22 Questions With Timothy Abbott- and Turk Pipkin, Austin entertainer and director! Click "Read More" for the interview.1- you were an entertainer before you were a director. How did you make that transition?
I was still a comedian when I published the first of 10 books and wrote the first of 100 hours of primetime television. Somewhere along the way I realized I could be writing and directing my own films and not have to deal with notes from suits. Just for nostalgia sake, I occasionally put on a suit and tell myself to take all the good stuff out of my films. But I don't listen to anything I say when I'm wearing a suit, so it all works out okay.
2- you have a new film out" One Peace At A Time". Can you give us the hard sell in a paragraph?
One Peace at a Time looks at the possibility of providing basic rights - water, nutrition, education, healthcare, opportunity and more - to every child. I filmed in 20 countries on 5 continents, and wouldn't change any of it (except for the part where I break my leg in the Grand Canyon).
3- how did you initially come to this idea about making a movie on the subject matter...did it just bonk you in the head one blue sky day,or did something happen to you that lit a fuse?
My last film Nobelity looked at the world's problems through the eyes of Nobel laureates and it seemed like everyone who saw it wanted to know what they could do to make a difference in the world. One Peace at a Time follows by covering solutions that any of us can be a part of so the answer is, If you make a movie about problems, you sleep better after you make a movie about solutions.
4-how did you fund this film?
One Peace is produced and owned by the education and action non-profit, The Nobelity Project (at www.nobelity.org - check it out). Our features are distributed commercially to hopefully help fund our education outreach in schools. The movie's funding came primarily from donations by people, foundations and companies that share our concern about the problems we all share in the world. In other words, we raised it one piece at a time.
5- how long was the process from concept to reality to completion?
Concept part was about 40 years, give or take a grade or two of elementary school. Shoot and edit was almost 3 years, with the two overlapping by almost 2 of them.
6- how did you arrange for travel in the other 3rd world countries?
Important notes for international filming: Visa searches and applications can all be done online but you'll be fedexing your passport to DC or driving it to Houston more than you expect. When your passport is full, you can pay the State Department to add pages to it. Don't apply for film permits or business travel visas unless you absolutely have to. The fees and delays are outrageous and you may end up with a government censor leaning over your shoulder. Travel as a tourist; look like a tourist and if all else fails, bribe the people who stop you from filming while you're pointing out the amateur features of your camera as it films them robbing you.
7- any close calls with wilderness critters or nefarious political factions abroad?
Other than eating fried crickets in Thailand and raw slugs in The Amazon (I recommend crispy crickets over slimy, gooey slugs), I managed to avoid any serious animal attacks. Bad water is a bigger issue. I have lots of photos of me with soldiers, guards, teenagers and militia members holding Kalashnikovs and AK-47's. And when we helicoptered over a Maoist Rebel Camp in the Himalayan Foothills of Nepal, they were scrambling to their anti-aircraft guns. Our pilot said, “Don't worry; they're very slow.” Breaking my leg in the Grand Canyon was not a close call, it was a BAD call.
8- I like that you show societal problems, offer real solutions in a number of foreign places. Ever make any enemies as a result?
If you think condoms are bad, a movie with “The Condom King” may not be for you. If you think America should build a few more cluster bombs to add to the one billion cluster munitions in our current arsenal, this definitely isn't the movie for you.
9-what was your previous film "Nobelity” about?
Beat you to it. Nobelity was essentially a forum for me to ask nine of the smartest people on earth whether things are as bad as they often seem and whether there is anything we can do about them. Answer one: no matter how much you know about the world's problems, they always turn out to be bigger than you thought. Answer two: The solutions are there - if only we can summon the knowledge and the will to enact them.
10- how did you fund that movie?
Nobelity began before the nonprofit, and had a private investment package, one big investor and one small one.
11- You are a world traveler. Tell me your top favorite food dishes abroad.
I eat the local food pretty much every where I go, but if you give me a chance to eat anything I want, anywhere I want, I'll be in Rome or Verona or Venice having risotto or homemade pasta, saltimbocca and an insalata mista.
I was still a comedian when I published the first of 10 books and wrote the first of 100 hours of primetime television. Somewhere along the way I realized I could be writing and directing my own films and not have to deal with notes from suits. Just for nostalgia sake, I occasionally put on a suit and tell myself to take all the good stuff out of my films. But I don't listen to anything I say when I'm wearing a suit, so it all works out okay.
2- you have a new film out" One Peace At A Time". Can you give us the hard sell in a paragraph?
One Peace at a Time looks at the possibility of providing basic rights - water, nutrition, education, healthcare, opportunity and more - to every child. I filmed in 20 countries on 5 continents, and wouldn't change any of it (except for the part where I break my leg in the Grand Canyon).
3- how did you initially come to this idea about making a movie on the subject matter...did it just bonk you in the head one blue sky day,or did something happen to you that lit a fuse?
My last film Nobelity looked at the world's problems through the eyes of Nobel laureates and it seemed like everyone who saw it wanted to know what they could do to make a difference in the world. One Peace at a Time follows by covering solutions that any of us can be a part of so the answer is, If you make a movie about problems, you sleep better after you make a movie about solutions.
4-how did you fund this film?
One Peace is produced and owned by the education and action non-profit, The Nobelity Project (at www.nobelity.org - check it out). Our features are distributed commercially to hopefully help fund our education outreach in schools. The movie's funding came primarily from donations by people, foundations and companies that share our concern about the problems we all share in the world. In other words, we raised it one piece at a time.
5- how long was the process from concept to reality to completion?
Concept part was about 40 years, give or take a grade or two of elementary school. Shoot and edit was almost 3 years, with the two overlapping by almost 2 of them.
6- how did you arrange for travel in the other 3rd world countries?
Important notes for international filming: Visa searches and applications can all be done online but you'll be fedexing your passport to DC or driving it to Houston more than you expect. When your passport is full, you can pay the State Department to add pages to it. Don't apply for film permits or business travel visas unless you absolutely have to. The fees and delays are outrageous and you may end up with a government censor leaning over your shoulder. Travel as a tourist; look like a tourist and if all else fails, bribe the people who stop you from filming while you're pointing out the amateur features of your camera as it films them robbing you.
7- any close calls with wilderness critters or nefarious political factions abroad?
Other than eating fried crickets in Thailand and raw slugs in The Amazon (I recommend crispy crickets over slimy, gooey slugs), I managed to avoid any serious animal attacks. Bad water is a bigger issue. I have lots of photos of me with soldiers, guards, teenagers and militia members holding Kalashnikovs and AK-47's. And when we helicoptered over a Maoist Rebel Camp in the Himalayan Foothills of Nepal, they were scrambling to their anti-aircraft guns. Our pilot said, “Don't worry; they're very slow.” Breaking my leg in the Grand Canyon was not a close call, it was a BAD call.
8- I like that you show societal problems, offer real solutions in a number of foreign places. Ever make any enemies as a result?
If you think condoms are bad, a movie with “The Condom King” may not be for you. If you think America should build a few more cluster bombs to add to the one billion cluster munitions in our current arsenal, this definitely isn't the movie for you.
9-what was your previous film "Nobelity” about?
Beat you to it. Nobelity was essentially a forum for me to ask nine of the smartest people on earth whether things are as bad as they often seem and whether there is anything we can do about them. Answer one: no matter how much you know about the world's problems, they always turn out to be bigger than you thought. Answer two: The solutions are there - if only we can summon the knowledge and the will to enact them.
10- how did you fund that movie?
Nobelity began before the nonprofit, and had a private investment package, one big investor and one small one.
11- You are a world traveler. Tell me your top favorite food dishes abroad.
I eat the local food pretty much every where I go, but if you give me a chance to eat anything I want, anywhere I want, I'll be in Rome or Verona or Venice having risotto or homemade pasta, saltimbocca and an insalata mista.
12- liberal or conservative ?...ok,ok..better yet, if you had to pick one, no others, would it be Slick Rick P. or Kaye Bailey H.?
I'm not voting for any cheerleaders for any public office. I propose that Texas have no governor for a couple of years, then we'll check and see if anyone's noticed.
I'm not voting for any cheerleaders for any public office. I propose that Texas have no governor for a couple of years, then we'll check and see if anyone's noticed.
13- where were you born, was it a large family?
San Angelo, Texas. Five kids, I'm the baby.
San Angelo, Texas. Five kids, I'm the baby.
14- got Faith? what spiritual persuasion are ye?
I believe my FB profile says that my religion is Independent Party and my Politics are agnostic.
I believe my FB profile says that my religion is Independent Party and my Politics are agnostic.
15- name 3 movies that influenced you the most...
Chaplin's City Lights, Lawrence of Arabia, The Jerk.
Chaplin's City Lights, Lawrence of Arabia, The Jerk.
16- name your top 5 Austin acts
Willie Nelson, Bob Schneider, Asleep at the Wheel, Joe Ely, Willie Nelson. Five isn't enough, but did I mention Willie Nelson?
17- what do you drive, in carspeak ?
VW Jetta TDI Wagon - as far as I've been able to determine, after the Tesla, it's the lowest carbon emissions per mile of any car in America. It's big enough for a 6'7” guy, it gets 40+ mpg on the highway and accelerates faster than you really want it to.
18- name your top 5 Austin eating establishments
Vespaio, Curra's, The Grove, Ruth's Chris, Fonda San Miguel
19- got Faith of some sort?
My faith Is that it's best to live your life as if heaven is here on earth. After that I will hope for the best.
Willie Nelson, Bob Schneider, Asleep at the Wheel, Joe Ely, Willie Nelson. Five isn't enough, but did I mention Willie Nelson?
17- what do you drive, in carspeak ?
VW Jetta TDI Wagon - as far as I've been able to determine, after the Tesla, it's the lowest carbon emissions per mile of any car in America. It's big enough for a 6'7” guy, it gets 40+ mpg on the highway and accelerates faster than you really want it to.
18- name your top 5 Austin eating establishments
Vespaio, Curra's, The Grove, Ruth's Chris, Fonda San Miguel
19- got Faith of some sort?
My faith Is that it's best to live your life as if heaven is here on earth. After that I will hope for the best.
20- home is where for you?
Austin, always.
21- ever meet George Bush 2?
We were both AWOL at the time, hiding out at Club Verde in Boy's Town in Villa Cuna and digging the 24-hour Ranchero bands. Thirty years later when he got to the White House, he acted like he didn't remember me. Ask him if you can see hi s”secret” tattoo.
Austin, always.
21- ever meet George Bush 2?
We were both AWOL at the time, hiding out at Club Verde in Boy's Town in Villa Cuna and digging the 24-hour Ranchero bands. Thirty years later when he got to the White House, he acted like he didn't remember me. Ask him if you can see hi s”secret” tattoo.
22- you get one wish, what is that wish?
I suspect “no more questions” has already been wished. In which case, I wish I was married to Christy with two great girls and a life that is connected to the world I love. Oh look, it came true.
I suspect “no more questions” has already been wished. In which case, I wish I was married to Christy with two great girls and a life that is connected to the world I love. Oh look, it came true.
