Interview: Writer of "Prey For Rock N Roll", Artist Cheri Lovedog
By: Sarah S.
The film Prey For Rock & Roll is a personal favorite of mine. It’s definitely up there with Empire Records and Fame. After doing some research, I learned that the film was adapted from a theatrical play version written by Cheri Lovedog.
Cheri has said in previous interviews that the story was based on actual events. Cheri owns and operates her own Tattoo shop now and still writes and directs films and is still every part Prey for Rock & Roll through and through. With that said, I found it crucial to get into contact with her and get all the info straight from the source.
SS:First and Foremost, how are you?
CL:I am doing pretty damn good.
SS:You wrote all the songs performed by “Clam Dandy” in Prey For Rock & Roll. How long have you been writing music?
CL:I have always written stuff down: journals, short stories and such, but I didn't officially start writing songs until the late 70's when I fell in love with punk rock and knew right then and there I had to have a band. That's right, I am that old.
SS:Out of all the songs in the movie, what is by far your fave?
CL:It's a tie between a fiction and nonfiction song.
"Sam" was written for my son. When my girlfriend went into labor, we hauled ass to the hospital. It was like in the movies; I was going 50 mph down the road, I kept waiting for a cop to pulls us over and I'd scream, "She's having a baby!" and he or she would turn on the lights and siren and escort us to the hospital. Didn't happen. But when we got there and the put the baby monitor on her, they found out his heart beat and breathing were compromised with each contraction. Some code was shouted out and the room was cleared. She was rushed into the operating room for an emergency cesarean and they had a helicopter waiting on the roof to take him to Stanford Medical incase it was beyond their capabilities. It was probably the most scary moment in my life. As it turns out he spent several days in the hospital and then came home and is now a healthy and handsome 12 year old.
"Pretty, Pretty" is one of my favorite songs. We had just played a gig in Hollywood and as the bands were loading gear out of the club there was this very attractive tattooed punk girl who was clearly a bit buzzed and looking to hook up with one of the guys, and it seemed any guy would do, as long as he was in a band. Anyway, driving back to Santa Cruz the next day I wrote it in the car. I just made up a whole story about this girl I don't even know.
SS:What was your favorite scene and/or line from the movie?
CL:My favorite scene is when Jacki picks up Nick after he assaults Sally and she is driving around with him, taking about working in a burger joint, just trying to keep him distracted as she takes him to Animal. Great use of music to create tension.
My favorite line is Jacki saying that Animal is good looking in that "Americas Most Wanted" kinda way.
SS:Do you have a hero or someone you’ve always looked up to in a way?
CL:My mom, because in the late 1960's she packed up us three kids and whatever else she could fit in the car and, with only $1,000 to her name, left our abusive stepfather.
SS:Who’s your favorite artist/band of the moment?
CL:Courtney Love
SS:I know you recently finished up your new movie “The Jesus Factor”! What’s the movie all about?
CL: In a nutshell, it's about the etiquette of family, sex, gender, religion and love... or lack thereof. It’s a dramatic comedy.
SS: Where should we be looking for it?
CL:Well, we are just waiting to hear back from festivals we submitted to, so check the website for updates. www.jesusfactormovie.com It will be screening here in Santa Cruz in May for sure. The film festival in my own home town won't show my movie because they feel it is anti-Christian. WTF?!?! It isn't, by the way. So, I will be showing it during the festival on my own because that's exactly how I roll.
SS:What’s the best part of film making?
CL:Man, I love all of it, but if I had to pick a favorite part it would be those moments when the actors just nail a scene, and you can feel it as it's happening. It's also pretty great when you actually complete the movie and see that first rough cut.
SS:Are you currently working on any other movie projects that we absolutely must know about?
CL:Yes. I am completing a screenplay called "Too Many Bob's" which is a dark... oh so very dark comedy about a serial rapist. I know, it doesn't sound funny, but it is, and there in lies the challenge of pulling it off.
SS:How do you feel about the music industry today?
CL:Been away from the business part of it for so long, but I am sure it's the same morally and ethically bankrupt monster that kills its young it's always been.
SS:If you could see a music movement from the past revisited today, what would it be and why?
CL:No brainer. Punk Rock because it was the most honest, raw and straight up fun music scene EVER.
SS:What do you think of the movie industry today?
CL:I think we are in another wave of independent filmmakers getting the recognition and respect they deserve. There are releasing companies and production companies and distribution companies all taking chances on low budget, entertaining and story driven films. Of course, once the big Hollywood companies see that there is a profit to be made on independent film (again) they will buy up all the little companies (again) and then fuck it all up (again) because they don't know how to/refuse to take chances and/or just let filmmakers make their movies the way they want. Then we have to start the independent movement/process all over again from scratch.
SS:If you could work with anyone on a film who would it be and why?
CL:I would love to be on the set of a Quentin Tarrantino film and just watch him work.
SS:Out of all the amazing and creative things you’ve done, what would you call your proudest moment?
CL:Making it thru the opening night of Prey for Rock and Roll when it was done as a play in NYC and I was in the role of Jacki, without throwing up or forgetting my lines because I was so fucking nervous.
SS:What advice would you give to aspiring rock stars and film makers?
CL:D.I.Y. Don't talk about the movie you want to make or the band you want to put together, just freakin' do it. Yeah, you will most likely be perpetually broke. Yeah, you will have no real time for anything else. Yeah, at times it will feel like it is sucking the life out of you. Yeah, you will be crap at relationships. Small price to pay for doing what you love, I say.
The film Prey For Rock & Roll is a personal favorite of mine. It’s definitely up there with Empire Records and Fame. After doing some research, I learned that the film was adapted from a theatrical play version written by Cheri Lovedog.
Cheri has said in previous interviews that the story was based on actual events. Cheri owns and operates her own Tattoo shop now and still writes and directs films and is still every part Prey for Rock & Roll through and through. With that said, I found it crucial to get into contact with her and get all the info straight from the source.
SS:First and Foremost, how are you?
CL:I am doing pretty damn good.
SS:You wrote all the songs performed by “Clam Dandy” in Prey For Rock & Roll. How long have you been writing music?
CL:I have always written stuff down: journals, short stories and such, but I didn't officially start writing songs until the late 70's when I fell in love with punk rock and knew right then and there I had to have a band. That's right, I am that old.
SS:Out of all the songs in the movie, what is by far your fave?
CL:It's a tie between a fiction and nonfiction song.
"Sam" was written for my son. When my girlfriend went into labor, we hauled ass to the hospital. It was like in the movies; I was going 50 mph down the road, I kept waiting for a cop to pulls us over and I'd scream, "She's having a baby!" and he or she would turn on the lights and siren and escort us to the hospital. Didn't happen. But when we got there and the put the baby monitor on her, they found out his heart beat and breathing were compromised with each contraction. Some code was shouted out and the room was cleared. She was rushed into the operating room for an emergency cesarean and they had a helicopter waiting on the roof to take him to Stanford Medical incase it was beyond their capabilities. It was probably the most scary moment in my life. As it turns out he spent several days in the hospital and then came home and is now a healthy and handsome 12 year old.
"Pretty, Pretty" is one of my favorite songs. We had just played a gig in Hollywood and as the bands were loading gear out of the club there was this very attractive tattooed punk girl who was clearly a bit buzzed and looking to hook up with one of the guys, and it seemed any guy would do, as long as he was in a band. Anyway, driving back to Santa Cruz the next day I wrote it in the car. I just made up a whole story about this girl I don't even know.
SS:What was your favorite scene and/or line from the movie?
CL:My favorite scene is when Jacki picks up Nick after he assaults Sally and she is driving around with him, taking about working in a burger joint, just trying to keep him distracted as she takes him to Animal. Great use of music to create tension.
My favorite line is Jacki saying that Animal is good looking in that "Americas Most Wanted" kinda way.
SS:Do you have a hero or someone you’ve always looked up to in a way?
CL:My mom, because in the late 1960's she packed up us three kids and whatever else she could fit in the car and, with only $1,000 to her name, left our abusive stepfather.
SS:Who’s your favorite artist/band of the moment?
CL:Courtney Love
SS:I know you recently finished up your new movie “The Jesus Factor”! What’s the movie all about?
CL: In a nutshell, it's about the etiquette of family, sex, gender, religion and love... or lack thereof. It’s a dramatic comedy.
SS: Where should we be looking for it?
CL:Well, we are just waiting to hear back from festivals we submitted to, so check the website for updates. www.jesusfactormovie.com It will be screening here in Santa Cruz in May for sure. The film festival in my own home town won't show my movie because they feel it is anti-Christian. WTF?!?! It isn't, by the way. So, I will be showing it during the festival on my own because that's exactly how I roll.
SS:What’s the best part of film making?
CL:Man, I love all of it, but if I had to pick a favorite part it would be those moments when the actors just nail a scene, and you can feel it as it's happening. It's also pretty great when you actually complete the movie and see that first rough cut.
SS:Are you currently working on any other movie projects that we absolutely must know about?
CL:Yes. I am completing a screenplay called "Too Many Bob's" which is a dark... oh so very dark comedy about a serial rapist. I know, it doesn't sound funny, but it is, and there in lies the challenge of pulling it off.
SS:How do you feel about the music industry today?
CL:Been away from the business part of it for so long, but I am sure it's the same morally and ethically bankrupt monster that kills its young it's always been.
SS:If you could see a music movement from the past revisited today, what would it be and why?
CL:No brainer. Punk Rock because it was the most honest, raw and straight up fun music scene EVER.
SS:What do you think of the movie industry today?
CL:I think we are in another wave of independent filmmakers getting the recognition and respect they deserve. There are releasing companies and production companies and distribution companies all taking chances on low budget, entertaining and story driven films. Of course, once the big Hollywood companies see that there is a profit to be made on independent film (again) they will buy up all the little companies (again) and then fuck it all up (again) because they don't know how to/refuse to take chances and/or just let filmmakers make their movies the way they want. Then we have to start the independent movement/process all over again from scratch.
SS:If you could work with anyone on a film who would it be and why?
CL:I would love to be on the set of a Quentin Tarrantino film and just watch him work.
SS:Out of all the amazing and creative things you’ve done, what would you call your proudest moment?
CL:Making it thru the opening night of Prey for Rock and Roll when it was done as a play in NYC and I was in the role of Jacki, without throwing up or forgetting my lines because I was so fucking nervous.
SS:What advice would you give to aspiring rock stars and film makers?
CL:D.I.Y. Don't talk about the movie you want to make or the band you want to put together, just freakin' do it. Yeah, you will most likely be perpetually broke. Yeah, you will have no real time for anything else. Yeah, at times it will feel like it is sucking the life out of you. Yeah, you will be crap at relationships. Small price to pay for doing what you love, I say.
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