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Bruce Campbell Answers Your Questions
by mbessey on 07:52 PM November 12th, 2001
Bruce, you've played a number of "unconventional" heroes on TV and in films. Which character was the most fun to play?
Answer: Bruce noted that characters he portrays are pretty fun to start with. But movies are over too quickly for him to truly enjoy and develop the characters. Something like Brisco County you can have a lot more fun with, experiment more, and figure out which works and which does not over the course of many episodes. Like in spiderman, there is a 1 year distance between filming the scene and the feedback you get from seeing the finished product. With TV (Jack of All Trades and Brisco County) you can mess with the character and get immediate feedback. And then there are the ones that are completely outside the "winking-wise ass" category, like the appearance on Homicide where people come up to me and are like "You did a role where you weren't a funny guy", which is nice, he noted, because it shows that he's more than just the kookie actor.
Ideal TV Show?
by GusherJizmac on 07:56 PM November 12th, 2001
I loved Brisco County, Jr. and Jack of All Trades, and I was wondering if you had like a billion dollars to make a TV show, and there was no one else holding the purse strings, would you bring one of those two back, or make a new one (and if so, what would be it be?), or would you forget TV and make a movie, or even just lay in your bed of cash with several beautiful women?
Answer: Bruce said he would definitely revive Brisco and Jack of All tracks. With Jack of All Trades Bruce wanted to make it a more marines going in the clean up the Barbary Coast for civilization thing. But there was not the chance for that.
When asked if he would he forget TV, Bruce said "It's not about the budget it's about the creativity". "Jack of All Trades" was great because he didn't have some asshole telling him what to do for the most part. You don't need billions , Bruce notes that if he had 500k a year, he could make a movie a year. (although 2m is Bruces sweet spot).
Duke Nukem
by Sludge on 07:58 PM November 12th, 2001
I heard you were fairly choked when you heard Duke Nukem 3D ripped off some of your lines. Now, those lines weren't written by you presumably, but by a third party. How tied do actors feel to their lines? You seemed to take personal offense to this.
Answer: If they use one or two, it's not a big deal. But they used more than seems appropriate. But he felt is was kind of sad to see someone not even try to make their own one liners and instead gather up those from the a number of movies and such. So, it's not as if he was pissed about it, but he saw it more as yet another indication of a creative malaise that has gripped a number of people. He related the story of a film-maker who called him and pitched him on a movie with "John Woo action, Tarentino dialog and Kevin Smith characters" to which he replied "Save us from your shitty movie.", and added , "Right from the start he's sold out."
Being "B-Grade"
by NMerriam on 08:03 PM November 12th, 2001
What is it like to be a b-movie star, and a very successful one at that? I assume that everyone going into acting has the fantasy that they'll be the A-list guys making $20 million a picture, so are you happy to be in that "middle ground"?
Answer: Bruce is pretty happy with his position as an actor, noting that as a "b" actor, you're well-known and very liked (probably more so than the hunk-of-the-month actors). Bruce noted that B actors joke with each other in a very non-sour grapesy way that they had "dodged a bullet, as a B movie actor can do what he loves and still shop at the safeway".
For the book, B was an important qualifier, but the B world is more fun in realty. "Let's see Jim Cameron shoot a movie in 10 days" (noting that Jim Cameron did the B-movie "Pirannha") He'd love to take any of the big directors and say "you have two weeks to shoot a movie" and see who comes out on top. But he did note that it might be really cool to see a Scorsese or a Coppola return to their low budget roots.
Pseudonyms "Pete Perkinson" and "Roc Sandstorm"
by chipuni on 08:14 PM November 12th, 2001
According to the IMDB [imdb.com], you're sometimes credited as "Pete Perkinson" or "Roc Sandstorm". Where did you get those names from?
Answer: Bruce noted that Roc Sandstorm is Sam Raimi, and that the IMDB has that incorrect. Pete Perkinson is Bruce, however. He calls it his "elevator name". You see, instead of using real names in elevators when they didn't want to let on to strangers what they were doing. He and Sam would use these joke names and put them on projects they were too embarrassed to be attached too. The names they liked, but decided against included: Ida Kiein, Myra Ggrets and M. Barrass.
Brisco County Jr. on DVD
by Black Art on 08:16 PM November 12th, 2001
When are we going to see Brisco Country Jr. on DVD? It was a series ahead of its time. (I especially liked the anachronistic references. Timothy Leary as the preacher was hysterical!)
Answer: Brisco County is out on VHS right now, via Columbia House video. Bruce did the liner notes for each episode. He'd like to do the DVD mostly so he can get the commentary on it for each episode.
Batman?
by nedron on 08:32 PM November 12th, 2001
There has been a persistent rumor that you were up for the role of Batman before Burton was brought in (and subsequently selected the lamentable Michael Keaton). Is there any truth to this, or was it all wishful thinking on the part of your fans?
Answer: There is no truth whatsoever to the Batman rumor. Bruce was never called. "Cross old Batman off the superhero list." Superheros are not attractive characters to play. No character development, etc... Since everyone "knows" the character (parents dead, billionare,etc) you have a result that people develop every character but the hero. Proof is in the way they had 3 actors play Batman and no one really noticed. 3 actors, same suit, no character.
High School Question
by compugeek007 on 08:37 PM November 12th, 2001
Bruce, I went to same High School as you (Birmingham MI) and graduated about 8 - 10 years ago. You and Sam Raimi are somewhat of a legend there and my 10th grade Drama teacher choreographed the skeleton dance from Evil Dead 2. My question is rather off beat - Back in high school, what were your goals? Did you ever imagine "making it" in acting as a career?
Answer: This was answered in the book. Which everyone should read. The answer is yes. It was more towards the end of High School. It was either college or movies.
Book Signings
by thetechweenie on 08:58 PM November 12th, 2001
What's the craziest thing someones has asked you to write at a book signing?
Answer: It's not about what people asked Bruce to write, it's about what Bruce was asked to do. He's doing another chapter for the paper back edition of the book about the book signing called "Chins Across America". One guy had Bruce propose to his fiancee for him at the book signing. He sent an email, guys name was Nik, and his Fiancees name was Elizabeth. Anyhow, Nik requested that Bruce write "Gee Elizabeth, Nik would make a great husband don't cha think". She turns around and he is on his kneee. Tears all around, except for Bruce. Bruce notes that he said to Nik beforehand that "You're sure that she's gonna say yes, right buddy?"
Friends with your fans?
by FattyMcMurphy on 09:07 PM November 12th, 2001
A while back there was a terrific piece on "This American Life" where your literary agent - a self-confessed Bruce super fan - detailed how he worked his way into your life. His story ended with the bittersweet realization that he couldn't get over his "oh my God, I'm hanging out with Bruce!" feelings long enough to simply chill out and be friends with you.
Answer: With his experience in mind, have you become good friends with any of your fans, or is it just too weird?
It's not really that, Bruce has worked with fans for things like con bookings and become friends with them. The rules of becoming a pal aren't different just because someone is an actor. It should be noted that it is just not practical to become a friend with every fan, just because of the numbers involved. The "This American Life" guy in particular he considerers his pal, no matter what you might have gleaned from that taping.
Cliche
by number one duck on 09:22 PM November 12th, 2001
Its been said and said again that Evil Dead IV will not be made, simply because the studios didn't make money on the last encounter, and are unlikely to make any profit on a further sequel.
However, have you considered doing a further sequel the old fashioned, low budget way? On, say, an Evil Dead I budget?
Answer: Bruce noted that Evil Dead 4 won't be made on a an Evil Dead 1 budget. First, try and take a crane away from Sam Raimi, try to take Sam to 1 camera instead of 4. Try take away the digital effects. It's hard to rip those things out of a persons hands.
Working on Spiderman, for instance, Sam probably had not as good a time on it as on Evil Dead. With the constant financial oversight and money involved, 5 minutes down on the spider man set would pay for a week of evil dead. Evil Dead 4 not being made is financial. The Evil Dead movies made money, but not a lot and not quickly , mostly later from video.
Also, The last movie was made in 89. "Movies age like fish, not wine". Low budget isn't so fun sometimes. For Part 4, it wouldn't be charity anymore, back the truck up, there isn't a cheap part 4, and frankly, the world will live without it. Bruce asks the following of people when they ask for an Evil Dead 4 "Do you remember what happened in Nightmare on Elm Street 4? Or Friday the 13th 4?" Most people haven't, and it was my impression that Bruce felt there just wasn't a market for it, or an overwhelming desire to do it on the part of himself and the rest of the crew.
So again a big thanks to Bruce Campbell for a great interview.
I really would have rather waited the month or more. you could have explained the reasons in a slashback and we would have understood. instead, we're now faced with an interview that barely answers any of the questions, lifeless, and presents Bruce Campbell in a severely unflatering light. your shoddy interview makes Bruce look like he doesn't care about his fans, and that's not fair to him or to us. I suggest that you shoot Bruce an email and tell him that you'd like to do a second, more in depth interview ON HIS TIME, and appologize for this butchery. it's only fair.
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Chris,
/. exists.
I know you were just trying to do your best, but this is one of those cases where you have to literally put your foot down. This interview reflects poorly on Slashdot, and it reflects poorly on Bruce. No one wins here. No one will ever win when interviews are done this way, everyone will loose. Especially the audience, which is the only reason
Keep this in mind. It doesn't matter who calls to do an interview in this sort of half baked way, the answer is "I'm sorry, we can't do that, it wouldn't do us or you justice".
In other words, the answer is "no", even if it means the interview is _never_ done, let alone a month away.
What about asking Wil to interview future stars? That sould lend a bit more credibility to /. so we don't get shoved aside like this in the future. I can hear it now...
Bruce (or PR guy):"Who the fsck is slash dot? I don't have time for this!"
How about it Wil? Wil you help us? If not Wil, does anyone else out there with entertainment clout want to help?
US Democracy:The best person for the job (among These pre-selected choices...)
Isn't that exactly what happened with the interview that /. did with Lars Ulrich? I seem to recall it was verbatum, right down to the 'ummm's and such.
Sounded to me more like someone dangling a treat in front of a puppy than an interview. ``Lookie what I did. I talked to Bruce. If you're good little Slashbots, I'll let you read a summary.''
-- My work here is done. If you need me again, just admit to yourself that you're screwed, and die.