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Bruce Campbell Put simply, Bruce Campbell is a cult movie god. He made his name playing Ashley "Ash" J. Williams in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead trilogy of movies, where his witty one-liners ("Hail to the king, baby!") found themselves recycled in video games, particularly in Duke Nukem.
As well as finding small roles in virtually all Sam Raimi's subsequent flicks (most memorably as the Snooty Usher in Spider-Man 2) Campbell is often called upon by the Coen brothers to play bit parts in movies such Fargo, The Hudsucker Proxy, Intolerable Cruelty and The Ladykillers. Bruce also had a regular slot on TV shows Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess and Ellen before getting the biggest critical hit of his career with an exceptional performance as an aged Elvis Presley in Bubba Ho-Tep.
As well as acting, Bruce also is something of a writer and his acclaimed autobiography If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor garnered rave reviews ("With a quirky assortment of rants, as well as self-deprecating chapter titles like 'The Higher the Budget, the Lower the Part,' he's like the dinner guest you wish would never leave." said Entertainment Weekly). He's started work on his second, eagerly awaited book, Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way and is editing a documentary about land stewardship issues A Community Speaks.
 PIXELSURGEON: Bubba Ho-Tep is one of my favourite movies from the last few years. The ending of the movie and our interview with Director Don Coscarelli indicates that there may be a sequel or prequel Bubba Nosferatu: Curse of the She-Vampires. Is there any progress on this?
BRUCE: There is. Several companies are interested, but this is a development process and could go slow...
We heard that the Elvis impersonator drafted in to help you with your performance lasted 45 minutes before he told you, "You're on your own, man". Your performance was pretty flawless, how did you prepare?
I did three things: learning my lines, sang in the shower a lot, and ate many peanut butter and banana sandwiches.
Were people surprised to see such a low-key performance from you? Is this a sign of you maturing as an actor?
I try and match the material I'm assigned. If the material is loopy, you have to go with it - if it isn't, you don't.
Did you know that Bubba Ho-Tep was going to be something special and garner the great reviews it has?
I knew it was special to me, but I didn't know if other folks would get it. I was very pleased when most folks did. One never knows such things.
 You've described yourself as perpetually the "small star in a big movie or a big star in a small movie", would you like to change that and star in a blockbuster or are you happy with your position in Hollywood?
I'm just fine where I am, thanks. I make a good living and am pretty much left alone.
As well as acting you've directed a couple of things, including episodes of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess. What's the latest on Man with the Screaming Brain and your new documentary A Community Speaks?
Screaming Brain is going to tour with me on my next book tour - June-Aug of '05, then it's on the Sci-Fi Channel after that, and DVD in spring of '06. A Community Speaks, a land use documentary, is being edited slowly. I hope to have it done in a year-ish.
Why did Screaming Brain take so long to come to fruition?
If I could have answered that I'd have had it done 18 years ago. I really have no idea. Maybe it took that long for the stars (and the money) to line up.
 Your book If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor was that rare combination of being very funny and very well received, tell us about writing that book and about your new forthcoming book Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way...
Chins was a good experience, because it was completely new. The next book was a challenge, because I felt compelled to branch out into the brave new world of fiction.
What movies have you seen recently that have really floated your boat? What movies have made you choke on your popcorn?
I liked Sideways, because nothing blew up. I haven't been terribly impressed lately.
Bubba Ho-Tep seems to be part of a new wave of American indie movies that also includes Napoleon Dynamite, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Lost in Translation. Do you think this constitutes a minor movement, akin to the Coppola/Cimino/Scorsese studio-challenging movies of the 70s?
I hope to hell it does. Filmgoers deserve better than what's being cranked out. The word "Indie" is way overused though. A movie starring Jim Carrey isn't an indie...
What are the biggest preconceptions people have about you?
I don't know, because I can't see myself from the outside...
 Your official website is a fanboy's dream come true with in-depth details on everything you've ever done, thoughts on becoming an actor and America becoming a nation of "Gravitationally-Challenged" fatties. Is being good to your fans important or is that the actor's need to communicate that keeps you at the computer typing away?
They're two different things. The site is a clearing house for info, and with it, I spin in a little commentary for giggles.
Do you have any really obsessive fans?
Not really. I tend to share enough of my shortcomings with fans that they eventually get bored with me.
What's been your most enjoyable experience on a movie?
That's a dangerous question. I've had plenty of fun on flicks, but if you have too much, the work is affected.
And finally, do you have any thoughts on the planned remake of The Evil Dead in 2006 and will you have any involvement, production or otherwise?
Not much to tell yet, as we are figuring out many things ourselves.
Additional questions by Jason Arber
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