Our sister publication, Newport Beach magazine, hits the streets next week with the annual “Eat + Drink” issue. Producer, writer, director and local boy, McG, is featured on the cover of the magazine. In addition to his movie and TV credits, he stays very connected with Newport as one of the owners of A Restaurant. We had a chance to chat with him about his favorite memories, movies and more. Read the whole story on McG in Newport Beach magazine on Setp. 17. He was interviewed by Newport Beach magazine Managing Editor Jeannette Calo.
- 1. What is your fondest memory of growing up in Newport Beach?
Shopping at the old El Rancho market with my mother. I learned about grit and hard work from my dad, and I learned about kindness and love from my mother, so it was a good one-two punch that I try to carry with me. And it was all those moments of being dragged around and thrown into the back seat of the car with my mom that remind me of Newport Beach.
- 2. What’s the worst memory?
The “60 Minutes” clock ticking on a Sunday night, not doing my homework, and the bad feeling of having to go to chemistry class at Corona del Mar High School knowing I was not prepared. Without reservation, that’s a very sick Sunday afternoon blues.
- 3. What are your favorite movies?
I like contemporary popular movies, but my favorites movies are “The Graduate,” “Cool Hand Luke,” “Sound of Music,” “Schindler’s List” and “The Godfather.” And “Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo.”
- 4. What actors have you most enjoyed working with?
Christian Bale, Drew Barrymore, Matthew McConaughey and Cameron Diaz.
- 5. What about the “Christian Bale incident” (when a video of him losing his temper while filming “Terminator Salvation” was leaked online)?
That’s just unfortunate. There’s a lot of passion on the set, especially with making a war movie and stuff like that should never get taken out of context. If you agreed to do a nude scene in the name of art, you wouldn’t want the outtakes spilled out on the Internet because there would be moments when your body looked a little more vulnerable that you anticipated. It’s no different than a nude scene.
- 6. What actors would you most like to work with?
I’d like to work with George Clooney. I think he’s very smart, very elegant—he’s a special talent. Also, Johnny Depp and Robert Downey Jr. I also look forward to working with Angelina Jolie in a future project.
- 7. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A house full of children and dogs, and an Academy Award on the shelf.
- 8. What is your greatest indulgence?
Going to McDonald’s at halftime of a Sunday night football game. It’s kind of a tradition.
- 9. Who is your greatest hero of fiction?
Freddie Mercury, also known as Farrokh Bulsara (the lead singer of Queen). I like people that create alternate personas.
- 10. If you were to be reincarnated, who or what would you like to be?
A unicorn, so I could finally have a phallus to be proud of.
