David Mickey Evans is, of course, known as the director of the cult classic, “The Sandlot.” The film is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, and ShockYa was happy to get the chance to interview Evans about the film as well as his new book, “The King of Pacoima.” The 20th Anniversary Edition of “The Sandlot” is available now. You can learn more about “The King of Pacoima” at Evans’ website.
How did you come up with the idea for “The Sandlot”?
David Mickey Evans: When I was a kid my little brother jumped a fence to get a baseball. There was a vicious dog that lived there named Hercules. My little brother retrieved the ball, but the dog bit him really badly. The entire story of The Sandlot grew out of that one incident.
What was it like to direct “The Sandlot”?
David Mickey Evans: A little nerve-wracking at first because of my having been canned by Columbia Pictures as director on my first film, “Radio Flyer.” So I started the Sandlot knowing that if I botched it, I’d never get another chance to direct a movie. But after the first week the whole team was so dedicated and working so well together that I knew I’d at least finish the shoot. Other than that it really is the greatest fun I have ever had making a film. I wish they could all be like that!
How do you feel about the 20th anniversary of “The Sandlot”? Are you excited how beloved the film still is?
David Mickey Evans: Absolutely I’m excited regarding how much the film has, and continues, to mean to people. I can’t believe it’s even 20 years though, I swear it seems like last week I wrapped shooting it! I continually get emails and notes from people all over the world telling me how much they love the film, what a great and important part of the childhood’s it was, and how they are always excited to introduce people, especially their own kids, to the film.
Do you have a favorite memory from directing “The Sandlot”?
David Mickey Evans: Probably walking onto the sandlot set of the first time. Everything you see, we built: the sandlot itself, the fences, telephone poles, Mr. Mertle’s house, the Timmons’ house, the tree house… everything. Before that it was just an empty piece of land. The first day I walked onto the sandlot once it was finished was an overwhelming experience seeing my words transformed into three dimensional reality.
I’ve read that you’re also promoting your book, “The King of Pacoima.” What can you tell me about the book?
David Mickey Evans: The book is the novel I wrote upon which was based the film “Radio Flyer”…After the film came out I stuck the manuscript in a drawer and figured some day I’d get back to it and publish it. I wasn’t a big fan of the film, so I guess I just needed to leave that story alone for a while. “A while” turned out to be about 23 years.
You originally wrote a version of your book as the script for “Radio Flyer.” What differences from the film can fans expect from “The King of Pacoima”?
David Mickey Evans: The story is about hope. And that there is no such thing as hopelessness. I think that’s the over-arching element that is absent from the film. The book also, I think, has a sense of honesty, and authenticity as to place and time, and a child’s point of view of the world that although there are vestiges of that in the film, really soaks through the pages of “The King of Pacoima.”
Why do you think “The Sandlot” has endured the test of time?
David Mickey Evans: Boy, if I knew the answer to that question, I’d bottle it and become a trillionaire! To start, I think “The Sandlot” is a simple story very well told. That it takes place in the past helps as well, because it has never and will never become anachronistic. Overall it’s honest, authentic and a lot of fun. And somehow, someway it taps into that Jungian Universal Subconscious idea — everyone, in their childhood, had some sort of experience like the experience the kids in the film have. So “identification” has a lot to do with it. And, not to short change the film, but it’s a boatload of fun in a much simpler time.
