While on a press tour to promote the romantic comedy, "The New Guy," actor DJ Qualls discussed his role in the dramatic action film, "The Core." Here's what Qualls had to say about working on his first blockbuster film. Keep in mind his answers were from an interview in April 2002.
DJ QUALLS:
How is “The Core” coming along?
I'm still doing it. I've been doing it since November [2001]. It's the longest movie ever. We have almost two casts. I'm in the cast of the people who run Mission Control, and then there are the people who actually go down to the center of the earth. We've been working forever in Vancouver and now we're finished in Vancouver. Alfre Woodard and myself are going out on an aircraft carrier next weekend, off the coast of San Diego, for the night. We are staying overnight on the ship and shooting, and doing a bunch of stuff we have to do to finish the movie.
So you aren't doing any of the action stuff?
No. Actually even the people who are in the… it's more like the world is the star. Like the center of the earth is the star of the movie. The really novel thing about this movie that John Amiel [the director] did, he cast a bunch of actors in a really sort of action-oriented movie. I mean things are happening but we react to the most absurd thing. He's like “Mexico City destroyed by lightning, now!” So all of us have to react to that. It's really funny to do a movie with green screen like that.
Is this your first one?
Yes. It's my first blockbuster. I'd never done a movie with a budget like that, or with a cast like that. That was a cast of all decorated actors, and myself.
If you are in Mission Control, how is the green screen involved?
Actually the green screen creates all of Mission Control because it was too expensive to create. A lot of the things that are happening are actually just a big - because the special effects aren't done yet - so all the stuff that's happening, we're just watching a big sheet and reacting to it. There was a lot of stuff. We weren't just sitting down at a desk for the whole movie.
So how is this different than “Deep Impact?”
Well, wasn't Tea Leoni in “Deep Impact?” There you go.
