A college degree doesn't guarantee a trouble-free life

LOS ANGELES -- Kurt Russell, who plays killer Stuntman Mike in Quentin Tarantino's "Death Proof," has Vanessa Ferlito in his sights.

The former "CSI: New York" forensic detective will play one of the targeted victims in Tarantino's slasher segment of the "Grindhouse" double bill he's collaborating on with Robert Rodriguez.

"I'm getting ready to work on 'Death Proof,' Quentin Tarantino's next film. August 1st we start rehearsals," says Ferlito during an interview to promote the drama "Shadowboxer." "It's a ton of actors. I can't wait."

Recently, at the Saturday (July 22) panel at San Diego's Comic-Con, Tarantino had announced the Russell will play the bloodthirsty Stuntman Mike, a role the auteur referred to as "one of the best characters I've ever written." Ferlito will play one the Tarantino's less well-written characters.

"I play one of the three leads: There's three girls," she explains. "Her name is Arlene, and she' a [University of Texas] graduate. Of course, [Tarantino and Rodriguez] have to take it back to Texas. They love Texas.

"And I go down to visit my friends again, and there's a crazy stalker guy of course," she continues before getting nervous about revealing too much. "I can't really tell -- I'm not really allowed to talk about it, but it's really twisted. When I read it, I was like, 'Oh my God.'"

Neither Tarantino nor Ferlito would explain what drives Stuntman Mike's murderous tendencies, but perhaps he's an Aggie and is taking the school rivalry thing too far. Earlier reports hinted that the killer would use his car to dispatch his victims.

Incidentally, Rodriguez, whose film segement is a zombie flick named "Planet Terror," is a University of Texas alum. Production on "Death Proof" will take place in Austin, where "Planet Terror" was also shot.

The film will also star Rosario Dawson, Rose McGowan, Jordan Ladd, Tamiia Poitier, Marley Shelton, Tracie Thoms, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Zoe Bell. Both "Death Proof" and "Planet Terror" will be bridged by faux trailers directed by Tarantino, Rodriguez, Eli Roth ("Hostel") and Edgar Wright ("Shaun of the Dead").

All this exploitation goodness known as "Grindhouse" will be released in theaters nationwide on Easter weekend, April 6, 2007.

Ferlito, 25, starred in "CSI: NY" and had a recurring part on FOX's "24." On the big screen, she's appears in "Spider-Man 2," "Man of the House" and "Shadowboxer," which is currently in theaters and co-stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Helen Mirren. Her next film is "Gridiron Gang," a football drama starring The Rock and Xzibit.