“Everyone’s a comedian.” A famous cliché used whenever someone tries to be funny. In the case of Will Ferrell’s latest Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, not only is this small sentence of sarcasm true, it’s an understatement. Most of the cast consists of former stand up, sitcom, sketch and improv comedy actors who are more than ready to spill the beans on a movie about broadcasters in the 70’s. Stars Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, and director Adam McKay tell us about the movie, what’s in their futures and what it’s like to work with a lovable little dog.
A movie about an anchorman in the 70's may seem like an odd subject, but Will explains where some of the ideas come from.
Will: “In terms of writing a script, I don’t think we ever set out to find easy targets, we just stumble across things that we think are funny. And if it happens to be an easy target then it is. Saturday Night Live started doing the fake news in 1975 so it’s not an area that’s new to be made fun of. So we just stumbled across this setting and thought it’d be a fun setting.”
Christina: "We would do one take
where we would stay with the script. And then ten to fifteen takes of whatever
happens happens. A lot of the brilliance really came out of those moments. At
least half of the film, of what you’re seeing is improv. So I guess Will and
Adam should take their names off the credit for writing this movie, ‘cuz they
had nothing to do with it." (laughs)
So how close to the real thing are the characters and situations in Anchorman? Because if you were to go back and look at the tapes from the 70's, one would think there couldn't possibly be that much difference.
Will: “Ya, that’s what we in talking to some of the local guys that we talked to, that’s what we found out. That some of the scenarios, some of the things we thought of that ended up in the script were not far from the truth.”
Christina: "I didn’t want to mimic anyone. I didn’t want to take too many things. I wanted to take idiosyncrasies from a lot of different people. I did do a lot of reading on Jessica Savage. Because I found that she’s such a fascinating character. Just her struggles. I mean, she really struggled. And I loved the idea that she was a little crazy. And I love the idea that (the character of) Veronica has that same sort of essence about her as well."
A movie doesn't die after its initial theatrical run. Anything extra can be added to DVD for everyone to enjoy. Are there any details that can be shared on the DVD release?
Adam: "We literally had enough extra footage we made a whole second movie called Wake Up Ron Burgundy. It an hour and forty minute 2nd movie of entirely fresh material that will eventually be put out on DVD."
If you're worried about laughs, Anchorman doesn't disappoint. Not only does the cast offer joke after continuous joke, but just like in Old School, Will doesn't pass up on an opportunity to show some skin for his female fans.
Will: “I say this honestly, I’m not an
exhibitionist, even though I seem to find myself constantly doing things like
that, we just end up writing scenarios that just seem really funny. I do have
moments of like “Why did I write this?” As long as its
in the context of what you’re within the character or within the scene of the
film, then I’m happy to do it. And the other side of it is, if you’re gonna be in comedy, there’s nothing timid about being in comedy.
You either have to go for it, or why are you doing it? So I end up having that
approach a lot of times.”
Since
Will: “Biggest rumor? That I’m not gay. That’s probably the biggest rumor. And that pisses me off, y’know? Because I work hard with my partner Roger and I, you know? ‘Nuff Said.”
Ok, so maybe trying to get a serious answer out of Will Ferrell is easier said than done. Since rumors aren't an issue, can he give us any insight to his worst or best memories?
Will: “Worst memory was in high school during a baseball game when I slid into second base and accidentally killed the kid. It was just a weird funny break, and severed an artery. That was probably my worst memory. Best memory, I scored like 28 points in a basketball game once my freshman year."
After another not so serious answer, I was curious if Will was always like this, when the cameras and tapes aren't rolling. Saturday Night Live writer and first time director Adam McKay shares his insight into Will Ferrell's true character.
Adam: "He spends probably 3 hours a day on his hair. Or he likes this SLT (salmon, lettuce and tomato) sandwich and if it’s not prepared just right he’ll throw it against the wall and kick in a tv screen. Or he’s on the phone with his business manager. He likes to talk about his money a lot. And don’t be afraid to ask him how much he makes a year, he’ll answer like that. (Snaps fingers) He loves to brag about his income."
I give up. So what in the future for the two main stars? Will has two movies in the works, both with Nicole Kidman and Christina takes her career in a direction much different than the one she grew up doing as a Bundy. First, Will talks about Bewitched and The Producers.
Will: “Bewitched we are (Will and Nicole) obviously going to be working together. We’re actually kind of doing a different take on the whole thing. Which is the reason why I was even attracted to doing it in the first place. Because I’m not so much a fan of the remake the tv show into a movie type of thing. I’ll be playing a kind of fallen from grace film actor who’s had a couple two, three flops that has been talked into re-making the tv show Bewitched. So that’s the whole twist on the whole thing. And the characters from the show are either going to be part of the “quote unquote” tv show or just pop up in Samantha’s life. So it’s going to be a little bit of a twist. Because I don’t see the point in making just the tv show as the movie.”
“The Producers, we probably won’t see each other at all. We’ll be in the same movie but it won’t be a pairing so much. I don’t know how different the movie script will be from the stage production, but I know I have one song.”
Christina: "I’m gonna go do Sweet Charity on Broadway for a long while. It’s a good role. It’s a lot of work. We are gonna keep it in the 60’s. It’s gonna stay in that time. I’m working really hard this week. I’m in dance classes and singing classes every single day. And I don’t leave for NY until December."
Oh, before I forget, one last question needs to be answered. How was the chemistry between Will and his pet dog Baxter in the movie?
Will: “I’m professional. I’m allowed to say this...I let him lick my balls.”