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Clint Howard as Constable Sanders in Alabama Moon
During his forty-eight years as an actor, Clint Howard has taken on many well-known roles.
As a child star, he appeared on The Andy Griffith Show, Star Trek and Gentle Ben. His adult roles are far ranging, yet he is recognizable in all. FromApollo 13 and Frost/Nixon to Little Nicky and Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, his face and voice are known to millions around the world.
Clint’s scope of work as a character actor includes his latest role as Constable Sanders in director Tim McCanlies’ Alabama Moon. Based on the book by Alabama native Watt Key, the film will make its world premiere at the famous Alabama Theatre Sunday, September 27 at 6:30 p.m. as part of the closing night films at the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival.
A phone interview with Mr. Howard revealed him to be witty, intelligent and very outspoken about the end product justifying the process that is filmmaking.
What drew you to participating in Alabama Moon? First of all, they offered me the role. As a professional actor, it’s what I do for a living. Gainful employment is a good thing. I was given the chance to make broad strokes of what this character would be. I found the book to be really good.
Tim was on board as director, you know, he directed Second Hand Lions, and I felt that was a good opportunity. I knew there was integrity there.
I got really excited after reading the book. I don’t do a lot of reading, and I liked the book. I bought the book and read it and it was a cool book. I imagined myself being a 12 or 13 year old in this book. So it’s a young persons’ movie. We tried not to be silly with it (the film). We geared it towards young people.
How do you prepare to stay in character while working with a child? We all have a job to do. As a professional actor on the set, you are more aware when there are children there. When there's children around it makes things different, you have to watch your potty mouth on a set. You have to watch it.
Jimmy (Bennett) is a wonderful little actor. I had a really great time working with him. He was my primary foil. He was really good. I was impressed by him. I felt he really dialed it up. I really related to what he was going though and the processes that were going through his mind.
I tried to do a bit of teaching with him. We have to do the best of our ability to manufacture a product, so it’s important to do a good job, you know, cut the b.s. Of course there is an artistic presence, artistic to a degree, but it is a business and costs money and resources to manufacture, and you hope to finish with a nice product that you’re proud of. That is the goal, ultimately.
Even for indies, let us not forget we want to make the pest possible product. I am a big one to focus on that. We are building something, so you want to make it nice. Worthwhile. We are making stuff. A product.
What was your hardest scene? Running through bushes with cowboy boots, ostrich skin if that is important. Constable Sanders was a really, really fun character to build. Listen, I had fun putting him together. Certainly wasn't boring. I didn’t feel glum playing him. He's kind of an idiot with a job having more responsibility than society wants him to have. There is no denying in a very, very slight way, it's ... he wasn't Barney Fife, I wasn't going for that… but in the same species.
Oh, another thing that wasn’t easy, now that I am remembering. Driving the car. This was a small, modestly budgeted movie. They found the absolute worst running cop car they could find for me to drive around in. It was a period movie, so it was a 1980 Grand Marquis. The brakes were soft, and the power steering was off. The automotive team kept putting power steering fluid in it. I just tried not to get into an accident. Driving that car was not easy.
*Of note- in the interview at this point, Clint began a story about driving and John Goodman, but instead, gave his opinion of Mr. Goodman as an actor.
John Goodman. I had never worked with him. It was good. He's a pro, a really solid guy. I got a great vibe off of him, and it was wonderful to watch his process.
What was most fun about acting in this film? Most fun? I really enjoy going to work. Every morning was great. Getting into that costume was great. It was very cool. I really enjoyed working with Jimmy, because I felt like I helped him. He took extra focus and I feel like I gave of myself and sort of helped. That, I was very happy with.
You are an incredibly diverse actor. How do you think this role added to your wealth of character acting? It's a nice mix, a good mix. I've played sheriffs a couple of times, never a constable, but a character like Constable Sanders. It's a nice notch in my gun belt. It will fit nicely in my career.
Do you consider yourself to be a method actor? I really don’t know what that means anymore. I have a few little tricks. Things to keep me focused. God gave me a pretty interesting face. People seem to be interested in me. So I try to keep my acting pretty simple.
Does the reform school location hold any memory for you? It did feel kinda creepy. Listen, I've filmed in a lot of creepier places. It was actually a working facility. They had boys there being housed over in another part of the property. The areas we worked in were the old areas. They closed down the section, again because of the movie being a period movie.
Working in prisons is creepy. I worked in a women’s prison (on a film), and that was creepy. I could really feel the bad vibes, could almost feel the ghosts. Back then, the cells were extra tiny, smaller than men’s, it made it really interesting to shoot in. I think that movie was Evasive Action, and I worked with Roy Scheider in it.
Why do you think that independent film should be supported? The same way minor league baseball should be supported and embraced. It’s a wonderful place for filmmakers to work on their jobs. A couple of B's gives opportunities for people to work on the craft. That being said, the studio industry is changing before our eyes. There will always be big companies making big movies. But making film and distribution is changing in front of our eyes. I’m not sure what the future holds for this industry. I mean, there’s always gonna be people with a lot of money making film and the goal is to make profit and carry on. It is a business. The goal is to make a living doing it, and to be comfortable.
Listen, I don’t act because I love doing it, I act because it's my job. At the end of the year I gotta pay my taxes, bills, doctors, insurance, car insurance, the occasional vacation. It’s a wonderful job. The upside is that it is exciting and different… the downside is that it is an extremely insecure job. I mean, I haven’t worked a lot this year. Better to tuck some away for a rainy day. And I’m tucked away!
What do you have to share about the cast and crew of this film? Well, it was shot in Louisiana with a good crew. I enjoyed Tim. The cinematographer was good. And an old friend, Ann Salzer, she was the 1st AD (First assistant director), that’s like the foreman on set. She did a wonderful job. I had a good experience.
Do you have any advice for up-and-coming actors who are starting out in indie movies? One thing… accept it is a 10 year program. You can't get in in a year or two. It takes a long time to build a base and contacts to get a position to really start working, and give yourself a chance to make a living. There are no guarantees. We're not talking unions here. It doesn’t work that way. It’s pretty foolish to think that you can make it in one or two years. There is virtually never overnight success. It takes a lot of hard work to put yourself out there. I think actors should go to to L.A. There is still a majority of work based out of L.A. Not to say there aren't pockets outside of L.A. where you can get gigs, but for an actor, go to L.A., learn to live cheaply, know that you will struggle.
Finally, you are an avid golfer, do you plan to golf this visit? No, I need to rest my wrist. I have a bit of tendonitis. I do have a 10 handicap. I am trying to play in all 50 states before I am done golfing. I’ve already golfed here, so I don’t need to this weekend. I am here for the festival. But, you know, acting pays for golf!
Examiner’s note: Co-producer Lee Faulkner gave him the cowboy boots, which currently reside in his closet.
For more info: Clint Howard and some of of the cast, along with the film's producers and composer will be in attendance for the world premiere. Look for an article about Alabama Moon in this column tomorrow. See Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival's website for ticket prices.
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