He does a painting on top of a photograph. I did one with Herb Ritts that I really like and that's also got special resonance because he died. I have a couple of friends who my relationship with them is about being photographed.
I have one friend Eric Johnson. I go to his house. We chat, have a drink and a joint, and then he just shoots me.
That's what we do. That's how we see each other. I'll see him at parties and such but our relationship is very much about him taking photographs of me.
Guillén: Have you always been that way? Have you always had that rapport with the lens? Cumming: I've gotten more used to it.
It's flattering when a photographer is interested. What's interesting when people want to take your photograph is that it's for various reasons; but, sometimes it's obviously—not because you're Pamela Anderson or something—but that there's something internal about you that intrigues them. If they're willing to ask you, I think it's really nice because you give them something and you meet in a funny place in the middle that's not just about you with lots of oil on you and wearing no clothes.
Guillén: What struck me in reviewing your photographic corpus this morning is that you are chameleonic, you are willing to have your hair styled, have make-up done, put on whatever costume is required; but, your eyes remain consistent. There's a mirthfulness in them that remains consistent and that's the beauty of it, no matter how different you're made to look, you're still yourself at all times, it shows in your eyes, Alan is there. Cumming: [Smiling] Well the eyes are the window to the soul.
Guillén: There you go. Cumming: The other day when I was flying to Provincetown, I got to sit in the co-pilot's seat because it's all about the weight. As I was checking in, they asked, "What's your body weight?
" I was like, "How you?" But they needed to know because it was such a little plane and the pilot said they needed the co-pilot's seat to be filled so I sat there. I was looking out the window.
This old lady was sitting behind me and when we got off, she said, "I've been looking at your eyelashes the whole flight." I said, "They're not real." She said, "Really?
" I said, "Of they are!" Everyone thinks I've got false eyelashes; often people think I'm wearing false eyelashes. Especially on a film if they've put mascara on them.
I just thought it was so sweet that she was obsessed with my eyelashes in the middle of the air. Guillén: Speaking of cosmetics, you have your own line? I find the advertisements clever and funny.
I loved how you described your bath soap: "A big hard soap you'll to drop in the shower." Guillén: So how's the Cumming line doing? It's been really fun but also it's been like an art project as well.
Obviously, I really like the product and everything; but, at the same time, I'm having fun with the whole idea of celebrity endorsement and images that have paid homage to old fragrance ads. Have you seen the commercial? Cumming: Go to the website.
But it's also one where people aren't quite sure if it's meant to be serious—and it is—but it's He does a painting on top of a photograph.
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