Spat:
How do you see the Internet as a part of your life and career in the
future, and how useful is it in your everyday life?
Bruce
Campbell: I see the Internet as the next big deal - I wanted to
get in on it early on so I wouldn't get behind it all. I have found
it useful for grass roots correspondence (safe too) and for work - I've
been contacted by several companies on the net, so it PAYS to have an
e-mail addy.
S:
Also, do you feel that the 'net is the television of the 90's, and what
are your favorite sites?
BC:
I'm not sure about that - time will tell. I hope it is, because much
of TV is a wasteland...the net is at least somewhat interactive. 90%
of TV is for letting your brain bleed out through your ears when you
have NOTHING else to do...
As far
as my favorite sites, I do a lot of mundane stuff on line because I
travel so much. I book hotels, flights, order CD's, vitamins, books
all on line. I do research for projects as well - when in doubt, go
to Yahoo. Hey, www.bccentral.com is a really good site... I'm answering
these 100 questions from New Zealand, so the net works for me.
S:
Does having two kids at all change the types of roles you accept?
BC:
Yes, but so does my mellowing of age and personal taste.
S:
Do you monitor what they watch and do you let them see your movies and
gory horror movies like the ones you've been in?
BC:
I monitor them when I can, but I am a bigger fan of imparting self-government
- to encourage them to develop their own standards that are as high
as teachers or parents or whoever. Ya can't chain those little buggers
in a room ya know - that's against the law...
S:
On your web page, you say "why re-hash yesterdays celluloid" when asked
about remaking "Evil Dead 2" yet you were in "McHales Navy" and were
slated to be in a television remake of "The Love Bug."
BC:
You're funny. Okay, so I contradicted myself...try and keep a single
train of thought in YOUR documented life...(you never gave me the courtesy
of your name, by the way, Mr./Ms. No Name Grand Inquisitor)...
S:
Do you feel that Hollywood is wasting people time with rehashed old
stories instead of coming up with more fresh and original scripts?
BC:
Heck yes. There are MAYBE 30 years worth of ideas out there...watch
for the feature version of ER in about 25 years...Hollywood has become
hopelessly chained to the bottom line.
S:
Do you feel that there is censorship in Hollywood?
BC:
Yes, creative censorship. This is sacrificed because the budgets are
bloating out of control and it results in movies that are much more
fomulaic (sp?).
S:
How do you feel about places like Blockbuster that censor their films
without telling the consumer?
BC:
I don't know, they haven't told me, have they?
S:
Have any of your films been cut by Blockbuster?
BC:
I wouldn't know, would I? (two can play this game, ya know...) We don't
have it as bad as they do in England, though, where they can remove
stuff before ANYONE sees it.
S:
Have you ever had to sleep with someone to get a role in a film?
BC:
Please - I'd rather drink Woolite on the street corner.
S:
Do you think this is as common a practice as most people think it is?
BC:
I don't know - to tell you the truth I don't read about Hollywood and
I don't gossip with my friends about it. People who sleep around to
get roles are frail and scared and most likely without talent. It's
their own little horror show that only they can deal with. As for me,
I pretty much mind my own business and act.
S:
We have noticed that in two of your television roles, Brisco County
Jr., and Bill Church Jr. on "Lois and Clark," you played characters
with the initials B.C.. Your initials are B.C.. Is this done as an in-joke?
BC:
No.
S:
A coincidence?
BC:
Bingo.
S:
Megalomania?
BC:
Please - as if I could force anyone to do this...
S:
Or do you really think you're older than Christ?
BC:
Excuse me while I fall asl ZZZZZZZZ....
S:
How tired are you of hearing about "Evil Dead" and Ash, and do you feel
that your fans should see you more as a character actor than just a
character?
BC:
I prefer the term "actor." You have placed your own opinion on your
question. I let my e-mail take the pulse of the folks out there. It's
now pretty much split between Evil Dead, Brisco and Hercules/Xena and
that sits very well with me - gotta keep 'em guessing.
S:
Does it bother you that they don't?
BC:
There you go again - to THOSE that don't, yeah it bugs me. It also is
a frustration because there are so many channels to watch that a lot
of the different things I've done simply have not been watched by folks
- or the shows never make it out of our country.
S:
In an answer to a question someone asked you on your web-site, you say
that "Ash is an idiot and he asks for everything he gets." You also
say that Ash deserved to be left alone at the of the world. Later, you
say that "Ash was no smarter than the average audience member was."
Are you saying that Ash characterizes your fans, and that your fans
deserve the same fate?
BC:
You're saying that, but okay, I'll run with it for a minute. I'm saying
that Ash, whoever that is, was "the guy next door." He's no different
than Joe Blow garage mechanic watching the film. Two things result:
audiences can identify with him since he's not an ex-CIA, FBI, Special
Forces or anything, and he suffers the tortures of the damned as a result...go
figure...
S:
A lot of your films have been based on supernatural events and story
lines. Do you yourself believe in the supernatural?
BC:
No, not in the basic sense. I'm far more interested in the "real guy"
caught in a fantastic situation. You need to root the fantasy on something
real.
S:
Have you ever had a supernatural experience yourself?
BC:
No, but I do believe in Metaphysics which I believe to be "natural"
as opposed to "supernatural."
S:
If you could be any character from "The Wizard of Oz," who would you
be, and why?
BC:
Toto - lots of screen time, no dialogue. Bonus Question:
S:
You say you are a big fan of wilderness preservation and of the environment.
Are there any issues in particular that you are passionate about?
BC:
Yeah - get the cattle off land that cannot support cattle (i.e. the
mythical west), cut down on population and folks should get back in
touch with land use/abuse. But don't get me started... Cripes, nothing
like crunching 100 questions in 11...sheesh!
S:
Thanks again for answering these question for us, Bruce.
BC:
Best,
Bruce
