 Before filming began, Ralph Fiennes (qv) wanted to speak with  Charles Van Doren (qv) in person to get his accent down for the  role. However, the feeling was that Charles Van Doren (qv) would  not want to help with the film at all. So Ralph Fiennes (qv) and  one of the films staff drove to the town in rural Connecticut where  Charles Van Doren (qv) lives. They found Charles Van Doren (qv)  sitting on a chair outside his house, and Ralph Fiennes (qv)  pretended to be a lost driver and asked him for directions.