Well, a year later and it's finally done. I must admit...
this movie came into being as sort of a cinematic bluff. I wrote the adaptation
without even the faintest thought of making it into a movie. It had everything
going against a low budget movie. Too many actors, too many locations, too
much of just about everything. It would also need not just a large cast,
but an extremely talented group of actors who could pull off such dark and
brutal themes with grace.
I still can't believe it happened. I made myself a bet....
I told my producers if we couldn't get Nigel Gore (A local actor whose talents,
energy, and raw brilliance wowed me every time I saw him act on stage.)
I wouldn't do the movie. I knew in the back of my head he would never do
it. We couldn't pay him (Heck, we couldn't pay ANYONE for that matter...)...
plus, he not only acts, teaches theater, but he also is the artistic director
of the Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theater. (And because he's British, Shakespeare
rolls off his tongue like so much verbal honey.)
He would never go for this. But, one day I got up the guts
to call him... and damn it if he didn't say yes. So, I had to make the movie.
He called my buff. I could get into the details about us finding out about
the Julie Taymor version during preproduction.... but that's for when I
write my autobiography.
But it couldn't have been made without the help of three
people. People who are not only my producers, but my closest friends in
the world. Friends who were willing to give up their time, money, and ....
mainly working with me.... their sanity.
So if it wasn't for Zoya Pierson, Chris Pierson, and Kevin
Costa..... I wouldn't be writing this, and you wouldn't be reading it. And,
of course, there would be no movie. And after you see the amazing performances
we have from such a talented cast.... that would have been a great shame.
You'd miss the cold, icy evil of Zoya Pierson as Tamora....
the hidden darkness of John Capalbo's Lucius.... the beautiful dignity that
Molly Lloyd gives Lavinia..... the warmth and humanity that Kevin Costa
gave to Bassianus, and in direct contrast, the puffed up ego that Chris
Pierson gives to Saturninus. The charming, seductive, and wickedly funny
evil of Kevin Butler's Aaron. You would miss Chris Perrotti giving a winning
performance as Marcus, possibly the most long-winded character that Shakespeare
ever wrote. You would even miss the sharp acting and handsome mugs of R.
Charles Sanda, Gary Large, and Josh Willis as Titus' sons. And of course,
Nigel Gore as the man himself in a performance that rocks the house and
the heavens.
Plus so much more.... we have the sexiest Goths you'll
ever see.... and LOTS of them!
Finally, I want to thank everyone who has spent some time
here at our website (The creation of the endlessly talented Chris Pierson.)
and to those who will journey to see my spin on William Shakespeare's most
tragic of tragedies.
And to those of you who think the play is weak and poorly
written..... I have 70 actors who are about to prove you dead wrong.
Peace,
Richard Griffin
Director/Screenplay Adaptation --
"William Shakespeare's TITUS ANDRONICUS" | 
