I wanted to be able to tell stories that people had not heard before. To share experiences I have had and hopefully help people to become more open.
Being based in Boston, away from the Hollywood glitz, do you think this is an advantage for you as a producer?
I lived in LA for many years and felt that it was time for me to experience the east coast. I moved from Santa Monica to NYC to work on a film and from there met Rebecca. Boston has a small, but very close-knit entertainment community. I have enjoyed meeting other creative people and living in a city that inspires me. I think being happy where I live only helps me to succeed in what I do as a producer.
The Chester Story was made independently with private investors, rather than studio backing. How does your role as Producer here differ from a studio film situation?
Since we raised all of the money privately, we are retaining the creative control. One of the many differences between independent filmmaking and studio-baked projects are there are less people involved in the process. Which is of course good AND bad!
As far as your long-term career goes, do you intend to move into other realms, such as writing and directing?
I would love to direct a feature film. As for the near future I am developing three feature films as a producer so diving into directing would have to come after that I suppose!
You have a supporting role in Chester. What was it like stepping in front of the camera with the cast?
You are too generous Scott! I have a cameo role! It was a wonderful experience. This is the second project Becca and I have done together where we both played cameo roles. It's sort of a gratuitous way to express ourselves. I played a southern waitress opposite Teri and Rob who are both superb actors, which of course had me slightly self-conscious! I had a ball! and people laughed, so I suppose I did my job.
Are there any particular genres you're striving to produce that you haven't touched yet?
I would love to do a period-piece. I am thoroughly intrigued with history. It is fascinating to me how different life is today from 50 years ago.
What were the highlights during production of Chester Story?
We had a pretty big rainstorm on a day when we were scheduled to shoot an exterior scene. Our art department and the rest of the crew including of course Rebecca (writing frantically) scrambled and the outcome was a fantastic scene in a phone booth inside the restaurant of the Screen Gems Studio lot!
Teri Hatcher is the most well known cast member in the film. How did her casting come about? Had you seen much of her previous work?
We thought she would be perfect for Megan because she had an intensity about her that was abundant in Megan's character. I thought she was fabulous in Two Days In The Valley and of course proved her comic ability on Lois & Clark in almost every episode. I didn't work with her as closely as Rebecca did. As a producer, you get to know the actors on a different level. Teri is a truly talented actor who has a very large heart and a good soul.
Finally, the first screenings of The Chester Story are due in late 2002. What do you hope audiences gain from viewing this film?
I hope that people who experience this film will walk away with a newly discovered hope for life. That even in tragedy, there is light and even when things seem to be at their worse, that is when we learn our most valuable lessons.
