There’s a scene in 1982’s Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan where Admiral James T. Kirk is gone to by his separated kid, David Marcus, following the death of Kirk’s friend and very first officer, Spock. In their exchange, Kirk confesses, “I have not dealt with death. I’ve cheated death. I’ve deceived my escape of death and patted myself on the back for my resourcefulness. I understand absolutely nothing.”
Unlike his most popular character, 93-year-old star William Shatner understands he can’t cheat death. He faces his death head-on in the engaging brand-new documentary You Can Call Me Bill, readily available now on VOD.
IGN just recently had the chance to talk about the movie with Shatner, who showed as honest and philosophical musing about his death with us as he remains in You Can Call Me Bill. (This interview has actually been modified for brevity and clearness.)
IGN: I discovered the documentary really moving due to the fact that I’ve never ever seen a star, even in anything autobiographical, be as mentally open, truthful, and raw as you remained in this. You’re speaking about your life, your death. At what point did you seem like, “I wish to speak about this and I wish to do it on cam”?
William Shatner: Well, throughout the years you can envision individuals turned up and state, “We ‘d like to do a documentary about you.” And I would turn them down, “No, it’s not time.” When Legion M, with their distinct method of funding, individuals are going to get their refund before I earn money sort of thing. And it’s now going to be launched and we’re in a strange time in movies. Launching a movie that does not have all this noise. I’ve been asked over the years to do a documentary about me and I’ve turned them down.
Here comes Legion M with all their clever guys and then the qualifications of the director [Alexandre O. Philippe, who also directed The People vs. George Lucas]And after that my idea [was]”Jesus, I’m an old male. I do not understand when that took place. And I much better if I’m going to state anything to my kids instead of, ‘My kid, dear old daddy is …’ I might do it in a documentary and leave what your daddy, your grandpa resembled, to some degree. Here I am, kid, in all my blacks and whites, and take me for what I am.” I am talking with my household. I keep hearing the word tradition and I keep stating tradition does not exist. They take down the statues, the boats sink, the name comes off the structure.
What I can leave my kids is this documentary and the understanding that your tradition is based on the excellent things you do in your life. Individuals you assist, the kind deeds, being a Boy Scout even as soon as will make a distinction. And if you can arrange of keep that in mind, it’s what you leave.