INTERVIEW With JOHN ROGERS (Young Ratred)

January 12, 2007

RatredMovie: First off I'd like to thank you for doing this interview. It's hopefully going to be the first of many as the Ratred movie throttles into pre-production.

John Rogers: Sure, I'm as excited as anyone about the movie.

RatredMovie: As many first questions go, how did you become involved with this film and the people making it? Where did it all begin?

John Rogers: Well, I've known Tony for awhile...we went to high school together, and we worked on a couple of projects together back then - not the least of which became the idea behind Ratred. When he came to me and asked me to work with him in the film, I jumped on the opportunity.

The original film was a student project for a film class...Tony and I got together with a camera and tripod and started filming. He wrote the script, did the camera work, and did really all of the talking. It got us into a bit of trouble, throwing buckets of fake blood around the back room of the school cafeteria, making a mess backstage at the theater, reorganizing things that didn't belong to us... We realized early on that we couldn't tell anyone what exactly we were about to film or they'd never give us permission. Anyway, this new project is altogether more professional and exciting. The basis of the plot is pretty much the same, but Tony's done a lot of work pulling this big project together, and I've got to hand it to him for all that effort.

RatredMovie: Tony speaks very highly of you as an actor and a friend. At one stage of the production he seemed unwilling to cooperate unless you were cemented to play the lead. Despite things not working out exactly the way he'd hoped, how did it feel to be apart of a mandate like that?

John Rogers: Honestly? I was really flattered. I've never acted in such a big project before, and he really boosted my confidence when he said that. Despite my generous reservoir of self-doubt, he really made me feel like I had a shot at playing that part really well, and that meant a lot to me. When you act in a student project, or speak in a documentary, you don't worry about confidence or self-esteem...but when a project grows to include more than two people, you really start to wonder if people aren't going to enjoy your performance. He did a lot to help me get over that hurdle, and now I'm ready to give it my all. Whether or not I was cast at all, I'd do everything in my power to help make Ratred a success. I guess I've fallen in love with it now.

RatredMovie: A bit off-topic, but I've been dying to ask you this... Who do you want to play the older Ratred (your character) in the film? There can be two lists, one comprised of legitimate choices and one comprised of your dream choices.

John Rogers: (Laughs) You know, I hadn't given it a lot of thought until now. Let me see... The first idea that Tony suggested was Jim Caviezel. I thought...'Dang, now I'll have to go watch The Passion'.

RatredMovie: Apparently he was a bit pricey...

John Rogers: Yeah, when I learned he was out of our range, I was pretty downtrodden. The opportunity to work with a good-looking, talented guy like that was a pretty exciting thing to consider. On the same note, Liam Neeson is a favorite actor of mine, but once again, likely light-years away from being affordable to us. In Batman Begins he was a pretty great cold-hearted murderer.

RatredMovie: I never thought of him. He would be really good. He'd have the eloquence and intimidating presence that would just completely sell the character of Ratred. Nice choice.

John Rogers: I've been told I look like him by a few people. I take that as a serious compliment.

RatredMovie: I would too!

John Rogers: So...I guess the dream list would include Viggo Mortensen (because I love that man and there's a screaming Lord of the Rings fanboy in me somewhere deep down) and Hugh Laurie (because I love House M.D. and he is a sexy man). I don't know if either of them would be appropriate, but I certainly would love to meet either one of them face-to-face, so I'm a little biased.

RatredMovie: What do you think of the journey that this project has taken (as a project of its own and as a job you'll be doing)? It's quite rare to be cast as the younger version of a lead character when the lead hasn't even been cast yet. Hell, there isn't even a director on board!

John Rogers: (Chuckle) I guess it's just my animal attraction and my dazzling performance. ...Okay, seriously though, I'm really impressed the project has come this far. When I first heard about it I thought 'Okay, I'll jump on board and see where it goes...maybe we'll hit some film festivals or something and it'll be great'...but now, I'm really staggered by how much the whole idea of Ratred has grown. We need to put some more names in the credits (director and lead, namely) but that's small when you consider how far the project has come. I still tend to get memories of the student project we did when I think about the movie, and then Tony calls me to tell me some big name that's interested in Ratred and it wakes me up, makes me realize it's not just two guys with a camera dinking around a school. It's an awesome feeling.

RatredMovie: So, what do you think of the script? Dave Coupe did a draft and now another screenwriter is cleaning that mess up. What are your thoughts on the many incarnations of this story, specifically the most recent ones?

John Rogers: Well, out of Dave Coupe's original 'mess' I got to read maybe two chapters. Honestly, I thought it was pretty good even back then. Since then I've seen mostly bits and pieces...my knowledge of the story has come filtered through Tony, frequently over the phone, so I can't say much about the script at this point. I hear the final draft is just about done, and I can't wait to get my hands on it. I know we've flip-flopped some roles around, buffed up a few scenes and made concessions for length pretty frequently, so it probably doesn't look much like the script I was able to read anymore. Hmm, that's actually what happened right before we shot the first recruitment video. Tony emailed me a monologue to study a week in advance and I learned it through and through, and when we were driving up to the site to actually film it, he handed me a completely different one, twice as long, to learn. That's pretty much what the script has gone through, I hear. (Laughs)

RatredMovie: Despite not really having read the final draft of the script, what qualities would you hope to find in the prospective director? Any word from Tony on who is going to end up in the directors seat when all is said and done? Care to play dream world again and list a few choices of your own?

John Rogers: Hmm. That's an interesting question. I think optimally we'll land a director with a good eye for suspense, someone with a strong hand when it comes to the creepy...someone with a good idea of how to really sell up the more gory scenes and give them some solid impact. No word from Tony as yet...I know some people were on the fence, potentially, but I don't think we have a definite answer on who it'll be for sure. He'll definitely be a lucky son of a bitch...anyone who gets rolled up into Ratred certainly is. (Laughs) Maybe James Wan... I watched Saw and it hit me really hard...Admittedly, Cary Elwes could have been in a Barbie movie and I'd go out and buy it, but since we're talking about directing and not acting I think if we could get an ambience like Saw had we'd be in business. That movie stuck to its guns pretty strongly...it didn't let up on the gory scenes, but it didn't sell the characters short either. I think that kind of direction is what we'll need for Ratred to really fly.

RatredMovie: While your character only appears in a few scenes in the first film, is there any chance for a return in the alleged sequels (if they're ever made)?

John Rogers: Oh, absolutely. If Tony asked me to do a sequel I'd sign on as quickly as I did the first time. And who knows...maybe I'll land the lead next time when I've got some more experience under my belt. Don't you filmmakers out there forget about me! (Laughs) In any case, if it keeps shaping up like this, I'm sure nobody will be forgetting Ratred for a long time.

RatredMovie: You mention the prospect of returning to film after Ratred: The Following to take on a lead role. Could this be an insider scoop hinting at some casting ideas Tony has for the several other movies he is developing?

John Rogers: (Laughs) I'd like to pretend there's some big secret behind that, but I don't know what he's planning, to be honest. We chatted a bit about his plans to tell more of Ratred's story through some different eyes and I agreed that it was a great idea...he suggested maybe talking more about his childhood and parents in one film, or a close friend from some other time in the next...maybe we'll see a franchise develop from Ratred. Who knows? Someday I'd like to be one of those big film stars, with my own personal paparazzi and people always dredging up my dark secrets...we'll see if there's a place for me in Ratred 2 someday.

RatredMovie: So, we've discussed the Ratred movie at great length... What can you tell readers about you?

John Rogers: Hmm.okay, let's see. I've always had a strong interest in acting. I was in a couple of pretty big productions in high school beyond the student films - we did The Crucible and Edwin Drood in theatre, and I was the bad guy in both... (Laughs) I guess I'm being typecast for my personality or something. I mean, high school productions generally aren't very big or involved, but back then we had this incredible Drama director - Tim Craig...he was a man with some connections, who brought in a professional costume company, a professional set carpenter, professional lighting team...all in all it was as much a big theater event as any public theater, except we were in high school at the time. Beyond that, I played Thalgrid (an evil elf, basically) in one year's performance at the New Jersey Renaissance Kingdom. That was an amazing experience for me...there's some real talent in there, and some great people. Also, I got to be vile and wicked and make babies cry (true story). So it was an eye-opener for me. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I had the time to do volunteer theater nowadays.

RatredMovie: What are you doing to prepare for your film debut? When are you expected to get behind cameras and let the creative juices flow? Are you doing any type of research into the lives and childhoods of real serial killers? How are you going to ensure that you make the most of this once in a lifetime opportunity?

John Rogers: Getting ready for a big opportunity like this is no small feat. When I first talked to Tony about the role, he suggested I start getting in better shape...I'm not overweight or anything, but since I stopped taking Tae Kwon Do lessons I've gotten a little bit of a 'spare tire'... (Laughs) ... So I'm doing a lot of cardio for now until I can get myself enough free time to really start exercising. The original character design called for Ratred to wear a trench coat-like over garment and no undershirt, so I'd have to tone up a bit. There's plenty of mental prep work to do, too. How does one start thinking like a cult leader? I've read up on a few real events, mostly the Manson murders...that guy was a genius. Not that I'm saying he wasn't totally insane, mind you, but he pulled off his insanity in a way that kept him from repercussions for a really long time. It's interesting to try to get into the mind of a guy whose mind was a total mess. As far as when we'll be getting behind the cameras...I can't really say for sure. Originally, shooting was supposed to begin in the spring, but I think with preproduction and casting and budget concerns that are a bit unrealistic.

RatredMovie: Setting potential typecasting issues aside, what types of roles would you ideally like to play in the future? How (and where) would you develop and expand your career? Writing? Directing? What are the ambitions that you'd love to see come to fruition?

John Rogers: Oh man, this is a serious question. (Laughs) ...I've always had a soft spot for sci-fi and fantasy flicks...I grew up on stuff like the Princess Bride and Star Wars, and admittedly, most of my favorite actors were in films like those. I'd love to play a lead in some kickass fantasy setting, battling CGI orcs and speaking in a long, dramatic monotone about the fierce battles of the past and such. As far as expanding my career goes, I think I'll have to learn what it is I'm good at doing and just go for that. As much as I'd like to do one type of movie, if I have to do other things for awhile I wouldn't be losing out...I'd still be doing what I love to do. I'm hoping that playing Ratred puts me on the radar a little and opens some doors for doing other films...if I can just get my foot in the door I'm sure I'll be able to go far...it's like, I've been chasing this dream forever but I've always been scared to go out and do it, but Ratred sort of came to me, and it's given me the confidence to go try for more.

RatredMovie: I think it's time to wrap things up. We keep going at this rate and we'll inevitably find ourselves discussing politics, the upcoming iPhone, and the big Donald Trump/Rosie O'Donnell feud... One last question though. What do you want to see after you stroll down the red carpet, plop down into your seat, and watch Ratred: The Following for the first time?

John Rogers: Oh, you had to mention the iPhone...I'm a gigantic nerd; you see...you may as well have mentioned space travel at a Star Trek convention. But, when I sit down at the premiere of Ratred, I want to see suspense, to be gripping the edge of my seat...I want to see a seriously twisted man on that screen making that patsy detective Neal's life a living hell...most of all, I want to see a wild, blockbuster success that makes billions of dollars and makes all of my dreams come true. (Laughs) ...I guess that's what every actor wants at some point, isn't it?

RatredMovie: It most certainly is! Thanks for taking time to chat up RatredMovie.com!

John Rogers: Anytime!

Interview with Frank Giglia

December 27, 2006

RatredMovie.com: ok, how did you come across the project of Ratred: The Following?

Frank Giglia: Frank Mosca of Harrington Talents told me about this horror project he thought I'd be great for. He sent me a copy of the screenplay and I saw so much I could do with it. He got me in contact with Anthony P. and we went from there.

RatredMovie.com: For those who don’t know, he is talking about Executive Producer Tone. So you were brought in to basically condense and rewrite the story based off of Tones story and David Coupes draft that many have called the novelization. How much of the original concepts and ideas have you kept in your version. And what did you like and/or dislike about the previous version?

Frank Giglia: What I liked was that most of the elements were already there, they just needed to be broken down to their core and refined. I kept more of the ideas than I originally thought I would be able to. I guess "novelization" would be a good word for it, because it was very broad and not as concise as a screenplay needs to be, but it was all there with some really good images.

RatredMovie.com: Do you foresee Ratred truly making it to the big screen for all to see?

Frank Giglia: The more I write, the more I like it, the more I see it as something I would definitely want to see, and that's important when writing, you have to enjoy it yourself, and I think everyone else would enjoy it too.

RatredMovie.com: Since you above all know what the story is about, the final two questions we have before you have to catch your flight are these…
What does this screenplay have that other horror scripts don’t, what sets Ratred: The Following apart from the common herd of slasher flicks that Hollywood keeps pounding down our throats?

Frank Giglia: Ratred is a slasher flick with an actual backbone of story and character. There are police thriller elements in it that add to the range of emotion that the viewer will go through. We don't just meet a bunch of cardboard cutout teens who everyone knows will be hacked up or tortured, we get a sense of every character.

RatredMovie.com: ok, and finally…
We have yet to get any kind of official story synopsis, until we get the official one, can you hook us up with a small one of your own.

Frank Giglia: When NJ police detective Neal Heisen finds out his latest case, a gruesome series of murders, was ordered by the man who crippled his friend years earlier, he will stop at nothing to bring the killer and his cult down. Little does he know, the killer, known only as Ratred, has plans of his own that threaten Neal and all he holds dear.
How's that?

RatredMovie.com: not bad... not bad at all
Well thank you for your time, during the holiday season.

Frank Giglia: It was a pleasure.

Interview with Executive Producer Tone

December 10, 2006

RatredMovie.com: Where did Ratred come from? How did this whole thing begin?

Executive Producer Tone: Ratred was invented when I was back in High School, My friend Mike and I had to come up with a 5 minute film for video production class, and we came up with a story titled Seduction of the Innocent
it was the story about a cop, named Neal Heisen who was up against a killer, Ratred
and they would go back and forth through twisted games of cat and mouse. We wound up going extremely overboard and made a half hour film
it was nothing spectacular however for our age and what we had available it was very creative, problem was, another group in the class got in a lot of trouble and all the computers were erased, so ratred was thought to be lost forever

RatredMovie.com: What has lead you to make the leap from adolescent ambitions to actually producing your story as a feature film years later?

Executive Producer Tone: It was a lot of things. I ended up starting my own Landscaping business, and though it was successful I was not happy with it. I wanted to do film. So I tried mixing the two. We came up with this idea for an online show called The Landscaper. It almost made it to the Home & Garden Network, but the exec's decided I was too young to be taken seriously as a pro in the field. So we ended up canceling production on it and looking for other ideas. I started filming a show called Lost in NJ with Mike Wills, and we founded MikroTone productions as a result. Mike had muscular dystrophy and his life expectancy was short to begin with. He suggested to me one day trying to remake a story surrounding Ratred
Since, I knew his time was short I jumped on it immediately

RatredMovie.com: What steps did you take to make the transition from home movie to Hollywood movie? How does someone go about getting a movie made in the way that you have?

Executive Producer Tone: well, that’s a tough one
I happened to have a contact to a studio in NY. Jeff Kalvin, (Associate Producer on Ratred) was interning for Harrington Talents and suggested to me I use them, so we met and they loved the concept, we signed an agreement and here we are
but first things first, you need a story that’s worth its weight in gold

RatredMovie.com: Where did you find [screenwriter] David Coupe? Has he done anything before this? Why pursue a rookie screenwriter for your cinematic debut?

Executive Producer Tone: I found Coupe online, he was writing a fan story of my favorite superhero, and I loved his talent for story telling. When you are staring from scratch, you don’t exactly have a million dollars to go get a Hollywood writer. I think we struck gold with David Coupe, he devoted himself to the story because he wanted to prove his merit in the industry, this is either going to make or break all of us. It just seemed like the right thing to do.

RatredMovie.com: The film obviously has gone through more than one draft in screenplay form, where did the script need to go after David turned in his draft?

Executive Producer Tone: Well, when David finished his draft I pretty much did my own revisions. David tells his stories in so much detail that the screenplay ended up being like 300 pages. I got it down to about 200, but that was still too long. The studio decided we needed it down to around 100. So they suggested letting a fresh pair of eyes in on the project. We met with two writers and chose the latter of the two. Although I cannot release his identity just yet, sorry.

RatredMovie.com: Seeing as how you're in the midst of pre-production, where do you go from here? How goes the search for a director, D.O.P., composer, and all of the other creative foundations of a motion picture?

Executive Producer Tone: As of this point we are looking into Directors. The studio already has a handful of people they want to bring on board so once we cast the names we already have set in stone, and hire the team members we already have on the wing waiting, we will move into unknown territory. We actually plan on finding a young unknown director who will work with us rather than make his own movie

RatredMovie.com: How long will you actually be doing work on the film? What will your position mean when the film goes behind cameras and then into the editing suites?

Executive Producer Tone: Approximately 9 months, 3 for preproduction, 3 for production, and 3 for post. As Executive Producer nothing gets done without my approval, so I am pretty much quality control

RatredMovie.com: When will the film hit theaters? You won't have any involvement in the production of the inevitable DVD?
Executive Producer Tone: Oh, I’m sure I will, we actually already have some ideas for the DVD's special features that people will love. As far as a theatrical release date, way too early to know, I mean we just made our first casting announcement like a week ago

RatredMovie.com: What's next for you after Ratred?

Executive Producer Tone: We have a few projects in development. The next feature film will undoubtedly be The Uninvited, a remake of the horror classic. We also have a few projects currently in development, such as Fit In 6, which will be a fitness reality show. Lost In NJ will be kicking into a whole new gear and going to some really cool places in 2007. There is an online wrestling show in the works, and finally we are discussing the possibility of a movie that is the opposite of what we are doing thus far, a comedy.

RatredMovie.com: What are you most looking forward to in the weeks and months ahead, a time when this passion project will begin to take shape?

Executive Producer Tone: mainly two aspects are driving me crazy, 1. Casting: We cant bring in any hollywood a-listers because we cant afford to. Technically in this kind of film celebrity status doesn’t count for much anyway. Good acting is where we need to look. Which is why we cast John Rogers as the middle Ratred. I have a list of potentials for the film though. The most coveted roles will be the other two forms of Ratred, Neal Heisen, his partner Tercel, there trainee Avery, Neal’s Wife Cameron, and Mike Millar. All of which I have a face in my head to take each role.
2. building the film: I cant wait to see the props start taking shape, and the sets get built, you get to see your visions come to life, its incredible
I’ve never been so anxious in my life

RatredMovie.com: Is there anything that hasn't lived up to expectations? Is this new career completely without faults?

Executive Producer Tone: Hell no, it has many faults. First and foremost, everyone is out to rip you off. Especially Investors and distributors. Deadlines are non-existent. Its very long and tiring. What it comes down to is that the base work takes what seems like a good chunk of forever. Getting the perfect story, then getting the money, then making the sets, and props, casting, its all such a dragged out process that you sometimes think its just never gonna happen. But if you hang in there and be patient, it happens, just slowly. I know now, if I’m told there will be something on my desk on Monday, I expect it Monday two weeks from now

RatredMovie.com: My last question is this...
What do you want to see when you finally get a chance to sit down and relax in your seat at the premiere of the film in however many years? What is that film comprised of?

Executive Producer Tone: hmmmmmmmmm, well first and foremost, I need a good bucket of popcorn, and a jumbo cherry coke. I want to see people in shock, I want to see them at the edge of there seat, I want to see them laugh and cry, and Most of all I want them to leave loving what they saw. That’s what this is really all about. Making something that audiences will go crazy for. I think this story has a lot of heart, and you really feel for all of the characters. Now if that gets the justice it deserves visually, I know we will accomplish these tasks.

David Coupe Speaks

November 28. 2006

RatredMovie.com cought up with Screenwriter David Coupe for a 1 on 1 interview, heres a clip...

QUESTION: (RatredMovie.com) What's your involvement in the Ratred film?

ANSWER (David Michael Coupe): Basically I wrote the first draft of the
screenplay and also worked with Anthony Purzycki on expanding and
refining the characters, plot, and the overall story-arch.

Q: When people see the film, how much of it will be directly out of
your script?

A: It's hard to say at this point. Seeing as how I am an unproven
commodity in the filmmaking world it was a no-brainer for the
producers to bring on another screenwriter to polish the work that I
did. It was responsible and I was probably the biggest advocate of
doing it. Since another writer is taking a pass at the script, I think
it's pretty unlikely that my draft will be the predominantly featured
material when all is said and done. That's in the best interest for
the film though, because at the time (and this is probably still
applicable) I was untrained and unsupervised. My instincts weren't
those of a screenwriter, but of a storyteller. That's honestly what
the film needed when I was involved. Now we have someone to take those
storytelling instincts and adapt them into the appropriate structure
of a film. I've progressed as a screenwriter, but getting fresh blood
involved with the film is smart move at this juncture.

Q: What do you expect to make it into the final shooting script?

A: First of all I don't think there will be an actual definable
shooting script. It's not really answering your question, but with a
film like this, we [the writers, producers, and filmmakers] are always
looking at how to enhance, deepen, and expand the material to make it
better. Because of that, we'll most likely have an on-set writer
helping to do quick rewrites and dialogue polishes on the spot. To
answer your question though, I think that some of the bigger choices I
made while writing the first draft will stick. There are several major
"character defining" moments that were in my draft that I feel will
survive the intermediate writer's work.

Q: I'm not sure if this is possibly at this stage in production, but
can you be a bit more specific in regard to these big "character
defining" moments that occur in the film?

A: I'm not really at liberty to reveal in any sort of detail what
these moments are or what they consist of. I will say that some are
moments that will seem very alien to the typical horror films being
made these days. There are certain moments of incredible warmth and
joviality, while other moments bring an intense tragedy into these
characters lives. I always try to find the reality in what I write,
therefore we're going to see a few unusual elements in this film that
aren't what most people in this profession would consider
"conventional" in terms of the plot devices and character-arch's of a
modern horror film. I'm almost hesitant to label this film as that.

Q: As what? A horror film?

A: Yeah, whenever I've talked to people about the film and the tone
we're attempting to achieve, the film can be easily described as a
"character driven horror-thriller". That's the movie we set out to
create and I'm certain it's the kind of movie that this film will be
marketed as when that phase begins. I, however, didn't write this film
as a "horror-thriller". I was given a story, a basic one that had some
overall moments and themes that needed to be addressed, and then just
worked those necessary elements into what I consider a deeply tragic
and affecting character piece. It just so happens that the actions of
several characters tend to lean on the more sociopath and destructive
side. It's like 'Good Will Hunting' but with serial killers and cults.

Q: Perhaps that's how they will market the film...

A: I seriously doubt that. Seeing as how the film revolves around the
titular character of Ratred, we have a few things in common with the
Saw franchise. Seeing as how that franchise has probably only got
another film or two left in her, I could see the studios pushing
Ratred as sort of the sister film to Saw. Try to bring those numbers
to this new film in the hope of creating their next huge breakout
horror franchise.

Q: Could this film spawn a franchise? Do you think that there could be
a sequel?

A: Absolutely. It's not that I'm simply open to selling out and making
more money, which I am incidentally, but when we first hashed the
story out we knew that there were plenty of things that we could do
with the characters that wouldn't fit into the movie we're trying to
make. Therefore at that early stage we agreed that pending the success
of the first film, we would pursue making two sequels to the first
film. Everyone seems to be making trilogies these days, whether or not
they've been planned for that sort of expansive existence in film is
unknown to me. All I know is that we have plenty of story left to
deliver another two or three films that are not only worthy successors
to the first, but perhaps have the potential to be far better.

Q: What would your involvement be on those films, if of course they
were made?

A: Again, it's all based on the first films success. I would venture
to guess that my involvement on the project would mirror my
involvement on this one. Perhaps by then I'll be good enough to not
warrant someone else messing with my script. I won't hold my breath
though.

Q: What's next for you? More horror films?

A: First and foremost I intend to continue with the working
relationship I've forged with Tony this past year. I also have to
admit that I'm not really all that big into horror films. They make
good ones every once in a while; the last one I saw that I loved was
Alexander Aja's The Hills Have Eyes remake. That had everything I was
looking for in a film of that genre. The truth is I'd only do more of
these horror flicks for Tony. He's a great guy to be involved with in
this type of project, he knows what he wants and what kind of movie he
plans on making, but never makes it a point to cage you into anything.
He understands and gets the importance of screenwriters playing around
with plot, characters, and dialogue. That makes him an asset in this
day and age where those kinds of partnerships are scarcely found.

Q: Anything outside of your working with Tony [Purzycki]?

A: Finishing up school, I'm still quite the youngster... My ambitions,
like most people, do extend far past what I'm working on at the
moment. Hell, I'm not even exclusive to the film industry because I do
marketing and managerial work for a friend of mine, the up-and-coming
rap artist Killa Pream. Doing this work for him on the side has been a
lot of fun and I think even if the script sells and the movie hits,
I'd like to keep marketing him as a talent, I feel that I'm pretty
good at it. Back to filmmaking, I have a bunch of projects that I've
been thinking about doing for a while. As corny as it sounds, this
film could be the key to my being able to follow my dreams. While I
fear becoming pigeonholed in doing films in this genre and becoming
labeled as one of many 'horror movie' writers, I am confident that if
this film does well and is well received it will open more doors than
it will close. I was huge into comic books back in High School and
would love to take on a film adaptation of one of the many untouched
properties out there.

Q: Anything in particular?

A: I'd rather not say. Hint-wise I will tell you that his comic has
been deemed 'unfilmable' and thus will never see the light of the
silver screen. I fully intend, with every last ounce of my being, to
prove whoever said that incredibly wrong.

Q: Sounds like whatever it is would be a lot of fun. Thanks for talking
to us!

A: My pleasure! Now, I've got to head to class... (Laughs)

Thanks for the interview Dave, Im sure the fans will enjoy it. According to Dave we have another screenwriter on board, Ill do some digging and see if I could find out who was brought in to "Polish" Coupe's 1st draft. Till then Im outta here

Tone finally talks Ratred!
September 10, 2006: RatredMovie.com caught up with Executive Producer Tone and he talked a little about his Ratred project.

Tone: Ratred is still in the extremely early stages. The 1st draft of the script is almost done and is shaping up to be a tremendous story. To call this film a horror would be selling it short. I think of it more as a thriller with Horror scenes. When Mike & I made Seduction of the Innocent years back, the entire film took place over one time frame, this story takes place over three. We have Ratred as a little boy, a young man, and finally the man he will come to be. All three roles will call for differnt actors for which we are already considering. Our production team (Harrington Talents) is extremely talented, and has been pointing us in all the right directions when it comes to planning for preproduction. They will be essentially aiding us with obtaining the funds to bring Ratred to life. I really cant discuss any more regarding the film at this time.

John Rogers confirms Ratred-interest?

September 6, 2006: Actor John Rogers (Seduction of the Innocent) was quoted recently saying: "Tone seems to think I'd still make a good Ratred", RatredMovie.com: "When did you turn that down?", John Rogers: "I haven't". Interesting. Seems that Tone might be going back to what brought him to the dance. In Seduction of the Innocent Rogers played Ratred at the age of 17. And he's what, 25ish? About about the same age as Ratred (a bit older), supposedly for more than a third of the film. He'd be a good choice in my opinion. I guess we'll find out eventually.