Neal Moritz: Puttin' on Moritz

"The only way I'll get to keep doing what I love is by making money for the studios or the people who finance my movies--that's all it's about. I'm trying to create a brand here," Moritz continues, elaborating on his manifesto. "I want all my movies to fit that brand. I love to see art movies, but I'm just not the best guy to make them. We make genre movies while always trying to van those genres and change them up. What I always say is, 'I want my movies playing at every mall across America.'"

That isn't all Moritz learned from AIR "I've tried to control my own destiny," he says. "Cruel Intentions financed myself and I licensed it to Sony for domestic distribution. The new one, The Skulls, I financed myself and licensed to Universal for domestic distribution, I want to control the asset, to own the negative and create a library that keeps on giving."

In the process of giving young moviegoers what they want, Moritz has also given major young actors what they want--big-screen careers. How does he sniff out talent that will make an impact? "When I'm watching an actor's audition or a tape, all I want is to not be able to take my eyes off that actor. That doesn't happen often. I look for youthful vitality, energy. Upbeat attracts me. It isn't much different with scripts or when I'm meeting directors. I read 10 to 12 scripts a week and when I'm doing that, it's like, what can I not possibly stop reading? That's the intangible I'm after. A lot of young actors have done their first movies with me, and 75 percent of the movies I've done have been with first-time directors. Roger Kumble directed Cruel Intentions. We're trying to work together again, as we are with Rob Cohen, who directed The Skulls. We like to work with the same people again and again. I try to break new ground with new talent and keep a little familial factory going here. I like to think of them as under contract without a contract because we provide a really good environment for them to work, which is why they like to come back and work with us again."

OK then, let's run down a few of the most notable young actors who've made Moritz's final cut, Sarah Michelle Cellar, who did I Know What You Did Last Summer and Cruel Intentions? "She had the most challenging role in Cruel Intentions, an adventurous movie out on the edge, and she was amazing in it. We were a little concerned about whether she could do the role. She was way better than we could have ever expected. She shocked the hell out of us. Since then I've offered her a couple of things that she didn't want to do, and I'd love to do something else with her." Her costar Ryan Phillippe, who broke out in I Know What You Did Last Summer? "He has an intensity not many of the young actors do. He fully immerses himself in his characters. He's great looking, and he has a toughness but also a sensitiveness to him.' Joshua Jackson, who had smaller roles in Urban Legend and Cruel Intentions before starring in The Skulls? "When I read The Skulls, I knew I wanted him for it. To me, he's Tom Hanks, Incredible comic timing, really grown up and a great kid who doesn't take any of this for granted. His personality is so warm and inviting; you can't help but love him." Paul Walker? "I wanted him for The Skulls as much as I wanted Josh. And the minute I read this new script were doing, Racer X, it was Paul. I didn't audition anyone else. I think he's a megastar about to happen. He's amazing looking, but very relatable. Women find him very attractive, but he's also a guy's guy." Freddie Prinze Jr., from the I Know What You Did Last Summer movies? "Young girls love him. A very nice guy, too, with a lot more range than the parts he's had so far. He'll do very well." Jennifer Love Hewitt? "Everybody's girl--amazingly beautiful and the girl next door." Leelee Sobieski, the star of his next film, The Glass House? "Huge potential. She's already a terrific actress and she has great reliability. Besides, you can't take your eyes oft that face." Wes Bentley, who stars in his upcoming Soul Survivor? "He says so much without saying a word, his gaze is so compelling. Wes is really smart and my sense is he'll make very good choices for himself as an actor who doesn't always need to be in commercial hits." Any opinions on stars he hasn't cornered yet, like josh Hartnett? "I want him in Racer X. He's got an attitude and quality that says: 'I am a movie star.' He's going to be amazing in movies." Katie Holmes? "I've tried to work with her several times. I think she's going to be a major star. People empathize with her." Julia Stiles? "She's terrific. A very fine actress. She's not the cookie-cutter model in any way." Heath Ledger? "There's a guy with a Mel Gibson feel to him. He's rugged, and a terrific actor."

Has working so closely with so many hot young actors required Moritz to employ tough love on any occasion? "When I did Juice, which was Tupac Shakur's first movie, I went through hell getting that kid to actually be there each day and deal with it all. He was a smart kid, but definitely a handful, though well worth it. I think he would have been a huge movie star and leader down the line.

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