Shatner, Hamlin 'Shoot' Indie Film
'Shoot Or Be Shot' Draws From Real Life (Sort Of)
It's only appropriate that a film featuring the captain of the original "Star Trek" have a (time) warped sense of humor. And that's exactly the case with the new independent film "Shoot or Be Shot," and William Shatner is loving every minute of it. Now playing in select cities, the dark comedy stars Shatner and former "L.A. Law" star Harry Hamlin, who both joined me for a recent @ The Movies interview.
In the film, Hamlin plays Jack Yeager, a D-grade filmmaker trying desperately to get his pet project produced. He's so desperate, in fact, that enlists the help of screenwriter Harvey Wilkes (Shatner), who unbeknownst to Jack, is an escaped mental patient. Obsessed with getting his own screenplay filmed, Wilkes' terms with Jack and his colleagues are simple: Shoot the movie, or be shot.
In some respects, Shatner and Hamlin faced the same struggles getting "Shoot or Be Shot" made, because it was an independent production. Granted, there were no deadly consequences awaiting either actor if they didn't film it, but they did realize that there were pros and cons in making a go of it on their own.
"It hard work since there is no big studio behind you giving you perks and lots of time (to work on the film), but on the other hand, making an independent movie like this is creatively much more free," Hamlin said. "Since we didn't a studio breathing down our necks, we were able to do a lot of creative work spontaneously. But, when it comes time to sell the movie, its up to us to do it."
Of course, it helps having names like Shatner and Hamlin attached, but ultimately, said the "Star Trek" actor, the written word at the beginning is what propels the project to its different states of advancement.
"Then, everybody gambles and says 'let's see what happens,'" Shatner said. "Then we have to luck out and get it all done with the appropriate amount of time and money."
Since the film deals with the business itself, there certainly was no lack of material to cross-reference.
"The character that I play is a D-movie producer, and I have the fortune to meet several of these people so I could draw on them -- so, my character is the amalgamation of several people who will remain nameless right now," Hamlin mused. "He's a pretty crazy guy and pretty self-involved, but Bill's character is totally insane."
By saying so, Hamlin slung the door wide open for Shatner to name the crazies he's worked with in the entertainment industry.
"Oh, I know lots of those, and I could name them, oh I could name them," Shatner said with his trademark paused delivery.
"But I won't," he chuckled.
No matter where they fall on the sanity spectrum, Shatner said the common denominator for every filmmaker is Hollywood is passion.
"Even the D-movie producers and the schlocky people that run around trying to make a deal in Hollywood or anywhere -- what they are really consumed with is passion," Shatner said. "It could either be a passion to live so they can put a piece of bread in their mouth to survive, or it could be so they can get the big house and the fancy car.
"So, what we are talking about is passion, or ambition -- people who are driven," Shatner continued. "That's in every business and that's what we are playing in this film, and the only caveat is that we are doing it with a sense of humor."
Passion, of course, is what consumes Shatner and Hamlin's fans from their days of "Star Trek" and "L.A. Law," as evidenced in the droves of people who have turned out at the personal appearances the duo has made all over the U.S. promoting the film. And while some actors disdain the association with one role, Shatner and Hamlin embrace it.
"For me in sum total, taking the positives and the negatives, I think it's a tremendous plus," Shatner said. "I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to get to this celebrity position so we could make a film like 'Shoot or Be Shot,' and I believe Harry feels the same way.
"Given the shot in the arm that our careers had as a result of (the shows) getting real popular is a rare thing that happens in this business," Shatner concluded. "You have to be grateful. I've never understood people who walk away from that kind of success, because it happens so rarely."
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