There are surprises on every film set but in the case of Anchor Bay’s improvisational comedy “The Grand,” co-writer-director Zak Penn said he was prepared for anything.
“I wrote what I call a scriptment because it’s part script, part treatment,” he explained Wednesday at the pic’s ArcLight bow. “It basically tells the actors everything they need to know about their characters and what’s going to happen in what scene.” Luckily, Penn's cast — Woody Harrelson, Cheryl Hines, Chris Parnell and Dennis Farina, are no strangers to improv and tried their luck playing poker pros competing for a $10 million prize.
Penn is best known for writing superhero movies such as “Elektra,” “X3” and the upcoming “The Incredible Hulk,” but says he was amazed at how the ad-lib approach came together. “You’re hoping it will force you to throw away the conventions that you get used to as a writer. The improv forced us into an ending that’s more believable because, like the characters in the movie, we were really committed to the luck of the draw.” (J. Sneider)
(Pictured above: Zak Penn and Woody Harrelson; left: preem guest Ray Romano and pic's Cheryl Hines - photos credit: WireImage)
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