INTERVEW WITH STU POLLARD
by Buffybot – January 29th, 2006
This interview is an EXCLUSIVE OF EVIL HAND ISSUES, and the Webmistress (who did the interview) STRICTLY forbids the use and the reproduction on other sites, blogs, mailing lists, etc...

             
The photos are a courtesy of Lunacy Unlimited Productions Inc., DO NOT POST THIS PICS ELSEWHERE!!

Buffybot: Hey

Stu: Howdy

Buffybot: Are you ready?

Stu: Let's do it.

Buffybot: Ok! First of all I want to thank you for giving me and the "community" of Evil Hand Issues you time on Sunday morning

Stu: You're more than welcome.  Thank you for showing interest in our film, "Keep Your Distance."

Buffybot: That's a pleasure! So... italian people don't know the movie, so why don't you tell us the storyline?

Stu: Well, it's most fundamentally a story about trust,, and the role that trust plays in different types of human relationships--romantic, friendly, parent-child, etc. Here's the official summary, just so you have it:

EVERYONE YOU TRUST HAS THE POWER TO BETRAY YOU

In the perfectly normal town of Louisville, KY, there is a perfectly normal man living the perfect life.  GIL BELLOWS stars as David Dailey – a man who has it all: A great career, a community that adores him, and an enduring marriage.  But beneath the surface, David’s idyllic world is crumbling.  He’s haunted by a series of mysterious notes that warn of an imminent fall from grace.  His sultry wife Susan (KIM RAVER) is hell-bent on expanding the horizons of their sex life – with or without him.  His longtime assistant Whit (JAMIE HARROLD) is gunning for his job.  And he finds himself increasingly attracted to Melody Carpenter (JENNIFER WESTFELDT), a curious stranger he instinctively trusts because she doesn’t know him well enough to betray him
Complicating matters, Melody’s jilted boyfriend Sean (CHRISTIAN KANE), a charming and talented trust fund baby, regards David and Melody’s fledgling friendship with contempt.  As his jealousy seethes deeper, he concocts a devious plan to win her back, unaware his overly protective father (STACY KEACH) has ordered his number one ally (ELIZABETH PEÑA) to keep an eye on everyone involved.  As David and Melody grow closer, they discover they have much in common – including the maddening suspicion they’re each being stalked – and are plunged into a harrowing web of desire, deceit, and paranoia.  Suddenly, the man everyone loves fears everyone has a reason to bring him down.  As his perfect life veers further and further off course, David is about to learn that the biggest danger of having it all is having everything to lose.

Buffybot: It was really thrilling!

Stu: Thank you.

Buffybot: Full of suspence

Stu: Well,, one of things I tried to do was create some extraordinary circumstances for ordinary people. So hopefully that makes the scary situations are the more realistic.

Buffybot: Yeah.  I know that's very spoiler (I'll cover it up for the fans) but as I watched the trailer I thought Sean was the bad guy.

Stu: Yeah, in a way, he is a bad guy. He's Melody's villain.

Buffybot: Yes, very very possessive.

Stu: But I have a theory that the better looking someone is, the more they can get away with...

Buffybot: Good theory!  So, how was working with Christian Kane?

Stu: Awesome. Remarkably talented guy who at the same time is very grounded, very down to earth.

Buffybot: And you were also aware of his other talent... the singing...

Stu: Yes. He sang in his audition and we were blown away.  We always knew we would hire an actor first, and worry about the singing second…  But with Christian we got someone who was incredibly adept in both areas.

Buffybot: And the singing was already part of the story, right?

Stu: Yes. I wrote the song as part of the script.

Buffybot: Also the one for Melody? Very sweet and funny ^_^

Stu: Yes.  Thanks.

Buffybot: It was a pleasure to see him singing both!

Stu: Yeah.  He was a real trouper about all that.  It's very hard work.

Buffybot: And what about Steve Carlson? He had a very small part, but we were pleased to see him in the movie.

Stu: He was great. We cast him at Christian's suggestion. Very easy going guy who performed well. Also I think helped Christian be more at ease during the band scene at the club,

Buffybot: Yes, it did.. Watching the movie I noticed that. So, how's the promotional tour going?

Stu: Fantastic. We've played more than a dozen college campus, nearly ten film festivals, opened theatrically in six cities, and had several other special screenings hosted by film societies and the like. Only wish we could have played a few festivals overseas--especially in Italy!

Buffybot: I'm working on it, so maybe it could happen in the future, who knows!

Stu: That'd be awesome.

Buffybot: I'm going to ask you something my friend Silvia (the one who saw the movie with me) would like to ask you. What can you tell us about the end? She felt it like it was quite... hurry.

Stu: The ending is certainly something that people talk about it a lot.  Some love it,, some don't it. For me, it's about how ordinary people respond in extraordinary circumstances.

Buffybot: Good to know.

Stu: Another thing the film seeks to ask the audience, is, “what's really important in life?” Is it how you appear to others? Or is how you feel? At the end of the film, I think David is less concerned with avenging the bad guy or losing his job or having his marriage. He's happy to be in the arms of the person he wants to be with. And if you've ever felt that feeling, well, nothing else really matters. In other words, choose what matters most--in your life, and in the film.

Buffybot: I completely agree. I've done a little research about you before this interview, and I saw your knew movie, “Ira and Abby”.  I guess you did like to work with Jennifer Westfeldt.

Stu: Yes, Jen was great.  Another multitalented member of the Distance cast.  Great writer.  Great Actor.  Great producer.

Buffybot: I also noticed another actress: Kali Rocha. She worked with Joss Whedon in the past, and Christian Kane did it too. Was it a coincidence that you chose two very good actors that worked with such a man as Joss is?

Stu: Well, I wasn't really involved in the casting of Ira and Abby, so I can't really say.  But obviously Joss has great taste.

Buffybot: I hope to see the movie soon, then! What are your projects for the future, now?

Stu: Well I have quite a few things in different stages of development--so it's tough to say what will happen next. But I have one story about a troubled jocket named Chris Antley--he won two Kentucky Derbys in the 90's then died mysteriously in 2000. And I'm writing a few things that I can't go into too much detail about right now--but let's say they both deal with people searching for meaning their lives.

Buffybot: Will you work with Christian Kane again?

Stu: I certainly hope so!

Buffybot: Ok, thank you so much for your time, Stu! Now I'll let you enjoy your Sunday.

Stu: OK.  Sure you don't need anything else?

Buffybot: I guess you covered all I wanted to know! It's been a very interesting chat. Want to say something to Italian fans?

Stu: Well, obviously it's a thrill to know that there's interest in my work in Italy.  It's a place I've always dreamed about visiting.  And it's cool to think that some kid from a small town in Kentucky has a few fans so far away.

Buffybot: You know what? People always say that about Italy. I know a couple of producers who said exactly the same thing ^_^

Stu: Yeah, well I'm a hopeless romantic too, and there's no more romantic place in the world...

Buffybot: Than Italy? Probably that's because I live in it, but I'm not much for your opinion, hehe...

Stu: Well familiarity breeds contempt I suppose.

Buffybot: In fact I would like to live in L.A.

Stu: Yeah, well, there you go. You find my home romantic. I find your home romantic.

Buffybot: Very funny! Thanks also for all the stuff you sent me by mail. I'd like to use that as promotional material for the movie

Stu: Sure. I'll send you some pictures too. Just remind me in a day or two.

Buffybot: Ok, I will! And if I manage to bring you in here, I'll be the first one to come to the festival or whatever! I wanted to come to one of the festivals, but, you know... I haven't got much money...

Stu: Yeah, it's a long way to go. OK then. I'm gonna boogie. Thanks very much and let me know when your story is posted..

Buffybot: I guess in a day or two. I just need the time to look at it and translate it for the people that don't understand very much the language. Thanks to you, Stu! It was really a pleasure to have this chat!