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Your new movie Why? -
in a few words, what is it about?
A
terrifying weekend - being in the wrong place at the wrong time when a
serial killer is on the loose.
What were your sources
of inspiration when writing Why?? I
get a lot of my ideas when I go camping. The isolation makes you feel vulnerable. My
movies are about being in a situation where you think it's business as
usual and things go very bad, very fast. A day, or two or three, in a
life.
Why?
leaves out most of the backstory of its killer - was this a conscious
omission from the get-go, or did you decide only later your movie could do
without it?
Yes,
it was a conscious omission. To me, ambiguity is more interesting. I
really like the idea of the audience coming to their own conclusions
and ideas about the story. I feel horror/thriller films spend too much
time in the third act explaining everything they just saw.
What can you tell us about your movie's
approach to horror? Well,
I like to stay on the thriller side
of horror. The blood and killings are a byproduct of the lead-up or the
chase. You know the end result, but playing "cat and mouse"
makes it more exciting.
A few words about your overall
directorial approach to your story at hand?
Right from the beginning, I visualize characters, locations, casting choices, even pacing.
It really helps with the building of the project and it makes me feel more
connected. Then it's all about prep. Gives me more time to be creative on
set and on "the day" which is rewarding and exciting.
With your
film featuring Natasha Henstridge and Lance Henriksen - what was it like
working with them, and how did you get them even? I
had worked with them both before on The Unhealer. They were both great to
work with and very professional. It's a "no-brainer" when the
opportunity comes up to use not one but two icons in the genre. I was
very lucky and blessed to have them.
Do
talk about the rest of your cast, and why exactly these people?
Being
a "journeyman" actor myself, I'm a firm believer in getting
really good actors for all the roles and not just look to put names in.
A good performance helps move the story, not a name actor that
isn't right for the role. I was lucky and got both! Allison McAtee was
fierce and willing to make all scenes work. She did and was great. Chris
Browning is always solid and reliable in what he brings to his work.
Shelby Janes gave an outstanding performance as Deputy Talley,
which was originally written as a male character. Emma Bell did me a
favor and opens the movie as she played my daughter in the Netflix film
Deviant Love the same year. I have to mention the rest of the cast as
ALL were fantastic to work with and brought a lot to the film. Michael
Krause, Brian Rasmussen, Leslie Stratton, Parker Harris, Lisa London,
Laura Walker, Tabitha Grayston, Mercedes Lopez Renard, Jessica Lee
Torres and Pauline Schantzer. My partner Galen Walker did a nice job as
Mr Means as well which was fun. Where
was Why? actually filmed,
and what was it like filming there?
On
a film like this, few
locations
help get it done. We shot at Silver Dream Factory, some private homes,
Malibu and an LA library.
But the majority was shot in the town of Idyllwild, CA. It was great. We
rented four beautiful cabins, filled the refrigerators and had
the cast and crew stay in them and we would shoot in them as well.
Friendships and relationships formed and was a good time for all.
The people of Idyllwild were great and was a gorgeous location!
A few words about
the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere?
It
really was an overall good experience. I can't tell you how happy I
was with my whole crew. From PA's up. They all worked hard, didn't
complain and did their jobs well. Made for a smooth shoot and less
stress.
The $64
question of course, where can Why?
be seen? That is a question for our distributor High
Octane.
Anything you can tell us about audience and
critical reception of Why??
There has been a limited amount of people who have seen the whole film but we
have gotten really good responses. We are getting the exact reactions
we had hoped for.
Any
future projects you'd like to share? I'm
set to direct a couple of cool projects, Specter and Comedy
House of Tragedy on the horror/thriller side and The Black Widow
Club on the
family side.
You initially
entered the filmworld as an actor - so what can you tell us about that
aspect of your career?
I'm actually on set right now for a new film called The Author, in which I
co-star as a doctor trying to bring back the memories of a young man
coming out of a 6 month coma. Really interesting story about chaos and order.
What made you branch out into
filmmaking eventually, and did you receive any formal education on the
subject? My
formal education came from being on set. I always was
interested in
directing and finally got my chance with my first film The Crack in the
Floor.
What can you tell us about your filmwork prior
to Why?, in whatever
position? Well,
I have been a working actor for... ah... a long time!! I have been producing and
directing for about 20 years. I have made films from 2k to
10 mil. Lifetime/Hallmark films to
Netflix comedies for China to lot's
of horror/thriller working with greats like Roger Corman [Roger
Corman bio - click here] and Tobe
Hooper. I've been fortunate enough to win
multiple awards
for not only directing/producing but for the films overall which I am
very proud of.
How would you describe yourself as a director?
Prepared, knowledgeable,
actors director, excited always willing to learn, thankful for the job! Filmmakers
who inspire you?
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Feeling lucky?
Want to
search
any of my partnershops yourself
for more, better results?
(commissions earned) |
The links below
will take you
just there!!!
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Anyone
that gets a film done inspires me! I'm a big fan of David Fincher. I
like a lot of things Rob Zombie does.
Your favourite movies?
As
far as horror/thriller, nothing scarier than The
Exorcist!
The Entity, Strangers, Houses That October Built, Hell House
LLC, Hush,
The Host, to name a few. But my all time faves are The Natural,
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Terms Of Endearment.
...
and of course, films you really deplore? It's
WAY too hard to get a film done to
criticize anyone's work.
Art is in the eye of the beholder. Your/your
movie's website, social media, whatever else?
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0863570/ Anything
else you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? I
want to thank my partners Galen Walker, Larry McLean and Luis Peraza.
Without them this wouldn't be possible. Thanks
for the interview!
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