Arquette's answers
Whether anyone thought so at the outset, David Arquette has become endeared to international audiences. Over his decade in the entertainment business, from purposeful joker to consummate auteur, Arquette has weaved a web worthy of Spiderman.
The actor is funny, serious, a father, a husband and someone who basks in the total bliss of his life. The man is the other half of Coquette Productions, his company with his wife, Courtney Cox Arquette. The couple will celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary this summer and their daughter, Coco, illuminates every second of their lives since her arrival almost three years ago.
David's directorial debut
About as far away from paternal bliss is Arquette’s first foray into top-to-bottom Orson Wellesian filmmaker, “The Tripper” landed on DVD recently after an April theatrical run. The idea of a slasher-film run amuck amongst the backdrop of a Woodstock modeled hippie-fest is pure David Arquetteian.An aspect of the filmmaking process that shined above all others for Arquette was the priceless moments working with his brother Richmond, a role he written specifically for him. “He’s one of the funniest people I know,” Arquette said. An appearance from his wife provided the couple with an interesting conversation about when someone is too old to portray a hippie.
From Coco’s demands of fatherhood to pleading with Courtney to appear in his labor of love “The Tripper,” the star of ABC’s “In Case of Emergency” found the time to co-produce FX’s “Dirt” starring his wife, and share a few thoughts with SheKnows about the Arquette family business of entertainment.
SheKnows: David, first of all, it’s personally great to speak to you. I’ve enjoyed your work for years.
David Arquette: Wow, thanks, man. Thank you very much.
SK: As a writer, I can appreciate the feeling of creating something and seeing it through to fruition. For you to helm this film “The Tripper,” which you wrote, directed and starred in, is the sense of accomplishment everything you thought it’d be?
DA: I guess it is. I do feel good about it. It’s like anything else you pour your heart and soul into can take awhile. It can be a draining experience but it’s been amazing. I’m really thrilled to let go to the next phase of people being able to see it and also to move on to other things.
SK: This has got to have been a big part of your life for quite a while.
DA: At least three years of continuous work on it, yeah.
SK: The plot of “The Tripper,” David, is so great. Where did the idea come from to bring a killer to the entity of a Woodstock type festival?
DA: (Laughs) Yes, it’s pretty unique. I was at a music festival back in ’89 called ‘Reggae Rising.’ It was dark down by the river and there were these enormous Redwood trees and I thought it would be insane if a killer came and started hacking up all these hippies. That was the first germ of it. The second part was I wanted to do something with (President) Reagan and some of his political policies. I saw a direct connection to the world around me and…I wanted a little statement somehow tied into some story. And then I saw a Reagan…sorry I’m a little scrambled. My daughter just woke up.
SK: That is too cute.
DA: Then I saw a Reagan mask and it all sort of came together when that happened.
Coco (off): Papa.SK: Well, hello Coco. Speaking of family, what was it like starring with your brother Richmond?
DA: Richmond was incredible. It’s funny he kind of plays a character that is similar to my Dewey character in “Scream.” I wrote it specifically for him and he just killed it. It’s great to see him play this really out there cop.
SK: Did you have to work really hard to get Courtney to appear in “The Tripper?”
DA: (Laughs) Well actually I wanted her to play a bigger role, but she’s like ‘I’m too old.’ (Laughs) No you’re not! Then she said ‘yes I am. I’m not going to be in a van with bunch of young hippie kids.’ You don’t understand. Hippies come in all ages and shapes and sizes. And she wouldn’t go for it. But she does have a really memorable cameo.
SK: It is so wonderful you could surround yourself with all this family when you’re handling so much as far as directing and acting.
DA: It really was a comfort to see such beautiful friends and family across from you when you are trying to accomplish something like this. Everyone was really supportive and it was an amazing experience. Thomas Jane, my brother-in-law, I approached him first and he read the script. He really loves horror films and has a first-look deal at Lions Gate. I went to him and his partner Steve Niles, who’s a big comic book author, and they got on board first. My co-writer Joe Harris was also instrumental in grounding it…
Coco (off): Dad…
DA: (Laughs)…and giving it some real structure and honing some of the political commentary and comedy.
SK: I also see you are working with Lucas Haas once again. What is it about working with Lucas that you professionally and personally enjoy so much?
DA: He’s one of my favorite actors. He’s amazing. He and Thomas, when these guys act, they come from such a place of honesty…
Coco (off): Dada…DA: (Continuing as if his little girl isn’t demanding his full attention.) It makes for an ‘everything’s good’ feel. Lucas, when I met him on “Johns,” we just became dear friends ever since and…
Coco: (off) my shoes are…
DA: (Laughing)…for this movie I wanted to work with people I love and respect and Paul Ruebens falls into that category too. I met him on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” the movie and have been friends ever since. He’s also one of the funniest people I know and such a cool guy. And so interesting, all of his comedic choices are original. He makes classic moments out of nothing.
SK: Other than serving as the place where you met your wife, what does it mean to be associated with the “Scream” trilogy?
DA: It is awesome. I love horror fans. Going to some horror conventions have been really great experiences. They love film. They love horror films, but they love film. It’s fun to write for them.
SK: I wanted to ask you about a couple of actors you have worked with, the first is Donald Sutherland, who you worked with in “Buffy.”
DA: I actually didn’t have too many scenes with Donald. I was just starting out. I’m a huge fan of his. I saw “Don’t Look Now” before I made this film.
SK: What about William H. Macy in “Stealing Sinatra?”
DA: Oh, Bill Macy was amazing. He is a great guy and a tremendous actor. Really a sweetheart and also one of those guys that everything he does comes from a very honest place. His acting choices are really character based. I love watching actors like that bring uniqueness to a moment.
SK: Finally, I see you were on “The Tripper” tour bus cruising across the country. How was life on the road?
DA: It was pretty insane. You can check it all out on MySpace.com/TheTrippermovie. We documented a ton of it. We are taking a different approach since we are distributing it ourselves. We’re using the Internet in a major way and getting it out there to be more interactive with audiences. It’s funny because we were treating a bit like a political campaign. They’re all out on buses trying to sell themselves. I thought it’d funny to do the same kind of thing.
