Round #12 - Stallone knocking off questions like a speed bag!

Hey folks, Harry here... this set of questions depresses me. Turns out Rocky drinks a beer that I absolutely despise. Real horse piss. I can't stand it. I suppose I understand... but dammit, we need to get that pug to Austin so he can experience the greater glory of Shiner Boch. Well - On with the questions...

1. Dear Sly, did you ever talked in the past with Arnold about movie-projects you could do together ? Thanks in advance ... with kindest regards. Stephan Kamieth - Frankfurt/Germany.

The idea of working with Arnold came up twice - one was with John Hughes, and it was about a pair of neighbors that were determined to destroy one another with their back-and-forth everyday vendettas. It was based on an incident that actually happened with me and a neighbor named Vin Scully, the voice of the Dodgers. That didn’t work out. The second was about a pair of undercover cops that had to go into the world of femme fatales - by dressing in wigs and dresses - to expose a serial killer. Can you imagine us two mugs trying to pass ourselves off as even semi-attractive women? You’d be better off drawing a face on the south end of a north-bound bulldog.

2. Dear Mr. Stallone, Long time ago I read that you have the movie rights for several of Wilbur Smith's novels. Is there any chance of seeing those movies starred, directed or produced by you? Best Regards, Geir Gundersen Bergen, Norway

The book that I optioned was called THE LEOPARD HUNTS IN DARKNESS, which dealt with a conservationist whose area is being invaded by rebels trained by Russians. Unfortunately, I think the story has been told in many different incarnations.

3. Hey Sly, I remember about three years ago when I first heard about a new Rocky movie, and millions of rumors were running about. Would you be willing to tell us what kind of plot points were rewritten/taken out for the latest Rocky movie, "Rocky Balboa"? It'd be interesting to see if any of those old rumors I heard were true! Thanks! Mac Fort Wayne, IN

In the original draft, Rocky was still running Mickey’s gym for mainly underprivileged youths from his neighborhood, and Adrian was very much alive and part of his life. Rocky’s son was in the Air Force, and Paulie, a negative, two-fisted, dipsomaniac - a season that never changed. Rocky was losing the gym and begins a process of trying to raise money. Since the banks turn him down, he begins to fight. This is basically the George Foreman story. It was not very emotional, but more of a plot film. So I decided to raise the stakes by dropping Rocky to his lowest ebb ever by having him lose Adrian; thus the film became a journey about rebuilding one’s life when the most precious element has been painfully taken away.

4. Sly- In day 4 of the AICN Q+A, you mentioned that you shouldn't stretch out and waste the audience's time and patience. Honestly, i don't believe the fans feel that way. When you branch out with quality directors like Norman Jewison (F.I.S.T.), John Huston (Victory) or James Mangold (Copland), the end product speaks for itself. The problem seems to be when you work with hired hand directors that don't have the experience to steer the ship. You're a very underrated actor that isn't served by high concept vehicles with music video/tv commercial directors. Don't you believe it is the quality of project that audiences may be turned off by rather than any perceived typecasting? Clint Eastwood was once pigeonholed the same way, but now people are eating their words. Isn't it your turn? Respectfully, Desmond Boston, MA

Yeah, I think you’re absolutely right. If a film concept is of great interest and hopefully emotionally charged, rather than just a visual bonanza, the audience will accept any stereotypical actor in his role if he’s willing to submerge himself in the character, dispensing all previous vanity. By vanity, I mean an actor begins to rely on certain tricks and angles and dialogue manipulation to make them more appealing, which is simply not honest. I certainly have been guilty of this, and COP LAND was the first film where I completely dispersed with all tricks… and now in ROCKY BALBOA. It’s true what you said about music video directors, no matter how great the cast or the project, a bad captain will run the ship onto a reef.

5. hope its not too late, i just have one question and i need it answered by tomorrow. i am throwing a rocky party to celebrate rocky balboa's release and i need to know what kind of beer rocky would drink so i can buy it for the party! Ron

No question about it, Rocky drinks Rolling Rock, especially in the “pony” bottles, which are the small bottles.

6. Hey Sly, My question is how is the casting going on Rambo IV. There have been rumors of people such as Vinnie Jones and Mathew Fox. So can you confirm if anyone is on board or some people you are looking at. Thank!! And I'm looking forward to both the return of Rambo and Rocky Balboa. Tyler Ft. Wayne, IN

Unfortunately, I can’t comment at this time on the actors, but there are several parts that are still up for grabs because I’ve been so involved with promoting ROCKY BALBOA. By the way, there were several mentions in the comments about Thailand and how RAMBO IV will “damage” the delicate tourist trade and become an eco-bandit of sorts. Thanks. The movie isn’t about attacking Thailand or strafing or fragging or napalming their water buffalo. It’s about a journey into Burma - which you should Google, and check out Karen atrocities, or go to FreeBurmaRangers.Org, and you’ll get the gist of what the movie is about.

7. Question: I'm sure you never realized that "Demolition Man" would become such an underground cult favorite to the generation that is now in their late 20's, early 30's. To the extent that I hear quotes from that movie off and on from various people all the time, and my best friend uses the line "Enhance your calm" on her children all the time! I would like to ask whether you have any interesting or funny stories to tell from the set, and even stories about working with Sandra Bullock, Wesley Snipes, Dennis Leary, etc. There seemed to be such a great comradery and sense of fun among all the actors. Plus, do you think there will ever be a DVD special edition of this movie put out, with various making-of documentaries? Thanks, and I've been enjoying the Rounds!! S.D. Moore Dallas, Texas

There was a real brotherhood among the actors, and it was a challenge doing one-liners with Dennis Leary - he’s pretty amazing. But this may not come under the “fun” category… the most daring stunt I ever performed, when I really felt my life was in jeopardy and there was no way out, was when they put me in the cryogenic tank and began to fill it with a liquid that felt like warm Dippity-do (or a hair gel of your choice). The lid was locked on in such a way that it could not be flung open quickly if the “gel” covered your mouth. So standing next to the cryo-cell was a 280 lb. Samoan with a fire ax, in case it was necessary to bust open the thick resin glass. But the fact is an ax would never have made a dent in the surface. So I’m grateful to this day that I was not killed by a careless amount of hair tonic.

8. The opening forty minutes of FIRST BLOOD are so memorable, in large part, because of the intense and skillful performances of you, Brian Dennehy, Jack Starrett, and the other actors portraying the small-town police force (including the young David Caruso). These guys really go after you in a way that has seldom been seen on screen and here the film strongly establishes Rambo as a sympathetic character who has truly been backed into a corner. In your mind, how was the realism of these sequences achieved? Were you social with the other actors on-set, or did you deliberately keep your distance from them? Jonathan Hertzberg

It was an abundance of testosterone on that set, coupled with good actors, most of whom are genuinely moody. So when the time came to perform, they simply cut loose and everyone went into alpha-mutt mode and good things happened.

9. Hi Mr. Stallone, Years ago you made a cameo appearance in the movie "An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn", which came to my attention after Roger Ebert gave it zero stars and called it one of the worst movies ever made. What I am wondering is, how did they get you to participate? My impressions from the movie are that the cameos are a result of favors being called in, more than people actually wanting to be there. Also, do you remember anything about your brief association with the project? Thanks! Robert

No, I was tricked by my agent, who was also Joe Eszterhas’ agent; Joe was threatening to leave the agency. I didn’t know this fact. So I was told by this agent, who was actually head of William Morris at that time, that Arnold and Bruce had committed to play the other two parts and would love to grind it out with me. I said, “Sure, I’m in,” like an idiot, trusting this man. Going on his word, I showed up on the set at about 7:30 only to find the other two parts were being played by Jackie Chan and Whoopi Goldberg. I think that’s the night my hair began falling out from stress. I was deceived to keep Joe a client at the agency. Now Joe’s a friend, and I don’t blame him for this, but I was delivered underhandedly.

10. Had anyone on the cast or crew of Shade ever actually played poker? Chris Beavers

No, I have the attention span - or half the attention span - of a mayfly, which I think only lives for eighteen hours… so me playing poker is about as appealing as gargling with Drano, but I learned. The other actor, Stuart Townsend, actually learned to deal wonderfully, and that’s all I recall.