>> FUNDING FOR OVERHEARD
WITH EVAN SMITH IS PROVIDED
IN PART BY THE MATSON MCHAIL
FOUNDATION IN SUPPORT OF
PUBLIC TELEVISION AND ALSO
BY MFI FOUNDATION, IMPROVING
THE QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN
OUR COMMUNITY.
AND FROM THE TEXAS BOARD OF
LEGAL SPECIALIZATION, BOARD
CERTIFIED ATTORNEYS IN YOUR
COMMUNITY, EXPERIENCED,
RESPECTED, AND TESTED.
ALSO, BY HILLCO PARTNERS,
TEXAS GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
CONSULTANCY AND ITS GLOBAL
HEALTH CARE CONSULTING
BUSINESS UNIT, HILLCO HEALTH
AND BY THE ALICE KLEBERG
REYNOLDS FOUNDATION AND
VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.
>> I AM EVAN SMITH, AN
AUTHOR, ACTOR, DIRECTOR AND
PRODUCER WHOSE FOUR DECADES
OF CREATIVITY INCLUDES
MIDNIGHT COWBOY, MOONRISE
KINGDOM AND OTHER BOOK AND
AUTHOR OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS,
MOST RECENT WHICH THE
CREATURE OF THE SEVENTH
GRADE HAS BEEN PUBLISHED.
HE IS BOB BALABAN.
THIS IS OVERHEARD.
>> MOST PEOPLE WANT THE SAME
THING, THEY WANT A GOOD JOB.
>> I REALIZED PEOPLE WEREN'T
WRITING THINGS IN MY VOICE
SO I REALIZE I HAD TO DO IT
FOR MYSELF.
>> AS A KID I LOVE THIS.
>> WE ARE A BETTER COUNTRY
THAN WE USED TO BE BUT WE
HAVE MORE TO DO WITH IT AND
WE NEED TO GET AT IT.
>> I WANT TO DO THAT AND YOU
GET THE BUZZ YOU GET FROM
WORKING AT THE ABSOLUTE TOP
DOLLAR A YEAR PLACE.
>> BOB BALABAN, WELCOME.
VERY NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE.
>> HELLO.
>> CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU HAVE DONE A LOT MORE
WRITING FOR KIDS THAN MOST
PEOPLE I KNOW.
>> I GUESS SO.
>> THE MCGROWL SERIES WHICH
IS A FUN SERIES OF BOOKS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SEVEN, 8?
>> SIX.
>> A LOT OF THEM, NOT JUST
ONE.
>> I HAVE BURNED A LOT OF
MIDNIGHT OIL AND 5 IN THE
MORNING OIL.
>> WE WILL TALK ABOUT WHY IN
THE CONTEXT OF THIS AND THE
CREATURE FROM THE SEVENTH
GRADE WHICH IS JUST OUT, AND
I IMAGINE IS THE FIRST OF
FOUR.
>> OF FOUR.
>> YES, BECAUSE I HAVE DONE
TWO AND I AM STARTING THREE.
>> IT'S A REAL BOOK.
PARENTS WHO HAVE KIDS WHO
ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THIS
BOOK, MIDDLE SCHOOL AGED,
SAY, KIDS, MAYBE SOME
YOUNGER, MAYBE SOME OLDER
SHOULD KNOW IT IS NOT A BOOK
WITH A LOT OF BIG PICTURES
AND A FEW WORDS.
IT IS A REAL BOOK.
>> YES, THEY MAKE ME WRITE A
LOT OF WORDS.
>> IT IS A REAL STORY.
>> I HAVE TO DO THAT.
>> AND IT IS INTERESTING
BECAUSE THE REASON I DID MY
FIRST BOOK -- WELL, THE
REASON IT WORKED OUT AND I
THINK SOMEWHAT MY PURPOSE IN
HAVING A BOOK WITH A
DINOSAUR ON THE COVER CALLED
THE CREATURE FROM THE
SEVENTH GRADE, ASIDE FROM
THEMATICALLY, IT IS LIKE
ADOLESCENCE.
YOU FEEL LIKE A CREATURE,
BUT ALSO AS YOU PROBABLY
KNOW, IT IS VERY HARD TO GET
YOUNG BOYS IN THAT AGE
BRACKET, ACTUALLY UP TO 15
AND 16, ALTHOUGH HARRY
POTTER HAS BEEN A FANTASTIC
EXCEPTION.
IT IS REALLY HARD TO GET
PEOPLE TO READ.
>> I HAVE A TWELVE YEAR OLD.
>> DOES HE READ?
>> YES, FOR INSTANCE, THIS
BOOK HE READ.
>> HOW CAN HE NOT READ IT?
>> RIGHT, HOW CAN HE NOT
READ IT BUT I AM THINKING OF
VARIOUS SERIES MEETING THAT
AGE, WHETHER IT IS NATE THE
GREAT, OR A DIARY OF WIMPY
KIDS ARE LARGELY PICTURE
BOOKS WITH WORDS, NOT REALLY
AND YOU THINK IT'S BECAUSE
OF WHAT?
>> I THINK BECAUSE IT MAKES
IT LESS FRIGHTENING FOR BOYS
WHO ARE SLIGHTLY AFRAID TO
READ BECAUSE IF THEY READ
THROUGH IT, IT WON'T BE
CHALLENGING AND I THINK IT
IS I GOT TO READ THE WHOLE
BOOK, BUT IF YOU TOOK OUT
THE PICTURES, IT IS ONLY 17
PAGES.
>> BUT I THINK THE THEME
THAT GOES THROUGH THIS BOOK
WILL BE FOR THESE KIDS
WHETHER THEY REALIZE OR NOT,
VERY FAMILIAR, CHARLIE DRINK
WATER IS THE PROTAGONIST,
DECATUR, ILLINOIS.
>> MY OLD FAVORITE CITY.
>> HE IS TO GO THROUGH
PUBERTY, BUT INSTEAD OF
PUBERTY, HE BEGINS TO SPROUT
SCALES, GREEN SKIN AND HE
TRANSFORMS.
>> WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH MY
EXPERIENCE.
>> IS THAT RIGHT?
YOU SEEMED TO HAVE GOTTEN
OVER IT, THOUGH.
>> I FELT LIKE IT.
>> DO YOU ACTUALLY REMEMBER
WHAT IT WAS LIKE -- AND MY
PARENTS WEREN'T PRUDES OR
ANYTHING BUT THEY DIDN'T
TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT
ADOLESCENCE AND I REMEMBER I
HEARD ABOUT IT AND CERTAIN
THINGS WERE GOING TO HAPPEN
BUT YOU CAN'T IMAGINE IT
UNTIL YOU EXPERIENCE IT.
I WOKE UP ONE MORNING AND I
HAD HAIR UNDER MY ARM THAT I
THOUGHT WAS 20 FEET LONG.
WAIT A MINUTE, WHERE DID
THIS COME FROM?
LIKE THAT THING THEY NEVER
TOLD ME, WHAT HAPPENED.
I THOUGHT I WAS ABNORMAL AND
BECOMING A GORILLA OR
SOMETHING.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS
HAPPENING.
SO IT WAS A NATURAL LEAP TO
SAY, WELL, HE IS GOING
THROUGH WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE
DOES, EVEN THOUGH YOU FEEL
LIKE YOU HAVE A TAIL AND
GILL SLITS, AND HE REALLY
DOES HAVE IT.
>> I AM TRYING TO KNOW, OR
ASSUME, PRESUME THE VOTE
VOCATION FOR DOING THIS.
YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL ACTOR,
DIRECTOR, PRODUCER.
YOU HAVE A VERY BUSY LIFE.
YOU CAN TWO AS MUCH STUFF
LIKE THAT AS YOU WANT.
YOU CAN DO NONE OF THIS
STUFF.
NOBODY WOULD COME DOWN WHY
DOES BOB BALABAN WRITE FOR
THESE KIDS BUT YOU HAVE
SPENT TIME DOING THIS.
WHY?
>> THE UNEXAMINED LIFE.
I DON'T KNOW.
>> THERE IS NO MOTIVATION?
>> THE MOTIVATION FOR THE
FIRST ONE WAS I DON'T SIT
STILL BASICALLY AS -- YOU
KNOW, I AM ADD-ISH AND ALSO,
THE WHOLE REASON I STARTED
DIVERSIFYING -- I WAS AN
ACTOR FOR MY WHOLE LIFE.
I STARTED BASICALLY WHEN I
WAS 17 OR 18 ACTING
PROFESSIONALLY.
I NEVER IMAGINED I WOULD
HAVE A CAREER PARTICULARLY
BECAUSE HOW -- IT IS SO
UNLIKELY A PERSON SUCH AS I
WOULD BE AN ACTOR.
>> THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO
MAKE IT IS A SMALL
PERCENTAGE OF THOSE WHO
WOULD LOVE TO MAKE IT, LIKE
PRO-SPORTS.
>> PROBABLY.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE
IT ARE MOSTLY BEING WAITERS
AND THEY WORK EVERY ONCE IN
A WHILE.
THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD HAVE
85,000 PEOPLE IN IT AND
4,000 PEOPLE WORK, SO IT IS
VERY DIFFICULT.
I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD BE --
I DIDN'T EVER ACTUALLY THINK
ABOUT HAVING A CAREER,
HAVING A LIFE, WHAT WOULD I
BE WHEN I GROW UP.
I PAID NO ATTENTION AND I
WENT MOMENT BY MOMENT.
IT IS NOT A GREAT WAY TO
LIVE.
I DON'T RECOMMEND IT.
>> YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE.
>> I GUESS I AM NOT THE ONLY
ONE.
>> AND YOU CAME AROUND IT, I
AM GUESSING LATE '90S TO --
>> MY FIRST BOOK -- WELL, I
HAVE ONE SERIES OF BOOKS
BEFORE THIS, AND THEN I
WROTE A BOOK THAT WAS
SUCCESSFUL, ABOUT 25 -- 35
YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY, BY
MISTAKE, ACTUALLY.
WHEN I WAS 30 YEARS OLD,
MY -- WE WERE PREGNANT, MY
WIFE WAS PREGNANT AND I HAD
NOT FINISHED COLLEGE BECAUSE
I STARTED WORKING.
ACTUALLY I LEFT TO DO THE
MOVIE CATCH-22 WHEN I WAS A
SENIOR IN COLLEGE AND NEVER
CAME BACK BECAUSE I WAS KIND
OF WORKING AND IT WAS JUST
TWO COURSES, TWO CARES.
MY WIFE IS PREGNANT AND SHE
SAID, I THINK IT'S JUST A
BAD EXAMPLE FOR OUR CHILD TO
KNOW THAT YOU QUIT COLLEGE
AND DIDN'T COME BACK.
>> FIX THAT NOW.
>> YEAH AND SO I DID.
I SIGNED UP FOR TWO COURSES.
I SIGNED UP FOR ENGLISH
COURSE, BOTH THE CRITICAL
THING FOR THESE COURSES IS
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO ATTEND
BECAUSE I WAS WORKING AND
AWAY ALL THE TIME.
SO YOU PAID YOUR LOTS OF
MONEY FOR YOUR TWO COURSES
AND THEN YOU TOOK -- IN ONE
CASE YOU TOOK AN EXAM FOR
THE ENGLISH COURSE, WHICH
WAS FINE, IT WAS EUGENE
O'NEAL.
I HAD READ IT ALREADY AND MY
WIFE HAD NOTES FROM WHEN SHE
TOOK IT AND I WAS FINE AND
THEN A SOCIOLOGY COURSE.
IT WAS REQUIRED THAT I TAKE
A SOCIOLOGY COURSE BUT I HAD
TO TAKE A COURSE YOU DIDN'T
HAVE TO GO TO SO IT WAS A
COURSE WHERE YOU JUST WROTE
A PAPER.
WHAT KIND OF COURSE IS THAT?
THEY DIDN'T TEACH YOU
ANYTHING.
YOU WROTE YOUR PAPER, SPENT
YOUR $9,000 AND THEN YOU
GRADUATED.
I WROTE A PAPER ABOUT SOCIAL
STRATIFICATION ON A FILM SET
AND THE REASON I CHOSE THAT
IS I JUST FINISHED BEING IN
A MOVIE, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF
THE THIRD KIND, AND I
THOUGHT, WELL, YOU KNOW,
THERE IS A LOT OF SOCIAL
STRATIFICATION THERE AND I
DON'T HAVE TO READ ANYTHING.
ALL I DID WAS READ HALF A
BOOK ON SOCIAL
STRATIFICATION SO I KNEW THE
TERMINOLOGY AND WHIPPED UP
MY STORIES ABOUT CLOSE
ENCOUNTERS AND TURNED IT IN
AND GOT AN A.
>> TELL ONE STORY.
>> IT WAS SO BORING.
IT WAS A PAPER I WASN'T
ALLOWED TO BE FUNNY.
I DIDN'T MENTION THE MOVIE.
I CALLED IT MOVIE A AND
CHARACTER ACTOR B, LIKE IT
IS SO IMPORTANT THAT I HIDE
ALL OF THIS.
>> NOT THE NAME.
EXACTLY.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS
THINKING.
>> NO RECOGNITION OF THE
REGULAR, LIKE...
>> AND THERE IS A PARTY
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE AND
I WAS SAYING TO FRIEND
EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TELLING
YOU, AND IT WAS A GOSSIP
COLUMNIST, I DON'T REMEMBER
WHO, AND LITERALLY THE NEXT
DAY, SOMEBODY CALLED AND
SAID READ THE PAPER.
THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT YOU
IN THE COLUMN.
I SAID WHAT DOES IT SAY.
IT SAID BOB HAS WRITTEN A
FABULOUS TELL-ALL BEHIND THE
SCENES DIARY OF THE MAKING
OF CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, THE
GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE,
AND I GOT THREE CALLS FROM
PUBLISHERS AND I SOLD THE
BOOK, BUT I HADN'T WRITTEN
THE BOOK AND I HAD TO
CONFESS, WELL, I DON'T HAVE
A BOOK.
WELL, IT IS A GOOD IDEA.
CAN YOU WRITE IT IN A WEEK?
I SAID HOW MUCH WILL YOU PAY
ME AND THEY SAID AND I SAID
OKAY.
SO THAT WAS MY FIRST.
>> BOOK ONE.
>> COMPLETE MISTAKE.
>> SECOND BOOK IS NOW I AM
OLDER.
NOW I AM DIVERSIFIED AND I
STARTED DIRECTING AND
PRODUCING WHEN I WAS ABOUT
35 BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, HOW
MANY MORE TIMES CAN I BE A
DOCTOR OR A LAWYER OR A
PSYCHIATRIST, AND I GOT AN
IDEA FOR TELEVISION, NO, I
GOT IDEA FOR A MOVIE,
ACTUALLY, ABOUT A BOY AND
HIS BIONIC DOG AND I WROTE A
TREATMENT FOR THAT AND
SUBMITTED IT TO SCHOLASTIC
PUBLISHING BECAUSE THEY HAD
A MOVIE DIVISION.
THEY SAID WE DON'T WANT TO
MAKE A MOVIE BUT IT IS A
PERFECT SERIES OF KIDS BOOKS
BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING FOR
BOOKS FOR YOUNG BOYS THAT
WILL BE APPEALING TO YOUNG
BOYS AND FORCE THEM TO READ.
>> AND IT IS EXACTLY THE
KIND OF BOOK, WELL, IT'S NOT
LIKE THAT, SIMPLER.
>> IT WAS ACTUALLY SMALLER
AND DIDN'T HAVE PICTURES,
EITHER, SO KIND OF READING
BOOK BUT A LITTLE BIT EASIER
TO READ.
>> PLOT IS, DOG IS HIT BY A
CAR, RIGHT?
>> YES, HOW DO YOU KNOW
THAT?
>> IN THE MCGROWL.
BECAUSE I PAY ATTENTION TO
THAT.
>> DOG HIT BY A CAR AND THE
OWNER MORE CONCERNED ABOUT
WHETHER THE DOG IS GOING TO
SURVIVE AND THEY DO THE LEE
MAJORS ON HIM.
>> AND A MAD SCIENTIST FIXES
THE DOG AND THE DOG IS NOW
FILLED WITH METAL PARTS AND
HE COMES WITH INSTRUCTIONS
WHEN HE COMES OUT OF THE
HOSPITAL.
HE IS SHAKY AND CREAKS AND
WEIGHS 400 POUNDS EVEN
THOUGH HE IS A LITTLE DOG
BECAUSE HE HAS THIS STUFF IN
IT AND IT SAYS WHEN YOU TAKE
YOUR DOG HOME, DO THIS, DO
THIS, DO THIS AND WHATEVER
YOU DO, DON'T TAKE YOUR DOG
TO A POWER PLANT.
AND WE FIGURED THE CAT-DOG
HATRED RELATIONSHIP AND THE
CAT TANTALIZES THE DOG AND
THE DOG RUNS INTO THE POWER
PLANT.
THE FIRST THING THE DOG GOES
INTO THE POWER PLANT, DON'T
LET MY DOG -- THERE IS A
HUGE EXPLOSION, FIZZLING,
POPPING, ALL EXCITING
THINGS.
THE DOG GOES FLYING 300 FEET
IN THE AIR AND LANDS ON ITS
FEET AND HIS HAIR IS LIKE
FRANKENDOG, LIKE THE BRIDE
OF FRANKENSTEIN AND THEN AS
HE IS COMING HOME, HE
REALIZE HE AND THE DOG HAVE
TELEPATHIC COMMUNICATION
BECAUSE THE DOG HAS SUPER
POWERS.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO THAT.
IT IS JUST MY MOVIE THAT
DIDN'T GET MADE AND THIS I
DID ON PURPOSE.
>> HOW MUCH OF YOUR CAREER
HAS BEEN DELIBERATE?
THE CHOICES YOU MAKE ALWAYS
SEEM SO INTERESTING, AND I
AM CERTAIN THERE IS A METHOD
THERE BUT YOU DON'T WORK
BECAUSE YOU NEED THE MONEY,
OR AT LEAST THAT'S NOT HOW
IT APPEARS.
YOU CHOOSE INTERESTING
THINGS TO DO.
THAT'S MY OBSERVATION.
>> MOST THINGS I DO, YOU
DON'T GET PAID FOR
PARTICULARLY, LIKE
INDEPENDENT MOVIES.
>> LABOR OF LOVE.
>> I ACTUALLY THINK -- I
DON'T THINK TOO MUCH THAT
CAN BE TRUE.
I DON'T THINK REALLY IN ANY
OF THE ARTS YOU EVER SIT
DOWN AND GO, I THINK I WILL
PAINT MY PICTURES THIS WAY
SO I WILL MAKE A LOT OF
MONEY.
>> YOU DON'T THINK THERE ARE
DIRECTORS WHO THINK ONE MORE
ME, ONE FOR THEM AND I WILL
MAKE THIS ART AND --
>> YES, BARRY LIVINGSTON,
WHO IS A FRIEND OF MINE, AND
I LOVE HIM, IF YOU LOOK AT
HIS CAREER, THERE IS A
BALTIMORE MOVIE AND THEN
THERE IS A MOVIE.
IN MY CASE, I BASICALLY -- I
AM SORT OF SELF-SELECTING.
I SENT MOVIES TO DIRECT
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THAT
ARE SO GENERIC AND SO
HORRIFYING AND I WOULD
POSSIBLY DO THEM BECAUSE I
DID DO ONE OF THOSE MOVIES
IN 15 OR -- WHEN I WAS HERE
IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, BUT I
FOUND THAT IT WAS SO FOR ME
I COULDN'T DO IT.
IT TOOK ME A YEAR TO
RECOVER.
>> NO FUN.
>> DOING THINGS I THOUGHT
THAT IS NOT FUNNY.
I HATE THAT.
WHY COULDN'T I MOVE THE
CAMERA, WHY COULDN'T WE CAST
THIS PERSON.
WE WERE CASTING AN OLDER
ACTRESS WHO IS A GENIUS AND
I WON'T REVEAL HER NAME TO
YOU, ALTHOUGH SHE WILL KNOW.
SHE WON AN ACADEMY AWARD.
SHE IS A GENIUS.
WE WOULD BE LUCKY.
SHE WANTED TO BE IN OUR
MOVIE AND THEY CALLED AND
SAID I THINK SHE HAS LIVER
SPOTS ON HER ARM, AND I SAID
THAT'S OKAY, SHE IS PLAYING
90 YEARS OLD.
AND THEY SAID, WE DON'T WANT
ACTORS WITH LIVER SPOTS ON
THEIR ARMS, AND I SAID, WHO
CARES, I NEVER NOTICE LIVER
SPOTS.
>> WHEN I HEAR THAT, I THINK
HOLLYWOOD IS AS BAD AS IT
CAN BE.
>> YES.
NOT THAT IT CAN BE AND
EVERYTHING ELSE.
>> AND BECAUSE --
>> BECAUSE I LIKE THEM
DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE GOOD.
>> IT IS INTERESTING TO YOU
OR A PROJECT THAT APPEALS TO
YOU.
>> IT IS INTERESTING TO ME.
>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT --
YOU PRODUCED GOSFORD PARK.
>> I SORT OF GENERATED, NOT
CREATED.
>> ROBERT ALTMAN.
>> HE IS A FRIEND OF MINE.
>> WOULD NOT KILL, NOT BE
PAID, A MOP-UP TO WORK WITH
ROBERT ALTMAN AND THE LATE
LAMENTED DEAR DEPARTED
ROBERT ALTMAN.
>> I MET HIM WHEN I WAS 23
OR 24 YEARS OLD FOR BREWSTER
MCCLOUD.
I DIDN'T GET THE PART BUT I
MET HIM.
>> IT IS A WONDERFUL MOVIE.
>> YES, I THINK IT'S GREAT
AND ROBERT WAS WILDLY
INCLUSIVE IN HIS -- IN HIS
BEING WITH ACTORS.
I WENT TO SCREENINGS WITH
MANY OF HIS MOVIES LIKE WITH
MANY PEOPLE WHERE HE WOULD
SAY WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
THAT.
DID YOU LIKE IT, BUT BOB ON
THE SET WILL GO TO CRAFT
SERVICES AND SAY, YOU AREN'T
COMING TO THE MOVIE, WHAT'S
WRONG, YOU DON'T LIKE THE
MOVIE.
>> VERY GENEROUS.
>> AND INSANELY SECURE ABOUT
HIS WORK, ALSO.
AND TRUTHFULLY, IF YOU CAN
BE A COMMUNIST FILMMAKER, HE
WAS A COMMUNIST FILMMAKER.
>> VERY LATE IN HIS CAREER
THAT FILM, RIGHT?
>> WELL, YEAH, WHEN HE WAS
82, YES, THE LAST FIVE, SIX
YEARS.
>> BUT THE FILM IS
FANTASTIC.
IN SO MANY WAYS IT IS
PERFECT AS AN ALTMAN FILM.
IT FITS PERFECTLY.
>> WELL, SOMEBODY SAID I
THINK IN HIS MEMORIAL
SERVICE WHICH WAS BEAUTIFUL,
ROBERT MADE ONE LONG MOVIE.
HE DIDN'T LIKE THEM TO END.
HE ALWAYS HAD A LOT OF
PEOPLE TALKING A LOT OF THE
TIME, LIKE A FAMILY FOR HIM.
NO MATTER HOW YOU READ IT ON
PAPER, THERE WERE GOING TO
BE SCENES OF 28 PEOPLE
TALKING.
I HAVE BEEN ON THE SCENE
WITH 28 PEOPLE TALKING BUT
BOB LIKED THE NOISE, HE
LIKED THE COMPETITION FOR
WHO IS GOING TO HAVE THE
STAGE RIGHT NOW.
HE LOVED THAT.
>> WE MENTIONED MOONRISE
KINGDOM.
>> YES.
>> WES ANDERSON, IN SOME
WAYS LIKE ALTMAN CREATES
THIS VERY PERFECT WORLD.
YOU CAN PASS BY A FILM
SCREEN WITH WES ANDERSON
FILM TRAILER ON IT AND
WITHOUT SEEING WHO IS IN IT
OR WHAT, THAT IT IS WES.
>> I CAN'T THINK OF A
FILMMAKER LIKE THAT THAT HAS
PEOPLE WEARING THE SAME
COSTUMES IN ALL PERIODS AND
SAME MOVIES AND THEY AREN'T
EXACTLY THE SAME BUT HIS
POINT OF VIEW -- THE REASON
YOU BOUGHT IT IN A WES
ANDERSON MOVIE AND I THOUGHT
IT WORKED REALLY GOOD IN
MOONRISE KINGDOM BECAUSE I
THOUGHT IT LOOKS SO
ARTIFICIAL IN A WAY AND IT'S
SO EMOTIONAL AND SO POWERFUL
AND VISCERAL THAT THE
TENSION BETWEEN THE TWO I
THOUGHT WAS BRILLIANT.
I LOVED THAT.
>> AND GETS SUCH GREAT WORK
OUT OF ITS ACTORS.
ALL OF THE FILMS, RUSHMORE,
AND EVEN STEVE ZISSOU, WHICH
I PERSONALLY DIDN'T LIKE AS
MUCH.
BUT ALL OF THOSE ARE SO
AMAZING HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO
CONJURE UP.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU
WORKED WITH HIM?
>> I KNEW HIM SLIGHTLY BUT
THE FIRST TIME, YES.
>> DOES HE HAVE HESITATION
AT ALL?
>> HESITATION, GOD NO.
>> SORT OF LIKE WHAT PEOPLE
SAY ABOUT WOODY ALLEN, OH MY
GOD I GOT THE CALL.
>> I AM DOING WES ANDERSON'S
NEXT MOVIE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM DOING
OR THE NAME.
>> A WEIRD MYSTIQUE.
>> I HAVE NO IDEA.
>> WHY DID YOU GO INTO THE
BUSINESS TO BEGIN WITH?
YOU SAID YOU STARTED ACTING
WHEN, WHAT, 17?
>> YES, I WAS A CAPTAINEER
WHEN I WAS 3 YEARS OLD.
WELL MY FAMILY COMES FROM
THE SHOW BUSINESS,
BASICALLY.
>> TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> MY DAD WAS BORN IN 1908,
THE YOUNGEST OF -- FEW OF
THE KIDS DIED SO PROBABLY
YOUNGEST OF 11 KIDS ON A
STREET CALLED MAXWELL STREET
IN CHICAGO WHICH IS LOWEST
EAST SIDE JEWISH GHETTO OF
CHICAGO, AND BENNY GOODMAN,
JACK RUBY, ARTHUR, FIRST
JEWISH MEMBER OF THE SUPREME
COURT, ARTHUR GOLDBERG, BILL
PALEY, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE
LIVED IN ABJECT PROPERTY IN
THE LOWER WEST SIDE OF
CHICAGO AND HIS MOTHER
WALKED INTO A NICKELODEON IN
1980 AND WERE IN THE GROCERY
BUSINESS AND THEY WERE
FAILING AND DOING VERY, VERY
BADLY BECAUSE MY GRANDFATHER
WAS A KIND, SWEET MAN AND
EVERYBODY BOUGHT ON CREDIT
AND HE WOULD NEVER GO
COLLECT MONEY AT THE END OF
THE MONTH BECAUSE HE WAS TOO
GUILTY TO DO THAT, AND THEY
BARELY HAD REFRIGERATION AND
EVERY VEGETABLE WOULD GO
BAD.
AND SHE WENT TO NICKELODEON
AND THE OLDER BROTHER CAME
WITH HER AND SHE WENT HOME
SAID, BOYS, IT IS THE
BUSINESS OF THE FUTURE WE
ARE GOING IN THE MOVIE
BUSINESS OF 1908.
>> SHE THOUGHT --
>> SHE SAID THERE IS NO
WASTE.
>> -- NOTHING TO THROW AWAY.
>> NOTHING TO THROW AWAY.
>> YOU SEND IT BACK, GET A
NEW ONE.
>> BRAND NEW, AND I DON'T
CARE WHAT YOUR FATHER DOES.
YOU'VE GOT TO PAY WHEN YOU
COME IN.
IT'S A NICKEL.
IT IS CALLED NICKELODEN.
YOU HAVE TO DO THAT BEFORE
YOU GO.
THEY DID THAT.
25 YEARS LATER, THEY HAVE 75
PICTURE ALBUMS THERE AND
THEN THEY WENT ON BALLAD --
MY DAD'S OLDEST BROTHER WENT
TO RUN PARAMOUNT FOR 35
YEARS.
AND THEN SAM KATZ, WHO HAS
BEEN MARRIED TO MY FATHER'S
SISTER, SHE DIED AND MOVED
TO CALIFORNIA AND RAN RKO
FOR A WHILE AND STARTED
MUSICAL DIVISION AT MGM AND
HIRED ARTHUR FREED AND HAD
FRED ASTAIRE AND GENE KELLY
MOVIE AND SINGING IN THE
RAIN AND WIZARD OF OZ AND
STUFF.
>> IT IS A FAMILY BUSINESS.
>> YES, AND THEY WERE SO
OLD.
I VAGUELY KNEW ABOUT THEM
AND I DIDN'T GROW UP IN THE
MOVIE BUSINESS.
IT WAS SOMEWHAT IN MY BLOOD.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN MY
FAMILY DIDN'T GET INTO IT
BUT I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT TELLING
STORIES AND I NEVER, EVER,
LIKE LOOK FORWARD TO AN HOUR
AND A HALF, LIKE WHO IS
GOING TO GO TO MY NEXT
PUPPET SHOW, THAT IS AS FAR
AS I COULD SEE IN THE FUTURE
OF THAT.
I WORKED AT A VERY YOUNG AGE
AND ALWAYS CONTINUED TO
WORK.
>> DID YOU ALWAYS IMAGINE
YOUR CAREER WOULD BE THIS?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS
FRANKLY, BUT YOU WILL HAVE
TO TELL ME.
>> WHAT IS THE BEST WAY --
IS MIDNIGHT COWBOY BEFORE
CAST AWAY?
>> THE SAME.
>> CAME OUT IN '69.
>> YES, I WAS A SENIOR IN
COLLEGE.
>> YOU ARE LOOKING AT 45
YEARS DOING THIS?
>> YES.
>> CAN WE EAT THIS TIME AND
GET IT BACK.
>> MR. MCGROWL.
>> I AM ON A TIGHTROPE.
IF YOU TELL ME THIS, I WILL
FALL OFF.
>> WHAT IS AMAZING IS YOUR
CAREER AS OUTSIDE OBSERVER
IS SO CONSISTENT.
YOU WORKED CONSISTENTLY AND
YOU HAVE MADE CHOICES YOU
WANT TO MAKE AND I THINK IN
SOME WAYS THE CHRISTOPHER
GUEST FILMS, WHICH WE
HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT, BUT WE
WILL, WHAT A WONDERFUL THING
TO BE DOING WITH THIS, THAT,
THE OTHER.
>> SO WONDERFUL AND FUN.
>> ARE THEY AS FUN AS THEY
APPEAR TO BE?
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
THE MOST FOUND FOR ME WAS
THE FIRST ONE, BECAUSE I
NEVER KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT
IT.
COMING TO THIS MOVIE.
>> WAITING FOR GUFFMAN.
>> YES, WAITING FOR GUFFMAN
AND YOU SEE AN OUTLINE AND
THAT IS IT.
>> THE RUMORS ABOUT HOW THEY
COME TOGETHER IS TRUE.
>> YES, THE RUMOR IS TRUE.
>> BASICALLY WE HAVE A
SKETCH OF WHAT WE THINK WE
ARE GOING TO DO BUT WE HAVE
NOTHING SPECIFIC, THOUGH.
>> YES, WELL, THEY HAVE
SPECIFIC IN THAT THIS IS THE
FIRST SCENE.
YOU ARE GOING TO DISCUSS THE
FACT THAT GUFFMAN IS GOING
TO COME IN AT THE END OF THE
MOVIE, THIS IS WHERE WE
REHEARSE AND DO THAT.
>> BUT ONLY AS SPECIFIC AS
THINGS ESSENTIALLY THAT MOVE
THE PLOT ALONG BUT THE
DETAILS, GUTS OF IT, THE
LINES --
>> OH,YEAH.
>> YOU FILL IT IN.
>> AND YOU SHOOT A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF THINGS
WHICH DON'T END UP IN THE
MOVIE WHICH IS AMAZING FOR
SEVERAL REASONS.
WE IN THE MOVIE, WHEN YOU
SEE THE MOVIE LIKE WAITING
FOR GUFFMAN IN THE
BEGINNING, WE WOULD SEE THE
MOVIE AND CALL EACH OTHER
AND SAY, I AM SO SAD BECAUSE
ALL OF OUR PARTS WERE GONE.
>> YOUR GRANDMOTHER WOULD
HATE IT.
>> LOOK HOW MUCH WASTE THERE
IS.
>> I AM AMAZED IN THE ERA WE
LIVE IN, WHERE THERE IS
EXTRAS ON DVDS.
>> WE HAVE EXTRAS BUT HE
DOESN'T PUT IT.
>> IT WOULD BE AMAZING IF
THEY RELEASED THE STUFF.
>> TWO THINGS, YOU HAVE TO
CUT THEM.
YOU CAN'T SHOW THE FOOTAGE
RAW.
IT REQUIRES A LOT OF ENERGY
TO CUT AND THERE IS A LOT OF
UNBELIEVABLE BORING STUFF IN
OUTTAKES BECAUSE WE ARE NOT
ENCOURAGED TO BE FUNNY.
IT IS FUNNY BECAUSE IT IS
FUNNY.
>> IT IS NOT UNUSUAL BECAUSE
YOU CRACK ONE -- I HAVE TO
IMAGINE EUGENE CRACKING
EVERYBODY UP.
>> WE WILL CRACK UP FROM
TIME TO TIME, BUT IT IS KIND
OF FROWNED UPON AND WE TRY
NOT TO.
MOSTLY I CRACK UP WHEN I AM
TIRED.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE FUNNY.
IF I AM REALLY TIRED, I CAN
START LAUGHING NOW.
[LAUGHTER].
>> DON'T RUIN THIS VERY
SOMBER MOOD.
>> SORRY.
>> BUT THE SPECIFICS OF
THIS -- I AM TO ASSUME THAT
SPECIFIC ATTRIBUTES OF
CHARACTER OF YOURS IN THOSE
FILMS, MY FAVORITE THING IN
THE ENTIRE WORLD, IN THE
ENTIRE WORLD IS YOU HAVING
TO WEAR A FOOTBALL HELMET
PLAYING CHESS AS A CHILD
BECAUSE YOUR MOTHER WAS
AFRAID YOU WOULD FALL AND
BREAK YOUR HEAD.
>> THAT IS PARTIALLY TRUE.
>> MIGHTY WIND.
>> MIGHTY WIND.
>> EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, I
LOVE HE SAID THAT AND WE
TALK TO THE CAMERA AND SAY
STUFF ABOUT OURSELVES AND
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE,
CHRISTOPHER OR EUGENE WILL
GET AN IDEA, WHOEVER IS
WRITING THIS THING, AND
OCCASIONALLY THEY WILL PUT
IN A GOOD JOKE.
WHEN HE PUT IN THE JOKE
ABOUT MY MOTHER, I COULD
HAVE DONE ANYTHING ELSE IN
THE WORLD.
I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD TO
SAY THAT BUT IF I HATE IT, I
WOULDN'T SAY IT BUT IT
COMPLETELY INFLUENCED
EVERYTHING ABOUT ME FOR THE
REST OF THE MOVIE.
>> MY MOST FAVORITE THING IN
ANY OF THOSE THINGS, THE
MOST MEMORABLE THING.
>> I LIKE THAT, ALTHOUGH I
DIDN'T WRITE IT.
FROM THEN ON IN THE MOVIE,
ANY TIME -- AND THIS IS
SUBCONSCIOUS BECAUSE YOU
DON'T -- IT IS INTERESTING,
I STUDIED AT THE SECOND CITY
IN CHICAGO WHEN I WAS IN
HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY HAD A TEENAGE WORKSHOP
WITH THIS AMAZING WOMAN
CALLED VIOLA SPOLIN WHO
WROTE THE BOOK ON IMPROVE
ADVERTISING -- I THINK IT IS
CALLED THEATER GAMES AND
FANTASTIC BUT SHE ALWAYS
MADE A VERY SECURE POINT.
YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, WHERE
YOU WENT, WHERE YOU ARE
GOING.
YOU KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
YOU DO NOT COME IN AND PLAN
WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SAY OR
DO.
YOU ALLOW THE STICKS TO
BRING YOU TO THAT AND IT IS
REALLY ODD -- WELL, WHAT AM
I, PSYCHOTIC.
I KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT
THE TRUTH IS IT ACTUALLY
WORKS.
I WASN'T -- I AM NOT SUCH A
GREAT ACTOR BUT IF YOU TELL
ME YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO
ANYTHING, YOU DON'T HAVE TO
LEARN ANYTHING, DO WHAT YOU
NORMALLY WOULD DO BECAUSE IT
IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING, I CAN
DO THAT.
I MAY NOT BE FUNNY
NECESSARILY.
I CAN DO IT BUT YOU ARE
TAUGHT DON'T USE YOUR HEAD
TO CREATE, USE WHATEVER IS
GOING ON IN THERE BUT THAT
WAS -- CAME INTO PLAY
COMPLETELY DURING THE
MOVIES.
>> AND NOW TO THE CELL
VISION PROGRAMS FOR HBO.
>> SERIES FOR HBO.
>> WITH MOST OF THE CAST OR
ALL OF THE CAST.
>> I KNOW SOME OF THE
PEOPLE, MICHAEL MCKEAN IS IN
IT.
I AM IN THE END AT AMERICA,
I PLAY TWO CHARACTERS FOR
THAT BUT I CAN'T REVEAL
THAT.
IT IS TOO EXCITING.
AND I THINK I WILL BE IN IT
AND I THINK IT PROBABLY WILL
BE WONDERFUL.
>> THAT IS THE NEXT BIG
THING YOU ARE DOING?
>> I AM ACTING IN A BUNCH OF
MOVIES.
I CAN TELL YOU THE FIRST
TWO, I WILL HINT ABOUT THE
THIRD ONE.
I AM DOING A MOVIE WITH JOHN
TURTURRO.
HE IS DIRECTING THE NEXT
WEEK OR TWO IN NEW YORK.
I PLAY WOODY ALLEN'S LAWYER
AND WOODY IS ACTING IN THE
MOVIE.
>> WOW.
>> SHARON STONE IS THE LOVE
INTEREST IN THE MOVIE.
I LOVE THE SCRIPT AND THINK
IT IS TERRIFIC AND ENJOY MY
PART.
>> THAT IS ONE.
>> I HAVE A PLAY RUNNING IN
NEW YORK THAT I
CONSTANTLY -- I PUT PEOPLE
INTO IT, SO IT IS KIND OF
SOMETHING I AM DOING CALLED
THE EXONERATED, A DOCUDRAMA
ABOUT SIX MEN AND WOMEN ON
DEATH ROW WHO ARE INNOCENT
AND ACTING IN ANOTHER WES
ANDERSON MOVIE, I THINK IN
GERMANY IN FEBRUARY.
I AM NOT THERE FOR LONG, IT
IS SORT OF -- PROBABLY A FEW
DAYS I WILL BE THERE AND I
AM DOING ANOTHER MOVIE WHICH
I AM NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT
RIGHT NOW, BUT IN EUROPE.
IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING IN
EUROPE FOR LIKE A COUPLE OF
MONTHS, ALSO.
>> FANTASTIC.
>> ALSO IN FEBRUARY OR
MARCH.
>> I AM VERY HEARTENED AS I
LOOK OUT IN THE WORLD TO
KNOW THAT YOU WORK
CONSISTENTLY.
>> WELL, I AM GLAD.
[LAUGHTER]..
GOOD.
GOOD.
>> THAT'S THE KIND OF WORLD
I WANT TO LIVE IN.
>> GOOD.
>> THEY ARE TELLING ME WE
ARE OUT OF TIME.
I'M AM REALLY ELATED ABOUT
THIS BOOK AND I HOPE THE
FIRST OF MANY.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A COUPLE,
COMPLETED ONE AND WRITTEN ON
IT --
>> I AM NOT SURE I CAN WRITE
MORE THAN FOUR, I MAY KILL
MYSELF.
>> BUT I AM GLAD YOU DID
THAT.
>> GLAD TO MEET YOU.
>> YES.
>> AND GOOD LUCK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU
JOIN US IN THE STUDIO, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE, KLRU/OVERHEARD
TO FIND INTERVIEWS, Q AND A
WITH AUDIENCE GUESTS AND
ARCHIVE OF PAST EPISODES.
¶
>> FUNDING FOR OVERHEARD
WITH EVAN SMITH IS SUPPORTED
BY THE MATSON MCHAIL
DIVISION IN SUPPORT OF
PUBLIC TELEVISION, ALSO MFI
FOUNDATION, IMPROVING THE
QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN OUR
COMMUNITY, AND FROM THE
TEXAS BOARD OF LEGAL
SPECIALIZATION, BOARD
CERTIFIED ATTORNEYS IN YOUR
COMMUNITY, EXPERIENCED,
RESPECTED, AND TESTED.
ALSO, BY HILLCO PARTNERS,
TEXAS GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
CONSULTANCY, AND ITS GLOBAL
HEALTH CARE CONSULTING
BUSINESS UNIT, HILLCO
HEALTH, AND BY THE ALICE
KLEBERG REYNOLDS FOUNDATION
AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
¶
>> NEXT TIME ON OVERHEARD.
>> ACTUALLY, I WENT TO DO
THE MOVIE CATCH-22 WHEN I
WAS A SENIOR IN COLLEGE AND
NEVER CAME BACK AND CAME
BACK WORKING, WHICH IS TWO
COURSES, WHO CARES.
MY WIFE IS PREGNANT AND SHE
SAID, I THINK IT IS JUST A
BAD EXAMPLE FOR OUR CHILD TO
KNOW THAT YOU QUIT COLLEGE
AND DIDN'T COME BACK.
>> FIX THAT NOW.
>> RIGHT.
AND SO I DID.
>> I DON'T THINK IN ANY OF
THE ARTISTS EVER SIT DOWN
AND SAY I THINK I WILL PAINT
THIS PICTURE THIS WAY SO I
WILL MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.