Greg Harrison on His Next Project: “I’m doing a movie for Warner Independent. I’m writing and directing an adaptation of a non-fiction book called ‘The Radioactive Boy Scout.’ I’m adapting it as a dark comedy. It’s the story of David Hahn who is a Boy Scout in Michigan who, in the pursuit of his Eagle Scout badge, builds a nuclear reactor in his backyard that’s shut down by the government.
It’s really the story of this young man’s excitable idealism about how science can transform our lives into good. He’s not like a ‘trenchcoat mafia’ kid trying to make a bomb. He believes that, you know, his destiny is to become a famous scientist and follow in the footsteps of the Curies and he believes wholeheartedly in the Boy Scout ethos, but in the process he builds this very dangerous thing.
I think what’s lovely too, is that I feel very personally connected to it because I grew up in Michigan. I was part of the Midwest geek culture that he came from. I was in the Boy Scouts. I started in chemistry and had a lot of explosions in the basement, which he did as well. I think also what’s so poignant about it is he is a kid who’s from a broken family, and of course, none of the adults in his life really understood his potential. And he, I think, maybe believed at some level if he could prove to his parents through his success in science, he could somehow bring his family back together. So there’s this lovely emotional component to his drive, as well.”
A Bigger Budget and a Longer Shooting Schedule: “That’s the beauty. It’s actually for me, this is my first studio movie, albeit in the independent division of Warner, but I think it’s a lovely step. We’ll probably do it for 5-7 million bucks, which is 10 times more than any budget that I’ve had but still it’s considered a no-budget film by studio standards. I still feel there’s this ability for me to express myself personally in the material.”
On Casting “The Radioactive Boy Scout:” “I just began writing it. I’ve been writing it for the last couple months. …My hope is to cast a new, young actor for the lead that is 17 years old and discover somebody for this role. It’s my hope.”
