An Interview with Hooper McFinney
Interview by: Steve Daley
Transcription by: Luther Speer [4 parts]
"I swear, if I never have to deal with another 'Tony Luciano'..." Hooper paces the apartment with scotch tumbler in one hand, cell phone in the other. "All this damn family talk--not everything has to involve little Joey or Jimmy!"
Some call him oblivious to everything but his work, yet still in touch with the life-blood of America and the World - Art and Cinema. With producer Walter Spidero, McFinney crafted a shattering tale of love, valor, war and humanity at any cost. Sundown broke through many world records, and half a year after its release is still showing signs of advancement.
SD: What one thing do you wish to take away from all of this?
HM: Money.
SD: [laughing] Seriously, what singular aspect do you wish to retain?
HM: Money aside, I would say the experience of working on such an international picture. We shot in over 180 countires, for God's sake, in an initial rush of only 10 weeks!
SD: You set a world record by filming on four continents on a single day. Impressive, to say the least.
HM: Yes, we shot on six of the seven continents. There was nothing in Australia that we really needed anyway, except more crooked extras and crewmen...
SD: You had difficulties that almost halted the film, didn't you?
HM: Well, there was the murder of Joel Samskara, and the massive betrayal of our Labor Consultant and Chief Security Officer Vance Bruno Rocco. That stopped things for, I'd say at least a week.
SD: Did you ever find the killer?
HM: Yes. It was Mr. Rocco on the beach with a very large lead pipe. Ha ha!
The phone rang just then. McFinney began speaking erratically into the little plastic telephone, until his face got redder and redder. As it turned out, that was Spidero on the other line saying something about the upcoming documentary to be made. Apparently, Harper and Beam were going to be interviewed and the director didn't seem to like that one bit.
[Part 2 of 4 tomorrow!]