BRUCE CAMPBELL ON MY NAME IS BRUCE

[MattBrady]

For Bruce Campbell, being mistaken for one of the characters he’s played has long been a price he’s paid. But now, he’s cashing in on it a little bit with My Name is Bruce - a film where the actor gets to play himself.

“Coming out with My Name is Bruce is certainly going to complicate perceptions, because I play ‘myself’ in the film and have the ability to take great liberties with that persona,” Campbell jokes. “Be afraid - be very afraid!”

Quick aside for clarity’s sake, the version of himself Campbell plays in My Name is Bruce is a creepier, drunker version, one that’s more lech than beloved B-movie cult figure best known as Ash, Autolycus, Brisco County Jr. and even Elvis.

The film, produced under the Dark Horse Entertainment banner, has played festivals and is yet to see wider distribution (Campbell has joked that indie films aren’t released as much as they “escape” into theaters). That said, the comic book adaptation of the movie is due in January from Dark Horse.

The quick version of the story – after a Chinese demon (Guan-di) is accidentally released in the small Oregon town of Gold Lick, Campbell is kidnapped by the only survivor of Guan-di’s initial attack. Thinking the kid’s story to be an elaborate prank set up by his agent, Campbell leads the town into battle with Guan-di, only to learn that the demon is very real. A hasty retreat, a gut check, a twist or two and final battle round out the story, keeping the line between Campbell and the characters he plays forever blurred.

While Campbell himself consistently dances back and forth between real persona and persona in his roles and appearances, he’s leaving it up to others to figure out where the line started to blur.

“It might be best to let the pundits analyze the evolution of a motion picture persona,” Campbell says. “Leave it to say that I am attracted to sassy, off-kilter material with odd stories and buffoons for lead characters. I like flawed, jerky people. Hollywood types were a great character study, in that regard. It’s all put there by fans. I never try to influence what people think of me. My job is to entertain the audience the best way I can and give them good value for their dollar. What happens beyond that is completely out of my control.

The film got started when Dark Horse’s Mike Richardson (who’d come to be friends with Campbell over the years and collaborated with him on projects such as Man With the Screaming Brain) and writer Mark Verheiden pitched him the idea a few years back. “I basically agreed to it in the room,” Campbell says. “We kicked around story, approach and tone, and off we went.”

With Campbell in the lead, that is – the actor best known for his roles in Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead films, as well as Hercules, Xena and Bubba Ho-Tep once again stepped behind the camera for My Name is Bruce. Campbell directed the film, co-produced with Richardson and even provided the set – it was mostly filmed on Campbell’s property in Oregon.

“The movie is just a horribly warped version of my real life,” Campbell laughs when asked if the premise of the film – being mistaken for his characters – is based on real life experiences. “Some of it is very warped, but some of it is based on real encounters. I can assure you - no fans were injured during the making of the movie.”

As mentioned earlier, the film was produced under Dark Horse Entertainment’s label, something which Campbell says comes with all kinds of benefits – for instance, the January comic book was a foregone conclusion, as was other merchandizing. “The comic was, at one point on a fast track deadline, so it pretty much went to the press without much influence from me,” Campbell says. “That’s not to say that I don’t like the comics – they are the product of the artists’ interpretation, and I have to give them space to do their thing. But as a filmmaker, that’s all a part of why I love Dark Horse. They are an out-of-the-box, one-stop-shop. Plus - Mike Richardson as a partner and producer is the real attraction here. He’s a creative, rational man, so when he made it known that he could finance a film or two, I was eager to sign up as his slave.”

All told, and a film about his “persona” aside, Campbell says that since he doesn’t have any control over how he’s perceived or what projects wind up being memorable with viewers, he doesn’t lose any sleep over being best known for his genre roles. “I make a good living doing what I enjoy,” Campbell says. “Ironically, I am less stereotyped within the industry than by fans. I’ve been cast in almost every kind of film and TV show you can think of, so from my vantage point, I see a different world.”

The My Name is Bruce one-shot (by Milton Freewater Jr. and Cliff Richards, with a cover by Bart Sears) is due in comic shops the first week of January from Dark Horse. Campbell is currently putting finishing touches on the film version of My Name is Bruce and is waiting to hear about going back for a second season of USA’s Burn Notice series, WGA strike permitting..

[Tom Daylight]

Wow, looks like Cliff Richards has come on a long way since his Buffy days. (And his Summer Holidays, for that matter.)

[Crump's Brother]

Yeah, all good news! Will pick up the comic and see the film.

[Kelby]

I got to see "Man with a Screaming Brain" at the Alamo Draft House in Austin. He of course likes this town and introduces the movies. He is pretty funny. I can't wait till he makes a trip back through here. I'll pick this up because he might sign it like "Man with a Screaming Brain."

[MF Stark]

I'm still waiting for the film of "How to make love the Bruce Campbell way!"
I listened to the audio book, which he read himself, and it was freakin hilarious.

Keep em coming, Bruce!

[TheMightyGeek]

Hail to the king, baby.

Definitely checking this one out, and hopefully will get a chance to see the film.

[PatrickG]

I could have sworn that Smallville producer/comic book writer Mark Verheiden wrote the screenplay for this film. But I don't see a mention of him so maybe not...

[DaVeO]

I'll probably have to travel into the city, but yeah, I'll have to see this.

[majorjoe23]

Originally Posted by PatrickG

I could have sworn that Smallville producer/comic book writer Mark Verheiden wrote the screenplay for this film. But I don't see a mention of him so maybe not...

Originally Posted by MattBrady

The film got started when Dark Horse’s Mike Richardson (who’d come to be friends with Campbell over the years and collaborated with him on projects such as Man With the Screaming Brain) and writer Mark Verheiden pitched him the idea a few years back. “I basically agreed to it in the room,” Campbell says. “We kicked around story, approach and tone, and off we went.”
.

There you go.

[Uchiha_Prodigy]

Originally Posted by Kelby

I got to see "Man with a Screaming Brain" at the Alamo Draft House in Austin. He of course likes this town and introduces the movies. He is pretty funny. I can't wait till he makes a trip back through here. I'll pick this up because he might sign it like "Man with a Screaming Brain."

I thought they closed the Draft House. I'd love to go there some day.

[Starleafgirl]

Cool. I'll definitely flip through it and see if I want it.

[Switch625]

Originally Posted by Uchiha_Prodigy

I thought they closed the Draft House. I'd love to go there some day.

They closed the original Drafthouse... and re-opened it a few blocks away down on 6th Street. The Alamo Drafthouse is going strong with 4 locations in Austin alone, plus one in Houston, one in San Antonio and a few more scattered throughout Texas. There's no movie experience like a Drafthouse movie experience.

[BillReed]

Dammit, I've been waiting for this movie for years now. Bring it on.

[WOLVERINE25]

Bruce is the man, I eagerly await.

[dirtymerkin]

Ya know, I used to think Bruce Campbell was a pretty cool guy. I liked them Evil Dead movies and all. Then I saw Bubba Ho-Tep and now I just think he is God in earthly form.

[Starleafgirl]

I sure did like me those Evil Dead movie roles, but I like him the most for his turn as Autolycus. And of course there's his other TV roles in "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr." and "Jack of All Trades." I know other posters here like things like "Man with a Screaming Brain," but while that movie was original and creative, and I can appreciate it for doing something different, it was physically painful to watch. Especially the end. Shudder.

I much prefer the Prince of Thieves.

[Fletcher]

Bruce Campbell is god!


Just got Man w/the Screaming Brain. Brand new for 2 bones so if it really does blow I can sell it and still make a little profit. But I highly doubt I will not enjoy it.

[Starleafgirl]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Just got Man w/the Screaming Brain. Brand new for 2 bones so if it really does blow I can sell it and still make a little profit. But I highly doubt I will not enjoy it.

Oooo, let me know what you think!

[coldwarmyth]

which means, it's fun. And funny.

Looking forward to the film and comic.

[Heffaloo]

Originally Posted by MF Stark

I'm still waiting for the film of "How to make love the Bruce Campbell way!"
I listened to the audio book, which he read himself, and it was freakin hilarious.

Keep em coming, Bruce!

I'd love to see that as a movie. However, I think all non-Bruce celebrity roles should be played by different celebrities. Maybe Hugh Jackman as Richard Gere, Dennis Leary as Renee Zellweger--that kind of thing.

[Thephanboy]

lol man i so lookin forward to this movie. anything that bruce cambell does i enjoy watchin it. but im still hopin for another evil dead movie.....but that all for hoping