The Ten is a movie that portrays people breaking the Ten Commandments. Meant to be a tongue-in-cheek, humorous take, co-writers/ producers Ken Marino and David Wain set out to write a “Midnight movieâ€Â that dared to make a spoof out of a usually serious topic.

Ken Marino took time to talk about everything from how he met David Wain (who directed The Ten) back in his MTV days, to writing Actress Wynonna Rider’s scene featuring “thou shalt not steal.â€Â

Reilly (R) How did you meet co-writer/ director David Wain? Have you worked on other projects together?

Marino (M) “David and I [first] worked together on The State on MTV.â€Â

[The State was a half-hour sketch-comedy that aired on MTV from 1993 to 1995.]

(R) Since The State went off the air, I̢۪m sure both of you have written for several other projects. What brought you and Wain together to write The Ten? How did you come up with the idea?

(M) “David and I locked ourselves in a room and [and said that we had to] write something.â€Â

(R) So when you emerged, you had The Ten? What brought that topic to your minds?

(M) “We kind of made that up [the Ten Commandments.] We were surprised to find they existed.â€Â

(R) But I heard a rumor that Google may have inspired you as well. When you two searched “the Ten Commandmentsâ€Â and were surprised to see that they came in a logical order, what do you say to that?

(M) “We kind of made that [whole story] up.â€Â

(R) I see, with the joke aside, how did you decide on the mood of the movie?

(M) “[The Ten was made] in the vein of… midnight movies.”

[“Midnight movieâ€Â refers to movies that are cult classics. It can also refer to a “Bâ€Â and therefore cheaper-made movie, which would be a stab at his own types of movies he is making –– something right up Marino’s alley and part of his sense of humor.]

(R) It sounds like both you and Wain had a lot of fun coming up with the premise of the movie. What are you hoping that this movie does for the audience. Was your goal to make a political statement or more for entertainment?

(M) “We specifically wrote this movie to make jokes. The idea was to get in as many jokes as possible.â€Â

(R) It sounds like it̢۪s going to be a funny movie, and I̢۪m sure that writing on the topic of the Ten Commandments and making it humorous can̢۪t be easy. When did ideas hit you for each scene? Where is the strangest place that an idea hit you, such as the Wynonna piece?

(M) “[At a hotel], on the toilet paper… The Wynonna piece was written on a room service tray.â€Â

The Wynonna piece was ironically intended for those who remember Rider’s ‘shoplifting’ scandal from a few years ago.

(R) You did invest a lot of time in the movie, even taking on the role of Dr. Richie, who killed his characters by leaving a surgical tool inside of them as a practical joke.

(M) “[My character] did it as a “goofâ€Â, but people didn’t [find it funny like he did].â€Â

(R) I read that people found it so “unfunny,â€Â in fact, that Dr. Richie’s character becomes an inmate. What was it like to play one?

(M) “[I would think] it’s much better to play one in a movie.â€Â

(R) I would hope so. It definitely sounds like you enjoyed making the movie. Do you have any other works coming up? Is Wain involved too?

(M) “’Diggers,’ co-starring Paul Rudd. David is directing this movie [too.]â€Â

[Marino is a writer, actor and Producer for ‘Diggers’.]

Not so much blasphemous as it is very silly, and it lives up to the one unbendable commandment of comedy: It̢۪s funny.
Pam Grady,
San Francisco Chronicle

Not exactly the stone-etched last word on biblical moviemaking, The Ten at least has a rare flair for the non sequitur, and a sassy, spasmodic charm.
Jonathan Kiefer
Sacramento News & Review