Celebs talking Seagal...

[Buscemi]

Celebs on Seagal...

With all the public Seagal bashing going on I did an internet search to see what his co-stars say about him. I encourage you to share some interview bits too. If you can't find a link or read about it in a paper, that counts too. Just share...

Here's a recent Michael Caine Interview.

What was it like being directed by Steven Seagal?

He never said anything to me. It was very weird, but he never said anything. He’d just say, “We’ll do this” and we did it. But even so, most good directors don’t say very much to you unless you’re getting it wrong.

Were you afraid to say no to Seagal? In case he hit you?

[Laughs] I got on all right with him. It was all right.

Plus Brian Cox:

RF: I guess we're all just curious to know what it must have been like working with Steven Seagal.

NP: You are anyway.

BC: Well, he was a very interesting fellow, Steven. Because he's kind of a paradox. He sought me. He'd seen Manhunter. It was one of his favorite movies, and he wanted to work with me. He had a very good script which they wouldn't let him do, which is a fantasist story about a man who did a kind of face-changing thing.

NP: Isn't that Face-Off?

BC: It probably is Face-Off actually.

I had put off and put off coming out here and doing movies. I was staying at home doing theater and doing television. Because British television used to be wonderful.

NP: It still is wonderful, when they bring it over here.

BC: Not as wonderful as it once was. The whole television industry's been undermined. And I made a decision suddenly, in October, 1995, to just get on a plane. My agent in LA had said, "You must come, you must come and do certain things." So I thought, "Okay, I'll go." And I'd had it in England, I thought, I need to change. I wanted to experience working within the studio system just to see what that was like. So, the first person who was seeking me was Steven. And I'd rather stupidly turned down Under Seige, but I was so caught up in my life in England, I didn't know who Steven Seagal was at the time. And so Tommy Lee did it. Then I met with Steven. And he was perfectly affable. He's a Buddhist, and he's also, of all of all those heavy action stars, the only one who's genuinely not very right wing. In fact quite the opposite. People like Willis and Schwarzenegger are slightly to the right of Attila the Hun. And he's the other way. I think he's had a lot of bad press about it, and it's basically because he's charmless, which is unfortunate.

Actually I found him very nice. He was polite to me. I went to his house a couple of times. He meditates, he's got a table laden with health food...and he's got an ulcer!? He's eating this food with the telephone on the table, ringing. And I said, "Steven, you've got to stop this." He was doing all this dealing - the opposite of his marshal arts and akido. But he's caught up in the Hollywood thing, and it's not altogether his fault. He's been exploited by it.

In terms of our acting styles, he comes at it from a different world. The director came up to me and said, "I have to tell you that I'm afraid that Steven will not do any off-lines with you." And I said..."Oh, I'm so relieved." Because quite honestly, I would have found it a distraction. This way it meant I could go home early and get on with it.

But he's a nice man in many ways. A bit Clintonisque in his relationships with women.

NP: New adjective. Clintonesque!

BC: It's a good word, it should go in the dictionary. Clintonesque.

 

[Littledragon]

Thanks for the article.

 

[Jalu]

Thanks Buscemi...

"Clintonesque"....Hahahahahahaha....

 

[Serena]

From Kungfucinema.com
INTERVIEW: Art Camacho on "Half Past Dead"
Hollywood action "Mexican/Hong Kong style"
by Mark Pollard

11.11.2002 - Having returned from Germany and production on Half Past Dead which stars Steven Seagal and Morris Chestnut, action coordinator and actor Art Camacho took a moment to discuss his work on the film. Camacho has over fifteen years of experience in Hollywood martial arts films as an action coordinator. He's worked with Don "The Dragon" Wilson, Cynthia Rothrock, and Gary Daniels. Half Past Dead marks his highest profile project to date working alongside Steven Seagal and Hong Kong stunt coordinator Xin Xin Xiong (The Musketeer).

MP: Hong Kong action director Dion Lam of A Man Called Hero (1999) fame had been on tap for Steven Seagal's Exit Wounds (2001) which became the star's most successful film since Under Siege (1991). Now, Seagal's latest theatrical release is generating positive buzz, thanks in part to the film's lead, Morris Chestnut. How did you get the gig of both action director and co-star in Half Past Dead?

AC: I got the job of action coordinator through one of the producers, Andrew Stevens. I had worked for Andrew several years ago before he hit it big with Franchise Pictures. I choreographed two of Don Wilson’s films for him. We got along really well because when I work I am committed to the project 150%. By that I mean that I don’t just get involved in the choreography, but the camera, training the fighters, actors and finally editing the fight action according to my original intent. Many times I’ve found that that’s the only way to do your job as a fight choreographer. Andrew produced and directed both films that I worked on. He was a really good director.

MP: In addition to coordinating the film's action you play a character named 49er Eleven in a high security prison?

AC: While I was in Germany to do the action coordinating I also got along well with Don Michael Paul who had a very specific vision of the movie, which I respected a lot. Don asked me to play the role of 49er 11. It is more of a stunt role (not co-starring) than anything else. It was a lot of fun and I was very honored to not only work on this studio picture but to work with Steven Seagal.

MP: You're certainly no stranger to martial arts choreography in the United States, but did you feel any pressure to be able to match the Hong Kong style that's dominating Hollywood action films right now?

AC: There’s certainly a lot of pressure to incorporate that “Hong Kong” style to the fight action. The pressure is more in being able to adapt your own style to it and enhance the action and not just rehash it. Xin Xin Xiong (fight choreographer), was not only a tremendous talent but a great teacher as well. I learned so much just by working with him. He did much of the wire-work and Hong Kong style fights in the film.

MP: Seagal has his own martial arts style that incorporates his expertise in Aikido and typically looks more realistic than a lot of the wirework that's used today, although this Hong Kong style did appear in Exit Wounds. So how did you approach Seagal's action scenes in this film?

AC: I approached this film with one thought in mind: I am doing a Steven Seagal film. By that I mean I wanted to keep true to his Aikido techniques while at the same time incorporating a Hong Kong feel to it. In fact when I worked with him he was such an encyclopedia of techniques he would just throw out so many options at me until I found the ones that would fit the given situation. One thing that I’m especially proud of is the fact that we were able to infuse his Aikido into the action sequences. His fights don’t come off as generic.

MP: The bulk of the film was shot within the confines of a real prison in Berlin. In regards to the atmosphere and the action, what was that like?

AC: It was an incredible experience not only shooting in a real Stasi prison but being in Germany itself. The people there were so warm to me and took me in. In addition to that they are extremely professional and talented. In fact they were most of the same crew that shot Resident Evil there. It was amazing - one day in pre-production I walked on the set as they were building it and saw several large pieces of metal. I was told that it was a dismantled helicopter. The following week I walked on the completed set and there it was a full size helicopter sitting right there inside the prison.

MP: Who else gets to kick butt in this film besides Seagal and did any of the other actors such as Morris Chestnut have any prior martial arts training or did they have to go through a sped up program to get them in shape?

AC: The lead actor Morris Chestnut, plays the leader of the bad guys who break into the prison and he had a lot of action in the film. He was a natural. We worked out a little but he caught on pretty quick. In fact, he does most of his own action stunts. He was not only a great actor and athlete, but a great person as well. He was incredible when it came to the action. Nia Peoples is another actor who blew me away. She plays opposite Morris and she kicks butt! She does it all. She’s awesome. I also got a chance to train Ja Rule. He’s another one of those natural talents. He caught on quick and he’s such a pro. With his persona I just wanted him to be “All Street." Nothing fancy just some serious butt kicking, in fact there’s a really cool fight with a prison guard (Michael McGrady). That fight was all Ja Rule just doing his thing.

MP: One of the biggest challenges this film faces is to combat a general feeling that Seagal has passed his prime as an action star, although Exit Wounds did prove that he is still bankable. In regards to the action, do you feel that Half Past Dead will change this perception and if so, in what way?

AC: Steven Seagal has this charisma about him much in the same way a great many actors do. He could just be doing the most mundane thing and when you see him doing it on the screen it’s exciting to watch. It also helps that he’s the real McCoy when it comes to his art. I don’t know that HPD will change anyone’s perception of him but I think it is a pretty good picture and it will do well for him.

MP: Was there any particularly memorable or humorous moment on the set that you would like to share?

AC: There are a couple to things I’m especially proud of, first off that I’m a Latino working on a studio picture which in and of itself is very satisfying and secondly that I sort of modified the way we did some wire gags to adapt it to the actors and control the action much more. I kind of called it the “Mexican/Hong Kong style." I can’t go into much detail but suffice to say that when the stunt coordinators walked on the set they thought I was this crazy Mexican! It worked out great!

MP: What other projects are you working on now or plan to in the near future?

AC: I am currently in development of a couple of feature projects right now in addition to teaching the art of stunt fighting at a couple of seminars. I am also preparing a huge Martial arts tournament and expo in Vegas on July 25, 26, 27 in 2003. My goal is to combine Vegas, Martial arts and Hollywood all in one for a really memorable weekend. In addition to that I will be holding an awards banquet in honor of not only the great martial artists of our time but the Hollywood celebrities who have done much to promote them through their films and to pay tribute to Bruce Lee. This event in Vegas is unique in that it will bring together people from all walks of life to compete, share and meet many of the persons they’ve admired from afar from both film/television and some of the grandmasters who made it all possible for us. Additionally, I am creating a special competition where one can compete for a movie role. This special competition will be judged by talent agents, casting directors, stunt coordinators and film directors.

Anyone wishing information on upcoming seminars or the Vegas event can e mail me at: Starbash@att.net.

MP: Thanks for the interview.

AC: Well Mark, once again thank you for your interest in me and all your support. Like I told you before, you have one of the best sites out there. Keep up the great work! All the best to your readers and fans. God Bless.

 

[suziwong]

Thank you very much Buscemi, wonderful topic !!!
Very interesting article.Also thank you Serena !!

 

[yudansha]

Clintonesque ... lol ... Clinton's new book is a big rival to Harry Potter now

Thanks Buscemi and Serena. ... very interesting stuff.

 

[cookie]

Buscemi! There is a name from the past, hope you are well.

Nice post.

"Clintonesque". very funny

 

[Mama San]

Buscemi!!!! Now, there's a name I haven't seen in quite a while!!
How are you doing? We are so glad to see you posting!!
God bless,
Casey/Mama san

 

[Lotussan]

Thanks for the articles...

"Charmless?" hahaha....

He's undoubtedly the most charming man ever, imo...

Of course the last article said he had "Charisma" and does he ever...

Thanks for that one too Serena...

I guess I haven't really read a lot of things...

Poor baby doesn't even get a chance to eat, the phone seemed to be a permanant fixture in those photos we saw of him at home where he was supposed to be relaxing...
This is why I worry about him...

 

[aikidonna]

Thanks for the articles Buscemi and Serena, hadn't seen any of these before!!!!
Take care
Donna

 

[katw_03]

Thanks for the news, Buscemi

 

[Amos Stevens]

Thanks Serena & Buscemi!

 

[Jalu]

I have to say...
If he is 'Clintonesque' I want the presidential treatment...

 

[Purplelotus1]

yes Buscemi I noticed you have popped in with some very interesting news at that . Good job . Clintonesque I think I like it .

 

[Reservoir Dog]

I dont have the articles, but a do remember a few...

At Erika Eleniak's official site, there was some question of Seagal. I dont think she really answered it, but said she enjoyed making the movie (Under Siege)

The Female Co-star in "Out for Justice" had less positive to things. Actually she told the interviewer, "dont ask". Ill try and find that one.

There is also one on this site, for Exit Wounds, under articles. Its with a fighting cordinator or something. He described Seagal as being somewhat eccentric, but very skilled in martial arts. I wont bother pasting it here, you can find it yourself here on the site.

 

[Serena]

Exit Wounds interview

This isn't exactly what the thread was about originally, but I thought some may find it interesting. I'm sure most everyone has seen it, but some of the newer members may not have.

Steven Seagal, Joel Silver, & Jill Hennessy of "Exit Wounds"
Exclusive Interview by Thomas Chau in New York
Cinema Confidential

As one of the greatest big-screen action heroes of our time steps into the room, it is clear that he has no intentions of slowing down. With a grin on his face and the famous pony tail absent from behind, Steven Seagal still knows that he still has life in Hollywood. "Tell me something, ask me something!" he yells with excitement. "I didn't come to meditate now!"

Seagal's name will forever be mentioned with the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. But when asked if he sees his action career dwindling, he says with confidence, "You know, I think I'm quite a bit younger than them, [Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone] and I am a professional martial artist and these guys are actors. No disrespect to them, but this is what I do. This was what I came to America doing. I have no trouble doing any of my fighting."

His abilities are clear in "Exit Wounds," a cop-busting thriller from producer Joel Silver ("The Matrix," "Lethal Weapon"). Seagal plays a tough cop from Detroit who's fed up with the corruption and filth surrounding him. The pride that is being a cop has been taken away from his character, Orin Boyd. Seagal's own pride in his work is evident through his intentions.

"I wanted to do something different," said Seagal. "I kind of wanted to work again and do something different. [Joel Silver] had an interest in a novel about police corruption and at that time, just had a horrible incident which you all refer to as the Ramphart incident and I felt it was, politically, a very important move to address this kind of corruption. Also, that there are good cops and bad cops, and good and bad in everything. You know, making a statement about that constant new genre of mix of hip-hop and kung fu, and it was a great concept."

Jill Hennessy ("Law & Order") agrees. Hennessy plays Mulcahy, the 15th Precinct’s tough, but attractive, female commander who has to deal with Boyd. Much like Seagal, her involvement with the picture seemed to also hinge on Joel Silver's past. "I've been a big fan of his films, period. And I'm female. I go to see the movies. I love a good action movie. And for me to be part of an action movie, particularly as an actress is a pleasure, and I think whether you're male or female , it doesn't matter. I think everybody likes to picture themselves as a hero or a heroine, and this was a hell of a lot of fun for me."

Hennessy has had a quiet career full of impact. Her work on-screen is her biggest joy. "I love the intention of playing different characters, doing weird stuff, you know? I did three years on [Law & Order] so I went off and did all these bizarre independent films and I made my own film. As an actor, I like playing different people. It's one of the biggest joys I have in my profession. I get paid to play dress-up! I get paid to do a scene with Steven with him in his boxer shorts. I mean, c'mon, I get to hang out with D [MX]! DMX was rapping on the set, he was coming up with poetry at the drop of a hat! This guy was nice enough to have to sit down and listen to me play the guitar."

The light of the film, rapper DMX, was absent from the discussion but his presence and work in the film was deeply admired by his co-workers. "I love working with him, [DMX.] He's a real magical guy," commented Producer Joel Silver. "He has a great heart and he has great talent and somebody real special, and I'd like to work with him as long as I can."

When asked if DMX was cast the role of Latrell Walker because of his work in "Romeo Must Die" (also with Silver), Silver answered, "He had only two real scenes in 'Romeo Must Die' and there was a tremendous response in the audience in both of those scenes. After the movie came out, research showed us that there was so much interest in his character, we said 'Let's find a movie for him.' He didn't want to just take a movie and star in it. He wanted to build into a role where the audience will accept him. He wanted to do a movie where he could be with somebody else like Steven, and the two of them together can command the picture."

"I didn't want to make a 'buddy' movie," continues Silver. "This is not a 'buddy' movie. We felt that it was a great opportunity for him to really expand his role for the audience. I think the ensemble nature of the film, with Steven, Isaiah, and Jill and Anthony really makes the movie rich, and I think that's what's exciting: When you have characters that you care about and then relationships that you can understand and then a story that's good, with kick-ass action."

But with any action film, one has to question the tone of violence that is present in the picture. With the recent school violence happening in our country, both Seagal and Silver dismissed all of the blame attributed to the movies.

Seagal presented a personal stance, saying "I've made a lot of movies with the same amount of violence with that kind of content in it. My feeling is that film has to be about life and all the different machinations of life. If we were to censor the common aspects of life, meaning the kinds of things that happen everyday, particularly in a cop's life or something, it would not only be unrealistic, but it would be worse than the worst kind of censorship and very misleading."

"It's not indicative of violent films being criticized because these violent films are everywhere in the world and there are certain societies where there isn't any violence at all," he continues. "The reason for the increase in violence in the United States of America is the degeneration of our judicial system, and more than that, it's the degeneration of the family. You have a situation where it's harder for people to make ends meet and the parents are breaking up, the children don't have parents to love them and guide them, and teach them right from wrong. They're hitting the streets and doing drugs and gangs. These are the things that are contributing to violence in the United States, not the movies."

"These films are designed to be fun," said Silver. "I really think we intend to make these kinds of movies. They're popular entertainment and they're over the top. This is not a real world and it's meant to be a good time. It's a shame that we have issues in our society now that are harmful. It's a horrible situation, but you look at other countries where these movies are equally successful and they don't have the same problems. Look at Canada or Japan, where these movies are huge and they don't have a problem, but we have a problem here. And we all have to work together. I think we're all responsible. I don't we can blame the movies, particularly a movie like this because it's a fun movie. But I think it's a rough time and we have to be aware of it. Our intention is to entertain."

Silver may take all of this into account with his next pictures, which are the sequels to 1999's "The Matrix." Even though the films will not begin shooting until later this month, the Internet is already full of buzz and activity regarding plot leaks and characters. Silver isn't concerned, however.

"The scripts are so spectacular and the boys [Andy and Larry Wachowski] are very specific, they don't let anyone else see them because they don't to ruin the surprises. There are a lot of surprises in this movie coming up. They're being careful about who reads them and what they let out. [Regarding] all the activity, I don't know what they're getting it from, because there are very few scripts around. The movies are going to be absolutely unbelievable - visual effects you cannot believe, incredible characters, great story."

To test the extent of the secrecy, I just had to throw in a question about whether or not we'll see the city of Zion.

"You'll see in the movie," he said with a smile.

"Exit Wounds" opens everywhere March 16.

 

[Reservoir Dog]

Thank you Serena!!!

I havent not seen this interview, very good!! Thank you so much!

 

[Serena]

I like copying and pasting.
This was a different interview, still about Exit Wounds.

Interview with Exit Wounds Stars Steven Seagal, Jill Hennessy and Producer Joel Silver
FilmForce IGN.com
March 15, 2001

Exit Wounds stars Steven Seagal and Jill Hennessy and producer Joel Silver recently met with press in New York, the day after the film's premiere at the Ziegfeld Theater, and IGN FilmForce's Steve Head was in attendance. Steve also had the oppportunity to speak with Steven Seagal for a few moments prior to the premiere; that conversation is also included here.

Exit Wounds teams international star Steven Seagal (Executive Decision, Under Siege) with platinum recording artist DMX (Romeo Must Die) in a high-intensity action thriller. Seagal plays Orin Boyd, a tenured Detroit police officer who joins forces with insider Latrell Walker (DMX). Jill Hennessy (TV's Law & Order) stars as Mulcahy, Boyd's boss; the commander of Detroit's 15th precinct. With Walker as Boyd's inside link to finding stolen drugs, together they uncover a conspiracy which may infest all levels of the police department. And in a corrupt department, no one really knows who to trust.

Joel Silver is one of filmdom's most successful producers. His films include Die Hard, Field of Dreams, and Lethal Weapon 1 - 4. His most recent successes include The Matrix and Romeo Must Die. His current projects include 13 Ghosts, a remake of William Castle's classic horror film, and The Matrix 2 & 3.

Exit Wounds hits theaters March 16th. You can visit the film's official site at ExitWounds.net (or AOL Keyword: Exit Wounds).

IGN FILMFORCE: Steven, are you a rap fan?

SEAGAL: Yeah, I mean, I don't know if I'm a rap fan though. I'm a hip-hop fan. I believe ? and this is my theory, and maybe I'm crazy ? but I believe that rap, American rap, came from Jamiaca. I think it's a Jamaican DJ thing. I think Joel was the inventor of this interesting idea of the marriage of hip-hop and martial arts.

IGN FILMFORCE: You know, a lot of rappers have been getting into acting. However, you're doing the opposite. I'm told you're musically inclined and you've been experimenting with some tunes. Is there Steven Seagal CD in the future?

SEAGAL: I've been a musician since childhood, and music is my first love. I love it. I'm playing a lot and write a lot and I'll have an album coming out. I'm not going to be rapping, but I do like what this producing of my album ? while I'm with a bunch of other good guys ? and like with one of my closest friends whose working on it. So, I certainly will be going into music. It won't be rap, but I'll have some hip-hop in there.

[There's no specified date for the album's release.]

IGN FILMFORCE: How was it like working Andrzej Bartkowiak?

SEAGAL: Wonderful. He's a great guy and a great director.

IGN FILMFORCE: Some of the shots in the film were just incredible...

SILVER: Andrzej is a legendary cinematographer. He's been around forever, and he worked with me on Lethal Weapon 4. And it was during the period when I was doing The Matrix when Keanu had just done a movie with him called Devil's Advocate, and he was very impressed with his work. And (Keanu) said to me, "This guy is great; you should have him direct something for you." So we began talking about it, and Romeo Must Die came from that. So (Andrzej) had a great kind of ability and understanding of the camera. [In Exit Wounds] you're seeing a great cinematographer directing.

IGN FILMFORCE: And the sound mix for Exit Wounds is fantastic; the bullets, the cars, the punches, the explosions, everything...

SEAGAL: Oh yeah. All digital.

SILVER: Digital sound effects. The dubbing of the music and effects is really incredible today. You're feeling gun shots. I mean, it's not the way peole say it is, but the gunshot sounds real. And cars sound real. Among the many things in the evolution (of movies) is to make the sound in the movie incredible. That's what you feel.

IGN FILMFORCE: I've heard some people say this could be your comeback movie. Do you think it is?

SEAGAL: No. Well I never went away, so it really isn't a comeback film.

IGN FILMFORCE: Joel, what prompted you to pair Seagal and DMX?

SILVER: I have a good relationship with Steven. We did a picture together a couple years ago called Executive Decision. Steven came in really insisting that the movie star had to die in the first 20 minutes of the movie. And I convinced Steven to do that. I paid him a lot of money, and he did it. And we always wanted to work together again. And he came to me and he said look, I really wanted to do something that's fresh and original and something that's new, and I'd like you to help me do that.

I really was very impressed with DMX during the whole experience on Romeo Must Die. I like working with him. I liked him. And I was very impressed with the reaction of the audience when he was in the picture. And the studio was very impressed to, so they said why don't we do a picture with him. So I thought, you know, he's smart. He didn't want to go into a starring role. He wants to build into that. He really... he gets it. I mean he really gets it. And so we decided to do this picture with the two of them together. And we just kind of worked it out. It went along, and I'm very happy with it.

IGN FILMFORCE: Steven, what was the most surprising thing about working with DMX?

SEAGAL: You know, I don't mean to sound precocious or anything, maybe it's my age, but I like to do my research. I kind of investigated him a little before we began, and ? there were no surprises. DMX was a gentleman with me. He's reflective, thoughtful, gentle.

IGN FILMFORCE: In the past, people have been critical of some of the rappers because they get into the acting and they don't really know how to act. What are your thoughts on this?

SEAGAL: I can remember from time to time saying to people in the press... They'd say, "Well how's that? Is his acting good?" Man, [DMX's] acting is as good as anybody. It's good acting.

SILVER: I'm sitting there last night, and I watch a dialogue scene between guys on the screen. DMX and Drag-On, and the audience applauds it. I mean, how often do you hear an audience applaud a dialogue scene like that. Because they move the audience. They were moved by it. X's music is playing. And then when they touch fists throughout the glass, the audience was taken, as you say, over the top. They went with it. In that sense, do you think they have to step up? I think that X is a natural. I mean he's a natural. He just has tremendous force. Tremendous power. He's great. He's so intense. And the audience gets that. DraGon was great too. I worked with a lot of rappers. I've worked with those guys, and my bridge with them has been fantastic. And whatever they would do together. Whenever Steven and X would be in a scene together, you could always feel the heat. And that's what it's about. If the audience sees and feels things are real, then they buy it.

IGN FILMFORCE: Can you tell us about the combat scene with DMX?

SEAGAL: That was the hardest moment in the movie. [DMX] is not really fighter, and he's got a little bit of a bad shoulder. And as soon as I got behind him, in that scene where they wanted me to grab him by the shoulder. It hurt. A lot. Yes, that was kind of hard for me, and it was hard for him. You know, he respects me and I respect him. And we just didn't want to do it.

IGN FILMFORCE: There's also fight scene that you have with Michael Jai White, who is actually a martial artist. It's interesting that you chose to do it in sort of a samurai style. Who decided to do it that way?

SEAGAL: You know, that's really... I mean, ultimately everything was up to Joel, and I just kind of tried to sort of follow orders, but with the sword choreography, it wasn't really samurai, which is Japanese.

IGN FILMFORCE: Jill, how did it go for you on the set with Seagal and DMX?

HENNESSY: Ohhh yeah! (She laughs) The only woman in a sea of testosterone. Does the word party mean anything? Like one of the best times in my life. It was just fabulous. I'd just come off of working on Jackie, Ethel, Joan, where I played Jackie Kennedy, surrounded by women in Hyannis Port. Suddenly I'm with Steven.

SEAGAL: With no estrogen. (Jill and Steven laugh)

HENNESSY: ...And I'm doing a scene with him; one of my first scenes with him is was... aaa... he's wearing boxer shorts. So here I walk into this scene, there's this guy with these great legs. And I'm, you know, focusing on the scene. I've got guys in the background working out. It was really quite wonderful.

IGN FILMFORCE: Did you deliver your lines?

HENNESSY: It was tough.

IGN FILMFORCE: Isiah Washington and Anthony Anderson...

SILVER: They're great. I mean they're guys that you go to and they're there. It's like in the bank. I mean, they are phenomenal. And they do what they gotta do. Isiah was a bad guy in Romeo, and he's a very good guy in this movie. And Anthony is always great in whatever he does. And matter of fact, we did an MTV special about the movie, and it's hosted by Anthony and Tom Arnold in the setting of the "Detroit A.M." So it worked for MTV too.

IGN FILMFORCE: Steven, with the Oscars coming up, what do you think of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? Is it your pick for best film?

SEAGAL: Actually Billy Elliot was my pick for best film. But they're all friends of mine, Ang Lee and Sihung Lung. I saw that movie four times before it came out, and cried when I saw it. I loved that movie. Loved it.

IGN FILMFORCE: Your love for all things Far East, has this changed you and affected your daily life?

SEAGAL: I spent a lot of time there, and Joel will tell you I don't think like the average Easterner. It's hard for me. I don't really have that background.

IGN FILMFORCE: Did you teach DMX any moves?

SEAGAL: I showed him a few things, but you know, like I said, there's a guy called Dion Lam, who I've known from Hong Kong; actually I know Yuen Wu Ping and his father, the original master. But I knew Dion a little bit, and then Joel was smart enough to bring him in and it was great. I mean, I just had to ? for the first time in my life ? sit back and do what I was told. When Dion would choreograph stuff, once in a while throw my own stuff in there, and kind of shape it to be mine once in a while, but most of the time it was Dion teaching.

Producer Joel Silver

IGN FILMFORCE: Joel, you were one of the first producers to get martial arts and hip-hop in the same auditoruim. When you came in, I thought DMX was coming in. Interesting that you all share the same audience. You said this can work...

SILVER: My knowledge and understanding of the martial arts that we're talking about came from Larry and Andy Wachowski, because they had tremendous interest in the combination fo essentially Japanese and Chinese martial arts. And I met all these guys from them, and we made The Matrix. And they kind of told me about Jet Li, and I had met Jet Li when we did Lethal 4, so I've had a lot of experience with this kind of picture. Then when we decided to do Romeo Must Die, the story led us to this urban take about two families, and it just made sense to kind of glean the hip-hop with the martial arts, because I had Jet Li and I had Aaliyah. So it worked well. And when something works, there's no reason why we can't continue it.

We changed a little bit, and [Exit Wounds] is a harder movie. It's a really solid urban contemporary story. And it's just a good blend of the two of these guys together. I think it was successful.

IGN FILMFORCE: When you did Romeo Must Die in Oakland, it didn't look like anything I'd seen in Oakland.

SILVER: It was shot in Vancouver.

Let me tell you something, in about two weeks were going to start shooting a movie in Oakland that you're going to know about, The Matrix 2 and 3. So we'll be there. It's starting.

IGN FILMFORCE:Where about, and for how long?

SILVER: We're going to shoot about twelve weeks there. And then if there's a strike, or isn't a strike, we'll shut down for twelve weeks. We're using an old naval base that was decommissioned.

IGN FILMFORCE: And how are things coming along with 13 Ghosts?

SILVER: Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.

IGN FILMFORCE: Steven, you have a large following in the black community. Can you comment on that?

SEAGAL: I was born in Detriot, in an all black neighborhood. I didn't know I was white until I was twelve (laughs). So I mean, we're the same.

When I was in Asia, I was the first white ? I don't like to say white because I'm not really white either ? but I was the first non-Asian in the history of Japan to open up his own dojo there. And for the first couple years they had a lot of people coming trying to kick my ass, just because they thought I was audacious to do that. And I did it because my teacher told me to do it. Back then it was hard. Now it's not so hard because everybody respects me. I mean, it seems like some of them do anyway.

IGN FILMFORCE: What was your reaction to the screening last night... It was phenomenal. It was out-there; definitely rowdy.

SEAGAL: It was incredible. It just doesn't get better than that. We hoped that the audience would like it. I mean, those people in there were winners from a radio promotion, so they weren't planted. We promoted all over New York, and like the 103rd caller called in and got the ticket. And it was full of journalists like yourself and our friends. And to see that reaction, it was just exciting.

IGN FILMFORCE: Steven, last night's premiere ? outside and inside the theater ? was crazy with fans and moviegoers, and you weren't concerned about getting out and shaking hands with everyone. Have you ever had a bad fan experience, where maybe things got a little out of hand?

SEAGAL: Once in a while there's been somebody who has come up as if he wanted to see if I am who I am. And when it gets to that, I just give them the look like if you're ready to come, come. (Laughs) And then they always say 'No thanks. I think I'll just like maybe... go the... other way.'

My people are my people. They love me and I love them. I would not be here without them.

 

[Serena]

I havent not seen this interview, very good!! Thank you so much!

You're welcome. I'm glad someone hadn't seen it. Check out the other one. It's long, but different, and interesting.

 

[Littledragon]

I like copying and pasting.
This was a different interview, still about Exit Wounds.

Interview with Exit Wounds Stars Steven Seagal, Jill Hennessy and Producer Joel Silver
FilmForce IGN.com
March 15, 2001

Exit Wounds stars Steven Seagal and Jill Hennessy and producer Joel Silver recently met with press in New York, the day after the film's premiere at the Ziegfeld Theater, and IGN FilmForce's Steve Head was in attendance. Steve also had the oppportunity to speak with Steven Seagal for a few moments prior to the premiere; that conversation is also included here.

Exit Wounds teams international star Steven Seagal (Executive Decision, Under Siege) with platinum recording artist DMX (Romeo Must Die) in a high-intensity action thriller. Seagal plays Orin Boyd, a tenured Detroit police officer who joins forces with insider Latrell Walker (DMX). Jill Hennessy (TV's Law & Order) stars as Mulcahy, Boyd's boss; the commander of Detroit's 15th precinct. With Walker as Boyd's inside link to finding stolen drugs, together they uncover a conspiracy which may infest all levels of the police department. And in a corrupt department, no one really knows who to trust.

Joel Silver is one of filmdom's most successful producers. His films include Die Hard, Field of Dreams, and Lethal Weapon 1 - 4. His most recent successes include The Matrix and Romeo Must Die. His current projects include 13 Ghosts, a remake of William Castle's classic horror film, and The Matrix 2 & 3.

Exit Wounds hits theaters March 16th. You can visit the film's official site at ExitWounds.net (or AOL Keyword: Exit Wounds).

IGN FILMFORCE: Steven, are you a rap fan?

SEAGAL: Yeah, I mean, I don't know if I'm a rap fan though. I'm a hip-hop fan. I believe ? and this is my theory, and maybe I'm crazy ? but I believe that rap, American rap, came from Jamiaca. I think it's a Jamaican DJ thing. I think Joel was the inventor of this interesting idea of the marriage of hip-hop and martial arts.

IGN FILMFORCE: You know, a lot of rappers have been getting into acting. However, you're doing the opposite. I'm told you're musically inclined and you've been experimenting with some tunes. Is there Steven Seagal CD in the future?

SEAGAL: I've been a musician since childhood, and music is my first love. I love it. I'm playing a lot and write a lot and I'll have an album coming out. I'm not going to be rapping, but I do like what this producing of my album ? while I'm with a bunch of other good guys ? and like with one of my closest friends whose working on it. So, I certainly will be going into music. It won't be rap, but I'll have some hip-hop in there.

[There's no specified date for the album's release.]

IGN FILMFORCE: How was it like working Andrzej Bartkowiak?

SEAGAL: Wonderful. He's a great guy and a great director.

IGN FILMFORCE: Some of the shots in the film were just incredible...

SILVER: Andrzej is a legendary cinematographer. He's been around forever, and he worked with me on Lethal Weapon 4. And it was during the period when I was doing The Matrix when Keanu had just done a movie with him called Devil's Advocate, and he was very impressed with his work. And (Keanu) said to me, "This guy is great; you should have him direct something for you." So we began talking about it, and Romeo Must Die came from that. So (Andrzej) had a great kind of ability and understanding of the camera. [In Exit Wounds] you're seeing a great cinematographer directing.

IGN FILMFORCE: And the sound mix for Exit Wounds is fantastic; the bullets, the cars, the punches, the explosions, everything...

SEAGAL: Oh yeah. All digital.

SILVER: Digital sound effects. The dubbing of the music and effects is really incredible today. You're feeling gun shots. I mean, it's not the way peole say it is, but the gunshot sounds real. And cars sound real. Among the many things in the evolution (of movies) is to make the sound in the movie incredible. That's what you feel.

IGN FILMFORCE: I've heard some people say this could be your comeback movie. Do you think it is?

SEAGAL: No. Well I never went away, so it really isn't a comeback film.

IGN FILMFORCE: Joel, what prompted you to pair Seagal and DMX?

SILVER: I have a good relationship with Steven. We did a picture together a couple years ago called Executive Decision. Steven came in really insisting that the movie star had to die in the first 20 minutes of the movie. And I convinced Steven to do that. I paid him a lot of money, and he did it. And we always wanted to work together again. And he came to me and he said look, I really wanted to do something that's fresh and original and something that's new, and I'd like you to help me do that.

I really was very impressed with DMX during the whole experience on Romeo Must Die. I like working with him. I liked him. And I was very impressed with the reaction of the audience when he was in the picture. And the studio was very impressed to, so they said why don't we do a picture with him. So I thought, you know, he's smart. He didn't want to go into a starring role. He wants to build into that. He really... he gets it. I mean he really gets it. And so we decided to do this picture with the two of them together. And we just kind of worked it out. It went along, and I'm very happy with it.

IGN FILMFORCE: Steven, what was the most surprising thing about working with DMX?

SEAGAL: You know, I don't mean to sound precocious or anything, maybe it's my age, but I like to do my research. I kind of investigated him a little before we began, and ? there were no surprises. DMX was a gentleman with me. He's reflective, thoughtful, gentle.

IGN FILMFORCE: In the past, people have been critical of some of the rappers because they get into the acting and they don't really know how to act. What are your thoughts on this?

SEAGAL: I can remember from time to time saying to people in the press... They'd say, "Well how's that? Is his acting good?" Man, [DMX's] acting is as good as anybody. It's good acting.

SILVER: I'm sitting there last night, and I watch a dialogue scene between guys on the screen. DMX and Drag-On, and the audience applauds it. I mean, how often do you hear an audience applaud a dialogue scene like that. Because they move the audience. They were moved by it. X's music is playing. And then when they touch fists throughout the glass, the audience was taken, as you say, over the top. They went with it. In that sense, do you think they have to step up? I think that X is a natural. I mean he's a natural. He just has tremendous force. Tremendous power. He's great. He's so intense. And the audience gets that. DraGon was great too. I worked with a lot of rappers. I've worked with those guys, and my bridge with them has been fantastic. And whatever they would do together. Whenever Steven and X would be in a scene together, you could always feel the heat. And that's what it's about. If the audience sees and feels things are real, then they buy it.

IGN FILMFORCE: Can you tell us about the combat scene with DMX?

SEAGAL: That was the hardest moment in the movie. [DMX] is not really fighter, and he's got a little bit of a bad shoulder. And as soon as I got behind him, in that scene where they wanted me to grab him by the shoulder. It hurt. A lot. Yes, that was kind of hard for me, and it was hard for him. You know, he respects me and I respect him. And we just didn't want to do it.

IGN FILMFORCE: There's also fight scene that you have with Michael Jai White, who is actually a martial artist. It's interesting that you chose to do it in sort of a samurai style. Who decided to do it that way?

SEAGAL: You know, that's really... I mean, ultimately everything was up to Joel, and I just kind of tried to sort of follow orders, but with the sword choreography, it wasn't really samurai, which is Japanese.

IGN FILMFORCE: Jill, how did it go for you on the set with Seagal and DMX?

HENNESSY: Ohhh yeah! (She laughs) The only woman in a sea of testosterone. Does the word party mean anything? Like one of the best times in my life. It was just fabulous. I'd just come off of working on Jackie, Ethel, Joan, where I played Jackie Kennedy, surrounded by women in Hyannis Port. Suddenly I'm with Steven.

SEAGAL: With no estrogen. (Jill and Steven laugh)

HENNESSY: ...And I'm doing a scene with him; one of my first scenes with him is was... aaa... he's wearing boxer shorts. So here I walk into this scene, there's this guy with these great legs. And I'm, you know, focusing on the scene. I've got guys in the background working out. It was really quite wonderful.

IGN FILMFORCE: Did you deliver your lines?

HENNESSY: It was tough.

IGN FILMFORCE: Isiah Washington and Anthony Anderson...

SILVER: They're great. I mean they're guys that you go to and they're there. It's like in the bank. I mean, they are phenomenal. And they do what they gotta do. Isiah was a bad guy in Romeo, and he's a very good guy in this movie. And Anthony is always great in whatever he does. And matter of fact, we did an MTV special about the movie, and it's hosted by Anthony and Tom Arnold in the setting of the "Detroit A.M." So it worked for MTV too.

IGN FILMFORCE: Steven, with the Oscars coming up, what do you think of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? Is it your pick for best film?

SEAGAL: Actually Billy Elliot was my pick for best film. But they're all friends of mine, Ang Lee and Sihung Lung. I saw that movie four times before it came out, and cried when I saw it. I loved that movie. Loved it.

IGN FILMFORCE: Your love for all things Far East, has this changed you and affected your daily life?

SEAGAL: I spent a lot of time there, and Joel will tell you I don't think like the average Easterner. It's hard for me. I don't really have that background.

IGN FILMFORCE: Did you teach DMX any moves?

SEAGAL: I showed him a few things, but you know, like I said, there's a guy called Dion Lam, who I've known from Hong Kong; actually I know Yuen Wu Ping and his father, the original master. But I knew Dion a little bit, and then Joel was smart enough to bring him in and it was great. I mean, I just had to ? for the first time in my life ? sit back and do what I was told. When Dion would choreograph stuff, once in a while throw my own stuff in there, and kind of shape it to be mine once in a while, but most of the time it was Dion teaching.

Producer Joel Silver

IGN FILMFORCE: Joel, you were one of the first producers to get martial arts and hip-hop in the same auditoruim. When you came in, I thought DMX was coming in. Interesting that you all share the same audience. You said this can work...

SILVER: My knowledge and understanding of the martial arts that we're talking about came from Larry and Andy Wachowski, because they had tremendous interest in the combination fo essentially Japanese and Chinese martial arts. And I met all these guys from them, and we made The Matrix. And they kind of told me about Jet Li, and I had met Jet Li when we did Lethal 4, so I've had a lot of experience with this kind of picture. Then when we decided to do Romeo Must Die, the story led us to this urban take about two families, and it just made sense to kind of glean the hip-hop with the martial arts, because I had Jet Li and I had Aaliyah. So it worked well. And when something works, there's no reason why we can't continue it.

We changed a little bit, and [Exit Wounds] is a harder movie. It's a really solid urban contemporary story. And it's just a good blend of the two of these guys together. I think it was successful.

IGN FILMFORCE: When you did Romeo Must Die in Oakland, it didn't look like anything I'd seen in Oakland.

SILVER: It was shot in Vancouver.

Let me tell you something, in about two weeks were going to start shooting a movie in Oakland that you're going to know about, The Matrix 2 and 3. So we'll be there. It's starting.

IGN FILMFORCE:Where about, and for how long?

SILVER: We're going to shoot about twelve weeks there. And then if there's a strike, or isn't a strike, we'll shut down for twelve weeks. We're using an old naval base that was decommissioned.

IGN FILMFORCE: And how are things coming along with 13 Ghosts?

SILVER: Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.

IGN FILMFORCE: Steven, you have a large following in the black community. Can you comment on that?

SEAGAL: I was born in Detriot, in an all black neighborhood. I didn't know I was white until I was twelve (laughs). So I mean, we're the same.

When I was in Asia, I was the first white ? I don't like to say white because I'm not really white either ? but I was the first non-Asian in the history of Japan to open up his own dojo there. And for the first couple years they had a lot of people coming trying to kick my ass, just because they thought I was audacious to do that. And I did it because my teacher told me to do it. Back then it was hard. Now it's not so hard because everybody respects me. I mean, it seems like some of them do anyway.

IGN FILMFORCE: What was your reaction to the screening last night... It was phenomenal. It was out-there; definitely rowdy.

SEAGAL: It was incredible. It just doesn't get better than that. We hoped that the audience would like it. I mean, those people in there were winners from a radio promotion, so they weren't planted. We promoted all over New York, and like the 103rd caller called in and got the ticket. And it was full of journalists like yourself and our friends. And to see that reaction, it was just exciting.

IGN FILMFORCE: Steven, last night's premiere ? outside and inside the theater ? was crazy with fans and moviegoers, and you weren't concerned about getting out and shaking hands with everyone. Have you ever had a bad fan experience, where maybe things got a little out of hand?

SEAGAL: Once in a while there's been somebody who has come up as if he wanted to see if I am who I am. And when it gets to that, I just give them the look like if you're ready to come, come. (Laughs) And then they always say 'No thanks. I think I'll just like maybe... go the... other way.'

My people are my people. They love me and I love them. I would not be here without them.

Great article thanks!!