Johnny Depp
Interview By: Rob Alicea
*Click Here For Another Interview with Johnny Depp
*Click Here For Another Interview with Johnny Depp
'I enjoy playing someone with slightly twisted social skills.' That's one of the first things 42 year old actor-extraordinaire Johnny Depp said to me. Mind you, we're also discussing this in the Bahamas, as Depp takes a short break from the filming of his next venture, Pirates of the Caribbean 2 ' something Depp explains with a smile, quickly returning to the task at hand ' shooting the breeze about, aside from Edward Scissorhands, one of the most bizarre characters he's portrayed in his amazing life-long career.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is on its second outing ' first with Gene Wilder in the lead role, directed by Mel Stuart. This time around, however, we have one of the greatest cinematic masters of all time ' Mr. Tim Burton, with Johnny Depp as his right-hand man, playing Willy Wonka. Together these two bring to life a much darker, deeper experience of Wonka, the chocolate factory, even the Oompa Loompa's, which most of us are a little antsy about watching. After all, how can you compare to the original' This is a question Depp asked himself perpetually while attempting to create a Wonka that he could call his own.
'I was definitely a Gene Wilder fan,' Depp proudly exclaimed. 'This material was one of the seductive elements, definitely. More than anything ' it was Tim that was asking me to do it.'
What most people don't realize is the tremendous history this once small-time director and very little-known bad-boy actor share. Letting me in on just exactly where he's coming from with said director, Depp starts to explain how Burton is just as responsible for Depp's success, as he is himself.
'For years he (Burton) had to butt heads with the studio people to allow me to be in Edward Scissorhands because I wasn't particularly popular at various studios over the years. And he won to get me in.'
So, knowing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is about to be re-released, Tim Burton is directing, and Johnny Depp is going to portray Willy Wonka, you have to ask yourself ' just how exactly does one of Hollywood's sexiest leading men do that' Rest assured, Depp had no reservations whatsoever about telling me exactly how he made this kooky and sometimes disturbing candy factory owner his own.
'When Tim and I talked about doing it there was no script at all at that time ' which is a great gift because I was able to use the original writer, Ronald Dahl's work for my notes.' Alright, 'Great!' I'm thinking to myself, so he read the book' but there must be more to it; with Johnny Depp there has to be more to it than that. So he elaborates on his motivations. 'I had these memories of children's show hosts ' guys like Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and local guys like Uncle Al and Mr. Green Jeans. Even then, how odd it was, the way they spoke ' this bizarre musical rhythm cadence to their speech pattern. Also was thinking about game show hosts ' and that perpetual grimace/grin on their face. I kept thinking ' they're certainly not like that at home. You feel like they go on stage, put a mask on, and do their thing ' and take it off. It's almost like a clown. So those 2 things, stretched out, as well as the fact that there's such dark and light in that story and such a subversive kind of undertone ' and a twisted/perverted side to the character, together became the basis for this version of Wonka'
'Tim and John August, who wrote the screenplay, were great about it,' Depp assures about his freedom to bring himself to the table and to the character. 'It's some kind of illness. I can't help myself, otherwise I feel like I'm being held captive. There's times where you know when you're doing it too much and there are times I feel very, very strongly about adding something. The trick is you can always try anything for one take and then go back to the page.'
That seems to be the trend of this project ' trying anything and everything. The only thing Burton shared in common with the original version is the fact that both used real sets. I am the first to admit when CGI comes in handy; heck ' it makes things possible, cinematically, that just couldn't be done years ago. I have to say, though, this impressed me. 'It makes all the difference in the world,' Depp said with a smile, wholeheartedly agreeing with me. 'Especially for the kids, many of whom had never really been on a movie set before. To have all that stuff available to you. To see, to touch, and in the case of the chocolate river, to smell'' Before I had a chance to ask, he quickly added, 'it smelled bad.'
Being that we were in the Bahamas, which I was only recently informed was because it was where Depp was now filming Pirates 2, I couldn't help but try and drag out a little dirt on the only man to wear eye shadow, hang with Orlando Bloom, and not end up on the cover of some supermarket tabloid for it. That man is Captain Jack Sparrow ' one of the coolest pirates since Hoffman donned a hook in the film of the same name. Depp wouldn't say much, but he concluded confidently, 'We'll get to see some newer layers to Capt. Jack. You'll get to see him in situations that he's unable to talk his way out of,' I start thinking to myself how fun that's going to be, but before I get to think out loud, Depp quickly adds, 'There's a lot of fun stuff.' As if there were any doubts in the room.
RobAlicea@TheCinemaSource.com
