Exclusive: Interview with Clifton Collins Jr. of Crank: High Voltage and Star Trek

Clifton Collins Jr. plays a bad guy in “Crank: High Voltage” (in theaters April 17, 2009). He also plays a bad guy in “Star Trek” (in theaters May 8, 2009). In fact, he’s played a lot of bad guys, and he’s ok with that. He says it’s kind of fun playing the bad guys.

Read on as he talks about whipping Jason Statham’s ass, being awed by Leonard Nimoy, working with Andre Braugher on “Thief,” and the magic that is “Grand Theft Auto.”

JANE: You play a Mexican mob boss in “Crank” High Voltage.” Did you study other movie mob bosses to get a feel for it?

CLIFTON: I studied the two brothers in the original piece. I watched them attempt to be sort of a modern day “Scarface” imitator, and I say ‘modern day’ because my two younger brothers would have NO knowledge of the Howard Hawks’ “Scarface” [circa 1932].

That said, I turned to tradition. I mentioned to Mark [Neveldine, director/writer] and Brian [Taylor, director/writer] that I would be Old School, from the Motherland of Mexico, not some Cuban hybrid drug dealer from a movie. My influences would be more real, coming from Mayan and Aztec influences, Sinaloa Gangsters, etc.

I discovered the Patron Saint Jesus Malverde through my research, the Saint of all drug traffickers. A Mexican Robin Hood of sorts who was turned in by his best friend for 10,000 pesos and hung from a Hickory Tree in 1914. That is where most of my attire in the film comes from, that and Elvis Presley circa ‘68-’71. If there ever was a charismatic bad guy to study, check out Glen Ford in “3:10 To Yuma” [circa 1957]. NOBODY can touch that!

JANE: Totally agree on that! So talk a little about your character. Do you interact with Jason Statham and/or Amy Smart?

CLIFTON: I do interact with Statham in the film and also Amy, but only at lunch! I have a beef to settle with Statham’s character in the film because he killed my brothers. I asked Mark and Brian to let me have my Cat o’ 9 tails ASAP so that I could bring an original spin in how I use it. Also so that I can have an ease with it, making it mine. In acquiring the weapon early on, I was able to incorporate Nunchaku techniques to an ancient weapon giving it a new spin, something very different than what was seen in “The Passion of the Christ.”

JANE: Did you have to buff out for the role?

CLIFTON: Not for this one, but the cat o’ 9 tails was made out of Cocobolo wood or maple, I can’t remember anymore. They’re both very dense, heavy woods, incredibly hard on the forearms and shoulder blades. So I had Robert Alonzo - stunt head on “Star Trek” and an old friend from Loyola High School - come down and work out all my muscle injuries on the spot, so that I could continue whipping the crap out of Statham!

JANE: It looks like you’ve play a lot of bad guys. What’s more fun to play - good guys or bad guys?

CLIFTON: Hmmm, I’ve had this conversation time and again, and I must say it’s fun to be the bad guy. It really depends on the material, but I’m usually not the good guy.

JANE: I read where you almost got a role in “Saving Private Ryan,” but that Steven Spielberg has his eye on you. Any Spielberg films coming up?

CLIFTON: I said that back in ‘96 after learning a German monologue in three days that’s still stuck in my head! To answer the Spielberg question, not yet, but I have read a few of his pieces. We just haven’t found the right one. In due time; until then, I’ll be patient and continue to work hard at my craft.

JANE: You’re a fan of Gary Oldman. What is it about his work you like?

CLIFTON: You go all the way back to “Sid and Nancy” and then to his directorial debut, his choices always say something. He’s not afraid to take big chances. Gary was always doing these amazing things, just watch him in Phil Joanou’s film “State of Grace” as the troubled brother Jackie Flannery! Constantly on the edge!

JANE: You play another bad guy - Ayel, right-hand to Eric Bana’s Nero – in “Star Trek.” What was it like being part of a “Star Trek” movie and part of “Star Trek” history?

CLIFTON: I’m not a Trekkie, but I’m a huge J.J. Abrams fan, kid dynamite for real! I don’t believe it hit me until I got to set and J.J. was talking me through the scene. It was then that I casually looked around and thought it all to look very sci fi … I thought this is kinda like a “Star Trek” set, “wait a minute … it IS STAR TREK!!!” And then my heart started racing. To add to it, I could hear Leonard Nimoy talking to somebody on set. “Is that the voice of ‘In Search Of’?? “No, you idiot, that’s f’n SPOCK, and YOU’RE SHOOTING STAR TREK for J.J.!!! I took a little breather, calmed my heart, and reminded myself that I’ve made a movie or two before! In regards to me knowing what it’s like to be a part of “Star Trek” History, I’m not sure yet. Ask me again when I’m 50!

JANE: It’s a deal! So do you think your character will come back for any other (possible upcoming) “Star Trek” movies?

CLIFTON: I have no clue, but if I do, I hope my character gets to meet a really hot Romulan!

JANE: You also voiced a part in “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.“ What was it like being part of a GTA game?

CLIFTON: GTA rules! I love this game, so when my lawyer called me and told me about it, I was like “YEAH I want to do GTA!” It was a very different process. The game was still being made, so I was watching stuff that wasn’t yet complete. My original dialogue was to be done in a day. I had never done this process before, so I asked for it to be broken up into two days so that I could come home, think about what I did, and come back the next day and be even better. I hope the fans liked it!

JANE: You’ve done both movies and TV, including “Alias” and “Thief.” Any preference? Would you like to do another TV series?

CLIFTON: I look for challenging projects and interesting characters to play. One reason I opted to do “Thief” was that being on FX, I knew it was the closest to film without being film and, of course, to have an opportunity to work with the gracious uber talented Andre Braugher. Collaborating with him was such a joy and fun part of the process that I looked forward to every single week, an hour or two on the phone discussing our places in this piece and our truths. Norman Morrill was also the show runner and here’s a man who really cares about his work. I was lucky. If I were to do TV again, it would probably be on my own Internet channel, with all my friends writing and directing our own stuff, just having fun doing what we love to do. I will always continue to make films.

JANE: Anything else you’d like to add?

CLIFTON: I just got nominated for two CMT awards for directing The Zac Brown Band’s video “Chicken Fried,” and I’m wrapping up The Soul of John Black’s video “Betty Jean.” Tonight, I’ll be leaving to go to Texas to start a documentary on my Grandfather, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez.

I also have a film called “Extract” with Ben Affleck and Jason Bateman being released by Miramax on September 4, 2009. And I’ve finished working on “Boondock Saints 2″ and the next Broken Lizard film “Freeloaders.”

JANE: Thanks so much for your time!

Below, Clifton Collins Jr. honors his grandfather, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, who received a posthumous Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Images: PR Photos; Lionsgate Films