Rosario Dawson
Quentin Tarantino didn't want his actors to see Grindhouse before they all watched it together at the premiere, so most of them had not seen the final product when they gave interviews. However, Death Proof star Rosario Dawson managed to sneak a private screening for herself.
Rosario Dawson Sneaks a Peak at Death Proof
"I was very lucky," she said. "We sat down, I was talking to the producer, going back and forth and called and Quentin left me this really sweet message being like, 'I'm sorry, I don't mean to make you angry, for making you angry. I just really believe that we should all watch it together for the first time. You only get to movie for the first time once and I'd love for you to do it at the premiere.' And I was like, 'I completely agree but if I watch it at the premiere, the only thing I'm going to be doing is criticizing.' I watch every movie like that. I have my standing tradition where I watch every film I've ever done three times. I watch it before the press junket, I watch it at the premiere and then I watch it opening weekend. That's sort of my thing and he was like, 'Wow, I was supposed to try to convince you to make you feel better about not watching it. You just made me feel better about you watching it.' So it went away. And I watched it, and it was really great. I'm very, very, very excited."
Dawson plays a Hollywood make-up artist on a road trip with her movie friends. While real life stuntwoman Zoe Bell rides the hood of a car that Tracie Thoms drives, Dawson's character watches from the backseat. It only gets more intense when road killer Kurt Russell drives up.
"There were times when we're starting in the morning up in Santa Barbara, it wasn't that cold but honestly it would get down to 40s and 50s. We were at some really, really cold times. We stopped for a break through New Years but we shot over Christmas and into mid January. And I have photographs, taking pictures of stuff outside of all the water bottles, ice. It was really freezing so we had to layer in under the hood because when she first started shooting, she was getting burned because the engine would get so hot and she's strapped to the hood of the car, it wasn't insulated. So then we insulated but then the weather just really changed and it became freezing so she'd be freezing in the morning and freezing at night but then really hot during the day. I was very proud of her and how well she maintained because I would have been sick like that. She was incredible. She was tuned into Tokyo a couple of times."
The actress's passion for the film began even before she got the role. "I don't think Quentin Tarantino would be Death Proof had he not hired me because I would have been really upset to know there were eight roles in there and he didn't give me one. So I fought really hard. I auditioned for him in Texas and he really loved me but he wasn't exactly sure. And then I went and I asked if I could audition again. I went back in, with Tracie and we auditioned again and nailed it. And he was like, 'Oh my God, I feel like I'm watching the movie.' We're like, 'That's the point.' We really sold ourselves hard. I very much wanted to be a part of this and it's specifically the same thing that I wanted with Kevin [Smith], same thing that I wanted with Robert [Rodriguez]. I auditioned for Sin City twice for Robert as well because they're just people I really respect and admire and the opportunity to work with them and have the respect I have for them being mutual and wanting to work with me is the hugest compliment possible. That's what I want. They inspire me. It's why I'm getting into producing and doing my own things because I'm very excited about generating stories out there and putting them out to people because I think it's fun to watch."
These kings of indie cinema speak best to Dawson's passion for her craft. "Well, their geek level is unsurpassed I think except amongst themselves. And there's a reason why all of them are friends with each other. I think they have a lot of the same sentiment. They're very articulate about filmmaking in general and they understand it very clearly. They're not afraid of actors, they love every scope of it. They're really multi-talented in that way of not just going to a traditional film school and being really great at the technical aspects of it or just the writing. These are people who live and breathe filmmaking and movies. Even the ones that are really crappy and poorly done and poorly acted and poorly shot, they're really into it just because they understand the passion of why you would even bother putting that much energy into it. Quentin hasn't directed that many films but the contribution he's done to the industry is astronomical. We take for granted that Uma Thurman, John Travolta, Sam Jackson are the people that they are today and are in our world, but that was because of him. Pam Grier being back, watching her on The L Word, I'm like, 'Wow, that's so great' but there was a reason why those people came out. They came out because he was a fan. He wasn't exploiting them, he was going, 'I haven't seen you in a long time and you're so great and it's such a shame. Let's share you because you're someone who I've grown up loving.' And that's the same exact principle that's behind Grindhouse, going, 'Wow, I really love this type of experience. I love going TO the movies. Not just waiting for the DVD release, not just waiting for all that but really just going to the movies and having a good time, screaming at the theater, taking that missing reel out and going, "This is what it was like to watch a movie back in the day," and going, "No!" and screaming and interacting, the audience interacting with the product.' And they're making this movie for the fans to go and share an experience that they can no longer have anymore. And I think that's really beautiful. That type of integrity to filmmaking makes it something like as a fan myself, I know I'd be going and watching this movie anyway. There's no question about it. It's wonderful to know that I'm in it, especially knowing that there are eight women in there."
Grindhouse opens to theatres on April 6th.
For the trailers, clips, posters, stills, interviews and more movie info, go to the Grindhouse
Movie Page.
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