We talked about the project at great length over the next week, and I told them some of my ideas for adapting the American remake. They attached me as the writer, and in the summer we began pitching the project to Hollywood studios and production companies. At the same time, Takashi Shimizu (the director) was working on the first Japanese feature film of Ju-On: The Grudge, which turned out to be a remarkably frightening film.
At this point (late 2002), with producer Shintaro Shimizu, Roy and Doug began screening Ju-On: The Grudge around town, and when Sam Raimi (director of Spiderman and Evil Dead, amongst other films) saw it he decided he wanted to be involved. His company Ghost House Pictures (in conjunction with Senator Entertainment) purchased the rights, signed Shimizu-san to direct the U.S. remake, and hired me to develop the script.
JPM: What was the biggest challenge you faced in doing this screenplay? Can you describe the writing process you went through from beginning to end?
SS: The biggest challenge, quite honestly, was trying to decide which of our favorite scenes (from the original Ju-On videos, as well as Ju-on: The Grudge and the sequel which followed in mid-2003) we would use in the American remake. There were other difficulties, of course - the language barrier, for one, as well as the struggle to keep Shimizu-san's vision while incorporating some of my original ideas at the same time. But these issues were easily navigated, since we worked closely with Takashi throughout the entire process.
For several months I developed outline after outline, working with all the producers to find the story we wanted to tell. And every step of the way, Shimizu-san and his producer, Taka Ichise were there to guide us. All things considered, between March and October 2003, I wrote about a half-dozen versions of the script - and from the time the film was green-lit through the end of production, there were about two times that many to follow.
JPM: Considering that the film is based on an established storyline, how much of your own ideas were you able to inject into it? Was the Doug character, who wasn't in JU-ON, yours? Also, was there something you wanted to include but didn't take for whatever reason?
SS: Our remake pulls a great deal of material from the existing Ju-on films - we married together a number of storylines from several episodes of the series, and created American characters who could justifiably become involved in the curse that Shimizu-san invented. But Takashi is a wonderful collaborator, and was always willing - and definitely encouraged - consideration of new ideas to layer into the film. So for people who've already seen the Ju-On series, there will be a few surprises scattered about. But, character modifications aside, the majority of the incidents in the film are pulled directly from the established storyline.
Yes, the role of Doug (played by Jason Behr) was our invention - the character was actually a later development in the script. Doug's role was originally a Japanese girl named Megumi - Karen's (SMG's) best friend in Japan. But as we started getting closer to the version of the story that finally made it to the screen, we realized that we could learn more about - and have more empathy for -- Karen and her plight if she was being supported not by a friend, but someone she was in love with. We were fortuitous at the end of the day - Sarah and Jason have apparently known each other for quite some time, and the connection and history they share in the real world definitely comes across on-screen.
And yeah, there were a tremendous number of things that we wanted to include in the film - scenes from the original films, and new ideas we conjured up -- but for one reason or another, they didn't make the final cut. It's one of the most difficult parts of screenwriting - trying to figure which scenes you're not going to use. I don't want to give away too much, though, because there's a chance some of those "deleted" scenes may someday end up seeing the light of day after all...(smile)
JPM: I've seen JU-ON and I must admit that it scared me enough that I couldn't sleep for a couple of nights. Actually, I think Kayako lives in my head now. For those that have watched the original (or the series), is THE GRUDGE based entirely on JU-ON or does it incorporate ideas/scenes from the other JU-ON films? If the answer is the latter, why were those elements picked?
SS: She lives in your head, too? Wow. (smile)
I was plagued with nightmares for months after seeing the original films - Shimizu-san has an amazing talent for creating scenes that really get under your skin, and get your subconscious crackling.
Without giving too much away, our remake primarily weaves storylines together from Ju-On 1 (the first video) and Ju-on: The Grudge (the first feature).
