Caffeinated Clint
Talks about his upcoming “The U.S vs. Bush”
Robert Boris has had an intriguing career. Kicking off his career in advertising – just as your friendly Webmaster did before he started to live by the ‘money schmoney’ motto – before deciding a bike-ride across the country would be more fun, he entered the film world with Electra Glide in Blue, which you may recall starred Robert Blake as a motorcycle cop. Since then he’s written or directed such films as “Doctor Detroit” starring Dan Ayrkoyd; “Oxford Blues” starring Rob Lowe; “Extreme Justice” with Scott Glenn, and the $45 million dollar actioner “Diplomatic Siege” starring Daryl Hannah. It’s his next film that he’s talking to CLINT MORRIS about, though.
What an interesting career you’ve had – how did you get into the film business?
My very first screenplay was made into a movie, and became the official U.S. ENTRY to the Cannes Film Festival. How’s that for an intro to the movie business?? I was fresh out of college, Carnegie Tech School of Drama in Pittsburgh, where I was a full scholarship student to study playwriting. I worked in advertising, and actually saw some of my tv commercials made … I created a campaign that said..”Gravy Train Makes A Dog Feel Like Rin-Tin-Tin.” After that, I decided to quit and bike across the country. In Pheonix, I was treated roughly, because some hippies had just shot a cop from the back of a van. Well, I took that experience and decided to write a screenplay about clashing cultures, and a short, over-achieving Motorcycle Cop. It was called ELECTRA GLIDE IN BLUE, and starred Robert Blake. My first script actually became a big studio movie, shot by the great Conrad Hall. It went to Cannes, and became a cult classic. I was on my way, and never went back to dog commercials.
You must have a good relationship with Rob Lowe. How had he changed between “Oxford Blues” and “Frank and Jesse”?
Rob had become a seasoned, dedicated actor…who took real chances. In Oxford Blues, he was the hot young “movie hunk.” In Frank and Jesse…he was truly a brilliant and resourceful actor, who applied a terrific touch of madness to his Jesse James character.
And how had YOU changed between then… and now, as a filmmaker?
Well, I’m older, wiser, and feel I’ve aged well, like good wine. I know a movie takes time, and a big chunk of your life if you want to write and direct. So I try to pick my projects with great care. U.S. V. BUSH and HOT MEN … are the kinds of stories that are worth giving a big chunk of your life to tell.
The “U.S vs. Bush” movie that you’re doing sounds intriguing, tell us how you discovered the book?
I read about it at various liberal or progressive websites on-line. I was fascinated by the concept and the drama. The moment I got the book, I realized it had the potential of strong political theater, the kind I loved during my college years. I felt this was the kind of political hypothesis…that could satisfy me … and maybe millions around the globe.
Is there anything you have to be careful about when doing a movie like this? I assume ‘everything’ has to be backed up by fact?
This book, and ALL THE FACTS IN IT…have been compiled by a dedicated Federal Prosecutor, Elizabeth de la Vega. All the facts are corroborated by multiple sources. In short, this is exactly the way Elizabeth would present a case before a Grand Jury. Her facts there would have to be accurate….and so are all the facts used in this book, and in this movie. We are here to tell the truth, to raise the very questions the world has asked….to place it before a fictional Grand Jury….and to let the chips fall where they may.
Now will Rob Lowe be in it? If not, who are you looking at for the leads?
I will certainly look to Rob to play an FBI Agent, or the Deputy Attorney General. Other than that, I am looking for a strong female lead to play Elizabeth Devlin, the name of the prosecutor in the book. With a project like this, and a part like this…I have NO reluctance to go to A-Level Actresses. Don’t be surprised to find an Oscar Winner or two on my wish list … or in the movie.
How do you manage to write, produce and direct at the same time? What’s the trick in wearing so many hats?
The trick…is in loving the story, and being dedicated to it…heart, body and soul. I have had a dream, a vision…from the moment I embarked on doing this movie. I pursued Elizabeth de la Vega, and the publishers Seven Stories … relentlessly. I was determined to get the rights to make the movie. I finally convinced them that I was the one who could make it happen, in a timely manner. And I won’t let them down, or my financiers, or the worldwide audience for that matter.
What’s your opinion – I can gather it from the fact that you’re doing the movie – on the President?
I am not a George Bush fan. But I was totally with him on the day he climbed on top of that rubble, and said the world would hear our answer to 9/11. I felt, yessss…he’s got it right. I’ll back him all the way. And I did. I cheered him on, I agreed with the invasion of Afghanistan … he had my vote. Hell, he had the nation behind him. That happens very rarely in our history. For one special moment, America…with all of her diversity…was united. That kind of unity wins global wars. That kind of unity won World War Two. Presidents like Franklin D. Roosevelt knew how to keep the nation behind him…and win that titanic struggle…together. My biggest problem with George W. Bush, is that he had us all united…and he squandered it. He wasted a magnificent moment in our history, when we could have accomplished anything. And instead…he began a campaign to take us into an Iraq War that is tearing this nation apart. I fear, the Great Uniter has become a Great Divider.
You obviously have an interest in politics. You did a film about Robert Kennedy a few moons back didn’t you?
YES. I wrote a book, and then a tv-mini-series about the titanic struggle between Robert Kennedy and Jimmy Hoffa, and how I feel that may have led to the death of President John F. Kennedy. In fact, I won the Writers Guild Award for the Best Mini-Series of 1983. I was deeply honored, and it remains one of the happiest projects of my career.
A lot of the films you wrote in the 80s, like “Extreme Justice” and “Steele Justice”, just don’t seem to be getting made anymore. Do you think, what with Stallone resurrecting Rambo etc, that we might see a return of those kinds of movies?
I’m not sure. First of all, what I did for fun, was kind of low budget action movies. That won’t cut it anymore, because the public is much too sophisticated. They expect so much more than little stunts and cheesy explosions. Thanks to CGI and big budgets, action has to be huge now, and with a solid story to back it up. The only pure action film that has worked in the last several years, is the recent Bond film, CASINO ROYALE. In that movie, the character was edgy, compelling, new…and oh yeah…HOT. The action was credible, and relentless. The new Rambo film will be interesting to see, but in my opinion…the modern audience likes their action mixed with fantasy, ala PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN or SPIDERMAN. Action movies that are more earthbound…have a tougher threshold.
