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Your new movie Truth
- in a few words, what is it about?
Truth is about a young man, Caleb, played by Sean Paul Lockhart, who falls in love
with Jeremy. Their relationship becomes intense quite quickly and the two are
inseparable. Caleb hides haunting demons from his past and in the middle of the film, he discovers that his true love has one of his own.
This sets Caleb on a downward spiral and a quest to find the truth.
Is any of Truth
based on your personal relationship experiences (though I hope not the
climax), and other sources of inspiration when writing the film?
Actually, there are many elements in script that come from real experiences. I’m
talking about the personal things that both Caleb and Jeremy share with one another.
The story came to me while recovering from surgery last February. I was reading
some blog entries from Sean online and realized we had so much in common
regarding our past, and the experiences that shaped us into the men we are today. I
started writing the story with him in mind and followed my gut instinct about him
through the very last page of the screenplay. I have had a few relationships that
were not the best. Either co/dependent, based on just sex, or just plan unhealthy.
Love can wear many disguises and sometimes we are blinded by what we think we
need or want. The one thing I was sure of was that I wasn’t going to make the film
without Sean. It was tailored for him, and I couldn’t see anyone else playing the role.
How
would you describe your directorial approach to your story at hand?
Since the film has so many personal elements, I think for the both of us (Sean and I),
it was easy for us to get into the characters. Another thing that helped was the fact
that we became close and the chemistry was real. He’s a sweet guy. A few months
before we shot, Sean and I got together and spent an intense 5 days going through
the script and doing some re/writes. Looking back, I don’t think we’d have the same
film if we didn’t do that. I also made sure that the cast and crew were completely
comfortable while working on the film. Having a good synergy on set while making
such an intense film is important. I also let Sean find his character and then
fine-tuned it while rehearsing prior to stepping onto set. That aspect may have been
hard for the crew waiting for us every day, but it was the best way for us to work
and bring what we did onto the screen.
Sean Paul Lockhart, Rob Moretti |
You
also play one of the leads in Truth
- so what did you draw upon to bring your character to life, and have you
written Jeremy with yourself in mind from the get-go?
Since there are many elements of myself in Jeremy, it was easy for me to find the
character. I did write the part with me in mind. There are also many shades of
Caleb that are based on my past. It was truly a rollercoaster ride for both of us to
dredge up personal experiences and bring them to the forefront. Thankfully we had
each other to walk through it. It’s definitely brought us closer as friends. Reliving
the dark things I went through while growing up like being verbally and sexually
abused was tough. I do find that it was therapeutic to go through it. If what we
created can help others, or is something people can relate to, then I know what I did
was the right choice.
What
can you tell us about the rest of your cast, and why exactly these people?
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Blanche Baker |
Blanche Baker who plays Dr. Moore was a thrill to work with. I worked with her on
another film called An Affirmative Act and we hit it off. I knew that I wanted to
work with her again. Originally, I had her in mind to play Caleb’s mother. I sent her
the script and she wrote me back and said she loved it, but wanted to play the
therapist. She felt strongly about playing that character and brought so many things
to it that I hadn’t first envisioned. I was completely honored that she felt so strongly
about being involved.
I was also happy to find Phillip McElroy who plays young
Caleb. I auditioned several kids and was so impressed how this young kid took
direction. To me, I knew from the get-go that he was right. He has an intensity in
his eyes that matched Sean nicely.
Suzanne Didonna, who ended up playing Caleb’s
mother was just incredible. Her big scene was amazing to film. She takes the
audience on such an intense journey that you forget it’s a film. I still get
uncomfortable watching her in that scene.
Do
talk about the shoot as such and the on-set atmosphere for a bit!
Most of the film takes place in Caleb’s house. I ended up renting a large house in
Englewood Cliffs and most of us stayed there during the entire shoot. When you
make a film, people get close. When you are working and living under the same roof,
it’s like a family. It was a time that I’ll always hold dear to me. Bringing a crew of
about 30 people together that are there for you and are all out to make a good film is
such a rewarding feeling. We made a production office on the lower level of the
house and that’s where all the fun was. We had a huge kitchen and cooked every
night. It was great. We even spent Thanksgiving together there.
The
$64-question of course: When and where will the film be released onto the
general public?
I would love to do a small theatrical run in NYC and LA in January. The DVD and
VOD will be released on February 11, 2014. The release strategy is to make it
available worldwide on that date. We are hoping to place it on iTunes, Netflix,
Amazon on demand and on cable VOD. Another avenue I am releasing is on Vimeo.
They have developed a new platform for filmmakers to
distribute their films without the hassle of a middleman. This would make it available to everyone who
has an internet connection. I’m very excited about that.
Any future projects you'd like to share?
Sean and I are working on another film early next year – a romantic comedy called
Common Cupid. I’m also working on Out to Kill, the new Rob Williams film. The
next thing I want to do is write a book.
You
initially entered the filmworld as an actor - so what can you tell us
about Rob Moretti, the actor, what are your techniques to bring your
characters to life, and did you receive any formal training on the
subject?
I made my first film when I was 15. It was a horror film called House on
Tombstone Hill. It was an amazing experience. I recall the director telling me after
doing my very first take "Don’t change. Just be you." I always remembered that and
use that approach to my acting. I am not the type of actor who is very method. I
read somewhere that James Dean, while shooting Rebel Without a Cause, cut an
apple and put blood on it and sat and stared at it for hours to find his emotion.
Truthfully, I’d rather eat the apple. To me, acting is simply reacting. I did take
classes and trained with several coaches over my career. I enjoy taking a class now
and then. It helps keep me in check.
Can you still remember your first time in front
of a movie camera, and what was that experience like?
I did that horror film House on Tombstone Hill in the late 80’s and knew that this
was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I remember it like it was yesterday.
Making a slasher film when you’re a kid was like a dream come true. I was scared as
hell but once I got into it, there was no turning back.
What
got you into producing and directing eventually?
I started a production company in order to make my first film Crutch. During that
time while trying to raise the budget, I was asked to produce and be assistant
director on a number of short films. I remember getting a phone call out of the blue
asking me to produce a short film called Evil and Upside Down by Croatian
director Goran Dukic. I never did anything like that before and just jumped in. It
starred Will Arnett and was a great little film. From there, it just grew. I think that
working on other films prepped me for when it came time to actually shoot Crutch.
Do talk
about your filmwork prior to Truth
(in whatever position) for a bit!
I spent the last three years working as an actor in films like An Affirmative Act,
The Great Fight and Snapshot. It was cool to work with some great talent in
these films. It was cool to work with actors that I grew up watching, like Robert
Loggia, Joyce DeWitt, and Michael Pare. I never thought that one day I’d be sitting
on set smoking cigarettes and hanging out with someone like Joyce Dewitt. I’m
proud of those movies. It taught me so much.
How would you describe
yourself as a director?
Anal! I want what I want basically. When I have a vision in my head, nothing will
stop me until I find a way to bring it onto the screen. A big help too is that I am an
actor, so coming at it from both angles makes it easier. I think it also helps the actor
as well.
Filmmakers, actors, whatever
else who inspire you?
I love the horror genre, so directors like Wes Craven inspire me. Hitchcock, Kubrick,
Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola are all role models. I also love Jodie Foster and
Kathy Bates. Both very intense actresses that I’d love to work with some day.
Your favourite movies?
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The first movie that made me want to be an actor was The Outsiders. I wanted to
be Ponyboy! I knew I could do what those guys were doing. I love that film. I
reference it in Truth actually. I also could watch the film
Dolores Claborne and Silence of the Lambs over and over again. I love the way they were shot and the
performances are amazing.
...
and of course, films you really deplored?
That’s something I think I should keep to myself… There are some pretty bad
movies out there, especially in gay cinema, which make me cringe.
Your/your
movie's website, Facebook, whatever else?
The film’s website is www.truth/the/movie.com. You can always find me on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/robmoretti
and on Twitter www.twitter.com/robmoretti. Anything else
you are dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?
Yes! My shoe size it 12! Hummmmmmm…
Thanks
for the interview!
Thank you so much for the interview. It’s been my pleasure!
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