Don S. Davis ~ Related Interviews


Q6. Your father partly helped inspire "The Still Life" as he was an art collector and took you to museums when you were younger. No doubt he’d be proud and delighted to know that “The Still Life” is being released in August. He has since passed on since our first interview, but he does have a role in your film. He is listed as “Angry Resident”. Can you tell us a little bit about this role?

My dad wanted to be in the film... For whatever reason, it was a really big deal for him. During the shoot he was fighting cancer and going to dialysis every other day. I remember we didn't get to his scene 'till really late at night. He stayed around to make sure he got his scene... LOL! I honestly had planned to cut it, but shot it to keep him happy... Turns out a lot of people liked it. It's still kind of hard for me to watch him on the screen but I know one day I'll be really glad to watch him in the movie... =-)


Rachel and Don


Q7. Who is your favorite director and why? Did you take something from him/her and bring it to “The Still Life”?

Well, I'm still impressed by most directors who know what they are doing because I'm trying hard to learn so much still... With that being said, I really love Tim Burton because of his art background... All of his films have these awesome sets in them that really mold to the story. I'm working on doing the same thing with music...

Terry Gilliam is really cool as well...
 



Don, Rachel & Holly Fields
 

Q8. For a first time director, you’ve got a very strong cast. You’ve got Don (“Twin Peaks”, "Stargate" ) Davis, Jason Barry (“Mirror Mask”), Rachel Miner (“Guiding Light” “Bully). What do you think attracted these actors to your production?

They told me that they found it refreshing to do something truly "indie." They also liked the material a lot I know...

Don is an INCREDIBLE artist. After reading the script, he called me and wanted to play the role. Rachel was hired the night before and we just kind of got along. She said she felt like something was telling her to take the role. Phyllis Diller told Terry Moore that it was "the best role offered to her in her entire career" so Terry took it off of that. I'm not sure if she had read the script yet... I'd have to ask her.

Anyhow, what it all comes down to is they ALL liked the material. It is not often that actors really get the opportunity to act anymore... That's what they all kept telling me and I guess they all responded to the material. Also I kept the set fun...

Ruby, Don's wife, came every day and helped out a lot with Don's wardrobe. People came by the set to check it out. We just had this family vibe going on. Most of the actors gave me a hard time by asking me who the rock star of the day was going to be. Jason is a big music fan and I know he got a kick out of meeting so many rock stars. These guys all got into acting because it's who they are, but it’s also what they enjoy doing.

Big budget films sometimes take out a lot of the enjoyment. I think they liked having a bit of fun... There were a lot of heavy scenes but there was always a warm feeling on the set... We were a family...

The gang ~ Don, Rachel, Robert & Jason.

Q9. In your interview with BoxOfficeProphets, you mentioned that you had to cut some scenes, including one with the art dealer’s crazy house. Is that Don’s character? What can you tell us about the cut scenes? What exactly is the crazy house?

LOL You really, really do do your research!

Don's house was never actually shot because it was taken out of the script before shooting the film... I had to take stuff out of the film due to budget. In all honesty it came out stronger cutting back some stuff anyhow. I have never really got into this before but in various drafts of the film, I was trying to develop's Don's character to be much more chauvinistic. There are some lines left in the film where if you know this you'll understand where they might have stemmed from.

Don's house was extremely detailed. The hallway entering the house was filled with life size sculptures trying to break free from the walls... Walking into the house and through the hallway, you'd almost have to make your way through arms trying to grasp you to get out... Red water flowed through every room of the house... At one point I even drew the house out... I got very, very into the house. It was supposed to represent not just hell but the hell Mr. Fernot had created for himself.

In these versions of the script, Mr. Fernot kidnaps Julian (he truly believes he is doing it for Julian's own good) and tries to get him to paint more. Julian has decided he doesn't want to though. Mr. Fernot and Julian strike up a deal that if Julian does one more desctructionist painting, he will leave him alone "forever." Julian agrees to do the painting. The painting is very different though. Instead of ripping the painting apart he covers it with layers of paint...

In other words he is expanding his own movement... Many old works have paintings over paintings. If you frequent museums sometimes you'll find x rays of paintings under the paint of other paintings... Artists didn't have the money for canvases and reused them... Anyhow, the big party scene happens and all the events in the movie take place as they are now...

We then cut to Don sitting at home and looking at the final painting. The camera keeps moving through the house and we hear a gun shot... Moving back to the canvas the lens focuses more and more 'till we see Don shooting himself in the painting... Was Julian a messenger? Did Don see the message and it broke through even his thick skin? We never find out...

The last scene in the original script was of Rachel walking into the museum years and years later to see Julian's work. She runs into Mrs. Stratford who is drinking by herself and looking at the paintings of her and her husband. Robin and Mrs. Stratford exchange some harsh words and then both women break down to come to terms that they both loved him and wanted more for him. Robin leaves and the security for the museum helps Mrs. Stratford out... He knows her name and it is apparent she goes to the museum daily... That is how the movie was written to end...

I haven't told anyone that so that is an exclusive for you guys... LOL

 
Interview with Joel Miller ~ The Still Life ~ Part II




Don, Gita Hall and Rachel.

Q10. You’re in the movie as Van Gogh. What is Van Gogh doing in a movie that is set in modern times? Is he a flashback? A hallucination? Or do I need to watch the movie and find out? :D

It is a dream sequence where Julian is trying to come to terms with himself and the artist he is meant to be. I played the role because Jason Barry said if I didn't he wouldn't act in the movie. Truth is I'm not a very good actor but it is true that I look a lot like Van Gogh. I did the role but I have an American accent. It kills me! I just didn't have the time to prepare for the role and it is the biggest part of the movie that bothers me. Van Gogh was not American and I'm sorry Van Gogh fans!!!

If it means anything, I am a HUGE fan and I meant no disrespect.

Well, if it's a dream sequence, it's perfectly understandable that Van Gogh would speak with an American accent. It's a dream, after all.



Don & Robert


Q11. In passing, is there anything else you’d like to mention about your experience on The Still Life? e.g. What have you learned from this experience?

I think I just want to acknowledge how much it means to me that you guys really care about the movie.

I'm really honored that you'd spend so much time reading other articles and what not. Don has become a really great friend and someone I really admire. Thank you so much for investing in the project and I hope you enjoy the movie!

It's been a long time coming for both you and me!!!


Don and Dean Dinning from Toad the Wet Sprocket
 

 

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