Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez, Rated X May 11, 2000


playboyhost Good evening, and welcome to Playboy.com's live, exclusive chat with Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen for the movie Rated X. This is the only chat Emilio and Charlie will be doing together for the movie. Let's give a warm welcome to them both!

emilioestevez Hello, and thank you for having us on tonight!
charliesheen Sure, thanks for having us on tonight! (laughs)

guest971 Hello, guys! Did the real Mitchell brothers have any input into the movie?

emilioestevez Absolutely not. Jim Mitchell did not want the movie to be made.
charliesheen And the other guy was dead.
emilioestevez Jim felt that the story wasn't over, number one. Number two, it was opening up some pretty heavy duty wounds, and I don't think he wanted to relive any of it.

guest971 From media accounts, at first your father was opposed to Rated X. But after he saw the film, he had a change of heart. True?

emilioestevez Absolutely.
charliesheen He was very moved by the performances. What could have been a recipe for a disaster, he now commends as an effort of courage.

guest969 Emilio, while making this movie, didn't you find out that you were related to Larry Flynt? Is that true?

emilioestevez Both Charlie and I are related to Larry Flynt. I found out years ago.
charliesheen I found out from our mom years ago.
emilioestevez I was eating at a restaurant in LA, and Larry approached me at the table and gave me the news. That was a few years ago.
charliesheen It was confirmed when I started receiving Hustler in the mail for free.

guest969 How do you make a realistic film about the porn industry without making your film pornographic?
emilioestevez We've been struggling with that. I've been editing the film since last week and fighting the MPA about what is acceptable for the film. Immediately following the first screening they rated it NC-17. A lot of the "thrusting" and "humping" had to go. They were uncomfortable with seeing a naked man's ass, but not the other way around. They also had no problem with a father giving his son a gun to settle a family debt. They obviously had no problem with the killing in the end of the scene. America is obviously more comfortable with seeing a gun in a hand rather than seeing genitals.
charliesheen Good quote. That's very good.

guest971 Do you have a problem making porno guys more idealistic than they really were? I mean, after all, wasn't it all about money?
emilioestevez Initially I believed that Jim Mitchell thought of himself as a filmmaker. He was influenced by the films of John Cassavetes, among others. Even in Behind the Green Door, there is a sense of John's influence in the film. I should add that the fact that Behind the Green Door became such a huge success was not a calculated move. Marilyn was a marketing bonanza that they found themselves in the midst of.

guest969 Charlie, is this film darker than the work you'll be doing on Spin City?
charliesheen {laughs) Yes, obviously.
emilioestevez {laughs)
charliesheen But that is the beauty of being an actor and being blessed with the capacity to go between drama and comedy.

guest1012 If you guys, as yourselves, were to make a real porn movie, what would you call it?
emilioestevez {ponders)
charliesheen Can we come back to that one? (laughs)

guest971 Will the film be in the running for an Emmy?
emilioestevez Anything that plays by May qualifies for the Emmy's.

guest965 Charlie, do you find the media's fixation with the film's parallel to your past frustrating?
charliesheen No, because I knew going in what to expect. Those were conversations that Emilio and I had months before we starting shooting. Sure enough, we were right. The media sometimes is just not that hard to predict.

guest969 Emilio, how do you think the perception of pornography has changed since the Mitchell brothers' time? It seems like it used to be "the thing to do" to see a film like Behind the Green Door.
emilioestevez I think that there was an innocence to pornography in the Seventies that no longer exists. I think they are made more now for financial motives. Behind the Green Door and Deep Throat were the first porno movies to go mainstream. You no longer had wanker's in raincoats in the theater. Instead you had guys bringing their dates to see a movie for the night.

mikeb909 Do you think the Mitchells produced the films they did because of financial constraints? That they couldn't raise the huge amount of funds for mainstream productions, but they wanted to make movies and the porn thing worked out?
emilioestevez That's hard to know. Once they realized that they could make a living -- and a good one -- producing porn, I don't think they ever looked back.

guest1012 How was the casting for the movie? Did you guys get to "screen-test" the "porn star" characters?
emilioestevez Charlie had the benefit of doing most of that. I was off prepping the location where we shot the film.
charliesheen That is not entirely true. I did auditions with the actresses. Emilio -- up in Toronto -- got to pick out all the bodies.
emilioestevez {laughs)
charliesheen I kept asking to review those tapes, but they had mysteriously disappeared upon my arrival.

guest1012 Did you guys direct the sex scenes? If so, what were your influences?
emilioestevez Oh, yeah. It was a very interesting dynamic because I was directing myself directing. By the time we finished the movie, I was very desensitized to the whole thing. An actor was an actor, whether or not they were clothed.

guest971 What do you think about the adult biz being so obsessed with implants? I, for one, like natural. You guys?
emilioestevez I prefer natural.
charliesheen I prefer natural, but I will take a good implant over a saggy natural. emilioestevez {laughs)

guest971 Did Marilyn Chambers have any input into your film?
emilioestevez No, we just recently met Marilyn at the LA premiere two weeks ago, and she was very complimentary about the film.

guest975 Charlie, would you be able to tell us how many Playmates you've dated?
emilioestevez {chuckles)
charliesheen Well, it is so few that I can count them on one hand.

guest1014 Is the balding in Rated X makeup, or are you both starting to get that way?
emilioestevez No, we both still have a full head of hair. We're "hair guys." But we did shave our heads for the film.

guest971 Charlie, what was it like working on Being John Malkovich? You were hilarious!
charliesheen Thank you! It was a lot of fun. It wasn't the greatest challenge in the world playing myself.

guest969 Is making a film like Rated X risky for your careers?
emilioestevez It depends upon how you perceive risk. We took a risk in doing it, sure. It was so far outside of anything we had done before as actors. We changed our look. We played two guys who were not heroic. Perhaps people would have a hard time embracing the characters and/or the film. And this is not a sentimental film because it is so in your face. As actors, though, I think we have to be given a certain amount of latitude to take that kind of risk.

guest1012 Charlie, a pack of black market Champ Prophylactics from the Fifties with a picture of Ted Williams was auctioned off in New York last week for $1000. Where did you originally get those?
charliesheen At a drugstore. (laughs) It's a joke. I bought those from where they were sold -- from Leland's.

guest1007 Hey, Charlie, which piece of baseball memorabilia will you miss most in the recent big sell-off?
charliesheen Either the Ty Cobb larynx or the Babe Ruth lung.

guest1012 Charlie, how did your work as the Wild Thang in Major League influence you in this flick?
charliesheen Totally unconnected and totally unrelated. Thirteen years ago. Next question.

guest965 How close to the book X Rated is this film?
emilioestevez It's pretty close. That was our main reference material, the book.
guest971 Are either of you guys Lakers fans? If yes, how far will they go? (I'm a Knicks fan!)
Charlie, are you a Yankees fan? Say yes!
charliesheen Yes, I am. I am a Lakers fan, too!
emilioestevez I don't watch sports. Sure, the Lakers are great.
charliesheen The Lakers are going all the way.

guest969 What was it like to have the film shown at the Sundance Film Festival?
emilioestevez It was a thrill. I've said this before, but I felt as if I was finally invited to the party!
charliesheen It was a great honor.

guest965 Emilio, were you upset that the film didn't get picked up for theatrical release?
emilioestevez Initially I was upset that the film wasn't picked up for a theatrical release. Showtime gives a window of 60 days for the film to be picked up, and if not, it returns to Showtime. At first I was stunned, but now I couldn't be happier because it is being enjoyed by many. It's being advertised everywhere! Showtime is pulling out all the stops, and it's nice to see them do so.

guest1012 Emilio, how are you and Paula Abdul getting along these days?
emilioestevez We've been divorced since 1994. Actually, I haven't seen her since then.
charliesheen It's nice that that guy finally came out of his bomb shelter.

guest1041 I have always loved when you make movies together. Then I can see you both in one movie! You obviously enjoy making movies together. Men at Work was hilarious. I watch it all the time, and I'm always smiling at the end, even if I've had a down day. What was it like making that film?
emilioestevez Making Men At Work was a hoot! We had a lot of laughs. I think the mistake I made as a writer was separating Charlie and I in scenes.
charliesheen It was a blast. We should have been playing brothers.
emilioestevez It's funny, there was no reason for us not to. Other than it wasn't in the script.
charliesheen And it remains the most mentioned film by fans who approach me in the street.
emilioestevez Really, more than anything else?
charliesheen Yep, really dude.

guest971 Actresses do lesbian scenes all the time. Would you guys ever kiss another guy?
emilioestevez I'm not really into it. I'd have to say at this point in my life and career, probably not.
charliesheen Depends on the director, the story and the guy. (Laughs)

guest1041 Odd question: I'm a gal with a couple tattoos. Do one or both of you have any?
emilioestevez I have one and Charlie has enough for all of us. On my left arm there is a broken heart. It was dreadful and looks like a prison tat. It's a sad little reminder.
charliesheen I have 12. My favorite tattoo is the burning Marlboro cigarette on my inner bicep.
emilioestevez What about the smoke coming out of the vent on the other arm?

guest965 Emilio, will you ever work with Ramon?
emilioestevez Of course. Ramon has given up acting and is more into directing and producing now. He's directing an industrial film right now, although I don't know who for.
charliesheen And he is doing a documentary on hockey players.

guest1012 Charlie, I read in Vogue that you have a Prince Albert. True?
charliesheen It is nice to be mentioned in Vogue, but I could think of nothing further from the truth. I like to urinate without complication.

guest978 Do either of you watch West Wing in support of your dad? Be honest!
emilioestevez Religiously.
charliesheen Every week. It is the second-best show on television. Spin City is the best.

guest1041 I was wondering, I love your dad, and I can never decipher who looks more like him. You both do in your own way. What do you think?
emilioestevez I think that's probably accurate. I think we look more like him in Rated X.

guest1012 As brothers, do you just bitch each other out on the set sometimes?
emilioestevez I don't think that's ever happened.

guest969 Have you guys ever come to blows with each other?
charliesheen Not in adulthood.
emilioestevez Right.

guest1051 Charlie, what do you value most about your sobriety?
charliesheen That is a tough question to answer. Something that valuable remains unspecified. I value that I got it.

guest969 Why do you guys have two different last names? Are you really brothers?
emilioestevez We've been answering this for 20 years. (smiles)
I chose the family name because I was going through my rebellious stage and chose not to ride on my father's coattails. I can't speak for Charlie, but I can't help think that he felt both ways.
charliesheen I felt that because Emilio already took Estevez, I should take on the Sheen name for after Dad is either retired or gone.

guest971 What made your dad pick the name Sheen?
emilioestevez He was a fan of Bishop Sheen of New York, I think. I don't remember.

guest971 If George W. wins the White House and the Repubs hold Congress, will you guys move to Russia?
emilioestevez {laughs) Why would we move to Russia? America's the greatest country in the world.
charliesheen Yeah, we are going to move back to Russia.

guest965 There are two awesome websites out there on you guys. Have you ever seen them, and if so, what do you think? *Kudos to Amy and Vonne*
emilioestevez Amy is awesome! She is probably my biggest fan and has put together an amazing fan site. I'm really proud of her and proud of the site. Charlie, I think Vonne does yours, doesn't she?
charliesheen I tip my hat to a guy that calls himself the Sheen Man.

guest1012 Emilio and Charlie, are there any plans in the works for another movie you'll do together?
emilioestevez Not in the immediate future, no. Right now I'm writing two movies. I really can't get into them right now. I don't want to give anything away or get ripped off. (smiles)
charliesheen I am in Good Advice, and we are not completely casted yet, but Denise Richards and I were the first on board. I will play an investment banker on Wall Street.

guest1051 What has been your most challenging role to date? And which role is your favorite?
emilioestevez I would have to say my most challenging role has been in Rated X. Emotionally I had to go places that I hadn't been as an actor.
charliesheen Rated X for me, too. I was asked to revisit certain areas fictionally that were experienced in reality for many years.

guest1041 Charlie, I have The Wraith -- an interesting movie. It's a great movie! I loved the ending. :) Did you like making that film?
charliesheen I enjoyed the relationships and friendships that came out of that movie, but there are things till this day that confuse me.
emilioestevez {laughs)

guest1041 Anyone dating anyone? ;)
emilioestevez No.
charliesheen Negative.
emilioestevez Send picture and résumé to....
charliesheen {laughs) That's funny.

guest1012 By the way, what was it like working with Alan Ruck?
emilioestevez We've both worked with him. Alan is great, a terrific actor and very funny.
charliesheen I worked with him on Ferris Bueller.

guest971 What was it like working with Clint Eastwood?
charliesheen It was exciting. That was a guy I had grown up worshipping, and to get an opportunity to play aside one of my childhood heroes was a dream come true.

guest1064 Charlie, well done for coming through all your problems. My son's father is going through similar things. Do you find your faith in God helps? I find He helps me to cope.
charliesheen Yes. It rests at the foundation of every victory. Big or small.

guest978 Emilio, what is your relationship with Geoffrey Blake? He seems to be in almost every movie you're in.
emilioestevez I'm a huge Geoffrey Blake fan. He has been in almost every film I've done since Young Guns. He's a terrific friend and is a good person to call when you need someone. He's always been there for me.

guest1074 How do you like doing online interviews? Is it less stressful than doing television?
charliesheen This is my first online chat as the chatter. It is nice. I am in sweats, I am watching basketball and the questions aren't that difficult.

guest969 Do you think the cast of Friends should each get a million an episode?
emilioestevez Sure, why not. Give it to them.
charliesheen Yeah, when they cure cancer!
emilioestevez {laughs)

guest978 Emilio, I know it is your birthday tomorrow, so I'd like to wish you a happy birthday! :-)
emilioestevez Thank you!

guest1063 Charlie, what characteristics are you thinking about for your new Spin City role?
charliesheen I don't know, we haven't really started. There have been no scripts and no discussions. It is all up in the air.

guest971 Charlie and Emilio, we love you guys.
emilioestevez Thanks, man!

mikeb909 Goodnight, guys! Great chat.

guest1074 You have always impressed me in the ways you have grown as actors and people. Good luck in all that you do, and God bless you both.
charliesheen Thanks for tuning in. It is an honor to experience my first chat on the best website on the Net.
emilioestevez Thanks for tuning in this evening, and I hope that you enjoy Rated X. It's premiering tomorrow on Showtime.

playboyhost That's all the time we have. Thank you, Charlie and Emilio, for taking the time out to be here with us. Don't forget -- we chat live every day with Playboy Playmates and other Playboy personalities in the Playboy Cyber Club. If you're not a member, what are you waiting for? Join at cyber.playboy.com. I hope you enjoyed yourself. Have a great evening, on behalf of Playboy.com and Showtime, and tune in to Rated X, Saturday, May 13, 9 p.m. EDT/PDT.



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