five with frights:- ryan mcdermott
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RYAN MCDERMOTT ...
IMDB
MR. FRIGHTS: So, tell me... everyone has plans, hopes, and dreams of where a project will go when it's done, but did you ever think Mark Macready would be taking off like this?-
RYAN MCDERMOTT: Not at all, you can dream and hope for these things but you never expect it will actually happen. I feel very lucky to have been part of this amazing ride. I look back to 2008 when myself, Sean and Paul were gearing up to make the film and I don't think either one of us could have anticipated how much this experience would change our lives and the opportunities it would present for everybody involved. I dreamt of the film screening in NYC as it's my
favourite city in the world and I got my wish, twice! You can't really sum up how that feels. -
MR. FRIGHTS: What do you see as the reason people seem so drawn to Mark Macready?
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RYAN MCDERMOTT: I think people are drawn in by its warmth and determination. It's a very ambitious film on a small budget but people didn't seem to care, after each screening they'd fall in love with the characters, quote the lines and want to know what happens next. It's rare that a short film captures people's imaginations like that and it was overwhelming at times to see how passionate people were becoming about the film. I also think the marketing and interaction with fans has kept people coming back, in the last few months via Twitter the film has lead the way when it comes to interactivity with the audience and that's something as the Producer I'm extremely proud of. There are no gimmicks with our product, we don't want any money we just asked for support and we got it by the boat load.
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MR. FRIGHTS: Are plans for a feature version of Mark Macready coming together?
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RYAN MCDERMOTT: They are indeed, faster than I initially anticipated. I recently spent five weeks working with BBC Films in London to uncover just how we can make it happen and since then things have moved along at a great pace. The script is once again being penned by my good friend
Paul Feeney who wrote and created 'Mark Macready', I just read his first draft and it was fantastic - filled with everything a theatrical story should have and more. Whilst Paul is writing I'm busy working on how we'll market the film. It's going to be the most interactive feature film ever made, the fans will not be disappointed by what we have in-store for them. I'm hoping it will set a standard for all other independent feature films in the future.
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MR. FRIGHTS: I know Mark Macready is keeping you busy, but have you had time for anything else?
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RYAN MCDERMOTT: Well, this year has been the busiest so far, I've set up my own production company and I've been working with animation director
Gavin Johnson on 'Mark Macready: Underworld Tales' the animated prequel film to 'The Archangel Murders'. But in the last couple of weeks I've been able to start developing a new project that isn't related to 'Mark Macready'. It's something I'm really excited about, it's in the early stages of development at the moment but I think it could be a really fun project, I'm hoping to trial some of the 'Mark Macready' interactivity ideas for the feature film on this project, so it should be a really great experiment from both a creative and a production point of view.
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MR. FRIGHTS: How do you measure success when all is said and done with this project?
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RYAN MCDERMOTT: That's a tough one, I just look at how much my life has changed I guess. I'm lucky enough to be able to do what I want to do with my life now. Twelve months ago I was working for the NHS and dreaming of making a go at this. When things like New York City screenings happened and then the Cannes Film Festival I knew I couldn't do a 9-5 job anymore. I knew I'd had to live like a pauper but decided that it was now or never to chase my dream and I'm eternally grateful to this project for providing me with a way forward in life. No matter what happens now I know I'm able to work in various areas of the industry thanks to the success of Mark Macready.
Hit the Grab Bag Questions below to go on with the interview...
GRAB BAG QUESTIONS
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MR. FRIGHTS: Do you ever see Mark Macready hitting as a television series? Would you be into that?
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RYAN MCDERMOTT: It's been talked about, it's certainly an option. When I was working with the BBC in London they were adamant that it should be developed into a TV show. At the moment we're focused on making this work as a theatrical adventure but you never know. I think both myself and Paul are keen to tell this story in whichever medium, we'll just have to wait and see.
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MR. FRIGHTS: Are any of the characters based on people from real life?
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RYAN MCDERMOTT: I'm not sure, that would be a better question for Paul, in-fact I need to ask him that one! My very first boss a lovely bloke called Allan Mitchinson was an influence for the character of Doyle, several of the lines he said to me in real life ended up in the script and I think the father/son dynamic we had is real life is also in there. However, Macready himself from a performance point of view was based on characters like Dirty Harry and Paul Kersey, the tough guy with a single mission.
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MR. FRIGHTS: It's late at night, dark & stormy, you hear a noise from a distance, maybe down stairs or outside... are you the type to go check it out?
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RYAN MCDERMOTT: Haha! Not at all, I'd go the bathroom and lock the door, let someone else deal with it.
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MR. FRIGHTS: If you took over the world, what would be your first order of business?
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RYAN MCDERMOTT: I think free Dominos pizza would be high on the priority list and a night with Britney Spears...talking about the economy of course!
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MR. FRIGHTS: Are you going to be doing any promo type contests for Mark Macready or any kind of thing the fans can get in on? Tell us about the details or where to go for details, when to look for them, etc
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RYAN MCDERMOTT: We have a huge world first interactive event coming up on June 19th. Our film is being released
free online. Visitors to our official site can watch the film and then watch our Livesteam Interactive Launch party where we'll be taking questions about the making of the film and we'll be giving away signed posters and goodie bags. It's a first for independent horror an event like this, so we'd love everyone to drop by. If you want to be part of the event just head to
www.archangelmurders.com on June 19th and you'll be able to see the film and interact with the entire cast and crew live as we take your questions!
I'd just like to say a huge thank-you to Mr.Frights for having me back on the site; it's been a pleasure and thank-you so much for your support! - Ryan