Recently we got the chance to interview the great Ernie Hudson. Being the huge Ghostbusters nut I am, naturally the interview got pushed on me. Currently Mr. Hudson is involved with a film titled Doonby:
Sam Doonby, a mysterious, handsome drifter gets off a Greyhound bus in a small Texas town and finds work at Leroy’s Country Blues Bar where his great musical talents make him very popular, especially with Laura, the beautiful but spoiled daughter of successful doctor Cyrus Reaper. Sam always seems to be in the right place at the right time to avert disasters befalling the town and its people until suspicion and jealousy drive folks to ask who he is and where he comes from. Even Laura starts to question him so now he disappears as quickly as he came and things start to go badly wrong. His rejection results in terrible shocks for the whole town, not least for the doctor and his family as Cyrus’ past comes back to haunt him.
Below is the conversation Ernie and I had about Doonby, as well as a few other things:
BSR!: What’s new in your life right now?
Ernie Hudson: Right now things are going well, obviously the film Doonby that John Schneider and me that we did in Texas. That’s the that’s happening most relevant right now. I also do have a reoccurring on the Secret Life of a Teenager, and you know, just staying busy doing Law & Order last season. I didn’t get picked up this season. And I’m always looking for something fun and exciting to be a part of.
Sure, so you play Leroy in this upcoming Doonby movie, correct?
Right, yah. He’s a blues musician who decided to settle down and runs a night club. I hire Jon’s character and it’s about friendship and the music. To me he’s an interesting character because he’s a guy just trying to reconcile that thing of which you love to do and how do you make peace with the woman that you love. And how do you hold things together but still be who you are. And somehow be responsible for all these people who surround your life. I really liked the character a lot, it was a great character.
That’s wonderful. How soon does this movie come out?
I think they are looking at the Fall. They haven’t given me any exact dates. I think they are shooting for a Fall release, I’m told. I’m not totally sure yet.
Oh OK. Now, I was wondering, throughout your career you’ve gotten a chance to play a lot of different characters and roles. From a paranormal investigator to a warden. Is there any character or role that you wish you could play, or haven gotten a chance to just yet?
I’ve always sort of considered myself to be pretty, you know, not the average guy who does the day in and day out stuff. And I love those sort of slice of life stories. And I’ve never really done a lot of that. For me it’s always being sort of the head of something. But just the guy that raises the family. The simple stories. Most of my actor friends, they get those roles and never get to be the guy in charge. The guy who’s doing something dynamic. But, you know, most everything I’ve had a chance to do.
That’s really interesting, I feel the same way about some of the comics that I come across. I tend to enjoy the slice of life stuff quite a bit more.
Right, yah. That’s kind of interesting. I think you learn a lot. But, I mean, I like the action stuff. That’s always fun to do. And I’ve done some of that, I’d like to do even more. And of course it’s always fun when you do the big movies. But I also like a lot of the small movies, like this movie Doonby. It’s a small movie about people and relationship and how we mess them up and how we correct them. That sort of stuff is kinda neat. But I’ve been fortunate enough to do a lot of different kinds of characters.
Now, obviously one of the bigger franchises you’ve been involved with was Ghostbusters.
Yah, yah the Ghostbusters. That’s something that the fans have been very loyal to. And really have kept it alive, and I’m really really proud of to have been a part of that. Because I really do think that it touched a vein. No matter where I go I still see people who build the outfits and build the cars. That’s really cool. But then there are other movies, The Crow. It’s unfortunate what happened, but I’m very proud to have been a part of that movie. You look over your career and there’s a few that people remember and still enjoy. Most of it you do and it’s over. It has its moment and then its gone. But some people still hold onto it.
Sure. I wanted to ask you too. It’s been just over a year since that Ghostbuster’s Video Game came out. That whole experience must have been pretty wild. Did your sons get a chance to play the game? What was that like to go through?
Well, yah, the video game, I’m actually glad because when they called me about it, and I’m like, “OK, is everyone going to be involved?” And I found out that even Bill Murray was going to do the voice. It was kinda cool. It was kinda like a reunion. And then of course, when you do a video game you are never really sure. Because it’s really in the hands of other people how it’s going to turn out. My son, when we were putting it together, my third son came with me and they gave him a chance to play the game before it was actually complete. So he was really jazzed about that.
That’s really cool.
Both my younger boys have played the game and love it. And the fans, I was really happy to see the fans really responded to it well. And felt that it was very much connected to the movie. As opposed to being something like the video game that came out years ago that didn’t quite do it. So I was very happy that we got the game out. I thought the game might push the possibility of a movie. To make it happen. I don’t see any signs that that’s true right now, but I know there was a renewed interest once the game did well. I think the fans liked it a lot. I’m glad we at least got that out there.
Oh definitely. I loved the game, and I know a lot of people are excited for the possibility of a sequel for the game or for Ghostbusters 3.
Right. Yah, I hadn’t thought about a sequel of the game. But that would be cool too. I think it’s just one of those movies that really, now that people are introducing it to their kids their kids respond to it. It holds up over time. You don’t think about it at the time that twenty plus years later people would still be talking about it and watching it. That’s kinda nice.
Oh yah, I’m definitely a pretty big Ghostbusters fan. I’m about 25 and my friends will bring their kids over, or my nieces and nephews, and they’ll see the memorabilia stuff I have, and they immediately recognize it. Which always kinda blows me away.
That’s very very cool. I don’t know why we haven’t set aside whatever is going on and made the third one happen.
Are you kind of on the outskirts of the talks and all that jazz?
Over the past year or so I’ve talked to the main players. I’ve talked to Sigourney Weaver. I’ve talked to Bill, Danny, Harold and Ivan Reitman. Everybody is like, “Yah, we want to do it, but…” And that’s the “but”. Getting everyone to agree with what needs to be done. I think Bill especially wants to make it something exceptional. What that means to him may be different to what it means to Ivan Reitman or Danny Aykroyd. I know everybody wants to do it. But getting them to agree on a script [is the key]. For me, I think if we just get a script together, so much of it happened on the moment of the set that it’ll be fine. But that’s just my opinion. I’m the last guy *chuckles* that has any input. But I’d love to see it happen.
Yah. And it definitely seems tough since there are so many different hands in that pot trying to make that decision.
That’s right, yah.
It’s nice that Sony has been pushing for it.
I think that becomes a problem. Because when you get the studios involved… In the first one we were kind of left alone. And that’s why I think it came through so strong. We were making this movie, and it was our movie. And I think even with the second one you started to get a lot of people wanting certain things. Wanted to make certain things happen as opposed to really making a movie. So I would imagine this is going to be even worse. But we’ll see. I’d love to see it happen, but like I said I don’t have any input into it.
It’s pretty well known that Dan Aykroyd believes heavily in the paranormal and all that stuff. What’s your stance on the subject?
I believe that there is – I don’t believe life stops when our body stops. I believe this body is an instrument that we use to have this experience. And when this experience is over we shed the body. We move on. I don’t think consciousness or awareness ends just in this dimension. That implies to me that there are other dimensions that we don’t have access to in this present form. But I think there is a possibility that you can cross over. I think there are some people that are very intuitive, I think there are people that can experience things. But I think there is a barrier there that is not meant to be crossed so I don’t go out of my way to seek out an experiences [to do that]. I don’t want to be visited by *chuckles* you know, dead relatives.
*Laughs* Sure, not something you are looking to go experience.
Yah, no. In fact, I get invited a lot because of Ghostbusters. People will say, “We’re going on this hunt. And we’re going to spend the night”. And I say, “You know, I’m not really interested in that”. But some people are fascinated by it. And I think its definitely there. I think if you are open to it, and receptive to it, and not afraid of it. I think you can have those experiences. I’m having a hard enough time dealing with this experience. This is enough for me. I’m sure I’ll get to the next one in due time. I’m just not fascinated in say the way that Danny Aykroyd is. He’s really really very curious about it. I think it is very sincere, which is why I think [Ghostbusters] turned out the way it did. Because I think you could see he has a genuine interest in that. But I don’t. I’m not fascinated by the Exorcists whatever, you know? I think a lot of people that grew up in a very strict religious background, like me as a little kid… That stuff is a little scary to me on a certain level. So that’s part of the reason why I don’t seek that out. I’m not comfortable with that. Some people don’t have that background, so it’s a lot easier for them.
Yah, I can definitely understand that. Well, I’ve got just one last question before I let you go. Our particular website focuses on nerd news and reviews. And everyone has their speciality. I nerd out with Ghostbusters and comic books. But then, for instance, my Dad is nerdy about cars. Or my brother about sports. Is there anything in particular that you geek out about?
Well, you know, I guess… I’m not exactly sure how to describe it because there is a – you’e asked me about ghosts and I’ve explained that. But I do believe there is a spiritual connection to a greater awareness. Whatever you want to call that. And I find that really fascinating. I read a lot of books, I meditate. Because I do want to make that connection. To become aware of that. I do believe there is a greater connection that is consistent in all the dimensions that we are connected to. I find that fascinating. So it’s a little bit different than the ghosts that comes and blows up your house *chuckles*. But I do think there is a connection and I do find that fascinating. So its not the religious background I grew up in. I’m not tied to that social thing. But I do believe there is a connection that we are all a part of and I am fascinated by that.