Interview done by:
Paula Burr
Paula Burr
Posted on:
December 28th, 2006
December 28th, 2006
HF: How do you steer the cast and crew in hard times?
PHIL: When you make a movie, the idea is that we're all in this together. When
days get hard, your hope is that you have treated everyone well, and fairly, and
that they will stick with you. Mostly, we try to have a good time. I read
somewhere that Oliver Stone likes to make his cast miserable, thinking he gets
better performances from them. I don’t see it that way on an indie scale. While it’
s not the priority, I want people to enjoy making movies with me.
HF: I got to watch DBE. I thought it was really a fun movie, I think the audiences
will be able to relate and have a good time with it! I thought it was smart how
you went from character to character. The flow of the ring so to speak, giving us
a new look into people lives and keeping it all in perspective suggesting to me,
death do you part has a new meaning. What is your favorite scene if you had to
choose in DBE?
PHIL: My favorite scene in DBE is with Bobo (Jeff Parise) and Shank (Sam
Stephanski). They’re a couple of small-timers that think they’re big time. It’s
probably my favorite because it was so easy to shoot. The actors were incredibly
prepared. And when Bobo tells Shank “Shhh. I just bagged a bitch in the bedroom
and now she thinks it’s a slumber party…” I always giggle a little bit.
HF: I loved Stacy's (Christa Campbell) death scene. I had the opportunity to
interview her as well and she was telling me a little bit about how she likes to do
her own stunts. Can you tell me a little bit about working with Christa. She seems
like a great gal.
PHIL: Christa comes to the set prepared and professional, but no one would
ever†accuse her of being cold. She's playful and open to suggestion, and is in no
way prissy or diva-like. She got beat up a bit during her death scene, but her only
concern was getting the scene right. She has ideas that make her character
better, like the scene where she's naked, making love to Jilon Ghai's character.
She's the one that came up with the bit of chewing gum, bored, while she
was†mesmerized by her ring.†I think the world of her.
HF: You also have P.J. Soles playing Mrs. Starkington. I think I learned the word
"totally" from her in Halloween when I was younger. Can you tell me how you
got her?
PHIL: P.J. lives down the road a bit. We've been friends for a while, and I was
honored that she agreed to help us out. On her shooting days, the energy of the
cast and crew always tripled, just being around her.
HF: I am also interviewing her as well, she is great! What a doll! It’s such a delight
to work with you on the interview for DBE. Could you tell me a bit about working
with her?
PHIL: P.J. added credibility to our shoot. And she’s been extremely supportive
and helpful in us getting distribution— oops, the ink isn’t dry yet, but…
HF: Now you have had the chance to travel with the film to a few festivals can
you tell us about how it went? I’m sure you got some great reactions?
PHIL: The most exciting moment for me from the blank page until now is to see
an audience jump or to hear them laugh. Hopefully where they're supposed to
jump and laugh. We've been in four festivals in the past month (after all, it is
Halloween month) and we won a Best Screenplay award, Best Actress for Sascha
Knopf, Lifetime Achievement Award for P.J. Soles, Best Ensemble Cast, and
nominated for Best Horror and Best Musical Score-- all this month.†It kind of
backs up what I've noticed at the various festivals-- that is, that everyone sees
our movie differently. The Ensemble Cast award pleases me most. I think we
have the best names and†talent in independent horror. And they were all a riot to
work with.
HF: How are negotiations for distribution going? Anything on the up and up?
PHIL: Looks like we have a done deal. But we can't announce it yet. The
distributor contractually gets to announce it.
HF: Besides a possible sequel to DBE, do you think that we will get to see some
more fun horror ideas come out of you soon?
PHIL: I'm looking forward to doing more horror. And yes, with a comedic
element. I'd love to do something with Snoop. How about Snoop meets Bobo?
HF: Snoop sounds like a fun guy to work with, what a great idea! I think he is
able to bring some great elements to film, he’s an interesting character. What do
you go through to figure out your story? You have some fun ideas. playing
around with the idea of a ring meaning so much and all.. I would love to see
what you come up with next!
PHIL: I'm not sure when the stories come. I try to read a lot, and whether it's a
novel, Fangoria, Newsweek, or Rolling Stone, something will jolt me and I'll write
it down, whether it's a sentence, a quote, or an idea. After some time passes, I'll
go through all these notes written on napkins, torn sheets of paper, the wall in
crayon-- and see what still interests me. Sometimes a character comes first.
Sometimes it's a plot. Then I like to write early, usually around 5 a.m.
HF: Are there any upcoming events that we can catch DBE at?
PHIL: This weekend Pennie will represent us at the Melbourne Independent
International Festival in Melbourne, FL.
HF: Any idea when it will hit theaters?
PHIL: We plan on having a small release in large cities, probably around March.
Then we should hit the street in video stores a month or two after.
HF: Phil, I ask this of everyone. Tell me 2 things that nobody knows about you?
PHIL: 1) It is said "music soothes the savage beast." That applies to me. Unless,
of course, it is Paris Hilton's sorry attempt at music. 2) I'm never lonely. You see,
I hear voices.
HF: Thanks for everything Phil. It has been a real treat to get to know you and
the DBE cast and crew. We will be keeping an eye out for you in Horror-Fanatics
for future screams and laughs. You are wonderful and keep it up.
PHIL: When you make a movie, the idea is that we're all in this together. When
days get hard, your hope is that you have treated everyone well, and fairly, and
that they will stick with you. Mostly, we try to have a good time. I read
somewhere that Oliver Stone likes to make his cast miserable, thinking he gets
better performances from them. I don’t see it that way on an indie scale. While it’
s not the priority, I want people to enjoy making movies with me.
HF: I got to watch DBE. I thought it was really a fun movie, I think the audiences
will be able to relate and have a good time with it! I thought it was smart how
you went from character to character. The flow of the ring so to speak, giving us
a new look into people lives and keeping it all in perspective suggesting to me,
death do you part has a new meaning. What is your favorite scene if you had to
choose in DBE?
PHIL: My favorite scene in DBE is with Bobo (Jeff Parise) and Shank (Sam
Stephanski). They’re a couple of small-timers that think they’re big time. It’s
probably my favorite because it was so easy to shoot. The actors were incredibly
prepared. And when Bobo tells Shank “Shhh. I just bagged a bitch in the bedroom
and now she thinks it’s a slumber party…” I always giggle a little bit.
HF: I loved Stacy's (Christa Campbell) death scene. I had the opportunity to
interview her as well and she was telling me a little bit about how she likes to do
her own stunts. Can you tell me a little bit about working with Christa. She seems
like a great gal.
PHIL: Christa comes to the set prepared and professional, but no one would
ever†accuse her of being cold. She's playful and open to suggestion, and is in no
way prissy or diva-like. She got beat up a bit during her death scene, but her only
concern was getting the scene right. She has ideas that make her character
better, like the scene where she's naked, making love to Jilon Ghai's character.
She's the one that came up with the bit of chewing gum, bored, while she
was†mesmerized by her ring.†I think the world of her.
HF: You also have P.J. Soles playing Mrs. Starkington. I think I learned the word
"totally" from her in Halloween when I was younger. Can you tell me how you
got her?
PHIL: P.J. lives down the road a bit. We've been friends for a while, and I was
honored that she agreed to help us out. On her shooting days, the energy of the
cast and crew always tripled, just being around her.
HF: I am also interviewing her as well, she is great! What a doll! It’s such a delight
to work with you on the interview for DBE. Could you tell me a bit about working
with her?
PHIL: P.J. added credibility to our shoot. And she’s been extremely supportive
and helpful in us getting distribution— oops, the ink isn’t dry yet, but…
HF: Now you have had the chance to travel with the film to a few festivals can
you tell us about how it went? I’m sure you got some great reactions?
PHIL: The most exciting moment for me from the blank page until now is to see
an audience jump or to hear them laugh. Hopefully where they're supposed to
jump and laugh. We've been in four festivals in the past month (after all, it is
Halloween month) and we won a Best Screenplay award, Best Actress for Sascha
Knopf, Lifetime Achievement Award for P.J. Soles, Best Ensemble Cast, and
nominated for Best Horror and Best Musical Score-- all this month.†It kind of
backs up what I've noticed at the various festivals-- that is, that everyone sees
our movie differently. The Ensemble Cast award pleases me most. I think we
have the best names and†talent in independent horror. And they were all a riot to
work with.
HF: How are negotiations for distribution going? Anything on the up and up?
PHIL: Looks like we have a done deal. But we can't announce it yet. The
distributor contractually gets to announce it.
HF: Besides a possible sequel to DBE, do you think that we will get to see some
more fun horror ideas come out of you soon?
PHIL: I'm looking forward to doing more horror. And yes, with a comedic
element. I'd love to do something with Snoop. How about Snoop meets Bobo?
HF: Snoop sounds like a fun guy to work with, what a great idea! I think he is
able to bring some great elements to film, he’s an interesting character. What do
you go through to figure out your story? You have some fun ideas. playing
around with the idea of a ring meaning so much and all.. I would love to see
what you come up with next!
PHIL: I'm not sure when the stories come. I try to read a lot, and whether it's a
novel, Fangoria, Newsweek, or Rolling Stone, something will jolt me and I'll write
it down, whether it's a sentence, a quote, or an idea. After some time passes, I'll
go through all these notes written on napkins, torn sheets of paper, the wall in
crayon-- and see what still interests me. Sometimes a character comes first.
Sometimes it's a plot. Then I like to write early, usually around 5 a.m.
HF: Are there any upcoming events that we can catch DBE at?
PHIL: This weekend Pennie will represent us at the Melbourne Independent
International Festival in Melbourne, FL.
HF: Any idea when it will hit theaters?
PHIL: We plan on having a small release in large cities, probably around March.
Then we should hit the street in video stores a month or two after.
HF: Phil, I ask this of everyone. Tell me 2 things that nobody knows about you?
PHIL: 1) It is said "music soothes the savage beast." That applies to me. Unless,
of course, it is Paris Hilton's sorry attempt at music. 2) I'm never lonely. You see,
I hear voices.
HF: Thanks for everything Phil. It has been a real treat to get to know you and
the DBE cast and crew. We will be keeping an eye out for you in Horror-Fanatics
for future screams and laughs. You are wonderful and keep it up.
As a screenwriter, Philip was a finalist in the prestigious Chesterfield screen
writing contest, a finalist for the Sundance Screen writing Lab, a finalist for
the ABC/Disney Screen writing Fellowship, and a quarter finalist in the
Austin Screen writing Competition— All for different screenplays. “Death
By Engagement” is Philip Creager’s third film as writer/director.
writing contest, a finalist for the Sundance Screen writing Lab, a finalist for
the ABC/Disney Screen writing Fellowship, and a quarter finalist in the
Austin Screen writing Competition— All for different screenplays. “Death
By Engagement” is Philip Creager’s third film as writer/director.
The End!