Who is Steve Carr? Well, his name is golden in feature films right now. His first three feature films,
Next Friday, Dr. Dolittle 2, and Daddy Day Care combined have grossed over $300 million dollars. It all began with his own design company called, The Drawing Board which created album covers for
DefJam Records from artists such as LLCool J, Public Enemy, and Mary J.
Blige.
While working with DefJam, Carr came up with an idea for a clients uncompleted video. DefJam loved the concept and decided to film the idea. Carr felt with his vision should be directed by himself; and they said yes. His first feature film, Next Friday, was dropped onto his lap after his first meeting. The producers dug his ideas and hired him as the director. Well... the rest is history and the creation of one of today's hottest comedy directors began.
Hollywoodfyi.com editor, Mike Pingel, had the privilege to chat about Eddie Murphy, kids, and poop, the stars of his latest feature film
Daddy Day Care for Columbia Pictures now out on DVD and home video.
Mike Pingel: I have to ask the burning question, did you film the other side of the poop scene with Eddie Murphy?
Steve Carr: We never filmed it. I knew from the conception that would be way. The scene would be way over the top and it would play funnier just on Eddie.
MP: In your last film, Dr. Dolittle 2, you worked with animals and now in Daddy Day Care you worked with kids. What was easier to work with?
SC: Definitely - animals! You feed them and they stay. Kids you feed them -- they run. Kids are kids, either they have a lot of energy or are cranky -- they are tougher to work with than animals. Now, I have done both animal and kids. The only thing to make it harder on myself would be to do a movie with animals and kids on water!
MP: Who was more fun to work with Eddy Murphy or the kids????
SC: It took a lot to get the right performances out of the kids. With Eddie, he's like a machine. The way we work together, I make Eddie it do it 3 or 4 times and I always ask for an extra one. "That was prefect - one more!" I would say. Eddie would say "If it's perfect, then why one more?" I just say "Trust." The last one he would always do a twist on it and it was always funnier.
MP: Wonderful casting of Angelica Huston -- was she your choice?
SC: "What about Angelic Huston?" I was asked and my reaction was "Huh? No we can't get her." So they tried and I could not believe it -- I was there on set with her. She is amazing, such a professional and had some neat ideas since she has directed as well.
I remember Angelica asking "Steve what do want me to do" and I said "Just do what you did in Chinatown and hit that mark." Like what am I going to tell you. She is a legend.
MP. With the kids on DDC - how much was scripted and how much was just them?
SC: I'm not a stickler for the written dialogue, basically the script is written in some writers basement eight months prior to the day of shooting. As long as the kids were close to the intent of the line and moved the plot forward. I knew always to keep the camera rolling, there's this part when Khamani and Eddie are building a swing set out in the back. Khamani goes, "You’re killing me, you’re killing me." That was all him improvising. Kids being kids is what makes this kind of movie.
MP. When filming the "action" scene between the Carrot and the Broccoli -- were their bets on the set of who would win?
SC: The big bet on the set was if Eddie was going to do it since the broccoli is way so reminiscent of Gumby.
There was literally a meeting about if Eddie would be the Carrot or the Broccoli. It came from Eddie who said he would be the Broccoli. Additionally, I wanted Eddie to do the following scenes in the broccoli suit, but Eddie says
''Ummm..No"
MP: Was anything cut out that you enjoyed?
SC: . When Jonathan Katz (who plays Dan Kubitz the Daycare inspector) shows up and talks to Eddie, and when the kids mess up the papers. That scene in my original cut went on for about 8 minutes. It was hysterical. I had to put it in for my own enjoyment, it was too brilliant comedians going back and forth with two totally different styles. Jonathan Katz is the man. I'm a huge Dr. Katz fan.
MP: As a director what is your greatest challenge?
SC: I have only done three films, yet each has held different challenges. I never went to film school. All three of my movies have helped educate me on how to make movies.
- The first one, Next Friday - it was such a small budget and coming from shooting $500 thousand videos to Next Friday, I had to rediscover cheaper ways and different ways of film making - that was challenging.
- In the second one, Doctor DoLittle 2, I had never done any special effects at all and that was the most challenging thing about that film.
- With Daddy Day Care, the most challenging thing was the stamina of completing the film with in 82 days.
MP: What do you find most rewarding about film making?
SC: I like telling stories. It's funny, I never sat at home dreaming about being a director. I always love watching movies - I've been extremely blessed.
MP: Who is your favorite film and director?
SC: Favorite Film: "Arthur" with Dudley Moore and Sir John Gielgud
Director: It's hard to say... Spielberg, Coppola. For me, I love comedies, so the early works of Mel Brooks and Albert
Brooks.
MP: What is the project you most want to do?
SC: A passion of mine is to remake Cary Grant's Mr. Blandlings Builds His Dream House.
Steve Carr is now building his dream career in films. A man who once just watched films is now creating films which millions of movie goes are enjoying. Carr's latest film,
Daddy Day Care (Columbia Tri-Star), is now out on home video and DVD.
HOT FYI - Little known DDC Trivia:
- The Daddy Day Care's slogan "Who's your daddy" on the back of the
Daddy Day Care shirts was thought up by the first Assistant Director Donald L. Sparks
- Jonathan Katz, who played Dan Kubitz the daycare inspector, created the entire puppet show scene in the film.
