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American Morning

Actors Behind Camera

Aired December 26, 2002 - 07:54   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: You know them for their work on the big screen, but three of Hollywood's biggest stars have gone behind the camera. They are joining the ranks of top actors-turned-director.
Why would you go from being the star to the one who gets to call the shots? Well, our Andy Culpepper went to find out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And action.

ANDY CULPEPPER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT NEWS (voice-over): What I really want to do is direct, an adage that's nearly as old as the Hollywood Hills. Now, for A-list actors Nicolas Cage, George Clooney and Denzel Washington, it's a personal reality.

NICOLAS CAGE, DIRECTOR, "SONNY": I needed to get restimulated, and I couldn't think of a better way than to try directing.

GEORGE CLOONEY, DIRECTOR, "CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND": It's obviously more difficult than you can sort of expect, but I knew what I was getting into.

DENZEL WASHINGTON, DIRECTOR, "ANTWONE FISHER": What an opportunity to be able to do both. You know, what a good position to be in.

CULPEPPER: It's a position with an upside and a downside.

(on camera): Why would someone who has a proven track record as an actor risk his capital by taking on the whole responsibility?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, well, pride, challenge, ego, not in a bad way. You know, you want the satisfaction of doing it, and that's a big mountain to climb. And if you climb it successfully, you've got a lot to be proud of.

CULPEPPER (voice-over): Success has been on the side of many A- list actors-turned-directors, and has sometimes resulted in an Academy Award. Robert Redford's first effort, "Ordinary People." "Red's" brought gold to Warren Beaty. Kevin Costner's debut "Dances With Wolves," Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven," and Mel Gibson's "Braveheart."

While Oscar gold so far has gone only to men, several A-list actresses have also joined the director ranks.

One of the more challenging obstacles for an actor turned director: directing yourself.

(on camera): Was it intimidating directing a two-time Oscar winner?

WASHINGTON: Yes, I almost had to get rid of him, you know. He was a bit egotistical. You know, I had to really work with Denzel. If I had to do anything over again, I would have never hired him.

CULPEPPER (voice-over): And when the time comes for the actor to yell "Action"...

CLOONEY: The first time I did it, I don't even think I said, 'Action.' I was like, 'OK,' and then we're kind of sitting there for a minute, and I went, 'Oh, oh, oh, action.' You know, it feels strange.

CAGE: It's pretty exciting. It's fun. You know, it's -- you know, there's a lot of adrenaline to it.

CULPEPPER (on camera): It's like there's something in the water this year. Nic Cage directing for the first time. Denzel directing for the first time. You directing. What did you guys get together and decide we're...

CLOONEY: Yes, we had a meeting. We sat down and we talked about it. Two Oscar winners, and you know, a People's Choice nominee. It was pretty interesting.

(voice-over): Andy Culpepper, CNN Entertainment News, Los Angles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.






Aired December 26, 2002 - 07:54   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: You know them for their work on the big screen, but three of Hollywood's biggest stars have gone behind the camera. They are joining the ranks of top actors-turned-director.
Why would you go from being the star to the one who gets to call the shots? Well, our Andy Culpepper went to find out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And action.

ANDY CULPEPPER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT NEWS (voice-over): What I really want to do is direct, an adage that's nearly as old as the Hollywood Hills. Now, for A-list actors Nicolas Cage, George Clooney and Denzel Washington, it's a personal reality.

NICOLAS CAGE, DIRECTOR, "SONNY": I needed to get restimulated, and I couldn't think of a better way than to try directing.

GEORGE CLOONEY, DIRECTOR, "CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND": It's obviously more difficult than you can sort of expect, but I knew what I was getting into.

DENZEL WASHINGTON, DIRECTOR, "ANTWONE FISHER": What an opportunity to be able to do both. You know, what a good position to be in.

CULPEPPER: It's a position with an upside and a downside.

(on camera): Why would someone who has a proven track record as an actor risk his capital by taking on the whole responsibility?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, well, pride, challenge, ego, not in a bad way. You know, you want the satisfaction of doing it, and that's a big mountain to climb. And if you climb it successfully, you've got a lot to be proud of.

CULPEPPER (voice-over): Success has been on the side of many A- list actors-turned-directors, and has sometimes resulted in an Academy Award. Robert Redford's first effort, "Ordinary People." "Red's" brought gold to Warren Beaty. Kevin Costner's debut "Dances With Wolves," Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven," and Mel Gibson's "Braveheart."

While Oscar gold so far has gone only to men, several A-list actresses have also joined the director ranks.

One of the more challenging obstacles for an actor turned director: directing yourself.

(on camera): Was it intimidating directing a two-time Oscar winner?

WASHINGTON: Yes, I almost had to get rid of him, you know. He was a bit egotistical. You know, I had to really work with Denzel. If I had to do anything over again, I would have never hired him.

CULPEPPER (voice-over): And when the time comes for the actor to yell "Action"...

CLOONEY: The first time I did it, I don't even think I said, 'Action.' I was like, 'OK,' and then we're kind of sitting there for a minute, and I went, 'Oh, oh, oh, action.' You know, it feels strange.

CAGE: It's pretty exciting. It's fun. You know, it's -- you know, there's a lot of adrenaline to it.

CULPEPPER (on camera): It's like there's something in the water this year. Nic Cage directing for the first time. Denzel directing for the first time. You directing. What did you guys get together and decide we're...

CLOONEY: Yes, we had a meeting. We sat down and we talked about it. Two Oscar winners, and you know, a People's Choice nominee. It was pretty interesting.

(voice-over): Andy Culpepper, CNN Entertainment News, Los Angles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.