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An Interview with Vito Trabucco, Director of Never Open the Door

by Mike Haberfelner

December 2016

Films directed by Vito Trabucco on (re)Search my Trash

 

Quick Links

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Your new movie Never Open the Door - in a few words, what is it about?

 

It’s hard to tell the story and make it sound interesting or original. “A group of friends rent a cabin in the woods, and shit goes crazy.” But essentially that’s what it is.

 

What were your inspirations when writing Never Open the Door?

 

We made this for my producer Chris Maltauro’s grandfather, John Brahm. He made one of my favorite films, The Lodger. As well as tons of Twilight Zone and Outer Limits episodes. I feel he is one of the most underappreciated directors ever. This certainly was an homage piece to him.

 

Never Open the Door leaves several story elements utterly unexplained (including why the heck is happening what is happening) - was this intended from the beginning or did you discard of the backstory only during the writing or revising process?

 

Yes, our intention from the beginning was not to reveal everything.

 

What can you tell us about your co-writer Christopher Maltauro, and what was your collaboration like? And how did the two of you first meet even?

 

We met on a USC thesis film I was producing called Weak Species. He was Italian so we started talking to each other. I told him about a script we were trying to make called Bloody Bloody Bible Camp (which Chris ended up producing for me), and he told me who his grandfather was. We hit it off real quick. Writing with him was fun. I’ve worked with many producers, but Chris understands that story is the most important thing. Surprising how many producers don’t.

 

You decided to shoot Never Open the Door in black and white - blunt question, why?

 

Just an artistic choice. I love black and white. Our DP Joe Provenzano loved the idea too. It made the collaboration a lot more enjoyable than just shooting your standard B-movie horror flick.

 

Never Open the Door was filmed almost entirely in a single location - so how limiting but maybe also liberating was that for you as a director, and do talk about your location for a bit!

 

Definitely limited! Financially that was just the only option. So I had to deal with it. A lot of people say that when you’re limited it helps you be more creative. I’m calling bullshit on that one haha. I do the best I can on low budget films, but give me a budget, and I’ll give you something fantastic. I feel many low-budget filmmakers would. The location though was up in Big Bear. I loved that house. I would’ve moved in there if I could.

 

What can you tell us about your overall directorial approach to your story at hand?

 

There really isn’t one. Limited time and budget means you gotta crank it out and just do your best. If your budget only allows a 6 day shoot, then unfortunately we can’t be Stanley Kubrick or Alfred Hitchcock, but if you can execute low budget well enough, then you can at least aspire to be a Roger Corman [Roger Corman bio - click here].

 

Do talk about your cast, and why exactly these people?

 

All good sports! You gotta be when you’re dealing with me. But I love actors and love talking with them. I’m a big fan of improv acting and certainly comedic acting. But again in a film like this you just don’t have enough time to nail it. It can be frustrating for them at times. I met most of the cast on my first feature Bloody Bloody Bible Camp. We all had a pretty good relationship with each other. This was literally one of those “grab your friends and go make a movie together” kind of movie.

 

A few words about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere?

 

I’m pretty sure the cast and crew all had a pretty good time. We stayed at the house we filmed in so we were all together constantly. I rarely have a good time though because I got too much going on in my head so I can never kick back and hang out in the hot tub with the rest of the group (yup, there was a hot tub there).

 

What can you tell us about audience and critical reception of your movie?

 

Not sure yet. Fingers always crossed on that one.

 

Any future projects you'd like to share?

 

We just finished up a horror web series I co-wrote/directed with Debbie Venegas who has been in both of my features called Watch the Pretty Girls Suffer. Hopefully that will be released early 2017. I’m also finishing up on a documentary I’m doing on called Henchman: The Al Leong Story.

 

What got you into filmmaking to begin with, and did you receive any formal training on the subject?

 

None! I shouldn’t even be allowed behind a camera. I’m like a drunk guy with a loaded gun.

 

What can you tell us about your filmwork prior to Never Open the Door?

 

I started out doing various crew gigs. From there I started directing short films. They did pretty well so I just continued to move forward. In 2012, I did my first feature and things started to open up a little more after that.

 

Many of your films are of the horror variety in one way or another - is that a genre at all dear to you, and why (not)?

 

I love horror, but more than anything I love movies. All of them. Horror is fun to do, but I could wake up tomorrow and want to try something else. I get a kick out of it when actors tell me I know so much about the horror genre. I want to tell them I know a whole lot more about other genres, but don’t have the heart to tell them.

 

How would you describe yourself as a director?

 

Probably a little bi-polar.

 

Filmmakers who inspire you?

 

I mean the best ever are people like Kubrick and Kurosawa, but I grew up in the 80s. John Carpenter all the way.

 

Your favourite movies?

 

The Godfather is my favorite movie ever. When they released that 7 hour version, I was like now I know how Star Wars fans feel. And I love all slasher flicks… and Antonioni’s Blow Up.

 

... and of course, films you really deplore?

 

Haha this is where I get in trouble. Every year though we’re so quick to jump on a random movie’s bandwagon. This year it was The Witch for me. Everyone kept talking about how creepy and atmospheric it was. I agree, but to me the atmosphere could only provide a film about a guy who chops wood and has an annoying family.

 

Your/your movie's website, Facebook, whatever else?

 

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USA  amazon.com

Great Britain (a.k.a. the United Kingdom)  amazon.co.uk

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Thailand  eThaiCD.com
Your shop for all things Thai

Our website is neveropenthedoormovie.com. I think if you search "Never Open the Door" on Facebook the page should pop up. I’m not sure I don’t run any of them.

 

Anything else you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?

 

I think we covered it all! I hope we did. Brain isn’t working at full capacity today.

 

Thanks for the interview!

 

Thank YOU!

 

© by Mike Haberfelner


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Thanks for watching !!!



 

 

In times of uncertainty of a possible zombie outbreak, a woman has to decide between two men - only one of them's one of the undead.

 

There's No Such Thing as Zombies
starring
Luana Ribeira, Rudy Barrow and Rami Hilmi
special appearances by
Debra Lamb and Lynn Lowry

 

directed by
Eddie Bammeke

written by
Michael Haberfelner

produced by
Michael Haberfelner, Luana Ribeira and Eddie Bammeke

 

now streaming at

Amazon

Amazon UK

Vimeo

 

 

 

Robots and rats,
demons and potholes,
cuddly toys and
shopping mall Santas,
love and death and everything in between,
Tales to Chill
Your Bones to

is all of that.

 

Tales to Chill
Your Bones to
-
a collection of short stories and mini-plays
ranging from the horrific to the darkly humourous,
from the post-apocalyptic
to the weirdly romantic,
tales that will give you a chill and maybe a chuckle, all thought up by
the twisted mind of
screenwriter and film reviewer
Michael Haberfelner.

 

Tales to Chill
Your Bones to

the new anthology by
Michael Haberfelner

 

Out now from
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