Exclusive: Bruce Campbell Tells Us How We Can Get Him in Our Movie

Posted by Kevin Carr (kevin@filmschoolrejects.com) on November 12, 2008 Share

So you want Bruce Campbell in your film. You’ve spent many sleepless nights writing the script. You’ve scraped together a budget. And you’re ready to start casting. You think a name like Bruce Campbell is going to help your flick fly off the DVD shelves. Now all you have to do is get him on board.

Well, it might not be as easy as you think. While promoting his tour of My Name Is Bruce, the legendary Mr. Campbell took some time out to speak with Film School Rejects about his career, his favorite films and what it takes to land him in your picture.

Campbell directed My Name Is Bruce, which is current in the middle of a 22-city road tour. He’s spent time in front of the camera and behind it, and while many of his films are a ton of fun, Campbell insists on a professional set.

“If you’re have too much fun, you’re not really getting work done,” Campbell told Film School Rejects. “My theory is that you’re not making friends; you’re making movies. So I don’t really want people chit-chatting on my set. Just shut up, do your work, and do it fast. Because it’s a business, and we’ve got to get it done in a certain amount of time.”

After spending decades in productions that range from micro budgets (like the first Evil Dead) to $200 million blockbusters (like the Spider-Man flicks), Campbell has figured out what works best for him in movies. So, he shared with us his four rules he follows when he accepts a part…

• The director must have experience: “I now have an official first-time director rule. That’s an official no.”
• The movie can’t have “Zombie” in the title: “That’s an instant no.”
• It also can’t have zombies in the movie: “Anything zombies is an immediate walk-away.”
• The script must be special: “It has to be something that makes me nervous when I read it.”

If you’re wondering about Rule #4, you might want to check out Campbell’s list of top projects he’s worked on, which he also shared with us…

• TV shows (like Burn Notice, Jack of All Trades and The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.)
• Running Time: “A cool movei that’s underviewed, no really fully appreciated.”
• The Evil Dead movies: “I have no ill will towards those movies at all. I have nothing but warm, fuzzy feelings.”
• Bubba Ho-Tep: “This is a special little movie.”

Bruce Campbell is currently on tour, promoting his film My Name Is Bruce. Check out the tour dates here.

Read more articles by Kevin Carr