Dave Foley Interview

Star of The Strip

By

Michael Montroy

Making an independent film is never an easy process, but sometimes it does seem to come naturally. Even though filmmaking wasn’t his first choice, writer-director Jameel Khan found that comedy is much like breathing. Khan was in business school in Indiana and he hated it; however, he always liked doing comedy. Therefore he went to Columbia College Chicago because he wanted to write comedy since he didn’t know what else to do. Still, Khan has managed to mold business and comedy into one seamless production in his film debut. The Strip follows the lives of five Electri-City employees as they try to sell low-end electronics in a strip mall outside of Chicago. One of those five employees is Glenn (Dave Foley), the store manager who means well but has no ambition in life other than to motivate his employees through the type of team building exercises that make company retreats unbearable. The Strip releases in theaters 4 December 2009.

Having mastered the art of sketch comedy with cult favorite Canadian troupe The Kids in the Hall, funnyman Dave Foley has evolved into one of Hollywood’s leading comedic actors. And, he continues into the present and has become one of the most sought after television and film stars. The path to his role in The Strip was much like many other situations in entertainment. This path started with a simple phone call.

Can you describe how you came to act in The Strip?

Well, about two weeks before shooting actually started, my manager called and said there were a couple of guys, Jay and Jameel Khan, in Chicago who didn’t have much money but they seemed like good people and they wanted me in their project. In fact, they had sent an offer along with the script and were hopeful that I would come onboard. It’s hard for first-time directors to get anyone but I liked the script and wanted to work on it. The script was well written. The characters were well defined. So, really, all I had to do was show up. The script wasn’t laugh-out funny and it was really the strength of Khan’s writing that drew me in. Again, it wasn’t a very jokey script. It was very low-key and all about the characters. In fact, there’s not really a whole lot of plot in the movie. It’s more that there’s this group of people and how their lives affect each other and that’s what attracted me.

While Foley is right in calling it very low-key comedy, Khan’s subtlety does come through on the screen in a pleasant way. The film is not blatantly funny in the typical impetuous, American way, but the characters move in a way that allows them to grow as they embrace the comedy in their lives.

Many times, the script goes through a rewriting process when a key actor joins the production; therefore was there any rewriting on this script?

The shooting script stayed very close to the original script. There wasn’t any need to rewrite the script. It was well written. The characters were nicely defined. In reality, all I had to do was show up and do his script. Besides, it was a low budget project which didn’t come with all the unnecessary elements. When I signed on, there was only two weeks before shooting started and then the production lasted 21 days, which, when all is said and done, didn’t leave any time for any rewriting. Luckily, the script didn’t need any polishing.

What was it like working with a first-time director?

Kahn really knew what he was doing. For a first-time director, Jameel had a clear sense of what he wanted and how he wanted to shoot things. He had everyone’s confidence. He also tried to get the crew to laugh. Crews usually don’t laugh; but, if they are laughing, there’s a good chance it’s going to be funny on the screen.

What's the strangest thing that happened during the making of The Strip?

Well, nothing really strange happened during the making of the film. However, something actually happened right before I left Los Angeles to work on the project in Chicago. I was attempting to move a pool umbrella in its concrete support when that forty pound slab dropped on my beg toe and broke it into pieces. Of course, you can’t do anything for broken toes. Only time heals them. Well, off to Chicago I go, limping and all. I ended up spending most of my time sitting down in between takes. They even provided me with a wheelchair to help me out. I don’t think you can tell that I’m in pain while I’m on the screen. However, I catch myself limping on occasion.

The film took about four years from writing to distribution, and one of the hardest things about making any film is always getting the financial backing. But for Khan, who didn’t want to risk other people’s money, the initial funding to get the process started was provided entirely by himself and his family through the creation of their own independent production company, Bata Films. The film took about two years from completion to release and it’s taken that long for Foley’s toe to heal, even though it’s not quite healed yet.

What makes The Strip a must-see film?

It would take an act of congress; aside from that, it’s a should-see film. The performances in the film are well-rounded characters. It’s a feel good story. You’ll have a good time watching the film and you will walk away feeling good.

Who influenced you the most at the beginning of your career?

Without a doubt, it was Buster Keaton. He was and still is my all-time favorite. He was not only a great actor but an incredible director.

Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton VI (4 October 4 1895 to 1 February 1966) was an American comic actor and filmmaker. Keaton was best known for his silent films, with his physical comedy and deadpan expression, nicknamed “The Great Stone Face." Keaton was recognized as the seventh-greatest director of all time; the 21st-greatest male actor of all time; and, his film The General as the fifteenth best film of all time.

What’s next for the The Kids in the Hall?

I don’t really know. I mean, we’re not really good at planning.

What projects to you have coming up?

I’m the voice of Wayne in next week’s ABC animated special (8 December 2009), Prep & Landing. My character is feeling a little blue during the holidays because he was passed over for a promotion which went to his partner, despite having served a couple of centuries with the elves' Prep & Landing team. Now, I have to deal with a new partner and the holiday job.