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:: Sheila Scullin - The Interview ::

Sheila Scullin plays the role of Sadie in our fine film, which required three months of training.

Q: Hello Sheila, tell us what it was you did this past July.

A: I went to Pennsylvania and there was a camera and a bunch of people there.

Q: What do you normally do in Chicago?

A: I work on perfecting my cost-free eating tactics by going to parties hosted by people who go grocery shopping, art openings, and lunch meetings at work. I play the drums (even though you’d have no idea because I got too nervous during shooting), ride crowded buses, get sick in Dunkin Donuts parking lots, and go blind (but eventually regain my sight) while at an amazing show. Well, those are things that I did within the last two weeks.


Q: What made you want to say yes to doing this role and why were you a bit hesitant?

A: I said yes because I like you and your movies. I knew that I would be mad at myself if I said no. I wanted to wear a pregnancy suit and drive a car, get out of the city for a while, see trees and stars and go swimming. I was hesitant because I thought I would shake and throw-up and turn blue and ruin your movie that you worked so hard on.

Q: Do you feel like i forced you into doing this?

A: No. I appreciate that you didn’t let me talk you out of it, even though I tried.

Q: Give us a brief background history of you and Rich.what were some of the pros/cons working with someone like him?

A: Rich and I used to date in Athens, Ohio and sing songs about vampires, tapeworms, enemies, and stuff like that. Then I dumped him a few years later and moved to Seattle. Or wait, he broke up with me. No, it was actually me who initiated it. But he ended it.Anyway, it doesn’t matter. He came to visit me once and we made the best video about going back in time in Seattle and then it got stolen out of your car when he visited you in Baltimore.

Being in the movie with Rich was weird at first because we had no chemistry. I remember that when we were reading through lines for the first time with you, the three of us got uncomfortable because it was so bad, and you looked really scared. The pros were that Rich notices everything and is really excitable and is one of my favorite people, even when he’s crabby. The cons were that Rich kept talking about eating healthy and going to sleep early.

Q: Why is Rich scared of bees? Why is he also scared of those little honey bees?

A: Rich is afraid of bees because he thinks of the worst possible scenario- that a bee might sting him in the eye and his eye would swell and then it would get infected and have to be removed and then he would only have one good eye and so he’d bump into a pregnant lady on the street and she’d get hit by a car. Is that called physical tragedy?

Q: What were some of the difficult things we asked you to do for this film and what are you surprised you
actually pulled off?

A: Well, one of the difficult things you asked me to do was to talk and remain conscious while people were pointing a camera at me. Oh, and the part when I had to sing. That was tough because I’m not really a singer. I think that Phil and Amanda probably heard by heart beating in their headphones. It turned out that I was actually the most nervous when Richie was showing me how to do doughnuts in the Bitchkisser and I was in the passenger seat while he was tearing around in that big old car that had a big old tank of gas in the back seat. I thought that we were going to fly over the cliff. Wait, was there a cliff? Well, in my memory there’s a cliff.

Q: What did you think of the crew? Any favorites?

A: Everyone was so nice and smart and good at what they do. They worked so hard all the time. I don’t know if I could say that anyone was my favorite because I really liked everyone. Well, maybe my favorite crew member was Travis’ tool belt.

Q: Any behind-the-scenes stories you can share about the cast/crew? Anything that can top Charlie's bloody finger story?

A: Charlie and I gave Craig a perm. It smelled really bad and I was afraid that we had messed up his whole head. It ended up looking really beautiful.

Q: What did you guys do on your days off while we were shooting other scenes?

A: Went to the library, slept in, went to the movies, read books, hung out at Fast Eddie’s. Actually, I think that I spent most of my days off on the set practicing creative sleeping while you were shooting other scenes.

Q: Will Oldham. What's up? Is he a nice guy? Did he sing to you?

A: He’s a nice guy.

Q: The version of Jorge Rigula that you guys wrote is filled with things I dont understand. How did you guys write it?

A: We sat on a bench in the park and took turns writing, or something like that. It’s hard to remember and it was really sunny out that day, so every time I try to remember my eyes get all squinty and I can’t picture it. I do remember being inspired by a book about the history of steel. And slap boxing.

Q: How did your family, friends and co-workers react to you telling them you were going to do this? Did they think you had it in you?

A: No one thought that I would come back to Chicago. I don’t know what they thought I would do. I guess they thought I would stay in Pennsylvania. My mom told me that the universe would take care of me.

Q: Any regrets? Any scenes you'd like to reshoot?

A: I’d love to drive in the demolition derby again, and crash into more cars at faster speeds.

Q: Favorite scenes to shoot?

A: Driving in the demolition derby. Those derby guys were so nice. I really wanted to become friends with them and hang out everyday.

Q: What made you the most nervous?

A: Singing. Or maybe dancing around in Turnupseed’s trailer during that one scene where it’s all going to be sped up. I felt funny jumping around in front of everyone. Oh, and getting a long hug from Andy.

Q: Was I nice to you guys? Did you ever feel like I was ignoring you? Was I trying too hard?

A: You were always so nice and good natured and you weren’t trying too hard. I know that you were screaming in your sleep and stuff (Courtney told me) but I could never tell. You seemed so relaxed. I would have been a jerk if I were you.

Q: What was it like returning back to work after the shoot?

A: It was sad and miserable to be inside all day. The museum that I work for is right on Lake Michigan and I would sit outside and look at the lake and wish I could jump in a swim away. But everything got better eventually, because everyone I work with is really wonderful and I got a new job at the museum that I really like.

Q: What kind of hopes do you have for this film/radio drama?

A: That it will play at drive-ins and everyone will make-out.

Q: Who is your favorite musician, and what CD should I buy?

A: Oh, I don’t know… you could buy Harry Nilsson’s The Point. I used to listen to it everyday when I was little and it’s always stuck in my head.

Q: Would you do this crap again if I asked you to? Who else should I have put in this movie?

A: Yeah I’d do this crap again. Preferably for a longer period of time, but again someplace where you can see stars and go swimming. You should have put Mike Butterfield in this movie.

Q: Anything else...stories, memories, life lessons?

A: Team Red. Ribs.

Q: Finally, a question from Charles Cline: What's up with your mystique?

A: My mystique? I don't think I have that at all. Maybe it's two parts socially awkward and one part extrovert? You should really ask Richie Sherman that question instead of me.

END

11.22.04