| Events_Moderator: Welcome to Lycos Live Events! Tonight is our special Halloween Resurrection chat! We'll be chatting with director Rick Rosenthal and actor Thomas Ian Nicholes. Get your questions ready. We'll be starting in just a few minutes! Events_Moderator: Okay everyone! Our first guest is Rick Rosenthal! Let's welcome him to the chat! Hi Rick, welcome to Lycos Live Events! What's up? monstermania1: Is it true that there are plans for both a 9 and 10 in the series? Rick_Rosenthal: Right now, there are plans for 9. And we like to go just one sequel at a time. kevmo527: Would you consider directing it? Rick_Rosenthal: I have signed a deal to direct the next sequel, as long as the producers and I agree on the script. loomis78: What was your first thought when you started Halloween 8? Rick_Rosenthal: Don't blow it! myers_shape: What was the most difficult scene in Halloween: Resurrection to film? Rick_Rosenthal: Probably when the subbasement wall collapses on Donna and Jim, and skeletons fall out of the wall. natead04: How did you get your approach for the film, the modern type horror movie with the older type scares? It was brilliant in my opinion the best since Halloween 1 and your first, Halloween. Rick_Rosenthal: Well, first of all, thank you. And second, what attracted me initially to the script was the idea of using the new media, of using cyberspace and webcasting and putting a modern spin on Rear Window. museumtony: Compare what it was like working with Jamie Lee Curtis today compared to 20 years ago? Did she share the same enthusiasm for Resurrection that she had with Halloween II? Rick_Rosenthal: The strange thing about working with Jamie Lee this year, twenty years after I last worked with her, was it seemed like we had just been having dinner together and twenty years later we were sitting down for dessert and coffee. She's one of my great favorites, so professional, so easy to work with, and so enthusiastic about the process of making movies that she is a pleasure to work with. Twenty years ago the crew loved her, and twenty years later they still do. kobe_4_eminem: Is Busta Rhymes in the new Halloween movie? Rick_Rosenthal: Yup! Busta Rhymes is not only in it, but he stars in it. And like Jamie Lee, he's also a true pleasure to work with. drew0281: Are you pleased with the 12.3 million dollar opening of Halloween: Resurrection? Some reports say the movie has almost recouped its entire budget. Rick_Rosenthal: I'm very pleased that audiences seem to have seen the film on the opening weekend. And if they enjoy it this weekend, I can only hope that the word of mouth will be great for next weekend as well. ? Rick_Rosenthal: I assume what you're referring to is the mix of film and digital video. And what we did was that every time we shot a scene on film, we used the digital cameras that our principal actors were wearing and shot digital video as well. Then we cut the scenes like a conventional film scene kept a bin open for all of the video that we had shot. Reviewed that video footage, picked the video we liked the best, and then integrated into the movie. bananaman838: Do you think your work in Halloween: Resurrection is better than in Halloween 2? Rick_Rosenthal: I am now older, wiser, slower, but in some ways faster. More experienced, more cynical, have less hair, know a little bit more about color, and hopefully a little bit more about directing actors. More even tempered, and probably have more fun now than 20 years ago. dian_69: Besides horror, what other type of movie would you consider directing? Rick_Rosenthal: I have over the past 10 years done horror, comedy, romantic comedy, thrillers, so I guess I'm about due for a musical. polarcub75: You did a spectacular job recreating the Myers house in "Resurrection." It is dead on and it looks like the real house used in the first two movies. How did you make such an accurate replica? Did the person who built it go to the actual Myers house in Pasadena & take measurements or was it just made from watching the first two movies? Rick_Rosenthal: Boy, that's an interesting question! The production designer from Halloween 8 studied both Halloween 1 and 2, looked at the footage that showed the Myers house, did a floor plan that he judged to be reasonably accurate, enlarged it slightly for the camera. Because it's always easier to make a room look smaller using a slightly longer lens. And then we built the set. cashdude7: Was the idea considered at one point of a different killer in the Myers house? After the mental institution when Mike hands his knife over to the mental patient. It sort of implied to me that his job was done. Rick_Rosenthal: Although there was never any intention of substituting another killer for Micheal Myers, with a much earlier draft more was made of Harold the Clown and his possible culpability in Lori Strode's death. thelazygoddess: Do you know who came up with the idea for Halloween? BTW, I love you! Rick_Rosenthal: All right! The original idea I believe is credited to John Carpenter and Debra Hill, who wrote the original screenplay. But the tradition of horror films of course, goes back thousands of years as there has always been a bogeyman. cool__dude6969: In you opinion, which Halloween movie is the scariest? Rick_Rosenthal: Well, I'm a little biased, but I would say until Halloween: Resurrection, the scariest Halloween was of course Halloween 2, which I directed 20 years ago. edited__for_content: Does John Carpenter have any input on the Halloween films anymore? Rick_Rosenthal: As far as I know, John and Debra passed along their interest in the franchise a number of years ago. the_first_sahpe: How was it coming back to Halloween after 20 long years? Rick_Rosenthal: It was a slightly wild, surreal, campy, tangerine-flaked acid trip. monstermania1: Do you ever see a time when Michael Myers might do a team up with another movie monster as Jason and Freddy are supposedly scheduled to do? Rick_Rosenthal: I would refer all questions of combining super villains to the Miramax and New Line studios. natead04: Is there a possibility that we will ever see Michael unmasked for more than just a frame? Rick_Rosenthal: I think to unmask Micheal Myers is to rob him of the innate power of evil. So until the series finally comes to an end, I can't imagine not seeing him in the mask. Of course, how he keeps finding these masks in such good condition after so many years remains a little bit of a mystery to me. And certainly, after what we put him through in Halloween: Resurrection, he will definitely need to find a new mask! cypress_empire: Do find it weird how the last two Halloween movies (H20, H ignored Halloween 4, 5 and 6? Rick_Rosenthal: Having thought that my Halloween days were over, when I delivered Halloween 2, I did not follow the series until I saw H20. So the intervening years are somewhat of a gap for me, and I'm not knowledgeable about what went on during that interlude in time. jaybird6665: If i had a script that was critically acclaimed by many hardcore Halloween fans, how would I go about getting you and Moustapha Akkad to read it? Rick_Rosenthal: The question I would ask is, is it a potential sequel for the franchise, and if so, it is better to get it to the executive producer Moustapha Akkad. cam_mm: Is Dr. Loomis in the new Halloween movie? Rick_Rosenthal: No. We had at one point thought of creating a character called Donaldson (son of Donald Pleasence) who would have been a colleague or student of Dr. Loomis', and who, piercing together information from Loomis' research, began to realize that Micheal was still alive and would strike again. However, the script went in a different direction, and ultimately the Donaldson character was eliminated. cashdude7: Was Nora's death scene edited? It seems she just disappears, but there are other scenes of her in the movie trailer, like Mike walking up behind her. Rick_Rosenthal: In any movie, during the editing process, some scenes that seemed essential on the written page turn out to be less essential in the cut of a film. And the process of winnowing down a film to its proper length generally means scenes get left on the "cutting room floor." leatherface20: Have you ever had any falling out with the actors of the film during shooting? Rick_Rosenthal: I love this cast. And we had a really great time throughout the shoot. That's not to say I have loved every actor I've ever worked with on every project. But on this one, it truly was a harmonious set. steve08028: The element of fear has a dark aspect. Was Brad Loree an idealistic stuntman to construct? Rick_Rosenthal: Brad is not only a terrific stuntman, he is also developing into a really good actor as well. He is dedicated, extremely athletic, and did a lot of research into how the best of the Micheal Myers moved. I think he has a long future ahead of him. Events_Moderator: I hate to say it, but we have to wrap this portion of our Halloween: Resurrection chat up in a few minutes. Our time with Rick is almost up! We'll take a few more questions & comments and then Thomas will join us! the_first_sahpe: Why was there so many re-shoots, and what did you change in the movie, if anything? Rick_Rosenthal: During the course of the shooting, certain actors became movie stars in front of our eyes. In order to take advantage of that, we needed to change the way the film ended. And certain characters needed to live. This was a pretty big change and it took a little while to figure out the very best way to make the film end properly. Hopefully, you'll agree that we found it. smokey_47: Is Brad Loree a serious guy, or is he like a goofy outgoing person? Rick_Rosenthal: He is both! Outgoing personality, quite goofy, but also very serious about his work. stephenblake: Do you think about the DVD when making the feature? Rick_Rosenthal: In this case, with all of the video footage and with a couple of different endings, the DVD should be hot, hot, hot! linus97: Great Job on Halloween 8! I found it to be one of the best in the series. What were your original thoughts about doing Halloween: Resurrection? Rick_Rosenthal: Thanks for your kind words! Until April of 2001, I had no thoughts about Halloween: Resurrection, and then suddenly one day I got a call saying that Bob Weinstein wanted me to read a script for Halloween 8, and that's how the journey began. anja_babydoll: Would you ever consider having any Halloween fans play in the next movies? Rick_Rosenthal: Sure, why not? Hollywood is always looking for talented players, even if it means fans just come and visit the set. Events_Moderator: Thanks for taking the time to chat with us tonight, Rick! It's been fun! We'll have to do this again sometime! Maybe after # 9? Rick_Rosenthal: You guys were great! Now go out there and tell your friends that you had a blast with Halloween: Resurrection. And lets see if we can't beat the pants of Reign of Fire and take the legs out from under 8 Legged Freaks this coming weekend! Events_Moderator: Okay everyone, let's welcome Thomas Ian Nicholes to the chat! ? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: Just chilling in Minnesota, actually, right now. Manolis_Varnas2: What do you love most, playing in thrillers or comedies? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: I would have to say comedies are a little cleaner, not so much blood, and I'd really like to do some more dramatic work. Events_Moderator: Everyone wants to know! Will there be an American Pie 3? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: It is rumored. jaybird6665: Who is the hottest actress you have ever worked with (Shannon Elizabeth ... LOL) Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: I would have to say Kate Winslet. bananaman838: What is your favorite part in the movie? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: {laughs} The part where the audience screams! steve08028: Was Resurrection a challenge and excellent or what? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: It was definitely different than anything I'd done before, and I had a good time working with my peers and my friend Bianca. thelazygoddess: What was it like being part of American Pie? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: I feel fortunate to have been a part of that movie. And been able to transition from a child actor into a young adult actor. brian.jaime: I am inquiring as to your reason for being in a "Halloween" movie? Most actors who have been in big blockbuster movies that have been successes wouldn't want to have a "death scene" in a Halloween movie. What motivated you to take the part? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: I would like to be a part of every genre of film during my career. And I felt that Halloween was the classic as far as the horror genre goes. loomis78: How did you feel when you character died first of the six? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: {laughs} Somebody has gotta go first! drew0281: Are you excited about how well Halloween: Resurrection did this weekend? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: Yeah, definitely! It's always good to be a part of a film that entertains a lot of people. Manolis_Varnas2: What's the most frightening scene in the movie? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: The most frightening for me was when I was hanging upside down after my character had been killed, because I burst blood vessels in my eye after hanging there for so long. That wasn't necessarily fun, but it was kinda scary! myers_shape: Loved you in Halloween: Resurrection! Are you in away way like the character "Bill Woodlake"? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: Not so much. aquarius1220: Did you play in Kid in King Arthur's Court? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: Yes, I did. I was about 14 years old. And it's been a *long* time since I've seen that movie! alton8401: Will you ever do another horror movie? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: It's hard to say. Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: I can honestly say that I probably won't do another Halloween, considering the outcome of my character. smokey_47: You're the best character in Halloween! Your facial expression when the girl takes off her shirt is the best! Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: Well, Rick Rosenthal was just on, and that was his favorite moment as well. cashdude7: Were you disappointed you were not in the movie longer? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: No, I was just happy to have a job! KimTheKitten: Do you like apple pie? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: Not a big dessert guy ... I'm more of a meat and potatoes. . strikerx8: Was the cast in H8 a blast to work with? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: Completely. I spent many years as a child working with adults, so it's always fun to work with people my own age, especially when you're on location and you get to hang out with them and party on the weekends. Dr__Nick: Were you a Halloween/Michael Myers fan when you were smaller? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: I had seen the film when I was really young, but I don't necessarily know if I could really be a die-hard fan of a psycho killer. But I definitely liked the first movie! thelazygoddess: If you could work with any other actor, who would it be? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: Oh boy, oh boy! So many to choose from ... I would have to say someone like Robin Willams or on another spectrum, Robert De Niro. alton8401: Are you working on a new movie right now? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: I've got a couple of movies coming out. The first one is Rules of Attraction, hopefully in October, and then Stealing Sinatra will come out sometime next year. I just directed a short film that I wrote with my brother, and we will be shooting the feature version in October. linus97: Did it hurt when you got stabbed in the head? How does it feel to be one of a long list of victims of the man? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: {laughs} About as much as I hurt my arm when I broke it in Rookie of the Year. anja_babydoll: I heard you were in a band. How is that going? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: My band is no longer together, but I am still writing and doing music on my own. In fact, that's why I'm in Minnesota right now. beausibbing: When you were first asked to be part of the Halloween legacy, did you jump right in, or did you have second thoughts? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: Honestly, the first thing I said when I heard that they were going to be making Halloween 8 was, "They've made *7* of these??" dian_69: How old are you? If you don't mind me asking. Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: I just turned 22. thelazygoddess: Not many people I know like Halloween. I really enjoy horror films though! What should I tell them? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: That everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It doesn't mean they are right, but they are entitled to it! jake_olszewski: Other than Resurrection, do you have a favorite Halloween movie Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: I would just have to say the original, the one that started it all. smokey_47: Are you mad that you can NEVER do another Halloween movie? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: Furious. Manolis_Varnas2: Why do you think that movies with serial killers are so attractive to the audience Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: Entertainment value? jake_olszewski: It said you were born in Las Vegas. I live there now. What part did you live in? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: I actually lived in Parhump, 33 miles outside of Vegas. polarcub75: What are your hobbies? What do you like to do when you are not making films? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: Well, besides writing music, I definitely enjoy hanging with my family and friends. Hawghuntr69: How does it feel to star with Jamie Lee Curtis? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: She has got to be one of the nicest actors of that caliber than I have ever met. cashdude7: Have you enjoyed being an actor? Would you want to do anything else? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: {laughs} Yes, I think I do enjoy it, and I will be continuing forward to establish a hopefully worthwhile career. I've been doing this since I was about seven. anja_babydoll: I completely understand if you do not want to answer this, but do you have a girlfriend? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: At this present time I am single. Dr__Nick: How did you like acting with and "striking out" some of major league baseball's best in Rookie of the Year? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: That was a lot of fun, probably the best part about it was getting to meet Barry Bonds. bananaman838: How did it feel entering a movie series with already a huge fanbase? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: That was partly my interest in this movie. Because I felt that I am an actor because I like to entertain people, and I felt that I could introduce myself to maybe an audience that wasn't familiar with my work. Events_Moderator: I hate to say it, but we have to wrap this up in a few minutes. Out time with Thomas is almost up! We'll take a few more questions & comments. Hawghuntr69: Do you feel like they are ruining the Halloween saga like they did with Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: It could be argued that maybe during the middle of the run you could compare them, but I definitely feel like going to Micheal Myers' house worked a little better than bringing Jason into space. horror83: How can we get in contact with the cast of Halloween Resurrection? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: I have my own personal website, . anja_babydoll: Do you get noticed a lot on the street? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: It depends on what I happen to be wearing. Most people have the preconceived idea that actors wear nice clothes every single day. My choice of wardrobe usually helps me blend in and escape some people's stereotypes. cenobite1134: As an actor, do you think it's easier for you to get an indie film made? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: Well, I'm actually going through that process myself right now with my brother, and we couldn't get a company to see the value of our project and invest in it. So we decided that we would follow in the footsteps of the Cohen brothers when they made their first film, Blood Simple. They -- following the advice of Sam Ramie -- went door to door and found 65 private investors to fund their movie. My brother and I will be doing the same in August. loomis78: What advice would you give a person looking to be an actor? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: As with anything, it takes a lot of effort and a lot of time to accomplish any dream or goal. So, go for what you want, and know that you will have to work hard to get it. beausibbing: What does acting mean for you, besides the pay? Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: An opportunity to create characters, a chance to be someone else, or a different part of me, for a small amount of time. A sort of artistic escape, and also a craft. Events_Moderator: Thanks for taking the time to chat with us this evening, Thomas. It's been fun! We'll have to do this again sometime! Thomas_Ian_Nicholes: Thank you very much for having me, I definitely look forward to speaking with you guys in the future. Thank you for all of the questions and interest in Halloween and me! Events_Moderator: Great questions everyone. Y'all are the best! I hope everyone had fun! We sure did! See ya next time at Lycos Live Events! |