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Rich Chizmar re Buick 8 and Black House
Interview with CD's Rich Chizmar and Jonathan Schaech about their film company and scripts of Buick 8 and Black House.
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From a Buick 8 early artwork.
Kasch talked to producer Etchie Stroh of Moonstone Entertainment, who said the script for Buick is in the hands of director Tobe Hooper as we speak, who's giving it a once-over to tighten it up. It will go to Stephen King, who wrote the novel the film is based on, before cameras roll for final approval.
They're hoping to have everything ready to go for a shoot date in early 2008 and though no casting's been done, they will be filming in Pennsylvania which only makes sense, as that's where the book is set.
CHIZMAR/SCHAECH: We have been working on FROM A BUICK 8 for so long and are finally so close to a "go" that we are afraid to talk too much about it and jinx it. What we can say is that we are currently working on one final rewrite for director Tobe Hooper and producer Mick Garris and the good folks at Amicus (producers of the recent STUCK and forthcoming IT'S ALIVE remake). Once the rewrite is completed, they are prepared to go right into pre-production with plans to film on the East Coast.
Actor Johnathon Schaech and Cemetery Dance publisher Richard Chizmar (who, in the past, have penned episodes of Masters of Horror and Fear Itself) are, as previously announced, on adaptation duties. In the story, a mysterious Buick held in a state trooper barracks has become the fixation of a deceased police officer's son.
Mick Garris will produce. Hooper has attached to helm for well over a year.
“The [BUICK 8] script is scarier than ever,” Schaech tells BD. “It's more of a horror film than the novel. King has granted us the right to make this version of the screenplay and he loves this one a lot more. He is very excited by it. We are hoping that it goes in front of the cameras in fall. I know that they’re out to a couple of actors now, Tobe [Hooper] is attached to direct. Hopefully I’ll get a part in it, but it doesn’t matter. They are going after really big names right now.”
“I will put my reputation on the line about the adaptation we just did. If King liked it, I feel like we can do no wrong.”
Unfortunately, the recent economic crisis is hitting film production pretty hard of late. Schaech admits that he thought the project was practically a done deal after getting King’s approval and signing on director Tobe Hooper. “That’s what we thought,” says Schaech, raising his voice and laughing.
“Nothing’s definite,” Schaech adds. “It's a shame, man. It would be so much fun to make that movie and everyone will love it, too. Its not an easy time right now to make any kind of film in the business. The economy is piss-poor and film production is down 57 percent. I hope that we can make the movie. We really need this chance. It will get made one day. I’m pretty certain of it.”
Although the financing is currently at a standstill, Schaech says the early prep work on the script and talks with Hooper have been very positive. “Working with Tobe has been such a gem. The guy knows horror. I’ve had fun trying to articulate what’s in his mind. Sometimes he can’t get it out as clearly as he would want, but eventually we got there. He’s very happy with what we’ve been able to do with this version. He’s excited.”
Horror fans have been quick to offer the actor-turned-writer advice upon the news that he was attached to the King adaptation. So far, he says he doesn’t mind. “A lot of the [fans] are really helpful. People are big King fans and I really respect that stuff. When we were adapting it, I was looking for hints of where everyone wanted us to go with it, stuff about other King adaptations and how far to go away from the book. As long as you make the decisions correctly, it will fit.”
Schaech and Chizmar are also closing in on another King adaptation. Schaech could reveal the lead, but not which King story the film will be based on. “We’re working with Sam Jackson on a Stephen King short story,” Schaech tells BD. “We [haven’t] cleared it through the studio yet. Once we do, there will be an announcement.”
>>> Source
Jonathan Schaech: I'm a huge horror fan. Stephen King's The Shining -- I love that. There are so many good ones. I love all King stuff. That's my big thing.
You've written the script for Stephen King's From a Buick 8…
JS: Yes. Yes and it's gone through about 20 different rewrites… [Laughs.]
What was the cause for the rewrites?
JS: It's just the nature of the business. The book is very sci-fi by nature. I was told by studio heads that The Green Mile would not have been made now. If it didn't have Frank Darabont at the time or Tom Hanks at the time it wouldn't have gotten made. I love The Green Mile. It's one of my favorite films and I always find that hard to believe. But in today's world, they didn't think they could take a risk in the market to put it out there. That was what the original screenplay for From a Buick 8 was like. It was more like The Green Mile. We found aspects of King's novel, the more horrific aspects or psychological horror and played them up. We've been working with Tobe Hooper on that and have been drawing those into this new screenplay that we've got out there that we're hopefully going to be making come fall.
And you'll be involved in a producing capacity as well?
JS: Yeah. Me and Richard [Chizmar], we first ventured out with The Poker Club and From a Buick 8 will be the second film we produce from our company Chesapeake Films.
>>> Fear.net
"Tobe Hooper still attached as director, along with Amicus Films as our producing partner, as well as Mick Garris. Script is good shape. I know some of the funding is in place. They are still shaking the trees for the rest."