Dennis Quaid

Emmanuel Itier: How was Mexico City–the shooting, the people…?

Dennis Quaid: It was plain wild! Everybody knows how wild it is down there. The traffic is a mess. We were shooting a chase scene and it took us forever to do that because the traffic is such a mess–insane, slow, random…it’s funny because we would shoot our scene for the one block we managed to clear. And then to go to the next cleared block would take us hours. It was very interesting. Mexico, for our film, looked fantastic and could pass for Spain–at least the square we built which is a replica of the one in Spain. The crew was so fantastic–great and passionate, sweet people. Just a different attitude about life that comes from the heart and not from the head.

EI: What made you come onboard this project?

DQ: For sure the director, Pete Travis. Pete approached me and I happened to be in Spain when we met for the first time. I really like his first film, Omagh, about terrorism. It was so great and it looked so real. The script was just so amazing. I knew there was something that was going to be great and unique about this film. I mean, with the eight differences of view, it’s something that has not been done before in the movies. It was great for me to play this secret agent who had taken a bullet for the president and who is back on the job at some press conference against terrorism. Even reading it, and even though we go through the same next 15 minutes was super exciting.

EI: The movie’s theme reflects very much what’s going on today in our society. Is this something that also attracted you to this project?

DQ: For sure. I do follow what’s going on in this world, and it was a great opportunity for me to be part of something greater than myself–something that is now part of our lives wherever you live. I don’t think this movie is making a comment on terrorism. In the end, it really makes you hang on to the edge of your seat. For me, it was interesting to be part of this world–the world of “cat and mouse” between the terrorists and the one trying to stop them. It was interesting for me to do research and see what is trying to be done about terrorism. Look at what happened in Pakistan with just an old fashioned bomb, and you realize how unpredictable these people are.

EI: Would you, in real life, put your life in danger to save the president of the USA?

DQ: Wow! Maybe it would depend who is the president! No, I’m kidding. I don’t have that training anyway. I’m telling you, it takes special training to be a bodyguard for the President. First you need to learn how to accept getting shot and not to seek cover, because this is the instinct we all have when we hear a shooting: we go for cover and we just don’t feel like jumping in front of the bullet and being a human shield! We had a real guy from the Secret Service on the set who trained us for two weeks, and he told us how we needed to learn not to think. It’s hard not to think–to be trained at being just a protective machine. Did you see the shots of the attempted assassination of Reagan way back? Well, you see the Secret Service jumping in front of the President and taking the bullets while the cops go for cover. No, I don’t think I would be able to do it!

EI: What has been the most dangerous job in your life?

DQ: Well actually, it’s been doing movies! A set is like a “hot” set where one should wear a helmet and a bulletproof vest at all times. Really, shooting movies can be dangerous. I don’t count my injuries any more, such as a broken leg, broken fingers, ribs, various cuts… Beyond acting, driving in Los Angeles is probably the other danger I face every day.

EI: Does being a dad again make you even more aware about what’s going on in the world?

DQ: Yes, I think a lot about that, and it’s incredible how it’s all related: the Middle East and oil, and how we’re the biggest consumer of it. War is all about economics. It’s scary out there when economics are bad and people need to eat! Look at World War II and how truly it was the result of the great economical depression from the ’30s, and then Hitler was saying the right words, the people were depressed, and they just follow the one who gave them the illusion that things would be better with him! Germany was so down repaying France and England, and see what happened! Pfff..!

EI: How do you see yourself ten years from now?

DQ: Probably still acting. I have the fire for it even more than ten years ago, and I really think I’m now great at it. Being a good actor is being good at learning from your life experience and taking from it. So now that I’m in my 50s, I obviously experience much more about life and it makes me probably a better actor. Also, I still have lots of fun. Who knows what will happen, and for sure I need to balance my work and my family. Besides, this is why we’re going to move full-time to Austin, which is where both our families are from–to really spend some more quality times with the twins. I mean, I raised my first son in L.A. and it’s okay, but I think Texas is probably more relaxed and family-oriented. Also, as I grow older, I put all the bullshit of life on the side. I’m not stopping at the little things like before. The ego is taking a distance from things, and it’s helpful to get a better relationship. The process of laying off the bullshit starts around 40. Before that, most men have their heads stuck in their asses! Including myself! After 40, you see things differently, you don’t try to prove yourself, you also find yourself, and you’re accepting yourself and what you got from life. Really I feel I need to slow down a little bit and not do four movies in a row like last year, and things will be great.

EI: What films were they?

DQ: I think this was the first time I worked so much, but this was a time when there were so many great scripts that it was hard to pass on them. Well, first there was Vantage Point in Mexico City–big and tiring movie. What a great action movie. Then Smart People, a low budget that I got paid a few cents to be in. It’s a great movie with Helen Page and I loved playing in this movie. Then I did Horsemen, an apocalyptic movie–a horror movie. And then finally The Express, where I play a coach and so it’s a sports movie. Really, how can you pass on any of these films? They are all so unique and a great experience.

EI: How was it working with this great acting ensemble?

DQ: It was amazing and very stimulating. Forrest had just done King of Scotland and he was all fired up, and he had no idea he was going to get an Oscar for it! Forrest is so humble and so full of life and so generous. I also loved working with William Hurt and Matthew Fox. Also, we had great local actors–Mexican actors–and plenty of extras, and they were all so nice and welcoming.

EI: What’s going on with your music and your rock ‘n’ roll band?

DQ: Well, for now we’re taking a break. I mean, I have been so busy with my movies, and on top of this, having the twins was also a very busy and stressful time, so I think I’m going to lay off music for a while. I need to be home with the family.

EI: How is it going with the lawsuit, and what happened to your twins?

DQ: You must mean what happened at Cedar Sinai Hospital. Well, I can’t talk about it because we’re in the middle of a lawsuit indeed. But the twins are doing great now and we started a foundation for a better childcare, for the prevention of this type of incident. It’s a foundation for raising medical care all over the country. So in a way, they are responsible for this foundation. They’re going to change the world because of what happened to them.