"Be Cool" is the highly anticipated sequel to the 1995 hit, "Get Shorty." John Travolta returns as Chili Palmer and reunites with his "Pulp Fiction" co-star, Uma Thurman, in this music-oriented sequel from MGM.
Here's what Kimberly Brown had to say about her time on the set of "Be Cool" and the possibility of a sequel to the Steve Martin/Queen Latifah laffer, "Bringing Down the House:"
INTERVIEW WITH KIMBERLY BROWN
What can you tell me about "Be Cool?"
“Be Cool” is a very, very funny sequel to “Get Shorty” where John Travolta’s character ends up getting into the music business. I play a receptionist, actually the assistant to James Woods’ character. I’m a punk rocker, I have a pink goth wig, tattoos and everything. It was so much fun to do something completely different. I kind of pop in here and there and have some fun with him and Uma Thurman and Cedric the Entertainer and Andre 3000. They were a blast.
What was life like on the set?
At first I had to get over the shock of having all these people walk in. But they were so generous and very welcoming. It was great just to be able to sit and chat with them. Andre was a sweetheart. He was so glad he got off early one night just to go see Prince’s concert. Uma’s kids would visit the set. And Cedric was just funny. He’s done so much, but I had to tell him how much I love his beer commercials (laughing). I was like, “I love other things, but right now, those crack me up.”
What was your best memory of time spent on the set?
I think singing Barney songs with John Travolta. We kind of bonded over the fact – over knowing the same episode. It was kind of interesting, an episode and a song popped into his head one day while we were working and he goes, “Oh - Barney.” I said, “I’ve seen many episodes because I have little brothers.” He was like, “Oh, well do happen to remember the episode where Ashley lost her teddy bear?” And he went on to explain it. I said, “Actually, I do.” Uma just kind of looked at us like, “Are you crazy?”
That’s a bizarre thing to bond over.
It’s very bizarre but it was fun, too. (Laughing) We talked about Barney, why not?
Did you study “Get Shorty” before filming “Be Cool?”
I did. As soon as I heard about the meeting, I was like, “Okay, got to go see the original movie.” I actually hadn’t seen it yet. And it was great because it kind of gave me the whole tone and the mood of the movie. It was funny, and I was already a fan of John Travolta’s and it was fun to see him in something else. And then to get on set with him in “Be Cool” and to have him become Chili again – it took me a minute because I went, “Oh my gosh, it’s Chili.”
Did he get back into that character quickly?
Absolutely. As soon as he did it, it was like he just flipped on [a switch] and he was right back in it.
What can you tell fans of “Get Shorty” to expect from “Be Cool?”
I would tell them to expect a lot of surprises and to watch for a lot of surprises of who is in it – there’s a lot of surprises that way. And also just it’s a great script so with the actors they got, they just added so much to it with the adlibbing and the improvising.
So there was a lot of improv?
There was a little bit here and there. Cedric liked to do stuff to mess with Andre. F. Gary Gray, the director, was so great to just let us try stuff. John Travolta would add certain things and he’d kind of let the camera roll and just let us go sometimes. Some of the crew members would have a hard time not laughing.
Did you see anything you think will make it as outtakes on the DVD?
Well, I think anything with Cedric you’re going to get a lot of bloopers because he just likes to do stuff. But they’re preparing something very cool for the bloopers, a little something from one of the scenes that had each of the cast members do a little dance. So watch it because at the end, they do some funny stuff.
What else are you working on?
I just finished “Halloween Town 3” with Debbie Reynolds for Disney. We did the first one six years ago and they’ve been so popular that we’ve gone back to do others. And then I’m waiting to hear about a couple of independent films and I also have a play in the works with Jean Smart. We almost did it this spring but with her pilot getting picked up, we’ll probably do it a little bit later.
I heard there may be a sequel to “Bringing Down the House.” Have you heard anything?
I have heard that, too. They’ve had meetings and I would love it if they did a sequel. But now we’re just kind of waiting to hear, I think, if they get something cemented as to an actual plot line. I’ve heard a lot of ideas and I’ve heard a lot about the meetings. We just have to see what happens.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
"Be Cool" Production News, Photos and Credits
