What deleted scenes can we expect on the DVD?
There are some great deleted scenes. You have to make tough decisions when putting the movie together so it’s great to have a chance to put it on the DVD.

Did you get Kim Basinger involved in the movie?
I met with her and convinced her to do it. It’s a key thing when working with younger actors to surround them with veteran actors. It really raises their game to throw them in with seasoned pros.

Did you feel Ray Liotta was also an interesting choice as he is really playing against time?
If you cast a sentimental actor in that part it would have been death but if you get a tough guy you feel like he’s earned those lines.

Did you find this a difficult film to make because sometimes it’s not clear what is actually happening or what might be in someone’s mind?
One of the main things I brought to it was not ever saying ‘it was definitely a ghost’. I always wanted to keep alive the possibility that Charlie had a nervous breakdown and he was hallucinating. Since The Sixth Sense there are many rules now with ghosts in movies.

Is it true Zac got you involved in the movie?
Yes, it was something he was attracted to. He related to the character and the brother’s relationship. He has a very tight relationship with his younger brother which made it a brave choice considering where he had to go emotionally in this movie. We really wanted to work together again after doing 17 Again. We felt like we could take our work to another level.

What makes your working relationship with Zac so good?
I think we have a good rapport and trust. He knows that I’m all about getting the best performance I can possibly get and that there is no other agenda.

But this is obviously a big step from 17 Again isn’t it?
It’s part of his evolution and moving onto the next stage of his career as a young leading man.

How do you prepare a role with Zac?
We rehearse and explore what the movie is about. In this film there was a lot of physical training. He had to learn how to sail and to do the underwater stunts. There is also a point where you rehearse with all of the young actors so they are on the same page, can work off each other and trust each other.

What made Amanda Crew perfect for this role?
We saw a lot of actresses for this role. It could have been a very two dimensional character but Amanda made Tess a real person and you feel she has a life even off the camera. She complimented and challenged Zac in the scenes which made for an interesting dynamic.

Does being an actor originally help to direct other actors?
I try to create an atmosphere that is incredibly safe and comfortable. I want them to be really in the moment and I think I bring that from my acting background.

Was the author of the book happy with the movie?
I think he was very happy because all the things he was trying to communicate were there and handled well. His intent was fully intact.

What for you was the essence of the film?
It’s very basic - it’s about living. When you loose a sibling with whom you are very close to, you feel you have unfinished business and guilt. It is difficult to mourn. If that person loved you they would want you to get on with your life. They wouldn’t want you to stop as well.

Is it true that you have lost a sibling as well?
Yes I did, my older brother passed away in 1995. It was very different circumstances. My brother died in his early 30s but I understood the loss and what people have to go through in terms of coming to grips with it.

So did this story resonate for you?
It did.

How difficult was it to shoot the underwater scenes?
It was more difficult for Zac and he did an amazing job. He came in about six weeks before we started shooting to train with an underwater expert and the guy said that Zac was the best he had ever seen. He was as cool as a cucumber. He is a really good swimmer and he can hold his breath for a long time.

What about the sailing scenes?
I grew up sailing on Martha’s Vineyard but was never particularly good at it. The actors all went through a very rigorous camp to make them look like they belonged on a boat. We had no wind so that made it difficult to film. It was challenging to manufacture the elements of a sailing race without any winds. We had to compensate with the camera and the camera movement.

And the location…the scenery is stunning
That’s what everyone says when they see it. It’s an island off Vancouver. We created a town from four different locations. I am an east coast guy and we couldn’t shoot in Massachusetts but we created this whole new world and it was a phenomenal location.

Gloss has three copies of Charlie St Cloud on DVD to give away.  Enter here!

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