John Cregan's filmography is comprised primarily of short documentaries in which the writer/director explores influential motion pictures and the people who made them. Therefore, when it came to his new pseudo-mockumentary “Devolved,” Cregan knew exactly what to do.
“I was going for a documentary look,” Cregan explains. “We used handheld cameras at all times; multiple cameras in most scenes. The whole idea was to sort of give it the feel of a Discovery Channel documentary gone wrong.”
“Devolved” follows the exploits of a group of high school students who find themselves stranded on an uncharted island off the Mexican coast. Before long, the unpopular crowd, led by Gary Entin's Flynn, and the jocks, led by Robert Adamson's “The Rog,” form separate tribes with Lindsey Shaw's Peggy – The Rog's girlfriend – caught somewhere in between.
“I was a huge nerd,” explains Shaw, noting that she enjoyed the opportunity to see life from the popular side of high school – even if it was just a movie. “I was in honors classes in high school and it required every free moment of time that I had. I was always the one coming last up the stairs from English class to lunch, always staying behind to talk to my teachers.”
Cregan empathized with Entin's character as well, an experience that definitely influenced the project as he wrote it. However, the filmmaker was fortunate enough to not only get the girl but also find himself in a situation that made it hard for “The Rog's” in his life to pick on him.
“I was definitely on the Flynn side if not Flynn himself in high school,” Cregan says. “But I actually got along with all of the popular kids - even the jocks - because I did a lot of sports announcing. I was a color commentator for our high school football team. They had to like me by default to guarantee that good things were said about them on the telecasts.”
Speaking of telecasts, “Devolved” marks Shaw's first foray into a feature-length film. Until now, the actress graced the small screen in television series, such as “Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide,” “Aliens in America,” “10 Things I Hate About You” and “Pretty Little Liars.”
“I've done mostly sitcoms so its quick and funny and fun,” says Shaw, who is currently in North Carolina filming “Teen Spirit,” a movie set to debut this August on ABC Family. “With 'Devolved,' it was still quick and funny and fun. But I wouldn't mind doing TV for my living and then little projects like 'Devolved' on the side.”
But that does not mean “Devolved's” production was all fun and games, though. Shaw recalls getting slapped in the face by costar Chris Kattan, who plays the jocks' football coach in the film.
“Unfortunately that did not make the cut,” explains Shaw, noting that the former “Saturday Night Live” alum still likes improvisation. “But that is a very intimate moment I had with him. I didn't know it was coming. He just laid one across my face. We're on good terms now, though. It's all good.”
As for the other cast and crew members, many of whom had never made/starred in a movie before, Shaw was incredibly impressed with each and every one of them. Shaw says that she has never seen a group of young actors and actresses take hold of their parts without any fear whatsoever.
“It was awesome that they did not have much experience because they literally had no conditioning,” the actress continues. “There was no right or wrong. Everything was out there. A lot of the funniest lines are coming out of them feeling comfortable enough to throw something in and John allowing us to play here and there.”
Cregan agrees, adding that there was a real enthusiasm on the set that is apparent in the finished film. He says that those members and the cast and crew were simply excited to be making their first movie.
“With that being said, we were really lucky to have Lindsey, who was sort of like the captain of the acting team in my mind because she was so experienced,” Cregan says. “I noticed during the production that a lot of cast members would feed off of Lindsey's energy.”
“Devolved” (NR – 80 minutes) will screen 8 p.m. Saturday, March 26 at Madcap Theaters. Cregan and cast members will be in attendance for a post-screening Q-and-A. It is also now available on DVD and Blu-ray in retail stores and rental outlets throughout the Valley.
Listen to Joseph J. Airdo's “Movie Maverick” segment every Friday morning during “The Daily Blender with Jeffry O'Brien,” 6-9 a.m. weekdays on NBC 1260 AM and 96.1 FM.
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