kp: What else can you tell us about Billy Dead? Have you begun casting?
kg: Well, no one else is 'set', but Jennifer Connolly has read the script and is interested in playing the other lead. It would be a great stretch for her. I haven't approached anyone about the other roles yet. Those two are so much the core of the film.

kp: Tell me about the difference of working with an actor as a fellow actor, and then as a director. I'm thinking particularly of Robert Downey Jr., but I guess Wally Ward is another example. (And technically Nick Nolte, although I had to watch "I Love Trouble" 3 times before I saw you. That was difficult.)
kg: First, I am very, very sorry if you watched 'I Love Trouble' three times.

kp: Not as sorry as I am.
kg: To be honest, I've never watched the whole thing once. I only took that job so I could get close enough to Nolte to give him the MOTHER NIGHT script. And it actually worked!

It's always nicer working with someone you've worked with before, whether as an actor or as a director. You know each other, you're comfortable. When you don't know each other, there is that awkward 'first date' feeling that can last quite a while. Actors can often be defensive with directors (with reason!), so it's great if you can start from a place where the actor knows you're not a jerk professionally and personally.

kp: You don't have to name names, but have you ever worked with anyone who was so difficult that you will never work with him/her again?
kg: Oh, yeah. Hard to do so much without that happening. But only a few. Actually, when I'm casting, I take personality and reputation into account. If someone has a bad habit of making everyone around them miserable, I won't cast them. Period. Life's too short, and making a movie's too hard. I've passed up chances to get projects made when it became clear a star actor would make the process a nightmare.

kp: Is there anyone you really hope to work with?
kg: The list would be a mile long, but right off the top of my head: Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, Ian Holm, Ben Kingsley, Anthony Hopkins, Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, etc. etc. Probably 50 names I could put on that list. Not to mention people I'd love to work with again; Ed Harris, Billy Crudup, Ethan Hawke (obviously), Jennifer Connolly (ditto), Nick Nolte, Michael Caine, etc. etc. (and if anyone reads this and feels left out, get over it! I just wasn't going to sit here and write down every name of everyone I've liked working with. This is just a representitive sampling!)

kp: I think you overestimate the number of celebrities who read kittenpants. Thanks! Also, please put Billy Crudup in every movie. Not just your movies - he should be in all movies. He's really fantastic.
kg: And SUCH a nice guy! Everyone on the set was in love with either him or Jennifer or both.

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