We recently caught up with Dean at his beachside home in Malibu to chat
about his role in FUTURESPORT and life after LOIS & CLARK.
Q: Is this your dream come true, playing the biggest sports star in the
world?
A: It's funny. Every project I do I get that question. With Superman it was
"Is it your dream to play the most famous American icon of all time?" It's
certainly more along the lines of what I anticipated playing than Superman
was. I can identify with this character, because to me, he is Michael
Jordan, basically. People get so crazy when they see Mike it's unbelievable.
He's certainly the king of all athletes at this point in time. That's pretty
much what this character is. It's a dream to play him, but I'd rather play
him than be him.
Q: He's not a very nice guy at the beginning of the film, is he?
A: Yes, he's a little bit self-involved, a little selfish at the beginning,
and he certainly goes through a transition of realizing what's important and
who's important in his life. And it's not all about scoring as many goals as
possible or having the highest "popularity index."
Q: Did you have to go back in front of green screen or hang from any wires
for your role in FUTURESPORT. Was there any Superman deja vu?
A: There was no green screen. I skateboard, so I was droppin' in the fifteen
foot "bowl" all by myself. It scared the hell out of me the first couple of
times I did it, but it was really a lot of fun. I enjoyed it. For the
finished film, they just erased the wheels off the skateboard so it looks
like I'm floating.
Q: What sort of experience did you have working with Wesley Snipes and
Vanessa Williams?
A: Wesley was wonderful to work with. I was so happy to be involved with him
in this project. I was so happy he allowed me to be involved. He was generous.
He was professional, and you know, you see why he makes so much money making
movies. Vanessa's wonderful. A total trooper . . . she's beautiful, she's so
nice. I loved working with her.
Q: Do you think sports will ever be used as a tool to solve political
crises, like they are in this movie?
A: [laughter] No, I don't think so, no. It's a sport that was created to
solve gang disputes. That's the way it originlly existed and that's what
happens in the film. They basically solve the biggest turf war in history.
The thing that's so great about doing that is that it promotes a real
positive message. You know, it says that you don't have to fight . . . Find
alternate ways to solve your differences. I liken it to the Olympic spirit,
you know. When we get together for the Olympics, you get such a sense of
national pride. We have this great feeling of the world and everyone coming
together and competing. We're not so different. That's the thing that I think
technology is making so evident.
Q: It's been a year and a half or so since you finished work on LOIS &
CLARK. What have you been doing besides making FUTURESPORT?
A: I made a TV movie called RAG AND BONE for Anne Rice. I produced that as
well. I have a deal at Sony, my own production company that will exist as of
this week, to write, produce, direct and act in television. I've been
directing a lot of music videos, and I've written for a couple of companies
and done some projects . . . one for Warner Bros.
Q: Are you enjoying the change in your lifestyle since leaving series
television . . . not having to work 13, 14, 15 hour days for months on end?
A: I'm extremely happy, extremely healthy and I feel like I'm on vacation
every day. I'm reading a lot of scripts, and when I film, it's for a short
time and then I'm done.
Q: Are you aware that there's a big fan following out there from your "Lois
& Clark" days who are still devoted to the show? What's your reaction to that?
A: I love the fact that people care about the show that much. You know, it's
funny, I watched the show yesterday . . . caught it on TNT.
Q: What episode?
A: "The Rival." And you know, I thought "This is a good show. I like this
show." It's nice to be removed from it for a while and then watch it. It's a
good show, it's a fun show. It's a clean family show. I really enjoyed doing
it. I'm happy that it's finished, because I really enjoy my lifestyle. The
standard of living wasn't very high for me when I was shooting that. I
really wasn't able to enjoy things or sleep enough or things of that
nature . . . which sounds trite, but the reality is, it's a very difficult
lifestyle. And I'm very happy to have changed my lifestyle. However, I can
understand why people would [still] love the show. There are shows that I
loved that are off the air, and I can certainly understand why people would
want to continue.
Q: Is there any talk of a "Lois & Clark" reunion?
A: Not that I'm aware of. No one's talked to me.
Q: Do you have a pair of Superman tights in your closet as a souvenir from
LOIS & CLARK?
A: That's all Warner Bros. stuff . . . I don't know. I have my ways, I might
have been able to scrounge something up. I might have . . . it's possible.
I'll have to search through my closet and see if I actually did. It's
possible, that's all I'll say.
Q: Who would win in a fight: Tre from FUTURESPORT, or Clark Kent?
A: Clark would beat the hell out of him! Tre's a street guy, but...
Q: He can skateboard well . . .
A: Yeah, but he'd get his a@# kicked!
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