O
Duck
RETR DUCK
Oscar-
Last week the
Oregon football team
finished daily doubles
and now can savor a little
more rest with just one
practice a day. Academy Award-winning
production designer and Duck football
letterman (1967-69) knows all about daily
doubles from his football days and compares
that experience to making movies. Gassner
was the production designer for “Road to
Perdition” starring Paul Newman and Tom
Hanks. Gassner finished his work on the
film in the spring of 2001 and had this to
say about it: “Road to Perdition” was a fusion
of all the work that I’ve done. It was a
wonderful collaboration where everyone was
involved. It was the hardest movie that I’ve
ever done. It was incredibly intense. Imagine
daily doubles every day for a year.” Gassner
won the production design Oscar in 1991
for “Bugsy” starring Warren Beatty. But the
road to Hollywood fame was anything but
easy. Dennis sees a close correlation between
his days as a “Fighting Duck” playing
for head coach Jerry Frei and designing
a multi-million dollar movie. “Playing the
game contributed so much to the career
that I’ve had,” Gassner related.
Dennis Gassner entered the University
of Oregon in 1967 from David Douglas High
School along with teammates Cam Sinclair,
and Joe Phillips. “On an intellectual level
I wanted to be an architect but it was just too
difficult to play football and be an architect.
Then I thought, ‘well, I’ll be an artist and
then, all of a sudden, I found film where
you’re combining all the elements.’ ” He took
a film class at the U of O and made a couple
of small Super 8 movies. In the meantime
Dennis starred as a defensive end for the
Ducks and his intensity in football has also
carried over to his vocation. Defensive coach
Norm Chapman described the 6’ 0”, 198 lb.
Gassner this way: “...a good guy, a real team
player who was one of the best defensive
ends to ever play at Oregon, possessing
tenacity and quickness. Dennis played the
stand-up defensive end position in a 5 man
front and he couldn’t be knocked off his feet.
He was a hard-nosed hitter and on the field
Winning
Photo courtesy: Dreamworks Pictures
D E NN IS (R I G H T) ON T H E SE T
O F “ R O AD TO P E RD I T IO N ” , WI TH
D IR EC T OR CO N R AD H A LL .
he was a mean, vicious guy. You didn’t
want to be a quarterback when Dennis
Gassner took the option.”
Case in point was October of 1968
against Ohio State at Columbus. Buckeye
quarterback Rex Kern ran down the line on
an option and Gassner made him pay with
a powerful hit that knocked Kern out cold.
On the way down the elevator at halftime
the Ohio State assistants complained about
Gassner’s hit and Chapman told them
“that’s the name of the game” and informed
them that’s what happens when you use
an option quarterback. Teammate Brad
Halverson described Dennis as an
“unassuming stud” who had a great ability
to “uncoil his body” and deliver big hits.
Although teammates and coaches
remember that hit at Ohio State, Gassner
said his football memories are a “blur.” But
one of his more focused memories was
playing #1-ranked USC at Autzen in 1968.
Gassner, knew what Trojan quarterback
Steve Sogge was going to do on a certain
play. “I saw the play develop and Sogge fake
and I knew where they were going. If I had
moved to go for the interception it would
have been an interesting footrace. I backed
off, just watched the play develop and tack-
led him. But there was that little moment
when you look back and say ‘I should have’
and it would have been clear sailing.”
Gassner said that all of his coaches at
Oregon were “terrific” and he was especially
impressed by John Robinson. “He was
always the greatest influence. He had a way
with people philosophically that made you
want to work for him. Jerry Frei was a great
coach and was kind of stoic in his manner
and let his assistants do a lot more of the
psychologically oriented work. Robinson
had an enthusiasm and a way of endearing
himself with the players. He could yell but
with humor and a twinkle in his eye to get
you to go further.
After Dennis “found film” at the
and really don’t have ego problems.
Because of the nature of the business
he thinks that the “problem people”
fall by the wayside before they can even
become famous. He says that everyone
is in the business together and whoever
comes forward with the right thing at
the right time realizes success.
For Gassner the Hollywood scene
is not one of glamour. “I work and
U of O he graduated with a degree
in political science and moved to
Portland, married, and had a child.
Gassner applied and was accepted
to the Art Center of College Design
in Los Angeles. He studied there
for two years and while there he
met a fellow student named
Doug Clayborne. After graduation
Clayborne was hired by
Francis Ford Coppola to work on
“Apocalypse Now” and in turn
Clayborne was able to add Gassner
to his production team. Gassner’s
job was to design the dossier
material. “I worked like a maniac
and it was a frightening experience
to stand before the prestigious
group of Coppola, Melinda
Matheson, and Michael Hare and
to be told that the dossier material
was going to be the main thread for
‘Apocalypse Now’.” In the movie
there is a scene where a New York
D EN N IS W AS A
Times newspaper article is seen.
S TA N DO U T D E F EN S IV E
Dennis asked Coppola for advice on
E N D FR OM 19 6 7- 6 9 .
what fictitious by-line name should
be used in that scene. Coppola told
Gassner to use his (Dennis’) name!
Gassner said he “freaked out” when he saw
I go home and sleep. A pretty normal
the final cut and “Dennis Gassner” about
life. The fun part is at the end when
14 feet high on the screen. Gassner said he
you get to see a movie that is interesting.”
was sitting next to the president of the film
I asked him if “O Brother Where Art
company who nudged him and said, “you
Thou” was a fun movie to do. “It was
got a bigger credit than Francis!” “I was a
hard. None of the movies are fun to
nobody at that time. I wasn’t even a member
do. They’re all hard to do. You get up
of the union and I was just the guy who
everyday and you work your ass off.
designed the dossier,” said Gassner. However,
I haven’t stopped playing football.
his foot was in the door and more doors
I’m in the film business, but I’m still
began to open wide for him.
playing football. It’s artistic, you’re part
Gassner’s special interest in film work
of a team, you play a long game for
led him into production design. “I get a
about a year and then you get to play
script, and I have to turn the words on
another one. So it does translate itself
a page into visuals. The director and I will
in an interesting way.” Despite the
talk about the emotion of the scene and
hard work Dennis looks forward to
what the characters are like. Who are these
more movies. “In this business I try
characters, where do they live and what is
to challenge myself to the next level.
their environment like? I create all the
So, every picture I do I look for something
visuals you see on the screen and the director
that is going to challenge me so I don’t
of photography lights them and puts his
get bored. And that’s the exciting part.
emotional lighting into my emotional
I’m lucky enough that I’ve put myself
environment.” Eventually Dennis got to
in the position where I get offers for
work with Dean Tavoularin, the designer of
interesting projects.” Now he is working
“The Godfather” films. He mentored Gassner
on “Big Fish” with Tim Burton (Batman),
for 5 years and Dennis considers him to
with whom he has always wanted
still be the best designer in the world. “He
to work. The timing and conditions
showed me the way into the business, in an
have come together on this picture which
artistic political fashion,” said Gassner.
Dennis describes as “a fantasy, a kind
Gassner said he eventually got “kicked
of combination of “Forrest Gump” and
out of the nest” and he designed his first
the “Wizard of Oz”.
picture, a small million dollar film, “The
Gassner has not been back to
Hitcher” in 1986. It was critically well
Autzen since his last game in 1969
received and started a chain reaction that
but he’s more aware now of what the
led to much larger films such as “Field of
Ducks are doing. When he was
Dreams” in 1989, “The Grifters” and “Miller’s
working on “Waterworld” in Hawaii
Crossing” in 1990 and “Bugsy” with Warren
a producer knowing that Gassner
Beatty in 1991. Some of his notable films are
had played at Oregon, informed
“Barton Fink”, “Waterworld”, The Truman
him that the Ducks were going to the
Show”, “O Brother Where Art Thou”, and
Rose Bowl. Gassner said his first reaction
“Road to Perdition”. Dennis won the British
was thinking that he was having an
Academy Award for “The Truman Show”.
acid flashback! Dennis plans on working
Gassner has rubbed elbows with such nota-
“as long as he can keep moving.”
bles as Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, Kevin
He remarked: “what am I going to do,
Costner, John Goodman, Jim Carrey, and
retire? Retire and do what?” Dennis’ is
many others. He said that actors who have
married, lives in Hollywood, California,
reached that level have usually struggled
and has a daughter from his first marriage
(e.g. Carrey lived in his car for two years)
who also works in the business.
Ducks I llustrated
AUGUST 28, 2003 19