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A Candid Conversation with Ms Loretta Devine
On September 12th, 2000, I had a chance to speak with Loretta Devine who is starring in the upcoming feature "Urban Legends: Final Cut". Loretta plays the fan favorite character from the first film, Reese, who is a wise-cracking, quick on her toes police officer. Loretta is also a seasoned veteran with over 40 projects to her name. She can also be currently heard in the animated series the "PJs" on the WB. Some of her other impressive credits include "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge", "Down in the Delta", and "Waiting to Exhale".
Loretta: Good Morning.Dean: Good Morning, I hear you have been working on Urban Legends 2.
Loretta: Yes, we finished working on it last year in Toronto.
Dean: Ah, Toronto, how did you like the Canadian experience?
Loretta: I had been there before when we did the first one. So I knew my way around and I had a great time this time.
Dean: I have a little kindred spirit there because I am Canadian as well.
Loretta: I had a great time. The shopping was awesome.
Dean: (laughing) The shopping is awesome.
Loretta: (laughing) Yes.
Dean: You are reprising your role of "Reese" like you did in the first one. Did you enjoy that character quite a bit like you did in the first one?
Loretta: I did. Especially because of the spoof we did of Foxy Brown and my desire to be like Pam Grier. They extended it in this movie because before I was just talking about it but this time I am singing and dancing with a tape of her. They extended her quite a bit in this one. So it was fun.
Dean: They got you singing and dancing?
Loretta: Yes!
Dean: That's a little strange for a horror film.
Loretta: (laughs) Yeah, for a thriller. Right?
Dean: Yeah, right.
Loretta: That's why people have to go see it because there are a lot of interesting stuff going on in this. It is sort of a film within a film with the whole film taking place on a college campus in the film department.
Dean: You also starred in "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge", correct?
Loretta: Yes, I played Ruby.
Dean: Did you catch the Emmys at all?
Loretta: Yes I did.
Dean: I would imagine you would have been very proud of Halle.
Loretta: Yes I was very proud. Her speech really touched my heart. I really appreciated what she said and I know how sincere she was about getting the award because she worked so hard when we worked. I mean she put in 15-18 hours a day and it was a lot of hard work. I am so happy for her.
Dean: Do you prefer TV or film?
Loretta: You know I like television and I like the going away that you get a chance to do with film and its entirely different kind of life. Television is kind of like the jails of real life where you have to come back to reality at the end of the day. When you are doing a film you can stay in character the whole time you are away. It is really hard to pick and choose. I really like both of them a lot.
Dean: Another reason I asked about television was because of "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" but I was also going to ask about the "PJs".
Loretta: Oh yes, the "PJs". We are going to Warner Bros now and they are introducing some new characters to the show. We are currently taping our third or fourth show but we are really excited about the new season. There have been some basic changes that have been made so I think it will make it a hit. It was a hit when it first started. The possibilities are really great for it this year.
Dean: Do you think it was good going to the WB?
Loretta: I think yes because I think it's better than going away all together. Absolutely. (Laughs)
Dean: (laughs) I guess so.
Loretta: (laughs) Yes.
Dean: Do you have any insight in what brings people back to the slasher genre?
Loretta: I guess they keep finding ways not to be in that position. Life is hard so I guess any little help that they can get. Also people like to be scared and it's fun. It's like two hours of screaming, hollering and bonding with the entire theatre. Because when you go see a really good scary movie, it's like 400-500 people all screaming at the same time. It's a great feeling and something special that happens. It's the great theatre experience. When I watch scary movies at home by myself I don't think they are cute at all. I prefer it when everyone is screaming, "Oh My God, Oh My God". Then you go in the women's bathroom and everyone is talking about it. Did you see so and so. That part is always fun. Especially if it's a good movie. This Urban Legends is a good movie and it's going to scare people.
Dean: Have you guys done the premiere already?
Loretta: The premiere isn't until the 19th.<
Dean: Oh my goodness, I am going to see it before you guys.
Loretta: You are? When are you seeing it?
Dean: The 18th actually.
Loretta: Oh, get out of here. <
Dean: Yeah, I couldn't believe that.
Loretta: You call me back and tell me it wasn't scary. (Belly laugh) This one is pretty scary.
Dean: Do you have any drive or aspirations in the world of acting?
Loretta: I have this insatiable appetite for work. I love working. I think the hardest part of the job is having to go in and prove yourself over and over to a new group of people. No matter what you have done but they want to know can you do my stuff.
Dean: That's kind of surprising after the impressive line up of credits that you got.
Loretta: Yeah, but still show business is sort of like that. We saw you in that but can you do my stuff.
Dean: Oh, no.
Loretta: You still have to compete, audition, study and do all the things necessary to keep yourself fresh. It is a hard business like that but I think my greatest goal is to keep working.
Dean: I can relate to that. The journalism world is about the same way as well.
Loretta: Yeah, to keep working is a great feat. People take it lightly but it's a big thing. I am very fortunate to be working when a lot of people who are good actors aren't. There are "strikes" going on and there is a threat of another one. There is so much happening.
Dean: Is the strike inflicting you at all?
Loretta: I could never get a damn commercial. I tried so hard. For years I tried but you have to have a special knack to even do commercials. The big meeting is coming up and I hope that the ad agencies will budge a little.
Dean: The strike is scaring everybody. On the cover of "Entertainment Weekly" they were stating that the strike could shutdown Hollywood for a year.
Loretta: What do people live on or eat for that year?
Dean: That's exactly right.
Loretta: A lot of the actors have big families. Everybody thinks they are just these young kids running around but there are a lot of the actors who have been acting for years. And that is their only livelihood.
Dean: You being a veteran did you connect with any of the young actors on this one?
Loretta: Yes, they have a lot of new talent on this one. Like, Jennifer Morrison, the lead girl who plays Amy. I had a lot of fun with her. Then there's Matthew Davis and Joseph Lawrence who I think will be stand-outs in the next coming year because they are young and vibrant. They are working on movie to movie establishing their careers. Everybody is going to know about them.
Dean: Do you consider Reese at all as a franchise character?
Loretta: What do you mean franchise?
Dean: Well as in that she is the only recurring character throughout the series.
Loretta: Well from the first film, Reese tested really high. The audiences that saw her really liked her. Since she didn't die in the first movie she introduces the movie. She brings the movie from one place to another. I am not going to tell you if she makes it in case there is a Urban Legends 3. She introduces it mostly. They increased the size of the character a lot since the first one. She did pretty good in the last one.
Dean: She had all the best lines in the last one.
Loretta: (laughs) She does pretty good with this one too. I have some pretty catchy ones. I think you'll really enjoy the movie.
Dean: In the first one there were a lot of new stars but there were some veterans as well. Like Rebecca Gayheart. Is there a reason they went with a completely new cast?
Loretta: Well they killed off the old cast.
Dean: I know. But what I don't understand is that at the end of the first one. They actually left Rebecca Gayheart's character in that she could come back. Is there a reason they went with a different angle?
Loretta: Well you see you really don't know if they went with a different angle.
Dean: I get that from the trailer.
Loretta: You are a little ahead of yourself if you are asking about "Rebecca's character". Is what I am saying.
Dean: Okay. Maybe I will be surprised.
Loretta: You see you are too smart.
Dean: I try.<
Loretta: You are the only one who asked me that.
Dean: I asked about Rebecca's character.
Loretta: Yes.
Dean: That's good. Something new for you to talk about.
Loretta: Exactly.
Dean: Was there any confusion with the movie within a movie?
Loretta: It's clear when they want it to be clear and it's not clear when they don't want it to be. You don't know exactly where you until after it goes down. It is confusing when they want it to be confusing.
Dean: It was that way for the actors then too.
Loretta: (laughs) Yeah. I think you are right. In the first movie, it was really wet and rainy. In this one its very cold and I think we chased the snow. We went to places where there was snow on purpose. A lot of the film takes place outdoors so it will have a brightness to it that the first one didn't have. I think it is because of the snow.
Dean: Jennifer Morrison mentioned that there were a lot of rewrites, and a different script everyday. Was that a problem in your creative process?
Loretta: Well her reality and mine were different in that she was the star of the show. She worked almost everyday of the show unlike the first one where it was more of an ensemble. Everything rotated around her quite a bit. She had more changes than most of us.
Dean: Ok, I wasn't sure how that worked and if it inflicted everybody by the rewrites.
Loretta: No just the people in the particular scene. My stuff played pretty constant. I knew what was going down with my character.
Dean: I remember from the first one, Reese spoke a lot about the actual legends. Do you have any idea what draws people to tell these stories?
Loretta: They like to see other people scared. It's like taking those rides and the high you get off it. It takes you to another level of thinking and another level of experience. And when you experience it with 100 or more people you can really enjoy it.
Dean: You said that the film takes place a lot in the snow. What time of the year were you filming it?<
Loretta: Around Christmas.
Dean: Was it a long shoot?
Loretta: About 3 ½ months. It was a long shoot because of the weather.
Dean: What are you doing next?
Loretta: I have a film coming out called "Kingdom Come". I am also in the new Mel Gibson film, "What Women Want". I will also be appearing in the new David E Kelly series, "Boston Public".
Dean: Well thank you for speaking with me, Loretta. And I hope to speak to you again.
Loretta: Thank you, Dean. Have fun on the 18th.
Well that concludes my interview with Loretta Devine. What did I get from this interview? I guess a little closer understanding of what it's like to be a part of the world that is Hollywood. A lot of people don't really understand what it is like to be an actual actor. Our views get so over clouded by Hollywood's media. I liked how frank and up front Loretta was with me on her job and the world most of us only see from a distance. I liked her bubbly personality that often doesn't come through for a lot of stars on their press ventures. Ms. Loretta Devine, if you are out there I would like to thank you again and wish you the best of luck.
So Says the Soothsayer.