What is your favourite movie?
"The Godfather" and its sequel and "Lawrence of Arabia" are a couple of amazing works of art. In terms of degree of difficulty and level of realization, these can't be beat. Favourite NZ movie -"Once Were Warriors."

What, in your opinion, is the worst movie of all time?
"Glitter." You can't even make fun of it while you're watching it. It's not the right kid of bad.

Have you slept with anyone famous? (Had to ask!!)
C'mon, StuHefner, I have to save something for the memoir… Is Joan Rivers famous?

Where should an aspiring Actor go to be seen in Hollywood?
Do short films, get your reel together and get it to casting directors and directors.  Or just go by Prey (nightclub), get your freak on. Whatever works.

Is it easy to make a living in the movie industry?
Television is most consistent as a career. You just have to keep at it, whatever it is you want to do. Just keep going, keep learning and refuse to give up. Don't take no as an answer from yourself.

You are teaching film in L.A. do you find this satisfying?
I love to go with my students to film festivals so they can see their movies that they make themselves with an audience, win awards and see what it's like to make that connection.

What is the new style in movie making we should expect to see?
Digital filmmaking looking for and more film-like, giving more freedom and mobility to artists.

Apart from Tom McCluskey, what other up and coming Directors should we be looking out for?
Lodge Kerrigan and David O. Russell.

Where to now; what's in the pipeline?
A romantic comedy called "Nick and Holly" and a coming-of-age movie set in Ireland and New York, "Jack of Hearts."

Now for the non-movie Q's
IN L.A:
Favourite bar- Liquid Kitty
Favourite restaurant - Musso & Frank's
Favourite night club - Prey
Favourite strip club - my place
AND:
Favourite waste of time - Watching World Series of Poker on TV
Favourite Baseball team - New York Mets
Favourite Football team - who's going to win the next Superbowl? - Giants

What is the sentiment of the people you associate with in regard to how President Bush has handled the Iraq invasion?
With a great lack of respect for the intelligence of the American people and the world community

Do you think now that Iraq has had another election US troops should leave?
Should - yes ; will - no

Is this going to be another Vietnam?
Although much more visible, but will the Vets get the same kind of treatment as their predecessors? It has some of the qualities of Viet Nam but is cynical on an entirely different level. That war had ideological roots in the fear of the world-wide spread of Communism and the preservation of democracy. This invasion is an attempt to control the one area of the planet where we don't exact complete influence but want to. In contrast to abuses by the leadership in this multi-year campaign (Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Rove, etc), American people on the whole have a lot of respect for the troops and their sacrifice. Neither they nor hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians should be dying to enrich these men.

Who actually voted for that bastard anyway?
Got me.

From the last election it was apparent that the populated States didn't want Bush again. Do you think Middle America is lost in its own self absorption? Or are they just too far from the real world?
Many religious people want a leader whose values, on the surface, seem to reflect their own - i.e. talks about "God" and "The Lord" a lot. But the Bible says, Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters you do to me. Look at the way the administration handled the plight of devastated Katrina victims and the poor, they're about as far from the teachings of Jesus as you can get!

You play Poker; is this a professional past-time or just for fun?
Just fun for now although who knows what the future will bring. An Aussie won the last World Series of Poker, why not a guy from Queens?


Is Poker taking over from Bowling as America's favourite past-time?
Seems that way in my little world.

Is OJ guilty?
Is it 1994 already?

Should Mike Tyson be castrated? Or has he been and that's why he has such a squeaky voice?
Mike Tyson has to be Mike Tyson. That's his punishment!

Watch out for Double Header the movie sometime in 2006... There's a possibility StuHefner.com will be hosting an Exclusive New Zealand Preview - WATCH THIS SPACE!!

Phosphenes Presents
A Tom McCluskey Film
'DOUBLE HEADER'

Double Header Website

Official Selection
Hollywood DV Festival

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Official Selection
Faux Film Festival

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Official Selection
CON-CAN Laughter Outburst

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Official Selection
Digital Narrative Arts Film Festival

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Writer / director / producer / editor Tom McCluskey hails from Queens, New York.

After making films and theatre with friends at Regis High School and Fordham University in NYC, he went to USC Film School.

Since graduating, Tom has gone on to make films including "Hold, Please" which won a CINE Eagle and other awards at around thirty international festivals it played at.

Tom wrote the indie feature "Friends and Enemies" with Mark Distefano and "Casper - A Spirited Beginning" for Fox.

Tom currently teaches a flimmaking class in East Los Angeles and writes.

CLICK TO WATCH TRAILER

TOM McCLUSKEY:
HOLLYWOOD WRITER, DIRECTOR
Talks Exclusively to StuHefner.com about his new movie
'Double Header'
and life in La La Land...

 

 

Was it always your dream to work in Hollywood or is that just where you need to be?
I actually thought I'd stay in my home town, New York City, but when I got accepted to the USC Film School that turned out George Lucas, Ron Howard and John Singleton, I went west, young man. 

You had some success a few years back with "Casper- A Spirited Beginning" for FOX Studios. Have you worked for any major studios since then or did that experience make you want to concentrate more on your own independent films?
After "Casper" I developed a romantic comedy called "Nick and Holly" for a producer who has since left the business. I am currently developing this with another producer to take around to the studios in 2006.

Do you crave the kind of success film-makers like Peter Jackson seem to have or are you happy doing the kind of films that interest you?
Well, the grass is always greener as they say. I want to keep making my own films as Peter Jackson did with "Heavenly Creatures" but on a larger scale like he's doing now.


Or do you feel it's only a matter of time before the rest of the world catches up to Tom McCluskey?
Absolutely. They're catching up right now.


Where did the idea for Double Header come from?
Just thinking about the way some producers make movies that seemed so funny to me, coming up with some cliché with enough of a new angle to Xerox a new product out of.

What is the story-line, without giving too much away?
It is the trailer for the most outrageous, unbelievable cop action movie that could ever be made in the history of the human race.

Your production notes state that Double Header was shot over 2 days but how much work goes into preparing for the actual shoot?
It was prepped for about a week over a month long period including auditions, location scouting, arranging for insurance etc.

Do you get to travel to the Festivals your films appear at?
I'm in LA so it depends. I didn't go to Toronto or Japan but I will go to Portland with it next year. And I'm still waiting on its down under debut. I'll come for that!

Is it expensive making films in Hollywood or cheaper because you have access to people and equipment and possibly able to utilize their down-time?
There are a lot of ways to cut corners. Borrow equipment, get friends to help out (and then help them out later in return). But you should always pay for insurance and feed your cast and crew well!

Any plans to come Downunder and experience our magnificent landscape and unique way of life?
Absolutely. Wish I was there now.

What prompted you to get into film-making?
Watching Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen and John Cassavetes movies. They all had a real New York vibe and felt true to life. I wanted to make that kind of film.

Have you worked with any major stars?
Michelle Williams ("Dawson's Creek" / "Brokeback Mountain") was in a short film I made, "Eddie Five Fingers," Steve Guttenberg, James Earl Jones and the inimitable Pauly Shore were in "Casper."
Jim Carrey and I once beat a man to death with our bare hands. (2 out of 3 of those are true)

Any goss you can tell us?
Katie Holmes is going to give birth to Mini-Me, but you didn't hear that here.

Anyone you would really like to work with?
Robert De Niro. Gena Rowlands. Scarlett Johanssen.

Who do you think is over-rated?
I would say CGI is over-rated since it never looks convincing unless it's used minimally or with great care as with "The Matrix" or "Lord of the Rings." I prefer the use of miniatures in the original (and cheap) "Star Wars" to the overwrought newer chapters.

SYNOPSIS:
"Double Header" is a trailer for the most amazing cop actin cat-and-mouse thriller never made. No one will be seated after the first four seconds!

To "Bring Down" his brother, the infamous crime boss Benito Pelvin, FBI agent Jack Pelvin will face a challenge unlike any in the history of the cinema !!!

They are as far apart as two brothers can be... and as close... as two enemies ... ... ... can get.