[the daily bruin: 97/07/30]

this article belongs to The Daily Bruin. it was printed 97-07-30. it is provided for reference and preservational purposes only. the sam rockwell experience does not claim any copyright to it. if you use any of it, please make sure you give credit where credit is due. thank you.
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Grass isn't always greener for blue-collar lawn mowers
by Leron Lide

In the fictional suburban area of Camelot Gardens. Luxurious mansions with lush green gardens are the social norm, attending to the gardening needs of these wealthy landholders are the caretakers of grass.. the lawn mowers.

And in his role as a lawn mower in John Duigans' latest drama, Lawn Dogs, actor Sam Rockwell decided to get his hands dirty. Shooting in the backwoods of Kentucky for seven weeks, the experienced actor gathered a select team to prepare him for his portrayal or Trent.

"I had a dialogue coach, so I'm doing the dialect. And once I got there, I had this teamster, Mike Fackler, tape my life through a tape recorder (with) him and his son," Rockwell says. "And I did lawn mowing with this guy, Maurice, who taught me how to do the lawn mower for two weeks."

The film revolves around Trent, a 21-year-old working class boy, who develops an unlikely friendship with a wealthy 10-year-old girl named Devon. Using the South as the backdrop, the duo crosses several barriers to form a friendship in a community filled with suspicion. In addition, the movie remarks upon the increasing distance between the social classes of America.

Beyond the surrounding homes and lawns Rockwell found other similarities between the story's setting and where it was actually shot. The local residents also shared some unfavorable sentiments toward their gardeners.

"Oh yeah, identical. Very intensely decadent. But there were different nationalities in the neighborhoods," Rockwell says. "I got to know the people from the other side of the track. I was told that there is some kind of negative behavior from the lawn mowing guys."

Rockwell started in film at the age of 18. After earning a spot in a movie while still in high school, he went to New York for acting lessons and gradually attained larger roles. Since then, Rockwell has had a busy schedule. His most recent film performance was a starring role opposite John Turturro in Box of Moonlight.

He has guest-starred on such TV shows as NYPD Blue and Law and Order. And his stage work includes a touring production of Orphans in New York.

"I prefer film over TV. I don't prefer film over theater. With TV there's less time to shoot, and everything is rushed. You have too many hands and cooks," Rockwell says. "There's the network and the producer and the writers. Too many people getting involved and stirring the mix. It doesn't make for good art."

Rockwell has two more movies due out later this year. The first is Safemen, which is about two untalented folk singers who get mistaken for safe crackers. And the second is Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream, which just wrapped up in Italy. The film also stars Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfieffer and Stanley Tucci.

While playing a multitude of roles, Rockwell feels that his portrayal of Trent will touch any individual. He feels that the fact that Trent is a common, blue-collar man allows a simple connection that every audience member can relate to.

"I think that anybody who's ever had an abusive manager or boss at work or been treated unjustly can relate with that." Rockwell says. "I think that is the crux of the character, really."