An Interview with Executive Producer Michael Deeley
His answers here will be apart of his autobiography,
"Don't Shoot The Producer" due out in Fall of 2006
(This Q & A was conducted between October 25-27, 2005)

DF: Thank you for writing back. Your interview would be a major event for my web site and hopefully draw more of those involved in the movie to also produce an interview. 
MD: I certainly remember the movie very well because I had to come out to Albuquerque when Sam ran off the rails quite early on in the production. I was doing "The Deer Hunter" at the same time and didn't welcome being involved with two difficult pictures at the same time! Also, I'm just finishing a book about my films and 'Convoy' is well covered.

Question. What is/was your role with EMI Films LTD and your association with other producers (involved with 'Convoy') Robert M. Sherman, Barry Spikings and Michael Friedman.
Answer. I was president of EMI Films and took over the production when Peckinpah made Bob Sherman's life impossible. Spikings ran our London office and I've no idea who the uncredited Friedman was.

Question. Do you know who chose Sam Peckinpah as director and why?
Answer. Me because he might have been able to overcome the banal (commonplace) script.

Question. There is infamous history that there was conflict between producers (budget and film time) and authority over staff by Sam Peckinpah. Can you elaborate more on this Mr. Deeley as one of the producers?
Answer. Read the book.

Question. The film is well known for being based on the 1976 hit song of same name by C.W. McCall. There was an obvious difference in the song (trucks crossing the U.S. from Los Angelos to New Jersey), BWL Norton's screenplay and Sam Peckipah's apparent obsession with the Southwest U.S. Did the producers have/make say in location?
Answer. Read the book.

Question. Do you remember how much the budget originally was set at, especially that the director did go over over budget (a few years ago a theatrical outcome was posted as $45 Million)?
Answer. Budget about $7m - cost over $9m.

Question. I believe because of the timing of the film's release, summer of 1978, the film did not have a chance due to blockbusters such as Superman, Heaven Can Wait and Grease. Other than most claim a weak script would you agree also agree that Convoy was smothered by major
films of the year.
Answer. The picture exceeded expectations, making more theatrically than The Deer Hunter (Note: The Deer Hunter won 1978 Oscar for Film of the Year)

Question. Who decided the type of trucks wanted/would be on set? The more important question who decided on the Black Mack Tanker Truck as the lead character?
Answer. Art department.

Question. There is also an infamous note in books on director Sam Peckinpah, spending too much time filming specific scenes. One note claims he spent up too three and half hours of film material. Do you know, believe such cut film exists due to another claim said EMI Films edited the movie down to 1 hour 46 minutes.
Answer. Read the book. (Note: interesting answer)

Question. Although I stated this before, that the movie is based on C.W. McCall's 1976 song Convoy. Were producers involved in having Bill Fries/Chip Davis create a remake of the original song to base it in the Southwest U.S. territory?
Answer.Yes. A producer is involved in all aspects of production.

Question. Director Sam Peckinpah had a cameo as a sound gaffer/director on the pick up truck running an on the road interview with the Convoy. Did this bother producers since he was making a rep for disruptive authority?
Answer. No

Question. Madge Sinclair's "Black Widow" truck turns over in a four way intersection, landing against a car forcing to slow at a yield sign. Can you finally conclude this was a stunt or an accident kept in filming?
Answer. Madge Sinclairs crash was an accident.

A few questions were answered with the statement "Read the book". Mr. Deeley told me that the book contains 6000 words and covers 30 films. His Oscar winner The Deer Hunter, Convoy and other films will be covered. So I definitely can't wait for this book, it's going to be worth the wait and purchase.