Farewell to Wes – Guest Blog: Ted Raimi
Steve Barton
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These days, when a young filmmaker puts together a horror film, they won’t ever be told: “You’re doing what? Why the hell would you do that?”
That’s because now horror is hip, cool and what every film-school-grad-schmo with thirty-five grand in student loan debt is expected make.
But back when I read for Wes during the late 80s, it was a very different world. You had to WANT to make horror – bad – despite what anyone might think. People thought of those who made horror movies then as: “Well, at least they’re not doing porn.” Really.
Wes had a great love for the genre. When I went in to read for him for Shocker, you could see it right away. Though he dressed and acted like an undergrad college professor (complete with the tweed jacket and elbow patches), he had a crazy gleam in his eyes, which made his clothes seem more like a criminal’s disguise.
On set, Wes would make us all feel like we were co-conspirators in this great film caper we were doing. It was like we were all Steve McQueen in The Getaway, but instead of robbing a racetrack, we were making a horror film. It was enticing and exciting.
One last thing: I’m forever grateful he gave me so much encouragement on that movie to continue acting. Almost one hundred movies and several TV shows later, I can say he had a lot to do with it.
I’ll miss you, Old Bean.
— Ted Raimi
With the tragic passing of Wes Craven, literally everyone in the industry has been reeling and expressing love for the man and his work. Several people have been writing in to Dread Central to ask if it would be cool to post their thoughts. So this Farewell to Wes feature will be their opportunity to share their feelings and their thoughts with you, the horror community.
Some will be long, some will be short, but all are important and will be featured with love and caring. It’s our honor to be able to do this for the man who gave us so very much.
Categorized:News
