Gavin Goudey Details On-Set Lessons from Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson

Goudey, who portrays the nephew of Adam Driver’s character in the 1980s-set New York thriller, admitted that his admiration for the veteran actor made his job surprisingly simple. Having long followed Driver’s career—from his role as Kylo Ren in the Star Wars sequels to his independent work—Goudey noted that looking up to him on camera felt entirely natural. During production, he observed Driver’s improvisational approach to a piano sequence, where the actor adjusted rhythms and timing with each take. This fluidity, Goudey noted, highlighted the necessity of deep preparation as a foundation for genuine creative confidence.

While Driver provided a lesson in artistic spontaneity, Scarlett Johansson offered insights into the physical demands of the profession. Goudey explained that his on-screen mother utilized her body as an instrument, employing specific physical techniques to enter intense emotional states and reset between takes. Complementing these lessons, Miles Teller, who anchors the production as the lead, mentored the newcomer on the technical realities of high-caliber sets. Teller showed him how to navigate the professional environment and maintain a respectful, effective presence as the person at the top of the call sheet. Paper Tiger, which explores a dangerous get-rich-quick scheme involving the Russian mafia, arrives in theaters on November 13.