for that. Tony Bennett sang that way, he'll take a note way up high, and you're like, that woke me up. That is what I think the Clark scene did. So I said, how about that role? It's not much. I can
definitely find the time in my life to do that.
What kind of memories did that period evoke? You were turning draft age in 1968, and the Vietnam War was raging.
Keaton: There was always political talk in my family, my mom and dad. My dad was always involved in the county, and then the city of Pittsburgh, local government. I remember when Kennedy was
elected, my mom kept us home from school for his inauguration because he was Irish and a Catholic, and that was huge for her. So, there was always a consciousness. But I wasn't really paying much
attention. I remember distinctly it just stood out in my high school and I went to Kent State after the shootings.
What was it like, facing the draft?
Keaton: Two ninety-five. You ask anyone my age, where were you in the lottery, I guarantee, 9 out of 10 will remember exactly their number. I worked since I was 15, always had a job, and you'd come
home from work, come into my house, wash up, grab a quick meal, your mom would be mad at you for not sitting still, and then you head out with your buddies for the night. You'd wake up in the morning and
go to work
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again, and everybody was home from college. Guys who weren't going to college, they were aware. We all had been talking. Tomorrow's the lottery, what do you think's going to happen? What are you going to
do? Some guys are like, I'm going to Canada, and other guys were going, no, I'm going the fu*k in the Army. I remember coming home, taking my shower, running into the living room. I had a towel wrapped
around my waist, because I knew what time they were going to do it. I'll never forget it, dripping wet, staring at the TV, watching the numbers come up. You knew if you were past a certain point, it was
unlikely you were going to be drafted. 295 was my number. If your birthday came up at a certain time, that was what your number was and you were going if you didn't have a reason not to. Some of us were
against the war. I just happened to draw a draft number... well, they were never going to get to me. You never knew for sure what was going to happen, but it forced you to think about what you were going
to do.
If The Trial of the Chicago 7 wins the SAG Ensemble, you would be the first actor to win three times, after Spotlight and Birdman, two Best Picture winners. What's the best part of being part of an
ensemble and not have to carry the movie?
Keaton: Contrary to advice I was given early on, I've done the ensemble thing a few times, going back to The Paper and even Gung Ho. I was advised early on, you're a move star. That's nice, but to
me it is about good material and I'm an actor who likes to be around
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