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American Morning
'Full Frontal' New Film By Steven Soderbergh
Aired August 02, 2002 - 08:49 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: "Full Frontal" is the new film by director Steve Soderbergh, actually a movie within a movie, showing a day in the life of a group of Angelinos. You saw Julia Roberts. You also saw Blair Underwood in that clip, best known for his role on the hit series "L.A. Law." This time, he plays an actor playing an actor.
What's going on with that? Only Soderbergh, right?
BLAIR UNDERWOOD, ACTOR: Only Soderbergh, I'll tell you. Yes, you know, it's one of those movies that he really wanted to do right after "Ocean's 11," really after "Traffic," and "Erin Brockovich" and "Ocean's 11," just really to simplify the whole process, streamline and just have fun, have a good time.
HEMMER: Three weeks, $2 million -- done. Is this guy crazy, or is he just creative?
UNDERWOOD: And did it under budget, Bill, which is amazing. I hope people go out and see it. It's a fun movie. It's very different than the big mainstream, summer blockbuster event movies.
HEMMER: I think that guy really cemented his reputation with "Traffic." And if it comes anywhere close to that edge or what we saw within that film, this must be dynamite.
UNDERWOOD: I got to tell you, it's very different, and that's one of the things so incredible about Steven Soderbergh, is he really just sees all over the map and can do different styles and do them well, because you look at "Erin Brockovich," and "Traffic" and "Ocean's," see how different they are. This is yet another very different type of style for him.
HEMMER: Let's go back to that clip, if we could. Rewind it just a little bit. What was it like working with Julia Roberts?
UNDERWOOD: It's great, man, but she really has accomplished, obviously, so much in this industry, and she is surrounded by, you know, so much attention. But she is as normal as you can get.
HEMMER: Smyrna, Georgia, baby.
UNDERWOOD: Yes, it is. It's a Georgia think. It's a Southern thing. HEMMER: That's right. Georgia thing.
Listen, I saw an interview with the two of you, I think it was three or four weeks ago maybe. There's a scene in this film where you guys have to mix it up a little bit. You have a makeout scene essentially.
UNDERWOOD: Mix it up a little bit?
HEMMER: Yes, mix it up. Can I get away with that?
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: "Full Frontal," that's right. But the guy filming behind the camera was her then boyfriend and now her husband. Tell me if I'm wrong, but I just thought the body language when you guys were addressing that topic in that interview I saw was a little uncomfortable?
UNDERWOOD: Well, yes, of course it's uncomfortable. And Danny, her husband, he was really terrific about the whole thing. But it's always odd, because we, when we shot that, we had met maybe two or three days beforehand, and you know, he's right there in the room on the camera pulling focus. So if I'm not crazy with this shot, I'll just blurt it out and you can't use it, but he was really cool about it.
HEMMER: You can take him to dinner later after that shoot, and let him know, no hard feelings, man.
UNDERWOOD: Afterwards, I told Julia, you better go apologize to him, and she said you apologize to him, you took the job, you apologize to him.
HEMMER: That's right. I want to put of on screen, a set of rules was issued by Soderbergh during this film. I find these fascinating.
You will drive yourself to the set. No craft service, meals will vary in quality. You will pick up...
UNDERWOOD: If you get a meal.
HEMMER: Is that right?
UNDERWOOD: Oh, yes.
HEMMER: You will pick, provide and maintain your own wardrobe. You will create and maintain your own hair and makeup. You will have fun whether you want to or not.
Is he cutting through an ego thing with that?
UNDERWOOD: Well, I love the fact that you have his picture right next to those rules, because he was -- it was all about having fun, and yes, really saying, yes, everybody check your ego at the door, if there is one, and there really wasn't. But I loved that last one. There are no trailers. If you need to be alone, you're pretty much screwed.
HEMMER: That's good. "Full Frontal" is out today. Pleasure meeting you. Good luck to you.
Travel safe back to l.a.
HEMMER: Thanks. I will.
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