As co-creator of the new online reality dating show, "Date or Disaster", (described as a mutant satire that crosses "Blind Date" with "Fear Factor" and "Series 7") Daniel Schweiger was incredibly nice, funny and passionate about his latest project. The Entertainment Zone was lucky enough to get a chance to talk with this man and find out a little more about his show, cast and crew, and his future projects. You might have spotted him in the movie "Free Enterprise" as 'Schweiger', or read his articles and interviews in Venice Magazine (venicemag.com). Along with these projects he is also a professional music editor. A pretty heavy plate for anyone!
EZ asked Daniel how he came up with the idea for Date or Disaster website, which is the launchpad for the digital short. "I was a big fan of Jill Madison's site, pophangover.com. I'm a "Real World" junkie and she did reviews for the show, and they would be hysterical. The idea behind the Date or Disaster site is kind of like 'The Blair Witch', where you're not sure if it's real or not. Jill was the first person that came to mind when I was thinking about this. The Date or Disaster website is kinda 'out there', but not too fake to be believable. Then we found a cool web designer named Michael Weitzman, who did an excellent job making the whole site look real." Daniel also informed EZ that there will soon be a Quicktime trailer for the short on the D or D site.
We asked Schweiger how Rick Elfman (brother to Danny Elfman) came aboard as Director. "I used to work at Full Moon Entertainment, and I recommended Rick for the movie 'Shrunken Heads'. We have been friends ever since." Daniel said he was so fortunate to have Rick come aboard as Director. "He was always on top of what he was doing".
Daniel worked with Richard Elfman, Rachael Rowan, and Topher Straus (Reeldreams.com) on developing a story that would "take the TV dating shows up a notch. Basically, Have Sex, or Get Beaten Up! " While shooting, about half of the short was scripted and the other half was improvised. Dan was lucky enough to get Robert Maschio (Scrubs) to play Date or Disaster host "Touch" Johnson. Jeff Tschida (MTV's "Undressed") plays Touch's sarcastic cameraman Donny. "The both gave 110% to the project, and we couldn't have made this without them," Dan says.
When asked if this will be an ongoing project, Daniel's response was, "God Knows! I call this the 'Very Special' Episode, and it's like pushing the envelope if this actually becomes a series."
Curious about the rating of the show, Schweiger replied that it would probably be R-rated. However, it would be something that TV would run, because they will "bleep" out the swear words, and blur out the nudity on their website.
Daniel Schweiger basically portrays himself in "Date or Disaster" as well as "Free Enterprise". "Just like Woody Allen, I get to play myself, only in this, I'm TOTALLY clueless!" He plays 'the date' who is a Gay Porn Director. EZ just had to know how he came up with that idea! When an argument caused a woman to call him "Gay", it kind of stuck. So, that gave Dan the idea of being "The Gay Porn Director"! Rachael Rowan plays the sock-puppeteering wannabe action star that Dan gets set up with. Needless to say, Disaster results!
Daniel was very adamant that he could not have done it without the help of Rick Elfman, and Topher Straus. And, he is thrilled that his project got finished. Schweiger commented that after writing and editing music for so long, it was a wonderful experience to show his own creativity.
EZ was also curious about his other acting gig, "Free Enterprise" with William Shatner. He told us that it was a great experience. Even though he didn't work directly with Mr. Shatner, he did get to meet him at the wrap party. "He is a God!" Daniel also filled EZ in on Shatner's upcoming project, "Shoot or be Shot", which is about an insane scriptwriter who takes a film hostage.
Date or Disaster will be premiering on the internet soon, and then directly to the film festival circuit. So be sure and watch for the online film fests coming up this summer.
Behind the scenes: L to R- Jessica Gallant (director of photography), Rick Elfman (director), Daniel Schweiger (Dan) and Rachael Rowan (Heather)
As for Daniel Schweiger's latest project, you will soon be seeing him and Dan Roebuck in small roles in the upcoming "Bubba-Ho-tep", a Don Coscarelli (Phantasm) film starring Bruce Campbell. "Bubba Ho-tep" tells the "true" story of what really did become of Elvis Presley. We find Elvis (Bruce Campbell) as an elderly resident in an East Texas rest home, who switched identities with an Elvis impersonator years before his "death", then missed his chance to switch back. Elvis teams up with Jack (Ossie Davis), a fellow nursing home resident who thinks that he is actually President John F. Kennedy, and the two valiant old codgers sally forth to battle an evil Egyptian entity who has chosen their long-term care facility as his happy hunting grounds.
The Entertainment Zone wants to extend a big Thanks to Daniel Schweiger for his generosity in granting EZ and interview, and wish him all the best!
Daniel Schweiger basically portrays himself in "Date or Disaster" as well as "Free Enterprise". "Just like Woody Allen, I get to play myself, only in this, I'm TOTALLY clueless!" He plays 'the date' who is a Gay Porn Director. EZ just had to know how he came up with that idea! When an argument caused a woman to call him "Gay", it kind of stuck. So, that gave Dan the idea of being "The Gay Porn Director"! Rachael Rowan plays the sock-puppeteering wannabe action star that Dan gets set up with. Needless to say, Disaster results!
