Jack Black and Paul Rudd Jammed to AC/DC During Anaconda Filming
via Good Morning Britain / YouTube
Music as Preparation
Jack Black has long used music to shape his performances. While filming Minecraft in New Zealand, he turned to familiar songs to get into character. Listening between takes helped him focus and settle into the role.
“When he was filming Minecraft in New Zealand, he listened to Billy Joel to get into character as Steve, the expert crafter who leads the fantastical Overworld made popular by the bestselling video game.”
That choice fit the lighter tone of the film. Black openly shared his respect for the songwriter. “I liked listening to Billy Joel while we were making that movie,” Black told Postmedia earlier this year before breaking out into his own rendition of Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song). “He wrote some classic tunes.”
When Black moved on to another project, his listening habits shifted. He joined Paul Rudd, Steve Zahn, and Thandiwe Newton for a comedic reboot of Anaconda, based on the 1997 snake horror film.
A Louder Shift
This time, softer music did not match the mood. “But when he decided to suit up alongside Paul Rudd, Steve Zahn and Thandiwe Newton for a comedic reboot of Anaconda — the 1997 snake horror movie that originally starred Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Ice Cube, Jon Voight and Eric Stoltz — Black needed something harder.”
The new soundtrack followed him during daily travel. Car rides became a key part of the routine, setting the tone before filming began.
Black credited his driver for shaping those moments. “I had a great driver, Phil, @rocknroll_phil on Instagram, and he was a real rocker,” Black says in a recent video interview from Los Angeles.
Music filled the car almost every day. “So it was a lot of classic rock. Led Zeppelin was every Tuesday.” The steady volume helped wake everyone up.
Rudd Remembers
Paul Rudd added his own memory from the drives. “I was riding with Rock ‘n’ Roll Phil and he broke out a little AC/DC … For Those About to Rock (We Salute You),” Rudd interjects.
The song choice matched the playful energy of the cast. Music helped ease stress and build rhythm before cameras rolled.
Both actors have spoken about how music supports their work. Loud guitars or calm piano tracks can shape focus and mood during long days.
On Anaconda, rock songs followed the cast from car to set. These shared moments offered a small look at how music became part of the daily flow on set.
