Who He Brouhaha

Up-and-coming auteur Whit Stillman, 42, may be making a name for himself, but it's awfully close to that of long-popular country singer Slim Whitman, 70. EW caught up with the two (Whit is actually the slimmer one, and Slim is pretty witty) to find out just what's in a celebrity name:

EW: Do people mistake you for each other?

Whit: Everyone does — though in name only.

Slim: I've been mistaken for everyone over the past 45 years. I used to always get mistaken for Montana Slim because I sounded a lot like him when I yodeled. But if anybody mistakes me for Whit Stillman, that's okay with me.

EW: How did you get your name?

Whit: I was born John Whitney Stillman.

Slim: The record company hated my real name — Otis Dewey Whitman — so while I was out fishing one day, they put the name Slim on my first album.

EW: Do you see your careers converging in the future?

Slim: Well, Whit could put me in one of his movies.

Whit: I've always admired Slim Whitman's work.

EW: How do you think you two could collaborate?

Slim: I'd love to do a duet with Whit.

Whit: I look forward to doing a Western with Slim.