Loretta Caravello Interview
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Video Spotlight: What was the mood like as you gathered and went through all your footage about your brother?
Loretta Caravello: It was a very warm & calm feeling.
VS: How much more footage do you have that wasn't used?
LC: There is quite a bit. A lot of the footage is similar to the footage we used with him taking you on a tour through his room. Most of the time he was the photographer, so you would hear him more then see him. I must admit, it is quite funny. Hopefully more can be used down the line, you never know.
VS: Eric was known for constantly having a camera with him taking pictures. Of what you saw how much of that time was it a video camera?
LC : He always carried a camera, on tour, by our relatives, with friends. He loved photography. If you recall Eric went to HS of Art and Design and majored in photography.
VS: What is your favorite moment from this video?
LC: I like the stinky dog part. LOL. That was Eric's nickname for our dog Skippy. Skippy was always outside the house roaming around the land and would come back in pretty bad shape and of course not smelling to good either.
VS: Did you feel like this video captured your brother more as Paul Caravello or Eric Carr?
LC: To us Eric was always Paul.I think people got to see one person, just in two different situations. He never changed.
VS: Can you share your fondest Eric memories?
LC: There are so many but the two which stick out mostly are when we were kids. We would play soldiers in our basement and he would always protect us against the enemy (his friends).
Another one is when he was not well and how brave he was during that time. I gained so much respect for him from the way he never gave into feeling sorry for himself and how he continued to go forward.
VS: How would you best describe your brother & this video in one word (one word for each)?
LC: Inspirational (for both)
VS: Do you feel that Eric finally has gotten the respect & attention he deserved with the release of this video?
LC: He was always respected. The video gave the fans a chance to really see how talented Eric really was through his music and creative ideas; something that was not fully able to surface during his career.
VS: What was the process of putting this video together? (things you had to do to get the project moving forward).
LC: Well first I had to gather as many pictures and footage as I could from my family, friends, and fans. It was simple to find the KISS related stuff, the pre-KISS stuff took some real detective work with a lot of frustration and dead ends. But my brother taught me to never give up and things will come your way and they finally did. All it took was one person he knew before and that person lead me to another until I had found almost everyone he knew from his different bands.
VS: How many times from the span of the time Eric passed away were you & your family approached to have a video made of your brother's life?
LC: Every other week someone was coming to us with different things they were going to do about my brother. Then they would disappear and I would never hear from them again. I have to say after about 5 years of broken promises to my family, from drum video's to benefit concerts, I kind of got use to it and didn't take it to heart anymore.
In 1999, Jack Sawyers called my parents who they met in LA at the Rockwalk when Eric was inducted. He told them that he wanted to do a video on my brother's life. They gave Jack my number and when we spoke, although he was very sincere, I figured this was just another person who was not going to deliver.
Well I was very wrong. Jack was true to his word and put his heart and soul into the project as he put it," it was a labor of love" for Eric, who he knew well. He was truly the first person who kept his word.
VS: Do you feel you have closure now that this video is complete?
LC: Yes, I feel that it has also helped fans to have it (closure) also.
VS: How would you like most for the fans to feel after they watched this video?
LC: As though they knew him.
VS: Your listed as co-producer what did your role entail?
LC: Gathering pictures, footage & putting Jack in touch with different friends of Eric's. It was a lot of work but I enjoyed it. I was able to meet a lot of kind and wonderful people.
VS: A lot of people don't have the pleasure of knowing you as well as I do and aren't privy to the fact that you designed the insert for the video how did you go about doing that?
LC: Well, I am a graphic artist by trade so if was simple, just a few scans and type and there it was.
VS: Were any KISS members approached to participate in Tale of the Fox?
LC: Oh yes, Ace was asked to be interviewed and wanted so much to be a part of the video, but unfortunately, time would not allow him. Gene was also asked but had to decline. Hopefully the whole KISS family will be part of future projects. We would love to have them, everyone is important.
VS: I noticed on the credits the video is in memory of Henry Wannamaker, Can you tell us who he is?
LC: Henry was a great fan of Eric's he loved him very much. My brother knew Henry and always tried to make him feel comfortable. Henry passed away awhile back and now they are together in heaven....When my brother passed away which was after Henry did. Henry's mother wrote a beautiful and warm letter to the local newspaper about how he brought sunshine to her son's life and the kindness he always showed him. The story touched us so much that we knew Henry had to be apart of this tribute.
VS: Do you have a message for all the Video Spotlight readers who will be reading my review & all of Eric's fans who are reading this interview.
LC: I hope that Eric has left with you the strength and belief that no matter what happens in your life to never give up. I also want to thank you, the fans, for all the support and love you have always shown my brother. It was because of you he remained so strong. My family also thanks you for helping us make it through the years.
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