11.6.2005

Interview with Michele Durrett

Here is our interview with the witty Southland Tales actress and see-through jacket model Michele Durrett. Get inside her opaque head and hear what she thinks of the movie and Richard. — Number_5

R-K.net: What role do you play in Southland Tales?

Michele: I play Starla Von Luft. She is an agent for USIDENT. The agents have personal information for everyone in the U.S. at their little fingertips and Starla starts causing some trouble. Not only can she mess with anyone for her own amusement but she has a "huge" crush on Boxer Santaros (The Rock) and somehow has a psychic connection with him. 

R-K.net: How did you get involved in the project?  Did you know Rich before being cast?  How did you meet Richard?

Michele: We (The Mechanicals) all have known Rich for the past few years and met through a mutual friend. He has been to all of our shows and has always been a great supporter of our comical cause. He directed a comedy pilot of ours after our little disappointment over at Showtime. (Working with him on that earned us all a special thanks in the Director's Cut credits of Donnie Darko!) That was a huge honor and as if that was not enough, he has kept us in the Southland Tales loop for the past two years. We always knew we would be involved, but then I got a call from him to come in and read for Starla. I didn't think I would actually get the part but when I did, I was through the moon.

R-K.net: Do you make people laugh as a full time job, or do you have some another means to make ends meet?  Do your ends actually meet?

Michele: I would love nothing more than to get paid to make people laugh (or cry) as a career. As it is, the reality of actually making ends meet as an actor is slim. It is a tough business and it just gets tougher but you have to stick it out. Unfortunately, the old adage, "It's who you know…" is very true. Nothing started happening for me until I met Richard. Unlike a lot of people in the industry who will tell you that they will "hook you up" or "make a few calls", he actually does those things. So now I am back in school finishing my teaching credential and praying that I am rich and famous enough in a year to drop out of school again…just kidding.

R-K.net: What went through your mind when you read the script for the first time?  Were you laughing?  Sad?  Distracted by inconsistent punctuation?

Michele: I was confused. The script has changed so many times since I first read it. The story kept evolving. Then, just when I thought I was getting it, I started shooting my scenes and realized that it was even more layered than I originally thought. When I read it, it seemed so dark (and yes…at times very funny) then when I got to the set, it was nothing like I had imagined (it was cooler) and things started to become a lot clearer for me. I have read and re-read the script several times and I get something more out of it every time. Oh and as a future educator, of course I noticed the inconsistent punctuation…and the genius!

R-K.net: Since your fellow female Mechanicals seem to defer all thought provoking questions about the film to you, how would you summarize what Southland Tales all means in twenty words or less?  You can use haiku if need be.

Michele: A world lost in chaos spins
Man, started the fire
Oops, we did it again…duh.

There's your haiku baby! 5-7-5! Damn, Richard isn't the only genius around here! (People, please note that this is sarcasm…I am not serious…contrary to popular belief, I am not a total snob.) Hugs!

R-K.net: What was your favorite part of being a USIdent employee?  The business attire?  The safe working environment?  The daily fitness regimen?

Michele: Clearly it would be the see through business attire. Who doesn't love working in an environment where no one can be trusted? Oh, I loved the pens. They were really great…and the constant supply of cheesie puffs and Red Bull. Who says the government isn't a great employer? Taxpayer dollars at work.

R-K.net: If you had to work in an office environment with the other Mechanicals each day, would you guys ever get anything done?  How did Miranda Richardson compare to Steve Carell as a boss?

Michele: If the Mechanicals all worked together in an office we would never get anything done and I would spend every night curled into the fetal position at home and rocking myself to sleep while crying. No one knows how to tear me down and leave me naked and vulnerable like my closest friends. Of course, during the day I would be laughing so hard I would have to invest in Depends, or Kagel classes. If I could work for Steve Carell I would…in a heart beat. However, Miranda as a boss is awesome! Very demanding and her nails were fierce!  (On a serious note: I learned a great deal from her in the two days I worked with her. Even though we never had a scene together, she is an amazing actress.)

R-K.net: What would you say you have most in common with your character in Southland Tales?  Least in common?

Michele:Starla and I look a lot alike and have a great love for anything sparkly and purple. She has an inner show girl inside who is dying to get out. I have always wanted to dance in Vegas. Starla is a complete psychopath and I am merely chatty.

R-K.net: What is the best thing about working with Richard?  How about the worst?

Michele: The best thing was seeing a friend in a different environment. He is completely in control and very focused. He is also really good at making sure his actors are comfortable with what is happening. He also really trusted me and my instincts. It felt really good. The worst part is that sometimes he would yell at me and make me eat a lot. He did the same thing to me once when he made me eat out of a dumpster in my own apartment building while I was dressed up as Wondrous Woman for the pilot we did. Then he just sits there and laughs at you. Then he calls it art.

R-K.net: Talk about your background in comedy – where did you come from and how did you get here?

Michele: I have always been funny. I just make people laugh. I am also brilliant, clever and hot. That is a winning combo. That is why it took so long for me to get involved with a project…of any kind. People are really scared of hot funny people. I got here via Alliance, Nebraska when my Mom held a three week old me in her arms as they (My mom, my dad and my grandmother) drove across country to L.A. so my mother could come home. It is through great adversity that comedy happens, I was laughing before I could talk. It was either that, or cry…all the time.

R-K.net: What would be your ideal next project?

Michele: I would love to work with Rich again. I would love to do something with all of the Mechanicals because they are my favorite people to work with. I would love to have one of those careers where I am only in creative and brave films. Right now it is looking like my next project is a "craft corner" for the kindergartners over at Anatola Elementary.

R-K.net: Were there ever fights between the Mechanicals on set over who got the best role? If it came to blows, who would have your back?  

Michele: No there were never any fights because we all too busy walking around on glass and kissing each others backsides so we all felt happy. If it came to blows…I would be on my own. There are eight of us see, so that is two couples and a threesome. I am afraid I would lose.

R-K.net: What did you think of the Assistant Directors on Southland Tales?  How about Alec Hammond’s crazy sets?

Michele: There were a lot of Marks. They were all great. The sets were awesome! Richard managed to surround himself with some of the most talented people in "the biz" and only pay them like five cents and a beer. Crazy geniuses all of them.

R-K.net: What did you think of The Rock after working with him?  Are there paparazzi pictures of the two of you making out?

Michele: The Rock was great. Really professional and fun to work with. He has good comic sensibilities. It's funny cause I saw all of these "paparazzi" pictures of him making out with Krista Now…that is so funny cause that was totally STARLA!!!!! (Just kidding) Mostly, I stared at the back of his calves…he has great calves.

R-K.net: What was your favorite scene that you filmed?

Michele: It had to be the one where I had to maniacally shove chessie puffs in my mouth with out laughing. Oh, or the one where I talked to myself while everyone was outside eating and laughing. Or my favorite one was when I was on the beach and…but I can't talk about that one.

R-K.net: How about your favorite sketch with The Mechanicals?  Do you enjoy writing your own material?

Michele: I can't name a favorite sketch because I have so many. I wish I could say that I enjoy writing my own material but I have to be honest and say that I am not the strongest sketch writer in the group. I enjoy performing other people's brilliant material though. I will write you a mad poem though or travel essay…how about a research paper on the indigenous plants of Machu Picchu?

R-K.net: What will you wear to the premiere of Southland Tales?

Michele: Well the designers are clamoring and the phone won't stop ringing. I will probably go with my old stand by Marc Jacobs. I mean I just love fashion!

R-K.net: Do you think Southland Tales will live up to the hype/expectations that Donnie Darko’s success has created?

Michele: Yes and then some. The fans won't be disappointed because they will have plenty to talk about for the next five years…or longer! The little footage that I have seen looks amazing and I am on pins and needles. I can't wait to see it either. I am now just a fan who is waiting with baited breath for this film to come out.

R-K.net: What was your opinion of Donnie Darko when you first saw it?  If you could have played a part in Darko, what role would you have wanted?

Michele: Oddly enough, I went to the Donnie Darko premiere before I knew Richard. I didn't know anything about it. My cousin who worked for a fashion company at the time that was hosting the after party called and asked if I wanted to go. I had never been to a big premiere before (well ok once…but I was like 12 and it was for the Transformer's movie…) I loved the film. Later at a birthday party for Abbey McBride, fellow Mechanical Kevin Robertson introduced me to his buddy Richard Kelly. I was like "Oh my gosh! I loved your movie! I was at the premiere! What are the odds?" and he was like "Yeah. Hey Kevin…wait up!"  I kid…he was really nice. We have been friends ever since. All of us…in one big pile.

Michele: Anything else you’d like to add?

R-K.net: Thank you for doing this. This website rocks. Richard has some of the coolest fans in the world and it was a pleasure to talk to some of them the other night during the chat. I hope this movie is super successful and Richard goes on to do brilliant movies with brilliant budgets. Then I can beg him to come in to talk to my 3rd grade class on "What do you want to be when you grow up?" day and be the coolest teacher in the world. Either that or a washed up old movie actress who gives people a tour of her dilapidated Hollywood apartment that is full of Southland Tales memorabilia…and cheesie puffs.

R-K.net: Michele, thanks for taking the time to answer our inane questions. If your kindergarten class comes up with more lucid ones, please have them get in touch. And thanks for the kind words about our site.