Heroes in Business - Dee Wallace, Actor ET and The Howling celebrating 40 years, 290 film and tv credits

Episode Date: March 10, 2023

Energy is everything. Dee Wallace, Actor ET and The Howling celebrating 40 years, 290 film and tv credits is interviewed by David Cogan Host of the Heroes Show and Founder of Eliances entreprenur community.  

Welcome back to Alliances Heroes, where heroes in business align. To be part of our super community and find out more about Alliances, visit www.alliances.com. So what do you think now of the way in which film is produced and movies produced versus the way that it was? and movies produced versus the way that it was? Well, I think like everything in life, there's a positive and a negative. We have a lot of more opportunities for a lot more actors to perform and show their merits.

And because of that, movies have become a little less special. We watch them on a smaller screen. I went to vote for the Emmys and the Academy Awards. I didn't know half of the things on there. There's just no way you can keep up with everything. And I think that's detrimental to those young performers coming up who really want to make a mark in our industry. There's a difference between just working and working in projects where people identify your name and know your talent. Cujo. And they will say vulnerability. And they will say emotional life. Because those are the things I'm known for. And I think we've lost a little bit of that in our industry. Now, you've done God knows how many interviews. God knows. done god knows how many interviews and that and god knows well what's something you maybe you have not been asked what's some questions something that you've not been asked that you know what

that you want to you want to share i i i couldn't tell you i think I've been asked every question under the sun, except I've got a book brewing in my little mind about horror stories from the life in horror films. What do you think? Wow, sounds scary. Well, because a lot of the things that happen before the camera rolls or after the camera stops are some of the hardest things that you go through in horror films. I have, for example, The Hills Have Eyes, my first horror film. You know, everybody was just happy to get a job, right? And so

all the cast stayed in one trailer and we're in the middle of the Mojave Desert and it gets extremely cold at night and really hot during the day. So we're there at like 3 a.m. because we've got a lot of night

shoots and the bathroom breaks. So you've got what? Ten people. And what? Right? With no bathroom. I mean, there's just story upon story upon story. Most of them much worse than that.

And I just think people will get a kick out of hearing what actors go through behind the scenes. Right, nobody has any idea. No, they don't. what actors go through behind the scenes. Right. Nobody has any idea. Nobody. No, they don't. They true.

Trust me. They don't. Uh, I remember one time on Cujo. It was like the last day we were going to be on the ranch and we had to get this shot. And so, uh, uh, the DP and we had to get this shot. And so the DP and I and somebody else to help me went down to like this other part of the ranch to try and pick up these scenes while the other camera was getting something else. And we got down there and the script girl said,

oh, wait, you have dirt all over your face. You know, we don't match. So we went over and we picked up some dirt and we put it on. Well, you're on a ranch, right? Right. So by the time we got the dirt on my face, we realized there were maggots all through the place.

Oh, wow. I mean, stuff like this happens all the time, right? So anyway, yeah. So nobody's ever asked me about those. Thank you for sharing that. Now, I'm going to ask you then this too, is with, again, going back to all of these movies and stuff and having, and TV and having worked with so many different people on that, is there one person that stands out the most of who you worked

with? Another actor or actress and why? Oh gosh, Absolutely adored working with Dudley Moore in 10. Kind, fun. Dudley and I danced on many tabletops in Mexico. He and I and the crew would go out and have a drink or two. and the crew would go out and have a drink or two. So Dudley would definitely be one of them. Angie Dickinson. I did my first guest star role with Angie. And we did my close-up and the director said, great, and I said, excuse me,

could I have another one? I can do it better. And he went, D, that's fine. It was great. And Angie looked at him and said, if Miss Wallace wants another take, we'll give her another take. And I did it. And the director looked at me and he said, you're right. It was better. But, you know, I never forgot that she came forward for me. And I have tried to do that on every set I've been on for the new guest stars coming in. Amazing. Amazing.

the new guest stars coming in. Amazing. Amazing. Dee, what kind of advice, you know, and or things can you suggest, you know, for children that want to go into the industry, they see it as being, right, extremely glamorous, probably believe it's 24 hour of glamour. It's a glamour and 90% really concentrated work. But again, if you love what you're doing, it's not work. My biggest advice to people getting into the business is be yourself. They want you. They want the authentic you. And most actors erroneously believe that you have to go in and be somebody else.

But this is the instrument that you have to work with. And you have to take that instrument in authentically. That's not to say I can't authentically play murderers or astronauts or mothers or psychopaths, all of which I've played, but it authentically comes out of who I really am. authentically comes out of who I really am. How do you, and we've got time here for one more question. How do you though, when you're in the role and you're, you're in these movies, take, you know, a while to go, you're in and out, right? Each time cut, start, right? Start, stop, start, stop.

How do you do when you get into the role where you're not thinking about all the other things, whether it be issues, whether it be bills, like all of these millions of thoughts going in that once you're, you know, they say action, you're on. I'm not me. When they say action, I'm her. And again, if you are throwing, if you're throwing your energy to the other person, that energy is not on you. You are literally in the moment of energy going back and forth between the two of you. And that's when critics write, oh, my God, they had so much chemistry. Right? So I can show it to you. Do we have time?

Yes. Okay. So you connect with me in the mirror, in the mirror, in the camera. I'm going to shoot my energy to you through the camera. Now I'm going to pull it back. Didn't move, still looking at you, but my energy is way back here. And now I'm going to throw it to the camera again. Can you feel it?

I can, actually. I really can. That's unbelievable. That's one thing. I got goosebumps. When people are auditioning, a lot of times, especially during COVID, you don't have somebody to read with. So you're like, you're looking at the camera, the side of the camera, you know, for your audition, but you're not throwing that energy. And then when the director watches it, he's not getting energy coming at him or her.

Right. So if you want the director to connect with your tape, you've got to throw that energy into the camera like you and I just did. I love it. Maybe we'll be in a movie together. Oh, let's make it a plan, baby. I love it. Well, Dee, you have been in over 290 movies, film credits, and you know what? You're not even close to being done. And I'm now. Entertainer for life.

That's a hero. Reach out to Dee Wallace. Make sure you do. She's been in the Holling ET. Tons of other credits to her. Go to IamDeeWallace.com. This has been David Kogan with the Alliance's Hero Show. You got to dance with me too now, Dee.

We got to do a little dance. Oh, I'm up for that, baby.