Interview by Rafy Mediavilla, w/ actor John McCrea / Artie in the Disney movie “Cruella”. Where we spoke about Disney’s first openly gay character, Artie role in Cruella’s masterplan, the epic wardrobe, the makeup & hairstyling, plus that amazing soundtrack. “Cruella” from Walt Disney Pictures out now on Digital, & on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ & DVD on September 21.
Cruella which is set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, follows a young grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute, played by two-time Oscar® winner Emma Thompson (“Howards End,” “Sense & Sensibility”). But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella.
Criticólogos:
I need to start up with the first question with this topic specifically because I think it’s important that we continue to shed some light and put the spotlight on the LGBT community. What is what does it mean to? You personally that you are basically the first openly gay character on a Disney movie.
John McCrea:
I think it’s wonderful and I think hopefully it’s just a sign of what’s to come. I think hopefully as proud we all are to talk about it. I hope that one day it won’t be a conversation anymore and it will just be a given that equal representation means equal representation. And we represent people of all sexual preferences and all religions and all skin colors. And I think hopefully Disney being the huge conglomerate that it is, can somehow lead the way in that and sort of shine a light on it, hopefully.
Criticólogos:
Artie played a big role on Cruella’s plan when you got the script that you were surprised that you were so involved in the main story?
John McCrea:
Yeah, I was actually because I think I grew as well. It was it kind of I think there was less when I first took the role, and then I think it grew as we went along with it. And obviously, Craig, the director is a really big fan of sort of improvisation and sort of being very free with things, so you know it was. Amazing and I think actually he was really integral to the story and even if he didn’t really come into his own. And until this sort of latter half of it, I think hopefully the story is not over.
Criticólogos:
You did theater, but I want to compare theater between movies? What is the big difference between the other movie? In your opinion.
John McCrea:
The biggest difference between theater and movies is that in theater, you’re telling a whole story in a day, and for me anyway, you know you go. We’re getting you get it has an end so you’re, uh, it you kind of feel like there’s a payoff, whereas when you do a movie you could do a one scene in a day that’s for the. The very end of the day, there’s sort of not a lot of context in in in movies, so uh, and you have less control over the final edit, whereas in theater if something doesn’t work, you can always go back tomorrow and try again.
Criticólogos:
I wanna talk about the soundtrack. I love the soundtrack. I think everyone loved the soundtrack and I wanna talk specifically about “I Wanna Be Your Dog”. What was your first reaction when they brought the idea for this cover, how did that come about?
John McCrea:
I don’t really know the conversations that went on behind the scenes, but I think they were just planning on sort of playing it, and then I think they knew I could sing and so asked me. Would I be willing to sing it? I said yes and then and then it sort of just happened very organically as most as most things do, really. And then before I knew it, I was in Abbey Road Studios recording it. So yeah, I think it just happened purely by chance, but I’m really glad because I there was always supposed to be a fashion show, I think they just sort of integrated the performance aspect into it.
Criticólogos:
Were you able to keep any props or any stuff like that you use from the movie?
John McCrea:
Oh yeah, I wanted to steal everything. But I didn’t because I thought all the stuff that I wanted to steal they definitely know it was missing. You know, I don’t think I could take that very expensive jacket over there, so I just stole a pair of socks. As in, I will never wear them again, but I took them and yeah and I just I thought well if anyone asked me, I’ll just say I completely forgot to take them off, but no one asked for them back yet, so.
Criticólogos:
For anyone that hasn’t seen the movie, why do you feel that they need to see this movie, why would you personally believe that they need to see this movie?
John McCrea:
Uhm, because I think for me I’m such a huge fan of Disney and Disney villains specifically because I think they’re always the best part of any Disney story. But I think, really, the visual spectacle of this movie in a way that is not done with CGI. It’s not done with, you know, graphics. It really is the costume, the makeup, the hair, the production design. Everything is done with blood, sweat and tears. It’s completely man made. I think that’s rare nowadays and even the music and the soundtrack. Like you say, I think all elements would have come together to just create this this masterpiece and it is like it’s like a fairy tale, but far more edgy. So I think I do think it’s got something for everyone.
See the full interview below:
