Scott W. Davis
09-01-2003, 10:30 PM
Clive Barker, God love him, is nothing if not active. Even when we don't hear from him for a while, chances are he has a million projects in the works.
I will never forget the time I had a chance to interview him. I was barely out of college, a very unsure, self-conscious greenhorn kid (compared to the mental dynamo I am now) who was working as an Associate Producer in television news. It was a brief thing, just a seven minute phone interview and it fell into my lap purely by chance. I was offered the chance to interview Patrick Stewart, something I was very happy to accept. The Entertainment Producer, a real great guy, was looking another paper over saying he couldn't do both interviews because there was a scheduling conflict. "Why, what's yours?" I asked. "Ah, Clive Barker, but I have no idea what I'll say. I'll probably have to fake it." This made no sense to me. "You've watched five times as much STAR TREK as I have! Screw Picard! Give me the man behind WEAVEWORLD!" Like I said, the interview was no big deal. A phone interview, one of dozens Barker did that day in order to promote THE COMPLETE CLIVE BARKER. But man if I didn't pour over every question. I asked about movies, poetry, paintings, literature, motivation - anything I could squeeze in those few minutes. His responses were fascinating to me. As you can tell, I'm a long-time fan and was pretty well starstruck, something that doesn't come easily to me.
Barker described several projects he had in the works. Many of these, the film projects he described, sadly have not seen fruition. But you can't keep a great talent down and he's got a ton of other goodies in the works. , Clive Barker's Official Site, gives us the scoop.
BLOODY MARY is a film about a woman in the Florida Everglades who steals children in the night. It's based on an urban legend told amongst the homeless (similar to Barker's CANDYMAN). The story comes from a newspaper article by Lynda Edwards that Barker read in the Miami New Times. Reports speak of the six figure deal Barker made with Touchstone Pictures in order to get the project greenlit. However, reports, "BLOODY MARY will not be made by a major studio." Strange. It does say that Barker feels confident about it's progress. "We have somebody," Barker says, "This is not someone you would know, a guy who was one of the producers on a bunch of short independent hits over the last couple years."
A known, talented screenwriter is reportedly being wooed to pen a final draft of THE DAMNATION GAME for Warner Bros. "I hate to be so coy about this, but if he gets to do it, I feel he will bring it on home and then we can make that movie," Barker says.
Now, here's something really strange. Apparantly, Barker's paintings will be featured in a DVD he is making with Korn frontman, Jonathan Davis. Korn's music will be featured with the artwork as the backdrop.
What about TORTURED SOULS, the film version of the story that accompanied his line of figures for Todd McFarlane's group? Barker says the final draft of that script should be ready in a couple weeks. It will then be turned into Universal to begin preproduction on the proposed film.
Barker has been a bit fickle with his television properties. Rather than a Harry D'Amour TV series as planned, Barker is now considering another film adventure for the supernatural detective. D'Amour appeared in numerous Barker short stories and novels and in the film LORD OF ILLUSIONS - an underrated work. However, he has just turned in the first two hours of his Sci-fi Channel series, THE EVIL ONE. "I'm very excited about the idea of taking evil as the subject. I hope they don't think it is too dark."
The script for DREAD by Drew McWeeney and Scott Swan (the upcoming MORTAL KOMBAT: DOMINATION) has been completed, at least in it's early stages. It is based on one of the many classic stories in his BOOKS OF BLOOD. Another BOB adaptation is THE MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN. Barker wrote this one himself and hopes to make it through an indepedent studio. He is aiming for a hard R-rating and is pushing to make it at least as scary as the short story. Hell, I'll be happy if they keep that awesome title!
And finally, reports Barker is setting up an independent production company with an eye towards horror. He's teamed up with Jorge Saralegui (RED PLANET, QUEEN OF THE DAMNED). As of right now, the company doesn't have a name.
And if all that isn't enough, I hear Barker also fancies himself a novelist. No doubt once he wraps his story of pre-teen novels, we can expect to see the next depraved fantasy from him soon enough.
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[I 30h resevil_08 I]Doesn't the man ever sleep? Speculate on this question and more in our !
I will never forget the time I had a chance to interview him. I was barely out of college, a very unsure, self-conscious greenhorn kid (compared to the mental dynamo I am now) who was working as an Associate Producer in television news. It was a brief thing, just a seven minute phone interview and it fell into my lap purely by chance. I was offered the chance to interview Patrick Stewart, something I was very happy to accept. The Entertainment Producer, a real great guy, was looking another paper over saying he couldn't do both interviews because there was a scheduling conflict. "Why, what's yours?" I asked. "Ah, Clive Barker, but I have no idea what I'll say. I'll probably have to fake it." This made no sense to me. "You've watched five times as much STAR TREK as I have! Screw Picard! Give me the man behind WEAVEWORLD!" Like I said, the interview was no big deal. A phone interview, one of dozens Barker did that day in order to promote THE COMPLETE CLIVE BARKER. But man if I didn't pour over every question. I asked about movies, poetry, paintings, literature, motivation - anything I could squeeze in those few minutes. His responses were fascinating to me. As you can tell, I'm a long-time fan and was pretty well starstruck, something that doesn't come easily to me.
Barker described several projects he had in the works. Many of these, the film projects he described, sadly have not seen fruition. But you can't keep a great talent down and he's got a ton of other goodies in the works. , Clive Barker's Official Site, gives us the scoop.
BLOODY MARY is a film about a woman in the Florida Everglades who steals children in the night. It's based on an urban legend told amongst the homeless (similar to Barker's CANDYMAN). The story comes from a newspaper article by Lynda Edwards that Barker read in the Miami New Times. Reports speak of the six figure deal Barker made with Touchstone Pictures in order to get the project greenlit. However, reports, "BLOODY MARY will not be made by a major studio." Strange. It does say that Barker feels confident about it's progress. "We have somebody," Barker says, "This is not someone you would know, a guy who was one of the producers on a bunch of short independent hits over the last couple years."
A known, talented screenwriter is reportedly being wooed to pen a final draft of THE DAMNATION GAME for Warner Bros. "I hate to be so coy about this, but if he gets to do it, I feel he will bring it on home and then we can make that movie," Barker says.
Now, here's something really strange. Apparantly, Barker's paintings will be featured in a DVD he is making with Korn frontman, Jonathan Davis. Korn's music will be featured with the artwork as the backdrop.
What about TORTURED SOULS, the film version of the story that accompanied his line of figures for Todd McFarlane's group? Barker says the final draft of that script should be ready in a couple weeks. It will then be turned into Universal to begin preproduction on the proposed film.
Barker has been a bit fickle with his television properties. Rather than a Harry D'Amour TV series as planned, Barker is now considering another film adventure for the supernatural detective. D'Amour appeared in numerous Barker short stories and novels and in the film LORD OF ILLUSIONS - an underrated work. However, he has just turned in the first two hours of his Sci-fi Channel series, THE EVIL ONE. "I'm very excited about the idea of taking evil as the subject. I hope they don't think it is too dark."
The script for DREAD by Drew McWeeney and Scott Swan (the upcoming MORTAL KOMBAT: DOMINATION) has been completed, at least in it's early stages. It is based on one of the many classic stories in his BOOKS OF BLOOD. Another BOB adaptation is THE MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN. Barker wrote this one himself and hopes to make it through an indepedent studio. He is aiming for a hard R-rating and is pushing to make it at least as scary as the short story. Hell, I'll be happy if they keep that awesome title!
And finally, reports Barker is setting up an independent production company with an eye towards horror. He's teamed up with Jorge Saralegui (RED PLANET, QUEEN OF THE DAMNED). As of right now, the company doesn't have a name.
And if all that isn't enough, I hear Barker also fancies himself a novelist. No doubt once he wraps his story of pre-teen novels, we can expect to see the next depraved fantasy from him soon enough.
--------
[I 30h resevil_08 I]Doesn't the man ever sleep? Speculate on this question and more in our !