Suite101 sat down with Ray Griggs to discuss his background as a filmmaker, how he plans to produce Lucifer as a feature film, and how he attracted Oscar-Winning talent to his production.
Suite101: Can you tell us about your background as a filmmaker?
Griggs: Ever since I was young, Star Wars was an inspiration for me when growing up and I thought, I’m going to use art as a way to help me tell my story. So when I got the opportunity to be a Commercial Producer and have my own production company, RG Entertainment, it was great because I made all these mini-movies. Everything from 2D & 3D Animation, Stop-Motion, and trick photography. But I still had that passion to make movies, that's I was inspired to write the script Lucifer. It’s a story that’s never been done about the battle of good and evil, the original story from a Christian background.
Suite101: Why did you create a short film based on the feature script you wrote?
Griggs: I knew it was going to be heavy in visuals. I see a lot of people in Hollywood who take scripts to producers to try to get something made and they have to try to get on the same wavelength. So many people think and see differently, so I said, why don’t I take a little bit of that and show them what I see. That was the push behind creating a short with stunning visual effects to enhance what I’m trying to sell for this great film Lucifer.
Suite101: What’s the story of Lucifer?
Griggs: This is the story of an exalted angel, charismatic, even heroic, who sat at the right hand of God presumed to be the “chosen one” to rule the Kingdom of Heaven. But this angel whose fierce pride fueled an ambition that would corrupt his judgment, alienate him from his closest friend, divide the heavenly host into two warring factions, and ultimately bring Sin and Death to mankind. This story is the first of a trilogy concerning the greatest epic battle since Creation. It’s the fall of Lucifer, Satan, the Prince of Darkness.
Suite101: How did you attract some Oscar-Winning talent to the project and get it into production?
Griggs: I self financed it and the Oscar-Winners were attracted because I wanted to surround myself with talented people. I wanted to build relationships so that once I got the short approved and done, we’d get off to make the feature. Then I could bring some of these new talents and relationships with me. One of the people I always liked was Russell Carpenter, an amazing Cinematographer with a great eye. I approached him through his agent and he came on board because of the great script. The same with writer David S. Ward and Special Effects Supervisor Joe Viskocil, two other Oscar-Winners who worked on Lucifer.
Suite101: What kind of responses have you received from audiences?
Griggs: It’s not just from a Christian group, it’s all groups who have left wonderful comments on the website. I’ve had atheists want to see this film and Jews want to see it. That’s what’s really amazing because it’s a film that many different people want to see and want to be in line for. I’ve had nice compliments that they could see it as a trilogy like Lord of the Rings and that’s really honorable.
Suite101: How have you progressed in making this into a feature film?
Griggs: I created the short and then teamed up with Weta who worked on Lord of the Rings. We broke it all down and figured out the costs, scheduling, storyboarding, and set building. We did all of the pre-production work involved with getting the movie off the ground. Now it’s a matter of getting investors involved. Because Lucifer is such a heavy effects driven film, it takes some time for independent financing, especially since it has an estimated budget of $150 million.
Watch the Award-Winning Short Film at: Lucifer Website
Ray Griggs is the Award-Winning Director of the short film, Lucifer. Ray's first feature film is Super Capers, which stars Justin Whalin, Tom Sizemore, Adam West, and Clint Howard. His is CEO of RG Entertainment, a film production company in Beverly Hills, CA.
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