PDiL/PEOPLE Hi everyone! I'm Patrizia DiLucchio, your host, and on behalf of PEOPLE Magazine I'd like to welcome you all here. Before I introduce our special guest this evening--Eric Roberts--I'd like to remind everyone that this is a moderated conference -- and it is being conducted simultaneously on Compuserve AND the world wide web! If you are on Compuserve and have a question for our guest, submit it to the question queue either by selecting the question icon or by typing /question. If you are on Pathfinder, submit your question via a private send to the Moderator. From time to time, our Pathfinder moderator may interject a question. Don't be alarmed! We will try and make sure that everybody gets a chance to ask--so don't be shy! We do pick and choose among the questions so that they aren't repetitious.
Eric Roberts debuted on the big screen to critical acclaim at the age of 20 in "King of the Gypsies". Since then he's distinguished himself in a long string of films including "The Pope of Greenwich Village", "The Coca-Cola Kid", "Star 80", "Runaway Train" (for which he received an Academy Award nomination) and "It's My Party". In "Heaven's Prisoners" (New Line) which opens May 17, Eric Roberts plays the pivotal role of Bubba Rocque--the protagonist Dave Robicheaux's boyhood friend and adult nemesis.
PDiL/PEOPLE Welcome Eric!
Eric Roberts Thanks. Good to be here.
PDiL/PEOPLE--You were born in Mississippi and grew up in Georgia. How much of a stretch was it to play a Cajun crime boss from New Iberia, Louisiana?
Eric Roberts It was very easy for me. It was one of those parts that I just closed my eyes and there I was. He's Cajun and I do it "up".
Question from VANCOUVER, BC: [75357,1573] Mike Topf Are you excited about Doctor Who's arrival on Tuesday? I wish I'd gotten a chance to see some of the location shooting here in Vancouver.
Eric Roberts Dr. Who will be a lot of fun to watch. I expect it will get slammed by some critics for being so campy & melodramatic but that's what it always was so f--- em if they can't take a joke! It's an expensive version of the old British TV series. This looks expensive & cheesy, not like the TV show, which looked cheap & cheesy!
PDiL/PEOPLE Lots o' money buys lots o' cheese... In the novel, "Heaven's Prisoners", Dave Robicheaux and Bubba Rocque have an intriguingly symbiotic relationship. They're almost psychic twins. How much of this carried over into yours and Alec Baldwin's performances?
Eric Roberts Good question. It carried over some but it's not on the written page. We acted it out to some degree. We discussed it among ourselves, and took it from there. Alec and I got very close on the film. We spent a lot of time on the set sweating together, talking about Bubba and David, and their history.
PDiL/PEOPLE Did you read the James Lee Burke novel?
Eric Roberts I sure did and I loved it. I think maybe I liked it better than the film ... maybe. It was pretty good.
Question from EXTERNAL NETWORK: [102113,1053] Joni Latham Do you enjoy playing psychos and nuts or would you prefer leading men types?
Eric Roberts Leading men types? I enjoy playing anyone interesting. Dangerous guys have more interesting paths in the script, and more interesting dialogue, and they usually wear better clothes and drive more interesting cars. I think about that often. I think, if my dad were alive to see this, he'd wouldn't wonder: what's he doing?
PDiL/PEOPLE No hankerings towards "Free Willy 3", eh? :-)
Question from SPRINGFIELD, MA: [104615,2567] Ken Parker Did you do any research by watching earlier Doctor Who episodes for your part as the Master?
Eric Roberts No, I 'd already seen a lot of Dr. Who episodes, the early ones. I saw one with the master but he was a big black blob so they really didn't hold up as research. It just didn't work.
PDiL/PEOPLE "Heaven's Prisoners" went into delayed release limbo for a couple of years after it was filmed. I thought that only happened to Orson Welles! Was this frustrating?
Eric Roberts It's just part of the package. Sometimes movie-making happens like clockwork; other times, like a car accident. You can't depend on it and sometimes you're disappointed. Other times your thrilled and happy. All you can do is roll with the punches. It's like life, like ANY thing else!
PDiL/PEOPLE How many of your films are you satisfied with? Would you do anything differently in any of them?
Eric Roberts I am satisfied with 30 of them; I'm happy with 20 of them; and I'm proud beyond belief with 16 of them--and I made 40 films. Some of proudest: "Star 80"; "Pope of Greenwich Village"; "Runaway Train"; "King of the the Gypsies"; "Raggedy Man"; "It's My Party"; "Final Analysis"; "Heaven's Prisoners" and "Coca-Cola Kid". I really love my work in a little film out now called "The Grave". I play a wonderful little cameo in that I'm very proud of. And upcoming stuff ...a wonderful little surprise in "Cable Guy". I didn't really work with anybody. I met Jim Carrey. We talked and hung out and he's a sweet, sweet man.
Question from CALGARY, AB: [104320,737] Brent R. Gerlitz in the movie "Runaway Train" you were an excellent boxer. Did that part require a lot of training or are you a natural?
Eric Roberts I'm really good with fighting with my feet. I'm really terrible with fighting with my hands. But because you're from Alberta, I'd like to tell you that I'll be there in 3 weeks. I'm doing a remake of In Cold Blood. I'm doing the Robert Blake part. I'm doing it on a dare. I was offered the part, I thought, hell, yeah, I'll do it on a dare. If that role does for me what it did for Robert Blake, it's what the "Star 80" part did for me. This will be for CBS, Hallmark Hall of Fame with Anthony Edwards and me.
Question from EXTERNAL NETWORK: [102113,1053] Joni Latham Do you do your own martial arts in the Best of the Best films and what level belt are you?
Eric Roberts I would like to keep that to myself because every time I talk about that, someone wants me to prove it.
PDiL/PEOPLE What happened with "It's My Party"? I saw a preview, said "Gotta see this movie"--but then it seemed to disappeared.
Eric Roberts Well, it's still playing in limited run. They're going to open it wide ...wait, I'm checking the date ...well, we're waiting for the wide release. We'll see if indeed it ever happens. At the theaters it plays at, it plays to full houses, and to lots of tears, and loud ovations.
PDiL/PEOPLE Please use yr influence, and make it come to Monterey! Our next question is from the vast fathomless Internet...
Eric Roberts Cool. I like this.
Internet Questions What's the toughest role you've undertaken to date?
Eric Roberts To date? Hmmm. A three way tie or four-way tie between "Star 80", "Pope of Greenwich Village", "It's My Party" and probably "In Cold Blood"--because they were all personalities with a misplaced or lost screw, and when you play those kinds of people you come to realize there are lots of them out there. And you have to learn how to play them without playing them as a caricature or a joke --and that's difficult.
Question from ATLANTA, GA: [76614,1014] avaroo
Eric Roberts ATLANTA GEORGIA! HELLO ATLANTA! I think he was so far out that character and frankly so shocking a portrayal that no one attached it to me like it was the only thing I could do. I would LOVE that photo. Tell me your name again, please. That is so cool
From ATLANTA, GA: [76614,1014] avaroo Hi Eric; David Brachman here
Eric Roberts Hi David.
From ATLANTA, GA: [76614,1014] avaroo Slow typist.
Eric Roberts I'm a slow listener.
From ATLANTA, GA: [76614,1014] avaroo It was 1965 or so.
Eric Roberts Hey, can I give the address of my press agent?
PDiL/PEOPLE Sure Eric!
Eric Roberts Send it to: Brigid Walsh; Michaels, Wolf and Tensor Co., 9350 Wilshire Blvd; Suite 328, Beverly Hills CA 90212. Phone number 310 777-5454.
From ATLANTA, GA: [76614,1014] avaroo Good luck, Eric you will get it-Dave
Eric Roberts AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DAVID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Question from CHICAGO, IL: [74074,1140] Lee W. Dykhuis I love coca-cola kid, especially the scene where the pillow breaks and there are feathers everywhere. Any comments about Australian outback?
Eric Roberts It's like looking at a world of bone. It's just dry, barren, stark -- and beautiful. I'd love to go back. Give me a reason.
Question from CF: [104250,2110] karin epp What was it like working with Sylvester Stallone and Sharon Stone?
Eric Roberts Sylvester Stallone is very funny and he's a great guy to hang out with. Sharon has a wonderful sense of humor and is very, very warm. And as we all can see, is very, very beautiful.
Question from EXTERNAL NETWORK: [102705,1303] Salamander Hello Eric! Just a comment here...I definitely agree you could never play ugly. In fact I think you are one of THE sexiest men. Please know that I don't use that term loosely. My question? How was your day? I wish I could hear your voice answer that.
Eric Roberts It's all in the attitude. My day? My day?
PDiL/PEOPLE Your day. Your day...
Eric Roberts How was my day. Well, I quit smoking three weeks ago and I had a hard day today not smoking. Other than that, it wasn't as much fun as the other day when I was skydiving but it was a good day.
Question from SPRINGFIELD, MA: [104615,2567] Ken Parker Is there a particular role or movie you would love the chance to do in the future? Any particular actor/actress or director you want to work with?
Eric Roberts OK, let me think...I want to do Beckett. That's one thing I want to do--a play. Another play I want to do is Burn This, again on stage. I'd actually love to do Burn This on-stage again -- one of my hopes to make it as a movie too.
PDiL/PEOPLE Eric--I've heard you described as a man with the face of a fallen angel. Has being so physically *beautiful* been a blessing, a curse, or a little of both?
Eric Roberts It's been a *lot* of both. As I've gotten older I look like a man, finally. And I appreciate that.
Question from CXT: [74134,1754] JT when fans come up to you and say " Hey, you're the guy that was in ........." What movie do you think they'll say ? And what movie do they usually say?
Eric Roberts I don't try to second guess people. Usually it's pretty different. When people come up, they say, "Pope of Greenwich Village"-- they say that the most. "It's My Party" is really out there now. Everyday somebody mentions it to me. I get a lot of feedback on that one.
Question from LAWNDALE, CA: [103112,2040] rhonda krafchin We missed you at the Doctor Who screening last night. Have you seen the movie yet and we've heard you're a fan of the old series. Who's your favorite doctor?
Eric Roberts My favorite doctor will always have to be Kervorkian. And I'm sorry if I can't answer you very directly but I feel it impolite.
Question from CLEVELAND, OH: [103243,3503] Mickey My favorite film of yours is "Runaway Train", how did you like making that film?
Eric Roberts I had so much fun every single day, Mickey. I loved making that movie. I loved watching that movie. I love the fact they tried to give me an Academy Award for that movie. I loved everything about that movie. Thank you very much.
PDiL/PEOPLE When you're preparing for a role, do you work from the inside out or the outside in?
Eric Roberts It's a combination of both. I work from the inside out as well as the outside in; sometimes simultaneously; sometimes separately; sometimes I only have to use one or the other. I hope that answers your question.
Question from COMPUSERVE REROUTED: [76711,1644] Robert Cruz Eric, thanks for coming here! You've played everyone from crime lords to a kick-boxing underdog. What's been the toughest role?
Eric Roberts The toughest role was Paul Snider in "Star 80". Because his final mistake was so tragic and yet Paul Snider was not an extraordinarily bad person. He just did an extraordinarily bad thing. I have to interject something --I played the character so I had to live with him; and in order to live with him and bring him to life, I had to like something about him--otherwise I just would have played a caricature of a bad guy. The point of my explanation is I'm very subjective when it comes to describing my characters: they are all a little bit a part of me from the outside in or the inside out--but to put your mind at ease, I built Paul Snider from the outside in.
Question from SPRINGFIELD, MA: [104615,2567] Ken Parker How was it like working with your co-stars in the Doctor Who movie? Daphne and Paul?
Eric Roberts Paul was really interesting in the role and in person. And Daphne has a great sense of humor. She tells a real Class-A dirty joke.
PDiL/PEOPLE Eric, the hour grows late. I want to thank you VERY much for coming online with us this evening. You are a GREAT online guest and I hope we can entice you back!
Eric Roberts Thanks. Thanks, it was very cool and I enjoyed it! Thanks for having me
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