Johnny Depp

EW.com(Entertainment Weekly) is giving us a real treat-an interview with Johnny all about Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street! Johnny talks all about the making of the movie, working with Tim Burton again, his impressions of Stephen Sondheim, and a few other things as well! Here’s a brief excerpt from the interview. Be sure you go to the above link to read the entire interview. It’s fantastic!

********************************************************************************************
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: This Sweeney dude — he is messed up! You are going to freak out a lot of pre-pubescent girls with this character.
JOHNNY DEPP: Ah, finally! It’s a radical left turn, that’s for sure. The difficulty and the challenge [was] taking a character like that and attempting to make people feel for him, at the same time that he’s slashing people up. Not easy. But I certainly hope it came across that way.

Musical lovers and Stephen Sondheim fanatics know Sweeney Todd really well. What about the general public?
Somebody sent me this thing from online. Somebody said, after they saw the trailer, ”I don’t understand why in the middle of that trailer Depp broke into a song.” Like, ”Whoa — What is he doing?”

Singers say Sondheim’s melodies can be incredibly tough. Why?
It’s real obtuse stuff. When you start to take those pieces apart, melody line by melody line, it’s a lot of half-steps, which is not real easy to do. Kind of go G to A-flat to A to B-flat. It’s super, ultra complicated, these notes that shouldn’t work together at times. But he made them so.

Did Sondheim have any good advice for you?
He said to me early on, it was much more about the acting work than the singing. He felt the singing was secondary to hitting the notes emotionally. I didn’t believe him. [Laughs] I think he was probably saying that to make me feel better about what I was about to attempt.

And what did that feel like?
Frightening. Really frightening! When Tim asked if I’d be into it, he said, ”Do you think you can sing?” And I said, ”Honestly, I don’t know.” I’m not tone deaf, so I knew I could stay in key to some degree. But I didn’t know if I could sustain a note, or belt one out.

You were in a number of rock and roll bands before you became an actor. Didn’t you do any singing in those?
Virtually none. Just backup.

And yet Sondheim approved you without an audition.
Sondheim, bless him, had barely heard me talk. So when he said, ”He’ll be fine,” it was a real shock.

What did Tim Burton say to you after he finally heard your singing voice?
He couldn’t have been sweeter about it. He was really supportive, and said he really liked it. It was the reaction I was praying for.
********************************************************************************************
See Cinema Hype for more news on the latest movies.

Johnny Depp, Depp, Sweeney Todd, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Tim Burton, Stephen Sondheim, Helena Bonham Carter

This is a fun interview from “Access Hollywood,” where Johnny talks about Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.” Johnny talks about Keith Richards-his first meeting with Keith, and how great Johnny thinks he is-and how Keith took the news when Johnny told him that the character of Captain Jack Sparrow was partially “borrowed” from Keith!

He talks about the possibility of playing Captain Jack again, and how he’d love to do it. He also covers the subject of doing more movies aimed at kids, giving the opinion that “sometimes kids’ stories, themselves, are scarier than more adult themes.” (Definitely true! Have you ever read the original versions of Grimms’ Fairy Tales?)

He talks about the rumors that Keira Knightley was ready to walk away from films to pursue a normal life. He says that if she did decide to walk away, he would applaud her for doing what made her happy. Asked if he has ever thought about quitting acting, he says “probably every 11 minutes for the last 20 years!”

One of the really great things about this interview is when Johnny talks about playing Barbies with his daughter, Lily-Rose. According to Johnny, he’s “had some very good situations as different Barbies!”
He also says it’s “essentially one of the only things I’m good at!” Now, that’s a devoted and loving dad!

In the last bit, he discusses his upcoming movie, Sweeney Todd, directed by Tim Burton. A great interview but, of course, any interview with Johnny is great! Enjoy!

For other Friday Film interviews, go to:

Sept. 21
Sept. 14

Johnny Depp, Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tim Burton, Sweeney Todd, Keira Knightley, Lily-Rose Depp, Keith Richards

Reuter’s news service recently interviewed Tim Burton, following his receiving the lifetime Golden Lion Achievement Award at the Venice Film Festival. Here’s a portion of that interview:

Q: Your next movie is based on the story of Sweeney Todd. What is it about the story that makes it so popular, with a series of revivals and adaptations recently hitting stages around the world?

A: “I don’t know if it was that popular in terms of just mass culture as a musical … It’s probably my favourite musical just because of all the different elements — the horror, the humour, the drama and the beauty of the music all juxtaposed in there. I just felt like on stage the one thing that they don’t have the opportunities to see (is) the actors’ faces and eyes, so this is a case where we almost felt like we were making a silent movie with music.”

Q: Although many of your films feature music, this is your first proper musical. Why do it?

“This is the first pure (musical) and this musical is even different from most in the sense that there’s a lot of music in it. This one is almost musical throughout. That was an extra challenge that I got excited about, really.”

Q: Johnny Depp has been quoted as likening his singing voice to “the mating call of a rutting stag”. I don’t know if he said that, but having directed him in a musical, do you agree?

A: “That sounds like him! No I don’t. He’s great. When I asked him to do it I had no idea if he could sing or not. I know he’s in a band and all that, but then when he said yes, I knew that he wouldn’t say yes unless he himself knew he could do it. That’s the great thing about him, he’s always up for a challenge and I think he’ll surprise people. I think he sounds amazing.

Q: You regularly work with Depp. Would you have considered making this movie with anyone else in the lead?

A: “I was involved with Sweeney Todd about 10 years ago. It just never happened. He (Depp) would have been too young for it at that point. Things have a weird way of working themselves out. On stage they always portray them (Todd and partner in crime Mrs. Lovett) as old, like in their 50s or whatever. But it just felt more passionate somehow to have them younger than that in the movie, sort of in their 40s. In some ways it’s kind of a luck thing where yeah, I might have made it with somebody else but I’m glad I didn’t, because I think he’s amazing in it.”

Q: Helena Bonham Carter also stars in this film. Is it ever a problem directing your partner?

A: “Yes! The good thing is that she was really right for the role and (that) sort of supersedes anything, and we’re still together and that’s a positive side. A few rocky moments. But when somebody’s right for a role that kind of takes the edge off a bit.”

Q: Why is this Golden Lion award important to you?

A: “I’ve been to this festival a few times, and each time I’ve come here I’ve just had this very special feeling about it. You grow up in Hollywood and that whole scenario and what you feel here is that there is just passion about movies. So that’s what makes it special to me — it’s not about business, it’s not about finance, it’s about just the love of movies. And so to get this at this point in my life I just think is an inspiration and I can always remember it and hopefully use that as an inspiration to keep going.”

Johnny Depp, Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Tim Burton, Sweeney Todd, Venice Film Festival

As promised, here’s the second part of the Johnny Depp interview from David Letterman, which aired in July, 2006. In this part of the interview, Johnny talks briefly about life with his kids. Letterman also touches on the fact that Johnny’s still wearing Captain Jack’s gold teeth, and how he cool he is with them! Then, there’s discussion of the island that Johnny bought in the Bahamas, and how much he loves it there.

There’s also a very funny clip from “Deadman’s Chest!” So, watch and enjoy!

Johnny Depp, Depp, David Letterman, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean, Johnny Depp interview

I’m starting a new feature today called “Friday Film.” On Fridays, from now on, I’ll be featuring video clips of Johnny-interviews, film clips, even some made of clips set to music. There’s so much good film of Johnny out there, and I thought it would be great to share some with you.

I’m starting off with Part I of an interview with David Letterman, which aired on “Late Night” July 27, 2006. In this first part, Johnny talks with Dave about how studio executives first felt about his portrayl of Captain Jack Sparrow. There’s also a very funny story about his defacing a billboard of himself from his “21 Jump Street” days. And, as usual, his clothes are unusual and uniquely Johnny! Hope you enjoy!

Johnny Depp, Depp, Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean, David Letterman, Late Night, 21 Jump Street, Johnny Depp interview

Great news! The episode of Inside The Actor’s Studio starring Johnny Depp is set to be released on November 20th! Originally, the episode was scheduled to be released in May of this year. Then, release was moved to September, and then it was taken off the schedule completely. Hopefully, all merry-go-round of scheduling is all resolved, and we’ll be watching Johnny on November 20th. There are some great moments with Johnny in this episode, so be sure to get it!

Also, according to the website TV Shows On DVD, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End is scheduled for an early December release. I haven’t heard an exact date on it yet, but I’ll let you know as soon as I do.

Add the release of Sweeney Todd to all this, and it looks like it’ll be a great holiday season for Johnny Depp fans!

Johnny Depp, Depp, Inside The Actor’s Studio, Pirate of the Caribbean, Sweeney Todd

Today, for your reading pleasure, here are some great Johnny Depp quotes from various interviews over the years.

“I can remember being totally fascinated with Bela Lugosi and the Dracula films when I was five years old, and I can remember sitting in class in first grade and drawing pictures of Dracula and Frankenstein. I remember it like it was yesterday,” Depp says. “And when I was a kid, in about 1968, I was completely, utterly obsessed with a television show called Dark Shadows.”

That gothic soap opera featured ghosts and werewolves. Its central character was a vampire named Barnabas Collins. “I wanted to be Barnabas Collins,” Depp laughs. “And I wanted the cane with the wolf’s head on it. For my parents, that must have been a very scary thing. ‘Where did we go wrong?’ ”

Sleepy Hollow interview for the Winnipeg Sun, November 1999

One of the greatest pieces of advice I’ve ever gotten in my life was from my Mom. When I was a little kid there was a kid who was bugging me in school. And she said, “Okay, I’m going to tell you what to do.” She said, “The kid’s bugging you. He puts his hands on you, you pick up the nearest rock, or whatever you can get your hands on, and you lay him out.” And I did! And I felt better. And it worked. So, for me, that was a great lesson because someone had invaded my space; invaded my being, you know, and was doing something against me that I didn’t want to be done. So I took control of the situation and I ran with it.

And many years later, after being turned into a product by a very huge corporation that had their hands all over me and I couldn’t escape it, I promised myself that I would continue to move forward and do my best not to compromise in any way whatsoever; not allow anyone to put their hands on me and affect me in that way. So that’s the best advice that I could give, is just to keep moving forward, and don’t give a shit what anybody thinks, you know. Just keep moving forward and do what you have to do for you.

Johnny Depp, Inside the Actors Studio, 2002

Charlie Rose: Why ‘Lily-Rose’?

Johnny Depp: In fact it was the only name that we’d come up with for a girl, ‘Lily-Rose’. We both loved the name ‘Lily’, and I think Vanessa’s mom suggested the ‘Rose’ part. My mom’s name is Betty-Sue and we wanted something that sounded kinda like ‘Betty-Sue’, that sort of southern thing. So ‘Lily-Rose’. And ‘Melody’, which is her middle name, was after a Serge Gainsbourg song called ‘Melody Nelson’.

Charlie Rose: So her name is Lily-Rose Melody…

Johnny Depp: Depp. She’s something!

Charlie Rose: Man, you really look happy!

Johnny Depp: I’m floating… I’ve never, ever in my life - I haven’t lived before that day. I was not alive. I existed. I imagine that I drew breath and exhaled and all that stuff, but I don’t have any particularly fond memories of it. I mean, I don’t think I took a real breath until my daughter was born.

Charlie Rose Show, November 1999

There’s that word that you don’t quite understand what it means, which is ’satisfaction’. Then there’s that great big question mark: What’s it all about? What’s it all for? You start thinking, ‘Am I just an actor? A puppet? Am I one of those ambitious cretins who’s just looking for accolades and applause and recognition?’ I’m happy to say I found out that I’m not.

Johnny Depp, The Big Issue February 2002

Johnny Depp, Depp, Johnny Depp quotes, Johnny Depp interviews, Dark Shadows

I found this video of Johnny and former girlfriend Kate Moss at YouTube. The interview was done back in 1995 on the British show “The Breakfast Club.” In it, Johnny and Kate talk about the “War Child” charity, and the interviewer asks Johnny about his tattoos. There’s also a funny bit where Johnny compares the paparazzi to “mosquitoes and gnats!”

Take a look and marvel at how Johnny looks as though he hasn’t aged a bit since then! Enjoy!

Johnny Depp, Depp, Kate Moss, The Breakfast Club, War Child, Johnny Depp interviews

Included in a list of DVD’s newly available this week is “The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg,” which includes an interview with our own Johnny Depp! The entire list is available at azstarnet.com. Here’s the info on the movie:

‘The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg’
The man who wrote the Beat Generation epic poem “Howl” is the subject of this in-depth portrait from director Jerry Aronson, who spent 25 years gathering interviews and footage of Ginsberg, his associates and his admirers. The impressive lineup of interviews in the documentary includes Andy Warhol, Hunter S. Thompson, Abbie Hoffman, William Burroughs, Ken Kesey, Timothy Leary, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Joan Baez, Bono and Johnny Depp. The two-disc set also packs a huge range of extras, featuring Ginsberg reading some of his poems, visiting Jack Kerouac’s grave with Bob Dylan and offering an exhibition of his photos.

An interview with Johnny is always worth seeing, and there’s obviously a lot of other interesting people on this two-disc set. Check it out!

Johnny Depp, Depp, Allen Ginsberg, Andy Warhol, Hunter S. Thompson, Abbie Hoffman, William Burroughs, Ken Kesey, Timothy Leary, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Joan Baez, Bono, Jack Kerouac, Bob Dylan, new DVD’s

The CinemaSource.com currently has three interviews with Johnny Depp available to read. An interview with Stephen Snart takes place during the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.

Another interview, with Ray Dademo takes place around the time of release of The Corpse Bride. The third interview, with Rob Alicea was done during the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.

There’s lots of great pictures of Johnny there, too, so head on over and enjoy! You can get to each individual interview by clicking on the interviewer’s name above.

Johnny Depp, Depp, The CinemaSource, The CinemaSource.com, Johnny Depp interview, Johnny Depp movies, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Corpse Bride