The Waiting Game

Novelist Terry McMillan's best-seller Waiting to Exhale is being turned into a film, and McMillan has been turned into a screenwriter and producer.

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Terry McMillan's Waiting to Exhale--a novel about four black women fed up with men who won't commit--hit the best-seller list three years ago and won for its author an outrageous $2.6 million reprint deal. Now McMillan has become the executive producer and co-screenwriter of the movie based on her book, which will star Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett.

Given the "male-bashing" for which the book is noted, does producer Deborah Schindler worry about a possible uproar when the film opens later this year? "Exhale has a voice I haven't heard or seen before, but it's not a manifesto against men. Besides, I think controversy is good--it creates curiosity," As for McMillan herself, it seems this kind of thing just wouldn't faze her.

HEIDI PARKER: Your writing career took off when you single-handedly promoted your first book, Mama: did you use any of those same promoting tricks to get Waiting to Exhale to Hollywood?

TERRY MCMILLAN: No, Hollywood came to me--they're starving for material out here. But when I wrote Exhale I didn't think Hollywood would approach me. I mean. I like these characters but I didn't think it would make such a hot film.

Q: How does it feel to be a producer in Hollywood, far from the publishing world of New York?

A: It hasn't hit me that we're making a movie here, and I don't know what being a producer is all about yet. It's just a title really, except I got to recommend a director. My ambition is not to produce--I write books. But I guess it means a lot in Hollywood.

Q: You're also co-screenwriting the film--how's that going?

A: The studio notes have gotten on my nerves. I mean, these people can just go on forever. Plus, I'm writing something I've already written. It's kinda hard to come twice--know what I'm say in'?

Q: Do you worry that the controversy over the book will be magnified when the film comes out?

A: No, I'm not worried. A lot of black men are angry--they don't like to be "misrepresented." But I'm just telling a story. I'm not talking about all black men. Rappers talk about "hoes" and "bitches," but they're not talking about all black women, either.

Q: Have you received any flak for hiring Forest Whitaker to direct Exhale, which is basically about four women who get screwed over by--and gripe about--men?

A: Yeah, everyone thought I was going to choose a black woman director and there was this whole politically correct thing. But there are, like, only five black women to choose from. I couldn't picture any of them. And then there was this whole thing about hiring Ronald Bass to co-screen write. He's Jewish. But you know what? He can write his ass off.

Q: I think it's interesting that Exhale stars Angela Bassett, who has a reputation for being a pro, and Whitney Houston, who has a reputation for being a diva.

A: Well. I don't know about that, but I'll put it this way: I will personally kick Whitney's little butt if she starts acting cute on the set.

Q: What other techniques do you have for dealing with actors?

A: I don't know. I haven't dealt with them much yet, although I did have one strange experience at an audition with Forest. This girl was acting out a part when all of a sudden she took off her top. It was totally inappropriate--I almost peed on myself! Then she stopped to meditate. I looked at Forest and he looked at me and I said, "Is this the kind of stuff you guys have to go through?" because I was cracking up.

Q: Did she get the part?

A: No, she didn't get the part! A nutcase, that's what she was!

Q: They say all the nuts roll West.

A: This was in New York!

Q: What kind of reaction have you gotten in Hollywood?

A: I've seen people kiss up to me, which I think is sickening. One girl came up to me and said, "I just love your book and your script is the best script I've ever read." Give me a fucking break! Oh, go read On Golden Pond. But what really nauseates me is when they're realty sincere, that's worse than being phony. They convince themselves that this is the best thing they've ever read. That's when I throw my head back and say, "You people are taking this shit way too seriously."

Q: Have you ever been called a tough cookie?

A: [Silence] I don't know what Hollywood's saying about me, but I do have a reputation for being straightforward, and I like that. Very few people intimidate me--and that goes from the head of the studio on down, you know? I don't kiss anyone's ass.

Q: But you're nut exactly in a position where you have to, are you?

A: No, but sometimes I feel like I have to. When I was 27 and in the screenwriting program at Columbia University, they gave me a fellowship to go there and then said I was never going to make it--it was like a dysfunctional relationship. I went skiing during Christmas break, drank a bottle of tequila, said "Fuck Columbia!" and never went back. I don't need a master's degree that no one's going to care about, anyhow. Now my attitude is: Eat your fucking heart out!

Q: The film industry is full of rumors. Are there any about you?

A: Someone is going around saying I'm a lesbian. Why, because I make a few dollars and am strong and single? Are those prerequisites to being a lesbian? Okay, I'll be a lesbian for you this week, if that's what you want. Give me a break!

Q: Have any expectations for Hollywood?

A: No. My book agent said, "You're gonna fall in love with those palm trees and parties and we're gonna lose you," and I said, "I don't think so."

Q: You once said you'd trade your BMW for a good man. Does the offer still stand? Because I know a few takers.

A: [Laughing] Now that I have three cars, I think I'd give one up for Mr. Right, yeah. But I wouldn't trade my house.

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Heidi Parker is the senior editor of Movieline.