Caffeinated Clint
Lori Petty’s likely best known for her work as an actress (she’s appeared in such films as “A League Of Their Own”, “Point Break”, “Tank Girl” and “Free Willy”) but after her impressive directorial debut, “The Poker House “, she might soon find herself recognized by a new title : filmmaker. CLINT MORRIS talks to the always-honest Petty about a film inspired by her own tragic upbringing.
Was it always your plan to direct the film?
It wasn’t a plan as such. I wrote five or six pages of it, like a story, and then I just threw it away. And then my friend David Allen Grier called me and asked, ‘What’s going on with that script you’re writing?’ – We’d written other scripts together- anyway, he said ‘Get it out! I’m coming over’.
I was so surprised to see David in there – being that we know him best as a comedian; but he is great in this
Oh isn’t he!? But David was at the Yale school of drama – I’m the goofy, poor guy, he’s like the glamorous Ivy League college guy.
How did you guys meet?
I met him in like ’93 when we were doing this stupid Pauly Shore movie together.
Less said about that the better, hey? How long did it take you to write the script?
I wrote the story part like seven years ago, and then just put it in a drawer and forgot about it. But when I started the script it just came right out – because it was basically written. It came right out quite easily. The script is 91 pages, and the movie is 93 minutes – so it was all edited in my brain.
Everything in it, is it true?
Yep. No wait… I lie, everything but the gun happened. This is a movie, after all.
Exactly, you have to have a gun. But what I like about your movie is that you don’t gloss over the subjects.
Thank you, yeah. And I only did one or two takes of each scene – to keep it as a raw and as real as possible.
Did you decide right off the bat that you didn’t want to act in the movie?
I didn’t think of it, actually – but I should’ve acted in it, if I hadn’t have I wouldn’t have lost my health insurance. Can you believe it!? I had to go get some stupid TV jobs just to get my insurance back. I should’ve put myself in the movie for those reasons – but I forgot too, because I was working on other aspects of it.
Speaking of, I saw you recently on ‘’Prison Break”, or rather in the ‘’Prison Break” standalone telemovie they released direct to DVD
I haven’t seen that.
It’s actually pretty good. You were actually good in that – good job!
I didn’t see it because… well you know, TV shows, I just don’t bother watching them. They’re just money.
But you’ve done some good stuff over the years don’t discredit yourself – I mean, how much of a classic now is ‘’Point Break”!? I interviewed Keanu recently, and I bought it up, and he too agreed that it’s now considered somewhat of a cult classic.
I know… It’s great!
And now of course they’re doing the ‘’Point Break” sequel
I know… that’s ridiculous! How can you do a sequel without putting Keanu or Patrick [Swayze] in it? They couldn’t even give them a cameo – like in a Where’s Waldo situation – or anything!? They would’ve sold like ten million dollars more tickets!
They’re obviously trying to do it on the cheap
Yeah, it’s just dumb. Dumb. Still, that’s never stopped studios before.
Talking about casting in movies, Selma Blair is brilliant in your movie.
There were people at her agency that didn’t recognize Selma in the movie
I’d believe it; it took me a minute too!
I know!
Was she your first choice?
Absolutely! The money guys were so obsessed about having a name for that part, and I was like ‘Whatever, get who you want. I don’t care’. They showed me a list of the appropriate name actresses for the part, and Selma Blair was like one of the top three in the world. I wanted her! It ended up that Selma’s manager was my publicist on Tank Girl. So that’s the only reason he read it – he saw my name on the script. He thought it was fucking awesome! She agreed to do it within like three days of him receiving the script. Selma was the hardest worker. And she didn’t care that it was low-budget, she just got in there and did the job. I’m so proud of her.
Was it hard to get the movie up?
I’ve lived a pretty good life, and have made some good contacts over the years, so no. My first meeting was with Stephen J. Cannell, and he invested in it that day.
You worked with him on ‘’Booker”, right?
Yeah.
What’s the distribution deal in America?
We opened on a few art house screens a few weeks back. People generally saw it on DVD though – I mean, it’s in every Blockbuster. I don’t really know much more than that – I leave that to the money men; I make the movie, they make all the money [Laughs]
Will we be seeing you in anything acting-wise soon?
Have you got anything for me? I’m usually around!? [Laughs]
THE POKER HOUSE is available on DVD in Australia from December 16
