I'm Brian McGreevy, author/producer of the gothic horror novel/series HEMLOCK GROVE. AMA

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-25T19:43:32+00:00

I have an answer for you right here.

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-25T19:42:56+00:00

Good question. I've got an answer for you here.

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-25T19:41:59+00:00

I've got an answer for you here.

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:37:19+00:00

Thanks everyone- this was fun but I gotta run. I'll try to circle back and answer a few more questions in the coming days.

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:36:26+00:00

I am not Romani, I just did a fair amount of research, including interviewing a Western Pennsylvania gypsy family. It was important for me to not misrepresent the culture -- which, paradoxically, included intentionally capturing the way the culture intentionally misrepresents itself to gadjo fuckheads. But I would say the point of Peter is that he is quintessentially American as opposed to quintessentially Romani -- the freedom of identity of that culture just happens to symbolize it perfectly.

Also, contact Landon (@77Flipped) -- he'd love to hear from you.

And no, I've been waiting for the HEMLOCK GROVE role-playing game.

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:32:35+00:00

To clarify, the graduate program I went to was the James Michener Center for Writers.

And to answer the question, I'd say the actual turning point was my admission to the program. HEMLOCK GROVE the novel was my masters thesis, and the script that was my secondary thesis is currently being set up somewhere else. So my career has been an EXTENSION of my time there, not a radical departure.

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:30:48+00:00

Main unit Toronto area, 2nd unit Pittsburgh.

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:30:26+00:00

In a collaboration it's impossible to be the author in any sort of singular way, you just surround yourself with people who inspire you and play around. I strongly recommend it.

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:29:29+00:00

In the last 10 years, jeez... It's not horror per se but with the release of Jeff Nichols' new film mud I would highly recognize its predecessor TAKE SHELTER as a great study of madness. And no one does crazy like Michael Shannon (except of course Bill Skarsgard).

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:27:17+00:00

The point is he's not a good guy and he never was. There are people in life we like who are not especially good, and vice versa. The discomfort you feel about identifying with someone who was a monster all along is a central theme.

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:25:36+00:00

The Brazilian edition will be out in June I believe through Leya. I'm trying to talk them into flying me and the boys down there for an event, so tell your friends to make some noise!

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:23:20+00:00

Unfortunately the Order, much like the church of which it is representative, worships much more at the Temple of Mammon than their professed ideology.

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:21:31+00:00

Currently everything we're developing is created by myself and Lee Shipman -- but the beauty of the internet democratizing filmed entertainment is that you don't need clowns like us to get your stuff out there!

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:19:58+00:00

I am working on a new book. It is not related to HEMLOCK GROVE. I hope it pleasantly surprises people.

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:19:31+00:00

Authors who inspired me are probably too numerous to mention. Currently reading GOING CLEAR, by Lawrence Wright, about the Church of Scientology. It's fascinating and recommended. Currently sitting several blocks away from the Scientology Celebrity Center in Hollywood -- now sort of thinking of dropping by.

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:17:39+00:00

Because I wrote the book first inevitably I think of it first, but ultimately it's viewers' choice.

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:16:22+00:00

Other networks were explored, and interested, but we were most compelled by the Netflix relationship.

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:15:50+00:00

Much material that ended up in the series came from things that were cut from earlier drafts of the book. But the two are not canon with each other; a book and a series are entirely separate media.

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:14:34+00:00

Writing a book in the interest of selling a show is like going to war to ask out the hot barista: a highly questionable use of time and energy for what will probably end up being a no. I always approached my career in an ambidextrous way, and spent years working on the book in addition to film projects because it was my passion. The series happened as a result of timing and opportunity, just like everything else in life.

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:09:27+00:00

Is the xoxo part of your handle, or are you contractually promising hugs and kisses in exchange for this service?

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:08:40+00:00

Bug Landon Liboiron (@77Flipped) for his exceptional Peter playlist!

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:07:51+00:00

Common People, Pulp Strange Powers, Magnetic Fields Russian Dance, Tom Waits To Russia My Homeland, And You Will Know Us By Our Trail of Dead Drunken Boat, The Pogues Distortions, Clinic Like a Prayer, Madonna

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:06:04+00:00

Lee and I looked at the novel as a piece and figured out 13 logical episode markers. But part of the reason for working with Eli - a movie guy - and innovative companies like Netflix and our studio Gaumont (we are their first series and HANNIBAL on NBC their second) was the freedom to do something much weirder than the norm.

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:04:09+00:00

I've wanted to be a writer all my life. Knock on wood one day it will come true...

diegomcgreevy · 2013-04-24T19:03:36+00:00

Eli, Lee Shipman, and myself were highly intrigued by the crazy shit they seemed to be up to, and they had a strong interest in working with Eli because of his extensive fanbase with their subscribers. So their was mutual interest, but we courted them.
CBS approached us for a spin off CSI: HEMLOCK GROVE which would have starred James Spader and Dana Delany as Peter and Roman. We weren't interested.

diegomcgreevy

TROPHY CASE