INTERVIEWS FROM SECRET WINDOW PRESS ON TV

San Francisco area JD interview segment

Transcribed by Johnnylubber

SF Bay Area station: KRON4
The interview portion:
Liam Mayclem: Johnny is live by satellite. Mr. Johnny Depp.
Bonjour...
Johnny: (laughs, plays with right ear) Hi.
Liam: Listen before we get into the talk about your film, "Secret Window", I just want to say congratulations on your Oscar nominatinon, mate, and that's just gotta feel good just to be being recognized by your peers, isn't it?
Johnny: Oh, amazing, you know? Thank you very much. Yeah, I was,uh, I was very honored to uh, to be rangled into that grouping of actors, there's a lot of, that's a lot of great people in there. So yeah, thank you.
Liam: Johnny, in "Secret Window", it's a psychological thriller, ah, based on a Steven King story, and you play a sort of blocked novelist who's deserted by his wife and also, by inspiration. Tell us more about the character.
Johnny: (explains with hand gestures galore) Yeah, I play a guy named Mort Rainey who's really having a bad week,you know, a bad couple of months, in fact, his uh, his wife has left and fallen in love with someone else. Ah, he's got the worst case of writer's block anyone can have. And then suddenly he's approached by this ah kind of menacing ah, ah, character who accuses him of stealing his story. The guy begins to stalk him, horrible things start happening, and uh,it's just a bad, bumpy ride all the way down the line. (clip of "you stole my story")
Liam: Tell us about taking on this role, in all these roles you appear to take, you seem to make really smart choices. What does a script have to have for you to get aboard?
Johnny: You look for something kind of you know, refreshing, you're looking to be surprised, you know? You're looking for something that maybe you haven't seen so much of before.
Liam: When you chose Pirates of the Caribbean, what, in particular part jumped out at you then, Johnny? I know pretty soon the character flowered into part Pepe Le Pew, part Keith Richards. How did that all come about? And what was it about the script? And by the way, (attempts Keith accent, I believe Liam is Australian and speaks with an Aussie accent normally) did you ever talk to Keith Richards about the role and what did he think about it, Johnny? (way too many questions in a row, IMHO)
Johnny: (laughs) I did, yeah, I did end up speakig to Keith about it, and he was uh, bless him, a real gentlemen about it, um, you know, I did explain to him that I wasn't doing an impersonation of him, that it was just, you know, kind of an inspiration. You know, he was an inspiration to the charcter and ah, um, yeah, he was a real gent, a real gent.
Liam: He's a lovable jolly gent, he is, mate. And you're going to come back and reprise the roll, aren't you?
Johnny: (smilng when he talks about Captain Jack Sparrow) They're, they're talking about doing the sequel, yeah, next year, so uh, boy I'm all for it, I'm ready, I'd love to get back into that character again and I think it would be....yeah, I think there's so many possibilities of where, where we can go and new adventures and stuff, and I'm very excited about it.
Liam: Looks like you're exactly where you need to be in life and you've got a lot of fans in the Bay Area, so if you'd just sign off by giving a quick wave to them and Good luck to mate, all right. Johnny: Thanks very much for everything (tips his hat, waves). Thank you, see ya, bye.
Liam: What a gent, eh, Mr. Johnny Depp.

Newscaster 1: He's always so quiet, and just kind of you know, even.
Newscaster 2: Mild-mannered guy, uh?
Liam: He's a family man now he has two children, he's married to the French pop star Vanessa Paradis, he seems like he's pretty happy with his lot. Wouldn't you be if people voted you the sexiest man alive and the coolest guy on the planet? (ok for that comment, I forgive him for his error in assuming JD is married)

Today show transcript

Transcribed by Johnnylubber

Intro Katie: It has been 20 years since Nightmare on Elm Street introduced us all to Johnny Depp and what a ride it's been. This year alone, Depp was nominated for an Oscar, announced plans to team up once again with Tim Burton, and he's out today with another thriller called Secret Window. NBC's Dawna Friesen caught up with Depp in England.

Roll clip SW with voiceover from Dawna: It looks like another edgy Johnny Depp film. This time, a thriller. Depp plays Mort Rainey, a writer haunted by his past; accused of plagiarism, at war with his inner demons.

Dawna to Johnny: What is it that attracted you to this role because I know that you, you don't tend to take on roles unless there is something in it, that you sort of connect with?

Johnny nods like he's heard this question a million times: I play a character, I play Mort, who didn't want to deal with people, he just, he was reasonably....infinitely more comfortable just by himself, on his couch, you know, not worrying about if his hair was combed. It definitely isn't a conventional thriller.

Dawna voice over as clips roll for Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, and POTC: A non-conformist at heart, Depp has built his career on quirky roles like the other-worldly Edward Scissorhands, the cross-dressing movie director, Ed Wood, and last year, the rakish Captain Jack in Pirates of the Caribbean which won him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

Dawna to Johnny, referring to POTC: Found such success, I mean just a huge hit.

Johnny nods: Yeah, it was amazing.

Dawna: Did that surprise you?

Johnny nods again: Oh yeah, completely.

Dawna: Cause you're not, you've said that you're not Mr. Blockbuster, you're not... you're sort of anti-Hollywood and yet there you are, sort of front and center.

Johnny: You know it's just never been my goal, you know? I mean, you know, you don't start a film and approach a character with the idea of hey this is gonna be giant and I'll make a zillion dollars. You know, that would, that would really be cheating.

Dawna: And the Oscar nomination, does that, does that have a similar kind of meaning for you?

Johnny: Oh yeah, I'll probably never get over that shock. But, uh, um, yeah, I mean, it was very, very, flattering. Certainly I didn't expect it, especially for, you know, a character like that or a performance like that. (roll clip, Welcome to the Caribbean, luv)

Johnny: So weird.

Dawna: It's weird?

Johnny: Sure, you know.. .

Dawna: Why? Because you're just a guy kinda doing a job?

Johnny: I don't know, you know, I mean, it's just weird, you know? Yeah, I mean, it's, it's my job, this is my, uh, this is my job in the same way that you know when I was a kid I pumped gas and I worked construction, and I printed T-shirts, and various other things. I, you know, you're never really ready for that kind of thing.

Dawna while pics of family are shown: Depp says having children of his own made it easier to play Captain Jack.

Johnny: Yeah maybe, maybe the fact that I, you know, watched a billion, um, Disney animated features over the last 5 years, um, that, that must have contributed on some level.

Dawna while pics of JD & VP are show: And Depp says becoming a family man and turning 40 has centered him.

Johnny: I'm more comfortable in my own skin. Certainly since the uh, you know, since the arrival of, of my children, that, that really brings one down to earth and uh, you know, puts everything in perspective.

Dawna: For one thing, Depp has decided to havd a lot more fun this year.

Johnny: I'm gonna do Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Tim Burton, um, which should be, I mean, you know, should be a ball. It's always great to, you know, to go to work with Tim and I'm looking really forward to that.

Dawna: If 20 years ago, when you made your first film, if someone had sat you down and then said, hey listen, in 20 years, you're going to be an Oscar-nominee, you're going to be a sex symbol around the world, you're going to be a father, you're going to have a huge successful career, sort of waiting for you, what would you have said?

Johnny: I would have...couldn't have, couldn't have written it, couldn't have dreamed it better. Especially the kids, you know, especially my girl and my kids, I couldn't, you know, I coudld't have uh,...I mean, it's better than anything ever, it's better than any dream, or, or wish, you know, it's a million times better.

Outro: Katie: Johnny Depp with NBC's Dawna Frieson

Lynn has a cap up at her web site.

Extra: Secret Window Johnny Depp Interview 3/11

Transcribed by Alexa

Intro: John puts Johnny on the spot... A peek inside Johnny's own Secret Window, next.

Main Segment:
John Kelly: Well this weekend, oscar nominee Johnny Depp returns to theaters in Secret Window. So I found out if he knows a few secrets about one of our favorite subject, that being, Johnny Depp. (roll interview, to Johnny) You have time for a quick pop quiz on you ?

Johnny: Yeah, let's give it a shot. (They show a diploma from Extra University for Captain Cool with a pic of JD)

John K: First off, what kinds of animals did you train as a child?

Johnny: Lizards.

John K: How do you train lizards?

Johnny: It, it was ugly but it was a different time, you know, I mean we're talking early 70s, you know, so it was a different time, you, you know, you uh got to whip them into submission. (the "look" into the camera, sigh)

John K (laughs): What giant animal have you owned as a lawn ornament, a giant chicken (JD laughs), a giant ape, a giant horse, or a giant cat?

Johnny: (does the Captain Jack Sparrow I'm having a thought look: head thrown back, hand under chin look) Uh, actually two of them, a giant chicken and a giant ape.

John K: Those were your lawn ornaments?

Johnny: (nods) Yeah.

John K: Anything behind those, or you just dig them?

Johnny: I just, I have a lot of respect for monkeys, and a lot of respect for chickens.

John K: Nice!

Johnny: How am I doing?

John K: You're nailing them.

Johnny: All right, good. (looks down, smiles)

John K: You're on the money.

Johnny: Good.

John K: Name your first big role on the big screen and describe your character's ultimate fate.

Johnny: Oh yeah, um (coughs, thinks) what was the guy's last name? (remembers) Glen Lance. Glen Lance in Nightmare on Elm Street, and I was, uh, I was sucked into a bed. (clip of NOES) It was interesting. You know what did I know it was my first movie, you know?

John K: It was a memorable way to go though right?

Johnny: Yeah, I certainly remember it (smiles).

John K: In Pirates of the Carribbean, how did you respond to this question from Barbossa (roll clip POTC with Barbossa, "How in the blazes did you get off that island?")

Johnny: He says, he says something like, uh (roll clip POTC with CJS, "When you marooned me on that god forsaken.......") when you marooned me on that, something, island, that spit of land, you forgot one very important thing, (slips into CJS' voice) I'm Captain Jack Sparrow.

John K: That's it man. Beautiful! Nice work! (Johnny extends his hand to shake hands with John K)

Kickin' It with Byron Allen
(same SW press room, same lovely black and gray striped shirt)

Transcribed by Johnnylubber

Byron: How you doing, man?

Johnny: Very good, thanks.

Byron: It's good to see you.

Johnny: Great to see you.

Byron: How's the music coming?

Johnny: Still there, still play..

Byron: Yeah?

Johnny: Yeah, still play. (nodding)

Byron: Still writing?

Johnny: Yeah, here and there.

Byron: Yeah?

Johnny: Here and there, yeah. (nodding)

Byron: What's your writing style? What do you do, sit around with the guitar?

Johnny: Yeah, just sit around with a guitar and do that with a couple of friends or with my girl.

Byron: How would you describe your music?

Johnny: I would describe it as kind of sloppy.... sloppy, sloppy, sloppy blues, I guess.

Byron: Sloppy blues, yeah is that a section of the record store? I've seen RnB, ...

Johnny intejects, laughing: Sloppy Blues ?

Byron continues: I've seen hip hop, I've seen rock and pop, but I haven't seen sloppy blues.

Johnny: Yeah

Byron: Is that somewhere else?

Johnny: Well, like at the grocery store you got sloppy joe's, at the record shop you've got sloppy blues.

Byron: There you go, Johnny Depp coming to you with sloppy blues! (both laugh) And how's daddyhood?

Johnny: Amazing, you know, amazing.

Byron: Yeah?

Johnny: Everyday's a new thrill, you know?

Byron: And what are you learning?

Johnny: Everything, everything. I mean, the difference... you know r was, um, I was amazed, you know? Cause I, you know, I've read quite a few screenplays over the years, and very rarely you get, get a hold of one that, that like, you know, four or five, six pages into it, you're ... you already have like a pretty profound emotional investment. You know you kind of locked into the character, you've locked into the story, and you believe that it's going in this one direction, and you're quite convinced where it's going to end up, and then whammo! You know, it takes this radical turn on you, you just didn't see it coming, you know? I was, I was so shocked that I didn't see it coming that I finished the screenplay and went back and read it again immediately to sort of see what, I mean how did I miss that? It's impressive and that's all down to certainly Steven King's novella but, but ah David Koepp's amazingly brilliant work of adapting it.

SW fireplace poker clip rolls

Byron: How do you like to prepare for your rolls?

Johnny: Well certainly, you know using the screenplay or the book or whatever as the basis, you know, the foundation for the, for the character, um, and if you don't have that, just, most important is to create some kind of emotional, ah history, you know, some kind of history for the guy so you have a leg to stand on. You know how he feels about things, you know how, like with, with Mort Rainey, the character in Secret Window. Like, for example, I thought, I figured, you know, his, his meals would consist of like, at the most, a sandwich you know, but mainly he'd probably live on potato chips and mountain dew, you know? And that would obviously have an affect on his day. (laughs) So, yeah, I just, you know, created kind of a history for the guy and build up from there.

Byron: Yeah. And what do you like to do to relax?

Johnny: Um, to relax, you know, read books. Mostly relaxing, is you know, hanging out with the kids, you know, read books with the kids, play with the kids, you know, lay around the house, yeah, simple stuff.

Byron: All right man, next time you come back on I want to hear your sloppy blues.

Johnny laughs: I'll play you sloppy blues (shakes Byron's hand) My pleasure.