An Interview With Virginia Newcomb - The Death of Dick Long (2019)

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Disturbing Cinema: When you first read the script for The Death of Dick Long (2019), what were your initial thoughts and impressions? 

Virginia Newcomb: I had been primed to expect the dark twist, but I was more surprised at how humanely delicate Billy's unraveling of it all was. When you say it out loud, the scenario is jarring, but as fucked up as it is, you're immediately curious. On some super scary deep level, you feel shame just for being forced to imagine it. Then, the script goes and builds this empathetic, humorous, southern working class structure around it and voila, simulated repression! I understood those layers instantly and was terrified and thrilled to explore it. 

Disturbing Cinema: What do you love about your character Lydia? 

Virginia Newcomb: When I was introduced to the project, I wasn't asked to look at one specific character. I ended up reading for several, but connected with Lydia fast. I felt her heart break. I wanted to fill her up with this loyal , vulnerable strength built from a life full of all kinds of tangled secrecy. I'm a sucker for that beautiful tortured dichotomy of loving and hating someone , surviving and surrendering. Paint a dark southern wash over it and I'm hooked. 

Disturbing Cinema: How was your experience working with Daniel Scheinert? 

Virginia Newcomb: Oh, Dee Scheiny is the peachiest. So, he's a pretty big deal in Alabama. I'd seen Swiss Army Man before knowing he was a home town super hero. LOVED it, duh. Then, went down a rabbit hole of watching The Daniel's wacko shorts and music videos and realised we were from the same area and started putting it all together and became eerily convinced we were going to work together. Then, wham. It wasn't a few months later this script came to me through one of the porducers, Melodie Sisk, and I was like, OH HELL YEA, this weirdo here is totally going to work with that weirdo. I love Daniel and we plan on doing it all again as soon as possible. He keeps things funky fun without losing site of the importance of honouring the story. 

Disturbing Cinema: I heard that your reaction to how Dick died was unrehearsed, which explains how raw and gut wrenching your performance was. Without giving anything away. How did you feel in that exact moment? 

Virginia Newcomb: Yea, we stayed away from that scene until the day. I wanted to trust that deep dark shameful imagery I mentioned when first reading it. So, every time I caught myself imagining the scene or the events that lead to it, I'd just go , NOPE! Push it down, push it way back down! That self aware suppression sen us on a really uncomfortable journey when we finally got to live it out. Daniel planned to go in close first up, so all of that stuff jumped out of Mike and I. It was really fun and a lesson in leaning into a good script and a great team. 

Disturbing Cinema: Do you have any funny on set stories about yourself, or any other cast/crew members? 

Virginia Newcomb: There were plenty of moments of goofing off, thank gawd! I spent a lot of time in those kitchen scenes and I can get pretty absorbed in preserving my energy in that kinds of emotionally demanding space, but Dan was really good at picking a moment and giving everyone permission to let loose. We had one pretty memorable dance party break to Goodbye Horses that really should've been more thoroughly documented. 

Disturbing Cinema: I would like to conclude our interview by asking you one of my signature questions: What is the most disturbing film you have ever seen? 

Virginia Newcomb: I was pretty rocked by that baby scene in Trainspotting, but my earliest cine-traumatic moment I actually revisited recently and still punches me in the gut. Artryu's horse, Artax, drowning in the Never Ending Story has haunted my nightmares to this day. Hmm. And now, I'm seeing a theme. 

Disturbing Cinema: Congratulations on the film, and thank you once again for taking your time answering my questions, Virginia Newcomb. It was a pleasure interviewing you.





The Death of Dick Long (2019) Plot Summary: Dick is dead. Died last night after band practice, and his bandmates, Zeke and Earl, don't want anybody finding out how. That's too bad though, 'cause news travels fast in small town Alabama, and these guys suck at covering their tracks. The authorities haven't ID'd the body just yet, but Zeke's wife and his daughter are suspicious already.

You can buy or rent The Death of Dick Long (2019) here:






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