Host Dish_Diva says:

Sam, welcome to MSN! Great to have you here with us tonight.

Hello everybody, thank you for tuning me in.

Host Dish_Diva says:

Sam, those who haven't heard about "For Love of the Game" can you tell us a little about your new film?

Staring Kelly Preston and Kevin Costner

The story of an aging baseball pitcher who has reached the end of his career -- at the same time the woman whom he has been in a relationship with for 5 years is calling it quits.

The story takes place on this day and it just so happens that Costner's character is scheduled to pitch against the Yankees.

As the game progresses Costner reflects back upon his life and his love that he has lost. We're told this story in this flash back style -- We learn about how he met her, how they fell in love, how he acted like an ass and drove her off.

Perhaps it took this selfish dedication to one's craft to make it as far as he did in baseball.

From these flashbacks he gains insights as to how he could possibly live his life better in the future.

The story also tracks this one game against the Yankees, and as the story progresses we learn he is pitching a perfect game. There have only been 17 perfect games pitched

Finally having gained insight, the conclusion is that Costner has been growing to become someone worthy of a woman's love.

georgiapeach says:

Mr. Raimi, any comments on Kevin Costner's recent comments in the press?

Kevin put his heart and soul into the picture. I mean he really threw himself fully into it. Because it is the story of an aging pitcher, he pushed his vanity aside and let us see his wrinkles, paunch, and warts and all.

So I am not surprised he reacted strongly when the ratings board cut 3 parts out of the picture. I agree with Kevin, the picture was better with those 3 parts left in.

When one is passionate about something, one does not act in a bland manner when the ratings board is so arbitrary about kicking out 3 parts of a picture.

katesdad says:

Are you happy with the way the movie came out?

There are 1000 things I would change. But some film maker said that movies are really never done, they are just taken away from the maker. But never the less, I am really proud of everyone's contribution. Everyone made the picture to entertain the audience. The jury might still be out on whether we were successful or not. My happiness is bound in with the audiences enjoyment of the picture. So I'll be better able to answer that on Sat morning.

jake1:

Where was it filmed and why there? Also, how long did it take?

In Dana Stevens screen play, Billy Chapel's team plays the NY Yankees at Yankee Stadium and so it was proscribed in the screenplay. So we were in NY - also in Aspen to show Billy had a life outside of baseball.

To save on costs NY interiors were shot at Universal City. It is cheaper to shoot on a sound stage than in NY City.

Rafe says:

Does the movie stick closely to the book?

Very much so.

Gizmo says:

How was it working with Kevin and is he easy to work with?

He is great to work with from a creative point of view, but I would never say easy. He comes to the set full of creative ideas and often times we disagree. But I love working with Kevin. He has great ideas in the acting and the editing and I could have not made this picture without Kevin. But he is not "easy" to work with.

hilljk says:

I am taking film and video production in college, do you have any suggestions or tips for getting started out of college?

Yes I do. I would recommend making films on your own right now before you get out of college. Make them in an affordable medium -- like Kodak super 8 with a sound track. Practice until yours are better than the Hollywood films. Because working in an affordable medium, you can experiment with choice of lenses,directing of actors, lighting, editing, placement of sound effects and music -- and you can practice the art of film making.

Show it to an audience and take criticism. Become an able film maker on your own and prove you are a talented artist outside the system. Again working in an affordable medium, it is possible. Super 8 is affordable. Once you have become this craftsman film maker, people will recognize that.

No one in Hollywood will give you a chance. You must work on your own, and come fully fashioned to the system, proving you don't need them and then they will want you.

Obviously there are many roads but that is the one I would recommend

tori32 says:

Does the film really portray the life of a baseball player?

The story is not based on a real baseball player. It is more the story of his life with this woman - the previous 5 years of his life. But it is definitely a fictional character.

unlikelyhero says:

Anything unusual or funny happen on the set of this movie? Any blooper tape anywhere?

There is no blooper tape. But Kevin would crack me up all the time. But you never see that side of him, but he is a funny guy.

Once I was filming Kevin in a poignant moment where he has driven his love away. He is eating chinese food alone, and I just kept rolling the camera, I thought the moment was going to get better. He ran out of food, opened up his cookie, read it, and jumped back in great fear... It was very funny.

Gizmo says:

Do you and Kevin really like Baseball?

I love baseball. And Kevin is crazy for it.

shane says:

Was the shooting of this film fun? Did you all hang out after work?

Shooting was great fun. It was unbelievable to be at Yankee Stadium with movie cameras filming baseball. But after work everyone goes their own way. I attended dailies, then to story board sessions to check the next day, work and check the props, check my ideas for improvements.

lovebball says:

Sam, did you get to keep any souvenirs from the set?

Yes I have one. I don't want to spoil the movie - There is a baseball Costner signs in the movie, sending a message to his oldest friend, and I have that baseball.

kurt says:

Sam, I've always wondered something. If you were supposed to do a scene in the sunshine and it rains that day, do you still go ahead and shoot outside, letting Mother Nature be part of the film?

If it starts to rain on a sunny day scene the rain won't work, then you shoot cover sets, which is an interior location, that is close by, that you can jump to quickly. So you don't lose a day. However, if rain won't hurt the scene or story, you can go ahead and shoot.

Problems might occur: one is you might get half way through the scene - for instance....perhaps you've shot the hero's close ups and it is raining, when you turn around to get villain's close ups....no rain. So now you have to make fake rain, or go back and reshoot one of the close-ups.

Host Dish_Diva says:

Is there always a back up plan for outside shots?

A good production manager usually has a back up plan. But not always.

usherdin says:

Why did you choose this film to direct?

I was moved by the screenplay. The fact that Billy Chapel realized he had lived his life as a dead end was poignant. But the growth of his character was thrilling to me. That he could change and be loved was very powerful.

When I read Dana Stevens screen play I felt that if I could translate the feeling I got to film it would make a very good picture. And that is why I decided to direct it.

ginger says:

I heard about the nude scene that Costner wanted to keep in the film. Is it strange directing a nude scene. I mean, what do you say "Please show me more frontal"?

Kevin didn't really want to keep the nude scene in. I think he was more into just not cutting it out due to discomfort of execs. He wanted to do what was right for the picture.

tiredandcold says:

Is it harder to direct seasoned actors like Costner than it is the younger, less experienced actor?

Absolutely. They question everything you do, and challenge you. But they also have the life experience and acting chops to bring something to the performance.

shasta says:

Your resume is pretty incredible. What is your favorite movie that you've done?

Thanks you, Shasta. That is such a hard question. They all drove me nuts - all tortured me. I guess like anyone I am the most in love with the movie I just finished. But I definitely have a love/hate relationship with each one.

felix246 says:

What will the premiere of "For Love of the Game" be like?

It was last night. Very exciting. The audience really seemed to like the picture, which is a new thing for me. Because the pictures I make are not greeted so enthusiastically.

shootthething says:

Is there an actor or actress that you really want to work with?

Not on in particular that I can think of. I admire a lot of them.

straightA says:

Next project?

It is called The Gift, written by Bill Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson and it stars Kate Blanchet. It is a thriller. Billy Bob is not in it...he'll be too busy.

Host Dish_Diva says:

Sam, thanks so much for being with us tonight. We'll be flocking to theatres this weekend to see "For Love of the Game."

Thank you for having me on MSN

Host Dish_Diva says:

Congratulations and much success!

I really enjoyed the interview and a chance to talk with some of the movie goers out there

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