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Zyzzyx Rd. |
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| Did working with a small cast make it easier or more difficult to film? |
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| Easier to film with a small cast
because you fly right along and you have a comradery. You cover
each other and without getting specific, there are times when
actors are generous enough to cover their partner. If something
happens that throws something off and it's not as good as it
should be, or something definitely interfered with the
performance, even if the director thinks it's fine, you can read
it and pick up on it, and sometimes you tell the director, "oh I
don't know if you saw that but I slipped and the camera picked
up my whatever …" so they do it again. You're really into each
others head. It's a dance. It's better with smaller cast, I
think. |
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| What did you learn from making this film? |
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| I learned to take my name off the
checks so nobody knows I'm a producer when I'm on the set and I
can focus on acting only. I learned that when I disagree with a
Director of Photography, yet again, that I'm right, because even
though they have the title, I know a lot about the equipment and
the photography. So when I catch mistakes and they deny it, we
find out later I was right, so I trust me over them. I suppose
we all learned a lot. I learned that with an 18 day schedule,
and a motivated director you can deliver a saleable film that
you're proud of - you have to have a non-primadonna in the
directors chair, someone who wants to get it done and wants to
get it right and fast and not sit there trying to get it better
and better and running over schedule. I learned that the little
engine can really climb the mountain. |
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| Will a DVD of the film be available in the future? If so, do you have any news on a release date? |
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| Yes it will. It is being sold foreign right now. It's in Spain, France...
they will show it on TV first and then do whatever else they want with it, which includes going to DVD. |
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| You have a production company Leo Grillo Productions. How did you get involved in production? |
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| I make my own product. I formed
my own theater company. I was in video tape when it was on
reels. I've always wanted to make my own stuff. I'm smart enough
to know that I'm not God's gift to film making in all
departments, and that I would bring in a camera operator to
frame better, bring in a DP to light better, a director to
direct better. I bring in a writer to write better, but when it
comes to acting and producing, I am on very solid ground. The
producer is the conductor who brings the whole orchestra
together. |
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| Tell us about your business and some of your upcoming projects. |
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| "Magic" begins shooting mid June. It about A ten-year old girl who
must protect a very special dog from a malevolent research scientist as she journeys to reunite with her long lost
mother. We have a documentary this summer and a couple of other feature film projects to follow. |
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Interview by Katherine Heigl Online |
