Hail to the king, baby
An interview with B-Movie king, Bruce Campbell
By DAVID DELLECESE
Observer-Dispatch
August 31, 2006
SYRACUSE- Growing up in Birmingham, Mich., near Detroit, actor Bruce Campbell was used to seeing workers in the nearby automobile factories doing many different jobs.
"They had a lot of 'job rotation' in the factories where one week you're working on fenders, the next week on tires," he said. "I get a little bored if I do one thing all the time. It's good to mix it up."
So it comes as no surprise that Campbell, a film veteran of more than 25 years, has worn the hats not only of actor, but writer, producer, director, and most recently, author as well.
On Wednesday Sept. 6, Campbell comes to the Palace Theatre, courtesy of Alternative Movies & Events for a book signing, Q&A and film screenings.
With more than 50 films and numerous TV series under his belt, Campbell has become a cult icon.
He has fought the undead in the "Evil Dead" films, been the king of thieves in "Hercules" and "Xena," and portrayed a very much alive but elderly Elvis, fighting a mummy alongside Ossie Davis at a nursing home in "Bubba Ho-tep." He also vexed Spider-Man in the film series.
"It's not about the size of the role. It's the pivotal nature of the character. In one, I named the character. In two, I'm the only character in the series to have defeated Spider-Man. And in three, all I can say legally is that Spider-Man and I team up."
It was an e-mail from Josh Hodgman, now famous for playing the PC guy in Apple Computer commercials, that started the road to literary success.
A literary agent's assistant at the time, Hodgman read Campbell's writings on his Web site and approached him about writing a book on the B-movie industry.
The result?
Campbell's first book in 2001: "If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B-Movie Actor."
It flew off bookshelves, prompting another book, "Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way," from the same publisher.
"I like to think it's better to stay with the devil you know."
"Make Love ..." began as a straightforward, gag-relationship book, morphing over time into the "autobiographical novel" it is today.
"After doing a series of extensive notes back and forth with my editor, we got to a point where we said if we make these changes, we'll be crossing into fiction.
"And we both went, 'yeah' and decided to go for it."
With two best-selling books, and numerous film projects on the horizon, Campbell spends a great deal of time on the road, which can sometimes take a toll.
"Last year, I toured in 44 cities; I totally know why people trash their hotel rooms. You become insane. You become delirious."
As he travels to 10 cities this year to celebrate the release of "Make Love..." in trade paperback, it's no private jet for this down-to-earth performer. He'll be driving from city to city, state to state, himself.
Flying?
"No way. I want to be able to take liquids. I want to take a whole car of pointy, sharp objects just because I can."
Observer-Dispatch
August 31, 2006
SYRACUSE- Growing up in Birmingham, Mich., near Detroit, actor Bruce Campbell was used to seeing workers in the nearby automobile factories doing many different jobs.
"They had a lot of 'job rotation' in the factories where one week you're working on fenders, the next week on tires," he said. "I get a little bored if I do one thing all the time. It's good to mix it up."
So it comes as no surprise that Campbell, a film veteran of more than 25 years, has worn the hats not only of actor, but writer, producer, director, and most recently, author as well.
On Wednesday Sept. 6, Campbell comes to the Palace Theatre, courtesy of Alternative Movies & Events for a book signing, Q&A and film screenings.
With more than 50 films and numerous TV series under his belt, Campbell has become a cult icon.
He has fought the undead in the "Evil Dead" films, been the king of thieves in "Hercules" and "Xena," and portrayed a very much alive but elderly Elvis, fighting a mummy alongside Ossie Davis at a nursing home in "Bubba Ho-tep." He also vexed Spider-Man in the film series.
"It's not about the size of the role. It's the pivotal nature of the character. In one, I named the character. In two, I'm the only character in the series to have defeated Spider-Man. And in three, all I can say legally is that Spider-Man and I team up."
It was an e-mail from Josh Hodgman, now famous for playing the PC guy in Apple Computer commercials, that started the road to literary success.
A literary agent's assistant at the time, Hodgman read Campbell's writings on his Web site and approached him about writing a book on the B-movie industry.
The result?
Campbell's first book in 2001: "If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B-Movie Actor."
It flew off bookshelves, prompting another book, "Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way," from the same publisher.
"I like to think it's better to stay with the devil you know."
"Make Love ..." began as a straightforward, gag-relationship book, morphing over time into the "autobiographical novel" it is today.
"After doing a series of extensive notes back and forth with my editor, we got to a point where we said if we make these changes, we'll be crossing into fiction.
"And we both went, 'yeah' and decided to go for it."
With two best-selling books, and numerous film projects on the horizon, Campbell spends a great deal of time on the road, which can sometimes take a toll.
"Last year, I toured in 44 cities; I totally know why people trash their hotel rooms. You become insane. You become delirious."
As he travels to 10 cities this year to celebrate the release of "Make Love..." in trade paperback, it's no private jet for this down-to-earth performer. He'll be driving from city to city, state to state, himself.
Flying?
"No way. I want to be able to take liquids. I want to take a whole car of pointy, sharp objects just because I can."
