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Okay, who is my second disliked celebrity interview?

Posted by Howie (aka howie) Feb 13 '24, 21:55

In April 1997 I was sent to do a ‘set visit’ on a movie in production. This was normally a simple procedure: establish an interview location where I could ask easy questions to cast members between takes, then record b-roll on the set while they were shooting or rehearsing, and we’re done.

Usually, we would be in and out in 4 hours. That’s not what happened on this particular day. We were at the Simi Valley studios where they were shooting the film, “Goodbye Lover.” If you’ve never heard of this film, there’s a good reason for that. It was a comedy murder mystery directed by two-time Oscar nominee Roland Joffé, and the cast included Don Johnson, Patricia Arquette, Dermot Mulroney, Mary-Louise Parker and Ellen Degeneres.

The issue was this: Days before our visit, Ellen Degeneres famously came out on national TV as gay. In 1997 this was huge news for some reason. The movie producers scrambled to rearrange the schedule so we would be on set on a day when Ellen was not on the call sheet. Still, my assignment editor wanted to get reaction from her castmates about the recent revelation.

My crew and I get to the set assuming we could accomplish our assignment by noon. Unfortunately, the only cast members scheduled to shoot that day were Don Johnson and someone I had never heard of at the time, possibly Dermot Mulroney.

We looked into shooting footage on the set, but it was an interior 360-degree set, (meaning the set had 4 walls) and they were shooting with a constantly moving Steadicam so there was no place where we could place our camera to shoot b-roll of the rehearsal. As a result, we could not get any on-set footage. At time of arrival Don was rehearsing on set. He then went directly to his trailer. In the meantime, I interviewed his co-star - possibly Dermot Mulroney.

At 10 AM the unit publicist told us that we could interview Don Johnson right after his nap.

Later we were told we could talk to him after lunch. (We are now over our 4-hour shoot schedule, but a call to my assignment manager approved the additional time.) After lunch Don walked briskly to the set. The publicist told us to shoot b-roll of him as he walked to the sound stage. This sent Don into a rage. He screamed at the publicist about how sick he was about the press being up his ass everywhere he went. (Don may have been cranky about Ellen’s outing and how it would affect a film he didn’t like to begin with. {writer's supposition})

The publicist was very apologetic and then did something I’ve never sen before from a professional publicist: he dished.

He told us that in days prior, Don complained that his dressing room trailer was too far from the set. The trailer was moved closer to the set. Don then complained that his trailer was now too close to the Genny (Power Generator.) His trailer was moved again, and he chewed out a PA because he wanted a pack of cigarettes within arms-reach of any point in the trailer.

Bottom line, I spent 7 hours on the lot and got zero usable footage. My Vice President called the producers and swore that our network would never mention this film on air.
And that’s why you have never heard of this film.

Responses:

I met Don Johnson when he was filming the movie Dead Bang. I was 11. He was unpleasant. There was a scene outside my dad’s apartment, and maybe one - mafic Feb 14, 04:28
I couldn’t tell you anything about it outside of Ellen was in it but this was a famous HSX penny stock that one day people noticed had a release date. -- nm - Tim Feb 14, 02:38
I've heard of the film. I've seen the film. It's the worst film in Roland Joffe's filmography. - Mr. Havens Feb 13, 22:53 1
- I hope this post adds to your understanding of what went into the fiasco. --nm - Howie Feb 13, 23:03
Heh. What an ahold -- nm - Pippy Feb 13, 22:26
Then it's that much funnier that Dakota has zero filter whatsoever. -- nm - David Feb 13, 22:18
"If you think that by threatening me you can get me to be your slave, well, that's where you're right. But, and I'm only saying this because I care," - Max Feb 13, 22:15
i was in the concessions line behind him at Arclight once. much shorter than i would have expected -- nm - hollywood big shot Feb 13, 22:13
If it was just a rehearsal then why would it matter if your camera was on the set? or could you have hung behind the official camera? -- nm - zeitgeist Feb 13, 22:12 3
- The on-set steadicam moved constantly in a choreographed sequence. Our camera on the set was not in the rehearsals and would have been spotted. - Howie Feb 13, 22:37 2
  - Was the cast angry with Ellen for putting them in that position or the media for blowing a nothing sexuality story out of proportion? -- nm - David Feb 13, 22:40 1
    - I have no insight as to their motivations. I suspect that the predominant feeling was that her coming out would drown out the publicity message. -- (edited) - Howie Feb 13, 22:51
Hmm, I must have forgotten to watch the Nash Bridges movie in 2021 -- nm - Beryllium Feb 13, 22:04

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Okay, who is my second disliked celebrity interview?

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