Live Chat - February 7, 2001

Moderator
Hello everybody! Rutger just entered the room! Welcome back Rutger!

Rutger
Goodevening or goodmorning depending on your timezone!

Question
Any news about your projects yet? I'm so surprised I can't think of any questions!

Rutger
Forthcoming projects are none. I'm working/talking and developing. Need to see people. Takes some time. Is fine with me. I have a nice Newsletter in my Mac which will be on the web in about a week. Telling you about this and that. What's going on. Never a dull moment.

Question
How does it feel to be back to Europe? I'm an American living in Europe now for 10 years and it's very strange for me to return to the US - I sort of feel foreign. How about you when you return to Europe?

Rutger
I've always felt kind of foreign but there is only one piece of grass I call home. But I'm in Amsterdam right now. It's wet, cold, windy but nice.

Question
Do you have any information on your recently completed projects? Will Jungle Juice have a theatrical release? And do you know when?

Rutger
What is so great about the Internet is that the moment anybody hears anything about me, they tend to come here and ask. But to answer the question: "I HAVE HEARD ZILCH". I have no idea what is going on.

Question
Did you like working with Lina Wertmueller?

Rutger
Working with Lina was a joy. We got along really well.

Question
Just wanted to say thanks for putting my short story online. Made my year.

Rutger
Gordon, I like the short storything. I haven't read yours yet. Will soon. All the others I'm up to par with. Some really good ones there too.

Question
You have taken us all by surprise! How is Ineke now?

Rutger
Ineke is recovering slowly. It's a hell of a cold and she needs medicines for a damn month.

Question
Rutger, any chance that you will be in Italy in the near future for your projects? Your Italian wolfpack is strong!
Rutger, no matter what you say. WE LOVE YOU HERE IN ITALY!!! But could you say something nice anyway!!! LOL

Rutger
Rowanne, I may come to Milano in the next month or two. Possible. It's a strong no. 1 on the wishlist.

Question
Rutger, my wishlist is even stronger than yours!!! Do you like Italy? I know that Ladyhawke was filmed in part at the castle just outside Parma.

Rutger
When I worked on Ladyhawke it was my first time ever in Italy. I drove the big truck around to Cortina d'Ampezzo, L'Aquila - close to Rome, and to the castle close to Vicenza. It was very exciting. Had a lot of funny adventures. With the carabinieri. With a sweater that had been stolen by some guy but because it was such a LOUD sweater and I had described it so well, the carabinieri caught the guy three days later because he was wearing it.

Question
This is my first time here and Rutger shows up. Pretty cool. I'm wondering, not knowing how often you chat in here, is this kind of refreshing and home thought evoking, to be able to log on from around the world whenever you want? I'm sure it would make me feel better at times in the same situation.

Rutger
Dear Gordon, I think about it, it's amazing, almost gross and totally mindblowing. But that's where I live. Not all the time. But somewhat. A spectator most of the time. But this is my first time too. I don't really feel comfortable with announcing me coming to the chat. I think I'll just join randomly and quack. It feels less shiny.

Question
Do you have any more information about your Starfish organization?

Rutger
Starfish is developing its arms gently, in all modesty and slower than I would wish. It's a fact of life. I can motivate people somewhat but after I left the islands, people's lives took over. But it's working. We've just decided today that its help will be focused on the needs of infected children. They can only get help on the mainland. So we buy some tickets. That sort of thing. I promise to keep you informed as it gets more tools and width. Thank you for asking.

Question
What can we do to help or to contribute to the association?

Rutger
I'm setting up a website for Starfish. The moment it's up and running I will inform you about activities and it will be a LINK from this site.

Question
Rutger, what was it like directing yourself in The Room? Difficult or easy? Was it tempting to be lazier or opposite?

Rutger
To me directing is better than not. When acting there is no directing. Then we watch &/or just know what was wrong. If you are on your own the inner dialogue is always between YOU&YOU. But with a partner you get a different bounce. Like that.

Question
What kind of books do you prefer?

Rutger
Some of the ones I read. I read too little. I love reading. But it comes after writing myself. And I haven't even started poems or my biography, which will be an audiobiography. Soundbytes. But it means writing it first, then recording it. I'm ashamed of not reading more. Another loss. Life's soooooooooo short.

Question
Rutger, what is your preferred role to play-the baddie like in The Hitcher, the Romantic Hero like in Ladyhawke or the supporting character like in Amelia Earhart? By the way, what was it like to work with Diane Keaton?

Rutger
Diane Keaton is one of the most interesting actresses I have worked with. Great. What intelligence, what sense of humour. I'm an actor. I own a tool, or a gift, or instinct. I can go many places with this. I like variety. I hate molds. After one dies is the only place for a mold. It doesn't matter.

Question
Rutger, you are a true Aquarian, always showing compassion to those less fortunate. It's lovely to see amidst such apathy in the world. I wonder, had you not become an actor, what would have been your calling?

Rutger
A spacecadet, a muffin, a willow, a horse, a doctor, a shrink, a vet. That rhymes.

Question
Rutger..Legend of the Holy Drinker is one of my favourites! Was your character difficult to get inside?

Rutger
It's one of my BIG favourites too. I'm too close to the subject. I don't really know about difficult or inside. What was hard was the fact that Ermanno Olmi hardly speaks English. A translator needed to be there all the time. I feel we broke an incredible barrier doing that film. I made a very interesting documentary on the making of, which hasn't been shown. Ermanno had never allowed anybody to photograph him. He liked the film. But it's in a vault in LA. Waiting to be released.

Question
Do you have a favourite film of all the films you have done? If so, which and why?

Rutger
Blade Runner

Question
Why Blade Runner?

Rutger
BLADE RUNNER needs no explanation. It just IZZ. All of the best.
There is nothing like it. To be part of a real MASTERPIECE which changed the world's thinking. It's awesome.

Question
To me The Legend of the Holy Drinker is too much moving. I cannot re-watch it. How do you feel when you see yourself crying in it?

Rutger
Crying is one of the very few things that irritate me. Because it is mostly over the top. As long as the audience feels what's going on. Contained is more than enough. Tears don't fool me. They are no proof, necessary. I watch the character when I watch my movies. There is hardly much self.

Question
Are you referring to tears in movies only or also in real life?

Rutger
We're talking about movies with very few tears. Even "tears in rain" was more rain than tears. But it's there.

Question
And is there a difference to you between crying and getting moved?

Rutger
How many ways are there to be moved & crying? How many ways to be moved without it or how many ways of crying are there without being moved, really? This is a very wide territory. Can't club that one in a tiny hole.

Question
Are you enjoying being back in The Netherlands?

Rutger
It's my homeland. It's very nice.

Question
Rutger, qual'è il tuo sogno in questo momento?

Rutger
AMSTERDAM.

Question
Rutger, which is according to you the primary message conveyed by The Room?

Rutger
The story of The Room is told through the voice of a man who has died and does not exist. The question remains if he does. The question remains if there is a design which we can't decipher. The question remains that death, or life have reason or meaning. Or do they. Life is such a delicate thing. It may be transparent one moment for some, it may not be. Or just not for some others. If a message can be translated from a film, the film has lost its identity. A message for me kills or eliminates the colours I like.
A film mostly speaks in images. The way I know IT got me is that I walk out of it in a certain mental state. Sort of how you feel reading a book that holds you. L'année dernière à Marienbad. Coming home. The cuckoo's nest. Crying game. Fargo. The woman in the sand. Just some titles.

Question
I like to infiltrate myself in the tiny holes of the mind. What about you and why?

Rutger
What's the ugliest part of your body? This is Frank Zappa in one of his songs. He sings ''Itsah tha Mihnd!''. Well, yeah, that also. But it's precious. It has possibilities. And we're just starting to use some of it. My arm and neck are killing me. I will leave you now and take a hot bath. Wish you all well. I'll do it again.

Moderator
Thanks everybody for being here. Let's meet again next time, same place. All the very best!

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