Question & Answer Session at BillyBoyd.net - Summer 2002

Gollum: After watching this, I wont be able to sleep!!

Chead: I cannot wait to see this film.  I know it'll be a while before it's released, but I'm really excited about it. I don't think I'll be able to relate, however, since I never have any trouble falling asleep.  In fact, I always seem to be fighting to stay awake ('specially at work)!

Sighko: Glad you're interested, though as you pointed out, it's not coming out for a long time. The earliest release would be the beginning of next year. As for not being able to sleep...well, it's not really a SCARY film, more psychological, where people who've had bad nightmares or serious chronic insomnia will be able to relate. Others will just be like "wow, glad that's not me..." because it's more than a bit weird. But I'm glad you're looking forward to it. Keep your fingers crossed.

Silme: I've had chronic insomnia my whole life, and the occasional bouts of bad nightmares, so I'm REALLY curious about this movie. If I see it and think, been there done that, I suppose I should be worried huh?

Sighko: Well it's a bit of an extreme take on insomnia-related delusions....so let's just say if you can relate, fine. But if you can specifically say "been there, done that" we might all have to worry.

Silme: Lol sighko, indeed. Can't wait for the video clips by the way. Looking forward to more news.

Domin8ed: I think after watching this film i will have no problem falling to sleep with visions of Dom dancing in my head!

Silme: For some reason I'm picturing Dom in a tutu and tiara when you say that. Swan lake anyone?

Gollum: Hey Tess, it's 4:00 am here, I'm pretty awake and every night is just like this one... I was wondering if the movie will be international, 'cause I live almost in the end of the world and I don't know if I can get it.

Rooty: :Clicks link. Goes straight to media section. Looks at pics:: Looks like an interesting movie. That little girl has quite the face! And of course, I want Dom. Wouldn't be me if i didn't say it.

Sighko: Yes Rooty, of course that makes you you. And yes, we had a great group to work with. Good cast, good crew. Ellen is a great young actress...very precocious, very talented. I auditioned twenty-seven girls for the role but she was just the one. And for those of you who have never experienced late night delusions or very realistic wacked out nightmares, it should be a trip.

Pepper Took: I can't wait to see the movie. It looks beyond awesome. I'm just kicking my self for not going Dom scouting in NYC, I just didn't know he was there when he was. I live pretty close. The pictures look great and the photography looks really good. Tess, if that was you filming the shots, it looks really nice. Can't wait to see the movie. Let us know about the dates. Did anyone notice that in some of the pics that you can see Dom's "nine" tattoo?

Celandine Gamgee: I thought I saw the "Nine" tattoo!  Although, I thought he was not supposed to let that be photographed!  Naughty boy!

Sighko: As far as I know, the secret’s been out for a while already and the censorship of the "Nine" tattoo is over. Don’t quote me on it, but all stills were fully approved by the actors and there were no qualms over the shots that showed it. Besides, Dominic knew there were shirtless scenes in the film and never asked the makeup artist to cover it up, so don’t worry about it.

Jatamansi: I can't wait for AIN to come out - I really hope it comes out wherever I might be living at the time! And if I can wrangle an autographed copy, that'd be nifty... I've suffered from chronic insomnia for years, so I think it'll be really interesting to see how this movie turns out.  I'm all for films that make you think - so I'm really looking forward to this one!

Annael Baggins: Well...let me just tell you all that I got a spoiler and it sounds great. Just can't wait!

Sighko: A spoiler? We’re still trying to decide if we should put the script up on the site. We might upload it towards the end of the year...still thinking about it. Nothing’s decided yet.

Annael Baggins: NO! Don't do that! Then they'll read it and know what happens and then wont see the movie because they know what happens or they'll...they'll...do stuff to it.

Sighko: Calm yourself....it'll be okay. A number of people have read the script and everyone has responded by saying they loved it. What I think we might do is put it up after the film's released. Like I said, no decisions have been made yet.

Bunnyofmanycolors: It's probably unlikely that I'll ever see the film, though it looks really good. There just aren't any festivals here.

Sighko: It'll be available through the company itself later next year on VHS and DVD. But even we don't know the film festival status right now.

Bunnyofmanycolors: Oh cool!  Thank you so much for letting us know that there is hope!

Ginger13: Any chances that I could see this film here, in Russia? *sigh*

Sighko: Like I said, it'll be available through the company. So if you can buy stuff online from Russia, you can buy this film. As far as screenings...it could be played all over the place, or this could just be a competitive year and it might not get in anywhere, so I wouldn't rely on the festivals, as they're completely unpredictable.

Jennie: What kind of video and DVD formats do they use in Russia?  Will Jagged Edge be offering other versions, so our European (etc) friends can see it?  We've got the reverse problem over here trying to get Urban Ghost Story.

Aremeriel: I don't know what Jagged Edge will do here, but if you have a rather new video player it's not a problem... Ours is like 6 years old or so, and it plays both PAL and NTSC.

Sighko: I don’t have any answers for that right now. If it gets international distribution, it'll be available in all those formats. Otherwise - at least at first - just NTSC, until we can eventually get financing to release it on other formats as well.

Oumpa-loumpa: Maybe this has been answered before, or maybe I'm just reading with my feet, but does Dom's character have a name in the movie?

Sighko: Yes, his character is Jack the insomniac.

Oumpa-loumpa: Simple and sweet, I always liked that name. By the way, I love the stills. Looks neat and I LOVE the Pj's! Who choose them?

Annael Baggins: Pj's? You mean that plaid number? Those are his clothes I thought.

Oumpa-loumpa: I thought they were his pajamas...stupid me. I still like em though.

Sighko: The clothes were sort of a mutual decision. I knew I wanted Jack to be defined by his clothes...so I told Dom to bring green cargoes, and then we went through three flannel shirts. Two were green and one was red – we liked the red one most, even though it was the thickest and hottest shirt. It was just right for the character. So Oumpa, you were right. In the film the outfit WAS his sleeping adornment...

Oumpa-loumpa: See, I WAS right after all!! HAHA! By the way, have you finished with the editing and everything? Is the film entirely finished?

Sighko: AHAHAHA!!! Oh wait...that wasn't a joke? Hmm...no. I'm ALMOST done with the FIRST cut of the film. I truly wish I had the entire thing finished, but sadly the stress is far from over. The first cut will be done by the end of the week....then we still have to voice over the dog, add in sound effects and put in the score (background music), so there is still much unwanted but necessary work ahead.

Kitty: What kind of hours did you work while filming? And did you get much sleep?

Sighko: While filming we only worked about six hours a day...though there were exceptions. The hours were really varied depending on the day, location, and scenes we were shooting, as with all productions. And no, I didn't get much sleep but that was just me because I had to plan out shot lists, etc. Most of the other cast/crew members were deprived of sleep too, but that was their own fault.

PixyAnne: Let me just say that this looks quite amazing! Being a lover of indie films (especially those of this nature) just makes it all the more exciting. I myself have been aspiring to work in filmmaking and I absolutely can't wait to see the finished product.

Kitty: where do u get your ideas from Tess?

Sighko: My ideas are actually my bane...there are way too many of them. I believe it would be physically impossible to produce every single script I've got ideas for and have in the works. Right now I'm concentrating on three specific ones...and always writing down ideas for things to do in the future because my brain just doesn't stop. The ideas come from nowhere -- all these crazy original things just fuzzing into my mind...it's extremely overwhelming most of the time.

Bunnyofmanycolors: How did Dom end up being in your film?  Did you know him personally or meet him and say, "I have a part that would be great for you!"  Or what?  I'm just really curious how it all fell together.

Sighko: Bunny, though the film was low budget, it was still a professional production. When I watch a movie and see actors that I don't know, whether they had a big role or a very small one, I tend to look them up just to know who's out there. During pre-production for AIN, I just happened to be browsing through the FOTR cast list and checking on names that were new to me. I happened to hear a surfing narration on Dom's online resume and was blown away by how perfect he would be for the role of Jack, since the film is almost all voice-overs and he was the right age for the character. As with anything else, we went through a long legal process with the agency. I didn’t know anything of him beforehand, but after coming across the narration, I was very set on having Dominic play Jack. He just had "that thing" that I was looking for in the character. Such is the casting process, no matter the budget of the film.

Domin8ed: How goes the editing?

Sighko:  The first cut of AIN is finished! Of course during the editing process lots of things were changed from the original script - totally redid the way the ending was put together. And it's still the rough cut so we're missing stuff, but for the first take of the film it's pretty good.

Kitty: How many hours a day are you working on it and where are you editing at?

Sighko: I'll answer that question real quick before I go, Kitty.... My dad lives in a small studio apartment and I set up a big table with a large TV, a small TV and the computer, which has a huge F drive and the editing program. Since we finished shooting, I've been there every day for about ten hours a day (normally 11 AM to 9 PM) but sometimes a couple hours more if I just spend the night there and wake up early.

Kitty: Tess Thanks so much for answering our questions.

Sighko: No problem, I love answering questions. Feel free to ask if you've got more.