After he graduated
from Lewis & Clark College with a degree in theater and
education in 1969, he became an internationally respected
arts administrator. He worked as a talent developer for Disney.
He co-founded the Academy of Russian Television and kickstarted
the first MTV Video Awards in the
former Soviet Union. Now Mike Pippi returns to Portland as
the new executive director of the Regional Arts & Culture
Council.
WW: Does the sun always shine on you?
Does it always shine on me? No, I've had some bad moments.
I have some stories I'll tell you over some vodka or tequila
about my experiences in Russia, because there were highs
and lows: cinematic moments that have been burnt into your
brain, little vignettes that really mean things. And then
I've had some really horrible things happen over there--a
bout with the Russian mafia that I won't go into. To work
there, you work with criminals, and that's all I'll say
about that right now. The whole country was truly run by
the criminal syndicates. The guy I did the MTV awards with
was a big Georgian mafia figure, I found out later. He ran
all the trade in Moscow.
You've worked extensively with Disney, what's your favorite
ride at Disneyland?
I would say...Temple of Doom. Actually, my very favorite
ride is the Peter Pan ride, which was built for 8-year-olds.
The ride to beat now is the Terminator 2 ride [at Walt Disney
World] in Florida. It's a ride experience, it's a 3-D movie
experience and it's a live performance all in one thing.
It's amazing. And they just opened one in L.A. The closest
thing to that in Disneyland is Honey I Shrunk the Audience,
which is pretty impressive on its own.
What do you think of the so-called Disneyfication of
America or at least of Times Square?
Yeah, I have mixed feelings with that. I think Disney takes
all the heat for the theming of American architecture. There's
a lot of theming, there's a movement in architecture right
now to create environments. I don't think it has to do just
with Disney; I think Disney has done it, but I don't think
they should take all the credit for it.
How will you keep your tan in Portland?
I'll keep my tan with either frequent trips to Puerto Vallarta
or a tanning bed, whichever is cheaper.
You have a certain matinee-idol look. Were you ever
confused for a movie star in L.A.?
Well, some people have said I look like George Clooney.
Actually, I used to be stopped on the street for autographs
by people thinking I was David Naughton--he's the guy with
Cybill Shepherd on the Mercedes commercials, and he starred
in the film An American Werewolf in London. I often
wondered if people stopped him asking if he were Mike Pippi.
Any performers or business people who you see as real
pioneers?
Oh yeah. Definitely Ted Turner. He's my hero. And I got
to meet him. I did this film festival for him in Russia
for the Goodwill Games. Ted and Jane were both there, and
they'd both given up smoking the day before and had flown
across the world, so they were not in the best of moods.
What's your favorite suit?
My favorite suit is a black DKNY. I love it because I can
throw it in a suitcase and it never wrinkles. I've traveled
all over the world with it. It's seen a lot of action in
the field and always looks good.
What's the most romantic thing you've ever done?
The most romantic and adventurous thing I ever did was
sell everything I owned and move to Russia to live for more
than four years. It was truly the "Wild East" and a real-life
adventure. There's a book in my experiences there... but
that's another entire interview.
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Willamette Week | originally
published August 4,
1999
|
