Actor-comedian tries directing
Actor, writer and stand-up comedian David Cross — beloved for “Mr. Show,” his HBO sketch series with Bob Odenkirk, and for his turn as the cut-off-jeans-clad “Never Nude” Tobias Funke on “Arrested Development” — brings his feature directing debut, “Hits,” to SF IndieFest’s opening night. In anticipation of his Thursday, Feb. 5, appearance with the film at Brava Theater, we caught up with the multi-hyphenate. Q: You’re strictly behind the camera on “Hits.” Did you considering taking a role? A: I had no interest in that. It’s such a different thing to direct yourself, because you can’t really see — you have to trust what’s good in the moment or trust whoever’s be- hind the monitor, or you can run back and watch the take each time. I wasn’t interested in that. I just wanted to direct, although I got jealous a couple of times, like during the diner scene, I thought, “I just want to jump up and play as an actor with all these great, gifted, fun actors.” I miss that. Q: You had a chance to revisit “Never Nude” Tobias Funke when Netflix resurrected “Arrested Development.” What was that like? A: It had been a while since I had done “Arrested Development” or played that character, and I had to — it did take a little time to refresh in my memory, “Oh yeah, that’s how he talks and that’s where he lives and that’s how he gets.” But once I started doing it, it was like putting on an old shoe. It was so much fun, and to be able to work with that cast and work with Mitch (Hurwitz) and do that character, that’s about a dream job as it gets. It’s so much fun. He’s such a fun idiot to play. Q: Rumors abound that after all these years, “Mr. Show” will be making a return. Can you confirm? A: I cannot verify that at the moment. I can tell you I am in L.A. working on a top-secret project that I cannot verify at the moment. Q: Your father-in-law is the musical star Russ Tamblyn. Has he taught you any dance steps? A: That’s almost impossible, because I am starting with a deficit so severe when it comes to dancing or coordination. Q: Who were your comic heroes growing up? A: Stand-up-wise, I would say the big ones were Andy Kaufman and Richard Pryor and George Carlin and Steve Martin. I was influenced by Lenny Bruce for what he did and what he stood for. I didn’t think he was very funny, but what he did was so important and ballsy. And then Monty Python was probably the single biggest influence on my comedy. Q: How old were you when you decided you wanted to do comedy as a living? A: It was last year, so that would make me 49.