Excerpts......

Apr 20, 2010
By Jennifer Huber
suite101.com


Actor Vincent D'Onofrio discussed new movie 'Johnny and Me", offered advice to aspiring filmmakers, answered questions about "Criminal Intent" return.

Vincent D'Onofrio was one of the 2010 Sarasota Film Festival's several celebrities during the event’s closing weekend April 16 – 18 in Sarasota, Fla. He appeared at the screening of his directorial debut, a slasher musical movie called Dont Go in the Woods Friday and Saturday nights. Steve Persall of the St. Petersburg Times posed questions to D'Onofrio during the "In Conversation Series" at Florida Studio Theatre on Sunday. Over the course of the weekend, D'Onofrio answered questions ranging from his new film project called “Johnny and Me” to guest appearances on “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” and advice to aspiring filmmakers.

Vincent D’Onofrio Discussed New Project, Johnny and Me

After reading an article in Brain, Child magazine about an 8-year-old girl with autism who learned to communicate through the world of Cinderella, Vincent D'Onofrio was inspired to write Johnny and Me with Joe Vinciguerra and Sam Bisbee. He will direct the film about a fifty-something-year-old man with Asperger's syndrome who communicates through the history and music of Johnny Cash. The lead character's 18-year-old daughter enters his life and the two bond as father and daughter while traveling through the Southern United States and connect through Johnny Cash.

According to D'Onofrio Johnny and Me is a $3 to $5 million movie and although he has the financial backing, he has not found the right actor to cast the lead character. He told the audience he wrote the part for himself but does not have the time to handle the financing, direct and act. The Johnny Cash Estate granted permission for D'Onofrio to use Cash's history and music in the film.

Vincent D’Onofrio Offered Advice to Aspiring Filmmakers

Aspiring filmmakers asked D’Onofrio for advice. He suggested they "keep the budget low as possible, don't take 'no' from anybody" and "remind your crew and people around you when asked if something can be done the answer is always 'yes.'"

Vincent D’Onofrio encouraged aspiring screenwriters to "write" and "stop talking about it and do it. It's not what people say it's what people do," he continued. "The only true artists that I have ever met in my life do not procrastinate, ever. They do instead of say."

He then suggested having friends and family read the story to ensure people can understand what is being said. Once a script is complete, D’Onofrio said to write another one. As for selling it, he recommended attending a film festival with a complete script and find a way to connect with producers and have them read it. According to the actor, "It doesn’t matter who you are, producers like material. It doesn't matter who wrote it they don't care as long as it's good and it’ll make a good movie."

Does Vincent D'Onofrio Think He’s Sexy?

Dressed in a black dress shirt, black slacks and black flip-flops during Sunday's conversation, D'Onofrio was asked whether he considered himself sexy. No, he does not but considers himself "talented."

Will Vincent D’Onofrio Make a Guest Appearance on Law & Order: Criminal Intent?

When asked Saturday night if he will be making guest appearances as Det. Bobby Goren on the television show Law & Order: Criminal Intent, D’Onofrio responded, "I hope not," which garnered laughter from the audience.

"It was 8 years and I thank you if you are a fan of Criminal Intent, I appreciate you sticking with me all those years," he said, "I couldn't think of any reason to stay there any longer other than the money and that's just not good enough for me."

D’Onofrio apologized to fans for leaving the NBC show but said, "I'll be around."




By Jennifer Huber
suite101.com
April 20, 2010

Actor and director Vincent D'Onofrio screened slasher musical "Don't Go in the Woods" during the 2010 Sarasota Film Fest and answered audience questions.

Actor Vincent D’Onofrio screened his directorial debut movie, a slasher musical called Don’t Go in the Woods during the closing weekend of the 2010 Sarasota Film Festival April 16 and 17 in Sarasota, Fla. Following each screening, D’Onofrio answered audience questions regarding the horror film.

Synopsis of Don’t Go in the Woods

An indie rock band of five young men heads into the woods for a weekend of creative inspiration away from modern distractions. New songs are sung and written but female groupies crash the creative jam session causing distraction. In traditional slasher movie style, characters begin disappearing and are violently killed by a crazed murderer. Unlike a traditional horror film, Don't Go in the Woods is a musical with scenes of characters singing while being murdered. The film oozes with thrills and a dark sense of humor complemented by a solid rock soundtrack. The end's twist left filmgoers asking, "Who was the murderer?"

What’s Next for Don’t Go in the Woods

Vincent D’Onofrio is confident the horror flick will be distributed in movie theaters. He told the audience following Saturday's screening, he has "Made a deal with Jason Blum who put out Paranormal Activity…he really liked it and thinks he can get it out there."

Don't Go in the Woods is geared for the 18 to twentysomething crowd although many Sarasota Film Festival attendees said they were at least twice the target demographic and enjoyed the movie. D’Onofrio said this was the first film festival to screen the horror film screened it for 200 Florida State University students a few weeks ago and the audience "went berserk."

The Making of Don't Go in the Woods

The movie was filmed in 13 days, produced for $100,000 and shot on D'Onofrio’s property in New York State. He told the audience he and directors Sam Bisbee and Joe Vinciguerra had just completed writing the next movie he will direct, Johnny and Me. The idea for Don’t Go in the Woods came to D'Onofrio while waiting to find financing to film the new movie. He and his wife were driving through his woods and said to her, "We should make a horror musical."

During dinner with Bisbee, Vinciguerra and their wives, D'Onofrio brought up the concept and the idea advanced with Brisbee writing the movie’s music and lyrics. D'Onofrio is optimistic the movie's rock soundtrack will be available once the film is distributed.

As for the film’s cast, D'Onofrio was not concerned whether they could act, "but whether they could sing," he told the audience. "I made sure they all trusted me enough because I told them I would guide them through and they could trust me with their performances."

All cast members were aspiring actors including Cassandra Walker who has a significant role in the slasher musical and attended the Sarasota Film Festival screenings. The band in the movie is "The Dirty Dirty" and no longer together. D'Onofrio found the group through his nephew.

When asked about preparing for the scene as a viciously attacked victim in the movie, Walker said she prepared by "Living in the moment," and described the experience as "pretty rad how everything happened and pretty crazy. There wasn’t much acting to go into it."

The Statement Don't Go in the Woods is Making

A member of the audience asked about the film's meaning and inquired if there was statement being made about rock and roll dying at the hands of corporate destruction of music, Vincent D'Onofrio replied, "I love that." The audience laughed.

The same audience member asked where he was going with that and D'Onofrio said, "I'm not gonna tell ya. I won't say. I think that you [D'Onofrio] make ‘em and it’s for you to come up with s--t like that. It’s awesome.”