PR.com (Allison Kugel): I know that you’ve wanted to direct films for quite a long time, even when you were making music with Limp Bizkit. What made you choose The Longshots and the story of Jasmine Plummer as your first studio film?

Fred Durst: After reading the script and then hearing that Ice Cube was attached. And, I loved the script because it had a lot of heart. I have an understanding of what it’s like to not have certain role models in life, where that void can be there and you’re just getting by. Then to have something come along that’s your salvation, or that becomes your salvation, like football was for Jasmine Plummer. And, how along with it came something to fill that void of hers. I just thought it had a lot of heart and I really respond to stories with a lot of heart. And, then after meeting Ice Cube and hearing that he wanted to do something a little different and produce a family movie. When I hear the words “family movie” I get a little scared just because, I love family films and I always have and my children watch family films, but sometimes they’re a little dumbed down, you know? Sometimes they’re made just for kids. I wanted to make a film that not only younger people could enjoy, but also one that adults could enjoy themselves.

PR.com: I actually wouldn’t call it a family film, per se. To me it almost seemed to be along the lines of a Rocky kind of a movie.

Fred Durst: Awesome. You’re one of the few. I think it’s like a Hoosiers meets a Rudy meets a little tinge of Mighty Ducks and a little tinge of the first Bad News Bears. That’s the feeling that I really wanted the film to feel like. And, when I say a “family film,” I mean that it got embedded in me so hard by everybody else involved in the film saying, “Kids have to enjoy this film!” If you see the way they’re marketing the movie, it’s very important for them to get kids in the movie theatre.

PR.com: You mentioned before that you could relate to Jasmine Plummer in her missing a role model and needing something to fill that void. I know that you also grew up without your biological father, so I’m sure that you could relate to her story quite a bit.

Fred Durst: How’d you know that? Is that information out there?

PR.com: I do my homework.

Fred Durst: I guess the information is out there. When you don’t have your biological [parent] there’s a distance and a gap. If I’m speaking about my experience as a child and growing up with one parent who isn’t your biological parent, I don’t think that just putting a roof over your head is enough.

click to read interview with Fred Durst