"Choke" director Clark Gregg described himself as ambitious, narcissistic and loving during a phone interview Thursday.
The film, Gregg's first effort behind the camera, focuses on the troubled story of Victor Mancini, a man grappling with an addiction to sex, an ailing mother and an unquenchable thirst for love. Gregg had an acting background rooted all the way back in his days at New York University, where he worked in theater.
Gregg has always stood out as rambunctious and ambitious. He spoke with passion about acting and his newfound directorial debut. When Gregg discussed why he decided to take a turn as a director after more than 20 years as an actor, his response challenged Mancini's comedic narcissism.
"My unbridled lust for power," he said. "When you are an actor, you are the agent of someone else's vision, but as a director I can craft the story myself - I have the final voice."
Gregg chose to adapt Chuck Palahniuk's "Choke," as he believed the text had something new to say.
"'Choke' was an unusual piece and the darkest thing that was romantic, funny, fresh and something people haven't seen before," he said.
Although Gregg experienced some difficulty condensing the book into a 90-minute film, he was able to discover ways to make the story more intimate, mirroring his personal similarities with Mancini.
But Gregg doesn't forget to mention how nervous he was in making "Choke." True to his loving nature, Gregg wanted to make sure Palahniuk's vision was still present when translated to screen. Thankfully for Gregg, Palahniuk gave him free reign and visited the set on occasion to see the progress.
In the resulting film, Mancini confronts an array of challenging issues, from his ailing, hospital-ridden mother, a sex addiction that leaves him feeling empty, a desire to manipulate people by pretending to choke in restaurants and most importantly, his consuming desire to love and be loved. Gregg has known Sam Rockwell, who plays Mancini in the film, since the early 1990s, when they performed in a play together.
"I knew he was the best man to play the part after hearing him do a reading in my apartment," Gregg said.
Rockwell's portrayal of Victor allows viewers to truly see the character's damaged persona.
Gregg has been in the Hollywood game for years as an actor and screenwriter, and now he adds director to his résumé. So what will this ambitious, loving narcissist do next?
"Something original dealing with tough stuff in a comedic way," he said. "Or maybe another one of Chuck's books."
Although Gregg claims to feel exhausted, frightened and titillated as a new director, "Choke" is a solid debut directing effort.
Gregg said that despite Mancini's unique predicaments, it's easy for anyone to identify with Victor.
"The idea of waking up one day and having mastered a certain persona or having diminished expectations, romantic or otherwise, is something I felt at a point in my life and something everyone can relate to," he said.
You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
