Your film Piranha-Man
vs Werewolf-Man: Howl of the Piranha - in a few words, what is it
about?
It's a movie about two killing creatures that are fighting over a
woman. How did the project come into being in the first
place and what were your initial inspirations? I wanted to
make a creature-killing-people movie, but it turned into a versus
film. What can
you tell us about the writing process of Piranha-Man
vs Werewolf-Man: Howl of the Piranha, and a few words on your
co-writer/partner-in-crime on the project, Dorian Knight?
Dorian
is very talented, he made the story work and has become a successful
internet/TV producer. As
the title might already suggest, Piranha-Man
vs Werewolf-Man: Howl of the Piranha is a monster movie, a genre
you have frequently returned to over the course of your career. What do
you find so fascinating about the genre, and some of your genre
favourites? I believe there are creatures that roam the
Earth like Bigfoot,
the Loch
Ness Monster, and the Lizardman.
Not only in my opinion, Piranha-Man
vs Werewolf-Man: Howl of the Piranha's special effects were
refreshingly retro - so what can you tell us about your effects work? I
love in-camera effects. I think they help remind people that we are
pulling off a miracle, a movie with no budget and we are here doing this
together, so let's surprise ourselves. A
few words about your main cast? Very talented people and
dedicated to the job. I appreciat and am thankful for their commitment.
What can you tell us
about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere? It was
a great atmosphere because everyone had that we are all in this together. As
you might know, monster movies are not exactly unprone to sequels - so
will there ever be Piranha-Man vs Werewolf-Man II ... or will one
of the beasts ever be pitted against another creature? Maybe,
if anyone wants to make it they have to ask Chemical Burn
Entertainment. What
can you tell us about critical and audience reception so far? From
what I have heard people enjoy this movie.
What
got you into filmmaking in the first place, and did you receive any formal
training on the subject? From watching the behind the
scenes footage of Star Wars as a child, seeing creature films and seeing
gorgeous Hollywood starlets, I knew at a young age I wanted to make
movies. Working in B Movies and independent films for Roger Corman [Roger
Corman bio - click here], Jim
Wynorski [Jim Wynorski
interview - click here] and the
Asylum, I learned you just have to do it but make sure
you finish a movie that will get distribution. Otherwise, it's gonna be
harder to make your next one.
Going through your filmography,
one can't help but notice you have worked with genre veteran Jim Wynorski [Jim
Wynorski interview - click here] quite a bit, on films with great titles like Cleavagefield, Dinocroc
vs Supergator, Piranhaconda, Camel Spiders and Busty
Coeds vs Lusty Cheerleaders - so what can you tell us about the man,
your collaborations with him, and how did he influence your way of making
films?
Jim is a wonderful mentor. He has taught me numerous things from
understanding the business side of movie making as well as the art
side. Jim shares his knowledge from storytelling, casting,
production and post production. He has helped me jumpstart my
career. I can't thank him enough.
While I was in film school in Savannah GA, I wrote Jim a fan letter.
About five hours later, in the middle of class, he replied and thanked
me for the kind words. I was so excited to receive a letter from one of
my directors, I yelled "Jim Wynorski wrote me back". The
professor asked me to leave the class for disrupting. Throughout my film
school days, we became pen pals. He even watched my demo reel and thesis
film. After college, I moved out to LA, went to meet him and get his
autograph. At the meet and greet, I told him I like what he does and I
want in. At that moment, he hired me and now we have been working
together for six years and about twenty movies.
One time, a funny incident took place on set. I volunteered to make
lunch for the cast and crew. I bought frozen lasagnas. But forgot to
defrost them and tossed them into the oven. It was too late. The cast
and crew had a delicious frozen lasagna lunch. Lets just say the next
day we ordered Chinese.
You have also worked in varying positions on a
handful of movies for notorious production house The
Asylum - a few words about your work for that company? It's
a great place to work, you learn a lot about making movies on a shoe
string budget. I recommend it for anyone who is breaking into the business
or if they are looking to try a new department/job on set. Any
other films of yours you want to talk about, any future projects? Lizardman:
Terror of the Swamp is being finished. Its a creature feature about the
Lizardman that haunts Ore Swamp in South Carolina. It's a movie I wanted
to make since I was 16. When
it comes to making movies, you have pretty much done it all over the
years, producing, writing, directing, a bit of acting, and whatnot. What
do you enjoy the most, what could you do without? I enjoy
producing because I get to work on making deals and helping people get
what they need out of the project. As for doing without - screenwriting. I
have friends who are much better at it and help with scripts. I consistently work on my writing, but till then I have to hire writers. Filmmmakers
who inspire you?
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David Cronenberg, Steven Spielberg, Jim Wynorski [Jim
Wynorski interview - click here], Roger Corman [Roger
Corman bio - click here], Herschell Gorden Lewis [Herschell
Gordon Lewis bio - click here], Russ Meyer. Your favourite movies?
Creature
from the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein,
Death Race 2000,
The Fighter, American Beauty, Star Wars (all of them, even the
Ewok Adventures). ...
and of course, films you really deplore? I love all movies,
I really do. Your website,
Facebook, whatever else? Just a personal page. Anything else you are dying to
mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? Nope, great
questions, thanks for having me. Thanks for
the interview!
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