The following interviews were conducted following the completion of Refrigerate After Opening.
Refrigerate After Opening star Dylan Santurri asked R.A.O. Writer/Director Mat Moore the following questions:
Q. What inspired you to bring this epic story of a boy and his juice to life?
A. It's a funny story. I was sitting on a bench drinking a processed fruit beverage, when I started to get a little bored. I gazed toward the beverage's label and saw "Refrigerate After Opening". That's what got the ball rolling on the whole project. Isn't that funny?
Q. R.A.O. features an up and coming star in little Kevin, where do you see his career in 10 years?
A. Anyone who's seen the film can answer that. This kid is pure talent. In fact I overheard a big shot Hollywood talent scout say `This kid is the best he's seen since the kid who played Bryan on Alf.' And we all know Bryan is money.
Q. The cast you hand picked is clearly the cream of the crop, how did you decide on who you wanted?
A. It was a battle, there were so many people who could play these roles and really make it believable. But when it came down to it, these were the only people that would do it.
Q. There's a rumor going around about a deleted scene inside of the strip club*. What can you tell us about that?
A. This is a scene that is very near to my heart. It took a lot of fighting within Man-Birth to get this scene on film, and I run the joint! And if I'm thinking about the same rumor, the stories are true. One actor did have to be coaxed with a complimentary meal from Burger King in order to shoot the scene.
Q. Whose your favorite Beatle? Why?
A. Ringo. Ugly dudes stick together.
Q. What are your thoughts on computer generated images? (ie: Jar Jar Binks)
A. Jar Jar binks was a disgrace to movie making. It put a black mark on the whole Star Wars series. And if I ever find the guy who was inside that suit, I'm gonna take a pipe to him.
Q. How strongly do you feel about the posturing of the instant reply rules in the NFL?
A. Instant Replay is absolutely necessary. The game of football is played by strong, physical, and fast men, too fast to be judged correctly the first time every time by mortal men.
Q. In your opinion why did Full House go off the air?
A. Uncle Jesse's boyish good looks couldn't last forever. And when they finally did start to deteriorate, that spelled doom for Bob Saget and the rest of the gang.
Q. I saw an advanced screening of the film, what was the hardest shot technically? Perhaps the infamous down-city Providence sequence?
That was a close second, using a super 8 camera out of the hatchback of a Plymouth Duster is no easy task, but our staff pulled it off. But the most difficult scene does not even appear in the film*. The scene inside the strip club took a long time to set up for, I've already heard it be compared to the kitchen scene in `Good Fellas'.
Q. Why do nice guys finish last?
A. Jesus Christ is a ruthless son of a bitch, and he'll do anything in his power to see that me and all the other nice guys of the world cry ourselves to sleep in our hole filled pillowcases night after night.
* This interview was conducted before post, the "deleted scene" makes its way into the final version.
Mat Moore asked the following questions to Dylan Santurri:
Q. This being your first feature presentation, how did you feel when the camera started rolling?
A. Well, truth be told I was extremely nervous as I've only had experience on Broadway so you can imagine how tough it was BUT I just thought to myself "what would Elton John do?" I came to realize he'd probably go and get a martini with some handsome young men, I knew that wasn't the way I should handle the pressure.
Q. Where do you see Man-Birth Films in ten years?
A. Tough one…Either on top of the Hollywood food chain or packed in an attic somewhere.
Q. How much creative control were you given?
A: More than I could handle really.
Q. What was it like working with Kevin Belanger?
A. There's an old Hollywood saying that says never work with animals or Kevin Belanger.
Q. Is it hard being the son of Ed "Meatball" Santurri? Do you feel as if you'll always be in his shadow?
A. Of course, with his long list of film credits it'll definitely be hard to live up to what he's done. I just put it in perspective, if I can land a role and act as well as he did when he stared in Above The Law as Thug #6 I'll be happy.
Q. (Biting off James Lipton) What's your favorite cuss word?
A. I'd have to say fuck-face is…it has a certain romanticism to it…and it reminds me of my childhood.
Q. What involvement will you have with Man-Birth in the future?
A. I may have to drive the getaway car when they rob a liquor store to finance the next production, although I'd love to be the gun man and maybe get the chance to put hot lead in a foreigner.
Q. Is Refrigerate After Opening the end of Juice-Boy?
A. Sweet Jesus I would hope not…I don't want to go back to Burger King.
Q. What was your motivation for 'Juice-Boy'?
A. Could you repeat the question?