Joe R. Lansdale Takes Care of Business
Amanda By Night Interviews
the writer behind
Bubba Ho-Tep
Leave
it up to genre author and legend Joe R. Lansdale to come up with
a story about Elvis in an old folk's home battling a soul-sucking
mummy. His unique blend of horror and humor brimming over with his singular
Texas style has been luring legions over to the dark side for the past two
decades. So it was no wonder that the screen adaptation of Bubba Ho-Tep
would be every bit as original as the short story it's based on. And after
a whirlwind of festivals and art house showings, Bubba Ho-Tep is
still playing theatrically in select cities. But if you've been living under
a rock or just plain missed one of the most original films of recent years,
you'll find MGM's extras-laden DVD (available May 25th) every bit as good
as, well, a Joe R. Lansdale story. Unitshifter struck gold when we
got Lansdale to sit down and answer a few questions about the upcoming release.
Unitshifter: First, the question you must get asked all the time…when did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
Joe R. Lansdale: I was nine. At least that's when I first have knowledge of trying to write something. My mother said it was even before that. I can't remember not wanting to do it.
U: Who were your major influences?
JRL: Too many. Early on, Homer. I loved THE ILIAD and the ODYSSEY, but mostly the former. As a kid I carried the ILIAD around with me. I adored it. Kipling, primarily for THE JUNGLE BOOK. But then I found Edgar Rice Burroughs. I read A PRINCESS OF MARS and was hooked on storytelling. Later on, Mark Twain, Flannery O'Connor, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, noted genre writers like Robert Bloch, Bradbury, William F. Nolan, Charles Beaumont, Fred Brown. William Goldman. Many others.
U: All of your stories take place in Texas. Can you tell me about the charms of the Lone Star State?
JRL: Actually, a few take place outside of Texas, but most do take place here. I love Texas. Especially East Texas. I've grown up here and understand it and it's only natural that it would bleed into my stories. It's what I know.
U: Your ideas are highly original. Where do you come up with things like an elderly Elvis duking it out with an ancient Egyptian mummy?
JRL: I wish I knew where all those ideas came from, I'd go back there for more. I have to wait on them. BUBBA HOTEP was actually several years in the making. I had the title. I had tried to write an Elvis story before, and was a fan of Elvis's music, grew up during the time of the Kennedy assassination, and, of course, I loved Mummy movies. It all came together when I was asked to write an Elvis story. It had been brewing, and all the ingredients were suddenly there, and it was written quickly.
U: There is a profound statement in both the short story and the adapted film about growing old and remaining dignified. Was that subject close to you?
JRL: Yes. My mother at that time was, due to a severe accident, in a rest home, and the whole question of dignity was of course on my mind. It was also one of the factors that brought the story together. I felt our society was too interested in the young. Most of the wisdom and experience is with the elderly, and they, like anyone else, can be heroic and self-sacrificing as much as anyone.
U: You've had several stories optioned, but only a few have come to fruition. Could you tell us about the adaptation of "The Job" and "Drive-In Date"? Were you surprised that it's taken this long to release a feature length film on one of your stories?
JRL: THE JOB and DRIVE IN DATE were small films, almost student films. Another, MAN WITH TWO LIVES is due out this month. There's a website for it. It's a Western, sort of. I have had so many optioned for major films, but, so far, only BUBBA has been made. I'm hopeful for THE BIG BLOW, DEAD IN THE WEST, A FINE DARK LINE, THE DRIVE-IN, THE BOTTOMS, and others that are currently under option.
U: I'd be willing to say that as a fan, I found it skeptical that "Bubba Ho-Tep" would have been successful as a film. Yet, it's one of the best films in recent years. What did you contribute to the making of it?
JRL:
I didn't think it would make a good film, tried to talk Don out of optioning
it. But he didn't listen. He optioned it for a few years, then offered
me the screenplay. I passed as I felt I wouldn't be able to make it work.
He made it work. I was impressed. Especially since it was pretty much
like the story. But, who would have thunk it? I'm very pleased with the
results.
U: How did you meet Don Coscarelli?
JRL: He called me about THE DRIVE IN which he was interested in at the time, but it was optioned then. He came to Nacogdoches and spent the weekend and we talked about other things. But, it was years later before BUBBA. He did, in fact, option other things of mine, but none made it to film. Again, I'm proud of BUBBA.
U: Was it hard for you to let go of the story and hand the reins over to him?
JRL: No. I trusted Don. I'm glad I did.
U: When Don approached you about making "Bubba Ho-Tep", who did you envision as the leads?
JRL: I really couldn't envision anyone. But when I started thinking about it, Ossie seemed a natural. I'm also a fan of his work. Bruce my son suggested, and Don and I talked one day, and he mentioned Bruce, and I said, Yeah, who else. Let's see if we can get him. We're so damn lucky we did. He's amazing in this film, and it's a class performance.
U: Were you on the set much?
JRL: I went out for a little less than a week with my son, and as we watched, we knew it was going to work. We could just tell. And, it did.
U: What was your first impression of Bruce Campbell when you met him?
JRL: A likeable guy who is a bit cautious due to all the fan adoration, and much of it by folks who want to know why Ash went back in the house after he should have known better. That kind of fandom is bound to make a man cautious, even bored. I'm sure he's grateful for all the great fans who just love his performances, but I figure it's also a burden for him to have to be, to many of his fans, Ash. Now and forever. He's a great actor, and I'd love to see him do more challenging roles. And I'd love to see him as the lead more. I can't tell you how much respect I've gained for Bruce, and it was due to that great Elvis performance in BUBBA.
U: What was it like meeting the Master of Horror - Ossie Davis? (He was my favorite part of the film!)
JRL: It was an honor. We didn't hang out. But it was great to meet him. He's an icon.
U: There's been much debate about whether or not these two geezers are really Elvis and JFK. What do you think?
JRL: I think JFK is crazy, and I think it's possible that Elvis is Elvis. But, who knows?
U: Do you think the audiences have come away with what you've wanted them to?
JRL: I think they have. I think it's what I wanted it to be.
U: What has the response been to you personally, when you've encountered fans of your work that have seen the movie?
JRL: Excited. Happy. Most everyone I've met has loved it. Especially the dyed in the wool fans.
U: I see you are a 9th degree Black Belt. Did you teach Bruce any of your moves?
JRL:
No. I didn't teach Bruce. From watching him, he could use some help. But,
his hokey martial arts moves were part of the charm, I think.