Current Questions

Okay... before anyone else asks... if you are at all inclined... I am begging (and if you could see me... you would see that I am on my knees... okay enough of that) for the puka shells worn in the film!! My God what a blast from the past!! From at least my 6th grade to 9th grade years all the little Jewish and Italian hotties wore them! So Anthony, do you admit to wearing puka shells? And if so, for which of those years?! I can imagine that you were an incredible hottie in middle and high school!! And puka shells with the shirt opened down to the middle of the chest were pro forma for the Italian hottie!! C'mon 'fess up!(Enid Ann)
"I was never cool enough to wear pukka shells in grade school. But if a guy's going to Hawaii . . ." (Added 2/16/06)

Can you enlighten us on some of the differences in difficulties encountered by actor's et. al. during a night shoot vs a daytime shoot? And in your opinion, do you think directors go with dimmer lighting and multiple quick cuts because of poor location, makeup, costuming, stunt coordinating, acting or other reasons?(Travelingdog)
"Your question's all about controlling the light. For a digital camera, direct sunlight is a particular challenge. I think the dim lighting and quick cuts can be a stylistic choice, or as you pointed out, a choice made necessary by technical and production limitations. Hopefully one embraces the limitations and uses creativity to solve it rather than simply throwing money at the problem." (Added 2/17/06)

How long has the story of Tony Trans Am, in one form or another, been in your head? And such that the story was modified or revised before you arrived at the script that was ultimately produced, could you share some of the permutations, modifications or revisions in character, plot and location that you went through to arrive at the ultimate shooting script? (Enid Ann)
"Tony Trans Am was written quickly and on a bet. My friend Brian Haberlin ("Witchblade" co-creator) and I agreed to owe the other $1,000 if we didn't have a completed first draft by January 1st last year. I wanted a project I could shoot quickly, cheaply and improvisationally. I originally divided the story into six short episodic films of 20 minutes each, with plans to shoot 20 minutes at a time, and then reassemble the six stories as a feature. At the end of the day, it made more sense to simply write the feature since that was where I planned to end up. The story is essentially the same from the initial conception. All of the characters were inspired by real people or actors I knew from graduate school." (Added 2/18/06)

Are you and the other actors doing your own stunts? (Travelingdog)
"There aren't any stunts to speak of -- stunts and effects add to the bottom line cost." (Added 2/19/06)

Ok, whose car is it? (lttlfrg)
"Life imitates "art" -- I bought the car to make the picture -- or at least, that's the excuse I floated past my wife . . ." (Added 2/20/06)

Do a scene... whats the average takes? (Lovuirons)
"When I first wrote the script, one of the rules I had for myself was "no more than three takes" -- even during the camera test, we got what we needed in the first three. I want to shoot quickly because the character's constantly in motion -- while getting nowhere ... like a dog trying to run on linoleum (to paraphrase a local playwright)." (Added 2/22/06)

How did you find the perfect locations for filming? Any CGI? Do you find planning and budget exciting or frustrating or a little of both? (Travelingdog)
"I've been stumbling across the locations, much like the character would. This budget's lean, and the look is a bit 70's retro-rough -- no need for CGI. And I'm finding planning and budgeting to be the biggest challenge. I'm learning, though." (Added 2/23/06)

Would it be possible to get an actual synopsis of the Tony TransAm storyline and a breakdown of the characters? Or are you keeping it on the QT? Do you have a general idea of target date for release? (Miki)
"We currently have a placeholder at www.tonytransam.com. We're building a site and most of the info you requested should be available there." (Added 2/24/06)

Very cool that Anthony has taken the helm on the project. I recall asking him whether Tony Trans Am would be his screen directoral debut at the LCA. I'm so glad to see that at least at this juncture (and hopefully for the long haul) that he has decided to take his vision to the screen. Okay, yes... there is a question in here somewhere. Tony, after taking a sit in the director's chair, do you now find it preferable to the writing and acting responsibilities in a project? (Enid Ann)
" I'm directing by default -- and it's helping me get closer to what I first saw conceptually. That said, I'd prefer to have an outside set of eyes paying attention to my performance." (Added 2/25/06)

I can't resist asking this one...Film crews like so many other hard working crews sometimes need sustance to keep going on those long hour after hour of retakes....Who buys the coffee, and donuts? (Travelingdog)
"The producer buys the fuel for the machine. " (Added 2/26/06)

What lead you to take on the task of writing a movie as well as acting? What role do you prefer: actor, director, writer? What is easiest/hardest? What do you find the most mentally challenging? (Kitsa)
"To the extent that all three try to service the story, they're complementary. But ultimately, the director is probably most challenged; a director has to address a greater range of questions and problems. The director probably feels more time pressures as well." (Added 2/27/06)

A few of the items mentioned in the film elements are locations. Since the character that Eric plays is named, "el Cubano" I first presumed that the story takes place in South Florida, but then again it might be one of the other locations mentioned. Could you give us a roadmap as to the locations represented in the story and their significance in the script? (Enid Ann)
"The film takes place here in Southern California, but you are correct in that some of the characters have recently arrived from Florida. Their ultimate destination is Hawaii. Somehow they're stuck selling Aloha shirts at a Long Beach Flea Market. Even the road to Paradise has a gutter . . ." (Added 2/28/06)

Again Anthony, thank you for so thoroughly responding to my question. I think it's marvelous that your friend translated the Tin Tin comics to you from the French. Now that begs another question... if your interest in the French language was kindled as a result! (Enid Ann)
"Definitely. I always wondered what my French-Basque neighbors were talking about. Our other neighbors were German, and two doors down there were Italians. I've got a lot of languages to learn." (Added 3/2/06)

Here are a few, though I'm not sure if they have come up before: If you could have any car ever made, what would it be? (lttlfrg)
"Any car ever made? Such a tough choice -- there's so much classic American Iron I'd like to get my hands on. For sentimental reasons, I'd like to get a perfect specimen of the first car I owned: a 1966 Pontiac Bonneville (tri-power if I could find it). " (Added 3/3/06)

What is your favorite line from Shakespeare? (lttlfrg)
"The most perplexing to me are Lear's, "Howl, howl, howl, howl!" -- and his last "O, O, O, O." Talk about litmus tests. There is no middle ground with these lines -- either you're brilliant and they're sustained by the performance, or they're clowny and you're the worst actor on the planet." (Added 3/7/06)

Which is better, in your opinion, rugby or American football? (lttlfrg)
"People who know me must be laughing at the thought of me weighing in at all on this. I'd probably try to play rugby over football." (Added 3/9/06)

What did you find the most interesting about your Sundance experience? (Travelingdog)
"This last time, a total disaster somehow was averted. I missed three flights and broke several laws to catch the last one at a different airport. I hadn't transferred the clip I was supposed to show that evening into a useable format. By pure chance, I was sitting on the plane next to a film director/editor with a laptop and behind a DP who had his camera. They mastered a DVD from an unuseable format I had with me (a miniDV compressed image). They completed it 15 minutes before I showed it. (I'll have to go into the full story later . . .)" (Added 3/10/06)

What do you find the most difficult...the budget, the casting or directing?(Travelingdog)
"The budget. Writing it, and raising it." (Added 3/11/06)