Interview with actor Barry Corbin: continued from page 1...
TF: You mean... in terms of being outside of what is considered the traditional period and setting?
BC: Right. Theres one in particular Ive been wanting to get done for years, and thats Elmer Keltons . I talk it up every chance I get. And theres another one that ought to be made into a mini-series, itd be every bit as good as Lonesome Dove. Its by Clair Huffaker. [NY, Trident Press; 1973] Its about a cattle drive through Siberia, with a bunch of Montana cowboys and some Cossacks in the 1890s in Russia. Its a remarkable book. I dont know that its in print still, but its a great story.
TF: Youve often said that westerns are your first love. Why are you so drawn to them?
BC: Well, its probably because of my childhood. When I was a kid thats what we went to see. We went to see Bill Elliott and all those guys. We didnt care anything about Buck Rogers. Im still that same person. I still ride horses. But I know from talking to people, not only in here in Texas but when I go anywhere, they say: "When are you going to make another western?"
TF: Luckily, you dont tire easily of that question. But no denying the hunger is there. Folks have a special kinship to the genre. I think proof of that is evident through the number of signatures weve already collected onsite through our America Wants More Westerns campaign. From that I gather people would really like to see more quality western stories on film, as well as return of the western and its values.
BC: Yes. And you know when you add to that the number of people that dont get online, its a huge audience. ....Oh, theyll keep making them! And hopefully theyll make a few good ones that catch their attention. The only way to catch the attention of the producers out there is for the bottom line to show such a big profit that they cant turn it down.
TF: To any degree, does there exist a "been there, done that" attitude which adds to the resistance?
BC: Well, thats part of it. Theres also the political correctness issue. Also, theres the issue of... well, many times they want to do a western, but they want to put it in space. Or they want to do a western, but they want to put it in the battlefields of Scotland. Or they want to do a western, but they want to make it during the times of the Romans or some such thing... which is not doing anything but removing the immediacy of what youre watchingit removes it from the immediacy of The West that existed a century and a half ago, or a century ago, and places it in a time period that is altogether different.
TF: By that you mean recent movies such as Space Cowboys, Braveheart, and Gladiator are stories that basically carry the same elements of a western.
BC: Exactly.
TF: What kind of character roles appeal to you the most?
BC: Its the process of doing it that interests me. When I read something, if theres a quirk to the character, some inconsistency to the person, then Im attracted to it. Thats what I meant when I was talking earlier about turning down roles where the characters first name is Sheriff, because most the time theyre either a buffoon or a hard by-the-book type of guy, but theres no personal life to the character. Im looking for someone with a personal life to him, with an inner life to him. If thats not there then somebody else better play it because they dont need to pay me the kind of money they have to pay me to do it. ...And sometimes... (chuckles) ...sometimes you get the part and you figure youre stealing money from them because theres just not much of anything you need to do.
TF: (laughs) Okay, tell me something... you filmed Crossfire Trail in Canada, right?
BC: Uh-huh. I was up there for about a month.
TF: Why are so many films about the American West shot in Canada?
BC: It's the economics. The dollar exchange is very favorable to the American dollar... and the Canadian acting unions dont have the same kind of requirements that the Screen Actors Guild has, as far as residuals, that kind of thing... so thats why many producers favor Canada. ...As a matter of fact, theres a thing that Sam Elliott did not too long ago. It was supposed to take place in Oklahoma, and he wanted to shoot it in Oklahoma...
TF: That would be the TNT movie , based on .
BC: Yes, thats the one. The producers told Sam they were going to shoot it in Canada or they werent going to do it.
TF: So much for realism. Though I suppose an argument could be made that after all was said and done, You Know My Name turned out to be a very fine film. So perhaps all was not lost. Judging from that, does this mean all westerns will be headed north?
BC: No, not necessarily. I did one just about a year ago called The Journeyman, filmed in Big Bend country in Texas, right on the border down by Mexico. It has a different kind of look, a different kind of feel. Its an independent picture. I dont know what theyre going to do with it, if they are even going to find a release for it.
TF: This is the one you did with Willie Nelson?
BC: Yes. I havent seen the finished product by any means, just the raw forman uncolor-corrected print of it with a temporary soundtrack. I think its got some possibilities. Now, the problem is whether or not they can get the money together to get the color-correction and get it scored. The temporary score they have is okay but it doesnt add anything to the picture, and youve got to have all the elements in there in order to sell it. So what these young folks are going to have to doand they havent asked me for advice, so I havent given it to them (chuckles) theyre going to have to finish the picture before they can sell it.
TF: Who made it?
BC: It was done by a group of young filmmakers in Austin. The young fella that directed it is very talented, he also wrote the screenplay. His name is James Crowley. The producer is Brunson Greenhes quite a go-getter. But the problem is when you do something like this, youve got to make every dollar count. Youve got to make sure those dollars go to screen and not somewhere else. Its very difficult for an independent to find a release.
TF: Might this be something headed for the Sundance Film Festival?
BC: I think thats their hope. I havent heard anything more about it, though.
TF: We certainly wish them the best with it. Now, as far as your other projects go, you stay pretty busy. Youve also done some audio books by Max Brand. How did you like doing that?
BC: Oh, I enjoyed it.
TF: Plan on doing any more audio books in the future?
BC: Well, if somebody wants to hire me, I am! (chuckles)
TF: If by the mere mention of it here helps any... let's hope the news will spread and the word gets out that you are, indeed, available for hire.
BC: I sure am!
TF: Barry, thanks a lot for your time. I sure do appreciate it.
BC: I enjoyed talking to you, Taylor. And congratulations on your magazine.
TF: Thanks, and congratulations on Crossfire Trail. A thoroughly enjoyable movie, one that folks should look forward to watching.
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