan makes his debut - on the silver screen

Earlier this week Lasse Hallström was presented with an award by the King. Now his son Johan makes his feature movie debut as an actor.

The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in New York celebrated their centennial anniversary earlier this week. The twice for an Oscar nominated director was presented with an award for his prominent Hollywood work.

I feel very honored and I have never received an award from the hand of the King before. It was overwhelming, says Lasse Hallström.

On Tuesday Hallström travels to Sweden to attend the premiere of "Du & Jag" ("You & I") in which his son Johan plays the lead role.

Through the years I have given Johan cautionary advise against becoming an actor. There's so much competition and you're not in charge of your own destiny. Other people's arbitrariness decides how well you'll succeed in your profession. But now, when he has done so well, I take it all back and bless his choice of profession, says a proud and happy father with a twinkle in his eye.

Would you like to direct your son as you have done with your wife, Lena Olin?

Absolutely. I would like us to work together in the future. And if we move back to Sweden, as we have contemplated for some time, it will be even easier to realize.

But first he will launch his new film "The Hoax". Richard Gere portraits a man who swindled a well known publishing company for a large amount of money.

He [Richard Gere] is fantastic. He likes my way of working with improvisation and last minute impulses. We really did connect.





Lasse Hallström about...

... The new movie "The Hoax" - I like to tell stories with an authentic background as this one has. We shot it in New York last summer.

...Richard Gere - I think he is as good looking in real life as he is in the movies. But for the first time he has "played" with his face and attached a nasal bump to look more like the person he is portraying. It does alter his appearance and the look in his eyes as the bump is right between the eyes.

...His stepson August's choice of profession - He is going to study film in Paris for the next three years. Right now we're looking for a flat. I think it's great. It was what I dreamed about doing when I was young but I got in through TV instead.