Exclusive Interview: Joel Moore talks 'Spiral' and 'Avatar 2'

By Robert Beames / June 24, 2011

Avatar and Dodgeball star Joel Moore took the time out of his busy schedule to speak to Obsessed with Film about his directorial feature debut Spiral, which is finally released on DVD in the UK today. The American actor was relaxed and quite charming as we spoke on the telephone: Robert Beames: Youve made comedies, sci-fi epics and horror movies. Do you try hard not to get typecast?

Joel Moore: Well you know, the nice thing about being a character actor is that you get the opportunity to spread your wings and try your hand at different parts and projects, from a goofy comedy to a dark surreal work, to playing a role in Avatar (the biggest film of all time). You go on a journey its really like being a journeyman and I find that in a way it allows you to be a part of a lot of different characters. For some actors, for some leading men, youre asked to play a pretty consistent role, thats what your branded as and thats what you do your entire career, whereas character actors get the chance to be more creative.

RB: Spiral was released in the US back in 2007 according to the IMDB. How come it has taken so long to come out in the UK?

JM: Its a very strange industry right now and sometimes it takes things four or five years to get out of America and into the rest of the world, unless youre a giant release. We got out major releasemid-2008 and the DVD at the start of 2009, so youre not that far behind. The 2007 release date, I dont know where thats come from

RB: Were you making the film in 2007?

JM: No, we were actually making the film in 2005 I know why it says 2007! We were at the Santa Barbara film festival at the beginning of 2007 and we won the festival and that was its official coming out party.

RB: What led you to decide to co-direct this film you wrote with Adam Green? Did you want to learn the ropes as a director?

JM: I directed a short, which I played the lead in, so I got to try my hand at that kind of thing and its a hard process when youre leaping between being an actor and a director, and it got some interest and that led to being able to fund a feature. So I co-wrote this with a friend of mine (Jeremy Boreing, my writing partner) and we had a lot of success with the script and got great people like Zachary Leviand Amber Tamblyn and were able to get the funding because of that. And whilst I was processing taking on this feature where I had to play such a intense character, I had just done Hatchetat that time with Adam and we were such great friends and worked so smoothly together that I asked him if he wanted to co-direct this to help cover all the bases and bring that collaboration back. It went swimmingly.

RB: Do you see Adam Green as someone youd like to direct with in the future?

JM: Directing? I dont know. Unless youre the Coen Brothers and youre going to co-direct forever, then you co-direct something once, because itd be really hard for Adam to wait around for me because Im an actor as well. Im mainly an actor.

RB: Do you mainly see yourself acting in the future?

JM: Sure. Its always been my bread and butter. Ive done a couple of things behind the actor (and Im very proud of them) by 80-90% of what I do is acting. I will definitely be directing and writing in the future, so there will be more from me behind the camera. Im developing something now thats secret and I cant really talk about it! Its something really different and Im excited to be a part of it.

RB: Is that something youre directing?

JM: Well Im developing two things now. One is a comedy and one is a thriller. Its just really finding the scheduling scheduling is very tough and finding where my passion is and what I ultimately want to do: what I want my next project to be.

RB: Do you have any directors as influences?

JM: Well, when you work with Mr. James Cameron for three years, there is no way that anybody could walk away from that experience not having been utterly and completely inspired. Its a world-changing experience!

RB: Are you in Avatar 2? Is that underway at the moment?

JM: Well Avatar 2 lies solely in Jim Camerons head. Im sure there will be a sequel at some point, but what that entails: I have no idea and I dont think that anybody knows.

RB: You dont know if youll be involved then?

JM: Well, if people have seen Avatar they know Im alive, so I will be involved in the second one and it will be an honour to be but nobody knows the story! The story could take place on another planet I dont know. It could be a remake of a Gummy Bears cartoon who knows?

RB: Not to drag up anything too painful but you were in The Hottie & the Nottiewith Paris Hilton. Were you concerned that the overly negative reviews of that film would tarnish your reputation? When Avatar came along, you must have been relieved nobody was associating you with that film

JM: YeahI mean, I dont think people really care much. When you have a behemoth like Avatar come out, it lays any negative press in the dust. But I think the Hottie & the Nottie look: it was a fun experience. Paris is great and the actors and director were great and it gave me a change to play the lead.

RB: But thats why I wondered about it. You were the lead and were often told that youre only as good as your last hit in Hollywood. So I wondered if you were concerned for your career at that point when it wasnt a success. Was that never a concern?

JM: Sure absolutely. Actors are neurotic and if they say theyre not neurotic then theyre insane. Any actor is going to take heed to the press, positive or negative when its out there. And when something is not rated as a piece, youre going to think to be honest I dont think most people even went to see it. I thought it went pretty well, but it is what it is. Look, Paris is a business woman and she can try her hand at whatever she wants. Is she the greatest actress in the world? Probably not. But I dont know that a lot of people on TV are the best actors out there either

'Spiral'is out now on DVD.