Critics assured 'Crash' won’t depress; Hopper on SAG

TCA -- Dennis Hopper and Don Cheadle were promoting Starz’s TV series adaptation of "Crash" when they were asked the Question of the Week -- what they think of the SAG strike threat.

Hopper: “I don’t want to get between Jack Nicholson and Tom Hanks, because I’d have to go with Jack. I think the fundamental thing is out of the 120,000 in SAG there’s only 7,000 who make their living acting. So generally when I comes to strike they strike because they want more benefits, but it’s not necessary great for industry.”

Cheadle: “We had our contract negotiations the last time and kind of gave up the farm on some things and the actors are reticent [to do that again]… these residuals are our lifeblood. A lot of people rely on them to get them from month to month. A lot of people rely on that to make their living.”

Then, executive producer Glen Mazzara was asked whether the TV version of “Crash” would be like the movie.

"There were certain associations about the movie with class and race," he said. "Even though that’s an element on a week-by-week basis, it’s really about the characters … I didn’t want the series to feel somber. Or didactic. Or heavy handed. This is a fun show. The show is not bleak. Or depressing.”

In other words, no, it’s not like the movie.