Interviewing Corey Feldman was a real head trip. While I’ve interviewed a lot of people while running Collider, anytime I interview someone that I grew up watching, it’s always a bit weird. It’s like for a brief moment I return to being a kid and realize how crazy my life turned out. Because if you had told me when I was growing up in suburbia that one day I’d be interviewing movie stars and people that I loved watching on TV…I’d never have believed you. And if you had told me years and years ago that I’d one day talk with Corey Feldman about a sequel to The Lost Boys, I’d have bet all my money and comic books that it would have never happened.

So while it was very weird to talk with Corey, I’ve left out what makes this interview even crazier than all the others I’ve ever done on Collider.

While I was interviewing Corey, I was also being watched by a room full of people, as the interview was being taped for his TV show The Two Coreys. So not only did I have to try and focus on the interview and keep it going, in the back of my mind I was trying not to look stupid for the cameras all around me. Let’s just say I was a bit nervous.

Thankfully, Corey couldn’t have been nicer. While he didn’t talk a lot about the story of Lost Boys: The Tribe, he did go into a lot of details on how the project came together and what he went thru before playing one of the Frog Brothers again. If you’re looking forward to the movie, you’ll definitely enjoy the interview.

Finally, if you’re going to Comic-Con in a few weeks, you should read this. The quick summary is they’re premiering Lost Boys: The Tribe on Thursday night and a lot of the cast will be there talking about the film. It’ll be very cool. Also, if you want to see part of my interview with Corey, you can click here to watch an internet teaser of the interviews he did.

As usual, you can either read the transcript below or listen to our conversation as an MP3 by clicking here. And with that…here’s Corey.

Corey Feldman: Hi.

Collider: How are you doing today, sir?

Corey Feldman: I’m all right how are you?

Collider: Pretty good.

Corey Feldman: Here at the illustrious Warner Brothers offices looking out over the beautiful

San Fernando golden valley.

Collider: I have to ask…obviously we’re filming this for your show.

Corey Feldman: No we’re not, it’s an illusion.

Collider: Okay, exactly.

Corey Feldman: Don’t take it too personally, we travel in big groups and we like to make people feel special, so we figured if we had some cameras pointed in your general direction, you’d really get the powerful effect.

Collider: Is it always like this?

Corey: Like what?

Collider: Like a big crowd of people surrounding.

Corey: Is this weird? Isn’t this what everybody does?

To be honest, for me it’s not always like this. Only on certain days.

Corey: Yeah, only on certain days for me too. We only shoot about 4 days a week, so on those days, however on the rest of the time in my normal everyday life it’s just me, my wife and my child.

I understand.

Corey: And sometimes my assistant.

I will dump the reality questions and go right into why we’re here.

Corey: Why are we here?

I think just to bull-shit and hang out, you know and get to know you.

Corey: Cool, awesome. You seem like a groovy dude.

Sometimes. Again for many, many years they talked about doing a “Lost Boys” sequel. Many years.

Corey: I didn’t hear about it.

Okay, neither did I.

Corey: When are they going to do it?

I don’t know. I’m hoping for this summer.

Corey: That would be awesome. Awesome. Big fan.

What was it for you, I mean obviously you’ve been asked for years and years about this, what was your reaction when you first heard, okay we’re really going to do this?

Corey: I didn’t believe them. I was like, okay call me when you’re ready.

So when did you first hear about it and when you first heard about it when did you then start filming?

Corey: Well, like I said, honestly, I’m not joking, I have heard about if on and off through the years. It’s always been a continuous perpetual yeah let’s do that “Lost Boys” sequel. Kind of like the “Goonies” sequel. Yeah, let’s do that “Goonies” sequel. I was saying, yeah okay whatever. Richard Donner, we’ll start there, Richard Donner was always an advocate, as was Joel Schumacher of doing this film as Richard Donner as an advocate with Spielberg on doing “The Goonies”. Richard Donner has always been very supportive and positive about both ideas. And as it went on, I heard there were many different concepts, many different ideas, many different scripts that had come to fruition. There’s one I know traveling around the Internet right now that apparently was from the original writer of “The Lost Boys”. I haven’t actually read it, but apparently it’s out there. And then that got kind of dumped and axed and fallen by the wayside and then apparently there was a “Lost Girls” which Joel had kind of said in a few interviews…I didn’t really get the concept of that. There was even a concept at one time of my brother and I and Sam, I believe, basically building our vampire fighting team into a household name and going around from city to city and fighting vampires and fighting crime as it were, kind of in a superhero vein, and eventually leading us to the White House to stake all the political vampires which we know there are plenty of especially in today’s White House. So, that was basically the idea. It was very kind of dark and witty I thought, but that would never have got made either. So it’s kind of gone through a process of yeah it’s going to happen, no it’s not, yeah it’s going to happen, no it’s not, leading us up to this current version of “Lost Boys” and the current version, the first we heard of it I think was back in October-November of ’96 and when we heard about that originally the idea that we were told was that there was only a cameo for me in the film and that it did not include any other cast member. And at that point, we declined and said we heard it was going to be a straight to DVD and you know, was going to be a very low budget and they just wanted a cameo, but we’d love to have you kind of thing. I was like yeah, yeah, yeah it doesn’t sound too intriguing to me. I’d rather, if they’re going to do that, go ahead and do it on their own. And then it kind of developed further, I believe that’s when Warner Premiere stepped into the picture and decided to kind of take it under their wing and from that point is when I broke the news to Corey that I had heard that there was a script and of course you all saw this on the TV show, but I said you know at this point this is what it is. There’s a cameo for me and you’re not in it at all and it’s not something that I really want to be a part of and I won’t do it without you and we kind of made that solemn oath and that’s where it stood.

And so were you filming this show when you were filming “Lost Boys: The Tribe”?

Corey: No. Well, not originally, but then we ended up doing a little bit of re-shoots and pickups and fortunately our cameras were there to capture it.

And have you filmed…has Corey filmed his part of the film yet?

Corey: Yes.

And what was it like being on-set — the 2 of you — when you were doing it?

Corey: Magic.

Was it weird for you though?

Corey: Well, weird is a many-feathered question at the moment. I really can’t get into too much of what happens on the set of “Lost Boys” because I think that’s going to have to be left for the viewer. Obviously we’ve got a very intense and explosive season coming up this year for “The Two Corey’s” and I actually just saw a rough cut last night of one of the 1st episode and it’s riveting. I mean it’s really powerful stuff. Completely different than last year and “Lost Boys” is kind of the culmination—the “Lost Boys” episode is kind of the culmination of a lot of things that are in play on the show—both on the show and in reality, so if I were to tell you everything that happened I would have to kill you and you don’t want a stake through your heart, I can just see that in your face.

I would not enjoy it at all actually. I enjoy my job.

Corey: Yeah, exactly.

Okay, let’s talk…

Corey: …and the wood I mean in your heart.

Let’s talk a little bit about actually the film and playing the Frog Brothers again. What was that experience…

Corey: Awesome.

I want to know when you first got onset that first day, what was your…were you nervous at all, was it just you couldn’t believe that after 20 years it’s actually happening? What was going through your mind?

Corey: I wasn’t nervous, I was elated, excited. I’ll tell you I was very nervous about what is this we’re making. Are we going to make something that is going to honor and respect the fans and their memories of this film because the last thing I want to do is take something that’s been iconized to the point that it has and destroy it, to shatter peoples dreams or visions or thoughts of what this film could be or should be by making something that cheesy and low grade. Obviously we didn’t have the budget that we had on the first one. We didn’t have Keifer Sutherland, we didn’t have Joel Schumacher behind the helm, we didn’t have Richard Donner kind of guiding us and we didn’t have Jason Patrick and Jami Gertz and a lot of talented people. So there was a lot going against us I felt and there was also a lot going against us in regard to the fact that there is so much hype and so much expectation to what this movie should be and my biggest concern was are we going to be able to live up to that? And although I haven’t seen the film, so I can’t tell you with an educated guess this is what it’s going to be, I can tell you that from the trailer that I’ve seen and from the work that we’ve done, I think people will be pleasantly surprised. I think there is enough of the virtue of the original film—enough to say we’ve kept the integrity of the feel, of the style, of the look of the original film.

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I think fans probably want to know—have the Frog Brothers been fighting vampires between the 2 films? Do you think there’s some back-story that you developed or…?

Corey: I think that all of those answers and more will be revealed in the 4 issue comic book from DC Comics which is on its way and should be here in May, I believe.

Okay. So let me ask you this question, Angus Sutherland plays the baddie from what I know, and he’s Keifer’s half-brother. So is it a requirement that a Sutherland has to be the lead vampire?

Corey: Absolutely! You know, from what I’ve been told and this could be just political hype, but I’ve been told that he came in, he read for the job, he did the best job and that’s why he got the job. He’s great. I mean, he’s literally a younger, hipper version of Keifer. He’s got the presence, he’s a great little actor, very nice guy, charming young man and I’m very proud to have him on board.

I’m curious. When you guys were filming on location which I’m sure you were for part of this film, what was the reaction from…

Corey: All of it except for 1 day we shot in L.A.

What was the reaction of people watching the film? Did you guys have a lot of people standing around wanting to be part of it? Was it quiet on the location?

What was that experience like?

Corey: It was a little batty. Bad joke, never mind. You know it was interesting, we were really sectioned off. I’m so cheesy—there’s nips falling out. We were off in Vancouver. Nobody really knew we were there so it was kind of interesting. I expected a bit more fanfare. Oh, man words going to leak that we’re doing “Lost Boys” and there’s going to be people hanging all over the set --for lack of a better term-- and as it were not really much at all. We were in really rural parts of Canada shooting up in caves and mines and you know, the coastal region off in cliffs and things like that so there were very few parts that were like in big city streets type thing because that’s really not what the look or the style of the film is. The feel of it is very, you know, we’re kind of sectioned off once again in a small surfboard town. A sleepy town, a one-horse town. Again, the flow of it is very to the point like the first film. There’s the dark humor, there’s the gore, the blood, the violence, the vampires, the stakes, but I like to say that this entire film is basically “Lost Boys” from what you’ve seen from ’87 on steroids for 2008.

What was it like with Jamison Newlander? You guys were together again playing the brothers. What was that experience like?

Corey: Jamison is amazing. I’ve always thought that Jamison Newlander has always been an under appreciated and under recognized actor. He is amazingly talented and unfortunately you don’t really get to see enough of him in this one to understand the full realm of his talent, but I believe that’s what’s going to come across in the 3rd one. I think that he’s going to be the rock star in that one and I don’t want to say more about it than that.

Well, I have to follow up on that one. Did you sign like a 2 picture deal?

Corey: No. No. This is all speculation.

Okay, but you think it came out good enough that they might want to revisit it again?

Corey: Well, I haven’t seen it. I just know that there is buzz and talk of if it does well, if it lives up to the expectations they would like to engage in the idea of a 3rd.

Okay, I have to ask another question. We’re going to switch to another franchise. I’ve interviewed Josh Brolin a few times—a part of roundtable interviews whatever—every single time someone at that table says, “Goonies 2, Goonies 2, Goonies 2”.

Corey: I hear he’s not too excited about that idea.

Actually he talks about it every time. He’ll say I haven’t heard anything or whatever. Do you think that if this film is successful that it could actually lead to a 2nd Goonies getting off the ground?

Corey: I don’t see how one has anything to do with other. You know again, the powers that be have changed hands so many times. It’s very political the way things work at the studio system and you know, at one point this was going to be a Richard Donner/Joel Schumacher project and you know after years passed people go on, they go their own directions. I actually as a matter of fact didn’t want to do this film without the blessings of Richard Donner and a very true point is before signing a deal as…I wouldn’t do the film without Corey and Jamison attached in some way, I also wouldn’t do it without the blessings of Richard Donner. And I probably should have called Joel, too. I just didn’t have the time.

What was the experience? Did you call Richard Donner?

Corey: I went and sat with him at his office and I said, “Don’t know if you’ve heard but they’re making ‘Lost Boys 2’”. “Really?” “Yeah.” “Oh that’s interesting”. I said, “Yeah, hopefully you’re not mad about that and hopefully it’s okay if I do it and I don’t want to do it if it’s not okay and I’m asking for your blessings, but if you’re not okay with it and you don’t back it up then I totally understand.” And he said, “Nope, kid. Go give them hell. Make it great. Make me proud.”

Good imitation of him actually. I have to ask you—a lot of people—Comic Con has become a huge part of the popular culture. Every summer in July it goes on in San Diego. 100,000 people. Do you think that you guys will come down there to promote the film and have you ever been there before?

Corey: I was in Comic Con once ironically enough with Corey Haim and for the premiere of “Lost Boys” 20th anniversary DVD, which was quite the scene. That was insanity. It was complete pandemonium and madness. As a matter of fact, it was the year that the 3rd “Matrix” had been released and there was an interview or a question/answer session with the Wachowski Brothers right after our panel. And we were actually amazed because we had more people in there than they did. We were like how did that happen? You know, I can’t believe this many people still care about this movie. So it was a great time and I always loved meeting the fans and being out there and getting a chance to hear their thoughts. I try to very much keep my fingers on the pulse of what’s happening in America and abroad and through the Internet and just really just try to stay tuned in with what people are feeling and thinking and wanting as fans. And I try to feed that to them as much as possible. A lot through my blog: www.coreyfeldman.net you can find my blog and I give updates about every 2 weeks that are very personal, very to the point. I never beat around the bush. I’m very honest and I really try to feed the information as much as I can because I know how hard it is getting things from a studio system. Getting things from you know the press channels the way that they work, so in respect to the fact that I don’t want to step on any toes or cross any boundaries that I shouldn’t, I also know what’s attainable and what should be attainable for the public and what I still have to hold onto, so I try to leak out little pieces you know as much as possible. In regards to the Comic Con, I don’t know if I’m going to be there. I have a very busy schedule obviously working on this film, now there’s going to be the press for it, finishing up the television show—the press for that. I’m trying to finish up an album. I’m thinking about a summer tour. I’ve got several other projects that I’m executive producing/creating which are in development right now. A couple that we just signed a deal on, and a film that I’m trying to get underway, and 2 other films that are supposed to be coming out at some point this year as well, so as you can understand it’s kind of pandemonium. And then somewhere in there I’m a dad, and a husband and you know living a personal life of some sort, and I need to get a vacation in too, so it’s going to be a busy summer. If opportunity allows and I happen to be there at the right time and the right place, then I’d love to do it. Obviously I’ll do anything I can to support the film and I’ll feel even more strongly about these convictions once I’ve seen the final cut.

Last question. How has fatherhood changed you?

Corey: Fatherhood is the most amazing thing that could ever have happened in my life. I’ve always been a huge fan of children. I love kids. I’ve always kind of lived my life to be as much as possible a positive role model for children. I love kids, they’re our future, they’re amazing, they’re innocent, they’re sweet and I mean since I was 18 years old I wanted to have a family, especially because of the lackluster family life that I was raised with—the childhood that I had—being so corrupt and unbalanced. So having my own child was only kind of like can I do this, I want to do it right. I don’t want to mess up. If I do it I want to make sure that I do the best that I can to be the best dad that I can and that’s the most important thing to me. Everybody says, “Are you going to have another one? You going to have another one?” No. It’s an amazing experience and I want to get it right. I don’t want to go having 5 kids and not pay attention to any of them. I want to have one kid that I focus on, that I give everything to, that I love more than anything and make sure that he becomes a beautiful human being as much as I can within my control. And so far I have to say it’s working. My wife and I are very proud. Our child, and of course I’m biased, but he’s the most beautiful human being I’ve ever experienced, so I couldn’t be happier.

Cool. I really appreciate you giving me your time.

Corey: Thank you.