Interview with Todd Farmer Snippet

July 13 2008

Todd Farmer is the screenwriter for “My Bloody Valentine” 3D. Below is a snippet of the full interview, focusing on Kerr.

Dark Scribe: Some of the films in the recent spate of remakes get criticized for what many see as CW-casting – young, attractive name actors from popular youth-oriented TV fare. Did you have any involvement or input in My Bloody Valentine’s casting, and what are your initial thoughts on Jensen Ackles and Kerr Smith in the lead roles?

Todd Farmer: Outside of TV, writers have zero say when it comes to casting. Granted, there are hundreds of single writers sitting in bars right now, flashing their WGA cards, who do not want the girls to know this. But the truth hurts. The powers-that-be don’t want us getting out. They don’t want us talking in public, and they certainly don’t want us rubbing up against the talent. In fact, we rarely even see an audition tape. But it was different this time.

Patrick allowed me access to the inner circle. I would watch audition tapes then call or IM about who stood out to me. Jaime [King] was a stand out from the start. I remember Patrick’s excitement after first meeting her. Normally he wouldn’t tell me who he liked until I weighed in. But with Jaime, he was too excited to keep it secret.

Then there was Kerr. I knew his face. But it was his acting that grabbed me. He was simply in a different league. I told Patrick and, of course, he felt the same. At first Kerr was our favorite for Tom, but then Jensen arrived and we were torn…until Patrick suggested Kerr play Axel. It was perfect!

I remember Edi [Gathegi] being a stand out. We kept referring to him as ‘Big Love’ since we loved his run on House, MD. But his interpretation was so… A-list. He and Kerr were so good together that we kept making their scenes longer.

Then later when casting started for [the character of] Irene, again Patrick broke protocol and phoned saying, “You gotta check out Betsy [Rue]!” Patrick would get so excited. It was infectious. I mean, I’ve become so mean and bitter and angry all the time that it’s just so refreshing to be around someone who lifts you up and reminds you why you drove to LA in your old pickup with several garbage bags full of clothes and slept in a hammock for two months back in 1996 when gas prices were a buck fifty-five.

And when it comes to the actors something happened this time that I’ve never seen before. Many times someone will be brilliant in an audition but just the opposite on set. Or at least struggle on set. It’s the gamble you take. Not the case this time. In fact, the actors just kept getting better and better.

As Jaime’s role became more and more physically and emotionally demanding, she nailed take after take. I knew Jensen’s work from watching Smallville and Supernatural. But I was not prepared for the performances he was giving. Patrick calls him a young Steve McQueen. Jaime, Jensen, and Kerr playing three incredibly complex characters. The movie is better because of them. In fact, I’d put those three up against any of your big budget movie stars. Any day of the week, twice on Thursday.