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In A Candid interview with writer/director
Greg Bicknell, we discover the people that make an indy film work…
- Question: Greg, what made you decide you wanted to do a project of this magnitude?
- Greg: Obviously, a complete lack of thinking it through!
- Q: I take it it’s been bigger than you expected?
- G: It’s been an unbelievable experience. From the first day of casting this story has taken on a complete life of its own. The people that made this film poured their hearts and souls into an idea that has always been close to me. The synergy and the fun of creating with other artists in so many different exchanges is awesome! The rush of getting
 “the perfect shot”, the day we shot "LA" in the snow…and then of course the days when you got everything ready just as you lost your light!
- Q: You read a lot these days about independent film financing. It’s not exactly considered a sound investment. Where did the budget for this film come from?
- G: If it’s not a sound investment then I’d have to guess that it was financed by some real idiot! No, seriously, Laura and I put up the budget for principal photography and post production has all been done between our BAS production facilities and Toby Brady’s “Dementia Studios". We won’t really know if what we’ve invested in this adventure will pay off or not…but that’s not why we did it. I’ve wanted to do this project forever. I figured if I waited much longer, I’d never jump, so we just did it. It was life-consuming for a while, and we hit a lot of road blocks along the way, but I’m really excited to get it in front of audiences.
- Q: Tell me about the cast.
 G: Everybody was awesome. Romantic leads Bryan Costanich and Suzanne Hughes anchored the cast with talent and professionalism. They were always on time, prepared, and dove into the project with a sense of humor. The supporting cast, too many to mention here, all added their own unique touches to the film.
- Q: Tell me about Barney Lennartson, your director of photography. You’ve worked together for a long time.
 G: Barney and I have been doing this for over 15 years.
- He and his wife Pat, our production designer, are our closest friends. They adopted their 11-year-old daughter from China when she was a year old. She’s a thoughtful, brilliant child, as well as loving and caring…she’ll do great things someday.
- Q: Shifting gears…this is a very musically driven movie. Where did so many of such a variety of songs come from?!
- G: Toby C. Brady is the music producer and primary songwriter/performer. He’s also a creative and imaginative graphic designer and a multi-talented visual editor. He and his band "Lost Dogma" are amazing performers. When Toby and his wife, Laurey Carolus (lead vocalist for “The Retros”) both auditioned for parts in the movie, they also auditioned some amazing songs and licensed us to use them in the film. Toby’s leading role, combined with his music, set the stage for this emotional movie experience. It wouldn’t be the
 film it is without him. We’re all very excited for the premier.
- Q: So…when is that going to be?
- G: Sorry. I can’t put an EXACT date on it yet…we still have some work to do...but I’d be around Seattle this fall.
- Q: Lori Stein was a lead actress and your producer?
- G: Yes, and she was amazing at both. She's so believable in the lead role of Lauren Bradley...Lori is a veteran of the acting business. She puts heart and soul into every acting performance. As our producer, she pulled together some unbelievable deals at the eleventh hour. She and her husband, photographer Armen Stein, were a constant force in this project from day one.
- Q: What we’re some of the highlights for you?
- G: All the people. Especially the ones, and they all know who they are, who put so much of themselves into this, that I could never thank them enough.
 Laurey Carolus was amazing, both in her part as the network TV reporter, “Casey Cameron” and as the singing voice of female lead “Kelly Cavanaugh.” The songs she wrote and performed especially for the film added a whole new tone to the project. She also worked diligently as our associate producer. I’m very grateful to her for her tireless efforts.
- Q: You make only a cameo appearance in the film…do you still enjoy acting?
- G: Sure! But this story is about young people’s search for happiness and fulfillment. Three decades in the entertainment business have left me closer to 50 now than to 40, not to mention that I seem to have misplaced a LOT of my hair! When I was done writing it, I was planning to try and sell the script, but everyone I know and respect in the business encouraged us to make the film ourselves. It was a big commitment and I really wanted to focus on doing well as the film’s director…and we really did have a helluva lotta fun…but everybody worked their asses off. Its taken way too long, but I’m happy to announce that “Entertain The Moon” is coming soon!
- Q: Is this a “message-film” or is it strictly entertainment?
- G: I always hope to entertain an audience with any performance…that’s why they come to see it. But I wanted to give this audience some things to think about…like, why the world is the way it is…the way that it should be…and how each of us will be remembered after our short time here is done.
- Q: Will you make feature films again?
- G: Did you say “again?” I’d have to be completely out of my mind to do this again…seriously nuts! Not to mention divorced…But, if the right project came along with resources behind it, I’d love to make more films. Right now, I just want to survive this one!
- Q: Anything you want to add?
- G: I think just that I’m grateful for being able to do this. I’ve gotten to live a bunch of my dreams in this life…play music to audiences…travel…do radio and TV, meeet amazing people, but making this movie has really connected me with my passion again. For almost 30 years I’ve gotten to be associated with the music business. For a middle-aged, lousy guitar playing, sappy songwriting balladeer, I’ve always been grateful to have been a professional entertainer. It’s something that I love so much, that I’d do it for free everyday…
- Q: OK, how ‘bout some advise for the high-school and college kids that want to work in entertainment?
- G: First…don’t kid yourself. It’s a REALLY tough business, no matter how talented you are, and sometimes, it can be really lousy. You need a tough skin. Most importantly, do it because you LOVE it…’cause you HAVE to do it, because it’s who you are…that you’re so addicted to the reaction that comes with sharing a piece of your soul with large numbers of people and seeing them be affected by it, that you can’t NOT do it!
Then work. Period. Practice, practice, practice. Accept criticism graciously and with appreciation. Be willing to adjust. But in the end…don’t compromise who you are. Entertainment is subjective…just read any three critic's review of the same performance…
- Q: You’re still going at it hard and fast after 30 years…hasn’t it worn you out at all
- G: Are you kidding? I’m just getting started. There’s so much more I want to do. Perform for audiences again, finish another screenplay and a book I’m writing...someday I think it would be fun to host a TV talk show for a few weeks…that’s about how long the new ones usually last… But mostly, I just enjoy spending time with all my extended family and friends…that’s what REAL life is all about. The rest is just…like a movie.
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