|
 JAY
RUSSELL (director) was born in Little Rock,
Arkansas. From an early age, he developed a strong interest in both
music and film.
At nineteen, Russell directed a series of commercials for the Arkansas
Parks and Tourism division, where his boss was Governor Bill Clinton.
At the same time, he was winning Regional Honors as a musician.
He accepted a full music scholarship to attend Memphis University
where he received a Bachelor of Arts. While there, he studied in
the Grammy Award winning Blues Preservation department. However,
it was during this time that his attention to film took over.
Russell was accepted into the Film School of Columbia University
where he received a Master of Fine Arts Degree. While at Columbia,
under the direction of co-chairmen Milos Forman and the late Frank
Daniel, Russell won filmmaking grants from the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Science as well as the Louis B. Mayer Foundation.
He was invited to attend the Sundance Institute Film Workshop, headed
by Robert Redford, to develop his project End of the Line.
The well-reviewed independent film starring Wilford Brimley, Mary
Steenburgen and Kevin Bacon was directed by Russell and was released
theatrically by Orion Classics in 1998.
After the release of End of the Line, Russell developed projects
for Imagine Entertainment and TriStar Pictures. Subsequently, Russell
pursued another passion -documentaries. He worked as a producer
and director for the critically lauded Discovery Channel series,
Amazing America, as well as documentary series and specials
for NBC, CBS, Learning Channel, USA Network and others.
In 1996, Russell was asked to write, produce and direct the five-hour
miniseries “Great Drives” for PBS on famous highways
of America. His installments as a director, Highway 61, Revisited
with Rock’n’Roll Hall of Famer Levon Helm, and Highway
93, The Killer Road, hosted by Oscar® nominated actor Graham
Greene, premiered nationally in 1997.
It was while filming Great Drives that Jay first met the
late award winning author Willie Morris who told him he was working
on a book about his childhood and dog titled “My Dog Skip.”
Russell stayed in regular contact with Morris and got the film rights
to the book. In 2000, he directed and executive produced the critically
acclaimed hit family film My Dog Skip, based on Morris’
best-selling memoir about his recollections of his first and favorite
dog. The Warner Bros. film starred Kevin Bacon, Frankie Muniz, Luke
Wilson and Diane Lane and was produced by John Lee Hancock and Academy
Award®-winner Mark Johnson. My Dog Skip has received
numerous awards, including the 2001 Broadcast Film Critics Award
as Best Family Film.
THE
INTERVIEW
It
was my pleasure to speak with director Jay Russell. I have been
a fan of his since the film My Dog Skip. There
was a scene in that film that captured my attention. A mother brings
a pet dog to her only son. She carries the dog cage the way a pregnant
woman carries a child as she passes by a picture of Jesus in the
hall way (symbolic of Virgin Mary). Later Skip the dog gets stuck
in a grave for three days (symbolic of Jesus Christ). I love such
symbolism. And, Tuck Everlasting is filled with such symbolism as
well.
I asked
Jay Russell why he chose this project?
His
answer was simple: The book. It is a unique piece of young adult
literature.
Hollywood
Jesus: And so, what makes the book so unique?
Russell:
The underlining ideas, the idea of immortality. Unique perception
Hollywood
Jesus: Immortality. That is something films don't often explore.
Russell:
Yes exactly. The book offered a unique perspective.
Hollywood
Jesus: Speaking of time. How long did it take to get the film
produced?
Russell:
It came together quickly. I came on in February 2001 and it just
rolled along. Filming began in April 2001.
Hollywood
Jesus: How has the film been received?
Russell:
It as been well received, by both critics and audience. We are
very pleased with it. However, it was released on Columbus Day weekend
along with 12 to 13 other films. It was a historic first. No one
foresaw this. It was like a train wreck. But, we came out of it
very well, considering.
Hollywood
Jesus: What are you working on now?
Russell:
Ladder 49. It's about firefighters.
Hollywood
Jesus: Good choice. Firefighters have been very popular since
the 9-11.
(We
talked a little about the symbolism in Tuck Everlasting)
 Hollywood
Jesus: There is a lot of symbolism going on in Tuck Everlasting.
Russell:
Yes there is. It takes place in the middle of the forest. I am sure
the author thought of this as an Eden. The story is very multicultural.
Hollywood
Jesus: And especially so with the legendary Tree of Life.
 Russell:
Yes, that's right. And there is the eating of the forbidden
element. Additionally, water is presented as an active element.
The scene where the teenagers are swimming can be seen as a type
of baptism.
Hollywood
Jesus: Do you talk about these symbols on the set?
Russell:
Yes. In fact, Ben Kingsley puts it this way to me, "We
all have to be in on the joke."
 Hollywood
Jesus: Yes that would be true. The symbols can have several
interpretations. This story can be viewed as an exploration as to
why God did not let humans partake of the Tree of Life in the Garden
of Eden. Or, it could be viewed as a statement about why Eternal
Life is not such a great thing.
Russell:
Yes, and that is why I like to leave the interpretation up to the
viewer.
Here
is Russell's take on each of the characters:
Jesse = Has a Peter Pan view of eternal life, until he falls
in love.
The Older Brother = Eternal life as a living Hell.
The Father = Views eternal life as rocks stuck in the stream.
The Mother = Has a variation of husband's POV, but she is
more accepting, passive. Still trying to figure it out. Views it
as Eden.
Hollywood Jesus: How is the film different than the book?
 Russell:
We enhanced the love story between the two teenagers. This was Jesse's
first moment to experience pain -like his brother had. In the book
the whole family returns to the tree at the end of the story. In
the film only the boy returns. It works better because it underscores
the lessons he has learned.
Hollywood
Jesus: Thanks for taking some time out. We appreciate it.
Russell:
You are welcome.
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TUCK
EVERLASTING 
Tuck
Everlasting (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Tuck
Everlasting
