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Source:  Access Online, August 2005



Johnny Depp, Tim Burton talks film, friendship at Japan promotion


By Daniel L. Smith

Tokyo - The crowds at the airport said it all. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of Japanese fans, mostly women, greeted superstar actor Johnny Depp as he arrived at Tokyo's Narita Airport. Wearing shades, a brown jacket, t-shirt, blue jeans and a gray hat, Depp smiled and waved as he strode past the overflowing crowd on his arrival in Tokyo to promote his latest film, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

The turnout for the airport arrival was just the first of what appeared to be "Depp Mania" as the actor joined director Tim Burton and producer Richard D. Zanuck in promoting the film's Japan premiere.

The trio appeared together at a packed press conference, held at the Imperial Hotel, where Depp talked about his role in the film and his relationship with Burton. Burton has been at the helm of two other movies starring the talented actor Edward Scissorhands, and Sleepy Hollow.

"Tim and I talked early on in the process," Depp said of the discussions the director and actor had about the character development of Charlie Wonka prior to the start of filming. "Once I found him, it was pretty easy to get there," Depp added.

A fan of the book, the actor said although he did not feel any pressure living up to the book or a previous film based on the book, he did want to live up to the expectations of the book's author.

"I did feel a deep responsibility to the author and to his family."

One other set of critics that concerned the actor was his children. He talked about the reaction his children had when they visited him on the set of the movie.

"I was completely decked out as Wonka and they walked in. They looked at me for about three minutes mouths opened. After watching the film, my three year old came up to me and said, 'You are really weird,'" Depp said with a laugh.

On his frequent collaborations with Burton, Depp said he and the director have a special comfort zone.

"From my point of view, the relationship with Tim is one of trusts deep trust. I trust him implacably and beyond that it is a lot of fun really. We are just trying to have a good time," Depp said of Burton.

Burton said his admiration for Depp as an actor began during their first collaboration on Edward Scissorhands and has never abated.

"He is a person who likes to put on funny costumes and who is amazing. That's the type of person I like to work with," the director said, eliciting laughter from Depp as well as the audience.

The film has grossed more than $325 million worldwide. If comments from Japanese fans perched outside the Imperial Hotel hoping to catch a glimpse of Depp are an indication, the film is also headed for a successful run in Japan.

"The great thing about a film that Johnny Depp stars in is that he brings some much creativity and a unique acting quality to the role," said fan Tomoko Shimizu.

"He is just so cool," added Rumiko Takahashi, who said she traveled from Sendai to Tokyo just get a glimmer of the star.

Depp told Japanese fans that he promise to visit more often in the future. "I will try to get back more often than 10 years," Depp said, referring to the last time he visited Japan.


Access Online, august 2005