How could we pass up this opportunity? In conjunction with its new Internet Explorer online advertising campaign, directed by comedian Bobcat Goldthwait, Microsoft made the actor and director available for an interview this afternoon. Read on for excerpts -- starting with our question about how Goldthwait's Microsoft advertising experience stacks up against one of his most famous roles as an actor.
Q: When you look back someday at your acting and directing career, do you think Microsoft's Internet Explorer ads will rank above or below Police Academy 2?
Goldthwait (laughs): For me, I would say it would rank above Police Academy 2.
Q: Really?
Goldthwait: I've really been, for the last couple years, concentrating on writing and directing. I kinda stopped acting about six years ago. I stopped acting at the same time people stopped hiring me, so it really worked out well for me. I've been really concentrating on directing stuff, so I was thrilled to direct these because this is the first time I've directed spots -- commercials -- for folks.
Q: Tell me about that. What were your artistic and strategic goals with these ads, and your approach to them?
Goldthwait: Well, the folks at (Bradley and Montgomery), the agency that wrote 'em, I would have to credit them with my involvement, and also Microsoft. I think they were trying to do something that was a little less mainstream, and I think that's (what led to) my involvement. Normally the corporate world is very frightened of hiring the dude from Police Academy to direct their stuff, so I'm flattered and I was really happy. There's a couple more coming up, too, so I'm actually looking forward to those being released, because I think they're a little more nutty in tone.
Q: One of your more recent films was "Sleeping Dogs Lie," which had a pretty controversial plot. Did you draw any inspiration from that as you worked on these ads?
Goldthwait: No, I would say these ads are more in line with the tone of something I would do on Dave Chappelle or something like that. More of a sketchy kind of thing. Sleeping Dogs Lie, that's a romantic comedy with just a tasteful amount of bestiality. But that movie, even though it sounds kinda wacky, is actually done fairly straight, because I think that's way more subversive.
The new movie, World's Greatest Dad, is very similar in tone (about a dad, played by Robin Williams, who tries to cover up his son's death from a "freak masturbation accident"). We've had a good run. Both of those movies went to Sundance. World's Greatest Dad comes out Aug. 21 and just played at the Seattle film festival. But it, too, if you heard about it, you would think it's a more jokey movie, but hopefully the comedy comes from, as people say, the awkwardness.
We shot (World's Greatest Dad) up in Seattle -- mostly in Wallingford. There was a school there that we were filming in. I think the residents of Wallingford will probably be a little bit shocked when they see the movie.
Q: Are you a big technology geek yourself? Are you into computers and gadgets?
Goldthwait: No, I'm on the other side of things ... very much threatened by technology, but my girlfriend, who I work with all the time, she would have that side of the relationship covered.
Q: OK, I was just going to ask if you use Internet Explorer or Firefox or some other browser.
Goldthwait: She's definitely Internet Explorer -- anything else in our home she considers just for idiots.
Q: Is that just because of your latest gig, or does she really have an affinity for Internet Explorer?
Goldthwait: Oh, no -- this is for years.
Q: Could you see yourself being in advertisements for any other Microsoft products down the road?
Goldthwait: I would love to continue to direct, as long as they're trying to reach out in a humorous fashion. I'll never be the kind of director who will be special effects, or all, you know. As long as they continue to want a weird approach, I hope I'm involved.
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