David Dayan Fisher Interview

TCC: And how do you remember your lines?

DDF: Well you just asked me a question so I'm going to need to be answering you. There is a rhythm to dialogue. There's a rhythm to conversation. You don't say how many apples do you have and I don't then say table and chair. So of course there is a rhythm. It makes sense. The conversation also makes it easy to learn. It's repetitive. Again and again and again and again and again. You repeat things to yourself until you are literally brainwashed. And you have to get a point where these lines are so in your head that you're not thinking about 'what's my line' when you're delivering it. When I'm talking to you now there is not thought. It's conversation. Our brain works that quickly. You need to deliver lines like it just came out of your head.

TCC: I didn't ask you much about In Defense of Animals. What is your role is at this international organization?

DDF: They are an international worldwide charity. They deal with all the dog rescues, dog neutering, and getting rid of puppy mills. They also have a chimpanzee orphanage in Africa. They deal with orphan elephants as well. I have chosen their charity to give 50% [of the Puppy School] proceeds to. You buy a book for $10.00 and you're getting a story, but you are also giving to the animals.

TCC: I think it's a great idea to have that connection between a story and charity. What was the motive behind donating 50% of the book's profits?

DDF: I'm really lucky to have a good career doing other things. So again, I adore my dogs so much. I rescued them but they rescued me right back. And I love them so much. They give me so much. I want to give back. And this story was given to me and this is my gift back to the animal world. I'm using this to give back. I have a great life. So I can understand how writers struggle until they get going. This is my way of giving back. The more people buy this book, the more people will want to turn this into a movie. Like I said the people want to turn it into a movie because people were talking about it. Every single person who reads this books says, 'Oh it's going to be a movie. I know it!' Once this turns into a movie I can donate even more money. I have a figure and I would love this book to donate back to the animals. That's my dream.

TCC: Dogs have such personalities that they are like little actors themselves. I could definitely see Puppy School being turned into a movie.

DDF:Whoever reads the book will see that this is quite Disney-esque. There is a Disney style to it. But there are 17 million dog owners and I say if I can get 2% of the dog owners, I know it's a children's book, but every single dog owner I know that's read it just adores it. I believe that is the final destination of the dream. It started as a dream and became a reality in the book and the big screen. I actually have this wonderful dream of me and Burton and Monkey, the real Burton and Monkey, walking down the red carpet. That's my dream.

TCC: Would you put a little bow tie on the dogs for the red carpet night?

DDF: Oh, I don't know, maybe a tie. One of them is black and he can have a white bowtie. And the other is white and he can have a black bowtie. Okay so you know now I have to change the dream scene.