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May 1 , 2000
by Veronica
Mixon
The struggling actor turned screenwriter had
suddenly arrived and re-invented not only the
horror genre but also the teen flick for the nineties.
His follow up films, "Scream 2," "I
Know What You Did Last Summer" and "The
Faculty" made box office stars out of Neve
Campbell, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Courtney Cox
and paved the way for his hit television show,
"Dawson's Creek."
Kevin Williamson has tapped a rich vein in the genre film by introducing
young actors and campy themes based on Gen X social habits and fears. With
"Teaching Mrs. Tingle," Williamson makes his directorial debut in this
strange tale of a nasty teacher who duels with three equally determined
students including TV's reigning sweetheart, Katie Holmes from "Dawson's
Creek," and handsome good son, Barry Watson from "7th Heaven."
Williamson talked with Film Gazette about his upcoming projects and
"Teaching Mrs. Tingle."
THE INTERVIEW
Could you comment on the issue of violence?
Oh, here we go. Can I say, 'no comment?' [Pauses] What was the question?
Has the question of violence affected your work?
Well, I did "Scream," "Scream2" "H2O" and "The Faculty." There's some
slaying going on with my stuff. I can see how people could go, 'oh, Kevin.
The horror guy. The violent guy." But, it's not who I am. I saw all those
movies when I was a kid and I've gotten through life with no more than two
parking tickets. So, you know, I haven't gone out and killed nobody.
Will you change "Scream 3?"
I'm not doing "Scream 3."
You're not writing it, either? Why?
I was doing "Tingle." I was doing "Wasteland" and all this other stuff for
Miramax. I wanted to do it. I couldn't do. We all sat down and said, we
can't push the movie because we'll never get Neve [Campbell] and Courtney
[Cox] because they have a TV window. So, we had to make the decision. It
was hard but we found Aaron Cooper - he's writing it. He wrote "Ranger
Games" with Ben Affleck. He sent me over the "Scream" script and it was a
great read. We got Wes Craven in there and it will be great. My money's on
Wes. This movie is going to rock!
How did you discover Katie?
Man, they sent me this videotape. We couldn't find Joey. We were
auditioning. You know, Selma Blair - she was my choice. I love her and I've
always had my eye on her but she's not Joey. But, I loved her so much that I
was going to go with her. Then, I got this videotape of this little girl in
high school in Ohio in a basement and she was reading with her mom. Her mom
was playing Dawson. I saw her and it was so sweet and I just remember after
one minute, I said, 'how fast can we get her here?'
What was your first meeting with Katie like?
First of all, she didn't come right away. She called and said she was in the
middle of a school play and she couldn't come for a week. I was like 'you
know, we need to start shooting.' And, she said, 'I'm going to let down a
lot of people. All my friends are in this play. I can't do that.' I was
'ok, I want you more! We'll wait.' We waited a week.
So, what is it about Katie?
She's a star, man. Her aura came across on the tape. Those eyes and just
the way she was looking. Her line reading for Joey - it was everything I had
envisioned when I wrote it. Then - when I met her. We spent five minutes
talking in the lobby and we were talking about the part. The way that she
listened to me, the way that she interacted with me, the way that she smiled
sort of innocently but scared at the same time, vulnerable and sexy - all of
those qualities that were popping out. She's a huge contradiction - this
girl. I just realized as I got to know her throughout the course of the day.
I just felt that she was a star. If she had just been a housewife in
Toledo, she would have been a star housewife. I realized that was the
important thing.
Has she changed a lot?
She's grown, she's blossoming and she's just emerging into a more amazing
person than when I met her.
So, she hasn't gone Hollywood?
No. She doesn't live in Hollywood. When she's in Hollywood, she stays with
me and I smack her around a little bit. [Laughs] It's during hiatus. She
has her own bedroom. I'm decorating it for her.
You live alone?
No. I've got another roommate. It's just that I got this stupid house and I
get scared all the time. I was with someone and we got the house together.
We set up house and did the whole 'married thing' and then we broke up, and I
was stuck in the house all alone. So, I started bringing people in.
When did you decide to put her in "Tingle?"
I always wanted to but I didn't know if it would work out, if the filming
would be during TV season because she'd be doing "Dawson's Creek." But, I
always, in the back of my mind thought she'd be a great Leigh Ann.
Did her parents approve of her love scenes?
You should ask her because I don't think her parents have seen it. I think
she's worried about that. We've cut it down considerably. You should have
seen the first pass of that love scene. There was a lot more going on.
How hot was that scene going to be?
She was never topless. There was some nibbling down her back but she had her
bra on. It started looking too MTV cheesy - the fire burning, etc.
Was she happy that you cut it?
No. She liked that day. She spent the entire - she kept waiting for that
day.
What is your relationship like with the other three actors from "Dawson's
Creek" - when you take one to work on a movie?
Well, they were all so busy doing other stuff. And, come one, James Van Der
Beek can't play Leigh Ann - as much as he thinks he can, he can't. [Laughs]
Are you finished with "Dawson's Creek?"
Yeah. I'm done.
What's going to happen this season?
They're going to keep my story line for the gay character - the way I set it
up. He's going to continue to be a leading character in the show. You know
I paired him up with Jen and he's staying at her grandmother's house. The
football coach discovers him. He has a great arm and he gets to be the wide
receiver.
Wide receiver?
[Laughs] The irony is not lost.
What about Joey and Dawson?
It will go back to the way it was on the first season. I don't think no one
cared for the "soap" element - how soapy it got. That was never the intention
of the show. I think they will have to be a part for awhile because it is
going to be really hard for Joey to forgive Dawson for what he did. I mean
he really screwed up.
What are you doing next?
I'm doing a TV show called "Wasteland." Once again, it's an autobiographical
story. After college - me and bunch of friends - moved to New York to make
our dreams come true. That's the genesis of the show. But, it also deals
with the theme of the Second Coming of age. You have your first when you're
in high school. I'm also doing a romantic comedy called, "Her Leading Man"
and I'm two seconds away from signing a star. But she's huge! I met with
her, she wanted to see "Tingle," I like her, I think she likes me. Major
star. It's not Julia Roberts because this movie makes fun of Julia. It
makes fun of romantic comedy drama.
Any hints? Gwyneth? [pause] Cameron Diaz?
I didn't say that.
edited
by Veronica Mixon
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