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Director Gary Winick's "Tadpole" was shot with a hand-held digital camera in just 14 days. The film was an audience favorite at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival where it was so well received that it was picked up for distribution by Miramax Films.

"Tadpole" boasts an impressive cast of veterans and introduces a newcomer who's bound to make waves in upcoming years. Sigourney Weaver, John Ritter, and Bebe Neuwirth headline the film, with up-and-comer Aaron Stanford playing the 15 year-old teenage son of John Ritter, and stepson of Sigourney Weaver. Stanford's performance in "Tadpole" won him inclusion on Entertainment Weekly's list of the most creative people in entertainment (otherwise referred to as their "It" list), in the "Debut" category.

According to a press release from Miramax Films, 'Tadpoling' is a new trend on America's sexual landscape and describes the act of an older woman hooking up romantically with a man at least ten years younger. In the film, Oscar Grubman (Stanford) returns home from school for the Thanksgiving holiday with a plan to win over the heart of his true love - his stepmother (Weaver). Oscar's far more sensitive than most people his age and is attracted to older women with beautiful hands. Compassionate, intelligent, and sexually naive, Oscar's journey to capture his stepmother's affections is complicated when he becomes involved in a tadpoling situation with his stepmother's best friend (Neuwirth).

I caught up with actor John Ritter on his way into the special Los Angeles screening of "Reign of Fire" and had the opportunity - though briefly - to ask him about his work in "Tadpole." As you can see by his answer to my first question, Ritter was in a "Reign of Fire" frame of mind.

Can you talk a little about "Tadpole?"
Sure, is it here (looking around the red carpet and up at the marquee advertising the special showing of "Reign of Fire")? There's very, very small dragon work in it. There is a giant frog that comes out at the end. It comes right out of Sigourney's chest.

How important is it to you to balance small, independent films with work in larger productions?
Usually they say, “Why did you choose that role?” and usually my answer is, "Because they asked me." I was just lucky enough to get the role. I heard about the script from my son, Jason, who told me about the script. He was up for the role. I think he was the second choice, and Aaron (Stanford) got the role. They thought that I looked a lot like Aaron's father even though my own son didn't get the role. I don't quite know how that happened (laughing).

Did you do anything to bond with Aaron before playing the role of his father?
We rehearsed and just being with Aaron...he's such a smart guy and he really knows what he's doing. He was reading up on his Voltaire and studying French. It was a real fun ride and I give a lot credit to the director, Gary Winick. Sigourney was so nice and so sweet to everybody, and especially to him. It was a joy to do and it was over so fast. It was almost like an actor's dream - to come in and do a film that fast.