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BEETLEJUICE 20th Anniversary Interview |
On Sunday, October 20, 2008
Gary Childress
sat down with Glenn to talk about the 20th Anniversary
and the release of the special HD two disc set in honor of the
event.
GC: "How
do you feel now that BeetleJuice has become a true cult
classic?"
GS: "Excepting the fact
that this was my first film and Tim Burton's second, I must say
there is a part of me that is not surprised. We had so much fun
filming this unusual and so very original movie that I had a
feeling something very special was happening."
GC: "When and where was the film shot?"
GS:
"90% was shot on the
sound stages at Culver Studios (the former David O. Selznick
Studios) in Culver City (Los Angeles). All the Maitland home
(Alec and Geena's house) interiors were constructed on a sound
stage on the Culver City lot, as were all the other sets, except the exterior of the Maitland house and the doomed
Covered Bridge. The people in the little community of East
Corinth, VT (where we did the location filming) wanted us to
leave the bridge but it was not up to code. Warner Bros.
would have been responsible, and besides we practically destroyed it
filming the "accident". Rumor has it the town has built one but
I can't confirm that bit of gossip. The film's story
was set in Connecticut, but Vermont offered Tim the location he
needed."
GC: "What happened to the Maitland
house?"
GS:
"Same fate as the bridge. It was an empty shell built for
specific views and only stood approximately 16
days. I hope some enterprising young (safe drivers) have used
that lot and built something wonderful. It was a spectacular
location. Being Vermont, at least we know it won't ever be a Walmart."
GC: "What was the most interesting or
favorite part of the production for you?"
GS: "Easy one. The people who made the movie
on and behind the camera. Still in touch with many and
several have become my closest friends. It was truly unique
in that respect and has never happened again.
It was the happiest
time in a very happy life with hopefully more to come when
I'm ready to go back to Hollywood."
The Cast Gone Mad
GC: "How do you think of the way Tim Burton's career has
developed?"
GS: "First of all Tim is
an artist. The fact that he is so deeply involved in every aspect of A
TIM BURTON FILM is the reason he has earned that credit. He
is very adept with the suits at the studio and in recent
years has had Richard Zanuck (true Hollywood Royalty) as
his producer. His collaboration with Danny Elfman has
become one of the all time successful movie making teams.
In the end, however it Is Tim who makes the decisions."
GC: "How would you describe his directorial style?"
GS: "Temperamentally
smooth with diamond hard focus. I have only heard him raise
his voice once, and I heard it all the way from the
make-up trailer. He was on the set and someone in a
responsible position was not prepared with a workable
and very important prop. Other than that he casts so
well his direction is usually minimal and technical."
GC: "I have
to ask this. What was your favorite scene?"
GS: "I talked endlessly
about the dinner party in the
1997 interview with Shaun Fleming
and it seems a general favorite. In Miss Pauline
Kael's New Yorker review, she said, 'that scene like all
truly classic scenes will be just as funny in 50 years
as it is today' (The New Yorker,
April,
1988).
HOWEVER, the sweep through the house with
Catherine O'Hara truly was the most fun sequence I have ever
filmed, and I have never laughed so long and hard in my
life. Catherine was a hero of mine long before we
met."
GC: "Did the film win any
awards? I guess I should know this, but did it?"
GS:
"I don't think the Academy knew what to make of it
first off, and secondly it was a comedy, and they
seem to be less appreciated by the Academy. I am
extremely happy to report that yes, it did win an
Oscar, and a very special first-ever award for make
up. It was the first of three Oscars (so far) for my dear
friend Ve Neil and her team, Steve LaBorde and
Yolanda Toussing."
GC: "The cast in many years has since gone in many
directions and a lot has happened. Care to tell us
the real scoop?"
GS: "Most
everybody became stars is what happened! And then I
just became a regular working actor and sometimes that’s
just about the happiest place to be. I was stamped as
Otho in producers’ minds and that might have limited
some of what I would have liked to have done, but I am
quite content. I admire how Alec has created a great
second act as a very funny star character actor. It
took me a long time to warm up to Alec. I think because
we both are loud and larger than life and I was probably
a little jealous of the fact that he was so damned
handsome on top of all that talent.
"Unfortunately,
in the years since Beetlejuice opened, we’ve lost
two members of the ensemble that will be greatly missed,
the magnificent Sylvia Sydney, and most recently, the
unforgettable and delightful Robert Goulet."
GC:
"What about Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O’Hara?"
GS: "Both
of these very close friends of mine have made solid TV
and film careers and have worked constantly and always
in quality projects. Jeffrey recently wrapped a five
year stent on HBO’s Deadwood and is finishing up
a film in Los Angeles. Catherine has become a star
member of Chris Guest’s troupe, and scored with the Home Alone films,
Waiting for Guffman, Best in
Show, A Mighty Wind, among a dozen others, and has
FIVE films in pre-production."
GC:
"What about Winona Ryder?"
GS: "I met
Winona when she was 14 years old. She worked as an
actress for well over 20 years without a break, and was
recently co-starring with the late Heath Ledger when he
died unexpectedly. She will be back and she will shine
as bright as ever."
GC: "And Tim
Burton?"
GS: "Well,
most people who follow film know what’s up with Tim. He
has joined forces with Helena Bonham Carter and they
have been making babies and movies! What else can I
say?
"They
happily live in London, and since Helena’s grandfather
was Prime Minister, Tim has “joined” the Peerage."
GC: "Well, I
guess it‘s down to you Glenn. What the hell are you
doing living in Alabama, of all places?"
GS: "First
off, after 30 years of New York and Hollywood, I wanted
a change, and a big one. I bought a house (the first
house built in Bessemer, AL – in 1887) and have been
writing, gardening on my 3 acre lot, and really getting
my hands in the dirt, so to speak. Nothing could be
more of a contrast than leaving the Hollywood lifestyle
for small-town Alabama. Everyone keeps asking me if
there’s a ghost in my attic. If there is, I only hope
they're as cute as Alec and Geena were in 1988!
"I’m
not alone here. I live alone in this grand old piece of
art, but I have my mother, five brothers, a sister, six
nieces and nephews (with one due in April), all living
within 10 miles of my house. This is a time for me to
do some re-creation. I am currently learning French
from a wonderful lady named Miss Kitty for a production
of History Boys, that begins rehearsal in
Birmingham this coming January.
"I
wanted to celebrate the 20th
anniversary of
this incredible experience called Beetlejuice and
Warner Brothers has generously provided me with a big,
fat box full of DVDs, both Blue-Ray and standard format,
of the Deluxe 20th
Anniversary Edition of Beetlejuice. Starting soon,
there will be a trivia contest and I will be giving away
one copy of the DVD per week to the winner until they
are all gone."
Click here to
view Glenn's exclusive behind the scenes photo
gallery.
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