Inside Secrets: Chuck Russell Reveals Untold Stories Behind Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx’s Iconic Film Collateral
Ashely
So how did you get involved in this project? Did a producer go get the rights and then bring it to you? They had a script and you did some rewrites. Maybe you can just describe sort of how you got involved and then what you ultimately did with this.
Chuck Russell
Well, people, you know, people come to me for different things because at a certain point in your career, you become an element that helps a film get made, you know, instead of just desperately trying to make your film and happily I’m part of the elements of getting films made. So people bring projects to me. In this case, Greg McKay, who is a friend of mine, said he has the rights to the original Witchboard and why don’t we relaunch that? And it took me maybe six or eight months to really realize that’s a great idea and here’s how I would do it. And I did a big rewrite, Greg wrote an original version from the early film and I brought in the whole pendulum board and a bunch of my ideas and did my draft. And Greg is a producer on the film and that’s one of the things you do. I like keeping original writers close. I think it’s a big mistake. I don’t know if you’re if you’re you’re folks watching are aware of this, but some directors try to get rid of an original writer if they’re going to rewrite. I embrace them. They become part of my team. You know, I’m not at all frightened of collaboration. I want to hear what you know, what do you think? What did you mean? If you don’t, if my draft isn’t your favorite, what is it that’s getting you and you end up I just enjoy the collaborative part of this. So Greg remains a friend and is a co-producer on the show with me and Kate.
