Michael Grais on P2

Michael Grais, co-writer (with Steven Spielberg and Mark Victor) of "Poltergeist" and co-writer/co-producer (with Mark Victor) of "Poltergeist II," has been kind enough to send me some information on his experience making the films. I'll update this page with info from Mr. Grais as I get it. I'd like to thank Michael, his assistant Joel Miller, and his manager Judy Fox for their kind permission to post this info. If you'd like more info on both their current and future film projects, click here:
 http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0334457/
http://www.albionentertainment.com/
(on Craig's transformation into Kane, P3, and P4):
CRAIG DID SWALLOW THE WORM AND HE WAS NOT DUBBED AND HIS IMPERSONATION
OF KANE WAS GREAT AND SPOOKY AS HELL. HE SCARED US ALL THAT DAY -- MAYBE
EVEN HIMSELF. HE IS A GREAT ACTOR.  WE DID NOT DO POLTERGEIST 3 BECAUSE
WE HAD JUST SPENT ABOUT TWO YEARS FROM WRITING TO DELIVERY OF P2 AND
DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANOTHER ONE. THEY ASKED US TO AFTER OPENING WEEKEND.
CALLED OUR OFFICE ON THE LOT. I HAVE HEARD THAT MGM (OR SONY) WAS IN
DEVELOPMENT OF P4 BUT NOT SURE WITH WHO OR WHAT HAS BECOME OF THAT SINCE
MGM HAS NOW GONE INDEPENDENT OF SONY AGAIN. I THINK THEY HAVE ANYWAY.
(on Kane's motivations and the P2 novel's scene of Kane "eating his lungs" in front of Carol Anne):
Kane was based directly on Jim Jones and the guyana massacre. He led his people out into the desert to die with him because he believed the end of the world was imminent and in his twisted mind "drinking the coolaid" was the best way to go. I never thought of him as a fallen healer and I created him. So he wasn't. He was always a religious nut and just got crazier with time until the end.

The scene with Kane ripping Carol Anne apart was a fabriction of the novelization writer and was never in any draft or discussed.
(on the following alleged deleted scenes:

1. A toaster floating in the air above Craig and Jobeth in the kitchen

 

2. Rev. Kane walking into the bedroom of Carol Anne while she's on the phone

 

3. A scene of Taylor building a fire in the backyard at night, while the Freelings sit close by (this scene was in an early draft script I read).

 

4. A scene in which Dana's being away at college is mentioned)

 

Grais:
All 4 scenes were shot -- but none exist that [I know] about.