The Frog Prince and the Vampire - An interview with Jamison Newlander

The Night was hot, the air heavy, It was the kind of night that you should be at home, safe in your bed... But not me, no... I stood in a door way and watched the people walking up and down the Santa Carla beach front. This was a sleepy old town, nothing really happened.... apart from the Vampires that is.

I was here to meet with a vampire hunter of the highest repute, he and his partner had slayed these blood sucking vermin for years, the knew all the tricks to catch and kill these bastards and they knew Santa Carla like the back of their hands.

The man I was to meet, the hard ass that was to assist me with these nightmarish bloodsuckers was Jamison Newlander and I couldn't be happier with that...

Jamison Newlander (born April 2, 1970) is an American actor who attended New York University. He starred in the 1987 horror film The Lost Boys, playing Alan Frog.

Newlander's best known for his role as Alan Frog in the 1987 film The Lost Boys. He also played the part of Anthony in the 1988 remake of The Blob. In 2003, Newlander wrote, directed and starred in an independent film titled Rooster. In 2008 he was to reprise his role as Alan Frog along with Corey Feldman as Edgar Frog in Lost Boys: The Tribe. However, upon DVD release, Newlander's character can only be seen in the alternate ending bonus features of the DVD (and then only momentarily), having not made the movie's final cut. Both he and Corey Haim are however listed in the acting credits for their minor roles.

Newlander starred in a third Lost Boys film, titled Lost Boys: The Thirst,alongside Corey Feldman and Tanit Phoenix. [Wikipedia]

I checked my watch, it was a quarter after 11pm, I was right on time... I walked into the dark comic book store, this is where I was to meet him, and there at the back standing in the shadows was Jamison, he was unmistakable and looked like he was ready for some killin'... But first I wanted to get some low-down on his credentials... 

So I started with my questions...

On The lost boys, you were so lucky to work with such a great cast! Jason Patric, KieferSutherland, Edward Hermann, Alex Winter, Diane West and of course the two Corey's  Any divas? Any good stories? 

"Yes, some amazing people to work with. I felt very lucky and even more so looking back. At the time, Corey Haim was one of the actors who I was particularly amazed to be working with. I’d seen him in Lucas not too long before and there were a couple of times up in Santa Cruz where I stopped and was like, “Wow, here I am working with this kid. That’s awesome!”"

What were they all like?

"The only one of the cast that I didn’t really get to work with a lot in the filming was Kiefer. We really only had that one scene together where he grabs Haim’s foot as we’re running out of the cave after we killed Marko (Alex Winter). Everyone else, I had either a few scenes together or we found ourselves on set together a lot and we became pretty tight."

Did you make any life long mates?

"By far, the ones I grew to really love as friends the most were the Coreys. We were

together all the time that summer – on set and off. It was also a pretty big summer for us in our lives. We all had our first real girlfriends. And we often went out or hung out all six of us. They were both hilarious and really genuinely good guys. It’s hard to think about those times and not get a bit sad that the Haimster isn’t with us anymore. My girlfriend and Ialso went to see Jason Patrick and Jamie Gertz in a play together in Hollywood. They were kind of amazed to see us because the world of film and the world of live theatre didn’t always mix back then. But they were so awesome. And both of them were so great to know. I’ll even admit to a crush on Jamie – not that I was alone in that." 

That was all well and good, I thought, but where did he get his training, how did Jamison Newlander become Alan Frog? I asked...

How did you land the part?

"I just auditioned, really. A few things aligned. Marianne Dougherty was pretty well-known casting director at Warner Brothers. She was known for finding new talent – she’s credited with discovering a lot of actors/actresses who went on to be really famous and do amazing movies. I had seen her a few times and she was looking to put me in something. At the same time, I’d met Joel at an acting class. He knew my acting teacher and came to speak about St. Elmos Fire. I talk about this a little bit in the Special Features on the 20th Anniversary edition of Lost Boys. So, that part was luck. And also lucky that I used to wear my dad’s army clothes a lot. He saw me and we clicked.

There’s also the my connection with Corey F. He and I met at the audition and we really got along. We had good chemistry. I didn’t have the experience he had, so it took a little longer for them to trust me with the part. A couple of (very loooong) months went by after I auditioned where I thought they went another way. Then, I think Feldman was the one who said he liked me the best. And that tipped the scales. The rest is “film history.”"

What was it like with the two Corey's on set, did you ever feel like a third cog?

"To their credit, they never made me feel like a third cog. They were great friends in that way. Even when we went to industry parties, where we’d hang with their friends like Drew Barrymore and Jason Hervey and stuff, they were always just good friends who wouldn’t let me feel left out. I naturally felt like a bit of an outsider at first because I was really mostly a regular kid who loved acting and got some good breaks in the film biz. Whereas most of the others were real industry kids. And later, as they started developing their “Two Coreys thing” I’ll admit that I began to feel left out. But honestly, it was more my fault for turning back toward school and going off to college. If I had to do it over again, I would’ve leached off their fame a bit more and I think they would’ve been fine with that."

Obviously Corey Feldman is quite a character...

"I get a huge kick out of Corey. Yes, he can be a character in his public persona (and privately too, actually). But most people I know are totally nuts in one way or other, myself included. So, I give him as much leeway as anybody else I know. He’s a good friend – always warm and welcoming. Always supportive."

And hanging out with him, did you ever meet Michael Jackson? 

"So, the funny thing is that … I don’t know if I met him. Corey had this party in Hollywood around 1987/88. And I looked up, and there, riding up in the elevator with me was none other than the King of Pop himself. It seemed like him. It easily could’ve been him. But then I heard that Michael used to send impersonators places. So, now I don’t know. It was stunning, is all I could say. I’m not easily star struck. But it felt pretty amazing to be standing there with him. The only thing he said was, “Corey invited me.” I’ve thought about those words a lot in the years since then, and I just can’t say whether it was really him or not."

As he was talking I scanned the shop, there was more than just comics in here, posters records and books... I noticed a copy of 'Murders in the Rue Morgue', it got me thinking...

So, when did you realise that the names of the Frog brothers, Edgar and Alan, are a

reference to Edgar Allan Poe, the well-known writer of horror fiction?

"I realized it pretty quick. I just thought it was a kind of bizarre inside joke among the writers."

I'd heard that originally with the Frog Brothers were going to be "chubby 8 year old cub scouts", how do you think this would have changed the dynamics of the film?

"Well, as the story goes, Joel wanted that stuff changed from the very beginning. That would’ve been a completely different film. After he signed on to direct, the project changed to align with his vision – which is what it became. By the time I got the script and read for him, the idea of the Frogs as these paramilitary pseudo tough guys was already in there. I don’t think the film would’ve been anywhere near as epic, and I don’t think it would’ve been such a fresh take on vampires if he hadn’t insisted on those kinds of changes."

Suddenly we heard a noise behind us... A sort of hissing, I looked but there was nothing, Jamison caught my eye, I could tell he had heard the same and that he had felt the same chill up his spine that I had... I cleared my throat, I couldn't show this guy that I was worried... I continued with my questions. 

I haven't counted but I've heard that the characters in the movie say the name

'Michael'approximately 118 times, is it hard to use that name without saying it with a Kiefer Sutherland lilt? (I know I can't!) Do you remember how many times you had to say it?

"To tell you the truth, I don’t think I ever said Michael. I think, upon reflection, that my interpretation of Alan Frog is that he never even knew his name or cared. He was thinking in much more basic terms: Kill vampires regardless of who they were."

For a second there I felt a stupid, I should have done my homework better... dumb... But I knew my next question was well researched...

Now, I heard that Richard Donner was originally meant to be directing the movie, but passed it onto Joel Schumacher to make Lethal weapon. How do you think the movie might have differed, if at all, with another director? Also I heard that Mary Lambert was going to take it on to?

"I think that even Richard Donner will admit that he could never have made Lost Boys so awesome as Joel did. Donner was still Exec. Producer. The one time I really got to hang with him was at his office at Warner Brothers for a few minutes during filming. Bit of trivia, we actually used his office to shower after we got covered in slime during shooting. It was a big office. He was so happy with what Joel was doing with the movie. I don’t think there’s anybody who could’ve nailed it the way Joel did."

And what was he like to work for? 

"It’s always great to work with someone in any situation who is serving a strong vision. Joel was so in tune with what he was looking for. And he had/has such respect for actors that it was so frickin fun to go there with him. Now, having said that, he was a guy who also had a real temper. When things weren't going right on set, you saw the gates of hell open up and it wasn’t pretty. Corey Feldman was a recipient of that wrath on more than one occasion. I’ve talked to Corey about it recently and he was saying that his wardrobe was so complex that it always felt like they were waiting for him, so he would get the brunt of Joel’s dark side. And I buy that … I think. Truth be known, I’m going to go out on a limb and risk the Felddog being mad at me, but I think he was a bit of a trouble maker (Corey, if you’re reading this … I don’t know … feel free to tell me I’m wrong).

Another funny thing about Joel is that he was always joking “We’re making film history here!” He really was joking, but as it turned out he was right."

The shop bell tinkled and in walked a group of young men, handsome, young and rugged, they paced the room like they owned it... Their eyes and piercing gaze seem to follow us as they picked up and discarded comics and laughed wildly at the terrified customers hiding themselves in the shadows, or making a quick exit... Their good looks and obvious charisma led me on to my next question.

Do you think 'The Lost Boys' helped launch the trend of 'Sexy vampires'?... I'm thinking about modern films like Twilight, that my daughter is obsessed with! - What do you think of Twilight for that matter?

"I think vampires have always been a little sexy. First thing that comes to mind is Interview with a Vampire. That book was published in the 70s. I definitely think it played off the sex and romance of vampires. In fact, Sting did song off that book, right? It’s part of the genre, I think. And it’s part of an overall love of the bad boy. But, Lost Boys took that to a whole new level, definitely – where it was just oozing with sex.

Haven’t gotten into Twilight. I guess there’s a whole backlash against it by Lost Boys fans, who feel like it just goes too far. I’ve heard on more than one occasion from fans, “Vampires don’t sparkle” or “glitter” or something like that. I probably should see it just once, but I haven’t."

And talking of sparkle...  Did the blood really have glitter in it?

"Yes. Actual glitter."

As they passed us one of the men, obviously their leader caught my eye, he gave me a long drawn out gaze... sensing my fear he lurched forward as if ready to bite, but then abruptly stopped... Teasing me he laughed and walked on. After I had caught my breath and composed myself I scanned my note pad and still shaking a little read out my next question... Jamison, as calm as ever answered as if they were nothing more than naughty  ... And talking of naughty school children...

With so many 'kids' in the production, were there any pranks pulled or funny goofs you remember?

"There were a lot of things that the older kids were up to on location in Santa Cruz that the younger kids weren’t privy to, I think. We got into some trouble, like sneaking into the pool and other fun stuff like that at the hotel. But nothing else I remember."

And so, do you know the answer? did David die?

"No one’s ever asked me that before. The best answer I can think of is that this is Hollywood we’re talking about. If Kiefer said, “I’d like to do another Lost Boys movie,” they would find some way to justify that he’s still alive in some realm of the multiverse or something."

You went on to make 'Lost Boys - The Thirst' in 2010, how were the dynamics with the cast after all those years?

"Feldman and I have been in touch off and on, and in the last 10 years we’ve gotten somewhat close again. So, working with him was just great. Being back together as the Frog Brothers was awesome. We found we were able to tap into a lot of the same chemistry. What a thrill for both of us. But nobody else from the original cast was involved. Of course, it would’ve been great to work with others. But that’s show biz, as they say."

Now this guy was more than just Alan Frog, I wanted to hear more about the real Jamison Newlander. 

You were in the remake of 'The Blob' how do you think it compares to the original?

"I actually really liked The Blob that I was in. I think it was pretty different than the original. And I’ll have to give kudos to the original because it was part of the birth of that genre. But I think our version held up nicely. I wish it did better in the theaters. The director, Chuck Russell, was another guy who had some strong vision."

Do you prefer writing, acting or directing?

"I have come to the realization that I cannot direct to save my life.  I’m not saying I don’t have some bit of talent at it. I think I possibly do have some natural ability. But I’m pretty horrible at being the boss, I think. I get all insecure and try to make everybody happy. Those are my issues. But those issues work much better as a writer or actor. It’s a natural fit for those professions. So, directing is a distant last on that list.

And at this point in my life, I would say that I’m really a writer. I love acting. I think I’m a good actor. I’m proud of the work I’ve done. And I hope to do more. But in terms of what I’m am in my core, I’m a writer. It’s what I do for a living now."

The men started to leave the shop, they had achieved what they had come in for, to scare the b'Jesus out of the local folks. Jamison indicated for us to follow them, I was nervous, but I was sure I could trust him... I made small talk as we neared to neon exit sign...

So... um...Jamison, what is your favourite Vampire movie?

"Um … Lost Boys. I also have a real love of Buffy (the TV show)."

Lastly, I know you made The thirst, but that was a couple of years ago... But what do think the Frog brothers would be up to now?

"I think the Frogs would be heavily into technology, finding new ways to seek out the undead … and kill them. I see them running a boutique vampire hunting agency, parachuting into unknown territories where there seems to be evidence of vampire activity."

We left the shop and stood in the once bustling street, this street that had seemed so friendly not one hour ago, now felt like the inside of a coffin, cold and damp and claustrophobic...  I looked at Jamison, he was already prepared brandishing a stake and scanning the street in front of us...He was already to fight for his mortal soul if he had to...

...But unfortunately my new friend here was looking the wrong way... I smiled as I felt my teeth pull and grow, my blood lust calling to me, I was hungry and with intense pleasure I sank my teeth into Jamisons neck... I could feel the warm liquid run down my throat... No glitter in this blood I thought... No special effects... And for poor old Jamison Newlander, no boutique vampire agency...

For more information on Jamison go to http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0627961/

An Excellent Adventure with Diane Franklin - An interview

"Forsooth this is tighteth," I thought as I adjusted my corset. It dug into my hips and I hadn’t eaten all day, I was starving. 

Finally the director shouted cut and it was time for lunch, but as everyone starting shuffling up to the catering van, I grabbed the chance and nipped to the toilets to loosen my restrictive clothing.

As I was pulling the laces, grunting and wiggling as much as I could to make myself more comfortable, someone exited the stalls saying that she had experience in these matters, I looked in the mirror and to my astonishment I saw Diane Franklin, someone who indeed has a lot of experience with medieval costume!

Diane Franklin, actress and sweetheart of the 80s, staring alongside John Cusak in the 1985 comedy Better Off Dead as Monique, also (and in my view, the best role) Princess Joanna in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. Other well-known parts include her first in the 1982 film The Last American Virgin as Karen and the 1982 horror film Amityville II: The Possessiona s Patricia Montelli. Television roles include Bay City Blues, Matlock, and Freddy's Nightmares.

Earlier in her career Franklin appeared in TV commercials for Coca-Cola, Trident, Jell-O, and Maxwell House coffee.

In 2012 Franklin published a memoir, Diane Franklin: The Excellent Adventures of the Last American, French Exchange Babe of the 80s.

She is also the mother of actress and writer, Olivia DeLaurentis.

Wow, I thought and as she helped me get comfortable and as all respectable girls in the bathroom do, we got chatting... I started with something easy.

You were quite young when you started acting, how did you get into it?

“Oh, I wanted to act ever since I was 4 years old. But I started professionally working when I was 10 with modeling and commercials.My parents were not in the business. I just never lost interest and they listened. ( I go into detail with this in my book.)”

How did you get the part of the princess? Did you have to audition with an English accent?

“I originally went in thinking I was to audition for the Joan of Arc role. In fact, I thought they were having me come in because they knew I did a French accent as Monique Junet from Better Off Dead. Surprisingly, the director and writers asked me if I could do a British dialect, so I just started talking to them using the dialect. They were impressed, but I couldn't figure out why Joan of Arc would talk this way?! That's when they asked me if I could see myself playing a princess. I have to admit I was a little disappointed because I thought it was a much smaller role. Only later  did I realized Joan of Arc had no lines, and I would get to play opposite Keanu Reeves. Yeah, I think I got the better role;)”

Right, I’d waited as long as I could and I just had to ask, What is it like to snog Keanu Reeves?

“Wonderful!! But I have to say I wish we did more takes:)”

As a Brit myself, I am very critical of Americans doing our accent, especially when they mostly sound like Dick Van Dyke... But I have to say, yours was pretty spot on, how did you get to grips with it?

“I first worked with a dialect coach, then later practiced my character by improvising with the dialect. I needed my accent to be as real as possible so that no one would doubt I was a true Medieval babe;) In fact, all the historical character's had to play their roles seriously, otherwise the time-travel jokes would not have worked at all. I think everyone did a wonderful job. Especially, Napoleon and Abe Lincoln;)”

So, what was it like filming with Keanu and Alex? What are they like? 

“Keanu and Alex had the friendship bond of Bill and Ted. They were relaxed, having fun, very approachable, very friendly... Kim and I had a blast site-seeing with them in Italy, (which is where we shot the Medieval castle scenes!)”

Now, I am a huge George Carlin fan, what was he like?

“I love George Carlin. Seriously, he was the sweetest, most polite guy when we were shooting.”

I always find it interesting that a comedian of his... 'style' would play a part in a PG rated film.

“I know, hard to believe! Very shy, well mannered. I was very fortunate to work with him” 

Now it was time to put the rumours to bed… I’d heard that there was a deleted ending? There was a prom scene?

“Bill and Ted finally took us to the prom in San Dimas! Yes, it was wonderful and very cool!! But alas, I think the ending was not where they wanted the boys to end up. I think they wanted them to be back playing music, so they could set up the next movie. I hope someday that scene will be put on as a special feature on a re-release!”

So, it wasn’t a dream!

Why didn't you appear in Bogus Journey? 

“Well... let's just save that information for my book. I have a whole Bill & Ted chapter with personal photos! In the words of Princess Joanna,"it's totally excellent!"”

Have you heard about Bill and Ted 3? 

"I have only heard that Alex and Keanu were the ones who want to make it but no word yet when it will start.

And do you know if it's actually being made?

 I do hope they do it because I think it would attract a huge audience."

Now, you are much more than Princess Joanna! You starred with another of my hearthrobs, John Cusack in ‘Better Off Dead’, I've heard he's a bit 'off the wall', but what was he like to act with?

"John is wonderful, but I do not know his off the wall side. To me John is sweet, shy and has a very dry sense of humor. I LOVED working and just being with John."

You also appeared in an episode of 'Freddie's Nightmares', I interviewed Heather Largenkamp a while ago and she said Robert Englund was lovely, how was he to work with? 

"I never got a chance to work directly with Robert, but I am good friends with Heather even to this day! As far as working working on "Freddies Nightmares" I loved my role as the bride and seductress in "The Bride Wore Red" (on You Tube), but only got squirmish when my character had to play like a ten year old girl with pig-tails. Now THAT was scary!!!"

You also appeared in the ‘Amityville’ series of films...

"Amityville II:The Possession was perhaps the scariest of all the Amityville films because it was based on a true story of a boy who murders his family.

Woah... Did you get spooked in either of these?

 Although, I did not have any super-natural experience, there was a very intense and quiet focus on the set. I have a chapter on Amityville in my book that talks about the incest scene. All I can say, is a lot of people have said to me they love this film. It got re-released last fall in a Special Edition DVD package from Scream Factory with all three Amityville films in it. There are commenties, interviews and special features with Rutanya Alda, director Domiano Damiani, who sadly just passed, and myself."

Now, you went on a date with Scott Baio (in 'Charles In Charge'), but as a young woman in the movie game, starring along side some of the greatest teen idols we had, did you date any of them for real? 

"I never dated Scott, but he did ask me out;) As far as my love life goes, I'm going to have to save that for the next book I write!"

Brilliant!... And who is is the best snogger? On or off screen?

"Ooooh...that is a tough one. I played the love interest so I got to kiss a LOT of guys. I'm going to have to think about that one and get back to you... "

So my dream role would be a princess in a time travelling teen comedy, in which I snog Keanu Reeves. What is your dream role?

"Ah, my dream role in the 80s would have been to play Costanza in the Oscar award winning film "Amadeus"(a role I almost got, and talk more about in my book, "Diane Franklin:The Excellent Adventures of the Last American, French-Exchange Babe of the 80s" But today my dream role is any film my daughter, Olivia DeLaurentis, puts me in. She is such an amazingly talented writer, director, editor and actress. It is a gift being in her films! (YouTube Olivia DeLaurentis)"

With my corset finally loosened, my stomach noisily expressed my extreme hunger, I suggested that we go and eat to which Diane agreed. It had been a long day and we deserved a good meal. So after checking our hair and a quick lip-gloss reapplication, we left our little meeting place and headed for the catering van, not without one important last question though...

Ok lastly...  If you could visit any period of time, where would it be and why?

"I would have to say "the future", because 1. I would like to see if we have become a more unified planet. 2. Will there be flying cars that take us to work on other planets? 3. Will people be microchipped like dogs? and most important 4. Will there still be chocolate cake?"

Ha... Nice retort I thought... Now to the lasagne.... and maybe a nice slice of chocolate cake…

"Diane Franklin:The Excellent Adventures of the Last American, French-Exchange Babe of the 80s" is available on Amazon at:
 http://www.amazon.com/Diane-Franklin-Excellent-Adventures-French-Exchange/dp/0615641369

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On Vacation with Dana Barron - An interview

I have been working in this roadside cafe for many years now, have seen people come and go... A pit-stop on the way to work, the last chance for a wee before they hit the long stretch of highway, the holiday makers lost and begging for directions, screaming at each other, hungry, angry and tired, the thrill of their holiday long since dissolved into frustration, I'd seen it all...

I was wiping a table when she walked in... the daughter of one the most famous Hollywood fictional families, in walked my favourite hapless holiday maker... Dana Barron...



















Dana Barron (born April 22, 1966) is an American actress who has starred in film and on television. Barron is best known for her role as the original Audrey Griswold in the 1983 film National Lampoon's Vacation which she reprised in 2003'sChristmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure for NBC television.

I couldn't believe it, how many times had I fondly reminisced about Dana and her Vacation family, Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo and the lovely Anthony Michael Hall and all their holiday mishaps...I thought of them all squashed in that green Truckster, travelling across America to visit Walley World... How many people can relate to that one? I know I can! Maybe not some of the spectacular incidents... The dead aunt, the car flying through the air, the questionable in-laws... But there is something for everyone in that movie, as well as a cameo list as long as your arm.... You know, I had always wondered what Chevy Chase was really like and I also wondered if she'd have any Randy Quaid gossip...   

I took her a herbal tea and plucked up the courage to ask her some questions. 

So, Dana, Audrey... Dana...You started pretty young, how exactly did you break into show biz?
“Well I was lucky enough that my father [Robert Barron] owned the first commercial and Soap Opera acting school in the world: Weist-Barron School of Television which is still in business in NYC today. He was fourth generation actor in our family, my grandmother was a Brodway performer in Vaudeville, and did the Zeigfield follies...
Wow! So how did you get involved?
My older sister had started doing commercials, because she was the blonde haired, green eyed beauty and I said "Can I try it to?" to my dad, he said sure and by 12 I was on Broadway, by 13 I was in Tom Hank's first film called ‘He knows you're alone’ (1980) which was a horror film... and then years later I did Vacation, so it all started there, as a child actor.... but that being said, in most of my parts I looked like a child, but I was actually way into adulthood, which is kinda' funny because people say oh, you were a child actor and I say no, I only played a child.”

So, how old were you in Vacation then?
“Well I'd rather not say, although people can figure that out, but I was definitely a teenager but I wasn't an adult, it was one of my only child roles that I did.”

One question that had preyed on my mind for a long time, why did they change the kids so much in all the sequels?
“I actually ended up doing a sequel a while ago for television [Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddies Island Adventure] and it was fun to reprise my role, but what happened was, Anthony Michael Hall was doing very, very well in different films at the time, he was about to film ‘Weird Science’ and because he was contracted to do that and was filming over the summer, when they wanted to do the next Vacation… Was it the summer? yes, I remember now, because it was European Vacation… so he said no, which made me so sad because I basically had my bags packed, waiting by the door and then the director at the time [Amy Heckerling] said 'Well, just get two new kids, we can't have an old kid and a new kid, it'll look strange'... So I was waiting and waiting and waiting by the phone and they went on and filmed without me...
Bummer...
... and I felt my family had left me because we were all very close and I never got a call from the producer, and so I actually took myself to Europe! I put my backpack on my back and went off had a nice summer vacation alone, back packing through Europe."
Good for you, I thought


Now people can't help but notice how the actor Anthony Michael Hall has changed over the past couple of decades... From the geeky brother Rusty in Vacation, to the geeky boy in Weird Science, to the nerd in The Breakfast Club... to this... 

“He's done so well I know, he's almost as tall as Chevy now. We're still close, he's less than half a mile down the street from me, here in California.”
He's certainly blossomed!
“Yes, he did a very big series and now he's doing another show and he working up steam again, he was a little bit on the quieter side for a while, but now he's doing well.”

So while we're going through the cast list, what is Beverly D'Angelo like? 
“She's very funny, she is very much like she was when we did the film, she hasn't changed much at all... Just fun, out there, high spirited, very, very talented singer, and actor. Now she has two young kids... actually I guess they're older now... 12, at least... with Al Pacino. She's working mom now... Oh! and she was in Entourage recently...
Suddenly she went quiet, and then her eyes opened wide she proclaimed... 
The Dead Zone, that was the series that Michael (Anthony Hall) was in! 
Aha!
...Anyway back to Beverly, so my son has gone and played with her son over at her house and swam in her pool, and I was like ooh... Because with Michael, I still call him bro and it's like 'Hi sis, hi bro', and my first (film) mom was Beverly because we really were a very, very close family, That’s part of the reason I think the film worked, because we were on Vacation doing the movie Vacation. It was a wonderful special time and it felt very real, although we were acting. It's hard to explain the magic that we shared.”

Now, Chevy Chase has a certain reputation... and not the best, but honestly I couldn't believe a man that funny couldn't be that bad... Here was my chance to find out...

and I wasn't going to miss it... 
“It’s hard to get to know Chevy in a way, he's extremely, extremely bright, he's very quick and if you don't keep up with him he lets you know it... He's just someone that you have to keep on your toes when you're with him... But if you don't keep up you're in trouble, you're swimming! So it's a matter of 'do you say silly things?' He's a really kind-hearted man, he's just a man you have to get to know, and he has to get to know you and trust you and understand you. He and Beverly have an unbelievable relationship, as people and a love between them that makes they magic work on screen, if you ask Beverly she would never say one words against Chevy... All these people say things in the press about him over here, but he's just extremely smart and he sees things beyond other people it sometimes gets to him a little bit."

Any good Chevy anecdotes?
“Hmm... I know I had once talked about this, maybe on the DVD... Maybe it was a joke played on him...? I know that when we were driving alone in the family Truckster, [he had just finished Saturday night live and no one knows what we were doing] he would stick his head out the window and shout "Hi I'm Chevy and you're not!" and we thought it was just Chevy being kind of cheeky. 
He has now got three girls, all grown - and he was in a father mode, he wasn't the bachelor on the run or anything like that, he was, and still is, a devoted husband, great father and he was really happy doing what we were doing and it was such a special time for everyone... so I think the movie worked in a completely different way than your average film.”

How long did you spend in the car?
“Well it was basically a road movie, so we were in a and out of the car all summer! So it would have been three months and we loved it. Imogene Coca [Aunt Edna] had lost and eye years previously in a car accident and she was terrified of being in that car, so when we weren't filming (and the car was moving) she would put her hand on the roof of the car to secure herself, but she was a trooper and although she was so scared her acting came through and she was going to do it no matter what... and she was brilliant.”

Now this film has so many cool cameos... The late great John Candy for one... 
“Yes, it was peppered with loads of cameos of really fun people, I remember when John Candy came onto the set [for the new ending]...
She suddenly diverts the conversation, reminiscing about Anthony Michael Hall
...and actually I always talk about how Michael was so much taller, he'd had a growth spurt, he started off basically my height and I’m very little, and then he was towering over Beverly by the end of the movie - because we shot the ending months later and he was completely different. You see us at the beginning playing Pacman, space invaders... whatever we were doing and then you see him at the end of the movie, he looks like a completely different kid....
... But he was so floored that John Candy was on set, playing this character of this security guard... But I wasn't as up on comedic talent as he was, but he [AMH] was over the moon and so excited. So there was an excitement on set for John, but he wasn't known in a big way at that time, mainly for his television.”

Now you had some memorable scenes with Randy Quaid as Uncle Eddie, what was he like?
“OOOH... Well now obviously he has a reputation, he is a bizarre character and has got

into some things that are unmentionable...  His wife, I believe sent him off on an interesting track, so he's been in trouble in the United states, he apparently what they call 'on the lamb' I think the term is...”
Hmm... 

“Yeah... He had destroyed some hotels and rooms or something and now he's hiding out in Canada, I don't really know the details, maybe he destroyed some things in the United States and is hiding out in Canada... I think that's the rumour...
That was a couple of years ago, but every time I worked with him - including Cousin Eddies Island adventure - he was very funny and warm, nice and kind, and I am just so lucky to have worked with some of the greatest American comedians ever  -Eddie Bracken and obviously Imogen Coca. Beverly was pretty much was a serious actor but then she did this huge comedy, that I don't think anyone really expected what kind of iconic mark it would make... It's the 5th highest grossing comedy of all time and it made Lampoon, with Animal House and it still holds up. Harold and Chevy worked on the script together and there was a lot of improvising...”

Was it hard to improvise with such a comedic genius as Chevy Chase?

"Um, well it wasn't like we were trying to upstage each other, it was like everything fell into place, you know... Like when he fell asleep in the car and the car jumped and landed in the canyon? Then Chevy said something, and then Michael would come up with something and I would come up with something, so everyone was very open, it wasn't 'I'm the star and you're not' kinda' thing... and with Chevy it's never like that. It was more a real working family (laughs) in it's own dysfunctional way - You know we love going on vacation with our family, and we can't stand going on vacation with our family - and with that we get some of the greatest stories we've had in our lives... and that's through not only in our family of actors, but in the movie itself.

The filming must have been a blast, how did you keep a straight face?

I know that there were a lot of times where the crew was laughing so hard it was hard not to laugh, but we were... I don't know it was more like... if you look at the film there's so much horror... I mean when Jane Krackowski says  her lines, when we're on the see-saw...."

Oh yes, I remember that line! 
...""My father says I'm the best at French kissing" and I just stare at her and there was nothing to laugh about because you just... Well we were both kids and I didn't fully understand it and the implications of that whole scene..."

Did you actually understand the line though?

"Not fully, I think as children you understand what it means, but you don't fully understand what it means, she can brag about it, but not really understand it and I can look at her going huh?! And I remember the time she says "I'm a pig farmer" and I say "I don't know Viki, that's not too cool" and she says "How cool is this?" and she shows me a whole shoebox full of marijuana! And I look at it and even too this day I don't know if it was real or not, because the prop master was giggling and someone else was giggling, I asked what is this and they said it was just grass from the side of the road and I was like ok! To this day I'm not into drugs or drinking and probably still wouldn't know, but I have this inkling feeling, the way they were giggling that that was really a huge box of pot, it was the early 80s..."

What was it like working for Harold Ramis? He seems like such a nice man. 

"Wonderful, wonderful... Chevy just adores him and knows he's brilliant and he's kind, he's smart and always smiling, soft spoken but yet you'd listen and just... he's a genius... a pure wonderful, big hearted, loveable genius. always kind. A pleasure to work with as a director... an actors dream." 

The wonderful John Hughes wrote the script, did he ever come on set?

"No he never came on set, I only met him once, You know I've only talked about this once... I auditioned for Ferris Bueller's day off and at the time I had just finished Vacation, [a year or two prior] and he said "Oh you can play the sister" and I started improvising and getting lines and worked on it a little bit to act with Matthew Broderick... and once again waited by the phone and never got the call, then it came out and Jennifer... what was her last name...? Jennifer...? 

Jennifer.......? Oh I remember...? Umm...

Anyway, she played his sister and she said some of the lines I improvised at the audition!
No?!
Yes! It wasn't even like an audition, it was at his house, so it's one of those Hollywood stories... Terrible, but it's the business, you just have to keep going and move on."

Was Vacation where Anthony Michael Hall met John Hughes and got involved in the Brat Pack? 

"I believe he did, a definite staple to American movies..."

So what happened when you got to Walley World? How did you handle those roller coasters... I'm guessing that it wasn't just one take! 

"Oh my god! I had to go on it so many times that I had to take Dramamine! I also had to sit down on a bench and they had to film without me. Sometimes I say 11 times, but I think it could have been 17 times... And to this day they don't affect me at all! If you have any fear, after doing it so many times, it's just like OK... I wasn't afraid any more, I had had so much Dramamine I couldn't get up off the bench!"

And have you met all the Audrey's? Have you had a big Audrey get together? 

"I had the privileged to meet, at a party with Ricky Lake, who's a friend of mine, Dana Hill [European Vacation] and it was so much fun to meet, because she and I had grown up in the business where we were also was auditioning against each other... and then Beverly said "Hey come down to the set we're filming Christmas Vacation so I came down and met Juliet - I didn't know Juliette Lewis until we did the 'Old Navy' commercial together in 2012.  I didn't meet Marisol Nichols [Vegas Vacation], and the next was me... again!" Ha!

"This is trivia that I've never talked about...

I drew close...

 ...To this day I never seen any of the other Vacation movies... Because it just breaks my heart that I wasn't part of my family, so I kinda rebelled and said I wasn't going to watch them."

Wow, I thought... Should I tell her how good they are...? Naa... I'll just ask...

What was your favourite scene?

"No one probably likes it as much as I do and I don't know why, but it's the scene where we're travelling and Rusty's feet are up with the dirty socks next to Chevy's face... and he's like 'what's that smell?'... I don't know why?! I'm very visual and it's something that is just so real, and every time I had my child in the car, I'd smell his feet and go pew!... and then it all comes back to the whole foot joke, I take photo's of his feet in the car and think 'I'm living Vacation now!'"

What do you think the Griswolds would be doing now?

"I think about that all the time because I think 'What would Rusty and Audrey be doing now?', That's a wonderful question but you've caught me off guard because I don't know... I was thinking if there was ever a part two?... I know that Newline have bought the rights from Warner Brothers to do another Vacation movie, they came up with the script and then they never filmed it, Chevy and Beverly were up to do cameos, and they were going to have Rusty take his family on vacation like he had when he was a kid... But I don't know why the film stopped production, they were looking for cast and then all of a sudden just 'poof!' They have it on hold, so it would have been fun to see what would have happened, It's always fun to see Beverly and Chevy Chase around our kids, and to be grandparents - to me that would be great fun."

Do you know any Griswolds?

"Actually I don't but there this guy whose name is Griswold and he takes his family on Vacation and gets teased all the time. So, it is kind of funny to have fans tell me their story, even to this day people come up to me all the time saying 'Oh you were in that film' and they quote me over and over again, because apparently its one of the biggest quoted films, comedic films." 

So there are actually people out there called Griswold... I always wondered where John Hughes got the name... 

"I don't know, but here's trivia, Harold Ramis, about a year later, called me and said do you mind if I use your name in the Ghostbusters film? I'll make it close to your name, so I'll call her Dana Barret and not Dana Barron and I went woo! no problem and Sigourney Weavers characters name is Dana Barret..."

Wow!  

"So she was name after me... And there's something that's not really published."

"Ohh... Jennifer's name from Ferris Bueller is driving me nuts..." 

Connoly?

"No... No I know her..."

Cool, So do you know Al Pacino?

"I've met him when at the kids parties, times like that... Oh I actually worked with him on a radio play when I was really young but I can't say that I'm friends with him, I've just worked with him and met him through Beverly..."

Then like a flash of  lightning, it came to me... The girl in Ferris Bueller and Dirty Dancing... It's Jennifer Grey! 

"There we are yay!" 

She drowned her tea (which was on the house) and got up to leave, but there was just one more important question I had to ask... What did she think was the appeal of the Vacation movies?

"I think it's the appeal of going on vacation with our family and everything goes wrong, and your family drives you crazy, but you love them and you try to make the best out of a crumby situation... Everyone can relate to that, going on vacation with their family and being miserable, but being happy too.... So I think it's just family... People get family... They understand family and you stick together no matter what.... Beverly even told me that she devoted her character to loving Chevy no mater what, not getting mad and being the perfect wife, standing by her man. As children we used to roll our eyes, but at the end of the day we all are a loving family and people always want to have that iconic feeling... and I think that's why people love it because they can relate to the miserableness and the happy and joy at the same time."

And with that and the bell of the diner door tinging as she left, she was gone... I hope she has a happy holiday... Sorry... Vacation.... 

For more information and to purchase your own "Walley World" T-shirt, or even a copy of the original script with interviews with the cast by Dana herself go 
to http://danabarron.net/

Dana says "I have FAMILY TRUCKSTER ORNIMENTS FOR SALE. GREAT FOR THE HOLIDAYS OR TO HANG ON YOUR CAR'S REAR-VIEW MIRROR 'VACATION' GOOD LUCK CHARM!' LOL! THE TRUCKSTER PLAYS THE SONG FROM VACATION 'HOLIDAY ROAD'!!!

IT WILL NOT BE SOLD AT HALLMARK AGAIN.

Also selling a copy of MY PERSONAL shooting VACATION script -- WITH THE ORIGINAL ENDING.  NOT VIEWED BY THE PUBLIC." - I'm clicking now!