Taylor Negron’s New Direction with "Satellites" -
...charming, touching, funny...
With over 100 film appearances and greater than 10 producer credits, Taylor Negron may have found his truest form of artistic expression with his new live show “Satellites”, a very heartfelt and stirring production that also includes its share of laughs. Whether knowing his name or not, most people recognize Taylor from his acting work in such films as Easy Money, The Last Boy Scout, Angels in the Outfield, or Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and a multitude of television appearances including Seinfeld, Reno 911 and Curb Your Enthusiasm. But “Satellites” takes the star far away from anything he has done before. Inspired by his passion for live theatre and based on his own life’s experiences, Taylor has written a show that will undoubtedly relate to audience members.
Anyone who has followed Taylor’s career knows the gifted character actor has always shown incredible versatility, playing anything from a sarcastic pizza delivery guy, gay porn director, to a nasty-ass evil villain that gave Bruce Willis a run for his money. But now, in “Satellites”, entirely removed from the many roles he’s played, Taylor exposes a before publicly hidden vulnerability that is so pure and genuine, show-goers will be compelled to laugh and cry along with him. Taylor’s multi-dimensional talent and creativity takes him far beyond the realms of stand up and character acting in “Satellites”, perhaps because the show IS Taylor Negron.
“Satellites” has Taylor vividly reliving various poignant moments in his life as he tells each with conviction – the sad, the eye opening, and the levity – each poetic story coming to life by the accompaniment of soft, flowing music from the live musicians sharing the stage. World renowned violinist Lili Haydn fronts “Satellites” amazing musical outfit along with cellist extraordinaire Ben Hong and pianist Louis Durra, giving an emotional boost of flavor to Taylor’s heartfelt, dramatic story telling. As an audience member, it’s easy to identify with Taylor’s short stories since we’ve each experienced compassion, humiliation or frivolity in one way or another, and the everyday unspoken occurrences that are so often overlooked or hidden in our subconscious. Yes, “Satellites” will undoubtedly move you.
“Satellites” will be performed at the Lakeshore Theater November 23rd and 25th. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and can also be purchased by visiting www.lakeshoretheater.com
Having seen the show over the summer, I highly recommend it, as it’s a one-of-a-kind experience that will be sure to both touch you and make you laugh.
I recently spoke with Taylor about “Satellites”, Larry David, new projects, and…you’ll get the picture.
Buzz - What character have you played do you feel identifies with you the most?
Taylor - I just did a Movie called Entry Level where I play a corporate guy who gives it up to sell Sandwiches. At the end of the film I am so calm and happy. I loved that. It premiered in The Monte Carlo Film festival and the French were so kind and said... "Americans Look so Happy".
Buzz - What role has been the furthest departure from yourself?
Taylor - Playing a porn director in The Fluffer. I can’t stand porn and am unnerved by it. I always feel slightly sorry for any one who allows their reproductive organs to be filmed. I walked around that set with a Glazed expression and had to say lines like, “You must wipe the lube off the lens."
Buzz - Do you prefer comedy or dramatic acting?
Taylor - I like the music of Drama - the camera can linger on your heart. I just saw Vanessa Redgrave in “The Year of Magical Thinking” and was so moved I couldn’t get up off the seat. In My show I want to mix it up. We have all seen people laugh at a funeral and cry at a tragedy.
Buzz - Tell me about your “Satellites” tour with worldrenowned Lili Haydn and Philharmonic cellist Ben Hong. What inspired you to the show in the first place?
Taylor - I always wanted to have music integrated in the show and Lily and I were on the Bill of “Sit and Spin” at Comedy Central and we just improvised. It was astonishing. It was like we rehearsed for weeks. She is so Brilliant and crazy talented. Her songs are so profound and dreamy. They compliment my stories tremendously. I have known her for 30 years. She was a baby. Her Mother was Lotus Weinstocks the great Comedian. Lili and I co-starred in the Film Easy Money with Rodney Dangerfield. She is family.
Buzz - How long have you been doing “Satellites” before bringing it to Chicago this past June?
Taylor - It happened very quickly. We did it one night at the Egyptian Theater and it was sold out. The director Barry Levison came and took me to lunch and just gave me very encouraging words – and I know Barry from the old days. But he was really the guy that told me I had to do this. This is something that has never been done before. To do full on philharmonic classical music to essentially what is a comedian who has matured. The thing I’m most proud of is that I allowed myself to mature. There are some who want to be in that permanent twenty year old hood and they’re missing out on their adulthood. It’s sad when a child misses out on their childhood but there’s nothing sadder than an adult missing out on their adulthood. But I still love being a comedian and driving the laughs home.
Buzz - You have one of the most recognizable faces and everyone’s like, “I know him – I’ve seen him in this and this and that…” But a lot of people don’t know your name. Do you find that a bit odd? Do people often come up to you and say, "I know you – you were in that movie?"
Taylor - I always take that as a really big compliment because Americans really, really want to be famous and I just want to inhabit different characters. So when I do a movie or when I do something I really inhabit the astrological moment of the time. You know, if I dye my hair, if I wear glasses, if I let my weight go up, become skinny, if I wear something unflattering…I don’t mind looking like hell. So to me, that reinforces that.
Buzz - So would getting into your character be your favorite thing about acting?
Taylor - Well, I call it legalized insanity because all of a sudden they’ll go, “Ok, Taylor, this is the scene where you take the phone and throw it onto the floor and then touch your heart and go, ‘I’m out of here…No, I’m out of here, I’m done’”. I mean, how rarely do we get to do that? The problem is, as you could understand, is leading it into your own life. Although, I did follow somebody down the street yesterday with my fist.
Buzz - You own a castle in France and old structures carry a lot of history... Ever run across any ghosts or spirits? Taylor - This is Crazy. I bought an Old House in France 17th century. After I bought it I found out that it was the Mansion Vidal. My Grandmother’s name was Vidal. I feel like I bought my family home because they are all over the joint. Lights go on and off - I hear a piano - my friend she said she saw a Child looking out the window. I sleep in this house alone sometimes. The dead speak they say, “LIVE!” The Joke is the Vidal part of my Family is very nervous and love to sleep walk. I have Type A ghosts.
Buzz - What you would be doing if not for acting?
Taylor - I’d be a Clinical Physiatrist in a Picturesque New England Village that sells cheap Lobster. I love asking people deep questions on a Full stomach.
Buzz - You’ve got to be pretty excited about being in the upcoming season of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Taylor - Yeah, it’s great isn’t it? It’s so funny. It was really funny, when I was done doing it, Larry David looked at me and said, “Why have you never been on the show before?” And I said, “I don’t know. How would I know? I don’t have a time machine.” (Laughs) It was one of those things where being on Curb Your Enthusiasm, and you enter the game at that point, it’s like being invited to the prom and you didn’t go to high school.
Buzz - How was it working with Larry David?
Taylor - Well, I find him to be very funny. He reminds me of a lot of my friends, and me in that sense that we’re relatively shy. Working with him is great because he is very, very, very sensitive. It’s like his nerves are on the outside of his body. You know, the difficult part was, if you were playing an antagonistic character to him – even though we like each other – I have to be in the motive like…basically I ask to go in a field and have a duel with him.
Buzz - You’re currently writing for your upcoming film called Skip. Skip is taken from one of your short stories that you perform in Satellites. Can you tell me a bit about it?
Taylor - It’s a period piece set in the 70’s – a coming of age movie about a Chinese boy and an African American kid and how they save a girl that’s being abused. Two extreme outsiders in an extremely deep time in the culture of the 70’s and how they merge together. And I always wanted to see, you know – the Chinese boy – this is kind of how I grew up. My best friend was Chinese – I’m not black, of course, but I feel black – to have that experience. To write a movie where one of the boys is gay so you never really – there’s never really a comment about the boy’s gayness or he’s Chinese, or he’s black. The comment is about the moral injustice and what they do to this girl. The girl is also an orphan.
Buzz - That sounds heartfelt and gripping.
Taylor - It’s very, very gripping. We’re doing it right now and it’s great. Every time I tell the ending the producers cry, and I cry. It’s quite something. It’s real – a natural memoir.
Be sure to read Taylor’s ENTIRE interview at www.buzznews.net!
“Satellites” is coming to the Lakeshore Theater November 23rd and 25th. Don’t miss it! Go to http://www.lakeshoretheater.com for show times and tickets. Be sure to tune into BuzzNews.TV next month when we air our video interview with Taylor.
Review by Ken Payne of Buzz S&E