Lost Boy found: Interview

Review by By Clint Morris

Interview with Corey Feldman
Actor in The Goonies, The Lost Boys, Gremlins films.

Corey Feldman was one of the 80's biggest box office draw cards starring in hit movies such as The Goonies, Gremlins, Stand by Me and The Lost Boys. Now, almost 20 years later, a clean, sober and determined former 'child star' is back with a new album, 33-city music tour and a string of bankable feature films. Will lightning strike twice for Corey Feldman?

Corey Feldmen is back

Clint: I think the first question I've got to ask is… Where have you been?

Corey: Where have I been? Everywhere man! Obviously you guys haven't seen half the stuff I've done lately, but I've been doing a little bit of everything. It's been Busy, busy man!

I have the new album out, as you know, and a lot of work to do leading up to it's release. I also just finished a 33-city tour for it. That's my second tour in two years. I've got three films due out, and I'm doing TV stuff too, appearances and the like.

Clint: So why Music?

Corey: I've actually been involved in Music for 15 years now. It's ironic actually, when I first started out, one of my first tour's planned was for Australia.

I was all set to tour Melbourne and Sydney, but it bit the dust because of fraudulent promoters. They were some big company that worked in Dance generally, and I was coming out for some big kid's competition. I Flew into Sydney, I did all the TV Shows, like "Good Morning Australia", but then the promoters backed out.

It was a real shame because I also had two films out there at the time too. And even worse, it ended up that our tickets were never paid for and our rooms were never paid for so we were left stranded in Sydney.

It was a beautiful time. But getting back to your question, I love music, and have always had something to do with Music and maybe this time we will even get back to Australia.

Clint: Have you had any influences on your music?

Corey: Well, the title track from the album - which is called "Former Child Star" - is written by Rick Springfield. He's an Australian too, so it all comes together. He's great. And the last album I was heavily influenced by Pink Floyd, Zeppelin etc. but this one's now based on contemporary rock.

Clint: How do people react to your music?

Corey: For the most part they love it. People that come see me or hear my music for the first time are generally surprised how good it is -- they expect it to suck.

And then on the other side, there's a huge amount of people that have followed my music for years, and so know what to expect. It won't please everyone of course, but I think people are generally happy with it.

Clint: You did some many great movies in the 80's… have you a favourite?

Feldmen (far left) in Stand by Me

Corey: I liked Dream a Little Dream. I liked how artistic it was.

Clint: Didn't you executive produce that?

Corey: No, I executive produced the sequel. I was just an actor when I did Dream a Little Dream.

Clint: How did you end up working with Corey Haim so much?

Corey: It was just one of those fluke things actually. It wasn't planned, it just happened. I mean, the movies we did in the 90's together were planned, but the earlier one's were a fluke.

Clint: Are you still good friends with Haim?

Corey: We'll always be friends, but we don't see each other a lot now. I know, I have moved onto other things.

Clint: Among your credits, were a couple of the Friday the 13th movies. How was that?

Corey: Good. I think I actually starred in the last 'good' one. I mean, have you guys seen the latest one over there yet - where he gets to space? [laughs].

Clint: So you've done Horror, what genre do you prefer to work in?

Corey: Well, although I'm best known for doing comedies; they're definitely not my focus. I like to do more artistic stuff.

Next up though, I'm appearing in David Spade's new comedy. It's about 6 months from release here, so say a year away for Australian release.

Clint: How do you see teen stars of today like Freddie Prinze Jr and Biggsy faring?

Corey: Hopefully they'll do all right. I don't wish bad things on anyone, it's just not the best climate to be in if you want to be a serious actor. I mean, if I could go back now and change the route I took, I probably would, but at the same time it's all a learning experience and I don't think I really regret that much.

I'm afraid we're labeled sometimes - hence the name of my new album "Former Child Actor" - and people think we can't fit any other profile. It's a bit of a backwards society, I'm afraid.

I hope I'm one of the first to kick in the door, and be applauded for my perverse sustainability. Unfortunately, a lot of younger actors don't get the chances to stick around, so I'm lucky in that respect.

Clint: So there's nothing you regret?

Corey: Of course there is. It's funny; I actually made poorer decisions when I sobered up then when I was screwed up.

I made choices then to make up for money problems, and it hurt my career professionally. I probably should have just laid off for a while, but I did what I did, and it makes it harder now to get into it again.

Clint: Did you always want to act?

Corey: No. I started before it was my choice, if you know what I mean. Now of course it's what I am. I've been doing it for 30 years.

Clint: Do you have children?

Corey: No. Don't have kids. I am engaged, though, to a lovely girl named Susie. We hope to get married next year, and then I'm sure some kids will follow.

Feldman in License to Drive

Clint: I remember years ago going to a screening of License to Drive - girls were screaming at the mere sight of your name on the starting credits. Do you still get recognised?

Corey: [Laughs]. That's great. I can't go anywhere. It's crazy! No matter where I am, be it the Jamaican Islands, even Australia, it's always the same.

Clint: You said you've done some TV work recently?

Corey: Yeah. I was supposed to be in a show called "Greg the Bunny", but it got canned before the episode could air. It was the finale episode, and was supposed to ear during the Fall Sweeps.

So it never aired, but you never know? That episode might get played there in Australia.

But mainly I've been working on the new David Spade comedy which is called Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, promoting the Album, and touring.

Clint: I was disappointed they never made a sequel to License to Drive. I love that movie!

Corey: That's the first time I've ever heard anyone say that [Laughs]. Corey Haim wanted to do a sequel; at the time it was called Stunt School or something. He wanted it to be set, like, at 'Flying School' or something. It was his plan to do a '3 movie' series - License to Drive, License to Fly… you get the picture.

Clint: That's pushing it a bit too far. [Laughs].

Corey: Yeah exactly.

Clint: And what's the status of The Lost Boys 2?

Corey: That was all purely rumour - I'm afraid there isn't one. But you never know... There could be a Goonies 2 though…

Clint: And when is Goonies 2 going to happen?

Corey: Who knows? Every time it looks like getting off the ground, it hits a stand still again. There's a new script all the time, and then it gets scrapped because the script sucks. So it's back in stand still.

Clint: Is that the script with the kids of 'The Goonies' in it?

Corey: Probably. There hasn't been a script for over a year or so now. Back then it was actually a reality.

Clint: Richard Donner was supposedly scouting for locations though, wasn't he?

Corey: When was that?

Clint: Like, twelve months ago?

Corey Feldman in The Goonies

Corey: Yeah. Since then it's hit a stand still. But I tell you what, I'll give Donner a call after this, and we will see what he's got to say.

Clint: Wil Wheaton, your co-star in Stand by Me, has an Internet presence. Now what about you?

Corey: Stand By Me. Now that was good. It was actually what you see on screen - just kids growing up and having fun.

But yeah, I do have an Internet presence. Type in my name in a search engine and it brings up like 33,000 sites. They're all run by fans, which I supply the information to from time to time.

I haven't got the time to do my own site with everything that's going on - the TV show I'm developing, the Tour, and getting the wedding organised.

Clint: Have you got time to do more Ninja Turltes voices, though?

Corey: [Laughs]. I don't think there will be any more. I heard the idea for the cartoon just got scratched, and the film that John Woo planned to make has also been scratched. So I doubt it.

Clint: Who - in terms of Celebs - would we usually see you hanging with in Hollywood?

Corey: Oh, I see people everywhere. Some are celebs, but most of my friends are just regular people. The thing is, even celebs are normal people too. Just people.

But I have met everyone I think I've always wanted to meet. I met all the Beatles, except for John, so that was great.

Clint: And finally, how was your fashion sense in the 80's?

Corey: [Laughs]. Oh, that sucked! Terrible. That's pretty embarrassing man.

Brought to you by MovieHole