Depp picks films to make his kids proud

AP: It seems you haven’t done a straight-up Hollywood film. Would you ever?

Depp: There were a few things that came around the bend, that they tried to get me involved in. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. The seed for me was tainted. There was no redemption in there. It was kind of a sellout for a (lot) of money. You would go in and do the work and take the money, but it wasn’t anything that you would be particularly proud of. That, I couldn’t do. I’ve attempted things in the past where people thought I tried to sell out. For example I did this film “Nick of Time” with (director) John Badham. I don’t know if the film was particularly good. I did that film not for money, or not to sell out. I didn’t think it was going to be successful at all. I didn’t care. I did it because I wanted to work with Christopher Walken and I wanted to work with John Badham. The script was very much like an old school Hitchcock film. All of those elements were intriguing to me so I took it.

AP: If you hadn’t left Hollywood for France, do you think you would have a different perspective about fame?

Depp: No, I don’t think so because I come from where I come from. I come from Kentucky. My relatives, and my mom and dad, my sisters and my brother, our life in Kentucky is something that is very strong in my being. In south Florida, we were nomads for years and years, working various jobs for great lengths of time. Dropping out of high school, doing construction, printing T-shirts. Where I come from is what has made me me.

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AP: What’s this about you buying a cannon to shoot Hunter Thompson’s ashes out of?

Depp: Hunter meant a lot to me. He was another hero and someone that I got to know very well because I played him in “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” We got very, very close. He was a great pal, one of my best friends. We had talked a couple of times about his last wishes to be shot out of a cannon of his own design. ... All I’m doing is trying to make sure his last wish comes true. I just want to send my pal out the way he wants to go out.

AP: You’ve been in a relationship for many years now, so what’s the secret?

Depp: Trust, have fun, respect for one and other. Respect for one another’s privacy. Respect for what the other person does in their chosen profession. Obviously a whole lot of love. Vanessa was like a bolt of lighting.

AP: So she knocked you out?

Depp: Well yeah, because there were no pretensions. She has her success on her own terms and when we met it wasn’t like she was anything other than this sweet, cool, funny girl. I’d never experienced anything like that before. She gave me these two beautiful kids.

AP: Is marriage an option? What does it mean to you?

Depp: Marriage can be whatever you define it as. For example, I don’t feel like I need a piece of paper that says I own her and she owns me. I think signing a piece of paper doesn’t mean anything in the eyes of God or in the eyes of people. The thing is, if you are together and you love each other and are good to each other, make babies and all that, for all intents and purposes you are married.

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