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You’re used to theater and doing supporting parts and you worked your way up. Do you find a difference between people who paid their dues and people who find stardom at a younger age?
“Uh-huh. Certainly there’s a difference between theater and film. I love it when big fat movie stars go to the theater. I happened to witness one one time. I’d just gone backstage and a big movie star out of his dressing room at the end of the show. This woman comes out and she says, ‘Hey! I’m your mother? Come back, hang up your costume. What’s the matter with you?’ He went and hung up his costumes. You don’t mess with the Broadway dressers, boy (laughing).
I worry about these young kids 15, 18, 20 years old who, in the span of one year, become millionaires and powerhouses. It’s too much power for a kid that age to handle. And when these young actors are spiraling out of control and taking drugs and drinking too much, I think their managers and their agents are morally bound – and perhaps legally bound – to do something about it. And so often the managers and the agents cover for them.”
What’s the solution for it?
“Fire them. Fire ‘em.”
The press is probably seeing more of Felicity Huffman than you are this summer. Has that been a problem with both of you having successful careers now?
“Success is really not a problem (laughing). It’s been something. She’s doing this film – Georgia Rule – and she’s doing Desperate Housewives. She’s been doing it for a month and she has now gone, I believe, four weeks without a day off. Seven days a week for four weeks. And because Housewives is being so nice to her, they’re compressing her days, so when she gets there she works all day. And Georgia Rule is a powerhouse of a script. I’ve read it and it’s magnificent. She’s got some serious acting to do in this thing, and she goes 12 hours. The other day I said, ‘I don’t get it. What’s keeping you on your feet?’ And she said, ‘Gratitude.’”
How has that it affected your girls?
“We’ve just been blessed. I was working on a film in New Mexico and I got back pretty much the day the fit hit the shan with her shooting schedule, and so I’ve been there with the kids and I’ve been taking them to school. We’ve just been so lucky. I get a lot of kid duty these days.”
What were you filming in New Mexico?
“I was shooting a thing called Wild Hogs in New Mexico. Four middle-age guys have sort of a crisis and get on their Harley Davidsons and drive to the coast.”
Do you ride?
"I do now, man. I’m hooked. I rode little bikes when I was in college, getting back and forth to class. First time I lived in LA I had a little Honda, but never was a Harley guy. But now I am.”
What’s happening with the movie you want to direct? Is that still on?
“It’s going to [happen]. I’m about to go into a high work situation. I produced a film, actually produced it – i.e. raised the money. It’s called The Deal. It’s a romantic comedy that I wrote with Steven Schachter who’s going to direct it. It’s me and Lisa Kudrow, and we go to Bucharest in three weeks. It’s based on Peter Lefcourt’s novel of the same title. It’s an outrageously good script, if I do say so myself (laughing). It’s a great role for her and a great role for me, too. And then right after that I’ll start pre-production, which will be in November, for Keep Coming Back by Will Alditch. I’m directing and Salma Hayek’s the only one who’s set.”
Halle Berry was rumored to be in it.
“I did tell you that but yes, you’re right, she’s not doing it.”
Is it true you’re doing House of Re-Animator?
“I’m scheduled to do it. Stuart Gordon who directed Edmond – have you seen Edmond? You must see Edmond. It’s something different, very dark, very harsh, very moving, very powerful. It’s going to get about 15 cities. Maybe 18.”
Will you play the reanimated President?
“Stuart Gordon did Edmond and he said, ‘Will you do it?’ It’s next year sometime so… But yes I said, Yes.’”
