DJ Caruso is the director of the upcoming film Two for the Money. The film is based on the true story of Brandon Lane (Matt McConaughey), while some details have been changed the gist of the story remains. Brandon is an up and coming predictor of pro football games who is taken under the wing of lifetime addict Walter Abrams (Al Pacino).

The real Brandon Lane won 82% of his picks over the course of 18 months, which is where the story draws its central premise. During a press conference with DJ I managed to get him to open up about the film the NFL, gambling and more...

Question: What changes were made to the actual story to get Two for the Money to the big screen?

DJ Caruso: In reality we condensed Brandon's story into one season, whereas this story took place over the course of three years. Brandon advises Pacino's character for a long time before the slide starts. Brandon also played basketball, not football. In cinematic terms we had to condense it. Making the movie in 43 days for $20 million was a challenge; I'd like to make a movie like this every year for the rest of my life if I could.

Question: Did you attend any Gambler's Anonymous meetings?

DJ: Oh yeah, I went to three or four meetings. One in Glendale, one in Hollywood. What was eye opening for me was with all the new forms of gambling such as slots it wasn't just sports gamblers, it was housewives who play cards in the middle of the day. We wanted to make this real and sincere, which came from going to the meetings.

Question: Was working with Pacino intimidating?

DJ: Oh sure, particularly before rehearsal started. It's a daunting task. If The Godfather comes on I'm lost for three hours. The first time you give Al Pacino direction is a telling moment, but he wants to be directed so badly that it was invigorating.

Question: How would you compare Pacino here to his role in Glengarry Glen Ross?

DJ: I think this character has a deeper sickness. Walter was capable of loving; this was a guy who was trying to do this for his family. I think he was a much bigger dreamer. He was based on a real character and exploring that led us to a very dark place. He can convince you to bet against your mother. He's such a persuasive person. Walter is a little more infectious than the character from Glengarry Glen Ross.

Question: Pacino's recent characters, such as in Donnie Brasco or "Angels in America" seem to have a tragedy that elevates the drama.

DJ: I agree. The thing Al and I were working to convey, for people who aren't gamblers or compulsive gamblers, is that the high is in losing. It's a tough concept to grasp because we all want to win. In the losing, when they are raking the chips away, is when I feel most alive. He is a tragic character.

Question: Was it important for Brandon (McConaughey) to come from a pure place, a place where he didn't gamble on sports?

DJ: I think it was. Being a gambler, and having the audience understand it's not about the purity of the sport. You can't watch a football game or an athletic event the same if you are betting on it. It was important to make that delineation. I wanted the audience to experience a gambling experience, a winning experience and then take the ride down.

Question: What did Matthew bring to the role of Brandon?

DJ: Matthew is a guy you can't help but root for. This was a guy who never felt sorry for himself. He never got down; he was always trying to win. Matthew is a very positive character. His biggest aspect is you like him. As an audience member you'll feel a little guilty rooting for him. It is gambling.

Question: Are there guys who win as much as Brandon's character does?

DJ: Brandon went 80 percent for 18 months. He was just on fire. If you think about it, all you want your advisor to do is go 55 percent.

Question: During test screenings did the darker elements of this story turn anybody off?

DJ: Well there are not many movies where you actually piss on your movie star. You get a few people that run out. Outside of an opening weekend the preview screenings are just horrifying. You're worried that people involved with the movie will be influenced by what this one guy says. It's horrifying. If one hundred people said I don't get a certain aspect, they could be beneficial.

It was a good process on this movie because when we introduce Al's character there's laughter, it's a lot of fun, almost like a real gambling experience. It was refreshing to see the audience have a good time. On the director's cut you'll see some darker things that were too much for a general audience.

Question: Do you gamble on games?

DJ: Yes. Football is my game of choice.

Question: There also so many forms of pseudo-gambling like fantasy sports.

DJ: Yeah, or office pools. Not only that but most people don't have a bookie anymore, it's mostly online. A lot of online bookies the rise of poker. Gambling is at an all-time high, no matter what happens with the economy.

Question: Do you think gambling will ever be legal?

DJ: I don't think so. There's been a big government push to make these offshore casinos close down. There's probably a better chance of gambling being legalized than smoking marijuana but it's along the same lines.

Question: Do you have any rules with gambling?

DJ: I won't bet the Jets games (his home team). I really make it a point not to bet on teams with my heart. I do it more for fun.

Question: Did the NFL give you any issues with the film?

DJ: Knowing we only had 43 days to shoot the movie, all the footage you see of the actors reacting to footage is green screen. The NFL would not cooperate at all. We had to hire someone to come in and shoot second unit football scenes. The NFL was so uncooperative we couldn't call a team New York if the blue was the same.

The NFL lawyers were watching everything we did and were ready to sue us and shut us down because the NFL does not want to be associated with gambling at all. The irony of it was an August 9th preseason game was the #1 rated show of the week, do you think that's because someone wants to watch the fourth string Colts QB? The networks cater to the gambler and to the fantasy leagues. They just won't acknowledge it. So that was tough.

Question: What's up next?

DJ: Right now I have a film at New Line with Kate Hudson called Sleight of Mind written by Ron Bass who wrote Rain Man. It's about Kate Hudson and her boyfriend who are two grifters and their plan to bilk this guy in Miami. We just got a greenlight on it last week. Of course I want Jack Nicholson for the guy they try to bilk. Everyone's like "Get Jack, Get Jack."

Two for the Money opens this Friday.