Hey folks, Harry here with Quint, scourge of the seven seas and the duck pond out back. That's right it's the ol puddle cruiser and he's latched his unsavory ways towards Thora Birch, ever since GHOST WORLD, Quint has had an unnatural obsession with squanching with Steve Buscemi, seeing that Thora Birch almost and very well might have squanched with Mr Pink, well Quint sought her out, hoping to pick up a nugget that he can apply to achieving the terror of squanching...
Ahoy there, squirts. 'Tis I, everybody's favorite crusty ol' seaman, Quint, here with a return to what I do best... I got this interview with Thora Birch at the very, very last second. I had less than 2 hours to prep for the interview (most of that time was spent at Radio Shack, securing a new microcassette recorder that ended up not working).I only had 15 minutes to talk to Ms. Birch, but I found out some interesting tidbits about the behind the scenes of Ghost World... and also that my interview style has been copied! Yes, you got it alright. Somebody had already asked Ms. Birch for a dirty joke. What's the world coming to?
Looking back, there was so much more I wanted to ask (Monkey Trouble, anyone?), but due to the technical difficulties and the short prep time I only had about 5 minutes to jot some questions down before jumping on the phone with Ms. Birch. That having been said, I think it turned out pretty good and without any further adieu, here it be:
QUINT: IT SEEMS LIKE AMERICAN BEAUTY HAS STARTED A TREND WITH YOU. DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS ASIDE, YOUR FILMS SEEM TO BE GETTING CHASED BY AWARD SHOWS RECENTLY. IS THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE PICKING EDGIER MATERIAL OR IS IT JUST HAPPENSTANCE?
THORA BIRCH: With Ghost World, it certainly surprised me. It was just a character that I was incredibly passionate about and had a lot of fun doing. But when I saw the film part of me went, "Ooooo... Maybe I took too many risks with this one." I wasn't sure how it was going to be received, but I was so pleased when people started taking a liking towards it. At the end of the day all we can hope for is that when people see the film that they enjoy it. So far, the only reactions I've heard have been positive and I'm eternally grateful for it.
QUINT: WHAT DID YOU SEE IN THE FILM THAT MADE YOU SO PASSIONATE ABOUT IT?
THORA BIRCH: First off, the character grabbed me right away. I thought she was a wonderful mixture of dry wit and at the same time she had this hidden exuberance for life and amusement for life and had that vivacity that was something I wanted to broaden in her character. Terry (Zwigoff, director of Ghost World) was always... You know, his humor is very much the tone of Ghost World. Him and Dan Clouse (writer) LIVE in Ghost World, they are that way, so they were always for the more sardonic wit.
I had also seen Terry's documentary CRUMB, which I thought was tremendously powerful. And the chance to work with Steve (Buscemi) was a tremendous draw. I don't know, sometimes it's difficult for me to know exactly why a particular character sparks my interest, but I suppose that I recognize it as being someone challenging and certainly separate from myself, but at the same time accessible. I think there are many personality traits in her that I witnessed in my friends. You know, that post-graduation sort of bewilderment, especially among those who are not keen to go right into college. They don't really know what they do want to do with their life, but know everything they don't want to be, which is a terrible place to be, but I think it happens a lot.
QUINT: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE FILM TO SOMEONE WHO HAS ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT IT'S ABOUT?
THORA BIRCH: Hmmm... This is a question I haven't come across a lot... Um... I would have to say that it's the type of film that once you have seen it, you'll probably have your own definition of it, but I think that the characters are highly accessible because they operate on a level of insecurity that I think more people that would like to admit can relate to.
QUINT: I'VE BEEN A HUGE FAN OF STEVE BUSCEMI'S FOR A LONG TIME. YOU GUYS HAD AMAZING CHEMISTRY IN GHOST WORLD. DID YOU GUYS HAVE TO FINE TUNE THAT OR WAS IT SOMETHING JUST HAPPENED WHEN TERRY YELLED "ACTION?"
THORA BIRCH: By the time we had gotten to the set, everyone had a very clear idea of the film and what the tone would be, particularly because it is based on Terry and Dan, if we ever had any questions... I even remember a few instances onset where Steve would have a few questions or I would and sometimes Terry would just end up saying, "Just say it how I would!!!" That was kind of our map.
Also, the script... I never found any major holes or posed any unanswerable questions. It was a clearly well written script with very good dialogue, which is, unfortunately, very rare, but vital to the development of a character. A lot of credit goes to Dan for that, for somehow knowing how teenage girls communicate... which is kinda bizarre... (Iaughs)
QUINT: MAYBE DAN HAS A LITTLE SECRET HE HASN'T SHARED YET...
THORA BIRCH: (Laughs)
QUINT: TERRY SEEMS LIKE A REALLY GOOD GUY. HOW WAS HE ONSET? LOTSA WHIP CRACKING?
THORA BIRCH: Actually, there was a lot more laughing than one would have expected on a (movie) set. I know every day, at least 3 times a day, I was just completely left in stitches just because of the way they viewed the world and their outlook on life, which is not the most positive. (laughs) But it's a sort of self-deprecating humor that I've always sort of... I don't want to use the word admired, but found intriguing.
QUINT: I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT ANOTHER PROJECT OF YOURS BEFORE WE END THIS. YOU DID A KIND OF A HORROR FLICK CALLED THE HOLE THAT DIMENSION PICKED UP. DO YOU KNOW WHEN THAT'S COMING OUT?
THORA BIRCH: I'm not sure when it's coming out, but Dimension did pick it. I don't know what their immediate plans are with it, but I would hope they would at least test it or release it. Hopefully they'll do it soon.
QUINT: WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
THORA BIRCH: It's been labeled as a horror film, but I've always thought of it as more of a teen psychological thriller. It's about 4 English public school students, and English public school is the equivalent of our boarding school, who ditch a science field trip and go into this abandoned bomb shelter for 3 days for, like, a private party, but they get stuck down there and only one comes out alive. The first half of the film is what my character, Liz, would have everyone believe happened and the second half is her coming clean as to the real story.
QUINT: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORKS?
THORA BIRCH: I've got two projects that I'm in the beginning stages of producing, actually. I'm in the developmental stage of setting up.
QUINT: COOL. WHAT KIND OF MOVIES ARE YOU LOOKING TO PRODUCE?
THORA BIRCH: Well, these two projects are something that I would also be in. This is my first adventure to that position, so it's all foreign to me. I'm sort of taking it day by day with that, but like I said, I'm sorta developing them now and getting the key elements in place. I want to do that before I even "shop it around."
QUINT: I'VE READ THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN DIRECTING AS WELL. IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'RE WORKING TOWARDS?
THORA BIRCH: Yeah, it's something that has been on my mind for... well, this might sound weird considering my age, but it's been on my mind for years now. But at the same time, the more I work and the more time I spend on sets the more I learn how much I have to learn. While it's a tremendous desire, it's something I'll give a tremendous amount of thought to before actually asking anyone, "Hey... You think you could trust me with your film?"
QUINT: TIME FOR MY SIGNATURE QUESTION. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE DIRTY JOKE?
THORA BIRCH: Ooo... Oh, God. I do have one, but I've actually shared it a few times before... I'll give it to you anyway at the risk of sounding redundant.
QUINT: WAIT A MINUTE. SOMEONE'S ASKED YOU FOR A DIRTY JOKE? OTHER INTERVIEWERS?
THORA BIRCH: Yeah, actually. All right... A guy who has had a really rough day and is really down walks into a bar and sees this beautiful mid-40s woman who also seems incredibly depressed and is already slightly intoxicated. He goes up to her and goes, "What's wrong?" She goes, "Oh! My husband just left me. He said I was too kinky in bed."
The guy goes, "No! I can't believe this! Last week my wife left me because she thinks I'm too kinky in bed." They continue their conversation and they decide... well, why not go back to her place. So, they go back to her place, she runs upstairs and you can hear all the workings being brought out. Whips, chains, leathers... all the S&M usual suspects.
She's finally ready, she walks downstairs to see him zipping up his pants and walking out the door. She goes, "I thought we were going to get together! What's wrong?" And he goes, "Well, I don't know about you, but I shit in your bag and fucked your cat. I'm outta here."
QUINT: NICE! GOOD ONE!
THORA BIRCH: Dirty jokes. Makin' the world go 'round.
There you have it squirts. Ghost World just came out on DVD. If you haven't seen it, what's wrong with you!?!? Go rent it! You'll be glad you did. I'll be back with some badass interviews, script reviews and even a set visit or two in the very near future. 'Til then, this is Quint bidding you all a fond farewell and adieu.
Buy GHOST WORLD on DVD at Amazon.com and save 25%!
-Quint
email: Huh huh huh, Thora Birch said to me, "I shit in your bag and fucked your cat..." That rules!
