Answers with Bo Svenson

Answer 1

After six years of service in the U.S. Marines, you were honorably discharged and in pursuit of a Ph.D. in metaphysical when you were "discovered" by Hollywood. How were you discovered?

I was actually paying my way through school with acting gigs when I was cast as Robert Redford's rival (replacing Paul Newman) in THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER and found that I would get paid more in two months as an actor than I would for a year as an associate professor at a major university, which 'set the stage' for my full-time switch to acting.

You've both starred in and directed numerous motion pictures. If you had to choose between acting and directing, which one would you choose? Why?

Directing, but not by much. Both endeavors are exceptionally challenging and fulfilling.

Of all the films you've acted in or directed, is there one that you're most proud of?

Acting: NORTH DALLAS FORTY because the role was so different from who I am. Directing: OUTLAW because the producer was an incompetent and dreadful person who made the work excruciatingly difficult and painful and didn't deserve the effort made by most of us.

You're in preproduction as the writer, lead producer, and director of the motion picture "Don't Call Me Sir!". What inspired you to create the film?

I have for many years felt that the female gender is the more capable, an understanding that has freed me from having to compete with a very large group of people. When I learned about Rusty Kanokogi, nee Rena Glickman, and her fight against ethnic and gender bias, I knew that I had to bring her story to the screen.

Why is Rusty Kanokogi's story one that the needs to be heard?

Far too many movies have been about the accomplishments by men and far too few have been about those by women.

Why did you select Kayla Harrison to portray Rusty Kanokogi?

Like Rusty, Kayla has fought and overcome great hardships.

Did you ever get to meet Rusty Kanokogi?

No. I had met her aunt Lee Krasner, the wife of the painter Jackson Pollock.

On your support website, it says, "We need your support to make this movie because as accomplished as Kayla is, Hollywood would prefer that a proven actress portray Rusty." Can you elaborate as to why this is and why it's important to donate?

Casting is often determined by box office appeal, STARmeter rating and other variables and not often enough by authenticity...

You recently completed filming for your starring role in the Danish director Niels Norlov Hansen's "My Sisters Kids & The Gold Diggers." What can you tell us about this film?

An absolutely delightful experience with absolutely delightful people in a delightful locale. Did I mention that I liked it?

What was it like to work with Quentin Tarantino on "KILL BILL VOL. II" and "Inglourious Basterds"?

To describe Quentin as one of a kind doesn't do him or anyone else full justice. To say that he is the most creatively courageous filmmaker I have worked with comes close - and I have worked with some truly great filmmakers.

What was the most funny or interesting thing that happened on the set of "KILL BILL VOL. II"?

Under the heading of interesting is the day when we were two days over schedule and Quentin took a walk in the desert with our 1st AD Bill Clark and came back with a most brilliant shot that not only got us back on schedule but should be in the annals of great filmmaking.

In 1978 you played Lt. Robert Yeager in "The Inglourious Bastards," and then made a cameo in Tarantino's 2009 film "Inglourious Basterds" as a tribute to your previous role. Whose idea was it to do a cameo? What was the experience like?

The idea was Quentin's. When he apologized for the cameo's brevity and I asked why he then wanted me in the movie, he responded: "History demands it." As to how the experience was... Years earlier I had been set to play Brad Pitt's father in a movie to be filmed in what was then Yugoslavia when the movie I was on in Argentina was delayed by weather problems and they had to find someone else for the part of Brad's father. So I had never met Brad before "Inglourious Basterds". When I did, it was in a dark tunnel on the set in Berlin. We said hello, noted that we are just about as tall, and that was it.

You're also an accomplished athlete and have competed in the world championships, Olympic selections and international competition in judo, yachting, track, ice hockey and/or auto racing. How did you manage to become a world-class athlete in not one, but five different sports?

Hmm... I've been pretty good in many sports, but never really great.

What's your most memorable athletic achievement?

Probably the judo competition in Japan in the early 60s, which I lost to the tournament winner in the finals, then the reigning world champion, but was awarded the largest commendation, a scroll for "Most Noble Fighting Spirit" (Sportsmanship).

You won bronze in the 2012 IJF World Judo Master Championships and your weight class at the 2013 USJA Winter Nationals--not to mention you were over the age of 70 for both! How have you managed to stay proficient in martial arts all of these years?

I'm not that proficient. I enjoy working out and stubbornly train even when my body aches and doesn't want to.

You have since retired from competition. How did you reach this decision and how difficult was it?

My body told me it was time to quit and my ego reluctantly agreed. My ego tells me that we should have been world champions in judo and perhaps another sport. My heart tells me that being a good family man and friend is far more important. And, frankly, I always did the various sports because I loved them and the camaraderie so winning was not so important.

In 2009 you earned a spot in the Martial Arts Masters Hall of Fame. What did this honor mean to you?

I'm not much for honors that come with longevity.