Vanessa: I like that power.
Jamie: Where do you want to go? Do you want to go the Madonna route? Do you want to go the Bette Middler route? Or will you forge your own route?
Vanessa: Well, they both have variety to choose from, so yes, I would like to have access to doing major feature films, do a musical on Broadway, do television and record hit records. So yeah, I certainly want to have a career that gives me the options to do projects that inspire me and excite me.
Jamie: What do you think is going to happen after this movie?
Vanessa: After this movie? I don't know. I'm doing another film right after this, in April, called By the Sea of Crystal, (remark from webmaster: a project that was never done) which we're filming in Toronto. It's a small independent film. Paul Schrader wrote the script. He did Taxi Dnver and American Gigolo. It's kind of a dark film. I play a sister from Detroit who is raising her young son by herself and is devoted to her church work. This guy calls up and comes down to be saved and she establishes a relationship with him. It's interracial, but it's not like a love story. Henry Churney, who's playing the guy, is white and he does small-time hits for the big guys. He's tired of his life and ready to commit suicide. He's got the gun to his head and this guy comes on TV and says, "You need to be saved. Call this number." He calls the number and he comes down to the mission. I'm answering the phones and I had been a temp person in his office, so he was kind of embarrassed that he's trying to be saved. So it's about spiritual guidance and the dark side of life. And that will be good because this [movie, Eraser, with Schwarzenegger] is a 95 million dollar budget and this is like, you know, big, big, big. But it's a lot of running and jumping and scenes are short and there's a lot of physical stuff. Crystal is going to be a lot of acting-which will be nice to have. You know, the big picture, then small independent film, then go back to another big commercial....
Jamie: What has Henry Churney done before?
Vanessa: He did a movie called The Boys of St Vincent. It was about the priests who were at this boys' home for abused youth that these priests ran. It was based on a true story out of Canada. He's a Canadian actor, and he played the head priest who was abusing one of these kids. He did a tremendous job. Now he's in Mission Jmpossible. They're shooting now. He was in Clear and Present Danger where he played the head of the cartel, or something like that. I didn't see it; I just saw one scene where his character kind of tricked Harrison Ford.
Jamie: Yeah!
Vanessa: Yeah. So that's who he is. Then I'm trying to do a Christmas album by Christmas. And then I'm doing the double soundtrack for the theme song for this movie that will probably be out in May.
Jamic: You're doing the theme song?
Vanessa: Uh huh. David Foster is writing and producing that.
Jamie: Oh. That's who Natalie is going to he with tonight. Natalie Cole.
Vanessa: Oh, really? Tell her I said hi. Yeah, I was thinking about her.
Jamie: How well did your last album, Save the Best for Last, do?
Vanessa: In terms of units?
Jamie: Yes.
Vanessa: I think it's 2 million. Double platinum? Yeah.
Jamie: Great! Two million-double platinum. You told me one time that [your family] was trying to get more money to live on. You had just had your second child. That's when I came to your home out in Ladera Heights. You were in a position where people thought you were making a lot of money, but you were just starting off with your singing career.
Vanessa: Oh, okay, okay. Way, way back.
Jamic: Is that straight now? Because you were in financial straits at that time, but now that's changed with all of your hit records, right?
Vanessa: The recording deal certainly helped. But also as an actress I make money, and on my television stuff. I made money every week on Broadway. Broadway was the first time I had a job that I showed up for, every day, for a long time. To have a regular gig was like doing a series. That was wonderful-to know what you're going to make each week and to do your job and know that you're staying home and not having to travel and stuff. That was wonderful. I could bring the kids to school, be there when they got off the hus, get them ready for dinner and then go do my show and come hack before midnight.
Jamie: Do any of the kids have any talent that you can see yet? [Vanessa and hubby Ramon Hervey have two girls and a baby boy: Melanie, 8, Jillian, 6, and Devin, 3.]
Vanessa: Melanie was in her first show this winter, called Winter Lights. It's a local community theater group and she had a solo song. She did a beautiful job. I was in tears. She has a beautiful, pure voice-gorgeous pitch. And it was surprising because the kids sing around the house and goof around. But to see her in the spotlight, all by herself accompanied on a stage gave me chills.
Jamie: Do you want to have more kids?
Vanessa: I wanted to have one more son. But I don't think that's going to happen. I love kids. I love being a mom.
Jamie: What do you like about being a mom?
Vanessa: I love the nurturing side of it. I love the experience that kids bring to your life. Every day, you never know what's going to happen or what they're going to say or how they're going to grow.