Austin Powers 3 Interviews - #1

Review by By Clint Morris

Interview with Actor Evan Farmer
Starring as a 'younger' No.2 in the movie Austin Powers 3.

If any movie can make the most unrecognisable of faces into a star, it's an Austin Powers movie (think Verne Troyer's Mini-Me!), and now young Evan Farmer gets his chance at stardom. Playing the young No.2, a role previously played by Rob Lowe and Robert Wagner, Austin Powers 3 has proved to be quite a blast for Farmer, as Clint Morris found out.

Clint: You're playing one of the funniest new characters in Austin Powers 3, is the break you've been waiting for?

Evan: Actually my big break was waking up one morning realizing I couldn't ever wake up again wondering what I would be when I grew up... That was about my sophomore year in college the day before my final architecture project was due. Since then I've done everything I could to make up for 10+ years of following the other sheep; I'm certified in skydiving, paragliding, I built a motorcycle, performed in Russia with their most successful pop group to-date "Na-Na," went to NYC with zero money and did Soaps, off-Broadway, then, just as I was wondering what I could do next, I booked a role on Shaft. Even though my role was all but cut from the final release, I was hooked on life as an entertainer. Shortly there after I booked "2GE+HER" (aka Together) which was probably the closest you can get to art imitating life. That's a whole other story though...

Clint: But on Austin, How great a set is it to work on?

Evan: My scenes were the very first shot in the whole movie. That added a little tension to the whole process but the shooting environment we were in was established long before the third movie. Everyone was professional, but it was clear that everyone was there with the first priority of laughing. I didn't meet Mike until the second day, and that was very strange since he was wearing "Fat-Bastard's" head without the body. He's almost freakishly shy and polite in person - opposite of what you'd expect. Some of the stuff was so funny that we'd have to re-do shots like ten times cause the crew and everybody else would be laughing so hard. I'm buying stock in Depends Undergarments...

Clint: You're playing Young Number 2 in Austin 3, what's it like to step into a role previously played by Robert Wagner and Rob Lowe?

Evan: It was actually very easy. Those two had created a role that was so specific that all I had to do was watch their performances and anticipate who they were a few years earlier. That's also a testament to what DVD's have done for actors. I rented the Austin DVD's and walked into those meetings with the knowledge of what Jay Roach was about, the producers were about, even knowing what Rob Lowe and Robert Wagner felt about the role. You know I've never been compared to these guys before, but now that I've played them I totally appreciate the honor. They're both legends. Thanks, now I'm nervous about my performance...

Clint: I heard there's some great cameos in this one?

Evan: They're so protective of the plot information, that I honestly know as little about the particulars as anyone else with a television or computer... I can say that I was psyched to be in the company of a few people I had met before because of "2GE+HER." We had been the opening act for BRITNEY SPEARS' "Oops I Did it Again Tour," and had toured briefly with DESTINEY'S CHILD (Byonce) on some radio shows, and now we're all crossing genre lines to make this film together. It's an honor to be included among the entire cast.

Clint: What did you think of the whole ban on using 'Goldmember' for the title?

Evan: You can't pay for the kind of publicity that controversy brings... I think everyone is making out on this one. The Bond films got a nod, "Austin" got a boost, I get to answer your question... I personally would re-name the movie "Austin Powers In Silver Pickle" or something and stir things up a little more. If you remember the trailer for "AUSTIN POWERS 2," they promo-ed the film with a back handed sales pitch for "STAR WARS" - that was cutting edge advertisement. Not only is the movie a spoof, but the business affairs were able to laugh at themselves too. It's been my experience that those who can not only laugh, but laugh at themselves, do the best.

Clint: You sing too, does Austin 3 have any singing in it for you?

Evan: Not in this one... Its funny though, cause the people who did the music for "2GE+HER" are also the music supervisors for "AUSTIN POWERS." I actually found this out a week before I took the first "AUSTIN POWERS" meeting when I was mixing a song I had written for different film. In between sessions my "mixer" started telling me this story of recording "BBC" from the first "AUSTIN POWERS" where Mike (among other things) did a few impromptu recordings that wouldn't be allowed in a pg-13 movie... Small world - I'm actually wondering how Kevin Bacon fits in to all of this...

Clint: You did some music for TV's 2GE+HER, how was that?

Evan: It was great actually. When MTV started casting the movie "2GE+HER" they (later confessed) that they had little hope of finding people who could both play the specific characters they had in the script, and find actors who could sing the material. In the end they found a combination that could do all that and stand up to the scrutiny of the pop critics and fans. At one point "2GE+HER" even outsold 'NSYNC's It's Gonna Be Me with The Hardest Part Of Breaking Up (is Getting Back Your Stuff). We had top 10 videos on "TRL," rose up the Billboard Charts, and we toured with Britney. It was "SPINAL TAP" with a TV series on top of it all. When I left the Russian group, I honestly didn't think I'd ever be doing music on that level again (Na-Na had sold 60 million albums and played to sold out stadiums). It was a wild ride to say the least.

Clint: Next up I see you are doing the sequel to Sleepaway Camp. Who will you be playing in the sequel to this movie?

Evan: In the sequel I get to play a character who has to be likeable in the way that he's hated. The greatest thing about acting for me is the chance to mess with people's understanding of who you are. I grew up thinking I was weird because I saw myself changing personalities depending on the friends I was with. For some reason it's discouraged and I was occasionally criticised by friends when they thought I wasn't "being me." But we all had several aspects to our personality we use as a form of adaptation, and for me that's what acting is about. I just try to adapt to the script, the other actors, the story, etc. Its just fun. I can't wait to be a dick. It's not PC to do that anywhere else in life.

Clint: Who's in the film? and when's it start rolling?

Evan: Well, the film was scheduled to be shot in September of last year in New York. For many reason's (some obvious) it was post-poned. Other cast members included (the rapper) Nelly; Vinnie Pastore from The Soprano's, and there were a few other major music names that were negotiating their tour schedules to make cameos as well. It stands to reason that the casting will either be the same (depending upon availability) or at least remain in the same vein as the original cast. It is currently scheduled to film again this September in New York.

Clint: In addition to that one, What's next for you movie wise?

Evan: I've got a lot on my plate right now. I'm negotiating a few things musically, and I'm in development of a few television and film projects, some of which involve my production company Ragland Performance. I feel like I've stepped up to the plate in this chapter of my life and I'm laying the foundation for a really good game. I have a great team and a desire to go the distance. Most importantly I've made charity a large part of my life in honor and memory of my friend Michael Cuccione of 2GE+HER, and in honor of my mother who has survived breast and ovarian cancer. I learned the value of being involved in charity early and have always felt that, if there was a value of celebrity - be it large or small, it is in the ability to reach more people for a good cause. I've recently released a solo album on my official website which is dedicated to Michael. A portion of the proceeds will go to both THE MICHAEL CUCCIONE FOUNDATION as well as THE SUSAN G. KOMEN FOUNDATION.

Austin Powers 3 commences in cinemas on July 26th, 2002.

Austin Powers 3 Interviews - #2

Review by By Clint Morris

Interview with Actor Jim Piddock
Starring as the 'headmaster' in the movie Austin Powers 3.

With all the oversized beings and tiny freaks running amok on the set of the new super-sequel, Austin Powers 3, it's great to spot a cast member who looks rather sane. Then again, in the film he's playing the headmaster of our doting hero… How sane can that man be? Actor Jim Piddock reveals all to Clint Morris.

Clint: Like Gwyneth Paltrow and Britney Spears, you're cameo-ing in Austin 3. How's the set?

Jim: I'm not sure I can give you an informed answer to that one, because like most people doing cameos in the movie, I was only on the set for one day. What I can say though, is that the director, Jay Roach, is among the nicest and coolest directors I've ever come across. He made my short experience working on the film very enjoyable.

Clint: Tell me a bit about the headmaster role you're playing?

Jim: The challenge of doing an appearance like that, in a film, is to make the character clearly defined and, hopefully, funny also. It's kind of a Hogwart's boarding school for spies, and since I went to an all boy's boarding school in England, I had plenty of role models to draw from. I'll just be happy if the character ends up in the movie. I was actually supposed to be in Austin Powers 2, playing an ice cream salesman (with an excellent double entendre about "crushed nuts"), but the part got cut from the script before I even had a chance to shoot it. Such is the wonderful world of movies!

Clint: This character sounds great. Were you disappointed when the Goldmember title was banned?

Jim: I was certainly surprised. It does seem fairly ridiculous what is allowed and what isn't. I mean how can the powers-that-be okay The Spy Who Shagged Me and nix Goldmember? It doesn't make a lot of sense. However, I'm sure Mr. Myers and Co. will find another suitably amusing title.

Clint: You've done lots of TV work - what are the notable differences between doing that and a feature film?

Jim: Time. Apart from sitcoms, which are a whole other beast, there's no major difference between the two except the number of pages that have to be shot per day. The result is that in tv, there will be less set-ups for every scene and considerably fewer takes for each set-up. Mostly, you can expect to three or four takes at most in a TV show, whereas in a movie, the number will often be in double figures and sometimes as many as fifty or sixty takes.

Half-hour sitcoms are mostly done very differently. The vast majority are rehearsed, rather like a short play, for four days and then shot, in sequence, in front of a studio audience with four cameras simultaneously covering everything. Although it isn't always as swift an experience as people might imagine. Shooting 23 minutes (the standard length of a US sitcom without commercials) usually takes around four hours.

Clint: So did Britney Spears or Gwyneth pass on any tips?

Jim: HaHa! I'm afraid not. They were all shooting on different days.

Clint: Why do you think the 'Austin Powers' movies have been so successful?

Jim: Well, for a start they're funny. They're also; in the same way the old British Carry On films and the more recent Naked Gun movies were, pretty much suitable for adults and kids. Although I did spend several hours trying to explain to my seven-year-old daughter what an "inflatable penis" is, after she saw the first Austin Powers!

Clint: I remember you from Mad About You. How was that experience?

Jim: Fun. Judy Geeson, who played my wife, was a friend so it was a very easy experience. Its creators and stars dictate the atmosphere on most TV shows, and Paul Reiser was a very kind and congenial host in that respect.

Clint: You were also in Best in Show, Christopher Guest is doing a new movie soon, are you involved?

Jim: Yes. We start shooting in May. I'd love to tell you all about it, but it's all so secret I'd have to kill you if I did. What I can say, though, is that it will be improvisation-based, as most of his other movies have been.

Clint: And back to films, as a cast member of Independence Day, are you surprised there's still been no sequel?

Jim: Yes and no. "Yes", because Hollywood will usually do a sequel to any successful film, but "no" because how the hell do you follow that?!

Clint: No Independence Day 2, so what's next movie wise?

Jim: I'm starting to do some research for my character in the new Chris Guest movie, while currently doing a few episodes of "The Drew Carey Show", in which I'm playing the new owner of the store Drew works in. Then later in the Summer, if it all comes together, I'll be doing a film written and directed by Eric Idle. I also have a Cold War romantic drama-thriller, which I've written, that is supposed to be shooting this year and which I'll be a producer on also. Just keeping my fingers well crossed!

Website: Click here

Brought to you by MovieHole