An Exclusive Interview with Bruce
Campbell
Interview by Maxwell
Clark
I first heard of the annual Horrorfind
convention through a friend of mine from my work; that was in May of
this year. He was also an “Evil Dead” fan, and unfortunately he
didn't end up going down to Baltimore with me. It was just going to
be me, alone, at a convention to see Bruce Campbell, the star of the
“Evil Dead” trilogy. What was I going to do?
All through
summer, I waited in anticipation for that event, feeling both
excitement and a great feeling of trepidation...I didn't want to do
or say the wrong thing and make an ass out of myself; I also didn't
want to become one of those pitiful, drooling "gosh I love all yer
movies" fanboys I knew I would see plenty of. I just wanted to play
it cool, casual. This man, I thought, is just another Joe Schmoe
with an extraordinarily cool job...right?
The idea for the
actual interview was really on a whim. I thought that I wouldn't be
very satisfied with just an autograph: so why not interview the man?
He's used to this sort of thing, I thought, and I could get my name
published. I've been working towards a career in filmmaking all my
life, and I thought that I could glean some sound advice from this
working-class actor who's been in the business for a while. It was a
win-win situation.
But before I even contacted the man
himself (or his literary agent, for that matter), I had to find a
place where I could easily get my article published. Where better
than my favorite web site for Deadites, Deadites Online? I contacted
Kain (the webmaster of Deadites Online), and he seemed more than
willing to publish my small article, if and when the interview even
took place.
The second step to success: e-mailing Bruce and
his literary agent, Jan Holbrook. I outlined my plans for the
length, and left the time and place open to his convenience. I gave
my phone number and e-mail address, and waited. For three weeks I
heard nothing in response. Needless, to say, I was a little bummed
at this total lack of response, and I assumed the answer was a
resounding no. He probably thinks I'm just another obsessed fanboy,
I thought.
Then one particularly rainy day I came home from
work to find a note on my desk. My sister had answered the phone,
and written down a message for me from a Joe Renaldi, and would I
please call him back ASAP.
"Who the fuck is Joe Renaldi?”I
wondered. I called back, and soon found out that Joe worked for St.
Martin's Press, the publisher of If Chins Could Kill, Bruce's
autobiography. He was calling on behalf of Bruce, who had sent a
copy of the e-mail to him. Things were instantly looking up. But Joe
told me to be patient and not to hold my breath, because the
interview, although probable, still might not happen. He couldn't
even give me a time schedule, but I was patient. I didn't have any
other choice, right?
| |
