In 2014, Richard Gere took on a challenging role in the movie “Time Out of Mind,” where he played a mentally ill man living on the streets of New York. To fully immerse himself in the character, Gere dressed in tattered clothing and sat on the sidewalk, blending in seamlessly with the city’s homeless population.
As he sat amidst the hustle and bustle of New York City, thousands of people walked by him, oblivious to the fact that they were passing a Hollywood star. Gere recalled the experience, saying, “I was out there for over 40 minutes, and no one made eye contact with me. I was completely in character.”
Gere’s transformation was so convincing that even his fame couldn’t penetrate the illusion. He noted, “If I had been Richard Gere, I wouldn’t have lasted 30 seconds. But as a homeless man, I was invisible.” This phenomenon was precisely the point the movie aimed to convey – that the homeless are often overlooked and ignored, even in plain sight.
The film’s director, Oren Moverman, echoed this sentiment, stating, “No one gave him a cent. No one even recognized him. That proved the whole point: the homeless are all around us, and we don’t see them.” Gere’s experience served as a poignant reminder of the harsh realities faced by those living on the streets.
After the film’s release, Gere took to social media to share his thoughts on the experience. Using his co-star Jenna Malone’s account, he posted, “Hi, Richard Gere here. I was completely surprised to find that last week someone posted a photo of me on a Facebook fan page as a homeless man on the streets of New York…”
