TELL ME
A little Q&A
as published in The Buffalo News
December 13, 2002
written by Toni Ruberto

The multitalented GREG STERLACE is an icon around these parts. For eight years, his "Greg Sterlace Show" has put a bevy of folks in the hot seat against his biting wit, while the show supports our local arts scene. Now, Sterlace goes behind the camera with his directorial feature film debut, "Ross and Gwen". It will be shown at 7pm Saturday in the Screening Room, Amherst NY.

What made you want to direct a feature film?
I figured it was about time to be behind the camera instead of in front of it. I recently directed a half hour documentary about my father. Then I met Ross Runfola, and I thought he would be a good subject for a movie. When I talked to Ross about making a documentary about him, he thought it would be better to do a faux documentary. After my former TV show co-host Gweniviere Kiersz joined the movie, we switched gears again into a completely made-up story of a married couple.

How did the movie get off the ground?
At first I enlisted Ross, Gwen, and Richard Wicca (director of photography). At the start we had no idea what we were doing or where we were going. We only knew it was going to be the story of a couple and their problems.

It appears to be quite a collaborative effort.
We plotted things out together as a group. The dialogue was thought of during the actual shooting sessions. The second movie we're working on ("Failure") will have dialogue written before we start shooting. We're getting more and more professional.

I think you showed off Buffalo as a beautiful city filled with character and lots to do. Did you realize you were doing that?
Yes. I enjoyed using Hoyt Lake as a setting and showing off a little of the Elmwood Strip. Viva Western New York!

I loved the date scene in Forest Lawn Cemetery in the movie, that's where Ross, always the gentleman, steals flowers from a grave and gives them to Gwen.