HOW TO MAKE HOW TO MAKE MOVIES MOVIES  ALSO BY KEVIN J. LINDENMUTH The Independent Film Experience: Interviews with Directors and Producers (McFarland, 2002) Making Movies on Your Own: Practical Talk from Independent Filmmakers (McFarland, 1998)  HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Low-Budget / No-Budget Indie Experts Tell All KEVIN J. LINDENMUTH Foreword by Eric Red McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers Jefferson, North Carolina, and London  ISBN 978-0-7864-7106-5 softcover : acid free paper LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGUING DATA ARE AVAILABLE BRITISH LIBRARY CATALOGUING DATA ARE AVAILABLE © 2013 Kevin J. Lindenmuth. All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. On the cover: (inset) Tiffany Shepis in the 2012 film Wrath of the Crows (Photograph courtesy of Marija Obradovic); video camera © 2013 Studio Smart Manufactured in the United States of America McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640 www.mcfarlandpub.com  Special Thanks to Kate Lindenmuth Tim Ritter Dave Hayes Barry Waddell & Seasons of the Wolf John & Nancy Lindenmuth and all the filmmakers involved with this book.  Table of Contents Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii Foreword by Eric Red . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Making Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Film School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 The Script . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Equipment and Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Budget and Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Production Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Actors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Locations: Where You Live and Where You Shoot . . . . . . . . . 112 Special Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 How Long Does It Take to Make a Movie? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Publicity, Promotion and Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Being an Independent Filmmaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Working on Other People’s Independent Films . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 Your Career as an Indie Filmmaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 Epilogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247 Appendix: The Filmmakers and Their Films . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 vii  Preface It’s been nearly a decade and a half since I studio, but only a comparable pittance for the first started penning my very first book, Mak- original filmmaker. ing Movies on Your Own (1998). Although the This huge decrease in revenue from the genre ’90s were not as lucrative as the ’80s, during films was one of the reasons I had switched which time home video machines came into gears about a decade ago and began produc- play, it was entirely possible to make a modest ing/directing independent documentaries that living as an “independent filmmaker.” The big were broadcast nationally on PBS. Rather than video store chains were amenable to taking on recouping and making money by selling micro-budget sci-fi and horror, so instead of DVDs this was done by getting it accepted by selling a handful at conventions you’d be PBS, then finding underwriters/sponsors for selling thousands of copies in one fell swoop. the broadcasts. Generally, this made up for the Alas, many of those retail video chains have year of time spent creating the program. And folded up in place of direct-by-mail rentals or probably far more people have seen my docu- video downloads, which take far fewer titles mentaries than have my horror films. I still and pay a small percentage of what they used have a love for independent features and have to. Yes, every so often there’s a movie shot for penned a few scripts the past few years and next to nothing by an independent producer/ worked, in varying capacities, on other director, like Blair Witch Project or Paranormal people’s productions to satisfy that “itch.” Activity, that ends up making millions for a And, in fact, I plan on returning to the horror genre by shooting a par ticularly disturbing film soon, simply for the satisfaction of creat- ing something creepy and unique. While a lot has changed since the ’90s in the technology and distribution, a lot has also stayed the same, primarily the persistence and dedication of independent filmmakers, whether they are making shorts, features or documentaries. The individuals in this book aren’t doing it for riches — they are doing this because they are the foremost independent filmmakers in the truest sense of the word. Why make a movie? Because you want to. By reading how these filmmakers go about the process of making a film, you’ll be able to take away useful information on how to go about making your own film and hopefully Kevin J. Lindenmuth avoid the avoidable pitfalls. viii  Foreword by Eric Red A warning: This book is not for the faint trenches. From technical decisions to handling of heart. actors and crew to production situations, these Making a low budget film will kill you. war stories from the micro-budget front lines But seriously. cannot help but be useful to any filmmaker Everyone knows you don’t need millions of trying to “get it in the can.” While many of dollars to make a good picture, particularly in the indie directors interviewed in this book the horror genre where many of the best ex- obviously have different approaches to the var- amples are — and always have been — lower- ious aspects of the process, often they are in budget efforts. Anyone working on a very tight agreement about the best solutions and share budget wanting to make a feature film will similar experiences. Benefiting from proven find lots of tips on how to prepare and mount tactics of filmmakers who learned by doing is the production and what to expect along the especially worthwhile for readers making their way from the topics comprehensively covered own film where it’s their time and money on in this volume. Kevin Lindenmuth assembles the line. Because while the book deals with a diverse group of low-budget horror film- making horror films, it’s really about the makers used to working and delivering under hands-on work of making movies. extreme limitations and picks their brains on People ask me all the time what makes a all the major stages of the filmmaking process. film director. Covering everything from financing and pro- A film director is somebody who gets their duction to distribution, the result is loads of film made. common-sense, practical advice from the Period. Eric Red is a Los Angeles–based motion picture screenwriter and director whose films include The Hitcher, Near Dark, Body Parts, Bad Moon and 100 Feet. Recent published short stories have been in Weird Tales Magazine, Shroud Magazine and Dark Delicacies III: Haunted, an antholog y. His first novel Don’t Stand So Close was published in July 20¡2. 1 This page intentionally left blank  Making Movies The very first films I ever made were Super and began producing/directing non-fiction 8mm shorts when I was ten years old. This feature documentaries, many of which were continued through my teenage years, and one broadcast on PBS. Rather than creating some- of my creations even made the cover of Cin- thing that was based on a screenplay, I was cre- emagic magazine, which was a boost for my ating something that was basically based on beginning filmmaking career. While I also people and experts answering questions, wrote short stories at the time, making a movie whether it be on food allergies (“I’m Not Nuts”: was so much more immediate — you could Living with Food Allergies, 2009) or percep- watch the tale you were trying to convey. And tions and opinions about death (The Life of I think that’s the main reason for the interest: Death, 2011). to make something that people could watch. But as with the features, this was something Yes, Saturday Morning Creature Features like I could pretty much do on my own. In fact, I Detroit’s own Sir Graves Ghastly definitely left would produce, shoot and edit the entire pro- a mark, as had all the drive-in fare like The ductions. And ironically, far more people Corpse Grinders, Dr. Phibes and the Planet of would watch these documentaries than ever the Apes movies. That’s why the majority of viewed the genre movies, as they were broad- my features were of the horror and sci-fi genre. cast nationally. One documentary was even The first was Vampires & Other Stereotypes broadcast worldwide (Solanus Casey) by (shot in 1990) and the last was a short for a EWTN (Eternal World Television Network). ill-fated anthology called Goregoyles (2002). I don’t think those people ever realized I was Yet, with such low budgets, there was al- best known for vampire films. ways minimal crew and everything was largely So it is indeed possible to branch out as an controllable, so I knew the productions would independent filmmaker. If you want to make get done. I was doing the majority of the work science fiction films, you can. If you want to and I always finished something I started. I create comedies, go ahead. If you desire to was always making the movies I wanted to make people aware about a real-world prob- make. lem, shoot a documentary. The possibilities In the late ’90s I gradually switched gears are endless. The only thing it hinges on is you. The Filmmakers were asked: What are your influences and aspirations and what inspired you to make movies? What drives you to make films? Glenn Andreiev: I always had a passion the ingredients that go into making a great for creating and telling stories and marvel at movie. For example, I just saw The H-Man 3 4 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES again, a 1950s science-fiction movie with a response from the audience. Atmospheric hor- blob-like creature. In one scene the “blob” ror films inspired me to create docudramas on slithers around a room. I read that this “creep- serial killers where I can explore the horrific ing blob” effect was achieved using a room set aspects of the killer’s crimes and also focus on built inside a large wooden cube with bolted the historical aspects of the time period in down furniture and a bolted-down camera. which the killer lived. I believe that film is al- This cube-set was rotated on a large tumbler most like magic where the reality on-screen is and the blob substance rolled around the mov- actually an illusion. When every aspect of a ing set. The resulting effect shows a steady, film comes together properly through acting, normal-looking room, with this blob skitter- cinematography, music, lighting, et cetera, ing about. I love creature-feature-engineering then a film is truly something to admire. stuff like that! Keith Crocker: My influences are very John Borowski: Growing up I was en- simple; I came from a large family of six chil- thralled by the films of Alfred Hitchcock. Not dren. Television was a big thing in those days, only did he know how to create the perfect a great way to entertain a large family for atmosphere for a thriller film, Hitchcock cheap. Watching Chiller Theater with the planned every shot in the minutest detail to whole family gathered around the TV was a create the ultimate psychological affect on the life-altering experience for me. First off, the audience viewing the film. Like all great art, movies horrified me and literally gave me film really works when it creates an emotional nightmares. I distinctly remember seeing The Natasha Warasch goes over the screenplay with director Keith Crocker during the interrogation sequence of Blitzkrieg: Escape from Stalag 69.  Making Movies 5 Beast with Five Fingers, the Peter Lorre classic that also featured Robert Alda. When I went to bed that evening, I had a horror in that I swore I was going to see that dismembered crawling hand creeping up the wall by my bed. Talk about trauma! My mom was oblivious, I don’t think she had any clue how much these films were messing with my brain. Over the years, a strange transformation began to hap- pen — I began to love horror films. I guess what they were doing was kind of an inter- active therapy that was working out a lot of my internal fears. I developed a love affair with genre cinema, in particular horror films. My interest grew in such a manner that I started collecting books on the subject. One of the first film books I bought was Heroes of the Hor- Writer/director Richard Cunningham rors (1975), written by Castle of Frankenstein zine editor Thomas Calvin Beck. It was there ding interest in classical studies, laid the and then that making the art of movies into groundwork for my attraction to the period my art took hold. First, I started by drawing genre. the photos from certain films that were fea- I’ve long admired filmmaker Wes Ander- tured in the books I collected. Then I started son’s trademark dialogue. Along those same to paint those same type of pictures. I’d lit- lines, a 1957 movie called The Sweet Smell of erally stretch canvas, draw the scene right from Success, made a deep impression on me with the photo and paint it. The filmmaking aspect its biting metaphors and rhythmic language. came in during the summer of 1978. A friend I think also there are certain movies from the of my brother, who knew of my interest in ’80s that sparked the imagination of kids movies, brought over a Super 8mm camera growing up during that time, and of course and asked me if I ever considered shooting a continue to have an impact —Star Wars or movie. Well, I pulled together my brothers E.T., Indiana Jones. friends and my first film was a 15-minute epic When I started developing the techniques called Dracula Is Alive and Well and Living in of my animation, I was watching a lot of car- Hewlett (Hewlett, New York, is the town I was toons and anime at the time, a lot films by brought up in). Hayao Miyazaki, episodes of King of the Hill, Richard Cunningham: I have quite a lot Frisky Dingo, Archer, and various comic book of influences. Early on, Rod Serling and The animations. They had their obvious differ- Twilight Zone fascinated me. I would watch ences. So in watching the various forms of an- marathons of the show on TV. I was capti- imation, I was aiming to pick up on the sub- vated by the cleverness and social commentary tleties that ultimately make any animation underlying the concepts and the stark imagery more convincing. in which they were set. I even painted the I think what drives me to make films, first opening narration on the walls of my child- and foremost, is my genuine passion for sto- hood bedroom. Similar science fiction by au- rytelling, for creating some form of escape for thors like Ray Bradbury and H.G. Wells also people (myself included), and the sense of ac- drew me into more visually imaginative sto- complishment that comes out of it. Story- rytelling. Films such as Braveheart, and a bud- telling is a craft fundamental to many of the 6 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES best artists, and to all of civilization, really. Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of Our history and culture are handed down by the Lost Ark, et cetera, I wanted to be a film it. Our religions are based on it. Our economy director like Spielberg. As I teenager I read is supported by its production and consump- Fangoria, Starlog, Cinefantastique, Made Mov- tion. It can broaden and sway minds, or ies, et cetera, and just watched a ton of films. awaken deep emotions in us, or simply serve I grew to admire Kubrick, Romero, Carpenter, as a much-needed distraction from reality. I Cronenberg, DePalma, Polanski, Argento, think that as this craft has evolved alongside Hitchcock, Coppola, the Coens, Lynch and society, we have come to identify ourselves by so many more. Sam Raimi was also a huge in- pieces of history and characters of fiction alike. fluence on me jumping into making my first Films also appeal to me simply because they feature at 17, after reading about how he made bring together so many different disciplines of The Evil Dead. both art and craft, all of which must congeal Donald Farmer: There was always a ultimately into the story’s final form. movie camera around the house when I was Maurice Devereaux: Growing up an growing up. My parents documented every va- only child surrounded by comic books and cation, birthday party and holiday with our toys (G.I. Joe, Big Jim, Mego Super heroes, Standard 8mm film movie camera. The results Johnny West, et cetera) I would invent my were projected on our roll-out home movie own stories. It was always a need, either it was screen mixed with Castle Films one-reelers like born out of the fact that I had no one to play Dracula, Woody Woodpecker and Howdy Doody. with, or it was there all along. I need to tell So after a few years of this, I thought, stories. At first I wanted to be a comic book “Here’s the camera ... there’s some extra film artist, but after seeing Superman, Star Wars, laying around. Why don’t I shoot something Writer/director Maurice Devereaux on the set of Lady of the Lake.  Making Movies 7 Maurice Devereaux directing his first film, Blood Symbol. myself?” Only I didn’t want to shoot vacations the 50-foot reel gave me a running time just and birthday parties. I wanted to film my a little short of four minutes. friends pretending to murder each other. I was kind of aware of a crime movie play- I was 12 years old when I made my first little ing back then (late ’60s) called In Cold Blood, 8mm epic. I edited in camera as I shot, and so I named my little masterpiece In Hot Blood. 8 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES My inspiration was Mad Magazine and those days flat, sent the film off to the local drug movie parodies they ran in every issue like store to be developed, and my first movie was Rosemary’s Boo Boo and Balmy & Clod. They a wrap. I showed it to the actors and that was always used the original film’s title for some about it. The thought of doing a follow-up groan-inducing pun. And I thought, “What’s film didn’t occur to me until six years later good enough for Mad Magazine...” when I’d moved up to Super 8mm film and Keep in mind I knew absolutely nothing had learned a little about editing. No more about the particulars of In Cold Blood— not editing in the camera ... this time I’d shoot my that it was based on a true murder case, not idea of “coverage,” plus mix in clips from one that it involved an entire family being slaugh- of my Castle home movies. Namely in one tered in their farmhouse, nothing about the scene where the female lead is watching tele- writer Truman Capote and his borderline dis- vision, I edited in clips from the Castle edition turbing obsession with the killers. All my 12- of This Island Earth to represent the TV show year-old mind digested was that In Cold Blood she was watching. I thought I needed a really had something vaguely to do with murder, original death scene this time, so I filmed the plus it was the perfect title for me to have a lead actress being strangled to death with a little fun with. So I set to making In Hot Blood stretched-out condom ... a scene that did NOT with three of my friends and a bottle of amuse my father. Finally, I knew this movie ketchup. should be way longer than In Hot Blood, so I Even at that age I knew I needed a celebrity ended up with about 30 minutes of edited in my cast to give my debut film that extra footage including titles. zing. Years later I would get in the habit of Over the next three years I would grind out hiring relatives of ex-wives of celebrities, like five more of these little Super 8mm movies. when I got Charlie Sheen’s uncle for Demo- The first two were melodramatic soap operas lition Highway, David Bowie’s ex-wife for with a few murders tossed in, but the fourth Demented, or Stallone’s ex for Compelling Ev- was my 40-minute horror epic The Summoned idence. But at the age of 12 and living in Man- ... the first time I had anything approaching chester, Tennessee, the closest thing to a ce- special effects make-up. Very low-end effects, lebrity in those days was a little girl named mind you. For a scene where a zombie is shot Sally — hands down the most drop-dead gor- in the chest, I taped a firecracker to a piece of geous 12-year-old girl walking the halls of cardboard, taped a balloon full of movie blood Westwood Junior High. Like most of my male on top of that, then taped board, firecracker, friends, I was in absolute awe of Sally but and balloon underneath my actor’s shirt. Oh knew she would never agree to participate in yeah ... and we put some cotton in his ears, something as dubious as my shady movie proj- too. I’m pleased to report he survived. ect. So I went after the next best thing ... one Several years later, the two stars of The Sum- of her relatives! moned showed up in some of my better- I didn’t want Sally’s big brother ... he was known movies. Robert Tidwell played the three grades older than me and went to the video store clerk in Demon Queen and Larry local senior high. Plus he kind of scared me. Herren played a supporting role in Scream But Sally’s cousin Ronald was in my same Dream. Larry was actually another in my long grade and seemed up for the suggestion. And line of “relatives of the stars.” His cousin, I thought, “Maybe if Sally sees her cousin Roger Herren, had played the boyfriend of doing my movie, she’ll think it’s not so bad Farrah Fawcett in her 1970 movie Myra Breck- and agree to star in my NEXT one.” That inridge and was even man-handled by Raquel never happened, but I could dream. Welch in one scene. I was endlessly fascinated So we filmed In Hot Blood in about two to know that one of the stars of a Raquel  Making Movies 9 Welch movie actually hailed from my little behind-the-scenes documentary of The Em- town ... and that “I” was friends with his pire Strikes Back. I made a few-minute film of cousin. To say that Larry was less impressed my brother playing Spiderman in Spiderman with his cousin’s achievement would be a se- vs. The Ninja. They were fun little things. But rious understatement. ultimately I was discouraged by the format. I did the last of my six Super 8mm movies My camera had no sound, and a ten year old in 1976, then decided I should stop fooling doesn’t have the funds or the knowledge to edit around with home movies and get a real job. and shoot enough [footage] to make a feature. So I used my college journalism major to get It’s a bit of an insane compulsion really. I on with Nashville’s daily paper, the Tennessean, am in love with absolutely every aspect of the and branched out to covering film production process and I’m unable to “shut it off.” I think for Fangoria and a couple of other magazines about it all day and night. “This would look ... plus launched my own horror fanzine The great,” or I think of a line that should be in a Splatter Times. But being on so many movie script. I feel a need to be creative, but in the sets as a reporter eventually got me interested end I just think the whole process is just fun in filmmaking again and I started making and I can’t think of anything as a hobby or an plans for my first feature-length movie, the occupation I would enjoy more. project that would eventually become Demon Richard W. Haines: I became interested Queen. in filmmaking at a very early age. I was “glued Jeff Forsyth: I would have to say my to the tube” as a child, watching old feature major influence as a filmmaker has always films around the clock on WOR’s Million Dol- been Steven Spielberg. As the years go by I am lar Movie and on the Late, Late Show. My par- still trying to quantify what that exact quality ents were movie buffs, so we went to the Hol- that Steven has that is so unique. There is a lowbrook Drive-in during the summer to see certain magic to one of his films, regardless of double bills, and indoor cinemas the rest of content. His films possess a level of quality in the year. The Westchester theaters were owned every aspect of the craft, from the cinematog- by Ron Lesser. Lesser’s Beach Cinema 1 was raphy to the acting. It’s an X factor he has that set up for 70mm, which was the only house I continue to try and understand. in the area that used the large format. I think I have always wanted to make mov - In 1971, my folks bought me a Sears Super ies. As a child my favorite TV shows would 8mm camera and I started making amateur get canceled. That happened with Star Trek, films. It had a frame-by-frame option, so I and I always wanted to make more [episodes]. created stop-motion animation as well as live- I would force my brother to help me act out action. I used stop-motion to make my G.I. episodes or new adventures for the characters. Joe action figures appear as if they were fight- As I look back on it, much of our imaginative ing. I recall staying up late at night editing play was “cinematic”— we would make up them, which made me exhausted the next day characters that were adventurers or space ex- in school. When they were finished I recorded plorers. I kept talking about making a some music on an audio cassette machine and movie — a Trek movie at the time. When I projected them for friends. turned about nine or ten years old, my mother I purchased the Kodak Ektasound 140 cam- bought me a Super 8mm film camera. That era in 1973 and started making sound shorts. was it for me. I loved it. Strangely enough, I I rounded up high school friends and made a fought the exact kind of barriers then as I do Spaghetti Western spoof and other novelty now: time and money. I made a few little bits films. I enjoyed making my amateur movies. with the Super 8. I animated my Star Wars ac- I wanted to make professional feature films as tion figures after viewing a very inspirational a career. I still have most of my Super 8 shorts 10 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES and, since they were shot on Kodachrome, my head glued to the TV set. I studied TV they didn’t fade. I transferred them to DVD Guide magazine each week as soon as it and store the originals in my archive. arrived, circling all the movies I wanted to see William Hopkins: I can’t remember any and pretty much scheduling all my free time time in my life when I didn’t want to be in- around what was showing on Creature Fea- volved in filmmaking. I was one of those tures, Chiller Theater, The 4:30 Movie and The “monster kids” who grew up watching the Late Show. My diet consisted mostly of horror, Universal horror classics on TV and spending sci-fi and fantasy films, including Universal’s my allowance on Aurora model kits and mag- classics, films from Ray Harryhausen, Ham- azines like Famous Monsters and Castle of mer and Amicus and, of course, the Japanese Frankenstein. Back then, before home video, giant monster movies. Even stuff that was rel- you had to choose between what was playing atively new at the time, like Night of the Living at the local theater and what was playing on Dead and Rosemary’s Baby, I first saw when TV, and since it seemed most of the movies they ran on TV. Those movies, along with my local theater booked were a little too ma- shows like The Outer Limits, Star Trek, Dark ture in subject matter for a kid, I ended up Shadows and The Twilight Zone, all made a spending a good part of my childhood with great impression on me as a kid and, by the time I was in junior high, I had pretty much made up my mind what I wanted to do with my life. My father, who first introduced me to films by plunking me down in front of the set at four or five years old to watch King Kong, Dracula and Franken- stein, ended up regretting it later when I announced my career plans. He didn’t think it was a practical way to make a living, and he was right. But I wouldn’t dis- cover that until many years later. As a kid, even though I was familiar with names like James Whale and Tod Browning from reading Fa- mous Monsters Magazine, I tended to think of the con- tribution of writers and di- rectors as being secondary to the work of the special- effects and make-up artists. I hadn’t developed my crit- ical faculties enough to be Writer/Director Bill Hopkins able to judge the quality of  Making Movies 11 things like writing, cinematography, editing I can remember the day when I made that or overall storytelling ability, but I was able to decision to commit to screenwriting. I was still tell which monsters looked cool and which ef- in my teens, still living at home with my folks, fects worked, so guys like Ray Harryhausen, and my room was littered with all the model- Willis O’Brien, Jack Pierce, Dick Smith and ing clay, paint and rubber masks from years Rick Baker were the ones I paid attention to. of experimentation. I cleared it all out, packed To me, as a child, the jobs that seemed most it up and moved it to the attic and installed a important were the special-effects and make- big electric typewriter in my room. I’m sure up artists. So that’s what I wanted to be. my parents were happy to have all that mess I did a lot of experimenting with animation, cleared up, but the typewriter made so much using clay models and a Super 8 camera, and noise — it sounded like a machine gun when taught myself the process of making rubber you typed on it — they probably lost a lot of masks from reading the few books that were sleep on those nights when I was up late work- available then on the subject. Anyone who ing on my first screenplays. But, as it turned knew me in those days probably remembers out, their suffering was not completely in vain. me as the strange kid with the Super 8 camera The first script I wrote in my last year of high in one hand and rubber monster mask in the school was optioned but never produced, but other. But it didn’t take me too long to realize the second script I wrote, Children of the Night, I didn’t have the patience or dedication that was actually produced. It received fairly wide animators and make-up artists need to have. distribution on home video through Colum- I also came to understand that the effects and bia Tristar and on cable TV. That I was able make-up guys were almost always in the po- to make a sale on my second screenplay was sition of realizing concepts that others had certainly encouraging to me. I still remember come up with, and I really wanted to be the showing my father the check I received from one coming up with the ideas — the story, the the sale. He stood in the middle of the living characters and so forth. So I began to develop room holding the check out at arm’s length a greater appreciation for the work of the di- and squinting at it in disbelief. It was a rela- rector and the screenwriter and started paying tively small amount for a script sale but a huge more attention to people like Hitchcock and amount to him, probably a third of his yearly Kubrick and the other greats of filmmaking. salary at the time. He said, “They paid you Then, in the mid ’70s, Jaws and Star Wars that much for one of your scripts?” He couldn’t were released, and they made a big impression believe it. He got out his glasses right away on me. While both films were thematically and sat down in the kitchen to read the script, very much like what I had been watching for which is something he hadn’t done with any- years, the quality of the direction and writing thing I had written up to that point. But he took them to a new level. They weren’t just wanted to see what I could possibly have writ- great monster or sci-fi movies, they were great ten that anyone would be willing to pay that movies. And my parents and the other adults much real money for. around me expressed enthusiasm for them, Both of my parents passed away not too too, which was almost never the case with the long after that and didn’t get a chance to see other horror/sci-fi films I obsessed about. The the film that was made from my screenplay, sophistication of the filmmaking and the sto- which is probably just as well. I don’t think rytelling in those films was a huge leap beyond they would have thought much of it. But at most of what had come before in that genre. least they lived long enough to see me make So I was inspired to focus on developing my that first sale. skills as a screenwriter and pursuing that as a In the years after that, I continued to write career. scripts and shop them around. A few were op- 12 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES tioned. I was commissioned to write scripts translate them to paper. I eventually learned for a couple of projects, but nothing ended to write and at age 15 took a screenwriting up being produced, so it was a frustrating pe- course at HB Studios in New York. I learned riod. I did make some important contacts, the proper screenplay format by this course though — people I’m still in touch with and and by reading other screenplays. still doing business with. Around the age of 14, I knew I wanted to By the end of the ’90s, as new technology be a director, and started seriously trying to became available (like digital camcorders and figure out how to break into the business. I nonlinear editing software), I decided to try realized that most first-time directors started raising money to shoot my own films so I’d with horror films, so I decided to rent every have more control over the productions and horror film on video to study the genre. Sam get more of whatever profits there were. From Raimi’s The Evil Dead became a big influence, that decision came Sleepless Nights, which I did and I loved John Landis’s An American Were- with Howard Nash and Frank Cilla as the pro- wolf in London and Tom Holland’s Fright ducers, and more recently, Demon Resurrection, Night. which I did with Frank Cilla and Edward At 15, I made a 52-minute flick called Un- Wheeler. dead which was a Sleuth-influenced horror Steve Hudgins: I’ve always been a writer flick. At 16, I spent two years working on my and storyteller since as far back as I can re- first independent feature called Strength in member. Making movies is just another way Numbers, an action-comedy thriller in The of telling a story. I specialize in horror/thrillers. Goonies tradition. I also started working as a More often than not, I’m very disappointed P.A. [production assistant] during the summers by most of the movies being produced within and did a stint at Troma on Troma’s War. My that genre. I really want to bring originality senior project in high school was Murder in back to those types of movies. Winter, a comical Agatha Christie murder Rolfe Kanefsky: I fell in love with mov - mystery done on stage and filmed. ies when I was around four years old. My Around this time, I was becoming restless father introduced me to the films of Abbott and wondered how long it would take to write and Costello. I remember catching the very a low-budget teen horror film. I wrote the first end of Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jeckyll and draft of There’s Nothing Out There in five days. Mr. Hyde and I was hooked. Growing up in I did it as an exercise but couldn’t get myself New York, they would run their films every to do just a straight teens-killed-by-alien story. Sunday morning at 11:30. I watched them re- I had seen so many horror films by this point ligiously, from age 4 to 14. Of course, I that I was wondering why nobody in a horror watched things beside Abbott and Costello. I movie has ever seen a horror movie. So, I became a fan of Alfred Hitchcock movies, thought it would be fun to have a character Blake Edwards, Steven Spielberg, John Landis, who is a horror fan and comments on all the The Marx Brothers, Neil Simon, and John stupid things that people do in horror films. Carpenter. I’ve always said my three favorite He would be like the audience and I could films of the 1980s are E.T, The Blues Brothers poke fun of all the overused conventions of and Psycho II, with After Hours, Fright Night horror films, like the cat scare and people and The Stepfather running a close second. standing in front of an open window, going I received my first video camera when I was out alone, dropping the knife, et cetera. That’s 13 and started making my own short films in- how my first real film was born. Wrote it in spired by my favorite comedies. I began 1987 and filmed it in 1989. writing before I could actually write. I would Basically, I got into film because I enjoy tell my stories to babysitters and have them telling stories and entertaining people. For a  Making Movies 13 time, I wanted to be an actor, but in high school I was stuck in a lot of bad plays and I re- alized that it takes so much work but if the end result is weak, what’s the point? So, I took control and started di- recting films myself, moving behind the scenes to tell my stories for the sheer joy of en- tertaining people. Later in life, taking jobs for money came into play, but I’ve always tried to make even the worst projects something spe- cial and a little different. Brett Kelly: My main in- fluence was my dad. When I was a kid I used to fight going to bed, kicking and scream- ing. My father would often let me come back downstairs once my sister fell asleep and we would watch the late Top: Writer/director Steve Hudgins. Bottom: Writer/director Rolfe Kanefsky on the set of Nightmare Man. 14 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES movie on CBC, often they were monster films, I began to emulate the films I loved. Every day MGM musicals or films noirs. I loved them. after school I produced short films. I have What drives me to make films is an obsession VHS tapes of hundreds of little projects — with telling stories. I always used to play comedies, horror movies, stop-motion anima- make-believe as a kid. My friends and I would tions, even a western or two. pretend we were Star Wars characters or Teen There was something so exciting about cre- Titans or something like that. I used to wish I ating and telling stories. It’s a passion that still could afford a Fisher Price video camera that persists in my life because I enjoy the process existed at the time that recorded video onto of relating experiences to other people. Some- audio tape somehow. I have just always needed one once told me, “The only reason anyone to tell stories. does anything is for a good story” ... and while Chris LaMartina: One of my earliest I don’t know if this is completely true, I come memories is demanding my aunt sit down at back to it a lot. the typewriter while I dictated scary stories to Jim Mickle: When I was 13 years old I saw her. None of them made much sense, but the Army of Darkness and discovered The Evil sessions instilled a sense of showmanship in Dead trilogy. I always enjoyed watching mov- me that has yet to cease. During my early ies, but that was the first moment where it all years, I became enthralled with Hammer hor- clicked and I realized there were all of these ror flicks, Universal Studios, ’80s slasher mov- decisions being made behind the camera to ies, and Troma (seeing Toxic Avenger because create the personality of those films. From I thought it would be like the cartoon, Toxic there I spent my teens soaking up genre films Crusaders, basically ruined my life). Around that had real craft behind them. I fell in love age 11, I discovered the family camcorder and with the works of David Lynch, John Carpen- Writer/director Chris LaMartina (President’s Day, Witch’s Brew). Photograph by Josh Sisk.  Making Movies 15 I was Gollum (in Lord of the Rings) and the Ring was calling to me. I stayed in to watch the movie. I’ve always been like that. It’s purely instinctual for me. Every year when the family gathers around to watch football for the hol- idays, I’m watching movies. It feels like it was something I was born with. I’ve always loved movies and that is what has driven me the most to make my own. Since I was a little kid, the first section I’ve always opened in the paper was the entertainment section. Then, maybe the comics. I’ve always been at least as much a fan of watching movies as I have been of making movies. And I’m glad to say I still have that enthusiasm. I just wish I had the money to go along with it so I can do it full-time. As far as influences, I’ve loved comic books since before it was “in” to do so. I believe they’ve always been a highly underrated and amazing art form. Comic books, to me, serve as templates for movies. Remember when Sin Writer/director Jim Mickle (Mulberry Street, City came out and everyone thought that Stake Land) movie was so innovative? It was just doing a faithful adaptation of the material. The same ter, Dario Argento, Peter Jackson, Sam Raimi, thing with the movie 300. Those movies are and Robert Rodriguez. At first I made little now widely ripped off and people think they’re backyard movies on a VHS-C camcorder with brilliant. It’s the original source that was bril- my neighbors and tried out a lot of the tricks liant. The good filmmakers are just honoring from the movies I loved. Over time you start it by not making it unrecognizable. Whenever to find your own personality by telling stories Hollywood strays too far from the source ma- that excite you or have some personal connec- terial, that’s when things go wrong. This is tion. That’s what still keeps me in love with why I’ve always been a fan of Kevin Smith. making movies. He interjected his love of comic books into Damon Packard: My influences came movies early in his career and that established out of growing up in the ’70s and early ’80s. an instant connection with me as a fan. When At that time there was a lot of idealistic en- a movie connects with you in a way, that’s thusiasm and a burning need to explore the helps to fuel your passion for making movies. realm. I still have the drive to make films, but It’s such an amazing forum for mass commu- it’s different. Since that initial desire and drive nication. As far as other influences, I’m a big never actually materialized a form of graduated fan of the unusual. Case in point, if there’s a success in the field, the kind of limited poten- dwarf in a movie I’m instantly down to see it. tial you’re repeatedly dealing with on a no- Other oddities seem to compel me as well. I budget scale becomes less and less vital and definitely grow tired of the same thing over purposeful as the years pass. and over again. I’m certainly not a snob of Brad Paulson: When I was a little kid I watching what is familiar, but I also like a was at a friend’s house and Superman II came heavy dose of variety. Directors that have em- on. The other kids went out to play. It was like braced a different type of style interest me as 16 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Brad Paulson directs a college short film. well. Guys like Dario Argento, Peter Jackson, ited locations, mostly dialogue. This is great Sam Raimi, John Waters, The Coen Brothers, stuff to watch for making your own inexpen- et cetera. I love writers like David Mamet. sive movie. I’m also a fan of hard-to-find cult Who doesn’t love Glengarry Glen Ross? Some movies, puppets and pop culture. Basically I’m of my other favorite authors include Joe Lans- kind of a weirdo, but it’s only an outside pro- dale, Jack Ketchum, Edward Lee, Edgar Allan jection of what I find amusing and entertain- Poe, Jack London, Roald Dahl, Charles Bu- ing. At my core, I’m surprisingly normal and kowski and Steven King. If you’re strapped for adjusted. I believe art has provided me a great movie ideas, all you need to do is read. It ac- outlet and balance. tivates your imagination unlike anything else. Jose Prendes: I was influenced early on, I’m also into metal, doo wop, drunken outlaw like most people, by the magic of movies. I country music, cheesy ’80s action movies, ’80s remember watching one of the early Superman comedies like Back to the Future and the John films and wanting desperately to do “that.” Hughes flicks. I think The Breakfast Club was What “that” was became clearer as I got older. a fantastic template for a micro-cinema movie. I grew up watching the films of Frank Capra Very few characters, primarily one location. It and Steven Spielberg and learning how things could have easily been boring and one to hit work and don’t work cinematically when it the fast-forward button to, but with its fan- comes to movies. I discovered Kurosawa films tastic script and energy it became an instant and the rest of the fantastic films in the Crite- classic. It proved heart transcends budget any rion Collection, and I just absorbed it all like a day of the week. The same applies with French sponge, taking what I wanted and growing my New Wave cinema. Mostly one take, very lim- knowledge base.  Making Movies 17 I knew from a very early age that movies were for me, regardless of the struggle and hardships. I hated everything else except mov- ies, so it was kind of a no-brainer. Paul Scrabo: My “real” job is as a crew person for network television, so I’m involved in projects that are highly commercial in nature and insist on your dedication and skill, but you may not have any emotional interest or passion with the subject. So my own proj- ects are not necessarily commercial or trendy. I already make a living in that world. Making movies on your own is tough enough, so it might as well involve an idea you’re interested in pursuing. The movie theater experience itself may be my biggest influence, at least how it was in my youth. They were sacred places. Your normal life was put on hold when you entered. It’s a bit different today, with actual commercials playing on a the screen when you walk in. There is no transition. Indie producers live in an incredible time today with so many venues — the internet, streaming, DVD, Blu-ray, iPod, and now web movies can be displayed on your television. They’re not locked into the computer screen anymore. But it’s wonderful when low-budget Writer/director Eric Shapiro films get the chance to play at film festivals. Despite all these new outlets, I think the one Anthony Straeger: The first thing that place every filmmaker wants his film shown is influenced me into making anything was that a real theater, with a real audience. That’s I was working for the BBC on a children’s ser- when your film becomes a movie. ies called For Amusement Only, a “seven strand” Eric Shapiro: When I was around 12 years piece, and my strand was called Judge Jugular. old, in 1990, my dad bought a camcorder, I After shooting three episodes it was obvious think for a family vacation to Florida. I started to the director that there wasn’t that much to using it to make ridiculous movies with my this strand and it was bubbling along fine, friends; we were always ripping off the Air- whereas another strand featuring lots of kids plane! and Naked Gun films. The more I used was way behind its schedule. As the director/ the camera, the more I started getting a feel series producer at the time, Peter Leslie, had for the medium, and wondering what limited resources in terms of second-unit di- it would take to make my stuff look as good rectors, he allowed — get this — the temporary as the stuff I saw on TV or at the movie the- secretary/assistant to take over the directing of ater. There’s something dynamic about the it. Obviously, she had no idea [of what to do], medium — the way it combines drama, lit- but I had a good cameraman and a good erature, music, photography, and so much sound guy, so every time she tried to be a di- else. rector and got it wrong, I took over directing 18 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Sarah Paul and Anthony Straeger block a scene for an independently made film. myself. At the end of the 13th episode, the right ugly... But I had been learning. And all crew came up to me and shook my hand say- the while I had been writing feature-length ing, “You were great and you should give di- scripts and failing to sell them. It reached a recting a go!” I thought f * * k it ... why not! point in 2008 that I thought I have to either I then wrote, produced and directed my first ... make a movie or simply give it up. Now short, The One We Came in For. that I have made a movie, what drives me to The other great influence for me in terms continue is that I want to make a better one, of my approach has been Peter Jackson. His I want a larger budget, more time. And what first movie, Bad Taste, is the proof that film- I aspire to is making something I really feel making at grass roots is about initiative. He makes me bristle with pride so that I can say, worked out all of his stunts, special effects and not to friends or peers, but myself ... I did even built his own jib. It took him four years that... Well done, my son! to produce using friends and family and be- Marc Trottier: I’ve always enjoyed horror came a fabulous cult movie. He is the only movies, even as a child, such as Friday the 13th, person that could have taken on something A Nightmare on Elm Street and Evil Dead. I like Lord of the Rings and come in on budget. would’ve loved to make movies growing up, The influence for me loving horror movies but I only got into acting and had access to a comes from my mother, who, when I was but camera when I was 22 years old ... so I had a a young boy, would let me stay up on a Friday late start. After I discovered acting, I began night to watch the Midnight Movie, which wanting to make films that I could act in. I’m tended to be one of the Hammer House of not sure if I’d want to make/direct a movie Horror films. I loved the stylization and, even that I couldn’t be a part of as an actor as well. at that age, the sexiness. Since I started acting and making films, my The thing that got me into wanting to make big influences, as far as directors, were M. a movie was simply that I had made several Night Shyamalan (earlier works), Steven Spiel- shorts, some good, some bad, some just down berg, and more recently J.J. Abrams. They just  Making Movies 19 Movie Magic, which gave the history of special effects from the Lumiere Brothers up to, I be- lieve, Jaws or Star Wars (two more fundamen- tal movies of my make-up). I distinctly re- member watching an episode of Mork & Mindy, where Robin Williams played both Mork and himself in one scene, and being thrilled because the book told me how the ef- fect was achieved in all its Patty Duke Show ingenuity. Then I tried to explain the process to other kids in the first grade. Needless to say, the words “traveling matte” didn’t keep me from being beaten up a lot. In all honesty, all I’ve ever wanted to do in Writer/director/actor Marc Trottier my life is tell stories, regardless of the medium. I’ve been lucky enough (or dumb enough) to make the kind of stuff that I’d like to make have had the chance to do just that as a pub- and act in. I make films because I’m an artist, lished author, journalist and, on a more lim- and it gives me a creative outlet ... and because ited scale, filmmaking. films are fun! Throughout my formative years, I spent Mike Watt: I’ve been a film-lover since a time doing what most budding filmmakers ridiculously young age. My parents are both did, shooting little Super-8 movies with school film buffs and most of my earliest memories equipment (which I was unable to borrow; I are of sitting between my parents in various didn’t get my first VHS camcorder until my darkened theaters and drive-ins. The first senior year of high school), moving toys and movie I remember seeing was George Pal’s Doc bits of clay around in attempt to bring them Savage. It was the one luxury our poor family to life two frames at a time. What I lacked in would make sure we could afford and we went any kind of technical talent I made up for with on a near-weekly basis from the time my sister strong storytelling and structure. By the time and I were toddlers. At home things weren’t my junior year rolled around, I’d already been much different. Before cable and VCRs, we’d professionally published in very, very small sit down as a family to watch movies on TV scholastic journals, but these minor achieve- in the evenings, what I consider to be the sta- ments had weight. ples of my childhood: The Magnificent Seven, Once I got to film school, the post–Vietnam The Wizard of Oz and Bringing Up Baby. War–era equipment (Frezzolinis, CPs, Arri-S’s) Through my father, I was educated in movie proved time and again that I was hopeless as language without being aware of it, particu- a cameraman, a director of photography or a larly with regards to westerns and film noir, a sound engineer. And these failures taught me term he hated, incidentally. He called these to align myself with those who were talented exercises in shadow, light and morality “hard- in those areas. My strengths—writing and ed- boiled movies.” iting — grew stronger with the love I had for Also fortunately, he was and is a bibliophile, those two arenas. To me, that’s where the movie and the house was filled to overflowing with comes together, the blueprint and then the books of all topics. Anything I wanted to read, crafting. Not surprisingly, given my antisocial I just had to find. These are the foundations nature at heart, these two things are done best of my love of storytelling. A book I carried alone. Production, on the other hand, alter- with me a lot as a kid was a paperback entitled nately bores me and stresses me out to no end. 20 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Writer/director Mike Watt shooting a scene from The Resurrection Game. But once the piece is created, once it’s up vision introduced me to the likes of Cagney, on a screen for the world to see, that’s what Bogart, Grant and all the rest. I especially keeps me going. Regardless of audience re- loved films that drew me into a story that I re- sponse, any movie I’ve had a hand in exists be- ally did not want to end and that would leave cause of work I put into it, by myself or with you thinking and wondering, “What else hap- my filmmaking family. This movie did not pened?” after the movie was over. Some of the exist before us. movies that I often reflect back on for inspi- Chalk it up to fatalism or fear of mortality, ration are The Graduate, Night of the Living but I make movies in order to leave some of Dead, That Man from Rio, Raiders of the Lost myself behind when I’m gone. Ark, It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. I am Ritch Yarber: I have been a film fan my driven to make films that entertain foremost, whole life. I grew up watching every genre of and that tell an interesting story with unique movie, including horror, westerns, gangster characters that you either love or hate, but films, musicals. As a kid, my friends and I were that, hopefully, you will remember and com- steady customers every Saturday at the old ment on long after you have viewed it. I try matinees where you got two movies for one to deliver more in my films than may be ini- price. Our summers were spent at the drive- tially expected from the audience so that the in with my best friend’s older brother chauf- viewer will know that, as a filmmaker, I ap- feuring us around in one of his beat-up preciate and respect the time that they have junkers. Every new horror movie or exploita- chosen to devote to watching my product and tion film on the circuit was eagerly absorbed that, despite the budget, I have attempted to by our hungry eyes. The noon movie on tele- earn the opportunity to entertain them. Of  Making Movies 21 course, my production company is a little dif- Ivan Zuccon: I remember, as a kid, watch- ferent. I prefer to call it a “film group” since ing Sergio Leone’s movies, I wanted to try my the goal is to create opportunity in our pro- hand at cinema and I even started writing a ductions for people to showcase their talents script for a sci-fi western movie, something in an actual movie product or “feature-length combining my two all-time favorite films, The résumé,” as I have termed it. I make films be- Good, The Bad, and the Ugly by Leone, and cause my personal goal is to one day be paid Escape from New York by John Carpenter. Per- to create scripts or direct films. I feel that the haps I already knew that I would end up be- best way to get noticed is to establish a history hind the camera, even though I went through of successes. So, as I perform my duties as many phases and many other passions, like writer and director, other talented people con- music or drawings and comics. My influences tribute their best work to the production, and, are mainly literary. My imagination has been hopefully, the end result will be that actual struck by writers such as William Burroughs paid opportunities will come about based on and J.G. Ballard. They’ve opened my mind, the successes of these films, for one or more of and made me seen things that I could not even us. We have had a few success stories. Some imagine. Then came the movies. Bergman and of our actors have since appeared opposite Will Buñuel’s cinema have marked me deeply. Ferrell, John C. Reilly and Michael Madsen When you watch their films it’s like jumping in productions on television and on the big into a boat and taking a very personal journey screen. My work and success on my micro- into the worlds created by them. Two of their budget productions has created opportunities movies that changed my life are Bergman’s The to write for other filmmakers, for radio adver- Silence and Buñuel’s The Discreet Charm of the tisements and for local cable television. Bourgeoisie. Writer/director Ivan Zuccon  Film School In my professional film/video work no one thing — and you’ll be able to get like-minded has cared if I went to film school or not. In people to work on your projects. And, who fact, they are usually surprised (which I don’t knows, you may make some connections that know is a good thing or a bad thing) when I will help your future films. However, if you tell them I have a B.A. from the University of have the intention of becoming a Hollywood Michigan. Everything I learned, I learned director once you graduate, you’ll probably be practically, hands-on, on-the-job, from audio disappointed. Most likely, you will be going to lighting to shooting to editing. While in for the same “production assistant” job as school I worked as staff at a local community- someone who has never set foot in a film sem- access television station and made my own inar. Making and directing a movie that gets movies, independent of classes. Would I have distributed and “out there” to an audience made my short films if I wasn’t attending makes you a director. film/studies classes? Yes. However, seeing films I’ve met hundreds of independent film- in film school that I’d never normally see — makers and half of them have gone to school, from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg to Barry Lyn- while the other half learned it on their own. don to Out of the Past, gave me an aesthetic Is there a difference in the quality of their sense. Learning why and when to use certain films? No — there’s an equal amount of good angles, framing and lighting was also useful in and bad movies. Will going to film school or conveying feeling and situation. Basically, film not going to film school determine if you school teaches you the art of making a movie. make a movie? It depends. Ultimately, going The one advantage of going to school is that to school is a personal decision of the individ- you’ll meet other people interested in the same ual filmmaker. The Filmmakers were asked: Do you recommend going to film school or learning in the field? What do you think are the advantages/disadvantages of each? Glenn Andreiev: If possible, do both. Working on a film set is also a great learning First, you’ll meet fellow film students who will experience. While I attended the School of Vi- become future collaborators. If the film in- sual Arts, I worked on the cult movie Street structor is good, you’ll learn a lot of great stuff Trash, as the transportation captain, and I that will prep you for the real world. Unfor- learned so much about keeping a low-budget tunately, I had some film teachers that focused shoot afloat, on schedule, and on budget. I on their own unrealistic, filmmaking agendas. was lucky to work on Street Trash, which was 22  Film School 23 made by ingenious professionals. I could have sive, when it came time to start shooting my wound up working on a film made by people first feature, The Bloody Ape, I had to shoot it who have no concept of making a film. on film, even if it was Super 8mm. I just John Borowski: Even though I graduated couldn’t stand the look of video-shot product. from film school, I don’t think it is necessary In terms of what is the best way for someone to go to film school. The tools to make films to proceed into filmmaking, either college or are affordable and so much can be learned on- field work, I say that’s determined by the per- line and by watching the “making of ” extra son’s comfort level. If you try to get ground- features on DVDs. I would recommend buy- level film work, and of course you won’t be in ing a camera and editing software and learning the union, you had better believe you’ll be on your own. Watch great films and analyze working for free, whether it’s big or low bud- how they are made. Much can be learned at get, and you had better believe that will con- film school if you are taught by experts in their tinue for a while until you land your first pay- field because they have real-world experience, ing gig. And more than likely you’ll be getting which is invaluable. In college, I created my people coffee, not setting up shots. College, own curriculum based on my desire to be a on the other hand, is not the real world, so yes, well-rounded producer/director. I took light- you can pass directly to a director’s position ing, screenwriting, sound, editing, camera, in college, but once you get out of college, un- and even acting classes. Learning how to wrap less you’re doing your own films, you are not audio cables is essential! going to be handed a director’s chair. Keith Crocker: I’m a film school grad- Richard Cunningham: I’m inclined to uate, but, personally, I’d have rather received think film school is something that’s for some my education in the field, or at least continue people and not for others. I suspect it’s great to self educate. I don’t resent my college edu- for getting a formal and well-rounded educa- cation — I honestly think that everyone needs tion on the process of filmmaking, and for de- some sort of structuring once they leave high veloping networking skills, and finding pro- school; college or the military is most certainly duction groups to form. the way to go, as you get life experience out But I never went to college for film. I did of both. However, filmmaking is a field that go for writing, and the competition was so in- offers no promises. In most cases you have to credible that I was quickly, however halfheart- go out and make it work for yourself. I hon- edly, becoming a classical studies major. So I estly believe I could have done this without left and started production of my first major college. On the other hand, tuition at the time self-produced film. was far cheaper than renting film equipment Aside from meeting a talented group of from a rental house (we are talking the mid– friends and writers with whom to collaborate, 1980s). We were shooting on film then, so the the college experience didn’t work for me. And instruction was important if you didn’t want now, seeing the debt some of my colleagues to keep screwing up your product. Plus, all face from their earned degrees and the obsta- the equipment and crew people were there for cles they continue to face securing work in the asking. I left college with a decent 16mm their respective fields, I can’t say I regret going film résumé, but in the real world that meant my own route. I feel like degrees have lost con- shit. Furthermore, by the time I got out of col- siderable value in the workforce, while the lege technology was changing, most folks shot costs of higher education continue to climb. video (which I deplored), analog video editing The recent Occupy Wall Street movement in was all the rage, all the stuff I learned about the news, with people getting hosed and tear- 16mm was starting to go the way of the di- gassed in protest, attests to the hopelessness a nosaur. And although I knew film was expen- lot of educated young people are experiencing 24 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES in the face of unemployment. They feel like the story to the audience; but also, the better they bought into a system that didn’t pay them your workflow runs, and, ultimately, the more back, and I think that was my impression of confident you become in taking on new chal- it as well. lenges offered in film. Learning in the professional field is the best Maurice Devereaux: I went to film school way to go about it; if you’re fortunate enough in a college in Montreal, but it wasn’t a very to live by the industry and/or a location that advanced course and I was quickly bored and attracts film/TV productions. If you can work then decided not to go to university, and just on a professional movie or television set, you pursue making films on my own. But I still will observe how a production operates, and met so many friends in film school who were that certainly gives you a good idea of how a important to my career, that, looking back, I movie is properly broken down and stream- do believe it was well worth it to go to school lined. You might also see how the big movies to “meet” fellow cinema nuts. Also one of my are at the mercy of some of the same forces as cinema professors, Pierre Pageau, was very nice the micro-budget productions. Learning in to me — he helped me out for years after I was the field, like starting out as a production as- no longer a student, giving me access to equip- sistant, you instill yourself into a system, where ment, et cetera. The drawback to going to film in order to advance your position you have to school, I guess, would be the cost (especially put in a lot of hours. This not only quickly to a high-end school in the U.S.) as you could familiarizes you with the filmmaking machine, make a feature for the cost of tuition. So it’s it introduces you to the grueling hours put pretty much 50/50. So if you’re already sur- into lighting and camera setups, rehearsals, rounded by filmmakers, actors etc, then school and the dozens of other elements at work dur- might not be necessary. If you’re alone with ing a day’s shoot. An average shift on a pro- your passion, in the middle of butt-fuck fessional set is 12 hours; and for a PA, it’s a lot nowhere town, definitely go to film school. of running around for people, with little re- Donald Farmer: I suppose I went to my cognition for your efforts. It definitely seems own version of film school. All those movie like a make-it-or-break-it kind of job, but if sets I visited on assignment for Fangoria, Fan- you can become part of the crew, you will be tastic Films and other magazines gave me a making connections that will secure you work chance to watch George Romero, John Car- on further productions, and you are creating penter, Sam Raimi and other favorite directors an incredible educational and networking op- up close. Plus I was doing interviews with portunity for yourself. lower-budget filmmakers, like Herschell Gor- Beyond that, I recommend immediately don Lewis, Joel Reed and Fred Olen Ray for immersing yourself in the craft of filmmaking: my Splatter Times fanzine, so before long I was buy some good books on it, watch YouTube itching to try features on my own. tutorials, get yourself an HD camera with an Actually, the first film set I ever visited was external-mix jack, start filming your family a country-music movie called W.W. and the and friends and pets in order to practice fram- Dixie Dance Kings, directed by John Avildsen. ing and lighting shots, or for editing and He’d just done Joe with Peter Boyle and Save soundtrack material; or try shooting no-bud- the Tiger with Jack Lemmon—two films I was get trailers or shorts to develop and understand a huge fan of. I found out where he’d be film- the craft more intimately. ing in downtown Nashville and showed up to Whatever approach you take, it all comes see what making a major motion picture looks down to practice. Naturally, the more hours like. Burt Reynolds was the star, so lots of teen- you put into fine-tuning your skills as a film- age girls were clustered around his trailer — maker, the more precise you become in telling screaming every time he poked his head out.  Film School 25 This was during the height of his ’70s popu- sistant director yelled “Action,” and “Cut.” I larity — he’d just made Deliverance and was didn’t hear Carpenter’s voice the entire time I churning out two or three movies a year. I saw was there!! very little actually being filmed during my visit I’d just wrapped Demon Queen when I had but spent the day hanging out with the movie’s the change to cover the filming of Sam Raimi’s very affable stunt coordinator ... a guy named Evil Dead 2 in North Carolina. And —fin- Hal. Only a few years later when Smokey and ally — here was a director that I could really the Bandit came out did I make the connection learn from. Raimi had just as big a crew as that the director of that film, Hal Needham, Carpenter and Romero, but this was a guy was the same Hal who’d been telling me stories who believed in the micro-management ap- all day about working with John Wayne, Jack proach to filmmaking. There was absolutely Nicholson and Raquel Welch. no job or no crewmember too minor for By the time I got the gig to cover the Raimi’s full attention I watched him take time making of Day of the Dead, I was ready to see out for mundane chores like interviewing a what I could learn from watching George Ro- potential assistant gaffer, overseeing the day- mero at work firsthand. Unfortunately, the to-day progress of his production, and make- only thing I saw Romero direct were some up staffs (inspecting every last prosthetic ap- zombie crowd shots where he just said things pliance and animation model) and spending like “growl” and “move your arms!” I was one hours on even the filming of background of those zombies ... the producer had enlisted plates — a chore most major studio movies all visiting reporters to play bit parts in the would delegate to a second-unit crew. movie. But with multiple cameras shooting Raimi clearly had the entire movie in his endless coverage, I could pick up very little head, right down to every edit and zoom-lens about Romero’s approach to filmmaking. He shot. When he described a scene to me he had a huge crew and it looked like everything would be shooting later that week, I realized, was being delegated. All the assistants had as- “Here’s a guy who knows his movie COLD ... sistants ... the production seemed to have lim- before he shoots it.” Raimi would probably itless resources. Not exactly the situation I’d agree with a line I read once from Brian De find myself in with Demon Queen two years Palma. The director of Carrie and Scarface said later, with a measly five-man crew. At least I flatly, “I think coverage is a dirty word.” had the good fortune to nab one of Tom Sa- Hanging out with Raimi, all the flaws of vini’s make-up crew for my debut feature — Demon Queen seems so magnified now I could an insanely talented guy named Rick Gon- barely stand to watch it. Sure he had a little zales. Anything worthwhile about Demon more money than me ... about ten million ver- Queen is because of him! sus my three grand. But there were lessons to That same year I was on location with John be learned here, and I now I was determined Carpenter’s Starman for another magazine re- to make my next movie something I could be port. I was still buzzing from seeing Car- just a little bit more proud of. penter’s The Thing and figured the man could Jeff Forsyth: There are both tremendous do no wrong. When it came time to start film- advantages and disadvantages to attending and ing, Carpenter at least looked through the not attending film school. I was not able to camera viewfinder a little more than Romero. attend film school, although I would have Still, he had the maddening habit of whisper- liked to. The chief advantage that I see in at- ing directions to his stars ( Jeff Bridges and tending would be being surrounded with like- Karen Allen). He’d pull them over in a corner minded individuals. People that actually un- before each scene so no one else could hear a derstand you and what drives you can be a thing. Then when he went for a shot, his as- great advantage as a support system. Not only 26 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Jeff Forsyth films actors Lexie Davies and Frank Tropepi in a scene for C.A.I.N. The motorcyle is on a rented trailer, and the camera is in the back of a pickup truck, allowing for a stable shot. as technical and artistic help, but as emotional on, like cinematography, sound design or ed- support as well. The obvious disadvantage is iting. the cost. A filmmaker could make several low- William Hopkins: I’m probably not the budget films for what it costs for tuition. You’ll best person to ask, because I’m pretty much gain far more “hands on” experience just div - self-taught. Whether it was screenwriting or ing in and creating. Film school can’t teach special effects or photography or editing, I you to be an artist. Either you are you aren’t. pretty much figured it out myself without for- Richard W. Haines: In my case, attend- mal training. I saw a lot of films and read a lot ing NYU’s film school was helpful. I learned about the ones I liked, but I certainly never how to work in 16mm film, which included learned anything about filmmaking from sit- editing, negative matching and sound mixing. ting in a classroom. The end results may not Since my first feature was shot in that format, always be the best, but, for better or worse, then blown up to 35mm, I was able to save on it’s all my work, all done in my style and using costs. Of course, today the emphasis is on dig- the techniques I developed through trial and ital movie-making in colleges, so that aspect error. I did go to film school back in the early would not be applicable. I also studied with ’80s but I didn’t have a very good experience, historians William K. Everson and Leonard and I didn’t graduate. Maybe others would’ve Maltin, which inspired me to get into that gotten more out of it. Maybe film schools have field as a supplement to my directing career. gotten better since my day. I hope so. But, for However, if a person was interested in the me, it seemed a waste of time and money. On technical areas of the industry I don’t think the very first day we heard things from our in- film school would be necessary. Their best bet structors like, “None of you are going to have would be to get a job as a production assistant careers in the film industry because there just on an independent production, then work isn’t enough work,” and “You’ll only get out their way up to some area they wanted to focus of this school what you put into it.” I couldn’t  Film School 27 disagree with either statement, but it was a lit- classes in film history and theory were worth- tle discouraging to hear these things from the while, but the rest seemed a waste. It’s pos- people we were paying to train us in the busi- sible, too, that I was just not in the right place, ness — and to hear such honesty only after mentally and emotionally, to be able to really making our first tuition payments. But film benefit from my time there. I wasn’t mature schools are businesses. There are plenty of rich enough to be able to see the value in the ex- folks who are willing to indulge their children perience. In the years since, the school I at- by paying for them to be trained in things they tended turned out a few successful filmmakers, have very little chance of ever making a career so maybe there was something going on there of. And there are plenty of schools that are I just didn’t appreciate. Or maybe they’ve got- only too happy to take the money. ten better since I left. Many of the instructors at the place I went But I don’t think anyone should feel they seemed to be rather unhappy people who have to go to film school to be a filmmaker. If hadn’t had much luck in the film business you don’t have the money to be able to go that themselves, and so they ended up teaching. route, put what little money you have into get- There were exceptions, though. I took a class ting a camera and an editing system and get in film history given by William K. Everson started making your own films. The most val- and that was certainly worthwhile. Being in- uable education you can get comes from just troduced, by someone as knowledgeable as making movies. Everson, to great films I probably wouldn’t Steve Hudgins: Learning in any aspect is have known about otherwise was practically a positive. But there is absolutely nothing that worth the cost of the tuition in itself. So the can replace actual hands-on experience. I re- Preparing to shoot a scene for of The Creepy Doll. Pictured (left to right) are Kristine Renee Farley; Justin Veazey; Mark Cotton (boom operator); Steve Hudgins (cameraman); and PJ Woodside (hold- ing monitor). 28 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES cently saw a Q & A with William Friedkin, ible. Writing and directing a $150,000 dollar who directed The Exorcist, The French Connec- movie in 1989 at the age of 20 and I wasn’t tion and a ton of other movies, and his advice going to learn anything?!! Well, after shooting, to film students was to drop out and start I did go back for one more semester and told making movies. He said anything you need to him that I think I learned some stuff. He told learn about film making you can learn by me to write down what I learned and maybe watching Alfred Hitchcock movies. I could get some credit for the film. I wrote a Rolfe Kanefsky: You can’t beat learning 144-page book called Making Nothing at the in the field. Film school is good for learning Age of 20. The book is online at www.theres the basics and possibly very good for meeting nothingoutthere.com and is written for other people, networking, and making connections aspiring filmmakers, relating my experiences. that can be very important career-wise. I was After that, I left college to pursue my career totally obsessed with making movies by the full-time. time I was ready for college. I had already So, like I said, it’s good to learn the equip- made two feature-length films. My parents ment and meet other like-minded filmmakers wanted me to go to a good college that had a but take everything you learn in school with film department. I wanted to go to a film de- a grain of salt. Being on a real movie set, you’ll partment that had a college. We settled on learn a lot more about how the business really Hampshire College. They had a film program works, for better and worse. that wasn’t very good, but everyone loved the Brett Kelly: I think the main advantage of idea of making movies so they had a lottery film school is the networking opportunities to determine who would get into the class. I that it provides. Making movies is a collabo- lost twice and then finally just forced my way rative art, and that’s a great place to meet peo- in, supplying my own Super 8 camera (that’s ple to collaborate with. I personally didn’t go what was being used back then). I did all the to film school, but I did take television broad- assignments and made some fun shorts. One casting at college for a short time, until my short, Just Listen, plays in the beginning of student loan ran dry. It taught me a lot in the There’s Nothing Out There, and I put the whole short time I was there. I think it’s important 12-minute film on the new release of There’s for aspiring filmmakers to know the “lan- Nothing Out There that Troma put out in 2011. guage” of film and to learn the techniques that Anyway, I remember showing these “hor- a film school will (I assume) teach you. ror” shorts in class and getting bad responses Whether or not you can do that from school, from the teachers. They hated anything Hol- from being an intern on a film set or what have lywood, and especially horror. However, that you, it’s important to learn the rules before summer I worked on a slasher film, Posed for you can properly call yourself a filmmaker. In Murder, as a production assistant and made my opinion anyway. friends with the director and producers. I Chris LaMartina: Prior to my under- showed them my short and they were very im- graduate film school experience, I attended a portant. The director even, some say, ripped magnet high school with video production off a shot I did for his movie. So, I quickly courses. Both high school video class and film learned there is a big difference between the school were invaluable experiences to my de- academic world and real world of the film velopment as a storyteller. business. When I took a semester off to make They allowed me to explore my craft, dis- There’s Nothing Out There, my college advisor cuss tactics through student critique, and pro- read my script and said that I wasn’t going to vided crucial networking opportunities that I learn anything from making this horror still rely on to this day. movie. I still find that comment to be incred- Could I have learned visual storytelling  Film School 29 outside of school? Absolutely, but film school learned a lot about coverage through years of is what you make it. I learned both inside and editing as a day job. outside of the classroom, never letting the Damon Packard: Well, I went to film education process evaporate at edge of cam- school briefly in 1988, mainly to borrow equip- pus. ment and meet people, but I’d already been I will say this, however: if you’re serious making films for six or seven years. I think the about filmmaking a career, consider minoring, best way is just to start doing it on your own. or perhaps even majoring, in business. Too But, of course, these days, with easy-to-use many filmmakers forget that this is show busi- extremely hi-quality (and cheap) camera and ness. We all want to be artists, but paying your editing equipment available at everyone’s fin- rent is good, too. A business degree allows for gertips, film school is just a self-contained so- a nice counterbalance to your strong aesthetic cial environment for a collective group of kids voice. to make and exhibit their films. In the film- Jim Mickle: There’s no right way to get making age things were a bit different as you into the film business. I went to NYU under- had to learn how to use Super 8mm, 16mm grad for film production and I enjoyed the hell and 35mm film cameras, flatbed editors, full- out of it, but I also spent a lot of time working coat dubbing, syncing dailies, et cetera. It was on films as a grip, a storyboard artist, and an infinitely more complex and prohibitively ex- editor. Ultimately I think I absorbed a lot pensive. from both, and I can attribute a good amount Brad Paulson: Education is a wonderful of success to both, but I think it’s totally up thing, and I would never discourage anyone to the individual. Film school was great for against it. You can never do yourself wrong by meeting like-minded people and learning the- getting out there and learning more. My par- ory, but mostly for having a structured envi- ents are educators and they’ve done a lot of ronment for creating short films with limita- good for this world. I have a lot of respect for tions, and growing from that. But now, with all they’ve accomplished and the wonderful in- the costs of film schools rising, and the avail- fluence they’ve had. However, there are differ- ability of impressive cameras and technology ent ways to learn. Basically, for me, it’s a exploding, I think the most important thing money-and-time thing. If you’ve only got six to do is go out and create as much as you can months to live and making a movie is the last and learn from mistakes and find out what thing on your bucket list before you die, I you’re good at and what you enjoy the most wouldn’t waste it going to film school. I’d skip about the process. Start interning and produc- right to making the movie. If money isn’t an tion assisting on films as soon as possible be- issue, I’d recommend it. If it is, you’re better cause that’s where the most hands-on experi- off using that money to make a movie. There ence comes from. At first you probably won’t are a few other factors that come into play as get paid, but if you have a good attitude and well. It all depends on what school you’re going show an eagerness to learn, good jobs and op- to. If you’re going to a small school in the boon- portunities will come. I was always amazed docks, where you’re not going to get any guest that most directors on movie sets are the least- speakers, then I’d definitely save your money. experienced people on the sets. Having real If you’re going to some place like UCLA where experience in pre-production, production, and they have tons of great guest speakers who are post makes it a lot smoother when you’re actually making a living making movies and shooting and working with crews. Editing is it’s in a place where film is all around you and the single best place to learn about storytelling you have the money, I’d say go. Don’t put your- because you’re forced to create a narrative out self in debt to do it. But if you have the money, of whatever material has been delivered. I’ve go. You don’t want to spend the rest of your 30 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES life paying off loans in something that you The school part involved mostly teachers have a minuscule chance of making a living reading from books and telling everyone their at. I know that sounds brutal to say, but it’s the projects sucked. And then they showed us truth. There are millions of people who move their movies, which proved why they weren’t to L.A. to be either a writer, director or actor. making them professionally. Not to say they Unfortunately, it’s an industry that keeps it’s were all bad, by any means. There were some guardians very close to the door. If I had to passionate, non-biased teachers there who I do it over again, I wouldn’t go to film school. respected and had a great time in their classes I’d go to school for something I knew I’d be and learned from. I wish we had more like able to make money in. Then, I’d make movies them. Unfortunately, several were not very on the side. The longer you’re in L.A., the nice to us. Film professors, to me, are like more you’ll see that what most people are mak- cops. There are good cops are there are bad ing their money on out here is screen-writing cops. There are cops who truly care about seminars and “how to” film classes. This is pri- helping people and doing the right thing. marily for two reasons—number one, because Then, there are the corrupt sons of bitches and there’s a sucker born every minute, and num- the bullies: people who are jaded about life ber two, because these people aren’t making and are on a constant power trip. Some of my enough doing what their classes are charging professors fell into that category. There was a you hundreds to thousands of dollars to learn lot of bitterness going around that school. I how to do. Having said that, I still go to some don’t believe there’s any excuse for this. I’ve of these classes, provided they’re cheap enough. had plenty of things not go my way and I don’t You can always learn something from a semi- take it out on other people. They were sup- nar. You just have to be cautious about which posed to be there to inspire us but spent most ones you pick and how much money you of their time telling us we were going to fail. spend. There are a lot of predators out there I think they saw us as competition in a strange and your money is what they’re hunting. Be kind of way. careful who you give it to. Teaching you how My main beef about film school was that to make movies is guaranteed money for them. there was a lack of nurturing on the teacher’s The only guarantee with making movies on part for the students’ individual visions. The your own is that it will be a high-risk venture. department seemed to have an agenda about The best thing about film school, to me, the type of films they wanted to see represent- was not the school part. Many of the friends ing the school, and if you didn’t make those I met there I’m still close to, to this day: the kind of movies the teachers would be the op- fellow weird kids that taught an even weirder posite of supportive. There were clearly a lot kid all about cult movies. I had never heard of politics involved. To me, this didn’t make of Dario Argento before I went to film school. sense because it wasn’t high school. Everyone I had never heard of Lucio Fulci. A fellow film was paying to be there, and that was paying nerd showed me The Beyond and would de- the teachers’ salaries. They should have been scribe the movies in his collection as art that happy to help the students make the kind of changed his life forever. The fellow film nerds movies they wanted to make. Unfortunately, I quickly befriended had an infectious enthu- it wasn’t that way at all. Also, there was no ef- siasm that I quickly absorbed and, in turn, fort to teach us anything about the business they absorbed the movies I was passionate side of things, even making budgets. When about. We made a great team and had a blast we graduated they provided zero help in find- working on each other’s projects as we avoided ing us jobs. I’m still struggling to make even our responsibilities in the real world while we the simplest ends meet. were in the bubble that is college. I remember I went back to visit one teacher  Film School 31 I interned for who was a complete ass when I God, if you have the money for film school, walked into his office. I told him I was making go. You can go to college ... and master in film? movies and all he did was tell me how the stu- I can’t take it serious. It may be an amazing dents who graduate never give enough money racket, and I’m all for it. It is certainly legiti- to the alumni department. I tell you this right mate for networking and being with like- now. If I ever do have any money, he’s the last minded folks. I would certainly recommend guy I’ll give it to. The least you can do in this any courses that would improve one’s writing life is not be an asshole 24 hours out of the ability. That’s valid. It’s a shame the school day. If you can’t follow that simple rule, you game is life-backwards — when you are older, don’t deserve any money. Film school can be that’s when you appreciate the importance of a great place, but, not unlike the government, education. Imagine spending a few years where there are too many politics at play. There all that’s expected of you is to learn? Sounds needs to be some changes made to put the stu- like a fine deal to me. dents first and make it worth the money to at- Eric Shapiro: Learning in the field is tend. probably better. I started off at Emerson Col- Jose Prendes: Film school is not neces- lege as a film major, but hated it and switched sary. You will learn so much more doing it on to writing, literature, and publishing. The your own. I learned a hell of a lot more work- technology made me crazy; I realized I was far ing on my first feature, The Monster Man, than more interested in the script and performances I did in the previous two years of film school. (which is still true), and had no patience to There are some things that film school cannot learn about loading film into a camera. So, for teach. However, I think some people do well me, there was a disconnect at school between in a school environment. Others, like me, hate what they were teaching and what excited me school. I found my film school lacking, so I about the medium. The advantage of the field learned what I wanted to learn and moved on. is that you get the business side drilled into One of the biggest advantages of film school you and you learn from doing. School really is that they teach you the lingo. This is im- doesn’t have an advantage over the field; there’s portant if you want to work on professional no substitute for experience. Certainly not sets, because you get to learn what a C-47 is, theory! or how a call sheet works, or what exactly an Anthony Straeger: Okay, lets start with Abby Singer shot is. However, if you pick up the advantages and disadvantages before I a book or work on a few sets as a PA, you will make a recommendation: What are the advan- learn the exact same thing! tages of going to a film school? Simply, you If you have the money and your parents are in a like-minded environment, you have want you to go to college (which was my sit- the facilities at your disposal, from cameras to uation) then do film school, but you DO lights to sound. You have instant crew. You NOT NEED A MASTER’S DEGREE! I got have a great opportunity to experiment and an associates degree just to get my folks off my discover yourself within the safety of the back, because I wanted to jump into movie school. In short, you have everything that you making. I was hungry and I felt school was could need to hand with the bonus of mentors holding me back. You only need a master’s de- and people that have sound technical knowl- gree if you want to teach, and if that is the edge of filmmaking. case, then go for it. If not, stay away from film The disadvantages of going to film school, school, save your money and make your first first and foremost, is cost. It’s an expensive movie! You will be so happy you did. business. I know that the main two in Lon- Paul Scrabo: I’m from a generation where don, the London International Film School the idea of a “film school” was amazing. My runs a two-year, all-around course, and the 32 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES National Film School runs a three-year specific can only learn so much from reading a book, course. Both run at several thousands of no matter who wrote it. Get out there and play pounds per year. Which is okay if you: and have fun ... and in the process, you’ll gain experience and confidence in what you enjoy 1. Can get a grant doing. 2. Get sponsored Mike Watt: I’m a big supporter of film 3. Come from wealthy parents school for the fundamentals, particularly if you I was trying and succeeded in getting into get to work with “archaic” equipment. At London International Film School, but Pittsburgh Filmmakers, so much of our equip- couldn’t raise the finances or get enough sup- ment had been bought from or donated by tel- port to make it viable. If you can go, then se- evision studios and pro- and semi-pro pho- lect a good school that is well recommended. tographers. Much of it was in rough shape. You need to learn the basics of everything — But it was pointed out to me by my longtime sound, lights, camera and then management. friend and filmmaker, Justin Wingenfeld (Skin The advantages of not going to film Crawl ), that filmmakers taught us how to school... Well, they say that sometimes it’s bet- “make movies under the worst possible con- ter to learn on your feet and in the midst of ditions.” Nothing ever worked the way it was the action. And this can be very true — espe- supposed to, so we learned early on how to cially these days when so many people are improvise, MacGyuer a camera so that it making shorts and movies. It’s relatively easy worked for at least one shot, wrap a micro- getting involved in any number of productions phone cable to override the neighbor’s televi- where you can learn at first-hand other peo- sion signal, et cetera. I think this end of film ple’s mistakes and skills. If you have the right school is priceless. attitude, this can be a less expensive route, The mechanics of filmmaking, when it though with low/no budget productions you comes to the physical equipment or the visual won’t get paid in cash, only experience. The language of filmmaking over the last century, disadvantages are almost part of its advantages. is essential knowledge. You simply cannot You can get to work with some real idiots and move ahead as an artist without some knowl- end up wasting a great deal of time, but that’s edge of what came before you. Maybe you can the way it is. instinctually know that something is wrong if There are many great books out there on you broke the 180-degree rule. But if you lighting, camerawork, producing and direct- know what the rule is in the first place, it goes ing an independent movie. With the right a long way towards avoiding rookie mistakes kind of research and with the good sense to so you can concentrate on glorious new fuck- start small, you can grow as a producer/direc- ups, which sometimes yield great rewards as tor/writer and learn from your own mistakes. well as heartbreak. As to whether I recommend that you should But none of the mechanics or history will go to film school, the answer is — YES — If help you as an artist if you don’t love the me- you can, you should. dium. That’s obviously something that can’t Marc Trottier: I’ve never been to film be taught. So many filmmakers I know make school (as I’ve mentioned, I started late), but movies because they “like to,” and refuse to I’m sure I would’ve loved it. I also think that watch anything that was made before the year learning in the field is invaluable, regardless they were born. No black and white movies, of what you’ve learned in school. You need to nothing foreign — hell, nothing that isn’t hor- make mistakes and try new things to find out ror, in many instances. And that’s why we’re what you like and what works for you (and continually plagued with “masked killer slash- hopefully you’ll get to do that in school). You ing up pot-smoking asshole kids” movies, sans  Film School 33 anything of depth. “You’ve never seen kills like borrow the cliché— to wear many hats and these,” one kid told me. Then looked blankly sometimes all of them. This is where you at me when I asked, again, “What is it about? evolve as an artist: learning what you are not What makes this movie special? Why is this good at. Something came up and your DP story one you have to tell?” didn’t show up? You’ll have to light yourself, If all you want to do is entertain yourself and if you don’t like the results, even if you and your friends, then there’s nothing wrong understand all the concepts, your choices are with “liking” movies or “liking to make” mov- to live with it or reshoot. On the other hand, ies. But history is so much richer than just it turns out you have a talent for capturing re- what you think your preferences are. One ar- ally good sound. This period of self-discovery gument I get into a lot involves the Italian doesn’t end if you continue to work independ- “spaghetti westerns.” I have a real tough time ently, and that’s a good thing. Even when when someone insists that Sergio Leone made you’re working with a tight crew whose habits the best westerns in history, offhandedly dis- you know as well as your own, it’s still good missing all of Leone’s influences — John Ford, to know if you’ve evolved into a better DP or Howard Hawks, Anthony Mann — the guys what have you. At least you understand what who understood what westerns were and what you’re doing, even if you’re not the best at they meant to our culture, particularly as doing it. Americans. It’s the difference between experi- Ritch Yarber: The chance to attend film ence and vocabulary. You simply cannot dis- school is a phenomenal opportunity to learn, card what came before you because you won’t understand and use the tools that are part of know how to build upon history of which the craft of filmmaking. It is certainly an ad- you’re ignorant. How would one grow as an vantage to anyone that wants to pursue this artist and a filmmaker without knowing about art in a serious manner. However, I do not feel the past? It’s like trying to kill a fly with a shot- that film school in itself will make you become gun. In the dark. You can imitate, you can a better filmmaker. It will just make you better morph elements into something of your own, informed. The passion to tell stories and affect but without that history, that’s all you have: audiences lies in the soul and mind of the imitation. artist. It will certainly be a harder road to That being said, personal education grows travel, but the committed filmmaker will ul- exponentially with experience. Until you’re on timately seek, find and execute the ways and a set of any size, all the theory and mechanics means to deliver their vision with or without in the world won’t help you create a movie. the benefit of attending film school. Either True creativity comes, in my opinion, not way, their works will grow from raw, rough from wealth and controlled environments, but early projects and slowly blossom into more from limitations and ridiculously unforeseen polished and defined productions. I feel that obstacles. After the writing is done, everything film school is designed to produce filmmakers else involved in making a movie is physical that may have all of the technical tools to suc- and so much of that physicality is working ceed. But that does not guarantee that a person around whatever problem has been coughed will be a good filmmaker. Those without the up by the universe. How do you keep that old advantage of this knowledge are forced to camera working until the end of the day? think out of the box and are bringing new and What are you going to do for lights if there’s innovative changes to the art everyday. The no electricity? Why didn’t the location scout future of filmmaking is getting exciting again mention that the set was infested with roaches? as these new ways are slowly being embraced This effect didn’t work, what do we do? and welcomed. With this being said, I still Working independently forces you — to wish that I had gone to film school when I had 34 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES the chance. I tell kids today to “live their pas- it’s important to learn in the field. The first sion!” Better to try and fail than attempt to thing, though, is not essential, while the sec- climb back into the game after life has taken ond one is. You cannot learn to make movies you on its path. Follow your heart, as the mind without having experience on set. Making can be easily influenced. movies is something you learn, first of all, by Ivan Zuccon: Schools are important, and watching others do it.  The Script If someone asked me what I thought I was be a sex scene every ten minutes. Basically, I best at, in terms of filmmaking, I would say came up with the situation and dialogue and it was writing the scripts. I spent far more time then, when the sex scene happened, I simply writing the screenplays than I spent on shoot- wrote “They have sex,” as I had no idea what ing the actual productions. And, because of he was going to have them do. It didn’t affect the limited budget, I knew what was possible the story or the dialogue. On another vampire to do and what wasn’t. I kept in mind loca- movie, the outline was very much like Twi- tions I had access to, special effects I knew I light, so I took that and made it into a spoof, could pull off (for the most part), and used ac- mirroring some scenes and being very sar- tors that fit the characters. The majority of the castic. I even went further and added an en- script was the idea and the dialogue. It didn’t tirely new aspect to it, to separate it from those matter if I had to change a location, such as movies — and other vampires — but the film- an apartment — and oftentimes, I didn’t even maker didn’t quite have the budget to pull it see the on-location apartment until I showed off— so over 20 pages, and the best parts of up for the shoot. That didn’t matter nearly so the script, were excised. With another horror much as what the characters said and did. The script, about a Golem-like monster, the pro- story was all important. ducer was hung up on certain things, such as I’ve come across a great many of wannabe having the main female character dressed as a scriptwriters who are obsessed with script writ- slutty school girl in one scene (for no reason ing software, and it was always my impression other than to make him happy, since that ob- that they thought the computer program was viously turned him on). Then, on another going to write the screenplay for them. Well, script, which had a lackluster idea of someone you don’t need a program. Just learn the cor- being possessed by a ghost, I greatly improved rect format to use. Look up examples of Hol- the original idea, giving motives and reasons lywood scripts on the internet — there are for all the characters’ actions. I ended up lov - scores of them freely available to download. If ing this story, even though the core idea was you’re writing the script with the intention of lame. Yet, when I showed this to the “pro- trying to get an agent for it, it should be as ducer,” he wanted me to undo it all and keep professional as possible and adhere to all the to their original outline, which read “He’s a rules. However, if it’s just for your eyes only— ghost. Ghosts can possess people if they want.” and for your actors — you need not be so con- I received payment for the script, but it was cerned about this. one of the most unsatisfying writing jobs of I have written scripts for other filmmakers, my life. based out their outlines or ideas. However, I have also co-written numerous unpro- there were always strange requests with these. duced screenplays with other independent One of them was an erotic vampire movie and filmmakers, and those were written for much the director was specific that there needed to larger budgets, intended for production com- 35 36 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES panies that would potentially buy them. I sion. It could not be improved — it was that think these are perhaps my favorite scripts. perfect. The collaboration worked so well that, reading The most important thing, once you are them now, I cannot remember who wrote what happy with your shooting script, is to make or came up with certain ideas or twists and sure you stick with it during the production. turns to the story. They are that consistent in For example, with my very first movie, Vam- style. I think that type of co-writing is a rarity. pires & Other Stereotypes, the finished product With my documentaries there’s no script represents only about 60 percent of how I whatsoever to follow. But I do have a list of wanted it to turn out. This stemmed primarily questions that I want answered—and the pur- from being my very first feature, having far pose of the documentary is to creatively put too many actors and crew (30 people working these “answers/responses” together. For me, it at the same time!) to coordinate, and an Italian was the polar opposite way of working on a DP who never read the script and had his own narrative scripted feature. The majority of the ideas about the movie. On my next feature, creativeness comes in the editing, of how it’s Addicted to Murder, I made sure to shoot it as all put together. I’ve heard of filmmakers who well, and that turned out 95 percent of how I have only used a story outline and let their ac- envisioned, primarily because I had control tors improvise all the dialogue. Sometimes that over everything. My only crew was a sound can work and it gives a specific feel to the man and he never needlessly questioned the movie. nonlinear story. On a few occasions I have also directed The one thing to which a low- or no- scripts written by other people. This was a seg- budget production will always lend itself is the ment of a werewolf anthology, written by an uniqueness of the script, especially if this is enthusiastic novice (at the time) and a feature something that you’re going to do yourself. drama, Walking Between the Raindrops: Revi- After all, this isn’t filmmaking by group deci- sisted. In the case of the drama, it was actually sion, and you’re not trying to be politically a remake of a film that was shot/produced by correct and appeal to the widest possible au- the writer a few years before. He trusted me dience. This is the reason why the majority of enough to make his script into a new movie. my features were based on my own scripts — The script was unchanged from the first ver- there was no creative interference. The Filmmakers were asked: How important is your script? Does your budget determine your ideas or vice-versa? Glenn Andreiev: The script is the blue- John Borowski: Use the script as a guide- print. Many writers use the “no blueprint–no line. Don’t get caught up in constant revisions building/no script–no movie” analogy, but I’ll and reformatting. It is most important to use it again. What I do is that I write not wor- shoot footage. So many filmmakers get stuck rying about the budget. On your first draft in the writing stage. To me, storyboards are as you should focus on the story, the pacing, the equally important as the script. They help me characters, not “oh, what will this cost?” On visualize the film shots and how they will be the second draft I figure what would be costly edited together. When writing, you must be to shoot, and start making changes. realistic about what type of budget you have  The Script 37 John Borowski (left) reviews a script for H.H. Holmes, as an actor looks on. and what is possible to film on that budget. is a very high expectation to meet on the lower Costs add up quickly when filming. Make sure end of filmmaking. As far as writing for a you do not film night scenes as lighting can budget is concerned, you do your imagination be very expensive. Other items that can raise extreme damage by limiting it. You are better your budget include: guns, make-up, and off letting your imagination soar and simply elaborate stunts/special effects. scale down the method of creating your vision. When writing the script, it helps to have You have to be inventive as a filmmaker, and locations, actors, and, props that you know as original as possible. Following someone you can acquire. This way you are building else’s roadmap will only keep you suppressed. the script around aspects that you know you You’re best off letting your freak flag fly high have access to rather than trying to find them and figuring out how much of it you can later. Moving into the production phase, the create once you get to the actual shooting. worst thing would be to discover that you can- Richard Cunningham: To some extent, not gain access to a location or that you cannot I think you can relate the process of making a afford to have a gun expert on the set. film to that of chiseling a stone sculpture. You Keith Crocker: The screenplay is vital; start out, a smith of sorts, playing with a gen- it’s your roadmap for the making of your film. eral shape, then you work away at that block However, being flexible, and having the ability with your bag of tools, probably hitting little to improvise, especially on the set of a “no” or surprises as you progress, that make slight al- “low” budget film is vital. It’s very important terations here and there to your original vi- to be able to keep shooting and not get hung sion — ultimately contributing individual up about exactly reproducing the shooting character to the end product. The script, I script. I’m all for getting a film done as op- think, works well as the sculptor’s stone. If posed to getting a film done perfectly, as that you’re working off a poor quality chunk of 38 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES rock, one crack can make a statue’s arm fall Maurice Devereaux: Of course everyone off. always says that the script is the most im- I think it’s much easier to produce a qual- portant part of the movie, but most indie and ity movie — no matter what the budget — if studio films neglect this aspect. Most big-bud- it’s backed up by a good story and genuine- get films throw in lots of money to get good sounding dialogue. Having said that, since I’ve actors, great sets, costumes and effects, but directed, I’ve realized that a script also needs most of the time their biggest flaw is the script. some malleability throughout production as It is the hardest part to get right for many rea- well. Unforeseen obstacles or changes are sons. Sometimes there are too many cooks bound to come up that demand script changes who throw their ingredients into the pot (var- for the benefit of the finished piece. ious studio heads, producers, et cetera) with However, I usually don’t let budget stop me suggestions that are not always related to the too much when I’m developing a story. In high “quality” of the story (“we need to sell toys, school, I wrote a script for a medieval period put something we can make a toy out of ” or film, Lycian, which I was determined to de- “this actress is hot, change that role of the sci- velop; and ultimately I left college to begin entist guy, make him a hot woman scientist making it. My production team had an ex- and make the role bigger,” etc...). And many tremely limited budget, especially considering “artsy” films are often more concerned with the scope of the movie, and it sometimes made aesthetics then telling a compelling story. So rewrites and workarounds necessary. For in- problems with the script are usually my num- stance, I remember during a climactic public ber-one beef with most movies I watch. execution scene, there was supposed by a large Of the four films I directed, only the last audience present, but we only had about 20 two had a complete script before the shoot extras that day, so I was forced to rewrite the began. The first two were continuously rewrit- dialogue to suggest that a crowd had not ten, and are terrible. Both started out as shorts shown up in protest of the execution itself. that became features over the span of many But by and large, we stuck to the script, and years. Big mistake. The last two, Slashers and the ambition that rested within it, we matched End of the Line, for all the rocks one can throw by pushing our skills further than we first at them for their weaknesses (acting, sets, ef- thought possible. Similarly, my animated short fects, overall production value), I do feel the film, Year Zero, is an action/drama about a scripts are very solid. survivor stuck in his New York City apartment I’ve also written six other screenplays that during a zombie apocalypse in 2012; it was also are now gathering dust in my closet or hard my directorial debut. drive. These unrealized projects make me sad, Essentially, I think it’s best to write whatever as unlike a film or book, all the hard work we kind of story piques your interest. It’s a big put into writing a screenplay is unrewarded if commitment to even write a script, or rather, the film is never made. A script is not a “fin- to finish writing a script. It will likely feel like ished” medium that can be shared with the a lofty, arduous task at times, so passion cer- world to be loved or hated. I’ve been toying tainly helps to keep you going after that third with the idea of turning two of my screenplays rewrite. But if you take that liberty in your into graphic novels, but even if it would be writing, also realize that, when production be- less expensive than making a movie, it would gins, you may need to consolidate scenes or still cost a lot to get a professional quality even characters, change scripted locations, and artist, colorist, letterer and a print run. The all those other compromises a director makes comic book world has also been hit by illegal once the cameras start rolling and the story download (comics and graphics novels are evolves into a collaborative effort. scanned and put online minutes after their  The Script 39 release dates), so it would probably be hard happens because Mark Zuckerberg wanted to to make my money back in this medium as get into an elite fraternity. well. Jeff Forsyth: The script is crucial to the Unfortunately for me, I was never able to success of any project. Without it and its tailor my imagination to better suit my bud- frame work the project cannot hold together. get. All my films have suffered from being too At best the final result will be uneven. At worst ambitious for my low budgets. Instead of it will be an unwatchable disaster of a movie. doing a Blair Witch Project (three actors in the For me, the budget and ideas go both ways. forest), I did Lady of the Lake, an underwater I certainly have not been successful enough witch in medieval times, with tons of cos- yet to just make anything I want to and “bud- tumed extras, or Slashers, a film taking place get be damned.” I also have had several meet- in Japan, with tons of Japanese extras. Terrible ings where the topic was, “We need to make ideas for low-budgets films. something we can afford.” So I have ideas that Donald Farmer: The budget is always in follow both of these streams. One interesting the back of my mind when I write a script. I thing that happens to me, at times, is that can’t put in things like an earthquake swal- “budget-friendly” ideas I have seem to expand lowing Los Angeles or an army of hundred- and develop into more expensive ideas. And foot zombies. On my budgets, that “ain’t hap- ideas that were more extravagant have, at pening.” And I prefer short “concept titles” times, been downsized to fit restricted budgets. that basically tell you what the movie is about, That was the case with Children of the Sky. It versus “generic titles.” Usually, the titles I come was conceived as a drama with minimal effects up with myself—Demon Queen, Cannibal and it grew into a special-effects science-fiction Hookers, Vampire Cop, Dorm of the Dead —are thriller. almost always “concept” titles that tell you ex- Richard W. Haines: Since I make genre actly what to expect. But sometimes a pro- films with unique lighting designs and com- ducer will insist I use their title, such as the positions, I storyboard every shot in the script case with Deadly Run, Blood and Honor, The and use that as my blueprint. When I write Strike, or Deadly Memories. These tend to be my screenplays I first find out what locations the more generic titles that don’t tell you quite are available in advance of principal photog- as much. raphy. For example, in my last feature, What So I usually start with a title, then do a Really Frightens You, I wanted the climax to treatment before I start a script. I can’t really take place at a Gothic castle. I made sure I get into a script until I have one character I could find one first before writing that se- want to identify with — the character whose quence. I ended up using Wing’s Castle in point of view is most important to me. I New York. If I couldn’t secure a castle I would haven’t done that with all my scripts, but I have rewritten the ending for a different loca- usually try. Once I have this particular char- tion. acter in mind, whether it’s Caroline in Red Lips William Hopkins: There are many dif- or the sorority pledges in Cannibal Hookers, I ferent factors that will affect an audiences’ re- want these characters to have basic goals or action to your film. The music, the cinema- agendas, then use that as a foundation for the tography, the editing, the effects work, the rest of the script. All the troubles in Cannibal costuming, the format you’re shooting in, et Hookers happened because these two social- cetera. All are important, of course. But the climbing girls were so desperate to join an elite most important things — the crucial things, sorority. Twenty-five years later, that’s pretty really — are the cast and the script. We can all much the starting point of David Fincher’s think of films with huge budgets, great effects, The Social Network. Everything in the movie and wonderful scores that still left us cold be- 40 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES cause we didn’t like the people we saw on the two hours of pretty photography. They go to screen and we didn’t care about the story being the movies to be told a story. Have you ever told. So, the first step is to get a good script. seen a big-budget movie with big-name actors And that’s something that should take a while. and a big-name director and a big-name pro- Something thrown together in a week or even ducer, but the movie absolutely sucked? Of a month is probably not going to be good course you have. We all have. Nothing can enough. You have to be prepared to go draft save a bad script. The script is everything! after draft, getting feedback and making As far as budget determining your ideas, if changes until you get it right, even if it takes you are writing a script to make yourself, write six months or a year or longer. within your means. For example, don’t write When I first started writing scripts, I did in scene that involves a bus crash, when you what I imagine most beginners do. I wrote know you don’t have a bus that you can crash. stuff that would’ve required studio backing Rolfe Kanefsky: The script is king. It’s and big budgets to produce. The first script I been said, “You can make a bad movie from a completed, if it were produced today, would good script but you cannot make a good probably need a $50–100 million dollar bud- movie from a bad script.” It all starts with the get to do properly. Naturally, the script was script. It is the story you want to tell. If you never produced. So, yes, as an indie film- don’t have a good story then what’s the point maker, I think you have to take budget into in telling it? I’ve written a lot of scripts. Many consideration when writing your screenplays. I’ve directed and some I’ve sold that other peo- If you’re just writing scripts as an exercise, or ple have directed. I’ve written scripts on spec if you plan to shop them around to the stu- just to write. I’ve been hired to write scripts dios, then I guess you can be a little more am- based on other people’s ideas. I’ve rewritten bitious with the scope and scale of the thing. other scripts or “ghost written” some to help But if you want to shoot the scripts you’re unfinished movies that ran into trouble along writing, then you need to keep the budget in the way. mind. What I do before starting work on a Budget determines a lot when it comes to script is to make a list of all the resources I’ll writing if you are doing it as an assignment. have at my disposal in shooting the actual film. When I’m just writing something that I hope What locations do I have access to? What to sell as a spec script to the studios, then equipment will I be able to use? What size cast budget doesn’t matter. In fact, the bigger it is, and crew can I afford? And anything written the better. You want to impress people and with the budget in mind is almost always not be limited. That’s the job for the produc- going to be better because you’re forced to tion team. If I’m hired to write a script based refine your work, fine tune it so it’ll work even on someone’s idea, then I always ask what without a big budget. budget are you trying to do this for so I don’t Steve Hudgins: There is nothing more give them something that can’t be made. important than the script. If you don’t have a When I’m writing a script that I plan to make script, you don’t have a movie. I don’t care how myself, I am usually well aware of the limita- good of a filmmaker you are, I don’t care what tions and try to write something cool that can kind of equipment you have, I don’t care what be made for modest means. The budgets of kind of a budget you have, I don’t care how my films have ranged from $50 thousand–$1 good your actors are—if the script is not good million, and I’ve done enough films that I the movie will not be good, period. Sure, you know what I can or cannot accomplish with can make it look pretty. You can get great the budget at hand. Sometimes having limited shots. You can light it perfectly. But guess resources forces one to be more creative, which what? People don’t go to the movies to watch is a good thing. When you can just throw end-  The Script 41 less amounts of money at something it doesn’t changed anything in the script. I just figured always solve the problem. With horror films, out how to shoot things the “right” way. I still believe that what you don’t see is a lot My advice: Don’t start filming your movie scarier than what you do. CGI does not en- until you are 100 percent happy with your hance the horror! If anything, it takes you out script! It’s your blueprint. Everything always of the story and reminds the audience they’re goes back to the script. When things get crazy watching a movie. I used to say that you can on set — and they will — the script is your life- make a very good movie for $3–5 million. saver. Now, with digital, you can do it even cheaper Brett Kelly: The script is all important. I but you have to be creative. And you have to usually write, or have someone write for me, care about the characters. If you’re not in- within my budgetary restraints. If a company volved in the people and the story, it doesn’t hires me to make a film for them, I get a dollar matter how slick your movie is. figure first, then create a script that can be That said, all scripts are different. If you done for that amount of money. I always tell want to write Transformers you’re going to need people, if you can’t afford an airplane hangar, some money. Don’t try to write a $200 million don’t set your film there. movie and then make it for $100 thousand. Chris LaMartina: The screenplay is But at the same time, don’t limit yourself, es- everything. It’s the blueprint for production, pecially in your first draft. There will be re- post-production, and the distribution of the writes. I usually go for ambitious stuff and final product. It took me a long time before I then tone it done or figure out how to pull it realized just how important the script is to off inexpensively. every step of the filmmaking process. I wrote a script called “The Hazing” that First, if you can’t tell your story in a single had a lot of effects in it. I knew that I wanted sentence, your distributor is going to have a to do most of the effects practically (on set), tricky time selling the film to an audience. and knew how to do it. But some people read Think I’m joking? We learned a lot between the script and thought we’d need $5 million Book of Lore (our second flick and an intricate for effects alone. I explained that we didn’t, mystery-thriller) and President’s Day (our but that stopped the script from being made fourth film, a horror comedy). This is the first for years. Finally, a producer came in and step in making the film and it is also the first financed the movie, but during the tech read step in selling the film. The log line for Book [where all the main crew members sit around of Lore was long-winded and barely touched and go over the script and what every depart- the surface of the story. President’s Day was to ment will have to do], the producer panicked. the point: a high school student council elec- At the end of the meeting, he took me aside tion turns deadly when a maniac dressed as and said, “You know, Rolfe, we can’t make this Abe Lincoln starts murdering candidates. movie. I mean, you’re never going to pull off With the log line of President’s Day, our audi- your vision with this limited budget.” Now, ence knew exactly what they were getting, we had a budget of $750,000 for this one and both story-wise and tonally. It was an obvious some really good people working on it. I wasn’t tongue-in-cheek ’80s throwback flick, right worried. I’ve done a lot more for a lot less. So down to the title. I asked, “Well, are you going to pull the plug By the time Jimmy and I pitched feature a week before we start filming?” He said, “No, number five, Witch’s Brew, we could tell our but don’t expect to get what you want to get.” basic plot in two words: cursed beer. I say this I said, “Well, let’s give it a shot,” and overall I with a bit of sarcasm, but there is a lot of un- was very happy with the final result of the film. derlying truth there. The screenplay dictates It was pretty close to my vision. I never where you can go, both as a director and as a 42 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES business person. Don’t forget that. They are Damon Packard: Script is important, but interconnected as much as the brooding artist your execution and vision is what mostly in all of us wishes to forget. counts. And, yes, unfortunately budget DOES Considering production costs is also essen- determine your ideas. You are always limited tial to the screenwriting process. If the script to what you can do on limited budgets. Little requires multiple locations/actors/effects, you’ll or no money usually produces the same kind need to pony up more cash to make it happen. of results you get in the world of micro-budget If it’s written with budget in mind, you might filmmaking, regardless of how imaginative you find that working with limited resources fuel are. It DOES require somewhat large amounts creative innovation. Plenty of times we’ve got of money to realize potential, but not the kind a jolt of imagination from dwindling bank ac- of ridiculous over-bloated budgets Hollywood counts. This is not always the case, but money deals with, that are very difficult to raise and is the bane of every micro-budget production. allow you to maintain any creative freedom. Use limited resources to your advantage. Brad Paulson: I believe the script is the Jim Mickle: The script is hugely impor- most important part of the movie. A shitty tant. I’ve had the great fortune of working movie can be made from a great script, but it’s with my lead actor, Nick Damici, on screen- far more difficult to make a great movie from plays. He does the hard part of writing every a shitty script. The script element is something day and pounding out draft after draft, then I really don’t understand about the Hollywood I sort of edit his work and do clean-up as it system. If you go to seminars where agents are gets closer to shooting. The hardest part is get- guest speaking, they always talk about how ting that first draft out and finished, then the your script must be rock solid before anyone rewriting is like sculpting a big block of clay sees it. Then the script must be rewritten until and giving it shape and dimension. Both Mul- it’s perfect in the agent’s eyes. And, of course, berry Street and Stake Land started as very dif- give them hundreds to thousands of dollars ferent first drafts, and evolved over the course and they’ll make sure that happens. Or so they of many months into their final forms. say. But how many movies do you see at the By the time we get to shooting, we know theatre with a perfect script? Nearly none. every in and out of each scene and we’ve ex- Sometimes, they don’t even write the scripts plored so many different options that it makes until they start the movie. Look at the Trans- it very easy to improvise or change things up formers trilogy. They have 300 million dollars if better ideas come along. So, it’s a very nec- for the movie and don’t give a shit about the essary blueprint. But I’ve been lucky to work script. Don’t you think if you’re going to invest with very smart collaborative people to help that much money, you’d want to make the continue shaping things all the way up to the script that much better? Those movies are only final sound mix. good as eye candy, but after 20 minutes, you Most bad indie movies I see were obviously get bored because there’s nothing else to them. made with bad scripts, making it very hard to And I’m not a pretentious ass like many of the give notes or feedback on rough cuts when so people I went to film school with. I enjoy much of what doesn’t work originated on the watching movies strictly for entertainment, page. Spend time getting it right before you but if there’s nothing to the movie besides start shooting. In both cases we had to do re- spectacle it quickly becomes not worth your ality passes on the scripts to get them to fit time. Meanwhile, there are amazing scripts into the kind of budget we were expecting. We out there that will be sitting on the shelf for- knew we’d never get millions to do either film ever. Clearly, a perfect script is not Holly- so we set out to write things around locations wood’s number-one priority. and resources we knew we could pull off. The budget, unfortunately, does determine  The Script 43 my ideas because if there’s something too vi- be-all and end-all. You can write a great script sually ambitious it’s going to be a pain in the with limited actors, locations and eye candy. ass to try and pull off. Besides, the older I get It’s more challenging but if you have talent you the less I want to deal with bullshit. In other can pull it off and prove you don’t need a rich words, if I’m not making any money off the uncle or a studio to make a good — if not bet- movie, I can at least make the process enjoy- ter — movie than the big boys. able. I found when we first started making One last bit on this topic: as a homework movies we planned for dozens of different lo- assignment, the next time you go to one of cations. Then, we found out that was a real those paid-for seminars and someone claims pain in the ass and kept scaling it back. Now, they can give you a well-polished script, ask I write for what I like to call two person/one them what the writers of the last Transformers room movies, which are basically as limited in movie got paid and what draft of the script budget, locations, actors and effects as pos- they were on before they started shooting. I sible. Things will most likely stay this way guarantee you’ll render them speechless, at in until I actually get the budget to make things the very least, stump them for a bit. a little more larger scale. However, two per- Jose Prendes: I started writing scripts son/one room movies doesn’t mean a movie when I was in high school. I taught myself has to be less quality. There are some wonder- from the hundreds of screenwriting books I ful plays which are basically two person/one read. You can write so much easier than you room movies. And then there are some plays can direct, because writing is free. So, yes, the which you feel like you’re being tortured every script is very important to me. I love writing. second you’re sitting in the theatre. But it’s But when it comes to budget, that script isn’t worse because you feel like you can’t escape. written in stone. The point is, it’s up to you. Budget is not the Budget determines everything in your Jose Prendes looks through the day’s script notes and camera reports. 44 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES movie, even for the big-league guys. Maybe built-in “intermission” so one can come back you write an awesome helicopter crash, but to the movie later. So, the script was over 120 you can’t afford it, so now it is an off-screen pages. But I would not recommend that. car crash. One of the most important weapons Would you rather have 120 pages or 90 pages in your filmmaking arsenal as a writer/director of headaches dealing with producing your is being able to write within a budget. film? For example, on The Monster Man, I wanted I didn’t have money to throw at problems to make a massive, blockbuster-style end-of- so I was forced to use common sense. I had the-world film. Then I realized all I had at my one location — a house. So no one bothered disposal was a DV camera and a very limited us. I turned the camera around and that was budget, so I wrote with that in mind. The fin- another location as far as I was concerned. ished script was 45 pages and was originally a There was also a backyard and a lake. tense, serious action picture. You’ve probably One of our mini-movies featured actor never seen this film, but I will tell you that it Trent Haaga turning into a werewolf. Now we turned out to be a comedy. On day two I re- were lucky to have Mike Thomas, not only as alized my budget and look would not lend it- a cast member but also our make-up artist, so self to a serious rumination on the end of the he took on the task of Trent’s transformation world, so I turned it into a slapstick spoof on sequences. But the sets for the story included end-of-the-world movies, and, for my money, a movie theatre, a photo studio, an apartment, it worked better that way. A lot of critics didn’t and we had to shoot all of this in one day. get that I did a lot of “shoddy” things on pur- Well, that was a bit unrealistic, so we filmed pose, because I was mocking shot-on-video it as if his life was like a play, onstage. We movies, but that’s neither here nor there. bought some black fabric and used it as a back- Consequently, on Corpses Are Forever, I had drop. A mirror was the apartment, two seats written an ultimate zombie bloodbath with and a flickering light were the movie theatre. guts and limbs flying everywhere, but even Eric Shapiro: The script is at the top of with the move to 35mm film and a larger bud- my values hierarchy. Actors are a close second. get, time and the limited resources, we were If those two elements are powerful, it matters forced me to cut out the entire zombie battle a lot less where you put the camera. To date, and end with a cliffhanger. One which I had my budget (or lack thereof ) has driven my hoped to finish in the unfilmed sequel “The ideas, many of which involve scenarios that Corpse Who Loved Me,” but money, fans, or take place in one location and/or on a single interest failed to materialize. day. Ultimately, the script is your bible. Get that Anthony Straeger: As far as I am con- to where you want it. I wish I had spent more cerned (and I’m pretty sure this will apply to time on the Corpses script, and that is one most producers and directors), the script is thing I will always regret. So take your time. most important. A house needs a firm building Write the movie YOU want to see, but write platform or foundations to put walls and win- the movie YOU can afford ... or at least max dows on and in. A film works exactly the same your cards out on. way. A good script helps create a better film Paul Scrabo: The script is the most im- because the director has something to work portant thing and, surprisingly, not the most with and so does the cast. A bad script puts expensive. Dr. Horror was designed almost like you on the back foot from ‘Day One.’ a film festival, several mini-movies through- At the beginning (I would assume as with out, and I wanted to try to give a DVD buyer Call of the Hunter), the initial meeting takes his moneys worth — not a 70-minute feature place between the writer, the director and the but a “big” no-budget film. There is even a executive producer — the man that is putting  The Script 45 Paul Scrabo confers with Nathan Sears and Debbie Rochon on the set of Dr. Horror’s Erotic House of Idiots. in the money. At this point is when you are of the Hunter) and then went out with my cap looking at the budget in relationship to the in hand begging to friends, Romans and coun- script. This is the moment when you know trymen. The initial budget to make it was whether you have enough to realize the ideas £25,000. I stayed well within this and at- contained in the script fully or whether you tempted to keep the dynamics of SCRIPT will have to make some serious compromises. verses BUDGET to a perspective that would There is a world of difference between mean getting the best out of the script we had doing a drama, horror or action movie, so all and the most out of the limited resources I had the ideas you have may have to be tailored to to work with. exactly how much you can achieve for the Marc Trottier: I think having a good money you have. Unlimited funds equals un- script is hugely important. Some people pay limited ideas, limited funds means a more cre- close attention to scripts and storyboards and ative approach in achieving a desired effect. what not, and other people maybe go with the It doesn’t matter what the price tag is on the flow a little more and let things happen natu- film, each level has its problems—it’s just that rally. Regardless, I think the “idea” is the most more money makes it easier to complete. important thing before even beginning to film. When you are looking to raise private cash and In my opinion, if you’re going to film some- are working with a bare-bones budget, it gets thing very short, just for fun and for the sake a little harder. So I worked on how much I of practicing, then it’s not as crucial. But the could realistically do within the movie (Call longer it will take to film (and the longer it 46 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES will take in post-production) the more effort to know anything about the killer? Are the vic- should be put into the script, and planning tims people you want to see die, or, more im- ahead of time in pre-production. portantly, people you want to see live? For that I think the script/budget relationship can matter, are they people at all, or just juicy gore go either way. Sometimes you know how effects waiting to happen? Humans are drawn much money you have to work with and your to stories, to listen to them and to tell them. ideas revolve around what you can afford to Too often in development, however, scripts do. Other times you might have an idea that sound like they were written by children just will dictate how much money you’ll need to learning to tell a story. “So then the guy goes beg and steal to get your project finished. up the stairs. And then he opens the door. And (Note: don’t steal money to make your movie!) then he looks around. And then the bad guy, Mike Watt: The script is the beginning and then and then.” Obviously (hopefully ob- and end of your project. It’s your blueprint for viously) that’s not a story. the story and the characters. If it’s terrible from The best actors in the world can’t do any- the start, you can have all the money in the thing with, “Fuck, man, I just wanna get world and it won’t improve the movie (see the fucked up and fuck. Fuck, yeah!” That’s not Transformers movies for the most recent exam- dialogue. And if that’s character development, ples). It’s at this beginning stage that a lot of you haven’t created a person; you’ve created a pride will have to be swallowed if you want to noise box. But that’s how people talk! No they make a good movie. There is a doctrine that don’t. And if they do, you really need to go may be one of the most important rules you listen to some other people for awhile. can ever learn: “knowing how to type doesn’t Besides the bad mechanics, the clichés and make you a writer,” just as everyone with a the profanity-laced dialogue being a large camera is not a filmmaker or anyone with fin- round of nothing, let me put it this way: it’s gers is a guitarist. Even on the lowest budget been done before. We’ve all seen terrible where you have to wear all the hats, you cannot movies exactly like that, both independent and expect that you’ll be awesome at everything. professional, that are empty shells of “things And the script is where it all begins. You can happening” to “some kids.” So if there are a learn how to format a script on your own or thousand awful movies that already exist, why use a “schmancy program” like Final Draft, would you want to make one more? but that doesn’t mean you can tell a story. “I If your goal is to become a filmmaker, what- just want to entertain people” is not an excuse, ever that word means to you, you have to un- nor is watching something bad, and saying derstand story, character and structure. And “I could do better than that.” Most people if you don’t, you have to find someone who can’t. does. If this particular story means so much I’ll say that again because it ties with “no to you, get it down on paper and then give it one person can do everything well”: most to a real writer. If you’re among the small per- human beings cannot write. This was true be- centage of people in this world who can tell a fore the digital revolution, before even the era compelling story, all power to you! But know of moving type. Telling a story that is worth your limitations. Because there’s enough crap telling and hearing is difficult. I’m not talking in the world already. Make something worth about plot. The “plot” is just what you hang watching. the rest of the story on. Anyone can write a As far as script begetting budget or vice plot: A leads to B leads to C; beginning, mid- versa, we’ve done it both ways. Our first movie, dle, end. “A killer going around killing people” The Resurrection Game, called for ten different is not a story. Who are his victims? Why do locations, a cast of at least a hundred, dozens they have the killer’s attention? Is it necessary of gore gags, stunts, gunplay, choreographed  The Script 47 fights, retro-futuristic props and a friggin’ included an abandoned mine (originally), a sword fight. Not knowing for ourselves how diner, a martial arts dojo, and extensive make- stupid this would all be to pull together, we up work. So we needed a lot of pre-production moved forward anyway, and thus learned the time for that one. It’s really best to think about “MacGyver School of Filmmaking” for our- what you have first, but sometimes the needs selves. This school teaches you to be flexible of the story take precedence. With that in and resourceful. It also teaches you that if you mind, I still try to avoid movie ideas involving edit anything fast enough, you can hide almost car crashes, animal stampedes, orgies, the all of the seams of an illusion. ocean, et cetera. The multiple locations we managed to boil Ritch Yarber: The script is the most im- down to about seven. Both the hero’s and portant part of any production. It should be heroine’s homes took place in our own house, developed fully to take the viewer on a well- in the same rooms, dressed completely dif- planned journey that will leave them satisfied ferently. The cast of hundreds got whittled and reflective as they leave the screening. The down to 30 or so, with many actors doubling (“Shemping” as Sam Raimi would say) and tripling as zombies. For the rest, we begged, bartered and borrowed to bring it all together. The final sequence was meant to take place at a medical amphitheater at one of the local col- leges until we learned how impossible that would be, as none of us were college students. So the scenes were re- written to take place in run-down attic and cel- lar space we could re- dress. We’ve tried over the years to follow the (early) Robert Rodri- guez tenet of writing the script around what you have or can get — Severe Injuries, Splatter Movie, A Feast of Flesh and Demon Divas were all written around loca- tions we knew we could Director Ritch Yarber and DP Brian Foster on the set of Murder utilize, but Razor Days Machine! 48 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES script is the cornerstone of the filmmaking ef- $5,000 budget. The idea was “morphed” into fort. It has to be solid and consistent. The the finished version that features a drifter that filmmaker and the viewer will be unfulfilled is adept in the pure art of killing with the goal if the film is based on a loose, undedicated of becoming the real-life embodiment of a fic- idea. The holes will show themselves, the tional killer, the same as in the original ver- patches will be evident and the opportunity sion, just tweaked to fit our budget. to bond with the audience will be lost. The Ivan Zuccon: There was a time when, filmmaker will find himself frustrated as the even with a just a shred of an idea, I used to pieces struggle to combine into the desired pick up the camera and start making movies. story. If the story is solid on paper, the vision Now it’s not like this. This change is a sure is easier to achieve on film. sign of maturity, and now I find myself having I don’t consider budget all that much when many scripts ready. I write and rewrite the trying to come up with script ideas. The im- scripts until they totally satisfy me, so that the portant thing is finding a subject or story that processing of writing takes more time. The will engage the viewer with a solid beginning, lapse between shooting different movies gets middle and end. Once these things have been longer. However, I am convinced that behind determined, the budgetary restraints come into every good movie is a good script. What you play to see how the needed plot points can be do in movies is tell a story, and stories must intelligently and realistically portrayed. There be good. If they aren’t, it’s hard to get to the are always problems on a small budget, but, heart of the audience. I seldom write scripts interestingly, there always seems to be accept- all by myself. I work with good scriptwriters, able answers to these problems that an audi- even if it’s based on my own idea, except in ence will accept “in the spirit” of the produc- cases of adaptation from a novel or a story of tion. Audiences are smart. They know if they classic writers such as H.P. Lovecraft. I usually are watching a high-dollar Hollywood pro- write quite extensive lines of dialogue, then duction or a micro-budget independent film, give my material to the scriptwriter, who and their level of acceptability is relative to makes a first draft. After this step, I personally this. If you respect your audience enough to start working on the second draft, then the strive at all times to the highest standards of third and so on. My latest movie, Wrath of the realism possible on your specific budget, they Crows, had ten drafts. Certainly the budget af- are generally willing to overlook small lapses fects your choices and modifies your ideas. If as long as the attempt to deliver what was you have a low budget it’s a tough to adjust promised on the cover of the box is there. your ideas (or the scriptwriter’s ones) to lack Overly grandiose ideas would certainly be of money. But, as they say, every cloud has a foolish to entertain on a micro-budget; how- silver lining. Working on a low budget pushes ever, with a little imagination, these ideas may your creativity to the highest levels, forcing be able to be morphed down into a solid and you to seek effective and cheap solutions. It attainable product. This was the case with my teaches you how to get the maximum effect film Murder Machine. The original idea was and the best performances with little money. that of a mysterious killer that used assorted There is nothing more valuable than this and James Bond-type gadgets as his implements it will come in handy when you’ll have more of torture and murder. This quickly proved money to manage. impossible to portray realistically on our  The Script 49 The Filmmakers were asked: What are the benefits/disadvantages of working from your own script or someone else’s? Glenn Andreiev: On your own script, if tor with a good eye. This, of course, can also you invent stuff while shooting, you don’t have occur vice versa, with a good script turned into to clear it with yourself. I can’t imagine having a shit film. It happens. Only once in my life that on-the-set freedom with another person’s did I try shooting someone else’s screenplay, script. Would we have to contact the screen- and the minute I tried to turn the dialogue writer while shooting and ask, “We want to into something I felt sounded less staged, the eliminate that monologue and replace it with guy had a fit. He wanted the dialogue followed a fight.” I imagine there would have to be se- to the letter. Hence, I prefer to write my own rious contractual, complicated, costly agree- material. ments with the writer(s). Richard Cunningham: It’s a mixed bag John Borowski: The ideal situation for a of good and bad, for sure. I’ve only worked off filmmaker/director would be to have a screen- my own scripts in the past, or on productions writer to write the script. The director must where I was a part of story development. But work closely with the writer to convey the I can offer a little insight on the pros and cons themes and feeling he would like portrayed in of filming a production with your own script. the film. Once the script is written, the writer The script is yours; you have a clear under- and director work together to revise the script standing of where your movie is coming from to tailor to the director’s vision. Hitchcock and what it wants to say; you probably have a worked this way. I believe a film changes close connection to the story and the charac- through each phase of production, morphing ters, probably have angles and locations in into the final creation. Having a vision is im- your head, already; and the casting process portant, but understand that after the film is could either be inspirational or utterly hope- on paper, it will change with bringing on ac- less, but you definitely know who you’re look- tors, being on set, and when being editing and ing for. scored. It should be a constantly evolving art The flip side is that all that personal invest- form until it is complete. ment can make the writer more resistant to Keith Crocker: The obvious benefit of change in a medium that is constantly chang- being the writer of your own film is that your ing because of anything from a random spark vision doesn’t conflict with what the writer had of creativity on set, or unexpected rain ruining in mind because you are the writer. When you a day scheduled for exteriors. I think if you’re shoot someone else’s script, and if the writer writing a script to a movie that you’re going is on board for the shoot, you risk running to produce as well, you just have to be willing into conflict with the writer over the way a to let go of the sanctity a writer can sometimes certain scene is portrayed. These types of ar- bestow on a finished work (unless that’s just guments not only hold up shoots but they can me). There’s that fine line of saying, “Screw lead to a film being postponed indefinitely. you, everyone, I have a vision,” but still man- Not a good thing to happen at all. However, aging to listen when a critic is giving you good most writers are best off with someone else in- advice. terpreting their work on a visual format, so Maurice Devereaux: I’ve never worked some of the worst writing can still be salvaged from someone else’s script, but I’m guessing and made into a beautiful film by some direc- that the big difference is that when you write, 50 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES you have an overall vision of the film. You script. The book ended with a huge flood know the story and the characters by heart. washing all these Southern plantations away, You can answer any question or you should be so that was the first thing I ditched. I decided able to. Because if you can’t answer a question, anything resembling a credible flood was a lit- it usually means there are “holes” in your tle beyond our budget. I came up with a more script. Like if an actor asks, “What was my affordable ending, where the book’s villain, a character doing while something important is scheming Cajun maid, commits suicide by happening with other characters?” and you throwing herself off a waterfall. can’t answer him, because you didn’t think The producer also envisioned the movie things through, it might be a problem. If being a two-part television mini-series, so I you’ve done your homework on a script, you wrote a script long enough for a four-hour usually know a lot more than what ends up in running time. Even after cutting several scenes the final script,. You know about the back sto- my first edit came in at three hours. It was ries of each character, what they do when they eventually chopped into two separate movies are not in a scene, et cetera. It might seem su- with some overlapping scenes in each. This perfluous, but it isn’t. It means you care and called for some new narration to be written to tried to create a “world” with real people in help bridge the plot lines of the two movies, them and the film is capturing moments. You, so I was basically adding to the script even as the creator, know what is behind those mo- through post-production. An outside writer, ments and can answer any question about it. especially one with some industry credits, So if you’re working from somebody else’s might not have stood for so much after-the- script, you might find yourself puzzled by fact script tampering. So there’s advantages to something and would have to ask the writer a director also being the primary writer. why some character does something. If the Lucky for me, this producer let me play original writer is unavailable, or dead, you hard and fast with his novel; even inventing might THINK you understand everything in whole new characters when I felt the need. His the story. Yet, it will be your interpretation of only mandate was the final film should be the original writer’s intentions, and it may be equivalent to a PG rating, so that killed my completely wrong... When you write it your- plan of making a full-out Southern sleaze epic self, you should be “God.” For better or worse, like Mandingo. Our celebrity, Miles O’Keeffe, you should know the why’s and what’s of actually wanted to film a love scene with his everything in the script. leading lady, but the producer had a quick an- Donald Farmer: The only movie I’ve di- swer for that. “My wife says no love scenes,” rected where I had zero input in the script was he barked. Apparently this guy’s wife had the the comedy Bollywood and Vine, which I co- last word on everything! directed with Edward Jordan. He sent me a Jeff Forsyth: Up until recently I have only package of about five incredibly well-written worked on my own scripts. I just recently scripts, so I picked that one to do with him. started developing a short a friend wrote and It ended up winning awards at a couple of film I’m enjoying the experience. Writing is kind festivals. Two other movies I did —The Strike of like torture for me. I never know if it’s any and Deadly Memories— had scripts which I good or not. When I read a script that some- completely rewrote. one else has written, I know. For the my two-part Civil War film, Blood Richard W. Haines: There’s the cost fac- and Honor and Battle for Glory, I was given a tor. If you write your own script you don’t 300-page book written by the first-time pro- have to pay a screenwriter or license story ducer (an Atlanta dentist with some celebrity rights. Since I create my screenplays in the clients), with instructions to turn it into a manner I describe, there would be no point in  The Script 51 hiring someone to find locations while writing great crew members, and good editors. I the script. I also incorporate my own back- always have a very good game plan but try to ground into the stories, which includes my keep an open mind for other ideas that can phobias and other personal information that come from anywhere. I believe the script is an outsider would not be familiar with. I have very important, but it is a blueprint. I like and hired writers to fine-tune my scripts on some encourage actors to add their own personalities movies. They added character nuance and di- to the roles, and if a cameraman or crew mem- alogue without altering my structure or nar- ber has a good idea for a shot or an angle that rative. However, I prefer to own all aspects of is better than what I first thought of, I’m all my films, which includes screenplay rights. for it. If there’s time, I’m open to trying it a That gives me the option of making a sequel different way. Unfortunately, on the schedules or licensing remakes in the future. and budgets that I usually work with, I rarely William Hopkins: I’ve never worked have a lot of time. But if an actor wants an- from anyone else’s script and I don’t expect to other take, nine out of ten times, I will let in future projects. If you’re going to be work- him/her have it. On tight schedules, scripts ing on a project for years, you really have always have to be simplified. If last-minute to be comfortable with it and feel strongly changes take place, you need to know how about it. For me, that means writing my own that will affect all the other events/characters stuff. in the story. If a script is tight, one little change Steve Hudgins: Obviously, when you’re can have a domino effect and mess up a lot of working with your own script, you’re going to things. So know your screenplay whether you have more freedom. When you’re working wrote it or not. with someone else’s script, it all depends on Brett Kelly: What’s nice about working the agreement that was made. Regardless, all from your own script is that you can use short- agreements have potential sticking points hand. If you know you are going to be the one when it comes to changing or tweaking the directing it, you don’t have to hold your own script. Before day one of shooting this should hand, the way a screenwriter might do for you be worked out loud and clear so there is no if they felt they had to describe every little possibility of misunderstanding. thing. I prefer using outside writers, but I al- Rolfe Kanefsky: It’s very important to ways provide a detailed, scene-by-scene treat- know your script inside and out before you ment of the movie I want to make. Writers al- start production. Being the writer of the script ways throw you bits that you never would have makes this job easier since it all came out of thought of, and that’s pretty cool. I like to your own head. When I write a script, I visu- think that providing the detailed treatment is alize the entire thing so I already have the a way to make their jobs easier. I’m not sure whole movie shot in my head. Getting that if they would agree with me, but it’s my way same vision in the camera is always a challenge of getting the movie script I want. but I know what I’m going for, and sometimes Chris LaMartina: I write with a partner: succeed. Working from someone else’s script, my best friend/producer, Jimmy George. you have to figure out how to make it your We’ve never worked from another person’s own. So far, I have written everything I have script because bringing our stories to life has directed. Even if it started somewhere else, I’ve been the most exciting part of the filmmaking rewritten it to a certain extent so it becomes a process for us. In addition to satisfying your part of me. The only disadvantage I can think own creative goals, producing from your own of is if you are so close to the material, you screenplay allows you to write for your avail- may be a little tunnel-vision and not see other able resources and if you’re handling post-pro- opportunities. But that’s why you hire actors, duction: your edit. 52 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Another strong attribute of producing from full coherence of everything that’s happened your own work is the ability to change the in the script. That is, unless you were com- script on-set without stepping on someone’s pletely wasted when you wrote it and can’t toes. We’ve all heard the tales of lowly writers recall the process. Or if you’re one of those ass- scorned by self-important film producers (hell, holes who plagiarized something and are at- Jimmy and I have had our optioned stories tempting to pass it off as your own. butchered a few times ) ... so it’s nice to be in I don’t know why more people don’t direct charge of your own destiny. their own scripts or why Hollywood doesn’t The disadvantages come in the form of self- encourage it more often. I guess it’s because a critique. Artists cannot live in a vacuum. We lot of writers are great at being introverted and always get script coverage on screenplays not that good with people. It’s a shame be- before we agree to produce the film. Coverage cause they’d have the answers to everything on is where another screenwriter (often times, a set because it’s all related to script. But the dis- more successful or “established” screenwriter) advantage of directing from your own script gives you positive/negative feedback. There is that you are the only one to blame if things are plenty of affordable websites that provide go wrong. You’re more attached to it. You’re this service. A quick Google search will surely right there and invested all the way. It’s far pull some up. more disappointing when it doesn’t go as you If you’re not willing to hear some harsh planned and you’re not quite getting the vision words about your art, you better re-think your you wanted across on screen. Basically, you’ve filmmaking aspirations. I can guarantee that just got to detach yourselves from feelings of the script doctors and their coverage will be disappointment when you make movies be- nicer than the comments you’ll see on your cause they’re going to happen and they’re film’s Netflix page or Amazon product listing. going to happen in spades. The trick is to So fix those problems while you can. If it’s make it so the same ones don’t keep happen- wobbly on the page, it will be most likely be ing over and over and that you keep improv- just as painful on screen. ing. Jim Mickle: I’ve always worked in a col- Jose Prendes: I’m a writer, that’s what laboration with Nick, so it’s tough to know I’ve done the most in my professional career, what the differences are. In that case it’s great so I only work with my own scripts. On the to tag team an idea and keep some objectivity, off chance that I am working on something because it can get very claustrophobic very with a friend, then I always have to have a quickly if you’re going at it alone. I love being hand in the material. able to bounce around ideas together and dis- If you aren’t a writer, then you WILL NEED cuss why certain things work or how they can someone else’s material. There is nothing be tweaked. It really helps to understand what wrong with this, so don’t feel bad that you’re shapes a story and makes us both more disci- not a writer/director like Kevin Smith or plined as storytellers. Quentin Tarantino. Damon Packard: Well, I guess that de- I like to work with my own script because pends on how much creative control you have I know it intimately and I can answer every over your own or someone else’s vision. I per- question ... or almost every question. I some- sonally have never worked with someone else’s times don’t even need to look at the script to script so it’s hard for me to comment. know what happens next or who says what in Brad Paulson: The benefits of working the scene because I lived it through the writing from your own script is that you know all the and re-writing. One disadvantage is that any answers. You know all the characters and the negative notes really knock you for a loop. motivations, the tone, everything. You have Maybe I’m just sensitive, but working with  The Script 53 my script I feel like I’m a daddy and when in order to tailor the cloth. You have every - someone says my baby has a stupid third act I thing in one guy’s head and so there is a sin- get mad. I haven’t lost any friends yet, but it gle-mindedness driving the script. could happen. Working with someone else’s The disadvantages of this are simply that material allows you to be ruthless and tear and you can become “totally tunnel visioned” shred through it, which could be fun. about it. You think you have written one of Paul Scrabo: Quite often, another writer’s the gospels and that only you can be right thoughts and ideas are more apparent than about everything. It takes courage in this to your own! I enjoy it. You’re compelled to really be able to say to the DP and to your actors, work and think clearer. “What do you see, how do you feel, what The script for the third story in our anthol- doesn’t work for you?” ogy was not yet completed when principal The advantage of working with somebody photography began, but there was no rush. All else’s script is that you, quite simply, bring a we knew was that Brinke Stevens, a legend in new set of eyes to the project. You can make Indie Horror, would be approached to star in suggestions and push boundaries that the that section of the film. It made perfect sense writer may not have been able to see. It be- and would round out our cast of fan favorites. comes a team process that can help propel the And I was stuck on the approach of that third script towards a better look and understanding story; I only knew it had to be the best one of itself. of the bunch. That’s when we finally called The disadvantages can come in the form of Brinke — not to act, but to co-write The Per- disagreement when a writer is unwilling to fect Woman. budge on something that he sees as integral Eric Shapiro: If you write your own, you and important, where you as the director may have control, but if you work from someone see it as over explaining or disposable in order else’s, as I did on Rule of Three (written by to push the movie along. Rhoda Jordan), you have the privilege of ad- In reality it doesn’t matter. There are no ad- miring the work as an outsider. That’s a great vantages or disadvantages in the low budget/ thing; you can watch takes in the monitor and independent movie area, because if you, as the get wrapped up in the language and nuances director, have written a good script or have in a way that you might not be able to if they been given a good script, it’s happy days. came from your own mind. There is only one thing that counts — a good Anthony Straeger: The advantage of script. A bad script, whether it’s yours or working with a script I have written is that I someone else’s, is simply a bad script. As a be- have evolved the story. As such, it means I have ginning filmmaker you need to absorb as a definite idea of the vision of the piece from much creative energy from as many sources as its look to who will be in it. The process of you can — THAT will help you be a better writing may start out with a vague idea or a script writer and a better filmmaker. vague story line, but as you get through draft Marc Trottier: I think a benefit to work- after draft you start to build a shot-by-shot ing from someone else’s script is that you’ll picture in your head of what you would like probably be less attached to it, and more will- to see. ing to change things if they need to be So, when it comes to the production, there changed. A potential disadvantage of working is a fully formed baby waiting to be born. from someone else’s script could be that if Having given birth to this script I feel that I they’re involved with the project, you might know how it feels, how it breathes. Even if you not see eye to eye on certain things, which can’t raise the budget to do exactly what you would take more energy to deal with than if want, you know where you can make squeezes the ideas had been all your own. 54 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES In my opinion, one of the benefits of work- else’s script, you have to carefully examine ing from your own script is that nobody every facet of what is written to have a sure knows the script better than you. Also, you understanding of what is intended and then have a better chance of having your ideas determine what needs to be included or ex- translate from paper to film as accurately as cluded to get to that point. Plot points that possible with the least amount of changes (un- are under-developed must be reinforced or less you choose to make changes). I can’t see a reinvented. It is also most important that the disadvantage to working from your own script, director fully understands what the writer ex- except that it was one more job that you had pects him to accomplish and “if ” it can be ac- to do by writing it in the first place! complished within the means of the script in Mike Watt: I’ve never directed anyone its present form. else’s work. The only times I’ve ever worked Ivan Zuccon: It makes no difference to from someone else’s script has been as an actor me, provided that the scriptwriter understands and that’s rarely—very rarely—ended well be- that the movie belongs to the director. If the cause of my ego. The same thing usually hap- scriptwriters were the authors of the movie, pens when I do screenwriting-for-hire. then directors would just have to shoot the Ritch Yarber: The benefits of working pages of the script, but this is not how it from your own script are that you are fully works. Between the script and the finished aware of the vision from start to finish and film there’s a basic step called “staging,” and have already carefully planned into your script this is the director’s work and what the audi- how to accomplish it. To work from someone ence finally sees on screen.  Equipment and Production While the need for creativity and per- you had to do, like capturing all your footage sistence will never change in creating an in- and outputting it to DVD. With my PBS- dependent film, production equipment will aired documentaries, I had to supply them continually transform. When I shot my very with a Betacam SP copy, which they uplinked first feature over 20 years ago, I did this with to their satellite feed. Most recently, everything hundred-thousand-dollar broadcast cameras has turned to HD — High Definition, and it’s and recorded on Betacam SP tapes, which was now expected that your finished product be in the industry standard at the time. I ended up that format and available as a digital file for with a Betacam SP tape master, from which distribution. VHS copies would be made. When high- As an independent filmmaker you’ll use quality digital cameras came out, I utilized whatever equipment and technology is avail- these, as the five-thousand-dollar cameras able and affordable to you. If you think you looked as good, if not better, than the pre- need the most up-to-date camera, like a RED, vious, bulkier versions. Editing, which had to in order to do your production—and it’s stop- be done in order and by changing physical ping you from making that movie—then look tapes in the editing suite, gave way to digi- into using an older camera if you’re that de- tizing those tapes into a computer and being termined to make that film. Or you can pur- able to edit them nonlinearly. Although I had chase the most recent, recommended model more choices when editing, the advancements and expect it to be replaced in a few years. Will in technology didn’t make things easier. You you get your money’s worth out of it? Don’t had to learn how to use the new equipment, get hung up on equipment. It’s not about tech- get through the learning curve of understand- nology—it’s what you do with what you have. ing a new computer software program — and You still have to know how to frame a shot, the actual time it took to put your picture to- light an actor, record good audio and put the gether increased because you had new things entire thing together after it’s all completed. The Filmmakers were asked: What equipment/format do you use and why? How has this differed from when you made your first movie to your most recent film? Glenn Andreiev: Well, my very, very first Embrace, was shot in 1988 with a 16mm Éclair. film was shot in 1972 with my dad’s Regular Of course, video has yet to have the visual 8mm Keystone, a hand-wound camera from richness of 16mm, but it was a bit complicated World War II. My first feature film, Vampire’s shooting with film. (For example, I learned 55 56 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES the hard way that 16mm camera parts expand and watch what was being shot as it happened. in very hot weather, causing light leaks.) Now I realized that, with digital video, if you lit it I use an HDV Sony FX7, and like all video like you’d light film, you were able to create a cameras, you see on the spot what you are digital grain. While it’s nothing like natural getting, and the image quality is gorgeous. film grain, to the untrained eye you might just What’s great is that your camera equipment be able to pass this format off as film. That is can fit in a backpack — great when traveling why I made the leap from film to video — the and shooting. camera finally caught up with my expecta- John Borowski: I studied filmmaking tions. I don’t feel the same way about HD shooting on 8mm and 16mm FILM, not (High Definition). My thought on that is that video. I see this as a bonus since almost every- the image is way too clean and you really can’t one is learning and shooting on HD now as attempt any film-type look to it. It’s way too opposed to film. There is a difference when slick, and film is a mirror of human error. I’m you can hold the frames of the film and phys- more comfortable with an imperfect image as ically see each individual frame. The editing opposed to a perfect image. I’m real old school. process when editing on film is very different. It takes a long time for technology, and I to Editing on film is where I developed a sense keep up hand in hand, I admit this freely. I of pacing. The first video camera I owned was still have a 16mm Canon newsreel-style cam- the Sony VX1000. I filmed the entire HH era that operates off a large cylinder battery, Holmes film on that camera and loved it. I as well as two sound Super 8mm cameras. I have been shooting video ever since and really have even have projectors to go with them, the appreciate shooting and then watching the whole nine yards, I still shoot test footage on rushes immediately and being able to edit so 16mm or Super 8mm, whatever film I have on quickly. I filmed my third film, Carl Panzram, the table. Budget-wise, digital video has saved in the HD format and the process is basically my life, though. Blitzkrieg was way too large the same. in scope, and I could not have shot it on film Keith Crocker: Blitzkrieg was shot on and finished it. Digital video was very liber- mini-digital videotape. I shot with the Pana- ating. sonic DVX 100A camera, which I bought at a Richard Cunningham: With ShE and reduced rate because they were on to 100B by Arcadium I was working with a team that used the time I got my camera. My decision to prosumer-quality equipment, but I wasn’t very shoot on digital video was brought about sim- technically savvy at the time, not enough to ply by my desire to keep costs down, I’m a film list what they had. purest (to a degree). Bloody Ape was sound Films since, I’ve used anything that will Super 8mm film, the compilation Cinefear work. For my last two movies I used a Canon Sampler was short works all shot on 16mm. In HV20, a consumer camcorder that shoots in fact, I began Blitzkrieg believing I was going HD. I most recently purchased a Canon Eos to shoot it 16mm, silent, reversal film stock, Rebel T2i, a popular and affordable SLR dig- and dub in the dialogue when it was trans- ital camera. I’ve stuck with Canon, because ferred to a digital media. However, I started the color is superior, in my opinion. to appreciate my own dialogue about three- With my most recent film, Year Zero, easily quarters into the shooting script, and I really half of the movie’s production took place in a wanted it recorded live. Prior to starting shoot- ten-year-old Dell Dimension 8200 series ing, I did an acting gig on a friend’s short film, desktop that froze up routinely on me. At first and they were shooting with the Panasonic I was drawing digitally with a mouse. Then I DVX 100A. I was quite taken with the image, began using a Wacom pen and tablet for il- plus the fact that you could hook up a monitor lustrations, and working in effects programs  Equipment and Production 57 like Photo Impact 6 (old-school) and Adobe medical gloves, and a special cloth and fluid, Photoshop. Later on, I used a Mac Mini and in a controlled room. This took me about 400 Adobe After Effects for animating; and for ed- tedious hours. Also, when editing off-line on iting, I worked in Final Cut Pro. With all the VHS deck to deck, you had to manually write VO recordings and music I worked off a pro- every “in and out” of the time codes that were gram called Acid Music, by Sonic Foundry. burned-in to the image, to be able to re-edit The microphone for both voice-overs and the film later in the more expensive Betacam music is a mid-grade studio condenser model. online suite. Blood Symbol had 1,290 cuts. It On my very first film, Gemini, we were took me about 700 hours to carefully write shooting on VHS camcorders, editing in be- them down, because any mistake would be tween two of them. Superimposing titles was costly later with the online edit. So it was a a big thing back then. I think, though, that nightmare. I also did this on Lady of the Lake. was when I realized anyone could make a Digital editing is fantastic, a lifesaver. People movie, even if you’re just a 16-year-old kid liv- who edit digitally today have no idea how easy ing in the sticks, teaching yourself on home- they have it. made movies; that it wasn’t this mystical I love the look of 35mm but there is no log- process that only took place in Hollywood and ical reason to shoot on film today, with all the New York. top-end digital cameras available. Oh, how I My approach isn’t all that different these wish I had digital cameras and computer ed- days, in principle, except now I can certainly iting when I was a teenager. I would’ve made play a 30-year-old character more convinc- ten features before I was 22. The first nine ingly than I did as a teen. would have been bad, but number ten would Maurice Devereaux: My first film, Blood have been pretty good, and all the experience Symbol, was shot on Super 8mm and 16mm, it took me 25 years to accumulate I would Lady of the Lake on 16mm, Slashers and End have achieved in only four. of the Line on HDCAM. Shooting Super 8 was Donald Farmer: I’ve shot in about all the a nightmare. People today have no idea of the major formats. A few of my projects have been hardships (and costs) it took to make a film 35mm —No Justice, Demented and Deadly on that format. It cost $35 to purchase and Run. The Strike was half 35mm and half develop a two-minute and thirty-second reel 16mm. Several others were 100 percent 16mm, of Super 8mm film, and about four times that like Vampire Cop, Compelling Evidence, Vicious for 16mm. Then, you had to pay huge amounts Kiss, Demolition Highway, Blood and Honor, to transfer it onto Betacam master tapes and Battle For Glory and Deadly Memories. VHS off-line time code burn-in off-line tapes My first four movies —Demon Queen, Can- and do color correcting. And since Super 8 nibal Hookers, Scream Dream and Savage reels are so fragile and you couldn’t stop and Vengeance— were all shot on three-quarter- start a transfer to color correct, you had to do inch videotape. Time has shown this isn’t a it on the fly, so for about 12 weeks I had to format that ages particularly well. It picks up edit my 450 reels of Super 8 onto one-hour lots of drop-outs and even loses some serious reels, sorting them by scenes of day, night, and picture resolution. I’ve seen lots of half-inch the overall type of color correction that would videotapes that age better than most three- be needed, so that we would not have to be quarter masters. To be completely honest, I doing huge color timing shifts for every shot. think some of my ’70s Super 8mm movies But manipulating the Super 8 is problematic, look better now than anything I shot on three- as the image is so tiny that a little piece of dirt quarter video. would be huge in the image. So I then had to After that, I switched to Betacam SP as my manually clean each frame of the film, with non-film format of choice. I used it a couple 58 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Donald Farmer and crew prepare to shoot a lesbian love scene for Red Lips. of times for Red Lips: Bloodlust and Space Kid. Super VHS and Hi-8, with the end product Now I’m shooting in various High Def for- being on VHS. I’m mortified when I look at mats, as on Chainsaw Cheerleaders and my new my movie. Not at the feature itself but at the movie Shark Exorcist. technical shortcomings compared to what I Jeff Forsyth: I’ve recently stepped into could do now for the same cost. the HDV arena but have not had a chance to Richard W. Haines: Since I’m a “film- shoot anything with it. I’m loving the quality, maker,” I shoot my movies on 35mm film especially for low-cost micro-budget features. stock. I studied the art of cinematography and When I started out the only thing available to I’m able to simulate the look of various genres, me was SVHS that I used for videotaping spe- including Technicolor movies, film noir cial events. Young filmmakers coming up now thrillers and 3-D pictures. I like the nuance have NO idea how great they have it. The of grain in film stock, which is what generates equipment available today for the independent a dimensional appearance. Not graininess, but filmmaker still amazes me. For a fraction of how light is reflected on the emulsion from the cost of even ten years ago a filmmaker can foreground to background. “Painting with achieve professional quality. The advent of light” as Freddie (Lawrence of Arabia) Young low-cost digital HD, desktop editing and used to describe it. cheap disk space has really been a benefit. I have nothing against digital as a release When I made my first movie, desktop editing format. I scanned in the 35mm camera nega- was just coming into the scene. Most of us tive of my last movie, reversed the image to a low-end filmmakers were still shooting in positive, which generated razor-sharp imagery  Equipment and Production 59 have a “hard copy” of your imagery on plastic. There’s no reliable way of preserving a digital image other than out-putting it to a 35mm negative, which is very expensive. It’s cheaper to shoot in 35mm to begin with. In addition, digital technology is like a moving target, and no format lasts for long. First, they used 2K resolution, but that was rendered obsolete with the introduction of 4K. Warner is trans- ferring some of its negatives to 8K now. I wouldn’t want my master element in a system that will eventually become obsolete, whereas 35mm film stock has been around for over a hundred years. If you have a 35mm negative it can be transferred successfully to any new digital media developed in the future, so I’ll stick with 35mm until it’s eliminated, at which point I’ll stop making movies. Obviously, the quality of 35mm negatives is superior to a 16mm blowup. In hindsight, I wish I had the money to shoot Splatter Uni- versity in 35mm — but at least I retained the “hard copy” of my images on 16mm stock. I’ve used a number of different 35mm cam- eras over the years. I primarily shoot with an Arri, although we used an old Mitchell for some of the special effects work in Space Avenger in 1987 because it had rock-steady registration for superimpositions. Since 1995 I’ve only hired cinematographers that own their own 35mm equipment, which saves on rentals and guarantees it will be in good run- ning order. Splatter University was shot in 16mm, as I mentioned, and we used several cameras, although I don’t recall which models 30 years later. One of the biggest changes has been the Donald Farmer offers direction to actress J.J. switch from analog sound recording to digital. North during the shoot for Vicious Kiss. We used to shoot with a Nagra, which used one-quarter-inch analog audio tape. Now we that replicated the grain structure of the emul- use a digital audio recorder, which is in sync sion. I’m opposed to shooting a movie on dig- with the 35mm camera, that generates much ital since you lose so much of the visual artistry better sound and doesn’t have the problem of contained on film. tape hiss or other signal to noise-ratio issues I’m also an archivist and one of the few when copying it. “indie” filmmakers that is concerned with pre- William Hopkins: Both of my films were serving my negatives. The advantage is you produced before High Definition video be- 60 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Director William Hopkins behind the camera on the set of Demon Resurrection. came practical for indie filmmakers so both we used on our first movie, but my advice is were shot in Standard Definition digital video. to use what you can. Don’t let what kind of I used the Sony VX1000 for Sleepless Nights equipment you use, or don’t use, hold you and the Canon XL1S for Demon Resurrection. back from filmmaking. The Sony was a terrific camera for its day and Rolfe Kanefsky: Well, when I first started I never had a moment’s trouble with it. But it making professional films, the year was 1989. had a fixed lens that wasn’t of the highest qual- I had been doing video productions and some ity, so the resulting picture was really too soft Super 8 shorts, so I was delighted to be shoot- for professional filmmaking. ing my first real feature on Super 16, which The Canon camera gave us a lot of trouble looked great when blown up to 35mm. This during the shoot, eating tapes and malfunc- is what we did with There’s Nothing Out There; tioning in various ways almost from the first it had a small theatrical release in New York day. But the image quality was very high, very and California. We made five answer prints vivid and sharp, especially when the camera and showed them at midnight screenings and was fitted with a better lens. When we were film festivals as well as the one week long run shooting Demon Resurrection, we ran a Fire- at the 8th Street Playhouse in New York City. wire cable to a Mac laptop and captured the After Nothing, I was able to shoot my next video directly to a hard drive using the Hack project, My Family Treasure, on 35mm. From TV app, a process that worked pretty well and 1996 to 2003, all of my movies were either helped us to get around the Canon’s tape-eat- 16mm, Super 16, or 35mm. I love film and was ing problem. very happy to move from video to film. And Steve Hudgins: We use the best equip- then the business changed. It became digital. ment that we can afford and/or borrow. A lot I was hesitant to shoot on digital because the of it comes down to personal preference. Our look wasn’t great and it took just as long to equipment is much better quality than what light properly for video if you wanted it to  Equipment and Production 61 look as good as film. But as the technology making movies — but learn your craft. I made improved, the savings from shooting on digital dozens and dozens of shorts and two feature- rather than film were impossible to overlook. length videos while just learning to make I also shoot a lot of footage. It’s much, much movies. I’m proud of them but I would never cheaper to do this on video rather than film. try to release them, except possibly as a special In the film days, we would circle takes to de- feature on a DVD or Blu-ray. Take your time termine what would be printed, because print- and make your film the best it can be before ing the film cost money. On video/digital that shopping it around. The people who are in is no longer an issue. In 2003, I made Jacque- this business just to make a quick buck and line Hyde for a budget of about $75,000. Film don’t really care about the art or quality of was not really an option, so I shot my first film their “film” is what upsets me. on digital, using the Sony 900. It was a very Brett Kelly: Nowadays I shoot on HD good camera and I was quite pleased with the cameras, sometimes DSLRs. When I first look. In fact, we ended up selling the film and started I shot on SVHS and Hi-8 video cam- having it released on DVD through Warner eras. The quality these days is definitely bet- Bros. Home Video. That proved to me that ter, but in a way I prefer having tape rather the days of film were over. If the first video than SD cards. I prefer knowing that a per- production I did could be released by Warners, manent record exists, rather than cards that I knew this was the new way, despite my love get erased constantly. It makes me a nervous for film. wreck knowing that a whole days work can get I have since used all different types of digital wiped out in an instant. The DSLRs are cool cameras. Nightmare Man was shot on the and handy, but at the moment, sound needs Panasonic Vericam and opened in 350 theaters to be recorded separately and synced up in nationwide as part of the Horrorfest: 8 Films post. That’s a pain, but the trade-off is the low to Die For festival in 2007. We had to blow it cost of the equipment, and that makes it up to 35mm for the release, but it proved that worthwhile. it could be done. My recent film, 1 in the Gun, Chris LaMartina: I shot my first feature was shot on the Panasonic 3000 and looks on a consumer Sony camcorder with in- amazing. camera audio and Home Depot worklights. It The important thing about shooting digital was absolute trash, but you have walk before is that you need really good lenses and know you run, right? That film was produced as a how to light [a scene] properly. Film is more learning experiment, to see if I could finish a forgiving, so you really need a cameraman feature (an anthology, really), and to see if it who knows what he’s doing. The problem could get distributed (it did). with digital is that the cameras are so cheap With each subsequent film, we got better that anyone thinks they know how to make a gear. We shot Book of Lore on a Canon XL2, a movie. Not everyone does. In the days of film, 24p 3CCD camera with swappable lenses. At the cost was so expensive that it stopped a lot the time, we thought it was unbelievable. Now, of people from making movies. Now, everyone it looks like a dinosaur, and this is a motif that is making them for next to nothing. This is a repeats itself over and over again in the ever- good and bad thing because many filmmakers changing technology climate we live in. aren’t learning the basic rules of how to make By the time we got to President’s Day, tech- a movie. They just rush into a production, nology was moving so fast that I’d gotten sick shoot it quickly, slap on some slick box art, of buying a new camera every two years. In- and try to get it released. Sometimes they suc- stead of buying new gear, we hired a DP/gaffer ceed and sometimes they fail. team that provided their own: a Panasonic I don’t have a problem with new people HVX with a 35mm lens adaptor setup. 62 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES The adaptor looked pretty great. We could files. My senior thesis film, The Underdogs, was use fixed lens and do wild rack focus maneu- shot in 2001 on 35mm and I edited on an vers that we’d never done before. However, it Avid. required a lot of light. We’d lose about two- I was always a film snob and never thought and-a-half f-stops with the use of the adaptor. I could accept digital for feature filmmaking. For a simple bedroom scene, we’d be blasting And while it will never be 100 percent as good the location with Kino lights. Lighting ate up as film, I’ve learned to love digital as a way to a lot of production time. do things efficiently and create a workflow By the time we shot Witch’s Brew, DSLR where I can do most things by myself. Once cameras shooting HD video become the “it” it’s shot I can import immediately and start format. We shot with two Canon 7Ds. Light editing full-resolution footage in my bedroom loss was minimal (except when using an espe- that day. Certain cameras also have their own cially long telephoto lens or freakish wide aesthetic, so while the Panasonic DVX100 can’t lens). In general, these cameras provided great compete with 35mm in clarity, it has its own picture quality for very minimal cost, but just look and flavor that can be fun to play with. like every format, it had its disadvantages. On Same for the RED. I’ve seen it look terrible hot days, the 7Ds would overheat. A lot. They and I’ve seen it look great. I’ve been lucky to never blew up, but we didn’t take many work with a great DP, Ryan Samul, who really chances. We’d power them down as often as knows how to exploit all formats. we could. The DSLRs also had no sync-sound The technology now is so good, there’s no option (recently, I’ve heard of a “hack” that reason not to be making things that can com- can work around this issue). We recorded pete with Hollywood. sound to an H4N zoom recorder and it had Damon Packard: At this stage in tech- to be synced-up in post. I used a program nology in the micro-budget world I’ve been called Plural Eyes for this. It uses the wav form using the Canon DSLRs and Panasonic Pro- of the 7D’s camera audio to match up with sumer cameras. The Red Epic currently seems the wav form of the H4N’s. to be the favored tool in professional circles. Another downside to consider with DSLRs The tools are always improving, but nothing is your editing platform. The 7D saved files will ever replace the photochemical look of as H.264s. At the time, Final Cut Pro (my film. preferred edit suite), couldn’t edit H.264’s na- Brad Paulson: I use the Panasonic DVX tively and, therefore, I had to convert them to 100a because that’s all I have the money for. I Apple ProRes HQ files. This and the syncing can’t even remember what the camera was we of audio took up quite a bit of post-produc- made our first movie on. I started using shitty tion time. I spent about two months encoding handhold camcorders to make my own movies and syncing the footage. It looked great in the in high school. This was, of course, before the end, but it was very labor-intensive for us. prosumer stuff was around. Never in my Jim Mickle: My first feature, Mulberry wildest dreams at that time would I have Street, was shot in 2005 on a Panasonic thought there would be an affordable camera DVX100, which was a 24p Mini-DV camera out there in a few years that would give me a that I absolutely loved. I edited in Final Cut “film look.” At that time, I was already seeing Pro and we wound up blowing it up to HD Hollywood Video get infested with micro-cin- and the distributors made a 35mm print for ema, so I thought it may be possible for me release. On Stake Land we shot in 2009 using in the future. When we made The Van we two RED-One cameras, and I edited in Final didn’t even own a camera. So, we went to Fry’s Cut Pro and did all the F/X and compositing [grocery store] in Burbank to look at options. in Adobe After Effects, working with 4K RAW The clerk told us people would buy the cam-  Equipment and Production 63 eras to shoot porns and turn them back in actors and your goal is to sell to a distributor three weeks later and get their money back. I for cable or home video, you simply rent the looked at my co-directors and said, “Looks best camera you can. You’re not saving money like we have three weeks to shoot this sucker.” by going with a consumer format. The costs On The Bloodstained Bride we started using of the actors, the script, the lights, the cos- the Panasonic DVX100a and that’s the same tumes and the permits are the same anyway. camera I’ve used ever since. Fortunately, I can And the sound quality is more important upgrade if I need to because the prosumer than the picture quality. Clean up the sound- equipment is so much less expensive than it track and re-record the dialogue, if necessary. used to be. On the Bride our camera was A viewer will keep watching your film despite worth 5K. Now it’s only worth 1k or less. It some poor video if he likes the story and can still suits my purposes and has been a great lit- hear the dialogue. But if he can’t make out tle camera. I plan switching formats in the what anyone is saying, forget it. near future, but it has been very good to me But if your goal isn’t a narrative film with over the years. actors, then grab the camera you have and Jose Prendes: Equipment changes all the see what you come up with. Have fun with time, depending on timeframe and budget, so images and editing. Mix and match shooting this is kind of an odd question to answer. My formats. Go retro. Put those tiny Kodak, Flip first film, The Monster Man, was shot on a dv and Sony HD cams in places where larger and cam, while Corpses Are Forever was shot on more professional gear can’t go. 35mm film. It all depends on budget and the Eric Shapiro: I’m not picky as long as tech available at the time. it’s High Definition. Rule of Three was shot Paul Scrabo: The past ten years have in Standard Definition in 2007, and that’s given us more formats, more codecs, more haunted us for years. Going around to cameras, more flavors than we can master. I festivals, it looked different on every screen; would recommend that if your film contains sometimes really washed-out and grainy, Jose Prendes working with a 16mm camera in a film school short. 64 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES sometimes sterling and glossy. And when So, my equipments covers all the main de- Netflix licensed it for streaming, it got flagged partments, meaning I can actually make any- by our distributor’s quality-control depart- thing to a very decent quality. It’s good to ment for all the grain. So the editor, Randy work out what you have to spend and do lots Stoudt, had to put a soft blur on it and adjust and lots of research on cameras, microphones the image. HD is far more stable and can etc before you buy. I don’t think about things withstand far more transfers and platforms. like, “I can’t shoot because I haven’t got a good Anthony Straeger: I have a number of enough camera.” I shoot because I have cameras — all sub £5000 ($7500) cameras, bought one and, in most cases, it will do just ranging from tape based to solid state SD card fine. based. I made Call of the Hunter on a JVC GY- Stepping up to say, the RED Camera from HD200—1280 ¥ 720 at 24fps. This camera my JVC would have inflated the budget and is a Mini-DV HDV camera and has the great the shooting time for Call of the Hunter. So advantage of having a really good lens on the the whole thing becomes relative — Many front of it. Additionally, I had a wide-angle films are now being shot on the Canon D5 zoom to give me the full range of options. I and D7 because they are high quality and easy had no problems with the quality not being to use. But once you move to prime lenses full HD (High Definition), i.e., 1920 ¥ 1080. then you move the time line along. It gets back I very much like the JVCs as they have to balancing the books — Time versus Equip- made their .mov file system very Final Cut Pro ment versus Budget. Three balls that take a friendly — so having the solid-state model has lot of juggling. reduced the editing time. I don’t really think I can tell you one thing — after Call of the that one should be too hung up on the camera; Hunter I will not do anything as insane as try- there are so many very good, small and low- ing to shoot in 12 days. Currently Quid In cost cameras out there that it really is a Shrapnel Productions is in negotiations to pro- fantastic playground for filmmakers. There are duce a zombie movie entitled Blue, Green, Yel- some amazing developments in low cost cam- low, Dead! And we are looking at a schedule eras at the time of writing, there was a new of 28 days, and 42 if it goes to 3-D. We intend airing from Canon the Canon C300 at sub 20k to shoot something like the Red or Scarlet, looks like a remarkable camera. but that will all depend on the final budget I have some of my own personal sound negotiated. Back to juggling and that is all you equipment — I have a Beyer Dynamic MCE can do. 86N(C)S shotgun microphone, which I love Overall, you have to do a serious weighing- because it has a nice mellow tone to it. For up job. The length of the script and the action voice-over work I have a Blue Yeti USB micro- involved affects the length of shooting time phone and, for the money, it was a great buy. and, therefore, the budget. The camera will Once again I don’t have top-end equipment, affect how you shoot and with what lenses you but the equipment I have does a really good can shoot with and, as such, affect the shoot- job. ing time and the budget. In addition to that, I have amassed quite a Marc Trottier: Equipment and technol- lot of lighting running at 2 ¥ 2000-watt ogy have changed so much in recent years that Blonde Lamps, 4 ¥ 1000-watt Redhead lamps I re-edited Darkness Waits to try and make the and a set of four variable Dedos. Add to that quality acceptable with the standards of today a few 200-watt regular house bulbs and I can (by “today,” I mean “2008” which is when I light anything. These days, when cameras are finished it). I was a victim of what I call “Lucas so sensitive, you don’t need the really big 10 Syndrome” ... which is basically re-doing and 5k lights under most circumstances. things to try and keep up with the current  Equipment and Production 65 standards (like how Star Wars was released 37 color correction ... Photoshop to fix individual times ... with a 3-D version scheduled for re- frames or create the cover art for the DVD/ lease over the next few years). I re-edited it a Blu-ray case, disc and menus ... Audition for few times and added new footage over a period special sound effects and adjustments that I of seven years! can’t do in Premiere ... and Encore for DVD/ Since I haven’t been active lately (as far as Blu-ray authoring with animated menus and writing/directing) and I worked so long at music. restoring footage from Darkness Waits (which Mike Watt: We started with 16mm film was shot on Mini DV) that I still haven’t per- and slowly moved our way through the various sonally made anything in HD yet — although incarnations of digital video, finally landing that would be my obvious choice because the in the HD world. While many of our col- quality is amazing and you have so much more leagues are film purists (Amy included), I control over the footage. I know, I know ... never preferred it. Everything about working welcome to the 21st century, Marc! on film is another step. Load it in the dark. As far as editing goes, I edited the first part Shoot it. Process it. Reshoot because something of Darkness Waits (originally two short films went wrong. Get a work print. Edit. Conform which were eventually put together to create the negative. Transfer the sound from one for- a feature) on a VCR. Actually, that’s how I mat to another. Apologies to all film purists began editing stuff. The finished product (Art Ettinger at Ultra Violent Magazine in par- would be a VHS tape, which just seems so an- ticular) but digital is really the way to go. cient nowadays! I currently use Adobe CS5 Demon Divas and the Lanes of Damnation (5.5) for all my projects. With the Creative was our first HD movie, with the equipment Suite, I use Premiere Pro for editing ... After provided by our crew, DiggerFilm (Steve Vil- Effects for visual effects, animated titles and leneuve, Hugo Bissonet and Simon Geraghty). Shooting Demon Divas: Hugo Bissonett (left), and Mike Watt. 66 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES In order to edit, I had to upgrade our com- moments that are, miraculously, fitting to- puter system, editing software and eventually gether beautifully, if a bit subjectively. Were obtain our own HD camera for inserts and we shooting film with the same budget, those reshoots. It was a large expense up front in- magical moments would have been lost. stead of an ongoing expense of the film and This day changed the dynamic of the rest processing. Working from P2 cards instead of of the shoot. I’d encouraged improvisation tape is also a long-term cost saver. And, of during small scenes, but thanks to the digital course, it’s all instant. A couple of menu items format, we could just keep going long after in and you can see exactly what you shot, the scene was done. We’d get a master, close making the “reshoot or print” decision an in- ups, and then everyone would just let loose, stant one. Of course, HD comes with its own evolving their characters with both new dia- share of nerve-wracking elements (card inter- logue and prolonged silences. Sure, if I’d had ruption, bad reader, corrupt hard drives), but Robert Altman’s average budget, we could it’s nice to focus on filming rather than elec- have done that with film, too. Without the trochemistry. cash, it’s the format that allowed us all to find The differences between the production on our footing from one scene to the next. The Resurrection Game and Razor Days are And, of course, with digital nonlinear ed- night and day. Part of that came from having iting, the post-process comes with its own ad- the budget to keep everyone around for ten ventures, too, which is going to result in a straight days, as opposed to one or two week- movie with a unique look and style from any- ends per month for two years. More came thing else we’ve ever done. from that instant gratification of digital. Ritch Yarber: We shoot on the Canon XL Shooting fast and tight is always a priority in digital format. Although I am a fan of the for us, but with film we always heard the dollar Canon XL, the main reason we use it is that signs ticking away as the film exposed. On Brian Foster, our director of photography, al- Razor Days, a much more character-driven ready owned this equipment and the attach- script, HD gave us the luxury of improvisa- ments. I added a second Canon XL to our ar- tion. One day in particular during the shoot, senal to complement what he already had. We we had an elaborate, four-page dialogue scene use Mini-DV because it is economically the between the three stars, Amy, Debbie Rochon most viable format for our budget at this time. and Bette Cassett, which also included a cho- Our editing program is Adobe Premiere and reographed fight scene. Just as we were ready Final Cut Pro. to shoot, the sky opened up and vomited rain Our first movies were shot with consumer in sheets. The actors voted to keep going, but grade Hi-8 cameras and some lights that Brian the elements made the scene increasingly dif- borrowed from the cable television produc- ficult to stick to choreography and the blocked tions that he worked on. We now use the moves. So I told them to just go for it. What- Canon XLs, small lighting packages, moni- ever felt natural, don’t worry about the lines, tors, professional microphones and whatever hit the emotional beats. We wound up with else we can borrow, beg or steal ... just kidding. three very different takes of the scene, the ac- We have even dabbled with direct video feeds tors utilizing the full half-acre of muddy space into on-set computers. Our latest film, Murder while I, Director of Photography Bart Mas- Machine!, features CGI effects that greatly pro- tronardi and the rest of the tarp-carrying crew pelled us as we sought to fully realize our just tried to keep up. There was one section vision of the ultimate killer. We hope to con- of dialogue in particular that led in different tinue this escalating trend with our next directions each time and it allowed us to focus feature that will incorporate CGI effects to add on each of the three, capturing very special an animated character to interact with our live  Equipment and Production 67 cast, something that we have no clue about Compared to my early days, the main differ- but that we have already started to make hap- ence is that I now shoot in High Definition. pen. We know it is a common thing to many But does it really matter if a movie is digital filmmakers these days but we hope to present rather than in film format? I don’t think so. If it in an original manner within our usual the story is good, if characters are believable, micro-budget. Another new and growing ex- if the acting is solid, if photography is well perience for us and for the talented artists that defined, and if the editing is good, then it will contribute to this work and, hopefully, makes little difference what kind of support gain future opportunities by making it hap- every frame has been impressed on. Does it pen. matter if a painting is on canvas or cardboard? Ivan Zuccon: I don’t believe the technical Does it matter if a portrait is painted with means is that fundamental. I shoot my movies crayon or oil? I don’t think so. It’s the subject in HD quality with very good cameras, like that matters, it’s the stroke, the hand of the Sony CineAlta, even though I’d love to have painter, the meaning the author wants to enough money to shoot a movie in 35mm. transmit through his creation. Camera setup with the crew of Wrath of the Crows (2012). Photograph courtesy Marija Obradovic.  Budget and Funding The majority of my films, including the further get more “bang for the buck” I collab- documentaries, have been self-funded. I think orated with other filmmakers by making an- a large part of this was due to impatience. I thology-type features. They’d produce and wanted to get right to it, not spending months fund their own segments and would get a per- or even years trying to get money from other centage of the profits. This worked out for people. Yes, I had tried that many times everyone and we’d only have to spend a frac- through the years while working on my own tion of what we would on an individual fea- projects, and it never amounted to anything ture. This worked well for a decade, when it other than frustration. In trying to get money was viable to produce some sort of income from investors the one obstacle I kept on com- from independent filmmaking. ing across, over and over again, is that these The only time I ever lost money on a film potential “producers” wanted a guarantee that was on the drama Walking Between the Rain- they’d make their money back within a certain drops, primarily because I shot that in Cali- time period and they wanted this in writing. fornia and, after the digital movie was com- Some even stipulated that they wanted me to pleted, had it blown up to a 16mm print for pay them back everything even if the movie film festivals. This cost about five times more made no profit. While I always had the inten- than the actual budget of the movie. However, tion of finishing a movie and selling it, I wasn’t that particular film remains one of my fa- psychic. So I refused to do any of these deals vorites. because I couldn’t promise something out of With the documentaries I made my money thin air. It was more trouble than it was worth by getting sponsors/underwriters for the PBS and I didn’t want the producers as a perpetual television broadcasts. However, I had to finish black cloud over my head. the program first — and get it accepted for So I did as much of the work as I could my- broadcast — before I could blindly approach self, borrowed equipment when I didn’t have these different companies for cash. It always it, and recruited volunteers for crew and took about a year to shoot and edit a produc- actors. I was always up-front about the low- tion, as I was doing the majority of the work. budget aspect of production and always made Yes, there was always a chance it wouldn’t get sure to have food on-set and on location. A accepted and I would not make any money at well-fed cast and crew is a happy cast and all, but it was a risk I took. It’s always a leap crew. Once a movie was done and I had in- of faith believing in the project and that you’ll come from it, I invested that money into the be able to make money on it. Just don’t go next production and then into the next. To broke doing it. 68  Budget and Funding 69 The Filmmakers were asked: How do you handle your budget and funding? What costs money and what doesn’t? Glenn Andreiev: You want to pay your made back. If you have investors they must be lead cast members and crew people something. paid back so you can prove to them that you They all have bills to pay and the “we’ll all can make a return on their investment. The share in the profits” thrill dies awfully fast dur- costliest budget items for documentaries with ing production. Also, you want to pay your- reenactments are sets, props, make-up, and self. When shooting, you want to concentrate costumes. I would recommend to budget at only on your film, not, “Is the landlord com- least one-third of your budget for post-pro- ing around today?” Today, with the indie film- duction sound (sound effects editing and mix- market being so weak, you want to target local ing) and music. When making H.H. Holmes, businesses for funding, saying that their busi- the addition of Hollywood voice-over talent ness in your film can be great local publicity, Tony Jay and the excellent post sound work and think of ways of effectively getting local and music really brought the film to a higher (not national) publicity for them, meaning the level. seafood restaurant in Jacksonville, Florida, Keith Crocker: I simply start out shooting probably isn’t concerned about the publicity with the notion that I’m going to save every they’ll get in Michigan. dollar I can. I’ll pay for only what needs to be If you’re shooting with video on location, paid for and nothing else. I don’t spend money always play it very low, with minimal equip- on permits; I steal locations. I pay only for ment and crew, letting businesses know you’ll nude scenes from actors and actresses, because be in and out of their place quickly. You’ll get nudity is a tall order for actors; it can cause so many services, locations, even food for free uneasiness and discomfort, and you may lose if you prove you’re not going to be a big pain the performer if you don’t give an incentive. I in their necks. always supply food, drinks and comfort for a John Borowski: There are three major cast and crew; you’ll lose them if you don’t phases of independent film production: fund- take care of them. I’ll pay for supplies needed ing, production, and distribution. Each of in regards to make-up and costuming, so the these phases is a mountain to climb. Some- make-up artist does not get stuck with any times I feel I would rather climb Mount Ever- bills. But most folks know nothing about what est as that is how difficult making indie movies they can and can’t get for free. They very often can be. Since my films are documentaries, I spend themselves into a hole and their films can make them over a period of years. With a cease in production because they run out of narrative feature film, the entire production money. No need for that to happen if you’re budget must be ready when filming com- careful, smart and very up front about your mences. Being a 100 percent independent needs. Most folks want to see a film succeed, filmmaker, I self-fund my films. I budget my and love to help out, provided it’s not a mis- films based on the last film I produced and try erable trip. to achieve more with a smaller budget each Richard Cunningham: I try to keep time. Many filmmakers want huge budgets budget down to a bare minimum because the but I want mine as small as possible so there funding for my films comes from my own wal- can be some type of a return on investment. let and whichever small team I’m involved The less money spent, the less that has to be with. Day jobs can only afford an amateur 70 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES filmmaker so much, and debt in general scares book collection that I had collected for years, the hell out of me, so I try to improvise and and worked in odd jobs. I had tried to find use makeshift equipment where I can. outside funding from either government agen- For example, on my last film, I cleared the cies here in Canada (Telefilm and Sodec) but floor space in my apartment, converting it into was always refused, as they do not like horror/ a photography studio in which I shot a ma- fantasy films, and the tax-shelter years of Prom jority of the hundreds of images seen in the Night, Terror Train, Shivers, Rabid, My Bloody film’s compositions. For lighting, I bought a Valentine, et cetera, were over. David Cronen- few china balls, a halogen lamp set from Wal- berg would not have had his career if it wasn’t mart, and I employed translucent shower cur- for the tax-shelter deals of the time, as his early tains to soften them, poster board for bounces. films were loathed by critics and the govern- I used a piece of sheer Styrofoam sheeting ment. But unfortunately for me I missed those which I illuminated from behind, creating a golden years. Cronenberg, after being a success blank backdrop and clear edges on the objects internationally, has since been accepted by the for when I needed to cut out the image in the government-funding agencies, but he’s an ex- illustrating process later. I even used an old ception. If anyone else would submit scripts crutch to produce some of the characters’ more like Shivers, Rabid, Scanners, Videodrome or extreme action postures. It obviously makes The Brood they would get rejected. I ran out you look a little less big-time to the other peo- of money many times during the six years it ple involved in the project, but using a little took to finish Blood Symbol. Eventually I ingenuity to fashion your own equipment can found a producer who convinced a post-pro- save you thousands of dollars in production duction house to pay for all the post and be- costs. come co-producers, and that’s how the movie Then there are some expenses you can’t was finally completed. avoid, like the camera. Still, you can purchase For my following projects I tried contacting a solid prosumer HD camcorder now for a few a few private companies, to no avail, but it’s thousand dollars; or, if your budget demands normal as it is very hard for even established it, you can start out even cheaper than that. directors to get projects off the ground. For Sound is also one of the most powerful and Lady of the Lake, I took my savings ($15,000) immediate attributes that will quickly differ- and took out a loan ($10,000) and shot half entiate a good film from one poorly made, so the film in 1993, edited what I had (50 min- it’s important to invest in a quality micro- utes) and did a trailer. Then I tried for five phone. If your film requires a lot of static shots years to find investors, partners, and money or slow pans, it’s also a smart move to invest to finish the film. Many promising leads in a sturdy tripod that offers some real fluidity turned out to be wastes of time and it was very to the camera’s movements. frustrating. You can often get friends to help out during In 1998, my friend Martin Gauthier (who a shoot for crew; even actors are often willing ended up composing the score) had inherited to jump on-board for no salary, but in that some money from his dad, and loaned me the situation it’s wise to plan out a concentrated money to finally finish the film. filming schedule and stick to it — especially if But I don’t recommend taking money from you are paying people little to nothing — be- family or friends, as it puts a strain on rela- cause with such favors often conflicts are tionships. Because, unfortunately, it wasn’t 100 bound to emerge in schedules the longer that percent clear between me and Martin that the your production goes on. money he put in was an investment or a loan. Maurice Devereaux: To finance my first This was a big mistake, since we were friends, film, Blood Symbol, I sold off my huge comic- naïve and clearly not “businessmen.” We  Budget and Funding 71 didn’t do things officially with contracts that own backyard, Maurice Devereaux — why made everything crystal clear. I thought the didn’t you hire him?” The producer answered, money he was putting in was an investment “Who?” He had never heard of me, and the and that whatever money the film made back first-time director (who had only done a short he would get first and then we would split the film), who was making this four-million- rest. He though it was an investment/loan and dollar feature, knew someone related to the that I would eventually pay him back, when I production and got hired. Contacts ... those could (no time line, a “gentlemen’s agree- are the real gold. Ninety percent of jobs come ment”). Oh, boy, if I had known, I would through them. And, unfortunately, it has never never have taken on his generous $100,000 been my strong suit on the filmmaking side. loan, as even the small $10K loan I had taken Well, unless you enjoy working with ama- before took me years to pay off. And a 100K teurs, EVERYTHING costs money. Good ac- loan would have terrified me. On the upside, tors, professional crew, food, gas, locations, in- we finished the film, Martin was happy with surance, equipment. Until you have made a it and started a career as a film composer. On film, you really have no clue how so many the downside, the film made almost no money things add up. Even if today some things are back (only about $20,000). Even if Martin way cheaper (camera, editing), there are still never pressured me, it still was an albatross on so many elements that remain that you need my shoulder and I felt morally obliged to pay to pay for. Many indie filmmakers think once him back. I ended up finally paying him back the film is “in the can,” they’re done. But for the $80K about nine years later. Luckily, we’re certain sales (TV) you need extra E&O insur- still friends. ance, and you need to make international For End of the Line I took all my savings sound mixes of your film (without the dia- from my contract work (I edit movie trailers, logue) to sell to foreign markets. Films are TV and radio commercials) and partnered money pits, no matter how professional you with special make-up F/X artist Adrien Morot. are. There is always something you forgot and He would do all the F/X in exchange for 30 need to pay for. percent of the film’s sales. The film cost me Donald Farmer: For my first few movies around $400,000, but sales for the film were I funded them partly through co-productions only $185,000 (minus 30 percent for Adrien’s with video production companies. They pro- share), so I ended up losing lots of money. vided the things that represented major costs So what have we learned is that financing on a low-budget film: camera gear, lighting, films out of your own pocket is the absolutely crew, and editing facilities. If I could get these worst way to make movies. DO NOT DO items for no up-front cost through partner- THIS! Not only do you lose lots of money, ships with various production businesses, I but worse, you don’t make any useful contacts then would cover the remaining costs myself for your next film, as no one in “industry” ... things like actors salaries, make-up staff and knows you. Once Adrien Morot was doing the supplies, meals, motels, craft services. That’s special F/X for a horror film shot in my home- how I worked on my first movie, Demon town of Montreal, he was talking with the Queen. I found a Nashville video-production film’s producer, who was candidly sharing his company a friend referred to me. The owner feelings about the many problems they were and his wife were my “crew.” He brought all having on the film and how it sucked (terrible the camera and lighting gear down to Miami script, lousy first-time director who knew from Tennessee and we filmed for three con- nothing about horror films, etc) and Adrien secutive days. Then, to give us more running mentioned to him, “You have a horror film time, I wrote a couple of second-unit scenes expert (*note: His words not mine) in your set in a video stores that my cameraman shot 72 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES when he was back in Nashville. That’s where two actual 35mm prints we would show at I brought in my friend Bob Tidwell from The local theaters and drive-ins. This would be the Summoned to play the video store owner. last time I’d see such lavish spending on a After wrapping Cannibal Hookers in Los movie I worked on. Even five years later, when Angeles, I moved back to Tennessee and im- I did four back-to-back movies with a com- mediately was hired to be production manager bined budget of 1.2 million, things were con- and co-casting director on No Justice, a 35mm siderably more frugal, as it should be. feature with a $350,000 budget and a six- No Justice could easier have been done for week shooting schedule. This was funded by about half its $350,000 budget. The waste I a local car dealer who would ultimately spend witnessed was a real education in things I a half million on this and our follow-up movie wanted to avoid when I started raising backing Demented. So here I was finally working with for my own movies. Why fly a crew in from a real budget, even though I wasn’t directing California when you can hire them locally? and was involved more in organizational as- Why have a 30-person crew when half that pects of the shoot. Even the director wasn’t re- number will do fine? Why cut on film when ally directing, since our producer insisted on your primary market is video and television? giving himself sole directing credit. But in re- Why blow cash on fancy catering and wrap ality, the picture was about 80 percent directed beer? If the crew wants beer at the end of the by Fred Dresh, whose credits included crew day, they’ve been paid. Let them buy it them- work on the John Saxon film Cannibal Apoc- selves! alypse. But there is one useful trick I learned on No I ended up getting a nice acting scene in No Justice for stretching a budget. Our producer Justice opposite Cameron Mitchell, whose had the bright idea of approaching companies phone number I’d saved after interviewing for product placement spots. Not for cash, but him for my Splatter Times fanzine. I’d already for an agreement to provide camera time for lent Mitchell’s number out when Fred Olen the products in various scenes in exchange for Ray was casting The Tomb and needed another a few cases of said product for free. We did name. Now I had suddenly had the resources that with Pepsi and Budweiser on No Justice. to hire Mitchell myself after the producer’s ne- But a few years later, on Deadly Run and Vi- gotiations with Charles Napier went south. I cious Kiss, we used product-placement to get had enough in my casting budget for a second, free rental cars, RVs for the stars, and lots of smaller name, so I brought in Camille Keaton, lots of free bottled water for the thirsty cast who I’d gotten to know when I lived in Los and crew. For any indie directors wanting to Angeles. We also had Bob Orwig, who’d just score some free drinks or snacks for their crew appeared with Charlie Sheen in Platoon, but through product placement, I always recom- he happily worked for a fraction of what mend the path of least resistance ... namely, Mitchell and Keaton were paid. go after the smallest brands in each category. Having such a solid budget on No Justice If you need free bottled water, don’t approach meant we had money for hiring a mostly L.A. Evian or Aquafina ... go after the obscure re- crew. We flew everyone to Tennessee and gional brands that probably can’t afford lots of housed them at the local Scottish Inn for six advertising. Same with snacks ... let them weeks, springing for lavish catering (with a know that your movie will be sort of a perma- choice of multiple salads and desserts), renting nent commercial for their product that people Panavision 35mm camera gear and a full grip will still be watching years from now. Even truck, paying for multiple locations through offer to put the company’s website and phone our three-county shooting area, and finally, number in your end credits roll, if you think actually editing the movie “on film” to create that will help. Any movie, no matter how  Budget and Funding 73 small, is going to HAVE to buy drinks and snacks for the actors and crew ... right? Why not get that stuff for free and have some extra money for your budget? When I used to shoot on film, the cost of film stock, processing, and sound syncing were hard costs that could never be deferred. But now that everything’s gone digital, all those costs have evaporated and low-budget filmmaking is more accessible than ever. Now maybe the biggest hard cost is hiring an effects house to do your CGI. Jeff Forsyth: All my pictures, so far, have been self-financed. That has extended the pro- duction time on a few projects by months. With such an uncertain market I had not pre- viously felt it was the right time for investors. I have one more micro-budget film in me, I think, and then I am going to seek investors. Richard W. Haines: I use independent investors putting up small amounts of money which limits their risk. I also roll over profits from one film to the next to make sure I retain Box art for William Hopkins’ Sleepless Nights 51 percent of the equity for creative control. The way I budget my pictures is I don’t take because you put everything on credit cards. any up-front fees since I own the finished Eventually the bill comes due. I would guess product. That saves on producing, directing, the producers of these supposed no-budget writing and editing costs. I pay the crew what films tell the IRS a different story when tax I can afford but give them a check on a daily time comes around, especially if the films have basis. I know that on some low-budget shoots had any success in the marketplace. the producers run out of money and are If you’re approaching your production in a unable to pay their employees. I discovered it professional way, you can expect that every as- helps their performance if you pay them on a pect of it will cost something. The equipment per diem basis. you buy or rent, cast and crew’s salaries, trans- William Hopkins: Everything costs portation, food and lodging, costumes, sup- money, it seems. Everybody has their hand out plies for special effects and make-up, fees paid for money and every aspect of your production to secure the locations, insurance for the shoot, will come with a price tag on it. We all hear expendables like gaffer’s tape, batteries, light these stories about films that were made for a bulbs, foam core. Obviously, you want to keep few thousand dollars or a few hundred. At the costs down as much as possible, but every- least one filmmaker recently claimed his total thing costs something. Very few films that ac- budget was 50 British pounds. How true those tually cost nothing to make have any real com- stories are and how much is hype and publicity mercial value in a world where just about is hard to say. I suppose if the film is shot on everybody has access to high-quality cameras a deferred-payment basis, you can say it cost and editing software. If a film like The Blair nothing to make, but that’s a little misleading. Witch Project, which is about as small and sim- That’s like saying you have no living expenses ple a production as you can imagine, still cost 74 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES somewhere between 30 and 60 thousand to Rolfe Kanefsky: Ah, the eternal strug- make, according to the reports I read, then it’s gle—raising money to make your film. It’s not hard to imagine anything with any commer- easy. It’s never easy. I have written a lot of cial value being done for much less than that. scripts. I have budgets for many of them. I For both of my films, the funding came have multiple budgets for many of them. Dif- from private investors brought to the produc- ferent levels the films can be made depending tions by our producers. Nowadays we also on the money at hand. There are the budgets have indiegogo.com and kickstarter.com to with name actors and the budgets with non– consider. Whether or not those sites will really SAG actors. Basically, most movies can be be useful to indie filmmakers in raising funds made for a variety of budgets. When push for their productions remains to be seen, but comes to shove, things can be simplified, I’ll certainly be giving them a try. favors asked, and films get produced despite Steve Hudgins: We are low-budget spe- the lack of funds. cialists and handle our own entire budget. To I know some filmmakers who will not make me, the biggest expense is equipment. De- their movie unless they have enough money pending on who you know, you can often bor- to do so. I also know a lot of filmmakers who row some equipment, but the basic equipment have been waiting years and years to make for making a movie like camera, sound equip- those movies and end up making nothing. I’ve ment, lighting equipment, editing software always felt that the more you do, the better and a computer powerful enough to deal with you get and every experience teaches you it all is where a lot of the money goes. something. It’s been frustrating because if Rolfe Kanefsky and producer Alain Siritzky on the set of Rod Steele 0014 in Today Is Yesterday To- morrow, a James Bond parody and sequel to You Only Live Until You Die.  Budget and Funding 75 there really is very little money, your film will fice. Find a team who shares your dedication. not have the slick Hollywood look. It might Treat them well, compliment their hard work, be a good film but it doesn’t look like a 20 mil- give them real meal breaks and you will save lion dollar film because it ISN’T! But when a lot in the long run. It’s much better working the choice is to make nothing versus a low- with a happy crew than a pissed-off, exhausted budget independent, I usually choose making crew that wants to kill you or the producer for the movie. putting them through this. Be cheap but don’t So, what costs money? Well, everything be too cheap and, if you’re smart, you’ll put costs money. That’s not to say that you can’t the money where it belongs ... on the screen! get favors. Most do. If you shoot in your own That’s why I started producing myself. I house or a friend is nice enough to lend you was sick and tired of watching money being their house, then you save money on your lo- thrown away and time wasted on the stupidest cation. You can steal shots versus getting per- things. A long time ago, I worked as a P.A. on mits. You can feed a cast and crew pizza and a movie called Jack’s Friends. It was a first-time fast food versus hiring a caterer. You can buy director and we were shooting in the Hamp- a camera with a 30-day warranty and return tons at night in the winter. It was freezing. So, it after your shoot. There are many, many ways we’re shooting this scene where a naked girl is to beg, borrow and steal to make your movie. laying in the road to stop a car so she and her With the exception of stealing locations, I have boyfriend can carjack the driver. Anyway, we’re never done those other things. I believe in pay- shooting the scene and it gets to the part where ing people, even if it’s very little. You want to the girl runs to get her clothes and can’t find show people you respect their services. All ac- her shoe. Well, the director suddenly wasn’t tors get paid. All crew members get paid unless sure if he should shoot a close-up of the shoe they’re an intern in training. But if you can’t that she can’t find. He stopped and discussed pay, then you must feed them well. A good this for almost 40 minutes with the producers meal goes a long way. You also have to pay for while the actors and crew sat around, freezing, film/tapes and you need to light your scenes waiting for them to make up their minds. I properly. Unless you know someone who owns couldn’t believe it! I was screaming inside my their own camera and lighting package, you head, “Shoot the shoe! Just shoot it so you must pay for this. have it. Then you can decide in post while ed- Renting equipment on the weekends saves iting if you want to use the shot or not!!” It money. You get extras days and, if you return would have taken two minutes to shoot the it by Monday morning, you save a lot. I know close-up but they wasted almost an hour on people who have shot entire films on week- set talking about it. Talk about throwing away ends, renting the equipment every Friday and a lot of money and time. These discussions returning it on Monday. Again, I have not should have happened in pre-production. done this but most of my films have been six- That’s why you should always have a good day weeks to get the most out of the equip- pre-production schedule. Prep is the cheapest ment. period of time during any movie. But what I have usually worked with non-union happens quite often is people get some money, crews, which saves money when you go over rush through prep, run into problems during 12 hours, and that often happens. Same goes production and then try to fix it in post. It’s for actors but even some SAG actors, if they’re always a mistake and always ends up costing on your side, might not blow the whistle if you a hell of a lot more money. If you plan it they shoot an extra hour or two. correctly in the first place, it will be better in Making a movie, any movie, takes a lot of the long run and save you a bundle. hours, dedication, hard work, and self-sacri- Brett Kelly: I’m sure a lot of filmmakers 76 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES will tell you the advantages of free talent, and preciated, and feeding them is the least you that’s definitely true. Many actors and com- can do. posers will work for free at the beginnings of Other important budget decisions are their careers and I’ve certainly utilized a lot of special effects, nudity, and costuming/props. their services. At this point, I like to pay folks If you’re making a low-budget flick, you prob- whenever the budget allows, but if you don’t ably won’t have a name actor starring ... so have the cash there are people who will work your stars are your effects team and, if you’re for free in exchange for clips for their reels or doing something sleazy ... your nude roles. to build their résumés. I think the bulk of my I’ll politely not disclose what we pay for budgets tend to go towards feeding cast and nude roles (it varies based on the scenes), but crew on set and during post-production. One it’s important to pay those folks ... not only aspect that often gets forgotten is the cost of for the sake of respect, but because that is a deliverables to distributors, that’s a biggie. high-selling point to any distributor. Don’t blow your money up front, it’s the end My first three films had zero nudity, and that costs the most. every distributor we talked to promised us Chris LaMartina: Witch’s Brew was our they’d be more intrigued to license with a proj- biggest production to date. We raised $13K ect featuring more skin. When it came time through a site called Kickstarter, which funds for President’s Day, I knew what we had to do. creative projects through donations. We found There’s gore and sex within the first two min- another $2K through investors and ponied- utes. We got triple the distribution offers com- up $1K ourselves. It was our most expensive paratively and we learned a good lesson: sex film to date, at $16K. sells. Using a Kickstarter was an interesting, ex- Similarly, your body count and/or monster hausting experience. At the time, the site was (whatever that may be: a maniac, vampires, relatively new and we were one of the first pro- werewolves, garden gnomes, etc.) is crucial ductions to fund a feature film with it. We to audience excitement and public interest. promoted the link every day through social- Micro-budget fans love a good gross-out. networking sites and begged/pleaded with Don’t let them down. They are the most loyal, friends, family, and “fans.” Will we ever use it devoted fans out there and they’re consistently again? Probably not. It’s sort of a one-trick sit- disrespected by cheap effects. uation and the months following our suc- Less important, but not to be forgotten, are cessful fundraising, we saw plenty of projects costuming/props. If your resources are limited, fail because of “Kickstarter fatigue.” and you don’t have money for wardrobe, you Prior to Witch’s Brew, everything was self- can write your screenplay to be cheap. A story funded with a handful of small investors. We’d that takes place in one day with minimal char- take revenue from local premieres and the acters doesn’t require a lot of money for cos- small advances we’d get for distribution deals tumes. We have a tendency to make ensemble and just roll them over into the next film’s films that are also prop-heavy. Often times, budget. we make up for this by requesting actors to Allocating resources and deciding how provided some of their own costume and dig- you’ll budget varies on the project. Without a ging through attics, thrift stores, and friends’ doubt, the most important money spent is on collections. food. Some might find this shocking, but if Jim Mickle: Our first film started off with you don’t feed your cast/crew and you work $10,000 from a friend who had the balls to in- long hours (which is almost a given in the vest in a little horror movie. From there it micro-budget world), you will have a mutiny. gradually grew to $27,500 to have a cut we The bottom line is that people want to feel ap- could deliver to festivals. We sort of got the  Budget and Funding 77 money piecemeal, because it was so risky we doing. There’s nothing worse than shitty spe- didn’t know if we wanted to blow it all at once cial effects. If that’s the case, you’re better off if the movie turned out to be a piece of crap. doing your own. I hate CGI. I’d much rather With Stake Land, a fantastic filmmaker named spend extra money and take extra time while Larry Fessenden came along and hooked up filming to use practical effects. Use production the financing through Dark Sky Films as part value. Put the money on the screen. If you of a slate with two other films. can’t put the money on the screen, use it on In both cases I had amazing producers who food to feed the actors. It’s been said a million could handle the finances and keep it off my times before and it’s as true today as it has been mind. I’ve seen a lot of directors get carried in the past: a well-fed crew is a happy crew. away with the business end of filmmaking, On my next movie I plan on cooking all the and I think it can almost be a form of procras- meals for the crew. I’ll save money, and I think tination to avoid having to start committing a home-cooked meal will help to build cama- to creative decisions in pre-production. But raderie. Plus, I just plain love cooking. When the sooner you can forget about budgets and there’s a good sense of camaraderie, making let producers do their job, the better. Depart- movies can be a blast. When people hate each ment heads and producers have done this way other on the set, it can be hell. It’s also usually more than almost all directors, so the best bet a good rule of thumb to save money for is to trust the people around you and team up screeners, rental for the screening, festivals and with people who understand and enjoy their general post-production costs. You can spend job. It can be counterproductive to have a di- $100 on the movie but if you want it to get rector who is overly concerned with the ins out there and get seen you can easily spend and outs of the budget or the financing. thousands on festival entries. This needs to be Damon Packard: Everything costs money, planned ahead for. any kind of production or endeavor. It doesn’t Jose Prendes: Money is the most impor- matter if it’s a film or not. Talent, equipment, tant thing when making a movie. It dictates wardrobe, props, locations, scale rates, you EVERYTHING! You write for your budget name it. How I handle my budget is usually a and try to stick to it, but you almost always situation where I shoot what I can when I can, go over. Trying to make a movie is basically simple as that. In other words, shooting is very trying to manage chaos. Things cost more rare and sparse. The days are few and far be- than you think, or you break something and tween, mostly filled with general survival is- have to replace it, or equipment rentals add sues. up, or a thousand other things can happen in Brad Paulson: Stars cost money. Dwarves the course of making your movie. For me, I cost money. A good dwarf is a major commod- try to get everything for free if it’s coming out ity just because they are so hard to find. This of pocket. The one thing I don’t skimp on is also why they can get away with having the when people are working for free is food. I attitude that they so often do. But they’re make sure I feed my cast and crew because worth it because there are so few around. good food goes a long way to get everyone on Good-looking normal-sized actors, on the your side and keeping them on the team. others hand, are everywhere in this town. So, Funding is a whole other ball of wax and really it’s a balancing act. Things which I consider isn’t something I can answer because most of production value on the screen are definitely my movies have been self-funded, except for worth the money. Something unique — some- my next one, which is taking forever to land thing you don’t see most people use in their money, and that is the sad truth about funding movies. Effects are good to spend money on in general. I don’t know why tons of cheesy if you have someone who knows what they’re movies get funding when good projects lan- 78 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES guish in what is called “development hell,” but important hire, get at least three quotes. Make it happens. If you want to make something, sure that you have insurance if you can because plan for something you can afford, and then that is one thing that could bite you in the ass! make something cheaper. One of the parts to your question is the Paul Scrabo: Dr. Horror was self-funded, Chicken versus the Egg. Do you have a specific so the first item I put in the budget was how budget available to you or are you going to much I was going to pay myself for the time take your script and produce the following? that I’m taking off from my regular job — how much I could get by with for those three or 1. Full synopsis and proposal four weeks. And multi-tasking is a myth — 2. Script/screenplay you can only focus on your production, not 3. Budget Top Sheet your day job as well. 4. Estimated time frame Originally, it was planned to have one of 5. Any marketing material, comparisons and the mini-movies featured in the film presented relevant projections start or are you going like an old Universal horror film. Finally, I had to take your script, budget it. to get real. Period costumes, sets and cars? This information is crucial if you are pitch- Could we get this ready in time? Could I pay ing for money. There are a number of ways to for all this? The budget determined that we build up interest in you project, such as Social would shoot the entire sequence like a situ- Media, Crowd-Funding, private and public ation comedy, and we finished it in one long funding bodies. The bottom line is if you plan day. Inspiration or desperation? Take your a budget you can aim for a specific amount of pick! funding, which will guarantee your schedule Eric Shapiro: My first priority is what and requirements. If you just have 10k, then most filmmakers often see as the last priority: you simply have to tailor your cloth, which making sure the cast and crew are compen- can be quite exciting in itself. sated. Sometimes you can’t always make it, but One of the biggest costs in low-budget film you should do your best to give the people is accommodation (if necessary) and food. who work on it something for doing so. The They say an army marches on its stomach. difference between a compensated group of Well, the same applies to cast and crew. Half people and a group that works for free is mas- the shooting budget for Call of the Hunter was sive. The former is far more cooperative and spent on food/drink and accommodation. Be- happy, even if they’re only getting a token pay- lieve me, as an actor having done low-budget ment. and experiencing a bag of chips after 12 hours, Anthony Straeger: First, I was very re- I can tell you that it is the best way to breed alistic about the amount of money I could discontent. make the movie for. So putting together a On the other hand, what doesn’t cost money budget that someone can look at and say, in no/low budget is talent. These days, sadly, “This is feasible,” is very important. As this more and more actors and crew do work for was a very low-budget film I was able to ap- free. If someone (as I did) says, “I don’t have proach friends and like-minded associates. the money to pay you,” then you have to make As far as working a budget out, there are a very definite promise to make it worth their some great templates that will help — all while. So this is a list I think every director downloadable on the internet for free. What and producer of a no/low-pay movie should you need to do is break down the component obey. It’s short but it’s important: parts from location/equipment/transport, et cetera. You have to be realistic. Get an esti- 1. The cast and crew have to be treated with mate on absolutely everything — and, if it’s an respect and looked after.  Budget and Funding 79 2. They should, without asking, be supplied ductions. If you can’t afford to feed people and with stills and a copy of the film. get them to where you need them to be, you Marc Trottier: I look forward to the day should rethink your project. It’s the first “pro- when I can make something with a proper fessional” step. budget, where I can pay the actors and the Further down the line, we’ve made contact crew what they deserve, as opposed to asking with enough investors to make sure our prin- acting friends to work for free ... and to hold cipal cast and crew are paid for their time and the boom for the shots that they’re not in. I expenses for the duration of the shoot. Some- also taught myself how to use all the editing times we adhere to contracts; other times we software because I didn’t have money to pay play fast and loose, but nobody leaves empty- someone else to do it. That’s something else I handed if we can help it. look forward to — paying other people to do For a Happy Cloud Picture the paid-for post-production work. elements are food, travel, props/effects, in- The budget for Darkness Waits was sup- surance and salaries (however small they may posed to be split between four people, includ- be). We’ve rarely paid for locations, legal ad- ing myself. The other three bailed at the last vice, publicity or equipment rental (though minute, so I ended up funding it alone. So I the latter has come up, over the years we’ve can’t really speak from experience about bud- scrounged nearly everything we need). The get and funding, because up to now, it’s always best advice for not paying for something is come out of my pocket. Hopefully after read- make lots and lots of very disparate friends. ing this book I’ll have some better ideas of how Ritch Yarber: To date, all of our Twist- to pay for stuff! edSpine.com Films productions have been to- I know that there are grants that you can tally funded from our own shallow pockets. apply for ... but I’ve never done that. The main reason for this is that we consider If you’re lucky enough to find talented peo- ourselves a “film group” and not a business ple to work for free (or really cheap), then you venture. We are trying to showcase what each have to at least supply food and beer (I rec- of us can do if given the opportunity. So far, ommend supplying beer after filming is com- nobody has come forward to the group and plete, if you want things done properly). announced that they want to showcase their Mike Watt: When we started, money ability to gain funding to make independent from Amy, my and Bill’s full-time jobs went films. That would be great. Till that happens, towards film, materials and food. There were we feel that we are investing in ourselves by times when Bill had to build a new prop from spending our own money to produce valuable scratch because we couldn’t afford a pre-built entertainment that provides us and others with whatever-it-was. The rest of it was to buy and experience, visibility and a sense of successful process the film. But a large portion of our accomplishment. We have always made our limited budget went towards keeping the cast money back on our films and have consistently and crew fed, which meant a lot of home- reinvested that money into the next project. cooked meals, sandwiches, snacks and soda. We are finally at the level where our efforts are Since everyone was working for free, over the starting to get us the notice, accolades and op- span of two years, the food went a long way portunities that we hoped for. TwistedSpine. to keeping people coming back. com Films is about everyday people gaining Over the following years, food was still the opportunities to become paid entertainment top priority. But in place of film costs came professionals through their contributions to a travel expenses. Gradually, we prided ourselves successful micro-budget production. in making sure no one was [paying] out of The TwistedSpine.com Films attitude and pocket—at the very least—on one of our pro- belief is that high-quality productions can be 80 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES made on a micro-budget by utilizing a grass- everything’s expensive, and that making mov- roots campaign to attain equipment, talent ies at zero cost is almost impossible. In the and props. Passion does not cost money. Pas- field of horror movies what costs more, both sion has you scour thrift stores and flea in terms of time and money, are the special markets until you find the best costuming and make-up effects. I sometimes get annoyed props that you can afford and that will be ac- when I have to wait for hours before shooting, ceptable as real to the viewer. Passion has you waiting for make-up artists to finish their job. finding great locations and working out ways But nowadays it’s hard to think about making to get them into your film. Passion has you horror films without special make up effects, working to find the best actors for your unless you decide to use CGI. Yet, this only project. Passion keeps you from settling for postpones the problem, and all the chickens the quick and easy fix to a problem. Passion will come home to roost during post-produc- has you finding affordable ways to keep your tion. I have a dream, which is to shoot a horror cast and crew fed, happy and content that their movie without even a drop of blood in it, to work is appreciated. create a scary and creepy atmosphere through The great thing about how TwistedSpine. the clever use of camera and photography. Un- com Films makes movies is that everybody fortunately, it seems that you can’t shoot a works as a team, knowing that the success of movie like this in today’s times; the password one will be the success for all. It’s not about for distributors is “more”: more blood, more making money, it’s about making opportuni- violence, more sex, more monsters, and there- ties. That makes for a great creative atmo- fore, more special effects. You need at least to sphere with everybody giving their best to the partially adapt yourself to the trend if you work. want to recover the money you invested. In Ivan Zuccon: Managing the budget is the the end, making movies is also about business, hardest thing to do. No one can deny that not just about art.  Production Crew When you are working on a feature it’s ex- better. On your first production, get only who tremely important to work with people you is necessary. Do you really need a script su- can depend on and who you get along with. pervisor or a continuity person? Probably not. Your best bet is to work with either individuals But you definitely need a camera person (who you’ve worked with before, whether it be in can also light) if you’re not shooting yourself— film school or a professional production, or and there needs to be a person responsible for with friends. On my films I tried to use the recording good audio. A few production as- same crew people since they knew what they sistants also come in handy, as they’ll help with were doing. The one thing you really don’t everything that needs to be done. A tight-knit want to be doing, particularly on a first fea- group also makes the production go much ture, is training people on the job. You’ll have quicker. more than enough to worry about. If you need Your crew also has to understand that if specific skills, post advertisements for the crew you’re the producer and/or director that you’re members you are searching for, such as for calling the shots. This is not a Hollywood lighting and audio. You’ll have to have inter- “film by committee.” By all means, you should views to make sure you’re all on the same page, be open to suggestions. Someone may have a and state if there is pay or not and the type of better or more efficient way to light a scene or hours they are expected to work. I remember frame a shot — and that can only benefit your several instances where potential crew thought production. But it’s not conducive for some- they’d be working on a half-million-dollar bud- one to be a “backseat director” in front of your get when I kept on stressing that it was only a other production people. $5,000 production. “Oh, you can get money,” If you are working with “volunteer crew” they insisted. “I’ll give you a discount of my then you’ll most likely have to work around day rate.” Well, a real day rate for a camera or people’s day-job schedules, and that means audio person can be anywhere from $300– shooting on weekends. Most people will not $500 a day, and that was not feasible with the give up their weekends unless they have a great lack of budget. It wasn’t possible under the cir- interest in seeing your movie completed. So a cumstances. It was either make the movie as little enthusiasm on your part goes a long way. cheaply as I could or not to make it at all. No one will be as excited about your movie as I’ve also found that the smaller the crew, the you are. Keep up that momentum. 81 82 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES The Filmmakers were asked How do you pick and choose your crew? Glenn Andreiev: All experienced cine- John Borowski: The internet is a great matographers and editors know their stuff. resource for finding crew. I usually put up ads Where you want to focus on is their person- for the crew that I am seeking and receive ality. It’s a process of elimination. If I know many responses. Some want to be paid what they are talented but are full of themselves, or they are worth, but, unfortunately, my budgets simply look down at you, go to the next can- are so small, or nonexistent, that I cannot pay didate. Ask yourself, are they going to respect full rates. I am always truthful and up front you as a director? Are they okay with working when hiring crew and cast and explain to them on a low budget? Are they going to offer sug- what I would like to achieve and the amount gestions that are truly to the benefit of the film I have to work with. The film industry is an and not their ego? I worked on a feature film ego-driven business, so you will come across in Florida that stopped for a good three days many people with attitudes. It seems that into production because the editor was a when making every film there is at least one “know-it-all” and berated the director with bad apple. I once worked with a director of endless, needless “tough-love” filmmaking les- photography who I was upfront with and once sons. Other crew and cast members started we started filming he complained to the other walking off the film —they saw it was doomed cast and crew members on the set calling it for failure because of this constantly yapping “ghetto filmmaking.” I made sure to write him editor. a letter, letting him know how unprofessional Director John Borowski (right) discusses framing a scene with DP Jason Satterfield. Photograph by Matthew Aaron.  Production Crew 83 he was acting on the set and that I would never work with him again. He asked that his name be removed from the film, so I re- moved his name. Word-of-mouth and references are very im- portant in this indus- try, so I recommend to people that they al- ways be courteous and professional, as word gets around quickly as far as who is problem- atic to work with. You have to work long and stressful hours when making films. Try to be pleasant and have fun while doing it. Keith Crocker: These days I choose crew more by experi- ence than anything else. Years ago the crew was also made up of actors, techni- cians, friends, and es- sentially anyone who wandered onto the set. In other words, everyone doubled up on duties regardless of how good they were DP Jason Satterfield sets up a shot for director John Borowski, while when it came to a spe- actor David Weiss (rear) awaits his cue. Photograph by Matthew Aaron. cific job. If you were willing to do anything, you got the chance to much a birthing process. Anyhow, Bloody Ape do it. When I was shooting on 16mm, I tried was the last film that I made taking on way to do it all: produce, write, direct, shoot, edit too many hats. I ran myself into the ground, (right down to the A&B roll) and draw up the literally, got physically ill and ended up in the publicity. This helps to explain the exhaustion hospital. From that point on I vowed to pull I’d suffer from making films. It felt like giving together crews to make my life easier. And I birth, except I’m a male and I have none of did with Blitzkrieg and the two promotional those reproductive organs to even know what film trailers (Three Slices of Delirium and Ras- that feels like. But filmmaking, to me, is very putin on Campus). In between, when I finished 84 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Bloody Ape and began Blitzkrieg, I met a slew use folks who I don’t always like personally, of people who had various degrees of skill, but I know are reliable and will come through. guys like Jim Knusch, who had a background Filmmaking is work, and you don’t always love in 35mm and 16mm camera work, and was those you work with. You cooperate and you willing to try his hand at shooting digital learn to work with people. I also use people I video. Because of his film background, he was can learn from — I like folks who have ideas the only man I’d trust to light and shoot and want to share them. The best films are the Blitzkrieg (I knew he’d light it and set up angles ones that have collaboration. I don’t like ego, like it was film). The same goes for Dan though. I can’t stand when I get a “genius” on Lipski, who shot two of my latest promo trail- the set who thinks they know more than any- ers. He has a good digital background but he one and wastes your time telling you just how has shot film as well. And there’s Keith Mat- great they are. It’s usually the less experienced turro, who did costumes and production de- people who do this. You should only get wiser sign on Blitzkrieg. Keith is a collector of mem- with experience. Growing a large ego will do orabilia, who has a big collection of World nothing but get you into trouble. War II uniforms, and he understands so much Richard Cunningham: The first crew I about the war that the bulk of us don’t know was involved with was a couple of friends from because we don’t invest the time in such high school. We all had particular interests in things. Without Keith Matturro, Blitzkrieg filmmaking and kind of naturally assumed our could not have been made. In the past, I’d use roles in production. The guys with whom I people I was comfortable with; folks that I collaborated on America the Mental and Year knew wouldn’t give me a hard time. Now, I’ll Zero, I met after I moved to New York City. Year Zero’s cast and crew celebrate the film’s world premier at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. Left to right: Americk Lewis, Marie-Pierre Beausejour, Pat Rigby, Tim Brennan, and Richard Cunning- ham.  Production Crew 85 Producer Tim Brennan I met working on film/ budget shoot I usually just need a cameraman TV sets in New York City and another collab- and a couple of production assistants who can orator, Pat Rigby, is a New York City stand- help wherever they’re needed. On a bigger up comedian, who I met through Tim. budget, I look for a director of photography I guess it’s obvious to pick creative, versatile first, then see if he has recommendations for people for your production team, but I don’t camera crew, gaffers, or other crew from people think it can be overstated. If you’re working he or she has worked with. Most DPs have a on a union film, then you’ll have specific peo- ready list of crew they want to recommend to ple for specific jobs; but on a micro-budget you, so why not take advantage? film, it’s usually a few people wearing a lot of If I’m working with a DP for the first time, different hats to get the film completed. So it I want to see clips of things they’ve shot before. helps if everyone on the crew/production team I tend to have some of specific requests in is bringing a few talents to the table. More- terms of lighting, so I like a DP who doesn’t over, it’s not easy getting the time commit- expect total autonomy in this area. I can tell ment from a large group of make-up artists, fairly quickly how much I can delegate to a set designers, gaffers, grips, et cetera for a non- DP — sometimes they will suggest camera paying job, so the more you can boil down the placement but I usually do this myself. I’ll crew, the fewer people you have to depend on. make the call if a dolly track or any kind of Maurice Devereaux: Who’s good, who camera movement is used. My big pet peeve: can I afford, who’s available... There are union if I don’t request camera movement or a zoom books with lists of people, but usually go lens shot, don’t give it to me. I remember feel- through other filmmaker friends and their rec- ing beyond pissed once watching rushes from ommendations. Contacts!!! one of my 16mm movies and seeing their Donald Farmer: On a small, ultra–low- zoom-lens moves that I hadn’t asked for. Donald Farmer (with camera) shoots a scene for his first movie, Demon Queen. 86 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Jeff Forsyth: My crews have always been with it to see if anyone is interested in helping minimal, not because I like it that way but be- out with crew. From there we stick with the cause the crew is usually staffed with friends hardest-working, most reliable and depend- and family that I train to operate in certain able crew members. jobs. Rolfe Kanefsky: You interview, ask film- Richard W. Haines: I’ve used the same maker friends for referrals, and try to continue cinematographers on multiple productions, working with the people you know are good! since they understand my shooting style. I Sometimes it’s trial and error. When you have allow them to pick the rest of the crew like very little money, you can’t afford the best peo- AC’s, gaffers and grips. I pay them but they ple for the job. You have to settle for the “hun- are sub-contracted out by the DP so he can gry” people who need to work, or the excited find people he’s comfortable working with. A film students looking to break into the busi- film crew must operate as a team, so it’s better ness. You have to learn how to read people and if they use veterans. hope your judgment is on target. Every now William Hopkins: We didn’t really have and then you find a really good, talented crew a very large crew on either film. On Demon member and then you hold on to him/her for Resurrection, since I was shooting the film my- as long as you can. Basically, everyone has an self as well as directing, it really just came agenda. You need to find someone who has down to four or five additional people, two of the same agenda as you and then you can help whom were our producers, Frank Cilla and Ed each other. I like being around the same team. Wheeler. Everybody did double and triple It makes it easier to communicate my vision. duty. Several of our actors also helped out be- I also need my crew to trust me. You have to hind the scenes when they weren’t needed in win over that trust. You need to work as hard front of the cameras. It might’ve been nice to as you hope your team members on the set have a few more people to help out, but on a will work. James Cameron is a tough boss, but small production like Demon, every additional he works his ass off. You either have to stack person would’ve meant more expense and up to that kind of leadership or walk away. more trouble, frankly, since every extra person On my last production, we had very limited brings their egos and little personality quirks means and a very tough schedule. We shot for along with them, and the likelihood of conflict 54 days, six-day weeks, and almost always rises. I’d really rather work with a smaller filmed at night. That is hard, and many, many group of mature, intelligent people, folks I of the crew members did not last until the end trust and who I know are really committed to of the shoot. But we found a few great ones the project. I never really felt we were short- and some that really learned a lot. Back 10, 20, handed on Demon, or that we were missing 30 years, Roger Corman was famous for hiring out because we didn’t have more experienced young talented kids, teaching them the ropes people crewing the film. We all worked to- with his B-movies and watching them grad- gether and if we encountered any problems we uate to big studio films. Charlie Band with his kept at it till the problems were solved. We Full Moon company also did that to a certain muddled through and came out with a pretty extent. On the East Coast, Lloyd Kaufman entertaining film at the end of it. So I suppose and Troma Entertainment was the training when I start readying my next film, I’ll be grounds. Unfortunately, now, that doesn’t re- looking to the same people, if they’re available, ally exist. It’s all independent films that can’t or I’ll be taking their recommendations on put out that slate of productions to keep peo- who to hire. ple working. So, you have to move around and Steve Hudgins: Usually when we send work on as much stuff as you can. I was lucky out a casting call, I attach a crew call along to work for or in association with Corman,  Production Crew 87 Setting up for the “Miss Louise” scene in Steve Hudgins’ Spirit Stalkers. Left to right: Terry Sidell, James Gibbs, Steve Hudgins. Band, and Kaufman. It was a great training were totally rude, inconsiderate, and smarmy. ground and really taught me a lot about We don’t need the drama, and if you’re making stretching a dollar and making it look like a a cheap flick, neither do you. hundred. Good people bring a lot to a production: But going back to the question, we find energy, camaraderie, and a shared sense of people through ads on craigslist, other web- purpose. Obviously, you can’t just hire anyone sites, and through networking. Being at the because there are plenty of great folks that right place at the right time makes all the dif- aren’t interested in honing film skills, but it’s ference. That’s why luck plays such a big part about finding a balance. in the film business. If you have luck, talent, Take the film student who wants a foot in and drive, you can have a career. the door versus the twenty-year veteran who Brett Kelly: I tend to work with the same wants a NY Strip Steak for catering. Most people a lot, but the way I would meet them likely, your budget will already dictate this de- is from networking opportunities, such as at- cision, but if not, definitely consider it. The tending screenings of other filmmakers. I also bonus to hiring young talent is a fresh take on take recommendations from friends I’ve old ideas. We’ve learned a lot from green film already worked with. kids rather than the weathered grumpy old Chris LaMartina: We will always pick gaffer. He can teach you a lot, too ... but this the best person over other attributes. I’ve spo- is an ever-changing industry and passion ranks ken with plenty of top-notch craftspeople who supreme in our book. 88 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Jim Mickle: I spent a few years working people that have moved here to get involved as a best boy grip on a lot of indie movies, and in movies, someone will always respond to a along the way I met a lot of great people who “Crew Needed” craigslist ad. Filmmaking on I went on to work with. I met Ryan Samul an independent level is very old school and through that and he had a great DP reel and homegrown. I love that aspect about it. When we clicked creatively, so he went on to shoot you’re in the trenches with a good group of both my films. I worked on Transamerica, where people, making movies has such a small-town I met my girlfriend, Linda Moran, and she’s feel to it. It makes you feel like you’re doing been producing movies for 15 years. She’s an something good and are far removed from all amazing producer and an invaluable creative the corporate bullshit of studio movies. How- partner and she’s introduced me to a lot of tal- ever, I’m looking at a lot of the people I’ve ented people. My sister Beth Mickle produc- known over the years who have moved out to tion designed my student films and now she’s L.A. and just got destroyed by the brutal sys- gone on to be hugely successful in the film tem that exists in this town. Most people don’t world, designing movies like Drive and getting now how to live broke. I would have been out nominated for BAFTAs, so her crew was kind of here years ago if I hadn’t trained myself to enough to get down and dirty and do Stake live at my means and nothing else. I’ve disci- Land. A lot of people, like composer Jeff Grace plined myself to live dead-ass broke out here and sound designer Graham Reznick, came since the day I made California my home. I’m from Larry Fessenden and Glass Eye Pix’s team. like the guy in the post apocalypse who’s That’s another great part of living in New shacked himself up in the hut learning how to York and working in film. There’s a whole cul- survive off nothing for years, just waiting for ture of like-minded people to surround your- the nuclear fallout to clear so I can venture out self with, so when the opportunity comes to and make a movie again. I really don’t know make a movie, you get to work with all your why I stay. It’s certainly not for financial rea- friends. sons. It must be a combination of the fact that Damon Packard: It comes down to pure I enjoy being around like-minded people and practicality, whoever is available, willing, and am a glutton for suffering. To live here there agreeable. The logistics of getting everyone has to be something wrong with you, and to available and together on the same day and move here to pursue a career in filmmaking hoping nobody drops out at the last minute you have to be insane. (which often happens) and nothing else goes Jose Prendes: If they are willing to work wrong is a miracle in itself. And this is partly for free and are hungry for film experience, why so many months/years unnecessarily pass then they are in my crew. That was the original for what should amount to a week’s worth of method. Now that I am dealing with union work! stuff, my crews are selected very carefully and Brad Paulson: The crew is usually people résumés are weighed. But I like to work by in- we’ve worked with before that we trust. It all stinct. I like to meet the person, talk to them kind of revolves around the film school prin- about their favorite movies, why they want the ciples, really. Everyone helps each other out job, and I can usually read a person correctly. on projects. However, this tends to dry up I haven’t had any crew problems on my sets. I after a bit. There are only so many things peo- try to make sure everyone is having a good ple will work on for free. After that, it’s time time. to move on. This is what we’ve had to do from Paul Scrabo: They are friends who also time to time. This can be a good thing, work in media, and are all too familiar with though. Sometimes, working with new people deadlines and budget restrictions. And they can reinvigorate things. Since there’s so many know other professionals as well.  Production Crew 89 Eric Shapiro: I imagine I get my crew like through a combination of the above. As my most others in the indie world: based on avail- crew was very lean, it comprised as follows: ability, how conducive their needs are to what John Slocombe, our executive producer, you’re offering monetarily, and how easy and who provided over 50 percent of the invest- civil they seem. There’s an intensive talent de- ment in the project. Helped project manage mand for the DP and editor; for the rest, the movie and found the location. proficiency and competence are acceptable. Dennis Morgan was chosen as director of Anthony Straeger: There are two ways photography because we had worked on a to pick your crew: number of projects in the past, ranging through corporate filmmaking through to 1. From people you know — some may be in short films and TV. He is a solid lighting cam- the business; some might just want to get eraman who has years of experience and always into the business. keeps his cool under pressure. 2. From websites such as Crew United, Cast- Chris Reading, our soundman, came from ing Call Pro and Shooting People in the an advert I placed on Shooting People. He was U.K. These places are great resource points straight from college and was looking to build and you will find many artists more than his CV. He had a great personality and sense willing to contact you to find out more of calm that was just what I needed for this about your project. project. Other ways of finding cast and crew are Stephen Gawtry, our writer, worked as pro- through Networking nights, and these can eas- duction manager and continuity — in our sit- ily be found on Facebook, Google et al. uation there was a need for anyone who was I chose my crew from Call of the Hunter involved in one capacity to double and triple On location in a forest shooting the Call of the Hunter: Anthony Straeger (foreground), Dennis Morgan (directly behind), Stephen Gawtry (looking down), and Nick Gregan. 90 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES up their jobs — He actually helped by supply- crew were either guys at my film school or ing a great brew of tea. people I worked with at the lab, whose films Nick Gregan, a photographer friend, fan- I had seen. The ones we had the best relation- cied himself as a Steadicam operator and so ships with were the ones we continued to work he came on board as Steadicam/second unit. with. As the years went on, we networked with Other duties included gaffe work on the other filmmakers and talents. Jeff Waltrowski movie. graduated a year or two behind me and made Richard Unger was brought in as stills pho- the terrific Project: Valkyrie and became my DP tographer and again came through an advert on A Feast of Flesh. Aaron Bernard, an actor on Shooting People. But once we had met, it on A Feast of Flesh, came on as the second-unit was found he had so much equipment that he director on Splatter Movie and also authored became head sparky, gaffe and rigging. that movie’s (and Demon Divas) DVDs. Dig- Sally Alcott was also found straight from gerFilm’s crew originally approached us to take college and via the advert on Shooting People. part in their documentary and their stuff was She was SFX make-up/hair/costume. Once so impressive that we hired them for Demon again she was relatively new to the business, Divas. For Razor Days, my longtime friend having also only recently finished her degree. Alan Rowe Kelly introduced me to Bart Mas- She coped really well with a very limited tronardi (Vindication), whose photography budget of less than $1,000. and instincts are among the best I’ve ever seen, Martin Shenton and myself go back many and I realized he was the only one who could years and he was brought in as fight coordi- shoot this movie. nator and stuntman. He’d worked on Bond We tend not to “audition,” however, or hire movies and is very experienced so was glad based on reels alone. At any end of the busi- that he could afford the time to come and do ness, it’s best to find your principal crew some sterling work for us. among talented people you have either met or The most important thing about our pro- know through someone you trust. You have duction was the time pressure and being stuck to move too fast and be too flexible to work in one place 24/7 for 12 days. I selected every- with any wild cards. If someone comes rec- one not solely based on ability but on their ommended to us, we’ll meet them first and try personality and nature. It worked out really to gauge if their personality will mesh with well, and I will be forever in there debt for the the rest of the HCP family. Very rarely a crew amount of work they had to do and how well member will end up being not what we’d they did it. hoped for — great at one thing but not open Marc Trottier: I’ve never had a proper to improvisation when problems arise is the crew, because, like I’ve mentioned, I’ve never biggest occasional hurdle. had a proper budget to pay for it. But I look The more movies you make, your instinct forward to the day where I’ll have a dedicated for talent refines and usually blossoms into fu- sound guy, lighting technician, boom operator ture collaborations. Movies are horrifically and director of photography with the proper stressful events, more so, I believe, than mov- equipment to assist me. ing, public speaking or possibly even the death I’ve been lucky enough to always have actors of a spouse. Frustration and exhaustion is in- who were kind enough — and multi-talented evitable. It’s not a point of pride and it’s not enough — to help out with all the other stuff. fair, but it is a true trade secret: every movie But like the song goes, “That’s what friends needs a “dog”— that one guy everyone focuses are for...” their frustration on to avoid everyone killing Mike Watt: This process varies from film each other. Sometimes the dog is a volunteer to film. In the beginning, the majority of my PA or another type of crew with too little ex-  Production Crew 91 perience, to the point they just get in the way. productions we had a pair of dogs, but in each With low-budget shoots, though, particularly case they wound up working together on other when it comes to people who aren’t being paid projects and are still cordial to everyone else in any way beyond food, it’s difficult to just they worked with. ask these people not to return. “Dogs” aren’t Ritch Yarber: Our filmmaking group al- usually malevolent, just inexperienced. If ready has a stable under structure. That is, they’re causing real problems, by all means people that have performed the same duties dump them. But even if they’re utterly useless, on many of our projects. We add more crew unless they’re knocking down walls or setting to this structure by having open calls for peo- buildings on fire, they still provide the purpose ple that want to do various tasks on a project of “ire magnet.” It sounds very cruel, but a for the experience. We review the interested “dog” can be an essential member of the pro- people to determine if they “fit” the standards duction. Maybe all they come away with is that we are seeking, i.e., talent, temperament that we’re a bunch of dicks, but they still and dependability. Once chosen for the pro- learned from the process. ject, we try to allow as much input as possi- But you can’t assign the role of “dog” to ble from that person pertaining to their posi- anyone. They have to earn that title. The first tion and to allow them to make true and day is a freebie. Subsequent days of screw-ups valuable contributions to the overall project. (laziness is not tolerated, but misfiring syn- As the “president” of the group, I make the apses on a daily basis can add to the stress and final decisions and take the responsibility adventure) force you to decide if you have the of getting the production to where it needs to time to replace the “dog” or just let him be the be. focus of bitching, which takes a lot of stress Ivan Zuccon: I trained my crew during away from other interpersonal relationships. the years. At the beginning they were just If the rest of your folks are professionals, there movie lovers with the will to learn a pro- won’t be much yelling at the dog, just gritted fession. Now they have become high-level pro- teeth and forced politeness. On two of our fessionals who I could never do without.  Actors Other than a solid, entertaining script, I videotape the auditions because you’ll have to think the second most important thing for a re-watch all of them to make your final casting low-budget production is the actors to bring choices. This is also because of the “photo- that script to life. They can make or break a genic factor.” Sad to say but some people do movie as their performance makes the story not photograph as well as they appear in real line believable. Do not cast non-acting rela- life. But the reverse also holds true. tives in a part just because it’s easy. Spend time Before the actual shoot make sure to have a on having auditions and finding the best actors reading of the script with all the actors present. available in your area. If you live near a major It’s at this point you answer any sort of questions city, this will be easier. they have about the script or the characters they Be up front if there’s pay or not, how much portray. I always told the actors to get together time is expected of them, how long the shoot and practice their lines. They usually had a is, just as you would with your crew members. month or two to practice, from the time they The majority of the time I was unable to pay were cast to the time I started shooting. actors BUT I did promise them a copy of the During all of this, make sure to treat your finished movie and lots of publicity. This was actors well. Don’t rant and rave during the easier with horror films and actresses, as shoot, don’t take out your aggravation on photos of a vampiress covered in blood always them. They are there to make your vision made a few genre magazine covers. Quite a come to life. few of these actors I’ve cast in my horror To get the perspective of a low-budget movies have gone on to much higher profile movie actor, I asked actor David C. Hayes, gigs, appearing on such television shows as veteran of dozens of genre films, to give an Lost, Desperate Housewives, Party Down, South- actor’s take on low-budget productions. land, CSI, Dexter and Mad Men. The usual process of finding actors is to post Interview with an ad, listing the characters and descriptions. It Actor David C. Hayes usually took me a few weeks to go through all the head shots and résumés and then another What is your background as an actor? week or so to set up the auditions. I always ask What first got you interested in acting? the actors to do a one-to-two-minute mono- My background as an actor is pretty ... logue, as this weeds out the real actors from the unique. I started as a grip/gaffer type in Chi- “wannabes” and immediately shows you if they cago and noticed a bunch of horrible acting can act or not. It’s a given that actors should be in the projects I had been involved in. I men- able to memorize lines. After you listen to their tioned to a sound mixer friend that I could monologue you can decide to have them read “do that stuff,” and he hooked me up with a a page or two of the character in the script. short film and I landed my first role. Un- This saves a lot of time. Also, make sure to trained and unapologetic about it, I figured I 92  Actors 93 Actor David Hayes at the first Annual Flint Horror Convention, in 2011. should learn something, so I began to give a like me. Before leaving the West Coast I had local theatre company free coffee from the finished a role in A Man Called Nereus. It is a Starbucks I worked at. Sooner than later I had pretty unique animal, a metaphysical action landed a role in their 1998 Rudolph the Red- comedy, where I play Nereus. The role called Hosed Reindeer show, a transvestite reindeer for an autistic-like savant on one plane and a musical. I went on to be a part of their musical genius manipulator of physics on another version of Carrie and then began to seek out plane. On one side I’m just a big kid. On the the cult/horror/bizarre films in town. I’d other side, I consider myself semi-educated always been a genre fan and decided to focus and teach college ... just need those steroids. on these types of projects. What was the best acting experience How do you normally prepare for a role? you’ve had in a film? It depends on the role. What I like to do is The best experience I’ve ever had was work- to take a piece of my own personality and put ing on Bloody Bloody Bible Camp. We wrapped it on steroids. I get a lot of weird/creepy roles, last year and I’ve recently seen the final cut and for some reason. When I’m dealing with some- I’m pleased. The film is set in the 1980s and thing like that, let’s say Motorman Dan in is an homage/spoof of the slasher genre. The Machined or Reborn. That is nothing more slasher genre is where I cut my fanboy teeth. than amping up the collector mentality in me Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, the rip offs ... already. I love collecting comic books, movies, all of it influenced me so much. So, when I et cetera. What Dan does, he collects serial- got the chance to play one of my favorite killer memorabilia and eventually creates his slasher archetypes, the local that warns the own serial killer. All he is doing is searching campers about the bloodshed and tries to save for the ultimate piece to his collection ... just the day, I was thrilled. We had a great time on 94 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES set, shooting near Big Bear, in California. I would love to explore Divine and show the had some great scenes with other genre vets, world just how brave and tough she really was. like Jeff Dylan Graham, Tim Sullivan, the leg- As an actor, how do you recommend to di- endary Reggie Bannister, and I got to perform rectors how to do auditions? Give both in my third film with Ron Jeremy (all of them “good” and “bad” examples. clothed ... at least partially). Auditions. I’ve been on both sides of the What was the worst acting experience camera as far as auditions go and I’m always you’ve had in a movie? more grateful of the more clinical approach. Hmmm. Rough one. I am going to have to This may be different from every other actor go with a film we’ll call the Cherry Blast to on the planet (but I’m different from every keep the guilty from getting any real press. other actor on the planet). I like to walk into That isn’t the name of the film, but it will do. an audition, and I’m not there to make I was cast as a cab driver that takes the main friends. I don’t care what the guy before me character a few places and provides some did and I don’t care what the director’s résumé below-average horror movie exposition and is. If I’m in that audition that means I have a funny story. Cool, I can dig that. Unfortu- enough information about the project to make nately for me, and everyone else, after three it worth my time. Once you’ve got me that excruciatingly long table reads in a loud Mex- far, don’t feel as if I’m waiting with baited ican restaurant, I find out the director is a rag- breath on your next direction during my cold ing alcoholic. Right before we shoot my ONE read of the first draft. I’m not that invested. I day, he is arrested. So, that shoot is postponed. can’t be that invested. If I become that invested I feel bad for the kids here, so when he gets then the eventual rejection (since this is a busi- out I agree to do my day. I was coming off of ness of rejection) would be too great to bear. another feature the night before so my turn- So, the ideal audition is one that I have the around was about four hours, and I’m pretty proper information for. I come in, say hello tired. I get to the location only to find out that politely, hear what the director/casting director the director had been fired from his own film. is looking for, and perform. I then say Apparently, his only job was to procure a taxi goodbye after leaving my picture and résumé for the scene and he got drunk and forgot. So, and either the production calls or they do not. not wanting to waste any more time, the AD/ A bad audition is to hold me there to read with co-writer/co-producer/actress (one of those) multiple people or to vary the cold reads by took the reigns and rented a gold Cadillac. degrees. I understand the concept of finding Thinking quickly, a Tupperware dish was out whether or not someone can take turned upside down and TAXI was written on direction, but after two minutes with an actor it with a Sharpie. This was duct taped to the and seeing how their look fits the vision, a de- top of the Caddy and, lo and behold, we’re cision has already been made to either move ready to shoot. Got there at six A.M. and the onto the callback or not. Don’t waste all of our first shot was off by noon. Yeah. Great times time. Thanks, and good night. were had by all. I went to the screening and, How should first-time directors deal with well, yeah. It turned out as well as I thought actors? What is the most important thing it would. they should do? Again, give both the “do’s” What would be your ideal role? and the “don’ts.” I desperately want to play Divine in her life It depends on the actor, but there are some story. She is such an interesting creature, a phe- universal truths that first-time directors need nomena cut down in her prime. I’ve been a to deal with: (1) They are never as prepared as huge John Waters fan for many, many years and they think they are; (2) The specific language  Actors 95 of the screenplay is merely a suggestion (if is and how, and let me be clear here, DIFFER- you’re me); and (3) You cannot break the rules ENT CHARACTERS SPEAK DIFFER- of proper filmmaking before you’ve learned ENTLY. Not in funny accents, mind you, but the rules of proper filmmaking. We’ll take with completely different vocabularies and in- these in order. Firstly, the first-time director tents. Characters speak differently to different is never, ever prepared for what they encounter characters as well. The serial killer can say the on an independent film set. This usually re- same thing to a cop and to a victim, but they volves around all of the jobs that an indie di- will not be the same verbiage. You have to let rector has to do that do not involve directing. your actors go with their instincts—unless you When I directed my first, disastrous feature I hired your friends. In that case you’re screwed. also cooked lunch, produced the damn thing Lastly, if you don’t understand how to turn on and ran sound. That sucked. I wasn’t prepared. the camera or light a simple scene properly, As an actor, I’ve seen it happen lots of times what the hell makes you think your artistic vi- to first-timers. You have to know how to do sion will even be editable? I mean, come on. everything on that set since; invariably, you Some directors may not know this, but post- will have to do it. Secondly, if you, as a new production doesn’t fix anything ... it is a Band- director, are tied to the language of the script Aid on an axe wound. In focus, properly lit as immutable then you don’t understand the (meaning, lit for story and meaning and collaborative nature of film. I guarantee that, theme) will help your actors bring your script if I just walk on some set, I’m a better writer to life. After you’ve learned how to speak in a than whoever just “polished” that script. Most cinematic language, you can then change it up actors who’ve spent some time in the saddle a bit and try your Tarantino-esque opus. Until realize how language works, how powerful it then, learn the right way first. The Filmmakers were asked: How do you get your actors? What is the weirdest story you have about an actor/actress? Glenn Andreiev: Originally I placed an and kept them prisoner in the White House ad for actors in Backstage Magazine, and au- basement for many years. She also insisted that ditioned about 20 people for each major role, if we hired her there could be no shooting dur- and went from there. Now I feel I have an es- ing mid-afternoon hours. Those are the peak tablished stock company of fine actors I used hours for the evil energy coming from all the numerous times, such as Frank Franconeri, local computers, and that energy severely Shawna Bermender, Ashley Wren Collins and changes behavior patterns. Mike Gadinis, to name a few. John Borowski: For finding cast mem- You want a weird story —here’s one: An ac- bers, the internet is the ideal location to place tress with a great face and interesting credits an ad. Acting publications and websites are came in to audition. At the audition I asked also excellent places to place ads for cast mem- her about her one credit. As a teenager, she bers. Make sure to mention if you are seeking was part of a singing trio that performed for union or non-union actors. Usually, Holly- President Reagan at the White House. Very wood talent requires you to make the film as seriously, and with great detail, she explained a union film, but there may be a contract that Ronald Reagan kidnapped the singing trio where you can negotiate hiring of both union 96 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES and non-union performers. When making cents — they felt strong competition with each H.H. Holmes, I sought an actress for the voice other for this reason. One actress, who was of Carrie Pitezel, whose children were mur- Slovenian, disliked another actress because she dered by H.H. Holmes. In the ad, I instructed was from Montenegro, and their accents, while the women to call my answering machine and not quite exact, were close enough. The Slo- cry as Carrie would have cried in court. It was venian girl was also half Austrian, and she was a fun experience to come home and listen to tiny and small framed. But the girl from Mon- all these different women crying on my an- tenegro was tall and blonde, which I also think swering machine. was an issue. Two girls from Romania hated Keith Crocker: Again, back in the early my Russian actress simply because Russia had days, the cast was usually made up of friends control of Romania (through Communism) and friends of friends taking on roles and not for so many years. But when I queried them knowing jack shit about acting. One actor about not liking her they simply said, “I don’t that’s stayed with me for years is Paul Richichi, like her acting!!!” And I’m thinking “Hey, let who was in all the silent and sound 16mm me worry about her acting — you guys just do work I did in the ’80s. I always chose Paul be- your job.” I teach an adult education film- cause he was 20 years older than me, he had making course and I always tell the students age on his face, that look of experience. You that they have to be part psychologist when could pretty much drop him in any role you it comes to working with actors and actresses had that required a person of maturity. Now, because they carry so much mental baggage is Paul a good actor? The answer is no, he’s and can easily derail a film with their bull- not, but he plays eccentrics perfectly due to shit! the fact that his acting skills are so flawed. His Richard Cunningham: I’ve posted cast- delivery is insane, he speaks without taking a ing notices for open-call auditions in local breath between sentences, and there is no newspapers and on craigslist (this was back in human being that logically speaks that way. the day). When you put yourself out there like Some folks think I ruin films by using him, that to the masses, you’re likely to get one or but it’s the exact opposite — people remember two odd calls, and we did, but we also man- him, they remember those scenes. He literally aged to discover some talented, committed ac- has the power to bring a house down. When tors. Though my approach today is quite dif- we had the theatrical showings of Blitzkrieg, ferent. people in the theater went ape shit over Paul’s Once I moved to New York City and delivery in the final scene. They applauded, started doing background and stand-in work yelled out loud, they loved him. He re- ally drove the film home. We are using an authentic weirdo to play a weirdo. It works. Now, in terms of weird stories, actors and actresses tend to be weird people to start with. They spend a lot of time admiring and loving themselves and are the most self-absorbed people you are ever going to meet. During Blitzkrieg shoot I was using actresses from various parts of Europe. Now, for the most part, a few of them disliked each other In America the Mental, Pat Rigby plays sociopathic simply because they had similar ac- stand-up comedian/drug enforcer Rickjack Smitty.  Actors 97 on productions, it became a very convenient actor calls me to back out of the project. It environment in which to cast actors, because took a long conversation to convince him to I was meeting several of them at any given gig. stay on and not destroy me. Also on Lady of The cast of my film is usually a mix of aspiring the Lake there had been a five-year break dur- actors, willing to work for little or no money ing the shoot due to lack of funds (half was for the experience or to acquire clips for a reel, shot in 1993, the other half in ’98), so when I or just because they like the material; that and was gearing up for the second part of the willing friends and family members. shoot, I had to track down my lead actress, But there are also casting websites available who had moved to the Czech Republic. I had online, where you can post notices, some free, to pay to fly her back, and when she arrived some pay-sites, like Actor’s Access that offer (the day before the shoot) she had omitted to exposure to a large pool of both union and tell me she had cut her long curly hair and we non-union acting talent. had to, in a panic, find a matching wig for the Maurice Devereaux: For my last two next day ($450 down the tubes). Also, when films I hired a casting agent, money well spent. preparing the second half of my shoot on Lady Only once, on Blood Symbol, my first film, did of the Lake, I contacted Angus Scrimm (the a “wannabe” actress try to seduce me into Tall Man in Phantasm) to play a small cameo being in the film (she wasn’t my type for the part, he graciously declined, feeling the money film or otherwise, although I never did and I would have to pay for his salary, flight and never will use my position in that way). On hotel would be better spent on the film itself. Lady of the Lake, the night before starting a But six months later he saw the finished film three-week shoot, everything had been paid at the Fantasia Film Festival and loved it! He for (film, equipment, locations, etc.), my lead was quoted in Cinefantastique magazine as say- On location for Lady of the Lake. Left to right: Tennyson Loeh, Erik Rutherford, Denis-Noel Mostert, Francis Tessier, and Maurice Devereaux. 98 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES ing he thought the film was superb and that marched up to her on the set one day and said, he wished he were in it. A classy gentlemen “Girl, you’ve got an attitude problem!” Any- and a terrific actor. one who knew Hillary could understand what Donald Farmer: I used to get most of my Whitney was talking about. Anyway, I’d al- actors through agencies. I’d make arrange- ready filmed a couple of days with Hillary for ments with each agency to set up auditions in Cannibal Hookers when we ran into a road- their offices, then have the actors come in on block. The “roadblock” was a dead body Hil- a staggered schedule of maybe one every 15 lary discovered in the parking lot of our loca- minutes. And Screen Actors Guild performers tion! have to be hired through their individual I’d found Hillary through the same talent agents, with a little bit of negotiating back and agency in Ft. Lauderdale that booked her on forth if they have any name value. If you’re a Miami Vice. Apparently this agency was the producer/director with little or no track rec- show’s main supplier of background extras. ords, even minor names want some assurance There was a huge photo of stars Don Johnson they’ll be paid. For instance, when I hired and Phillip Michael Thomas in the lobby to Cameron Mitchell for No Justice, my deal with remind prospective clients of this fact. I him was to pay him in cash as soon as he needed an office building to film one day and stepped off the plane. If I showed up empty- worked out a deal with the agency’s director— handed (which I didn’t), Cameron let me we could use the location on a Sunday, a day know he would get right back on the plane they’re normally closed — as long as only Hil- and go home. For hiring Brigitte Nielsen there lary handled the building keys. That was fine were even more precautions. I was required to with me, so we all arranged to meet there Sun- put her full salary in an escrow account to day morning. Hillary showed up a little early guarantee our production company had funds and found a car already parked by the front to pay her. But sometimes you can get an actor door with a 20-something girl sitting in the with minor name value for no more than driver’s seat. Figuring it was another actress you’re paying everyone else. Bob Orwig had waiting for her to show up with the keys, Hil- already co-starred in Platoon when we cast him lary went over to say hello. Very quickly, poor in No Justice, but he got no more than the Hillary wished she hadn’t. minimum daily rate we paid actors. Ray McK- Hillary didn’t find one of the other female innon has already co-starred in the Oscar-win- cast members behind the wheel of that car. ning picture Driving Miss Daisy when I hired What she DID find was a freshly deceased fe- him for Vampire Cop. He didn’t charge any- male body covered with multiple stab wounds. thing extra ... neither did an actress in the same Hillary, naturally, freaked—police were called, movie who’d just does a bit part in Terms of and shooting was suspended ... indefinitely. It Endearment with Jack Nicholson. turned out the dead girl had been murdered But once you hire an actor, there’s no guar- by her boyfriend several blocks away, then antee you can keep them through the whole driven to our office building. Her body had shoot. As I mentioned earlier, I had to rewrite been propped up behind the steering wheel the ending of Cannibal Hookers when we lost and left there for some unlucky person to a male lead due to a broken leg. I also lost the discover. Police quickly traced the victim’s ad- original female lead of that movie, Hillary Lip- dress through the car’s plates and found a still- ton, just three days into production. Hillary bloody crime scene, with the killer in resi- was a gorgeous blonde who’d been an extra in dence. This genius hadn’t even attempted to Miami Vice and in the Kevin Costner/Whit- clean up the evidence. As for Hillary, she was ney Houston movie The Bodyguard. Hillary so traumatized by the experience she dropped cracked me up with her story of how Whitney out of the movie. I couldn’t use the incomplete  Actors 99 footage I’d already shot of her so Cannibal their work and know what they are capable of Hookers went on hiatus. Several months later before we ever get on set together. I moved to Los Angeles and restarted it with Richard W. Haines: As with the crew I’ve an all-new cast. But when the movie came out used the same performers for my leads in sev- on video in France and Belgium, it was a eral features. I shoot very fast and expect photo of a topless Hillary that appeared on the everyone to be prepared for working at that box cover. speed. It keeps their energy level up, since Hiring Dana Plato for Compelling Evidence filming is very exhausting for everyone in- in ’94 was the only time I’d had to check with volved. a probation officer for a star’s services. Dana For supporting players and bit parts I place had been a huge sitcom star in the ’70s and an ad in Backstage and hold auditions at a ’80s on TV’s Diff ’rent Strokes, but her star had rented rehearsal hall. I have a video camera set seriously fallen. Now Dana was probation for up and ask the applicants to prepare a short the 1991 Las Vegas video store robbery that put monologue so I can see what they look and her back in headlines all over the world. Our sound like. Then I review the footage and call casting director, Gerald Wolff, was also Dana’s back those who might fit one of the roles, giv- manager and trying his darndest to resuscitate ing them “sides” [script excerpts] to perform her career. I wanted to fly Dana to Atlanta for with other players, until I find those who have the movie but learned that out-of-state em- some chemistry together. ployment needed the consent of her probation After we’re cast I rehearse and block out the officer. So I dashed off a letter that I proposed entire movie in the rehearsal hall. Whatever to give Dana “gainful employment” in the choices, character nuance or improvisations state of Georgia for one week, and he granted the actor wants to try needs to be worked out approval. Once Dana arrived she was a com- in pre-production. On set there is no time to plete professional, nailing most of her shots in do anything other than film their perform- one take. I’d given Dana a fairly dialogue- ance. This technique works best for me and heavy role and needed her to deliver long spiels keeps costs down. I rarely do more than two in several unbroken shots, but she made it takes of any shot. I figure if we need a third seem effortless. One critic said, “Dana Plato take someone isn’t prepared and we rehearse gives a funny and solid performance in Com- the shot a few times before shooting another pelling Evidence. As a fast-talking tabloid re- one. porter, Plato brings to mind Jennifer Jason I have many amusing stories about actors, Leigh’s performance in The Hudsucker Proxy.” but here are a couple. During the production Dana was great to work with, a real sweet- of Space Avenger I thought it would be quirky heart, and I still miss her. to hire a porn star for the scene when the fe- Jeff Forsyth: For my first project I placed male alien has sex with a human. She gets so an ad for auditions in a local newspaper and hot she literally screws him to death, frying had quite a few responses. Also, I had worked him into a skeleton. We hired X-Rated star on another filmmakers’ projects and met sev- Jaimie Gillis for the scene. Gillis was one of eral local actors on those sets. Now I do a lot the few performers in the adult industry who of scouting through the local theatre groups could act. He was good in the role and amused and met actors from all over the country us with stories about his career between takes. through Facebook and a few other social-net- We shot one of his scenes in Peekskill, New working sites. At this point I have a huge data- York, and the local officials got wind of it and base of actors and actresses I can call on. It’s a tried to throw us out of town. They thought great feeling to have the contact info of so we were making a porn instead of a sci-fi com- many people and to have been exposed by edy. The co-producers met with the politi- 100 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES cians and convinced them we were a legit film rather challenging but we were able to make production and they allowed us to finish our it work in the end. shoot there. On Demon Resurrection we tried to avoid While we were filming a rooftop scene in similar problems by casting talented actors we Space Avenger, Kirk Fogg kept getting tongue- felt would be really committed to the produc- tied. I asked him what the problem was and tion and would stick with us through the he told me that the scene was the one he kept rough spots. We also made sure to have every- auditioning with and he had done it so many thing planned out so we could get through the times he had a mental block. I took Kirk to a script in 21 days. It was a grueling shoot and local bar and bought him a few drinks. That everybody was worn out by the end of it, but relaxed him and he was able to perform the we got it done on time. The cast did a spec- scene without any problem. I wondered if I tacular job. Everyone was terrific and com- should create a new Method acting technique pletely professional. We really were very lucky based on this remedy. to have been able to put together such a great William Hopkins: For both of my films group of people. we ran ads in the trade papers and rented out Steve Hudgins: We always do an open studio space in Manhattan to audition the casting call for the majority of our roles. We people who responded. We got several hun- let local theaters and agents know. We also dred headshots each time and we winnowed post the casting calls on our website and Face- the piles down to a couple of dozen people we book pages along with any other regional web- thought would be right for the available parts. sites that post casting bulletins. Most of the best people we saw were folks who Rolfe Kanefsky: The level of actors has a were experienced stage actors but had relatively lot to do with your budget. I’ve worked with limited film experience and weren’t SAG professional casting directors on the bigger members. On Sleepless Nights, a couple of the projects. I’ve done casting myself by putting actors in our cast were actually in Broadway out notices on lacasting.com and nowcast shows during the time of our shoot, and ing.com. I’ve met actors at parties and have would come to our set after doing their show had friends/filmmakers recommend certain for the day. One actor actually went on tour performers. When you’re going after name ac- with a show while we were shooting Sleepless tors like Brad Dourif, Jeff Fahey and Steven Nights. We had to shoot around him, using Bauer, you have to get to their agents/lawyers stand-ins for him, while shooting the scenes or a casting director who knows them, unless with the other actors. Then we shot all his you happen to be friends with them person- close-ups about a year later when he got back ally. But if you aren’t next-door neighbors with from the tour. Michael Madsen, then you have to make an Our leading man on Sleepless Nights ended offer to his representation. And by offer, I up leaving the production about midway mean money. Many times to get them to agree through. The shoot had been a troubled one to your project you have to make a pay-or- and we were way behind schedule. He got a play deal, which means you will pay them no job on another film and left ours, probably as- matter if you make the movie or not. Then, suming it was wise to move on since our film of course, you have to send them (meaning looked like a lost cause. But we didn’t give up. their agent/manager) the script and hope they Fortunately we were able to shoot all of his (again, agent/manager) reads the script, likes close-ups for the remainder of the film on the it, and passes it on to their client. If the money last night before he left the production. Then isn’t good enough, this will probably never we continued to shoot after he left, using happen. It’s a tricky business, but names are stand-ins. It made the editing of the film important and many times you need them to  Actors 101 get the money to make your movie. It makes that most of the time the cast will work itself the investor/distributor comfortable. out. I’ve had actors drop out at the last minute When dealing with non-names, this process and be replaced by other actors who are so is a lot easier. You just put up a notice and good in the role that I can’t believe I even con- bingo, you’ll have thousands of submissions. sidered someone else doing it. Every movie has If the part requires female nudity and doesn’t its share of casting stories. pay well, the submissions go down substan- Here’s one: I was casting for Nightmare tially. But that’s another discussion. Anyway, Man. A lot of the actors in this film I had on a typical Rolfe Kanefsky flick, we send out worked with before. I knew Tiffany Shepis a character breakdown on various websites from The Hazing and kind of wrote the char- and get a lot of submissions. I then go through acter of Mia with her in mind. I had just the online head shots, read the résumés, and worked with Blythe Metz in Jacqueline Hyde hold auditions. Auditions can go on for weeks and knew she’d be perfect for Ellen. James Fer- or months depending on the project. I also ris was also in Jacqueline Hyde, and he was a videotape the audition because it’s great to perfect Jack. There were four other important have a reference to go back to and see how roles in the movie. We need an “Ed,” a young your actor photographs. Does the camera love guy who was supposed to be Mia’s boy-toy him/her or hate him/her? Then come callbacks boyfriend. We found him on nowcasting.com. and eventually you have your cast. Like crew Ellen’s husband was a different issue. One of members, I enjoy working with actors that I the producers of Nightmare Man was Brazil- get along with. I have used many of the same ian, and, in exchange for the money he in- actors. Right now, Robert Donavan is in the vested in the film, he wanted all Brazilian lead. I’ve directed him in 20 motion pictures! rights to the film, which we gave him. He also Tiffany Shepis is another favorite. We’ve wanted a hot Brazilian star to play William, worked together seven times now. But you’re Ellen’s husband, and suggested Luciano Szafir, always looking for new talent as well. who I was told was the “Brazilian Tom In term of weird actor stories, I’ve found Cruise.” I insisted on meeting him. He flew into Los Angeles and, after the meeting, I agreed and he got the role, accent and all. Richard Moll happened to live up at Big Bear, where we were shooting the film. One of the other producers, Esther Good- stein, worked with Richard a long time ago. Fate brought the two together and we of- fered him the role, a one-night shoot min- utes from where he lived. He liked the script, accepted the money offer and did the part. Easy in, easy out, and very helpful for getting us press for the movie. He was our only “name” in the cast. Now, there was one more role: the part of Trinity, the blonde possible heroine of the piece. She had to be beautiful, but also strong and intelligent. We saw a lot of ac- tresses from LACasting and NowCasting Scream Queen Tiffany Shepis on Wrath of the Crow’s for this role. There was nudity required, set. Photograph courtesy Marija Obradovic. which limited us a bit, but we found some 102 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES good possibilities. Well, as we were casting, subsequent project, our successes garner more an actor/friend of mine, Clu Gulager, was eat- interests and more potential cast members. We ing at Cantor’s, a famous deli in Hollywood. posted ads on sites like craigslist, various film His waitress on evening was a very pretty Facebook groups, and other actor websites. blonde who also happened to be an actress. It’s important to get a quasi-legitimate lo- He talked to her and told her she should come cation for this meet-up. Don’t make strangers to this bar on Thursday nights where a lot of show up to your apartment to read lines. You his filmmaker friends gather to bitch and can get a hotel meeting room, a library or even moan about their careers. She liked the idea a church hall, for super cheap. and showed up. Myself and Tiffany Shepis At our casting calls, we like actors to set up happened to go that night as well. I meet her, slots through email so it runs smoother (we liked her look, told her that I was audition for still take walk-ins, however). They are emailed the part of “Trinity” and invited her to read sides ahead of time so they can get comfortable for me two days later. She auditioned and sur- with them. prised us all by being great! She was the best A receptionist (usually one of our girlfriends actress I’d seen. She even agreed to do the nu- or wives) greets the talent and hands them a dity. I was about to cast her when she called questionnaire. This paper is super important. me. She really didn’t feel comfortable with We ask a few questions: (1) Will you smoke doing a topless scene. She had never done it for a scene? (2) Will you do nudity? (3) Will before and said, “If you can’t cast me because you do partial nudity? (These questions help of that, I understand.” I understood her hes- siphon out actors for specific roles so there’s itation and because I was also one of the pro- less drama later into the process). The final ducers of this film, I decided that her acting page of the questionnaire is a calendar with ability was more important than her boobs. I our potential shooting schedule (usually a changed the scene to let her wear a bra, and window of two months) where we request cast Hanna Putnam in the role. She quit her every actor to plug in when they are available waitress job for the time being and starred in and what dates they are unavailable. This is her first movie. She then later got cast in Feast fantastic because it shows who’s really too busy 2 & 3 directed by Clu’s Gulager’s son, John. to do an indie film. We’ve loved certain actors So, there’s the old “waitress-becoming-an-ac- who just couldn’t do our schedule and, rather tress discovery” story for real. than offering them a role and backpedaling, Brett Kelly: I ALWAYS audition folks. we tell them right off the bat it won’t work The reason for that is simple — if an actor out. earns the job, they will respect it. If they are Use this method. Trust us. You don’t want just tossed the gig, they won’t treat it like to cast someone blindly without seeing their something they earned. If they don’t respect work schedule, no matter how good they are. the job, they will waste your time. I have so Filmmaking is a community-based process many weird actor stories — they are an inter- and one person’s shitty schedule can put every- esting breed of person. I can’t even narrow it one’s lives into jeopardy. down. I teach a workshop on auditioning and Jim Mickle: I met Nick working on a stu- can go on for hours with mistakes actors make dent film for a friend. Nick was the lead actor. to screw themselves out of a job. We hit it off and I cast him in my student film Chris LaMartina: Don’t use your friends! and then started talking about screenplays to- Well, okay ... use a couple friends, if they can gether. It all happened very organically. really act. Otherwise, hold casting calls. Even On Mulberry Street we wrote a lot of parts on our first production with no frills, we au- around good character actors we knew, so a ditioned a ton of actors and it paid off. Each lot of the casting was happening while the  Actors 103 script came together. On Stake Land I got to Damon Packard: I can’t think of any - work with a casting director named Sig De- thing “weird” offhand. I look [for actors] in Miguel, and we cast a lot from meetings with every way possible. Years ago, prior to the in- great local actors and auditioning for the side ternet age, it was posting breakdowns in pub- roles. The meetings were much more inform- lications like Dramalogue and Backstage West. ative than auditioning because it’s a chance to Now it’s all via online sites like lacasting.com discuss the role and the story and the tone and and others. The process is still the same: you’re also get a feel for what type of people they are. poring through hundreds and hundreds of Especially on lower budgets, it’s great to see if candidates. In my case, thousands. Maybe one you click with somebody and if they’re up for in 500 has an interesting quality worth con- the indie mentality. tacting. Maybe one in 5,000 is available and In the case of Kelly McGillis, I had some- willing given the circumstances and/or mini- how never seen Top Gun, but I grew up near mal pay. It’s extremely difficult (if not impos- Amish country and had seen Witness many sible) to find uniquely talented actors, espe- times. When her name came for up for Sister cially in the micro-budget independent world. in Stake Land, I thought she’d be perfect but But that’s just my experience. It’s always a never thought in a million years she’d be in- Scarlett O’ Hara search for me and practicality terested. She hadn’t done a movie in almost always wins in the end. In my experience the ten years, and didn’t seem into the horror casting gods always find the right people, even genre. But it turned out that she lived 20 miles under the most unusual conditions. The film from where I grew up, and, where we were I’m doing now, for example, has multiple ac- shooting, I wrote her a letter and Sig talked tresses playing Foxfur, which isn’t the way I to her manager, and the next day she took the planned it. But given the no-budget, more part. Turns out she never read the letter and “experimental” circumstances of the version she took the part because she could drive to I’m doing, it works well and seems to make set every morning. sense (and was the ONLY way to shoot it). Amanda Mullins as the sorceress in Damon Packard’s Foxfur 104 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Not that (as usual) anyone will be able to make 30 minutes outside of where he wanted to be. sense of it. But again, I attribute this to budget He instantly freaked. We were going to be constraints. If I had the money I could make gone for three days and he was not going to a perfectly sensible linear film. be anywhere near civilization. What followed Brad Paulson: In the beginning, we went was only what I could imagine a full-blown through the free casting sites — we even had a exorcism to be. There was definitely a demon few cats help us with the process. Lately, inside this man. We had to pour a bottle of though, we’ve just been picking people we whiskey down his throat just to get him to be know and avoiding the casting process entirely. quiet. He passed out and we finally had peace There are a number of stories about actors that for the first night. We had no idea how long have been a pain in the ass to work with. Some the weekend ahead of us was about to be. are an absolute joy and others are a nightmare. Each following day got progressively worse, Some are great on one movie and a thorn in until we realized our actor was going through your side on another. It’s really one giant crap- serious withdrawal. He looked like living hell. shoot. You never know what you’re going to Too bad we weren’t making a zombie movie get in L.A. There are many bizarre stories we because we would have been won an Oscar for have about actors. make-up. The thing is, he was the lead actor, One time we had an actor who was a drug so things got very difficult. My AD had to feed addict. More actors would turn out to be drug him hot tea just to keep him from passing out addicts in the future, but that’s beside the and dying. We, to this day, compare it to Ed point. This is just one of the stories. About Wood tending to Bela Lugosi, except this guy this particular addict, I didn’t know he had a wasn’t nearly as cool as Lugosi. When I drove drug problem at the time. My small-town up- him back he was so anxious to get inside his bringing has been responsible for quite a bit house, I thought he was going to jump out of of my naïveté. However, I believe it’s also kept the car. He told me he needed to get home as me grounded and from crossing over into the soon as possible because his mother was arriv- dark side that so many people find themselves ing and he needed to clean the house to im- in when they move here. I just thought he was press her. Yeah, right. More like clean all the naturally charismatic and funny. However, on sobriety out of his veins. And then, after the the first day of filming, he got real shitty real movie came out the son of a bitch extorted fast. Where was his naturally entertaining de- money out of us. We were too naïve at the meanor? I was just too naïve to know what time to know any better, so we let him do it. was really going on. He wasn’t getting paid, so Needless to say, we’ll never be using him again. he instantly diva’d out and demanded to be Jose Prendes: If they aren’t “names,” it is driven around to pick up painkillers before we always based on if they are good at what they started shooting. I must have driven him to do and if they are willing to work for food. ten locations before I realized that maybe he With my “name” actors, meaning someone was looking for something a little stronger that with a recognizable face and a fan following, just painkillers. Either that or he just had a it was always whether they were available and whole lot of pain he needed to kill and a very if I could pay them enough while not breaking short time to do it in. Then, 20 minutes after the bank. we picked up his painkillers he was somewhat On Monster Man, I approached Tom Savini less of a dick. Everything was okay until we at a horror convention and asked him if he’d went out of town, although even on his best be up for playing a part. He was hesitant, until behavior he remained a smug, condescending I offered him $400, and then he jumped at the ass. He was under the impression we were chance. We filmed the scene in my hotel room, going to be in city limits, but we were about and it took, like, 30 minutes. That’s just how  Actors 105 it happens in the micro world. But he was me do my own thing” rather than [adhering great and fun to work with. to] strict dialogue. So the night before, we give Paul Scrabo: I was fortunate to be ac- him the “good news,” that his part just got quainted with several actors already living on bigger and he freezes, takes a breath and says the East Coast, including, thankfully, Debbie “Paul, I’m putting myself in your hands.” I Rochon and Mike Thomas. They had already laugh and say “Don’t worry” and leave the made their mark in the indie film world as room and immediately start to worry. I pass solid performers. Trent Haaga, who is done for the day and I was looking forward to shooting a scene hunched over his laptop working on a script featuring Mike Thomas, Nathan Sears and for a future film. Trent’s a good actor, a good, John Zacherle (Zacherley, the Cool Ghoul). It fast writer and a great listener, having heard was written as fast-talking banter that required what just happened. Without looking up, he a lot of energy. Zach’s role was to punctuate says, “A buddy of mine worked with Conrad. the scene here and there, taking advantage of He said that if you get him first thing early in his natural timing and talent for comedy. He the morning, he comes through fine.” could only be with us for one day, but we While having my morning coffee, I see that ended up using that time on Zach’s major producer Rich Scrivani is already outside with scene — the musical number. So now Zach is the cast, and George Ann Muller hits me with gone and we still have to do that three person the tripod she’s carrying. “Let’s go.” This scene scene. It was obvious that we had to move up is designed as one master shot, and I figure Conrad Brooks’s participation a notch. Now, if we just keep doing it over and over until Conrad is a cult/B-movie legend and that’s we’re all totally sick of it, something has to be why he’s in the film, but his acting style is “let usable. Take one — Conrad’s perfect. I’m not The Demon Divas: Debbie Rochon (Nemain), Lilith Stabs (Babd), Brinke Stevens (Morrigan), Amy Lynn Best (Lamia), and Robyn Griggs (Masha). 106 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES sure. Let’s go again. Take two — Conrad scene with your cast, but you can’t always couldn’t be better. Three takes and he’s great count on it. My four leads, Debbie Rochon, in all of them. Mike Thomas, Trent Haaga and Nathan Sears Now, it’s worth mentioning again that you were always ready to go, and improved what must have real actors in your production, be- I had on paper, on many occasions. Debbie cause as I think many of your interviewees helped with continuity all the time, and what may agree, you do not have time to really di- a bonus that was. rect—you are too busy “putting out fires”! You Eric Shapiro: For Rule of Three, we put have to direct the budget and the scene, and out a casting call for SAG performers. It’s a then, hopefully, you’ll have time to discuss the good idea to get union talent if you can, be- cause they have a lot of experience on sets and are great with memorizing their lines and not blowing takes. My initial encounter with Lee Schall, who stars in Rule of Three and Mail Order, was very strange. He came in for his Rule of Three audition holding what ap- peared to be a toolbox, and his first words to us [producers Rhoda Jordan and Cerris Mor- gan-Moyer were also there] were, “I’ve done this before, right?” We didn’t know what he meant. We thought he was crazy, and were expecting him to open the toolbox and start Top: Brutal sociopath Russ (Rodney Eastman, left) reflects on how his behavior has impacted Jon (Ben Siegler). Bottom: Eric Shapiro (center) gives direction to (left to right) Ben Siegler, Cerris Morgan-Moyer, Rhoda Jordan, and Rodney Eastman.  Actors 107 beating us to death with a hammer. Turned lying on his back with his wallet gone and a out he meant the psycho character he eventu- nicely piled turd on his chest. Not so much ally played in the film had raped women in weird as nasty! the past, which was indicated in the text. He Marc Trottier: I get actors by picking up froze us for a moment, though, and we never the phone and saying, “Hey, I wrote this part found out what was in the box. for you ... wanna do it?” (That’s one benefit Anthony Straeger: My system for crew of being an actor with acting friends.) Or I and cast is identical. I often use people that call up actors that I don’t really know, and tell have worked with me, that know how I oper- them about the project and the role, send ate. In Call of the Hunter the cast comprised them the script, tell them that there’s no of Don McCorkindale, Katrin Riedel Kelly, money involved and convince them to join Angelique Fernandez and Michael Instone, all the team. Usually actors are looking to add of whom had worked with me on different stuff to their demo reels anyway, so as long as projects, such as shorts, corporate and events you’re giving them something good to use, and shows. The other three—Sarah Paul, Julia then they’re more inclined to say “yes.” I’ve Curle and Jonathan Hansler — auditioned never had anybody say “no.” As a matter of after answering the call via our advert. fact, people often say, “Let me know next time As an actor I have often wondered why so you’re filming something, I want to be in it.” many production companies use the same ac- It’s always fun to see people wanting to film tors and crew. But the fact of the matter is, things simply for the love of filming. when it gets down to it, I am guilty of the A funny/weird story was that I asked an same thing. The theory about casting (which actor (Morgan Kelly) to play the boyfriend of I guess a number of directors will also adhere my girlfriend at the time (Annie Julian) in to) is that you cast by trust. Don, Katrin, Mike Darkness Waits, and he agreed. There was a and Angelique are people I had worked with scene where they were supposed to get hot and over a number of years. They are professional heavy before being killed by the psychopath and experienced. The rest of my cast — Sarah in the movie, and he turns to me and says, Paul, Julia Curle and Jonathan Hansler — had to audition. I was looking for good team players that could work under pressure for 12 days straight and keep a smile on their face and their energy up ... and they all were. As to weird stories... Hmmm... There have been some odd people down the line and some people I have auditioned have been so totally incapable of delivering anything, but other than that the only bad story I have concerns an actor I was working with on a theatre tour. One night after the show we went out for a few drinks and a few drinks became more drinks and then he started chatting up this woman, who was, well — I wouldn’t have!!! Anyway, he was completely hammered when he took her to his apartment. He went to bed with her, but must have passed out without DVD packaging for Darkness Waits, directed by delivering. He woke up the following morning Marc Trottier 108 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES “Come on man, I can’t make out with your hurting her, while I was saying, “She’s out!” girlfriend,” and everybody starts laughing. So Then I ran down the stairs and got to her, and in that scene, they’re leaning against a railing before long she regained consciousness and that leads upstairs, and the killer chokes Annie asked, “What’s going on?” I explained what from behind with a leather belt. I was playing had happened and that she was okay. She was the role of the killer that night, as I did most up and ready to go again, right after. I think nights (almost all the scenes with the costumed everyone was a little freaked out, but I was killer were played by me). So I was holding used to that because of my experience with the belt that was wrapped around her neck chokeholds in grappling martial arts. I think through the railing, and I told her that I wasn’t Morgan thought that I had killed her. Fun going to pull on the belt, and that I wanted fact: We actually used that take in the movie. her to gauge how much pressure she needed Mike Watt: I hate auditions. We’ve con- to push against the belt to make it look con- ducted only a couple in 14 years and they’re vincing. Well, she pushed hard ... and she miserable for all involved. Nobody is relaxed, ended up choking herself unconscious! So including us judges, and it’s always difficult to when she was supposed to die, she got really judge a performance based on a couple of cold heavy ... and I ended up holding her body readings. We have, on occasion, “stolen” actors weight up with this belt around her neck be- from other people’s auditions, however. fore I realized that she wasn’t acting! No one There’s less tension, at least on our end, if we’re else realized in time, so I had to stretch my not shopping for something at the moment, arms through the railing as far as I could go but adding headshots to our wish list, so to to try and let her down onto the tiles without speak. We very much prefer approaching other Shooting the Resurrection Game opening sequence in the Munhall Cemetery, ca. September 2000. Left to right: Dan Franklin (zombie), Bill Homan (producer/co-star), Gina Preciado (Ms. Hill), Mark Dobrowolski (assistant camera), Bill Hahner (cemetery scene director of photography), Mike Watt, and Brian Kohr (sound engineer). Photograph by Amy Lynn Best.  Actors 109 filmmakers and saying, “I really liked so-and- characters you love on screen are usually far so in your movie. How are they to work with?” removed from the people who play them, so Ninety-nine percent of the time, you’ll get an meeting them first-hand is essential, particu- honest answer; you then meet with the actor larly if you’re dealing with SAG actors. You’ll and discover they’re perfect for the role. be spending a lot of money on their participa- One thing we’ve done consistently over the tion, you’d better be sure you like who you’re years has been to try people out in small parts working with. Someone who is “an amazing or as featured extras, see how they are on cam- actor” but requires more attention than a new- era, off camera and how they get along with born isn’t someone you need to bother with. people. On The Resurrection Game, Charlie The world is filled with “amazing” actors and Fleming and Tim Gross started out as back- actresses who aren’t pains in the ass. Unless ground zombies and became not only good that “name” is guaranteed to sell your movie friends but proved to be such fun actors to (which isn’t a guarantee at all anymore), find work with that their roles started expanding. someone you like who can do the job. Charlie wound up as a major character in But through conventions we’ve become TRG, and he and Tim both starred in Severe close friends with some very recognizable and Injuries. wonderful people. The two names that always The same can be said of many members of spring to mind, and always will, are Debbie our family — Stacy Bartlebaugh-Gmys, Alyssa Rochon and Jasi Cotton Lanier. Not only are Herron, Sofiya Smirnova, Nikki McCrae—all these two ladies amazing friends but their tal- started in small roles in projects and proved ents know no bounds. They were both essen- themselves to be fun and talented and we’d tial to our getting taken seriously in the in- bring them back again and again. Every film dustry without asking for anything in return, company develops a family in this way. doing us great favors at the beginning of our For Razor Days, we searched for the third careers. And we met them both at conven- lead almost as long as the script had been in tions. Facebook and email are terrific, but development. We approached a number of nothing beats a face-to-face meeting. union actresses for the part and the problem Working with name pros, even if they are was never money, but scheduling. Since Amy close friends, can still be intimidating. And and I are big believers in kismet, we chalked since no one really teaches “How to Direct 101 all of these “failures” up to the universe telling and Not Feel Like a Loser or a Tyrant,” it’s us we hadn’t found the perfect actress. Finally, tough, at first, to work with people whose ré- we sat down to watch the rough edit of Eric sumés are longer than the average roll of wall Thornett’s period horror movie Sweet and Vi- paper. I’m not ashamed to say that the first cious, starring Bette Cassett, an actress he had times I worked with Brinke Stevens, for in- been telling us for years, but one we hadn’t stance, was a nerve-wracking experience for met. Within the first scene, Bette proved she me. The same was true directing Debbie for was capable of conveying great subtlety and the first time on The Resurrection Game, even subtext with only facial expressions, and it was in a small cameo. The real nightmare blow to a real slap-to-the-head moment for us. Here my confidence came on Razor Days, where I was our perfect actress right in front of us, if not only had to direct Amy through some very only we’d set aside the time to watch the movie nasty emotional scenes, but also Bette (whom earlier. I’d never worked with before), Debbie in the Finally, the best audition process is the hor- largest capacity since we’d known each other, ror convention, particularly the ones with a and Jeff Monahan, who’d been directed by more “relaxed” atmosphere where you can John Sayles, George Romero and Dario Ar- hang out with the celebrities and talent. The gento. That’s when I really had to follow John 110 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Huston’s advice: “The secret to directing is Casting, I have always been able to find the hiring the right actors and then getting the best actors/actresses for my needs. We have hell out of their way.” also held auditions at local conventions, but I’m trying to think, but I can’t recall too the results have been less than stellar, with too many weird experiences. In five features and many out-of-town actors trying out. Out of 13 years we’ve had only one no-show — some- town means scheduling problems, or worse, one recommended by a friend at the last min- having to put up money for a place for them ute who was in touch with us up until 20 min- to stay. There are usually enough talented peo- utes before her call time. Then she vanished ple from the area to find what we need, but off the face of the earth for two weeks. We we have paid hotel fees on occasion to bring managed another Hail Mary pass to replace in just the right person for a role. her at the zero hour. Eventually she called our There are so many actors/actresses trying to mutual friend to assure her she was still alive, break into films that most of them will go to but we never really got the whole story as to great lengths to impress even a micro-budget why she bailed. filmmaker like me. They will give everything On one film, we had an actress volunteer in their performances, even more than you some nudity that wasn’t called for in the may want. Our lead actor in Murder Machine!, script. Since that’s usually a good selling point, E. Ray Goodwin, is one of these actors. He we accepted. When it came time to do the totally locked into the role of the ultimate scene — actually, many hours before — she ac- killer. So much so, that he actually would cused us doing some sort of bait-and-switch creep out some of the other actors when he on her. I pointed to the scene in the script and was in costume. He literally became the char- showed her where it remained unchanged “X acter. In one scene, the character is fighting a Character is clothed,” and reminded her that jail cell full of local thugs that he has been in- the nudity was her idea. It was nerves and cold carcerated with. He has killed all of them ex- feet on her part, but we resented being accused cept for the leader. The gag was that he actu- of “tricking” her into it. She isn’t Coco and ally does a martial-arts punch to the thug’s this wasn’t Fame and the scene was fine the chest and tears his heart out and eats it as the way it was. victim looks on in shock. We used a bloody Other than that, everyone’s been perfectly pig’s heart from a local butcher shop for the professional and certifiably batshit crazy in prop. It had been frozen and thawed and then their own special ways. actually frozen and thawed again as the date Ritch Yarber: After making films for over changed unexpectedly that we were going to ten years now, I tend to rely a lot on actors do the shoot. Goodwin rips the heart out of that I have previously worked with or have au- the dummy and proceeds to start eating it with ditioned in the past. I keep people in my a demonic look in his eyes. Everyone was so memory bank and when a part comes around in awe of what was happening in front of us that is perfect for them, they get the first call. that we forgot to yell “Cut!” He quickly Beyond that, I have always gone to North gulped the whole heart down. Realizing that Coast Central Casting in Cleveland to hold Goodwin had just eaten something potentially casting calls for my projects. The organization dangerous, I quickly ran to him and apolo- is headed by Ray Szuch, who teaches martial gized for not stopping the scene. I guess I arts during the day and facilitates an acting/ figured that he would stop when he put the stunt school in the evenings. He provides smelly lump of meat to his lips. Goodwin said many wonderful services and opportunities that it didn’t taste bad at all and that he really for independent filmmakers and artists in the didn’t think that it was a real heart, but rather Cleveland area. Through North Coast Central something that we came up with in the prop  Actors 111 Shooting a jail scene for Wrath of the Crows with actors Michael Segal, John Game and Matteo Tosi. Photograph courtesy Marija Obradovic. department that was edible. The scene is in and I have a great respect for them. It’s true the movie and really looks nasty and vicious. that sometimes they behave in a strange way; Goodwin never got ill. they’re eccentric people, able to influence your Ivan Zuccon: I usually use my instinct to job. But I think this is an interesting and choose the actors. Sometimes I make audi- amusing side of working on movies. I like my tions, sometimes I don’t, depending on my in- set to be heterogeneous. I think variety can be stinct. I love actors. I love working with them very stimulating.  Locations: Where You Live and Where You Shoot The main benefit of being an independent One of the things that irritated me in filmmaker is that you can do it anywhere, as Michigan, at the time, was the government long as you have access to what you need to passing film-incentive tax breaks, which lured get your movie done. When I lived in New out-of-state production companies to shoot York City it was like having a large movie set their movies here. They’d get up to 40 percent at my disposal. Any exterior I shot had pro- of their budgets paid for. These were films like duction value. Also, everything was within Gran Torino and Vanishing on 7th Street. While subway or taxi distance, so that saved on this may have helped the catering companies travel. Many actor’s apartments were used, if and allowed a few hundred locals to be “ex- they were available. For a few of my films I tras,” these companies brought in all their had access to an entire empty floor of a build- crews. Yet acquaintances never failed to tell ing where I worked. It was convenient and me how lucky I was that they were now mak- cheap — I just had to slip the freight elevator ing Hollywood movies in Michigan. Why? 20 bucks and I had all day to shoot. Wires This had absolutely nothing to do with me or were ripped out of the walls and it had the my films. The incentive was only for out-of- post-apocalyptic look I needed. In fact, years state companies and budgets over $100,000. later, the company that makes the Jarvik Heart Untold hours were spent explaining these facts took over this same space. to non-film people, who typically answered, It was also relatively easy to find crew and “You never know, they may need a director.” actors in the Big Apple. There was talent. On the flip side, even non-experienced pro- When I moved back to my home state of duction assistants and unknown actors wanted Michigan and did a feature, I found it a bit the “Hollywood cash” when working on a more challenging. There are very few film/ micro-budget production. video production professionals in this entire Not surprisingly, this was about the time I state, so there was little support. While I could switched to the documentaries. I could do 90 handle most of the technical end of produc- percent of the work myself, from shooting to tion, I had a much smaller acting pool to editing. When I began producing/directing choose from. Also, finding suitable locations these non-fiction features I made sure that the and figuring out the logistics of travel was majority of them could be shot in the Metro- more work. In fact, the talent pool and crew Detroit area. A few were health related and choices were so lackluster it put a damper on one was on a psychic Capuchin Monk. I also making the low-budget genre movies entirely. traveled to New York City at least twice during These films were, for the same budgets, so the year for freelance-editing work, so I could much less than what I was doing in New York also videotape there without adding any fur- City. ther expense to my productions. This added 112  Locations 113 more production value to the projects and this past decade, I found that this type of pro- made the programs wider in scope, which duction suited where I was living much better helped with the national television broadcasts. than making horror features did. Wherever While I honestly had no intention of be- you are based, use your locale to your film’s coming a “documentary director/producer” advantage. The Filmmakers were asked: Does where you live have an impact on getting your films made? And, if so, why is this? Glenn Andreiev: I’m lucky. Long Island tons and Montauk, both of which offer sum- is next door to New York City, which has end- mer retreats for the very wealthy and Holly- less resources for a filmmaker — trained pro- wood types, but also have lots of local folks fessionals, equipment and prop-rental houses. who are extremely organic and border on in- I also live near The Cinema Arts Centre, a pri- breeding. I’m from Nassau County, which vately run movie theatre with an enormous once had a taste of country to it, but has since audience turnout. They often play the works become overpopulated, and now really func- of local independent filmmakers. Seeing your tions as an extension of Queens, New York. film with a big audience is so important and We have some historic landmarks, but lots of fun. It would be great if this were available to fantastic places have been torn down. Very filmmakers all throughout the country. little regard is given to historical preservation. John Borowski: I suppose if you live in There is wilderness if I need it, and there are New York or L.A. you will be under constant suburbs. With Blitzkrieg I lucked out because scrutiny while shooting your film. Other we have the remains of the Suffolk Psychiatric cities, including Chicago, seem to more laid Center, which was built in the late 1800s, and back about filming. Once your film is com- now sits in decay. Once I saw that place, I plete and you search for distribution, it does knew right away that it would serve as the per- not matter if you live in the Antarctic. When fect bombed-out prisoner of war camp I completing my second film, Albert Fish, I lived needed for the film. Bloody Ape benefited from in Los Angeles and I mailed my film to dis- the Long Island locals because it was small- tributors in the U.S. and around the world. town set, and Long Island was still small town- Ironically, I decided to have my first distribu- ish when I shot it (beginning in ’92). The areas tor, Facets Video in Chicago, distribute Albert I shot Bloody Ape in look quite different today. Fish as they did such a great job distributing They’ve been given a face-lift. Honestly, with my first film. the type of film I like to make, I’d be better Keith Crocker: I live in a suburb of New off living in Europe! York called Long Island. I’m about 40 minutes Richard Cunningham: I think some- from Manhattan, which is convenient when times it can have more impact on what hap- it comes to casting my films, as many of my pens to a small-budget movie after it’s made. actors and actresses come from New York City. I grew up in rural upstate New York. There Lots of acting hopefuls are there. You really wasn’t a film department in my high school, have your pick of the lot. Long Island itself is or anyone really to approach for guidance, let very eclectic; you have farms far out east, yet alone funding. I remember in middle school you also have an airport. We have the Hamp- my friends and I went around to houses once, 114 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES like kids for charity, except we were asking country, as well as by theatergoers in the New random houses for money for our movie pro- York City region. I think, if this trend picks duction. Later on, we just got jobs and in- up — and I suspect it will —film festivals soon vested in our own movies. The problem was, will not only offer recognition for good low- I still wasn’t expanding the film’s promotion budget filmmakers, but greater chances of ex- beyond a local audience, or even hitting my posure to the masses: the filmmaker’s best target audience. challenge, no matter where they live. Currently, with the advances of digital video Maurice Devereaux: Well, if you’re talk- and post-production software, and also with ing about an indie film, not so much. You can the development of the internet and social make them anywhere. But the drawbacks media, people can make a quality film and would be, if you’re in a small town, your promote it effectively, wherever their back- choice of quality actors and crew will be lim- drop. Film festivals attest to that, I think. ited. The upside will be that it will be easier They play all over the country, and beyond to get people to work for free or let you use that, the globe now; and these little indie films locations, as they haven’t been corrupted by from just about anywhere, made on shoestring many expensive film shoots and it’s still exotic budgets with blood and sweat and love and and exciting. Cities that have lots of film dedication, play in festivals around this coun- shoots, everything is overpriced and people try all the time. are jaded. In 2010, the Tribeca Film Festival launched Donald Farmer: I’ve filmed all over the an online festival featuring a portion of their world, though its obviously easier to film in official selections. It was a great chance for the general area you’re living. I was living in some of the lower-profile features and shorts South Florida when I did Demon Queen, so it to gain more exposure. In 2011, Tribeca fea- was a no-brainer to shoot in Miami. That was tured Year Zero online, and by having my the city with the biggest talent pool for cast- short streaming through the festival’s website, ing, and it has the best variety of locations Year Zero could now seen by anyone in the within a concentrated area. But since my cam- Keeping out the zombies: a still from Year Zero  Locations 115 eraman and equipment was coming down minute movie and made it an episode of my from Nashville for three days only, this put the anthology film Red Lips: Bloodlust. I had a pressure on me to shoot everything in a very friend in Russia help me find local actors, then concentrated time frame. When I made my we filmed at some of the most iconic places Super 8mm movies like The Summoned, I shot in St. Petersburg, like the summer palace of them at a leisurely pace over months, never at- Catherine the Great, with sweeping staircases tempting more than one scene a day. Then, lined with life-size gold statues, and the huge after a ten-year layoff from filmmaking, my courtyard of the Hermitage Museum. I didn’t first day on Demon Queen I have a schedule to have a camera crew in Russia, so I rented a shoot at least a dozen scenes over three or four camera before the trip and shot everything different locations! At least I didn’t repeat that myself. But when I went to Paris to film An situation the next year on Cannibal Hookers. Erotic Vampire in Paris, I hired a French pro- I got a cameraman who lived in the same town duction crew so I could concentrate on direct- as me, and we spread the schedule out over ing. I think I set a personal record there for several months, just getting together to film doing the most different locations per day. I on weekends. The trouble with this type of made a wish list of great spots around the city schedule, though, is that some actors may be- like Notre Dame Cathedral, Père Lachaise come unavailable if you count on their partic- Cemetery, the ferris wheel at Place de la Con- ipation for months at a time. Our male lead corde, et cetera, and was determined to get on Cannibal Hookers shot about 75 percent of them all in. his role before he broke his leg in a motorcycle Jeff Forsyth: I think where I live has a crash. This required me to complete rewrite positive impact on getting my projects made. the film’s ending and add two detectives as I live in Syracuse, New York. It’s a small city last-minute heroes. and filmmaking is happening here, but not on Even though I live in Tennessee, I’ve shot a big-budget scale. When I approach people most of my movies in Georgia. That’s where about being part of a project or using their lo- I found the investors for Compelling Evidence, cation, they are more apt to be say yes because Deadly Run, Vicious Kiss, Demolition Highway, this request is outside of the norm and is fun The Strike, Blood and Honor, Battle for Glory for them. and Chainsaw Cheerleaders. And, nine times Richard W. Haines: Since most of my out of ten, investors tend to want a movie shot cast and crew live in New York City, that’s where they live. At least the ones I found want where most of my features take place. All they to be able to come on location every day. And have to do is take a subway or cab to our lo- if they have a nice house we can film in for cation. The Big Apple is also very photogenic free, so much the better. On Compelling Evi- and recognized throughout the world. How- dence I actually convinced my producer to pay ever, I have secured locations in other parts of $1,200 a day to rent a $4 million Italian-style the Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey, villa for us to film all Brigitte Nielsen’s scenes Connecticut). I try to limit these shoots since in. When you’re lighting and setting up shots, it increases transportation costs to get everyone who wouldn’t prefer a house with big, ornate there on time. rooms and ridiculously high ceilings. Instant William Hopkins: If you live in a city production value! like New York, as I do, where every third per- Finally, if you’re going somewhere exotic on son is an aspiring filmmaker and the cost of vacation, why not shoot exteriors there you just existing is higher than everywhere else, can use for a future movie? I did that one you have to expect that the expense and better when I took a vacation to Russia one difficulty of making an indie film is going to year. I whipped up enough script for a 15- be that much greater. But being able to say 116 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES your film was made in New York City and know) and want to help and support you. being able to use the city as a backdrop can That’s not the case in Hollywood, since it is certainly add commercial value to your such a business. So, it’s sometimes easier to project. So there is that benefit. Permits and shoot anywhere else. insurance are an additional expense you have If you are making a movie outside of your to worry about if you’re shooting in public town/state, then you have to worry about places. We shot the majority of Sleepless Nights travel and living situations. Putting people up and all of Demon Resurrection on private prop- in motels/hotels can get pricey. You can fly in erty in Long Island, where there’s a greater va- your main talent and key crew members but riety of locales — everything from modern then you have to find local hire. That’s office buildings to undeveloped woodlands — cheaper, but you may not find the greatest ac- and things were a little less expensive. Being tors or crew people locally. Professionals ver- in Long Island meant our transportation ex- sus wannabes is the big difference and can penses were higher, but it still wasn’t anywhere affect the final result of your movie. I worked near as expensive as it would’ve been if we had with a lot of people who thought it would be shot in New York City. And the locations we fun to work on a movie, only to realize that were able to find in Long Island were pretty it’s a lot more work and pressure than they spectacular, which added to our film’s produc- thought it would be, and quit. Again, plan tion value. everything and have backup plans. I worked Steve Hudgins: It’s going to cost you with a producer who told me, “When di- about ten times as much, if not more, to shoot recting a film make sure you have Plan A, B, a movie in L.A. or New York. You shoot it C, and D ready. And then be prepared to use anywhere else, especially smaller-type towns Plan E.” as opposed to big cities, and you’re going to Now, I’ll also answer this question in terms save yourself a fortune. of finding funding for your picture. If you are Rolfe Kanefsky: Well, this is actually a trying to raise money from investors from Cal- tricky question. I’m from New York and made ifornia and you live in Ohio, you will probably my first two films there. Then I moved to Los need to travel to California. Out of sight, out Angeles and have been making films in Hol- of mind. You must be in the investor’s face lywood for the past 20 years. There are advan- and ready to take a meeting. It’s always hard tages in shooting in L.A. You can find many finding that money, but trying to do it long- talented actors, crew, and have easy access to distance is near impossible. That’s one of the equipment. On the downside, you need per- reasons why many people move to L.A. Be- mits for everything, and it can get very expen- cause that’s where the major studios are. But sive. Plus, there are no film funds in Cali- if you’re doing a low-budget independent, fornia, so there’s very little government/loans you’re not going to be getting your funding support. When I made Nightmare Man, it was from studios. You have to find a private in- impossible to shoot that film with the loca- vestor and convince them why you and your tions we needed in L.A. We had to go to Big project are a good investment and, for that, Bear, two hours away, and put up the entire you need to meet face to face with a well-writ- cast and crew. Surprisingly, that was actually ten proposal that you can pitch like a pro. cheaper to do than dealing with all the union Brett Kelly: I’m in Ottawa, Canada. We rules. don’t have a big infrastructure of a film indus- The advantage, if you’re not in L.A., is you try here. There are indie filmmakers and oc- can get a lot of favors and places to shoot for casionally some [made-for-television movies] free. Many small towns and communities find will come here to film, but that’s about it. As movie-making exciting (oh, how little they a result, permits aren’t a big deal here and you  Locations 117 can often get permission to shoot in residences can save money and add a lot of production and businesses quite easily. Actors here are value if you can use areas you know well. In starved for opportunities, so I’m happy to pro- both cases we were able to involve locals and vide them. A bigger town, like nearby Toronto friends to help out and be in the movie as well, or Montreal, is full of jaded film folk that we so it’s a huge advantage to be outside the bub- don’t have. ble and making movies at home. That’s one Chris LaMartina: Baltimore, Maryland, of the things that separate my films from my hometown, has a great pool of talent, cul- mainstream genre films. And it’s fun. tural energy, and support. There are countless Damon Packard: From what I hear it’s filmmakers here that also produce micro-bud- easier to keep a dedicated group together, will- get content and there is a great community at- ing to work for no pay, outside of California. mosphere. We work on each other’s projects, But I don’t know for sure. People tell me lo- attend each other’s premieres, and provide a cation shooting is much easier outside of Los network to make sure we’re not hiring jerks/ Angeles, as it’s easier to obtain permission or potential headaches. simply film without hassle (free of charge) in We’ve been very lucky to live in a city where many other places, but it depends. The loca- everyone is excited to help and not rude tions I’m usually interested in are very difficult enough to ask poor filmmakers for big pay- or impossible to get access to without massive checks. We rarely pay actors (although I sin- amounts of money. cerely wish I was in a position to do so); we Brad Paulson: The best thing about hardly ever rent locations; and we consistently living in Los Angeles is the talent pool here is find folks who go out of their way to be in- so huge. There’s a lot of actors here that will volved. Now, this is not the case for every pro- work for meals, copy and credit, either to duction, but Jimmy and I make sure every build their résumé or because they’re finan- person who works on our films feels valued. cially stable, have the free time and really enjoy The most important words to come out of a acting. In small towns you don’t have a lot of directors mouth are “thank you.” You’ll bust options. L.A. houses a lot of the great actors your ass for someone you believe in and who as well as a lot of shitty ones. The trick is respects you. learning to differentiate between the two. The budgetary restrictions must be com- However, any director worth half their salt will bated with genuine passion and goodwill. We be able to do this. L.A. is also home to a lot couldn’t make the films we make in Holly- of flakes and bullshit artists, but as long as you wood or a bigger production town. Favors are can avoid this, you can pull off some good phoned-in constantly and, because of this, things here. If you’re in a small town, on the your reputation is paramount. No bridges are other hand, you can get all kinds of amazing worth burning. locations for free. And you don’t have to deal Jim Mickle: I live in New York City, and with noise, either. With L.A. you have to deal Mulberry Street is a complete product of living with that bullshit constantly. You can’t go any- there and shooting in a real apartment. Much where here for peace and quiet. There’s always of that movie’s success is due to its authen- planes flying overhead, dogs barking, cars ticity. Half of Stake Land was shot in my dad’s driving by, screaming kids, domestic argu- backyard, where I grew up in Berks County, ments, you name it. And if you’re guerrilla Pennsylvania. The other half was shot in up- shooting there is also the risk of getting shut state New York, where I have a cabin and down and/or fined. On the other hand, L.A. spend a good deal of time. The locations play is a town so many people are used to the idea a major part in that movie. of filming in, you can actually get quite a bit When you’re working with low budgets, it done here as well. In Evil Ever After we were 118 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES doing a scene where an actor got their heart there is an old saying in a writing class: write ripped out in the back parking lot of my apart- about what you know. So whether you are ment and people kept walking by pretending Miss Suburbia, Mr. Hicksville — everything nothing strange was going on. Not only that, lies on your doorstep: friends, acquaintances, one neighbor of ours who I’d never met before and locations. brought their kid over to come talk to us and Some advice I like to give first is, as a film- joke around. The kid probably thought it was maker/director, don’t take it personally. Sec- cool that we were ripping someone’s heart out ond, if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the in the parking lot for a horror movie. I don’t kitchen. Finally, you have got to give it every- know if I want to run into that kid again when thing until you don’t want to give any more. he grows up. This business attracts lots of “wannabes,” but Jose Prendes: I think where you live does keeping yourself motivated is difficult when indeed impact your film career. I used to live your rent is six months behind. in Miami, Florida, that’s where I made my first So, to the nub of the question and taking two films, and I didn’t exactly break out of the into consideration the above, where you live box with them. Now I live in Los Angeles and will never have an impact on getting your film have made so many contacts and can call in made. You will have the impact as to whether so many favors from great, talented people that you get your film made. I know my next [project] will be bigger and Marc Trottier: Up to now, I’ve primarily better, and will probably get a lot more atten- lived in Montreal and Toronto, where it gets tion. That’s not to say that someone from mad cold during the winter months. So unless Kansas or Nevada can’t break out with an indie you’re filming indoors or in a studio, it gets hit, but if you look closely, all the movies peo- really difficult and uncomfortable to film out- ple are talking about started from L.A. I rec- side during that time (especially if you have a ommend you move on out here to Hollywood low budget). I’m not sure if I answered this and swim with the sharks. If you’re realistic question correctly, but for me, weather/tem- about your goals, things can happen. perature definitely play a role in filming. Paul Scrabo: I think you can produce a Mike Watt: Living in and outside of Pitts- film anywhere. You should be realistic. Does burgh, locations are usually easy to come by, that important three-minute dialogue sequence depending on what our needs are. Offices, HAVE to be shot in Times Square? Do you homes, interiors, exteriors, full haunted attrac- have the permits and insurance? tions — all have been gotten through polite, Eric Shapiro: I’ve been in Los Angeles for casual meetings and location agreements 11 years, and aside from having great access to (which always include a clause on damage, a huge pool of SAG actors, which is impor- which is covered by our insurance). Friends of tant, I exist with the awareness that I can make ours who shoot primarily in New York and films anywhere. This becomes more true every New Jersey, often tell us how they spent $500 day, what with other states having tax incen- for two hours of shooting at some lavish lo- tives and California taxing the business out of cation. Farther down or west of those places, its own borders. people are as likely to volunteer their property Anthony Straeger: Hmmm! Interesting! as they are to give permission. This falls under If you had asked if being of a specific race, the “it never hurts to ask” department. We gender, physical ability have an impact I usually approach an owner [by saying], “Your would have answered with a resounding YES. house/farm/national landmark is gorgeous and There are funding bodies all over the coun- we’d love to shoot here. Would you be okay try (U.K./U.S.). The fact that it is cheaper to with that, and how can we make that hap- make a film now more so than ever before, pen?”  Locations 119 Always credit people correctly. Actors, crew, these people are hoping to achieve, and I try extras and anyone who helped you in any way, and make it happen ... for all of us. shape or form. It’s the absolute least you can Cleveland has been getting some notice do, and it makes people more amenable to you lately by the big studios, since Ohio is offering returning. (Or, in the case of the owners of great incentives on making films in this state. Laurel Caverns in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, The bad news for local filmmakers is that lo- willing to come find you when you’re hope- cations that were previously pretty open for lessly lost half a mile beneath the ground). use in independent productions are starting to Ritch Yarber: Living in Cleveland has a tighten up. Everybody wants to get their share double-edge in its impact on getting my films of the money pie, so it doesn’t matter if you made. It is not the greatest place to try and are local or a big studio, everybody thinks that break into filmmaking on any level since it is films mean money to be made, thus, less free- not a hotbed of opportunity. That being said, bies. It is another shot in the heart for micro- it makes it much easier and affordable to get budget independents. my films made as there are so many people Ivan Zuccon: I like telling stories about wanting to get their talents noticed but cannot my country, and that’s why I locate my movies take on the challenges of moving to the East here in Italy, near my home. I think a director or West Coast to “give it a go.” So much great should tell stories about what he knows best, talent is at my fingertips for little or no cost. because the cultural background helps in People are looking for a venue that is local and strengthening the storytelling. convenient to show their work. They cannot Making movies is like a drug. Shooting afford to take the big gamble. My films give movies turns your life upside-down (for better them that chance. This is lucky for me since or for worse), and your life starts hinging on I, too, am in that same boat. I have three chil- the shooting of the movie. Once you finish dren, a wife and a handicapped father who shooting, you immediately begin to think count on me for their livelihood. I have about the next film, and so on. There is no worked at the same job for 26 years. I cannot way out. It ‘s like a curse. The important thing afford to leave and “take my shot” at Holly- is to impose a limit on yourself. If things start wood. I have to try and create my opportunity working to your advantage and what you do from here. That makes me even more passion- gets a good response, great. Otherwise, you ate and dedicated, since I understand what should quit. The Filmmakers were asked: How do you secure locations? Glenn Andreiev: The best thing to do is what I was doing, and how I can get them to tell the location owner you will mention local press. He gave us two rooms for free, and their place of business in your press release let us hit their breakfast buffet. If the manager (never say “news articles about us shooting will sees you sneak in lights, camera, and, espec- mention your place of business” because you ially, a woman, he’ll think there’s a porno have no power what the newspapers will edit shoot and toss you out. out from your press release). This worked well John Borowski: When seeking locations, for me when I needed to film in a hotel room I usually work with the local film office if the for The Deed to Hell. I let the manager know location needed is a substantial location. By 120 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES substantial I mean a large set that cannot afford the old head of guards was fired and now they to be built. For Carl Panzram, I worked with have a guy there who doesn’t give a shit. We the Chicago Film Office to secure a jail loca- buy that guy a box of donuts, and he simply tion. I was surprised to find out that Michael says, “Don’t destroy anything.” So, we shot Mann filmed Public Enemies at the same jail. there three or four times. At one point we had Liability insurance is needed when filming about 35 war re-enactors crawling all over the on any location. I recommend buying into a property, and not once did we get thrown out. group insurance as it is more economical and The Lord works in mysterious ways. you are covered for liability insurance for an Richard Cunningham: Ha. I don’t usu- entire year. When filming Albert Fish in L.A., ally. I started guerrilla filmmaking when I was I rented out a studio where porn films were young, I guess. I asked permission to film on filmed. Not only did I get a great deal, but I a location if the property’s owner was around, had the run of the studio, including their but sometimes there was trespassing done in standing sets and the area around the exterior the name of the film. I also shot a no-budget of the studio. If the location needed is not sub- mockumentary/horror film called America the stantial, I usually utilize the guerrilla filmmak- Mental that has all kinds of beautiful New ing technique of trying not to attract attention York City locations, scenes that were often and being as quick as possible. For Albert Fish, captured in one take, if you follow me. Of I needed an empty apartment set. I knew course, I’m not recommending this. many apartments in L.A. were left open by the I’ve gone through the proper channels for realtor for renters to enter and check out the locations, as well. In New York City the gov- apartment. There was an empty apartment ernor has an Office of Films that processes per- two doors down from where I lived so I took mit applications. I’ve also worked with local the actor, one light, and my camera and tripod municipal offices for permission to film in there and filmed as quickly as possible and left. public; you can directly approach a business, No one ever knew we were there. like a café or bar. Many [owners] are willing Keith Crocker: I don’t secure locations, I to accommodate a low-budget film without steal them. Just about every location I have in charge, if you don’t cause them inconvenience my films is begged, borrowed or stolen. I don’t or take too long getting the scene down. believe in securing permits—it takes time and Maurice Devereaux: If you have no money. I simply hit and run. Let me give you money for a location scout, you look around an example. For Blitzkrieg, I used a closed- for what you need (online, drive around, ask down psychiatric institute to double for a friends), then find the owner and negotiate a bombed-out prisoner of war camp. When I price. This part is not rocket science. Try to approached the first security officer about get- find places with easy access by public trans- ting permission to shoot on the site, he said portation, available parking and low-noise lev- that “if he caught us trying to shoot without els. Also make sure if ever you rent someplace, proper permission he’d confiscate all our that you don’t need to re-rent it for extra time, equipment and not give it back.” Okay, I tried as they now have you in a vice hold and can to get permission from higher-ups, especially overcharge you if they feel like being greedy, since my alma mater owned the property, since they know you need to shoot there. but they (the school) kept telling me they no Once, on End of the Line, I rented an empty longer owned the property but were obligated warehouse for one month for $1200. Then, to guard it. Anyhow, I start seeking out another while shooting, my production designer met location [when] I meet a guy who wants to act an old acquaintance on the street. She lived in for us, and — surprise — he turns out to be a a loft across the street, I needed an apartment former guard from the school. He tells me that for a small scene in the film, and her place was  Locations 121 perfect. Unfortunately, she worked in the film rented as the home of Brigitte Nielsen’s char- industry and was greedy — she wanted $500 acter. For that I checked with the Georgia for a day of shooting. Since it was so close by, Film Commission for their list of Atlanta es- it made sense to still go there. But, three weeks tates available for location rentals. I toured later, I needed an extra day at the warehouse. through some jaw-dropping homes that had Well, the owner said sure, that will be $1500. been featured in Driving Miss Daisy and Box- I almost choked! “We paid $1200 for a month! ing Helena before picking the place that was What the hell?” Well, what happened was, the supposed to be the home of Brigitte Nielsen’s girl next door who I rented the loft from, character. KNEW and told the owner of the warehouse I’ve shot a couple of times in New York City what we paid for her place, so now he had me and always hear stories about how it’s impos- by the balls. Since we had already shot there sible to shoot there without expensive filming and needed it for continuity, I was fucked and permits. But I shot right in the heart of Times had to pay. Square for Red Lips: Bloodlust, with no prob- Donald Farmer: There’s about as many lem. A policeman even walked right by us at ways to secure a location as there are locations. one point and just ignored us. Then on An Sometimes we shoot in a cast member’s house. Erotic Vampire in Paris we pretty much filmed Sometimes we may shoot in MY house, as I’ve where we pleased, never asking for permission, done on Scream Dream and Deadly Memories. including inside Notre Dame Cathedral. Our Other times I’ll get double duty from the French crew recommended some other good motel where our cast and crew is staying. If a locations, and all the interior scenes were room’s already on the production tab, why not filmed at the Paris home of our cinematogra- knock off a few bedroom or shower scenes pher’s father-in-law. there? The opening scene of Demon Queen was Jeff Forsyth: I have been very fortunate shot in some Ft. Lauderdale motel. All the with locations. I have lived in or around Syra- nude scenes for Vampire Cop and Deadly cuse, New York, all my life and even when I Memories were done at motels, too. When I was not working on a project certain locations needed a quick shot in Compelling Evidence of speak to me and I remember them. Through Lynn Lowry answering a late-night phone call, so many wonderful people I have met in my I didn’t rent some studio for a three-minute life I have been able to shoot in some wonder- scene — I shot it in Lynn’s room at the Atlanta ful places. Plus, I am not completely ashamed Holiday Inn. Another case of double duty on to say that I have shot rather quickly in some Compelling Evidence was when we needed a places that I probably shouldn’t. movie theatre to film a screening of our lead Richard W. Haines: The locations I use character’s new action movie. An Atlanta pro- for my features are secured in advance of writ- duction company providing our camera gear ing the script, as I mentioned before. There’s happened to have a screening room, so we no point in writing a scene at a place that filmed it there. It was a little trickier getting would be too expensive to film, at considering permission to shoot in a real TV studio for my budgetary limitations. Sometimes I’m able some of Dana Plato’s scenes, but the local to get a building for free by offering services FOX affiliate eventually gave us the okay. to them. For example, I’ve shot scenes at Tech- When I needed a nightclub for the musical nicolor Career Institute by using the students scenes in Scream Dream, I told a local club there as extras or production assistants. That owner how our movie would be great adver- gave them a credit and reference, so it worked tising for his place. He agreed, and we used it out to everyone’s advantage. Some complex for both that movie and Savage Vengeance. locations, like the Gothic Castle, have to be The biggest location was the mansion we rented. 122 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES On the power plant set of Space Avenger William Hopkins: On both films, the With Demon Resurrection, I simplified the producers and myself put out the word to all shoot by writing a script that could be done our friends and associates about the type of in and around one house. But finding that locations we would be needing. Sleepless Nights house turned out to be a real trick. It had to was a far more challenging experience, since be an old house — our story wouldn’t work in the script required several rather difficult lo- a more modern building. And it had to be re- cations, like an abandoned warehouse and a mote — the story wouldn’t work in a house on midtown–Manhattan skyscraper. Those aren’t a block with 20 other houses. And it had to easy things to find when you have a budget of be a fairly big place, since the action of the less than $100,000. We never did find the sky- script was spread out over several different scraper, so we had to fake it using various sub- rooms of the house and the yard outside. stitutes. And as the production dragged on, We were just a week or two away from we kept losing access to locations after we had abandoning the project because we couldn’t begun to shoot scenes in them, so with both find an acceptable place, when a friend of the skyscraper scenes and the abandoned ware- Frank’s put him in touch with the owner of a house scenes we ended up shooting in several beautiful piece of property way out on the fur- different places and cobbling it all together in thest reaches of Long Island. It meant a good the editing. The scenes that take place on the part of each day was spent in travel back and roof of the skyscraper were actually shot on forth, but the location was ideal. It was big roofs in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and and old, with plenty of rooms and a slightly the Bronx. And the abandoned warehouse run-down look. It had plenty of exposed scenes were done on locations in New Jersey, wood and big rafters running overhead, which Queens and the Bronx. That all the stuff cut was perfect for our purposes. And it was sur- together properly was a small miracle in itself. rounded by several acres of woodland and sit-  Locations 123 uated right near a cliff looking out over Long morning when they closed and be out before Island Sound. It really added enormously to they opened the next night. We also used the look and feel of the film, almost as if it had Gabriella’s house that we dressed to be many been designed for us. In a way, the house be- different places. The Beverly Hills office we came a character in the film, which is just what shot at night in a real office. It was $3,000 for I was hoping for when I wrote the script. one night, which I paid for myself. However, Steve Hudgins: We ask. You’d be sur- the outside of the office was actually a building prised how many people are happy to let you in the valley that always keeps its lobby lights use their location for a movie if you ask nicely. on. Paul Deng, my director of photography Having a good amount of experience under on that film, turned us on to that, and one your belt, along with a good reputation, goes night we just went there and stole all the ex- a long way as well. teriors. The funny thing is that the company Rolfe Kanefsky: Usually, you just have to that ended up buying our film and selling it pay for them unless it’s the producer’s house. to Warner Bros., had their offices inside that I’ve shot a lot of scenes at producers homes. building. Small world, huh? If you’re doing a real small production, you So, if you’re smart you can get a lot of lo- may be able to keep a low profile and “steal cations for free and pay for the ones that are locations,” like parks or streets, or fronts of really worth it. Jacqueline Hyde was shot in ten stores. I did a lot of that on Pretty Cool Too! days for under $100,000, but it looks a lot big- There’s a montage when the main character is ger and a lot more expensive. I believe our lo- using the power of his cell phone to seduce/ cations had a lot to do with that. control people he meets. He goes to the park, The same can be said for the main house in a Goth store, and the beach. We shot all of The Hazing and the three different homes that these scenes on the same day with a four-per- made up the main house in There’s Nothing son crew and a few actors. Nobody stopped Out There. Personally, I love shooting in actual us. We were in and out without anybody really locations versus building sets. It is sometimes noticing. limiting but a real place feels like a real place But if you’re shooting in a house and are and that shows on screen. going to be there for a while, you need per- Brett Kelly: Always get written permission mits, permission from other homes in the area, from the owner. That’s the whole trick. signs that say you’re filming, and usually a pay- Chris LaMartina: Micro-budget film- ment to the owner of the house. A great loca- makers have a tendency of setting films in one tion can add a lot of production value to your central location and it’s often somewhere easy/ project, so sometimes it’s worth it. On Jacque- safe to shoot in (e.g., a summer house full of line Hyde, we found an amazing house that al- perky teenage girls). It’s cheaper to use this most becomes a character in the movie. The motif, but we’ve tried to veer away from that people who owned the house were magicians because it is so common. We, like most artists, and had never had a movie shoot in their man- want to stand out. An interesting location can sion. We got them down to a thousand dollars really add to the atmosphere and eeriness of a a day, which was more than we wanted to horror flick. spend. In fact, it doubled our cost. So, to Find interesting locations that you already make it work, we cut down the number of have access to ... you’ll be shocked at what you days at that location from six to four. But it can use just because of a business owner’s en- was so worth it. Luckily, we didn’t have to pay thusiasm. Using this philosophy, we’ve shot in the strip club because Gabriella Hall, the nursing homes, antique shops, and even fu- star/producer, knew the guy who owned it. neral parlors. If you can’t get away with using We just had to shoot after two o’clock in the them for free, figure out a favor trade. For 124 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES On the set of President’s Day, director Chris LaMartina checks the audio levels of screams while Director of Photography Joe Davidson captures Evil Lincoln chopping up actress Carolyn Wasilewski. Photograph by Jimmy George. Grave Mistakes, we shot expensive-looking certain places, people would often offer up mansion scenes at a local bed and breakfast, their place or another that they knew of. and in return, I was asked to do a video tour On Mulberry Street we had written in three of their business. We shot our slasher comedy, or four main apartments in the script and had President’s Day, at a small private high school gotten permission from many of Nick’s neigh- because we agreed to install exit lights in every bors to use their place for some time to shoot. hall and make a small donation to the “Prin- But the day before principal photography, they cipal’s fund.” all backed out, so we improvised and shot the Think within your means, but get ready to whole thing in Nick’s one-bedroom apart- rely on your charisma to seal the deal. A great ment. He and the art team redecorated for attitude and friendly smile can go a long way. each location, painting walls, taking out cab- People want to get involved generally, but they inets, and building fake doors to play as four have to trust you first. different apartments. It worked seamlessly. Jim Mickle: I’ve secured them with loca- The best advice is to be incredibly respectful tion managers and good producers who are of locations. I’ve worked on crews that abuse willing to do the legwork to develop and locations, and I’ve had my own place torn maintain respectful relationships. Lots of apart for other people’s shoots and it sucks. places in Stake Land were written for specifi- Treat it like it’s your own. cally, but for other locations our producer, Damon Packard: In my case it’s often not Brent Kunkle, took on the role of location a budgetary consideration, so it’s a situation manager, moving to the area for about six where you hope and pray that nobody tosses weeks of prep and getting to know the area you off a location in the first five minutes. I’ve and making contacts locally. When we needed been very lucky in that regard. But I have also  Locations 125 been thrown off hundreds of locations. One moviemakers, but securing a location can be should always have backup locations, if pos- done fairly easily ... and usually for free. sible. Paul Scrabo: I haven’t had much practical Brad Paulson: In the good old days we’d experience with that. We did a bit of “run and guerrilla most of the locations and plan on gun” here and there, and that’s never pleasant being out of there before the cops arrived. Or By the way, a few months after we wrapped up we used to get locations for free. But times shooting at the house used for the main loca- have changed and so have the owners. So we’ve tion, a tree fell on it. It’s since been largely re- been scaling back to shoot in places we ab- built and now it can be a new location for our solutely know we can get, not just ones we next film! think we can get. From now on, I’m going to Eric Shapiro: When you’re going beyond do what’s easiest for me. I’ve had my fun with residential locations—which friends and fam- guerrilla filmmaking and will still do it from ily are great for supplying — it’s a lot like cast- time to time, but I’ll only do it if it’s some- ing. If it’s a hotel, like we used for Rule of Three, thing I can pull off quick enough before any- it’s a good idea to talk to the management and one arrives to shut us down. get a feel for their disposition. If somebody Jose Prendes: Well, with no budget you seems like they’re gonna drive you crazy for shoot at your house, or you get your friends three weeks, run. If you’re dealing with rea- to hook you up with a sweet location. In the sonable people, it’s a matter of negotiating case of Corpses Are Forever, I filmed in a massive costs and time frames. On Mail Order, we shot warehouse studio and had to rent it out for in Sante La Brea, a great restaurant that’s now the duration, which was costly. But if you closed. I told the manager we couldn’t pay want to shoot somewhere, then go shoot there. much, but that we’d buy the cast and crew din- That’s easier said than done in Los Angeles, ner from the restaurant. He was sold. because the cops are savvy to the ways of indie Anthony Straeger: In terms of securing Call of the Hunter location—Cleve House Ivybridge—shooting the night transition shot. 126 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES locations I can definitely say that I’ve never “stable” actors, Stacy Bartlebaugh-Gmys and used a location scout or a locations bureau. Ron Gmys. The only requirements were that Whatever script I have done, once it is broken we limit the blood use to one specific room of down and I have a fairly good idea of what the house and that we not track shit in from locations I am looking for, I either contact outside. We had them sign a location release friends and associates to see whether they form and chipped in for their utilities (which might know of such a location, or I do some they hadn’t asked for, but we felt it was only internet research, looking at areas that are in right to do so). Thus, we had a gorgeous Vic- the best and most convenient location. torian house to utilize for our little ode to Working as an independent filmmaker, you Hammer. are continually pulling favors, and I personally In the case of the working haunted attrac- have had some great locations for nothing. I’m tion, the Hundred Acres Manor, which in- fairly sure that people can sense that you spired Splatter Movie: The Director’s Cut, we haven’t got a shed load of money to hand to knew one of the head employees and, through them for their location, and as my budgets are him, we met the location’s owners. They re- often limited, I think that I have been lucky quired that we provide them with proof of in- with the people I have met. If a company or surance, which turned out to be much easier individual wants too much for a location, it’s and cheaper to obtain than you’d expect, simply not plausible, and I look elsewhere. If which has now become standard operating it’s close and it’s free, the foibles of the venue procedure for us. Debbie Rochon’s on-set ac- can often be worked around. cident, resulting in partially severed fingers Marc Trottier: Finding locations is kind and leaving her nearly bankrupt thanks to am- of the same as finding actors. You’re filming ateur filmmakers lacking the simple policy, stuff in your parents’ basement or your friend’s served as a wake-up call for all professional in- pool, or you’re sneaking onto private property dependent filmmakers. In fact, if you can’t af- to get certain shots (don’t get shot trying to ford what usually amounts to a couple hun- get your shot!). I filmed a short film where we dred dollars for a million-dollar policy, you robbed a convenience store (in the film—don’t have no right to ask your actors or crew to risk actually rob a convenience store to get money even the smallest amount of hazard. to film). We knew the girl behind the counter For Demon Divas and the Lanes of Damna- and she was bored, so we did it on the spot. tion, the idea to use King Lanes bowling alley Another time during the filming of Darkness was pitched to us by the owners and their Waits, we went into a hospital (which we used daughter. We renewed our insurance policy as the entrance to our mental institution), and and paid for all food and beverages provided we asked the receptionist to hand my character by the business’s kitchen staff. Since we were a clipboard to sign before leaving ... and she shooting during an off-period (as we did with agreed. the Hundred Acres Manor) near the end of You need to come up with creative ways to summer as they geared up for league-play, film in certain locations that would otherwise there was no demand for any sort of rent. In cost money, like pretending to be a security fact, owners Bob and Sandy Hall actually pro- guard, or a construction worker to divert traffic vided the majority of our cast with sleeping ... or sometimes just by asking nicely. accommodations at their home and came Mike Watt: The easiest thing to do, for aboard as associate producers. us, has been to ask. Many of our movies have Utilizing the Laurel Caverns for Razor Days actually been written around the location, came about through a series of coincidences. such as the “Bathory House” in A Feast of Amy and I had covered the shooting of a seg- Flesh, which was owned by our friends and ment of George A. Romero Presents Deadtime  Locations 127 Shooting Demon Divas in King Lanes, Kittanning, Pennsylvania: Top, left to right: Michael Barton (Cal), Rachelle Williams (Frankie), Tabatha Carlson (Becki), Tara Cooper (Infinity). Seated: Nikki McCrae (Lisa), Sofiya Smirnova (Taffy). Standing: Hugo Bissonett (camera, DiggerFilms), Mike Watt (director), Steve Villeneuve (Camera, DiggerFilms) Stories for Fangoria. The film’s writer, co-pro- to-person negotiations are usually very ducer and co-director, Jeff Monahan, put us smooth. in touch with the landmark’s proprietors and Obtain liability insurance for personnel, at we arranged a very reasonable agreement that the very least. For additional fees you can get allowed us to shoot uninterrupted for a week- your equipment covered as well, but, nor- end, again, under the stipulation that we pro- mally, your gear is already covered by home- vide proof of insurance. The insurance didn’t owner’s insurance (if you’re a homeowner, ob- make us physically comfortable a quarter-mile viously). But under no circumstances should beneath the Earth during a snow-melting you risk the health and livelihood of your cast spring, but it covered anyone who might have and crew in order to save a few hundred dol- slipped on the limestone paths, walked into a lars. Most of these people are your friends and stalactite, et cetera. family. How would you feel if someone was So the long and short of things has always injured to any degree under your watch? The been: Ask first; it rarely hurts. Especially if you old “we make everyone sign a waiver that says don’t live in a “Hollywood” town where pro- any injury is their responsibility” is a callous prietors and property owners are used to being and cowardly attitude to have. compensated by movie crews. Most people Don’t be a jerk. It’s not your property, and find the filmmaking process to be fascinating even if you’re paying a fee to be there, that and love to be on set. As long as you and your doesn’t give you ownership. You and your crew crew don’t act like entitled jerks, the person- are guests of someone else and they don’t have 128 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES to let you be there. Maintain a good relation- the customers started to arrive for their riding ship with the owners, agree to their restrictions lessons. When you are getting free access to a and utilize the location the best way you can location, you have to suck it up and do what- in the movie. To that end, have a location ever has to be done to get your shots. agreement signed by both you and the propri- TwistedSpine.com Films has a policy that etor. It’s always best to have things in writing, we are sticklers about when using a location. and it covers all parties. Remember, people We always leave a location as clean or cleaner are usually fascinated by the filmmaking than it was when we arrived. Our reputation process until they realize just how tedious it for this policy helps us continue to secure lo- really is. Some people may tire of having cations that we could never afford to pay for. everyone around, even after a few hours, and With this policy in mind, I recently worked I’ve known a number of “handshake” agree- on another local filmmaker’s project as part of ments fall apart simply because the proprietor the crew. We were shooting at Burke Lake- of the business lost interest midway through front Airport, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. the first day’s shoot. You can easily download Someone removing garbage from the craft-ser- a boilerplate agreement whose terms you can vices area of the shoot had left a trail of liquid modify to indicate how long you’ll be at the out the door and all the way down the con- location, times that you will arrive and leave, course of the airport. It was on a weekend and et cetera. One slip of paper keeps everyone the place was practically empty. I was the last honest. crew member at the location. I was assigned Ritch Yarber: We secure locations by ba- to clean up the remaining craft-services area sically explaining what we are about and what and secure the location as I left. There was no we are trying to do. Luckily, so far, we have mop to be found anywhere I looked in the never had to pay for the use of a location. A whole airport. I was forced to clean the entire lot of people are excited about being a part concourse on my hands and knees, with a roll of a film and are eager for us to use their loca- of paper towels and one old rag. I was tired tions. Some are less than eager, but, begrudg- and sore when I left that day, but I remem- ingly agree under specific conditions and bered that this policy had enabled me to get times. For Murder Machine! we shot for four many great locations for my films and that, straight weekends at an old horse barn in even though this was not my project, my rep- Oberlin, Ohio. Since the place was a working utation and opportunities were earned because ranch during the day, we could only shoot at I always operate to a higher standard. When night, which was great for us since the scenes you are trying to make movies for no money, took place at night. The owner was a friend your reputation can be just as important of one of the wives of one of our actors. He as money when securing great locations that said that we could do whatever we wanted in will add fantastic production value to your the barn and use whatever we needed for the works. shoot. Problem was, he worked nights, leaving We have never written up a contract for his wife in charge of the barn at night. She was terms to use a certain location. Other film- never very happy to see us. It put a whole new makers that I know have had horror stories level of pressure on us to get the shots we about verbal agreements that suddenly change needed under the disapproving eye of the wife. in the middle of the shoot. Please keep this in We had to shut down production several times mind when committing to a location. People during the night as she fed the animals and are fickle. “tended” to things in the barn. We had to Ivan Zuccon: It’s hard to find a location wrap by daylight and ensure that everything for free. When we find a location that is good was cleaned up and that we were gone when for the film, we look for the owner and we ask  Locations 129 him how much money he wants for the rent. wood and start asking for tons of dollars. Usu- Of course, we explain him that we are making ally we use this trick: we tell them we are mak- a low-budget movie and we do not have a lot ing a student film. This often works, and we of money to spend. Because when they hear secure a location for a cheap price. But no one “making a movie” they believe we are Holly- gives you anything for free here.  Special Effects There are two types of special effects. The portfolio and [demo] reel, so he was hired to first are the ones you do during the actual pro- create two full-bodied lycanthrope outfits. He duction, like make-up or blood effects. The had several months do to this. But as the date second are those done in post-production, like of the production neared he said he was having explosions or computer animation. With both, problems meeting the deadline. If I canceled I tried getting professional effects people, pri- the dates of the production and postponed marily because I wasn’t able to do those effects them, I knew the movie would not get made. myself. With the first film, Vampires & Other Everything was coordinated and locked in, Stereotypes, I had the services of a professional from locations to actors. So I told the guy to effects company out of New Jersey. They were mail me what he had finished and I’d use what the same outfit that did Rolfe Kanefsky’s he had. What came in the mail the next day There’s Nothing Out There a few years before. looked like two cheap gorilla suits and un- On my film they did everything from the painted latex masks. There was no sleep to be vampire fangs to full-head demon prosthetics had that night, as the co-producer and I “fixed” to giant rats. However, with my next film, the them. But what to do with these giant Mup- anthology Twisted Tales, I did the majority of pet-looking werewolves? I treated it as if I were the make-up effects myself, as they were so shooting a 1960s Godzilla film. much simpler to execute. I also needed a break The first digital effects I needed were on the from time-consuming special effects. That was Alien Agenda movies in the mid–’90s. This the main thing I learned from doing an ef- was a trilogy of features that revolved around fects-laden feature — those effects take hours two different types of aliens overtaking the of preparation. Earth. The needed effects were done by several Blood and gore are fairly easy on a low different people, to expedite the post-produc- budget. On a zombie short I did for an anthol- tion. Again, many different filmmakers were ogy called Goregoyles I created most of the spe- involved and they were responsible for many cial effects to see if I could do that myself. In- of their own effects. However, certain effects testines were made from uncooked links of and props needed to be consistent, such as the sausage, blood from Karo syrup and food col- “look” of the aliens, so all that had to be oring. Even the Fulci-like zombies were mod- coordinated. With the sequel series, The Alien ified from generic rubber masks, doctored Conspiracy, I had one person create most of with liquid latex and moss. In fact, I was more the miniatures, such as the flying saucers, and pleased with the effects in that short movie another person digitally manipulate them into than anything else in the entire production. the various scenes, such as flying over the Twin One of the worst experiences I had with Towers. effects, which haunts me to this day, were the Although there’s been great advancement werewolf costumes in Rage of the Werewolf. I in digital effects I recommended that you keep had been impressed with the effects artist’s your effects to a minimum. Today’s audiences 130  Special Effects 131 expect a lot and there’s no way you can meas- What I’ve learned from 20 years of produc- ure up to Avatar on a minuscule budget. In tion is that if you aren’t able to realize the fact, watch nearly any movie made for the Syfy effects in your script then you probably should Channel and you can see lousy computer ef- do a rewrite. fects. The Filmmakers were asked: How do you handle special effects? Glenn Andreiev: Try not to go over your Keith Crocker: I let other folks handle head. On a $15,000 film you’re not pulling off special effects. Back in the old days, right up the “bullet time” effects from The Matrix. It’s to Bloody Ape, I also did the make-up effects easy to make do with what you already have. myself. Every once in a while I’d get a “guest” In Mad Wolf, for gunshots to a tree, we drilled make-up artist, like Nathan Schiff, another holes into a tree and put firecrackers in them. Long Island-based filmmaker, who handled During post-production in Silver Night, we Herschel Gordon Lewis–style effects very well. saw this shot of a vampire woman running to On the Bloody Ape, George Reis, Larry Koster catch a victim. We wanted to turn that into a and I called ourselves the Cinefear Effects special effect. The shot was done with a steady Troupe, and we handled all the special make- camera on a tripod, and we did five takes of up effects ourselves. But when Blitzkrieg came, her running off. I simply superimposed all five I had John Farley, who had been working on takes of her running together so it looks like other Long Island–produced horror film ef- she pulls apart into five ghostly figures. We fects. Nothing pleases me more than having a sped up the image and added a weird scream. make-up effects person; I’m sick and tired of The shot came out pretty good. handling and cleaning up stage blood. I don’t John Borowski: Photoshop and After Ef- miss doing effects at all. I never really liked it. fects are amazing programs. They are almost And, again, you don’t want to wear too many limitless in what can be created and manipu- hats. lated for special effects. I edit my films on a Richard Cunningham: With my first Mac in Final Cut Pro and create all of the ef- productions, Lycian and Arcadium, the story fects in Photoshop and After Effects. There had a fictional medieval backdrop. Some of are many tutorials available on the internet the visuals we accomplished by brute force, that guide you through the making of certain like building a village set that spanned more special effects. Sound is very important as you than half an acre of land. For that we were car- can utilize sound to complement and enhance rying fallen trees from the surrounding woods the special effect. When filming H.H. Holmes, to form building frames, transporting rocks a fake hole in a wall was created to serve as a to make functional fire pits, carving and paint- chute opening where Holmes would dump a ing Styrofoam to make fake rock walls. For body from the third floor down to the base- the castle scenes in the movie, I contacted an ment of his “castle.” The set was built in my actual castle in Tarrytown, New York, that op- apartment, so the chute was fake. But the il- erates as a hotel, and they allowed us to shoot lusion was complemented by the sound of a on their property. CGI ultimately became body falling three stories and then landing at necessary to capture the grandeur of a capital the bottom. city referenced in the script, and to fill the sets 132 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES with more extras than had originally shown up. That task fell on my production partners, who accomplished it by pain-staking rotoscop- ing techniques with Final Cut Pro. With America the Mental, we were doing minimal ef- fects, but because the film was shot impromptu, we usually had but one take to get the shot right. These ef- fects involved blood spatter or other violence, and re- quired some trickery of cam- era framing and/or actor concealment, so that the ef- fect could be accomplished seamlessly during long shots without inserts dedicated to featuring the effect itself. I suspect, for this reason, that stage experience would be es- pecially useful knowledge when filming a movie in that documentary-like style. Top: John Farley applies make-up to Tatyana Kot so she will appear battered and bruised in Blltzkrieg. Bottom: Another disturbing scene from Year Zero.  Special Effects 133 With Year Zero, my production partner set suming on set, so beware and schedule your me up with the programs, and I took on the shoot accordingly. challenges of special effects myself. To give the Donald Farmer: I like to leave special ef- animated film its particular look, I photo- fects to the experts. As I mentioned, I was my graphed objects and brought them into Adobe own effects man on The Summoned, rigging Photoshop, where I added a filter that con- one of my friends with a firecracker, but I don’t verted the still images into line drawings. I need to repeat that experience. I’ve mentioned then extracted the subject, creating an indi- how I hired Rick Gonzales for the make-up vidual layer, coloring it in and shading it, and effects on Demon Queen right after he’d assisted eventually adding it to a composite image. Tom Savini on Day of the Dead. I used Rick From there I used Adobe After Effects, sep- again on Scream Dream, Savage Vengeance, Vi- arating each layer within a sequence to mimic cious Kiss and Vampire Cop. For that last one perspective when employing the movement of Rick did a vampire’s death scene that Joe Bob the program’s virtual camera and lighting fea- Briggs described as “ten seconds of a drug tures. I used something called a “Puppet Tool” dealer’s face turning into Silly Putty and get- in After Effects to manipulate the still images ting fried off in the sun.” Actually, it was more into animation, with a few other techniques, like 90 seconds — I liked to milk Rick’s effects like stop-motion, but that was often a com- for all the screen time they were worth! plicated and awkward process. As I had no crew, I was taking photographs of myself, using the camera’s timer, and a gui- tar case as a stand-in. For the opening titles of the short film, I wanted to begin with a shot of a single cell di- viding exponentially, and that required me to look into sev- eral After Effects filters, but I managed to find one for free that accomplished the effect. I even used an old GIF ani- mator for a sequence. What- ever got the job done. Maurice Devereaux: I don’t [do special effects]... I get someone who does that for a living. I was lucky to be friends with Oscar-nominated special make-up F/X artist Adrien Morot, who is a tre- mendous artist; he worked on all my films at a discount rate (or, in the case of End of the Line, for free in exchange for a percentage of the film). But Donald Farmer poses with Jackey Little (in demon make-up) on special F/X are very time-con- the set of Scream Dream. 134 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES For Cannibal Hookers I found an effects guy this in Taxi Driver, then again in Dawn of the named Brian Sipe who had absolutely no film Dead, so I wanted it in one of my own movies. experience but was making these huge anima- And, with Bob in charge, everything worked tronic dinosaurs for museums out of his ga- perfectly on the first try. rage. I came by his house one day, saw a huge Chainsaw Cheerleaders was the first time I robotic Tyrannosaurus head he’d made and wanted to go the CGI route and was referred hired him on the spot. Now Brian is one of to a guy could do both CGI animation and the top effects guys in the industry, with cred- traditional make-up effects. Joey Pruitt had its on Hannibal, Star Trek, Van Helsing, Ter- just done a movie for Lionsgate called Side minator Salvation and The Curious Case of Show, where he created some disturbingly re- Benjamin Button. But his IMDb page still lists alistic CGI snakes, so I had him do one better Cannibal Hookers as his first feature credit. on Chainsaw Cheerleaders. Joey designed and Another effects man I’ve used is Bob Shelly, animated a CGI mutant snake that could rape who runs a full-blown studio and weapons Debbie Rochon, slither through her body, and museum in Atlanta with his son B.J Shelly. burst out of her neck in a blast of CGI blood. Bob’s done everything from Jim Wynorski’s Naturally, I featured this effect front and center Return of the Swamp Thing, creating gunshot in the preview trailer. squibs for Robert Rodriguez in Desperado, rig- Jeff Forsyth: On the first film I handled ging rain effects in The Notebook, and running all the make-up, props, design work and dig- various pyrotechnic and gunshot effects in ital effects myself. I believe in the idea that Zombieland. When you hire Bob you can usu- knowledge is power. If I didn’t know how to ally film on his studio lot as part of the pack- do something I either read about or asked age, which is very useful for doing car stunts someone how to do it. Originally, all the UFOs and explosions without having to get permits in Children of the Sky were models, which was and blocking off public streets. We filmed a rather fun to construct and photograph. By big chunk of Vampire Cop on Bob’s lot, then the time post was finished on that film I en- came back a few years later for a motorcycle- tered the world of CGI. I love being able to crash scene in Vicious Kiss. Bob and B.J. both do all my work myself. I don’t really want to work on Demolition Highway, doing the extra do all of it but I like being learned enough bloody squibs I requested, along with bike about special effects to guide people to what stunts and a laundry list of other effects, big I’m looking for. and small. My favorite of Bob’s work for me Richard W. Haines: My features that re- is the front and back squib he created for ac- quire special effects or squibs and explosions tress Doris Ragsdale in Compelling Evidence. are handled by hiring F/X Artists and pyro- Doris is supposed to get blasted through the technicians. Amodio Giordano and Ralph Cor- forehead, with blood flying out the back of her dero did the gore effects for Splatter University. head. Bob made a filament cord/button effect John Bisson and Ralph Cirello created them for her forehead that reveals a pre-made bloody for Space Avenger. Brian Spears handled them wound. Then he taped a protective metal plate for my latest movie, What Really Frightens You. on the back of her head with a small explosive In all cases they utilized latex rubber tech- charge rigged beneath a condom full of movie niques, which involved making molds of mon- blood. For the effect to work, one man deto- sters, aliens or the actors. I prefer those type nates the charge at the exact instant another of effects. I’m not a big fan of digital monsters, guy yanks the filament cord. This pulls a bur- which look artificial and cartoonish to me. ied button from her forehead and reveals the CGI are astronomically expensive compared make-up, just as a spray of blood come out to the latex monster effects. Wilfred Caban the back of her head. I’d first seen an effect like and Neal Ruddy were among the pyrotechni-  Special Effects 135 Top: Brian Spears works on an effect for What Really Frightens You? (2007). Bottom: Filming a gargoyle creature for What Really Frightens You? cians I used for blood squibs and explosions. then close-ups. I prefer to shoot the special ef- I like to shoot as many of the effects shots in fects close-ups during pre-production, then advance of principal photography, since they match them to wide shots on location later. It take a long time on set. It’s a reverse of the also gives me the option of re-shooting the ef- usual method of shooting wide-shots first and fects if they don’t come out the first time. 136 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES William Hopkins: With both of my of additional effects shots and color correction, films we hired professional make-up artists to looping, et cetera. Since all of that was being do beauty make-up and hair styling for the done by just one person, the post-production cast and to supply things like vampire fangs period stretched on for well over a year. and some gore effects. With Demon Resurrec- I think the special effects work in my first tion, I did the zombie costumes, with Frank film, Sleepless Nights, was a little spotty, though and Ed assisting, and I did the monster baby, I recently spruced up the film for re-release which was a puppet shot in front of a blue and fixed some of the weaker effects. But I’m screen and inserted in the shots with the act- very happy with the effects work in Demon ors. All the optical work and a number of more Resurrection. I think the zombies look quite elaborate gore shots were done by me in post, good, and some of the gore scenes, like Marcy’s things like Steven’s neck being ripped out and belly ripping and the monster baby’s birth, al- Marcy’s belly being ripped open on the shards ways get very strong reactions from audiences. of broken glass. I tweaked a number of the Steve Hudgins: It’s nice to have a knowl- gore effects we had done on the set in the com- edgeable effects member on board. But if you puter in post. don’t have access to such a person you need to Just about every shot in Demon Resurrection remember that we live in an information age had some optical work in it — the addition of and you can find all kinds of “how to” tutorials smoke or the supernatural glow around the on the internet, which allows you to go the zombies or the breaking glass shots — and all “do it yourself ” route, if need be. You can also of that was in addition to the actual editing of learn a lot by watching some of the “making the film, the scoring of the film, the shooting of ” specials that are on many DVDs nowa- Creature shop for Demon Resurrection  Special Effects 137 days. You’d be surprised at how simple many Man. If you don’t have a lot of money, you can great special effects are to do. still do amazing things, if you’re creative. Like Rolfe Kanefsky: Very carefully. They’re I’ve said, sometimes the most effective things delicate, you know. But seriously, effects, es- are the things you think you see but don’t. pecially in horror movies, are very important. Lighting can trick the eye and the right camera If they look cheesy and cheap, they can destroy angle can give the impression that you saw your whole movie. I have done a lot of horror something horrible when, in actuality, it was flicks and have never had enough money to your imagination making it more than it really really do great effects, but I try my best and was. hire the best people I can. Again, talk with friends and find out who When I started making films and shorts as is good or who may think your movie is cool a teenager, I did my own effects. Fake blood, enough to want to do it, even without a lot of earthworms, et cetera. In college, I found a money. Now that CGI has taken over, there friend who created a monster hand for a short are a lot of very talented effects guys out there called Peek-A-Boo. The result was so-so. looking for work. When my first professional film came along, It also helps to know how to shoot the ef- since I was in New York, I looked for some fects. I have impressed many special effects de- local effects places. We needed many effects partments by telling them that when the effect for There’s Nothing Out There, including the is ready, I want to shoot the close-up of it first star creature, and found Scott Hart and his so I get it looking its best. I can’t tell you how company, Imagifects Studios. He had worked happy they are to hear that. Most of the time, on some low-budget stuff, including The Base- directors shoot the master wide shots first and ment, a film that just recently came out for the work their way into the close-ups. By the time first time. He made our creature and head they get there, the effect has to be cleaned up molds. It was 1989 and everything was done and reset and loses some of it glamour. Telling practically except for the opening credits and them that I know it’s better to shoot effects a few electrical sparks at the end. first puts them at ease, since they know their Then I moved to L.A. and my next direct- hard work will be shot correctly. You’ll really ing assignment was on a series of sexy come- get them on your side if you do this. It also dies designed for late-night cable. Nudity was helps to know what you want. Give them the most important aspect in these films, but some creative freedom, but know what you’re since I wrote the scripts I tried to put in some looking for. Many directors have vague ideas special-effect gags in as well, like someone’s but don’t know what they like until they see tongue suddenly growing three feet long and it. That trial-and-error process drives effects a woman getting so aroused that her nipples guys crazy. Plan and discuss everything. Find suddenly jump to attention underneath her out what can and cannot be done with the leotard. Well, there was a young effects man time and money at hand. Figure out simple working his way up in the Corman ranks at ways around certain gags and decide which the time, and he ended up doing all my effects. ones you really, really want. It’s better to have His name was and is Robert Hall and he’s now five to ten really good effects than 20 poorly a big effects guy as well as a director himself. executed ones. A few years later, I had a few bigger budgets Brett Kelly: I always hire experts in their (almost million-dollar projects) and for To- field. A director should be good at directing. morrow by Midnight and The Hazing, the ef- Find other people who are equally good at fects job went to SOTA effects. Then, my what they do. I usually budget half a day’s budgets went down again and I worked with shoot for an elaborate blood or make-up ef- Jeff Farley on Jacqueline Hyde and Nightmare fect — they always take longer than you 138 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES think — and things WILL go wrong. Plan I’ve gotten very comfortable with compositing ahead and budget the time, and it should all and 2-D/3-D work. It’s also incredibly helpful be good. to be able to mock up effects shots during the Chris LaMartina: Early on, we did a lot editing process so they can go hand in hand, of the effects ourselves, but after your camera instead of farming it all out to different de- buttons start sticking with Karo syrup you partments and trying to keep many people on question the practicability of that dynamic. the same page. There’s an excellent website For Book of Lore we hired a fellow named called Video Copilot (www.videocopilot.net) Darren A. Mosher, who was killing time (no that teaches After Effects through entertaining pun intended) in Baltimore before a big move and informative tutorials, from beginners to to New Zealand, where he got a job with advanced. They also have a lot of great prod- WETA. ucts, like lens-flare plug-ins and stock-action For President’s Day and Witch’s Brew, we footage, elements like blood spatters and shat- used graduates of the Tom Savini effects tered glass. Highly recommended for doing school. Kaleigh Brown did President’s Day solo genre films on a budget. and then we used her, Jason Koch, and John Damon Packard: Well, again, that’s de- Laveck for Witch’s Brew. termined by budgetary constraints. You do There are plenty of make-up school grad- what you can. uates, just like film school kids, who want to Brad Paulson: If it’s horror, we can do a get in on projects so they can remain active lot of those ourselves and they usually turn out within their craft. They understand limited better than if we have someone come in and resources, but are positive artist types who will do them for us. If it requires make-up, though, give you their all for low numbers. make-up artists are aplenty here in Hollywood Jim Mickle: For make-up, I worked with and they’re very hungry for work. That’s an- Adam Morrow on Mulberry Street. We had gone other perk of living here. A good one who to NYU together and I heard he was working knows how to do gore is pretty much impos- a day job and still doing effects whenever he sible to get for free, so I’d recommend learning could. We gave him a big chunk of our very the basic carnage effects yourself. The one gold tiny budget to design and create the effects, mine that I found when doing effects was the and he wound up leaving his job and work- Mexican supermarkets. In L.A. they’re an ab- ing on our effects full-time for many months. solute gold mine if you’re looking for authentic On Stake Land, we worked with Brian gore. They’re the only places that carry strings Spears, who is a part of Glass Eye Pix’s fre- of sausages that look close enough to human quent roster. He and his partner, Pete Gerner, intestines. In Montana we used to go to slaugh- are very good at being flexible and doing what- terhouses to get our gore supplies. They would ever it takes to pull off ambitious ideas. They get us leftover parts, but were upset for some recycle a lot of gags (a lot of our vampire teeth reason when we asked if they had any extra were also in Glass Eye’s I Sell the Dead, worn eyeballs lying around. by the same actors, in fact). A lot of heads and Jose Prendes: Short answer: I don’t. I let body parts were put together, like Mister Po- the special-effects guys do it. Long answer: On tato Heads to create many different looking Monster Man I was the F/X guy and I used dead bodies. Brian also played two of our key ground beef as brains and Alka-Seltzer as dis- vampires, which made casting and effects pre- integrating alien goo. That’s why I leave the production very easy. bloody work to the blood experts. For digital effects and compositing, I’ve Paul Scrabo: Most of our film was de- done my own for both films. My day job re- signed with minimal physical or digital effects quires a lot of After Effects and animation, so in mind, with the exception of the last section:  Special Effects 139 The Perfect Woman, the science-fiction tale co- in the film. But, for the sake of a few moments written by Brinke Stevens. in the film, it took a great deal of preparation Originally, our hero enters a cave and finds time. Being hung from an actor’s point of view a hidden alien craft, where a group of sexy is a very scary business ... you could die. So space babes are monitoring the behavior of you require someone who understands all the earth men, hoping to find the perfect man to health and safety issues and has all the neces- take back to their planet. Flying saucers and sary equipment to keep an actor as com- an alien city of beautiful women were also fea- fortable and safe as is possible. tured in the story. Not having the money or If you are looking for visual effects, you have time to present this as any kind of state-of- three options for people you might employ: the-art digital-effects extravaganza, we thought Someone new who might like your project and it best to go the old-fashioned way. George is in the process of learning Nuke (A video ef- Ann Muller created a city out of assorted fects program) or something like that and will flower vases turned upside-down, and built an do it for free [for the love of it]. Someone who interior of a flying saucer out of Owens-Corn- will do it relatively cheaply as they are not a ing insulation, the natural pink color matching novice and realize how long it takes to work perfectly the motif of the female planet. Co- on any project. Someone who is at the top of writer Brinke Stevens changed the opening their craft and will deliver, but for this you scene from a cave to a spaceship interior, where have to pay. We had some green-screen work Queen Exotica can be “teleported” to earth. on call of the Hunter along with a decapita- We used a leftover Fourth of July sparkler for tion, and Nick Tregenza of TrigFX did a really that effect. And here’s what I never expected. good job at producing exactly what we needed. The Syracuse B-Movie Film Festival nomi- The special effects in a film can also be a big nated the film for “Best Digital Effects”! eater of cash, so you have to be inventive with Digital-effects technology can also be used little money and work out a clever way around to correct mistakes that, years ago, you may any problem. have been stuck with. Two scenes in our film Marc Trottier: I didn’t have special effects revealed a boom mike, and it was relatively in my films in the beginning, only because I easy to paint it out. didn’t have any resources to do so. But then I Eric Shapiro: Never heard of ’em! (laughs). taught myself how to use Adobe After Effects, As of yet, I haven’t had the opportunity. I’m and now I can pretty much do anything I generally interested in behavior and psychol- want. There are a lot of great tutorials on the ogy, and don’t necessarily foresee doing an ef- net that teach you how to do everything your fects-driven film, but never say never. heart desires. One amazing site for learning Anthony Straeger: Realistically — I and for purchasing great products and plug- don’t— not my bag! There are a number of de- ins is: www.VideoCopilot.net. (I have no partments to do that, from a make-up special affiliation with this website.) effect — e.g., vampire teeth, lenses blood etc, I combined a few different tutorials that you action effects (like a hanging or car crash or a can find on that site, and I created a short film Visual Special effect or CGI Effect), all need called Urban Saber, which you can see on a specialist. YouTube. For standard make-up effects you have to Mike Watt: This is one area in which get luck to get someone like we had on Call of we’ve always been incredibly lucky. When we the Hunter Sally Alcott made less than $1,000 first formed Happy Cloud Pictures, partner dollars go a long way in blood, guts and gore. Bill Homan had graduated from the Art In- From the action side, Martin Shenton pro- stitute with a degree in special practical effects. duced a hanging, which was very important He hand-picked and trained make-up assis- 140 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES tants for our numerous zombie make-ups and also understand time and space constraints. gags and created a very efficient team. I was Don has applied make-up on actors while we also fortunate to meet another AIT student, recorded voice-over dialogue, and there wasn’t Don Bumgarner, who became an indispensa- a noise on the track. When gags fail for what- ble unit of the family over the years. ever reason (and it happens on every set, re- Our main fortune came from the opening gardless of the artist’s experience) there are al- of the Douglas School of Education and the ways two or three backup plans on hand. Tom Savini School of Make-Up and Special When choosing an artist, ask to see samples Effects. The head of this department is Jerry of their work. They usually have a portfolio Gergley (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Babylon 5) on hand or, nowadays, on their phones. Get and happened to be one of Don’s and Bill’s in- to know them through a face-to-face meeting, structors at the Art Institute. With this rela- talk to other people they’ve worked with. tionship already established, along with getting Some guys who seem like awesome guys may to know other instructors, particularly Eric have different set personas, or vice versa. If you Molinaris, we have managed to employ hand- like their work and they seem to “get” the picked students for all of our make-up and project, trust them to do their jobs. If they’re special-effects needs, usually in exchange for pros at heart (again, regardless of experience) credit, food and gas money. When Eric served they’ll be at the ready with anything, for as our lead, he used the shoots as teaching op- touch-ups, “last looks,” et cetera. portunities as well. Many “kids” whose first Ritch Yarber: I have a pretty good back- set experience came on one of our movies have ground in special effects and make-up. When gone on to work with KNB, Stan Winston, I was younger, I wanted to be the next Tom Optic Nerve and Precinct 13. Savini, my idol. I took courses in college at The nice thing about the indie horror in- Cleveland State University, acted and did dustry is that relationships beget relationships. make-up as part of The Legion of Terror, a Through Jerry and Tom Savini, Pittsburgh’s noted local haunted house organization and hometown gore god, we met Greg Nicotero, experimented with techniques discovered in Robert Kurtzman, Al Tuskes and Gino Crog- books that I collected. I have established my- nale, all of whom have been there for us on self as a person with know-how. However, I numerous occasions with advice, techniques have come to understand that I really do not and tricks. Gino and Jerry both lent assistance want to be a professional effects person. I only on Razor Days, charging us far, far less than did it to take part in the rest of the acting and their talents were actually worth. And, again, filmmaking that I enjoy. I do special effects on the “don’t be a Jerk” rule always works in your my films if I have to, otherwise I hand those favor. jobs off to people that come to us and express The best thing about working with pros interest in pursuing this discipline as a profes- and students of pros is that they have terrific sional and that are seeking experience. Cur- “bedside manners.” I’ve never worked with an rently, our special effects are supervised by effects artist who didn’t talk the subject through Ernie Smith, a local filmmaker and talented the processes being applied to them. When effects artist. Our CGI work is handled by Bill made a face cast of me, and when Jerry cre- Andy Tubbesing, a great artist that we hooked ated Amy’s, they kept up a stream of reassuring up with at one of our open-to-the-public meet- (and usually hilarious) chatter to subvert any ings we advertised on a local bulletin board. claustrophobic or other concerns we’d have Ivan Zuccon: I lean on high-level profes- while having our faces encased in alginate. sionals: this is obviously a cost in terms of time Above all, effects guys know how to impro- and money, but that’s how it works if you want vise. They understand low budgets and they to do a good job.  Music Music is important — if your film needs ask for payment — they used the publicity music. However, it’s probably one of the last of the movie to sell their own CDs, which things you’ll deal with in terms of production worked out for them. when you are making an ultra-low budget However, when I switched over and did production. documentaries, I needed music for the specific A few years ago I had a “producer,” the son tone of each project. The purpose of the music of a famous Hollywood actress, ask me advice was to create a “feel,” whether to signify sor- on how to make a low-budget independent row or happiness. In many of these cases, I movie. He confided in me that the first thing finished the documentary, sent it to the musi- he did was pay someone $5,000 upfront for cian, and they had a few months to compose music. He didn’t even have the actors cast or the tracks I needed for certain sections. I gave a frame of the film shot. Then he complained them specific “examples” of the type of music how he didn’t have as large a budget for his I needed and they emulated that. actors. When I asked him, “Why did you get One band I’ve consistently used the past your music already?,” he was surprised and decade is Seasons of the Wolf. Their songs are sputtered, “You have to have music!” Through- in The Alien Conspiracy movies and my most out the years I’ve repeatedly heard filmmakers recent documentary, The Life of Death (2011). say, “I already have the soundtrack,” before It’s an example where the visuals and audio fit they even wrote the script for the movie. How quite well, though both were done independ- is this a good plan? ently of each other. Below, writer/composer/ With all of my genre films music was guitarist Barry D. Waddell (a.k.a. “Skully”) thought of after the fact. I figured I’d find answers a few questions about his involvement music that “fit” after I made the movie. It was in the world of low-budget, independent pro- a budgetary and time consideration. Plus, ductions. there was nothing in the content of the films that needed to have exact music cues. Of Interview with course there was instrumental music for when Barry D. Waddell characters were talking, but also I could use entire songs if it was a montage scene it was What is your background as a musician? going over. My first two vampire films had First off to give away my age — hahaha!— I original scores, while others, like Twisted Tales started practicing guitar when I was 12 years and Rage of the Werewolf, used already-existing old and had my first band together playing tunes. I put an advertisement out for music originals at age 14 in 1974. and received hundreds of responses. I did not I never really got into playing cover ma- need to own the music — I just needed their terial. I only listened to it and practiced along permission to use their original music in my with it to learn all those cool riffs. I played movie(s). More often than not they did not bars with one cover band called The Dirt Bags 141 142 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES from ’79 to ’82. And even then we would With our music being spread out in the un- throw in several originals I wrote. I was in sev- derground over several releases we ended up eral different bands until age 24. I learned to making a lot of friends and, of course, even- play drums and bass just so I could be in bands tually SOTW music coming into contact with that needed those positions filled. This was and being used by several independent film- good training for my future role as a music makers. So the music part came around full producer. I ended up being lead singer and circle to what Dennis and I originally started. songwriter in a progressive hard rock band, Over the years Dennis and I have recorded and Equinox, from 1984 to 1988. That is where I produced several other bands in our studio got the nickname “Skully.” Once that band and we even opened up our rehearsal stage for fell apart the engineer/keyboard player Dennis other bands to rent for practice. And that is Ristow and I started Seasons of the Wolf. At the short version of my background in music. first just the two of us composed original in- The devil is in the details. strumental music inspired from soundtrack music. Established artists such as Tangerine What makes you interested in doing music Dream, were a big influence on us as, was the for movies? How different is this from soundtrack music from horror and sci-fi film- doing music for your band, Seasons of the makers such as Carpenter, Romero, Argento, Wolf? King and so many others. Still, having a full Well ... because Dennis and I originally heavy metal band together and putting out al- compose a lot of soundtrack-sounding music bums is what we really wanted — and so that ends up being intro’s or outro sections for SOTW was formed. My younger brother, SOTW songs, it already fits the mold. There Wesley Waddell, just out of high school, is a difference, sometimes, especially if just in- joined as singer and lyricist. Together we wrote strumental music is what is required for a film. hundreds of songs. We found a small local stu- For SOTW it is more about “the song” and dio (Tric Tracks) and started recording the first the presentation of the song lyrics and how it full-length cassette tape releases from 1989 to fits into SOTW conceptually. Of course what 1991. Fully packaged, we released them locally. ends up happening is a lot of sections of We set up some live shows with the full SOTW music and lyrics fit quite naturally into SOTW presentation. It was very apparent that the dark sci-fi ambiance of horror and sci-fi SOTW was not an average bar band. After a film landscape. As for the interest part — I just couple years we found ourselves working with love film, especially anything that makes the [Allman Brothers Engineer] Bud Snyder co- hair raise on your arm or makes your mind producing our first international album. We think “what if?” learned a lot from that situation. It is fun creating the background sounds In 1995 we built our own recording studio, that will add impact to film. Chase scenes, kill Level-D-Green, a large rehearsal stage, and scenes, sleeping scenes, lovemaking, party formed our own independent label, Earth time, getting ready for battle, the actual battle, Mother Music. This allowed us to write, prac- blowing up things, crash landings and such. tice, record, produce, design, promote, and Every kind of scene requires a “backing sonic have control of everything from start to finish. feel” to boost the impact to the audience with- I set up writer and publishing membership out them knowing it. In film and TV — with ASCAP and a studio partnership with sound-beds are almost subliminal. Discmakers, of which EMM is now a plati- I had read once that there was no sound- num member. And so this allowed me the lev- track in the John Carpenter film Halloween erage to negotiate licensing deals to re-release when it was first presented to a movie house product on several interested European labels. for major distribution. And they said it was  Music 143 cheesy and not scary at all. They said, “Make filmed in pre-production and sometimes a tip whatever changes you need and bring it back.” sheet where the filmmaker might point out So, John Carpenter came up with the music what type of sonic feel they have for a partic- theme on keyboards — added the soundtrack ular scene. For instance, if they want some- behind the scenes. He did not change any - thing very eerie or something very bombastic, thing about the film. When it was presented or slow, fast, simple, complicated, wacky, and the second time they said it was fantastic — it such. It is always a good thing if the filmmaker was scary as hell. And the rest is history. Music has descriptive ideas to help when we are cus- makes a very big difference in the impact of tomizing music for their film. film. Take the film Jaws, for instance. Some- If an independent filmmaker is looking for times it does not require much detail or com- music for their low-budget film, how do plicated music. Just the right few simple notes you recommend they contact musicians? set to the scene can make a person jump right Well, of course, the best way these days is out of their seat. And that is interesting and initial contact through Facebook or email. But damn fun. definitely a phone call to discuss details and You’ve done music used in several inde- get to know each other once you have the pendent horror and sci-fi movies. Was this number. It is necessary to make the music music you had already created or was this artist feel the “contact” to be serious and le- music made specifically for the movies? gitimate. Dealing in the independent low- When we have first contact with filmmakers budget or no-budget world, as we all know, we send full albums of SOTW music. They there are a people who do not follow up. Hot use whatever sections of music that suits their smoke blowers we call them. So, definitely if needs. Sometimes full songs with vocals were you are “actually” doing a film and you want used and sometimes they ask if we can give “actual musicians” that are really doing music, them just a instrumental version. Sometimes then it is always best to get that contact so- they will use the instrumental version during lidified and the air of interest, trust and ad- the main theme of the soundtrack and then, miration going. The payoff can be very good at the end credits, use the full song with vocal in ways of cross-promotion once the project track, if it is fitting lyrically. We have also com- is fulfilled. We are all mostly doing it for the posed and recorded music specifically catered same reasons, to create entertainment with to a film for main theme. In that case we are hopes of making it a career and feel fulfilled usually provided with some footage already at the end of the day. The Filmmakers were asked: What about music? Do you usually have someone compose a score or is it music that already exists? Glenn Andreiev: Up until Every Move Harpsichord.” The first 80 percent of The You Make I used the music created by a friend, Deed to Hell has almost no music score, except Nicholas D. Kent, who has a great ear for film incidental music playing on radios and televi- music and applies his unique tastes to a film sions in the background. The final 20 percent, score. For my Revolutionary War thriller, Mad which takes place in Hell, has constant music. Wolf, he said he was creating “Hitchcock on a These were previously created scores by an ex- 144 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES cellent group called The Devil Music Ensem- fessional composer, which constituted more ble. For The Make-Believers I went to a website than half the film’s budget. For my next film, that offers well-orchestrated, license-free clas- one of those same producers decided to com- sical music pieces. Each piece is about $35 and pose the score, so he conducted a collection of it’s worth every penny. musicians to record the music, cutting the John Borowski: Music is the most im- costs of the score down drastically. portant element in a film, second to the image. With America the Mental we used a handful It seems like a bold statement, and I am not of local bands that contributed some really saying that sound effects are not important. great music to the soundtrack. That still seems Music creates the emotion for the characters like a good symbiotic approach, if you’re look- and sets the mood of the film. I work with film ing for good free songs to help drive a film. composers because I have been a fan of film I’m also a multi-instrumentalist with pass- music ever since I began listening to and col- able recording capabilities, so for Year Zero I lecting film soundtracks when I was a teen- decided I’d try composing the music myself. I ager. used a 2001 Acid Music program, in which I Keith Crocker: In the past, for the 16mm engineered and mixed the audio tracks and films, I tended to use classical music, mostly rendered them into MP3 or AIFF files, ulti- material in the public domain. For Bloody Ape mately adding them to the video edit in Final we featured some public domain music, but Cut Pro. the bulk of the score was synth music supplied Nowadays, built-in programs (like Garage by a guy named Frank Perri. For Blitzkrieg, Band) make it easier than ever, with features editor Steve Gocinski dug up tons of interest- like drum/instrument loops and effects that ing public domain music, but the main gist of make it possible for someone with their own the score was from K.C. Allen, a friend of instruments, or band, to produce their own mine who’s been playing in various under- soundtrack for a film. ground rock bands since the late ’60s. We If this all seems too much, simply Googling went with no synth. Instead, he used his “royalty-free music” brings up a vast library guitar, both electrically and acoustic, and ac- of legal songs and scores with which to fill your centuated the action on the screen. Plus, he movie. This works for sound effects as well; gave me some great mood pieces that really set there are a number of quality sound effects of- the scene for some of the most dramatic parts fered for free online at sites like freesound.org. of the film. My dream would be to have a full It all just takes a bit of searching and weeding band or orchestra for my next film, but the out the bad examples. budgets just don’t allow for such things at this Maurice Devereaux: Yes, I always time. worked with a music composer. My last three Richard Cunningham: I’ve taken a few films were composed by Martin Gauthier, approaches to music in my films. In the first who is terrific. Music is so important—choos- homemade movies I made as practice in my ing what kind and where and when to put it mid-teens, we just blatantly lifted scores from and when not to put it is a very creative pro- blockbuster movies. But I was in high school cess and can greatly affect the quality of the and the movies were only showing in the local film. The time I spent working with Martin library, or there was no admission cost. I don’t on the scores of Lady, Slashers and End are think anyone cared about the copyright issue among my happiest and most fulfilling artistic back then, but I certainly don’t recommend moments. it. My first effort into making a completely Donald Farmer: I’ve handled music both original film was at 19 with Lycian, and the of these ways. My co-producer on Demon other producers and I decided to hire a pro- Queen was friends with a girl singing in  Music 145 various Nashville hotel lounges and gave me own unique score using the temp tracks as a her demo tape. I loved the song “Angel Fire”— general reference. especially that it would be free — and used it William Hopkins: To avoid any rights under the opening credits of Demon Queen, complications, I only use music in my films and again for a scene in Cannibal Hookers. For that is specifically created for them. With Scream Dream I wanted a title song, so the Sleepless Nights we hired a couple of very tal- band hired for our nightclub scenes volun- ented composers to create music for the film. teered to write one. They ended up delivering They supplied me with extended cues, chunks that and two other original songs we had Me- of music that I could cut up and drop in wher- lissa Moore lip-sync in the movie. When the ever I felt it was needed. The resulting score songs were written we all went to a budget- has a reasonably lush, romantic sound that priced Nashville recording studio for one night works well for the kind of gothic melodrama so the band could record finished versions of Sleepless Nights is. all three tunes. On Demon Resurrection, I felt a more min- For Deadly Memories we had a larger-than- imalist approach was called for and I had a usual budget and applied some of it to the hard time finding someone who could give me film’s soundtrack. My executive producer was what I wanted. I didn’t want the small indie friends with Gene Sisk, the keyboard player film we were creating to be crushed under a for Kenny Rogers, and asked if he would be heavy, symphonic score. It wasn’t a film that game for composing a full movie score. Gene needed the Hollywood sound. What I wanted was doing a U.S. tour with Kenny at the time, was a score comprised of ambient sounds more but said this would give him something to do than composed music. I wanted the music to during downtime on the tour. We gave him a blend in with the natural sounds of the envi- DVD of the movie’s rough cut he could play ronment we were shooting in. After several on his laptop while he composed the score and failed attempts with different composers and Gene got to work. Before long Kenny Rogers after a fair amount of money had been spent, was looking over Gene’s shoulder during those I decided to give it a try myself. I recorded long trips on the tour bus. Now Deadly Mem- several hours of stuff and then took the best ories has some fairly lurid scenes, constant gore, bits and cut it together to make the final score. torture and a screaming nude Tina Krause I doubt anyone will walk away from Demon being spray-painted blue. I was wondering Resurrection humming the music, but I think how the straight-laced Rogers might react to it’s reasonably effective and more in keeping all this. Apparently pretty well, according to with the mood and the style I was going for. Gene. He reported, “Kenny says to tell ya’ll he Steve Hudgins: We’ve gone both routes likes your movie!” with this. There’s a lot of royalty-free music Jeff Forsyth: I like original compositions. available out there and there’s also a lot of mu- I always seek out a composer. sicians looking for any kind of exposure they Richard W. Haines: I always hired aspir- can get that may be willing to record some ing composers for my movies and I’ve lucked original music for you, often just for a credit out in that I’ve found some talented people in the film. that created very innovative tracks that en- Rolfe Kanefsky: With all of my films up hanced the narratives. Among them were An- to last year, I’ve always had original scores drew Nixon, Seth Wright, Gary Shreiner and written. I love music and think it is one of the Richard Fiocca. most important aspects to any movie. That After I finish editing I put in temp tracks said, I think Dog Day Afternoon, The Birds and from other movies to indicate the type of The China Syndrome work wonderfully with- music I want. Then, the composer creates their out any score. However, I love Jerry Gold- 146 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES smith and you just can’t beat a full orchestra. the characters. It was a tricky task that turned I’ve never had enough money to hire a com- out wonderfully (pun intended). However, the poser with an orchestra, but I have worked score had to be composed by using a friends’ with a great composer. From 1996 through the stock music library. Luckily, it was an amazing present almost all of my films have been scored library, and I knew exactly what I needed and by Christopher Farrell, who has done amazing how to use it. I’ve had to do this multiple things while working with very little budgets. times this past year because the producer de- The great thing about Chris is that I’ve worked cided it was cheaper to buy a library of music in many different genres, from comedies to than hire someone to write original scores. So thrillers to horror to erotica, and have needed this is the first time I’ve taken stock music scores and songs in just about every variety of and reinvented it for my movies. I know this music there is. Chris has come through every happens a lot and if you have a good ear and single time. I met Chris through a filmmaker really know how to use it, it can work very friend of mine, Jay Woelfel, who is also a com- well. poser. In fact, he brought Chris in to help with My preference is always to have a new score a score he was doing for me. It was a parody written for the film. It gives the movie a voice of James Bond called Rod Steele 0014: You Only that is all-important. John Carpenter is fam- Live Until You Die. Jay wrote the theme song ous for saying that Halloween was not effective and he and Chris collaborated on the musical at all until he wrote the score. It makes the score, nailing that John Barry feel brilliantly. movie. The same could be said for thousands It’s funny, effective and done straight enough of films. Every film should have its own feel to actually sound like a real Bond score. After and every musical score should reflect that. I that Chris has done every one of my films ex- have said it before but if you want to temp cept for Corpses because York had their own your “suspense/horror movie” with a great composer and wouldn’t let me hire Chris. But, piece of music, use Track 5 from Jerry Gold- from Rod Steele, Chris and Jay did Misadven- smith’s Psycho II. It always, always works, and tures of an Invisible Man, Alien Files and To- watch how it elevates your film in the process. morrow by Midnight. Then Jay got busy with Brett Kelly: I usually find a composer who his own directing career and Chris continued is interested in working on an indie or low- working with me on The Hazing, Jacqueline budget movie. There are many of them. I have Hyde, Pretty Cool 1 & 2, Nightmare Man, 1 in a ton of them contact me out of the blue all the Gun and the list goes on. the time. If the musician is registered with a My latest film is a full-out musical called publishing company (like ASCAP), they get Emmanuelle in Wonderland. The problem was paid if and when your movie appears on TV. that we had NO money for music, let alone a It’s a gamble, as many movies don’t make it to full score and 12 all-singing, all-dancing mu- TV, but if they do, it’s a paycheck for a regis- sical numbers. But I was determined to do a tered composer. They may take the chance. I musical. I’ve always loved them and with the have also used stock music from various web- success of Glee there was no better time. So I sites. It’s a great way to score a film for next called a composer friend of mine, Ron Zwang, to nothing. who has done many songs for me in the past. Chris LaMartina: Using the auteur I asked, “What songs do you have prerecorded motif, I really enjoy scoring my own films. I’ve that I could use for free? I was sent around 24 scored four out of my five features. Since I play songs that Ron and Ron’s music partner, Rick guitar/bass/drums/keys, I find it very liber- Novak, had created. I then picked out my 12 ating to write to my own sensibilities as both favorite songs and wrote the script around the an editor and as a screenwriter. The score is music so it would come out organically from always okayed with my co-producer, Jimmy  Music 147 George, but we’ve had only a few disagree- movies and how great the scores are. There are ments about music. a couple of great people we’ve worked with In addition, we use some local bands for that have done our music: Seasons of the Wolf other soundtrack bits. Sometimes I’ll produce and Tony Longworth, for example. Seasons a music video in exchange for a song use, but did an incredible score for us on The Blood- most bands are just excited to be included in stained Bride. Longworth has been a great the production of a horror flick and don’t re- friend and my go-to guy for music for a quire the extra effort. soundtrack. He’s exceeded every expectation Jim Mickle: I’ve had a composer for each I’ve had. Another guy, Russel Holsapple, who film and both experiences were great. I find it did the music and vocals on the song parodies can be initially hard to make the transition to for Reservoir Drunks, did an amazing job for working on music, because everything up to us as well. These artists are all incredibly tal- then has been creative but concrete and mostly ented. If you find good ones like the above focusing on visual language. Music has its own mentioned, let them know how much you ap- language and abstract thought process, so preciate them and take care of them however working with a composer is about finding that you can. Good, loyal artists that are a joy to language and a shorthand for expressing collaborate with are very difficult to find and thoughts about the music. are extremely valuable. I tend to use temp music when I cut. There Jose Prendes: Music is so important to a are a lot of pros and cons to temp music, and film. It is the movie’s heartbeat and you have it’s very easy to get married to temp music to make sure you get it right. I had my pal when you’re watching rough cuts all day. Ul- Eddie Castineira compose some guitar riffs for timately I find it very helpful for finding the Monster Man and I did the composing on my right tone for the music and it’s a good chance little Casio keyboard for Corpses are Forever. to try and fail and get a feel for what works. But I think for the next one I want a seasoned Some composers don’t mind this, but some pro to take a crack at it. My dream would be would rather start with a blank slate and not to have John Carpenter compose one of my be influenced by anything. films, because I’m not only a fan of his films, I’ve also used pre-existing source music in but of his soundtracks, which are phenomenal both films, but in the first one I overdid it and and memorable. I use music that exists if it clung to many songs that added up in license fits, but things are different for every movie fees. Not the best idea for low-budget film- and every tone. making, but I had built a lot of scenes around Paul Scrabo: There are several original specific cues. In Stake Land, because it was in tracks composed for Dr. Horror, but the mini- a way Depression-era film, we tried to use old movies contained within the film were an ideal public domain songs and keep the licensed container for stock music. cues to a few very specific moments. Eric Shapiro: My dear friend Bilvox, Damon Packard: Again, budgetary con- who’s a very talented musician, did the original straints. Unless I had a $50 million budget I scores for Mail Order and Rule of Three. In probably would not be able to find or afford a both cases, he brought a legitimate metabolism composer good enough to satisfy my tastes. to the movie that defined its essence, weight, Unless I got darn lucky, it would be a tough and character. I would like to go Scorsese-style and frustrating search. at some point and use pop songs, since I think Brad Paulson: Usually we’ll have some- that technique cuts really deep into the view- one do a score and then pick up some other er’s mind, but right now it’s way too expensive. music to throw in there as well. I love good Learning how to develop a score with Bilvox scores. Just look at the those old Carpenter has been invaluable; I’ve had to generate a 148 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES whole new language, asking for adjustments independent labels. There really is some great and explaining what I want. music out there. Anthony Straeger: For me it’s a combi- Marc Trottier: Up until Darkness Waits, nation of both original score and music already my buddies Sacha and Youri Pommepuy in existence. helped me create all the music for our projects. I think it’s important to have an original They’re great at coming up with fun original score to underpin the whole film; it’s like an stuff, and we work so well together that it’s al- audible grading, as you would do with the most like we speak a different language all our final look of the film. There are so many really own. You can see a bunch of behind-the- great composers out there, either fresh from scenes stuff for Darkness Waits on YouTube, college or already established. They all tend to including the Pommepuy brothers and myself have solid websites so you can go through the in action. type of work they do and the way they work. Since I discovered www.VideoCopilot.net, Since setting up Quid in Shrapnel Produc- I picked up Designer Sound FX (which has tions, I have been inundated by musicians royalty free sound effects & audio elements), looking for opportunities. and Pro Scores (which has orchestral music Dan S. Elliott did the score for Call of the tracks and epic musical elements), which I use Hunter. He really listened to the thoughts I for all my current projects. had on music and asked for examples and Mike Watt: Again, fortunately, I grew up made instrument suggestions in order to get around artistic people, so finding musicians the texture of the music right. He maintained was rarely a problem. For our first film, I dis- some really interesting and clever themes and covered that I worked with Paul McCollough, I was totally delighted with the speed and way who scored Tom Savini’s Night of the Living he worked with me. So the importance of hav- Dead remake and retained the rights to his ing the score was underlined in the fact that score. He offered a number of pieces from that (I believe) the original score works in total sync film, both used and unused, for The Resurrec- with the pictures — marvelous. tion Game. When it came time to finalize the I found the music for the soundtrack by film — ten years later — Paul’s electronic score looking for artists and bands that fit with my was rounded out by contributions from pian- personality and the personality of the movie. ist Mike Shiley (who we’d gotten to know I’m a big music fan, but not a lover of chart through the convention circuits) and legen- music. I hunt down new and exciting bands dary Scooter McCrae (director of Shatter and artists not only for personal pleasure, but Dead), who experiments with different sounds also with a view to using their songs and ma- and harmonies to suit [a given] mood. While terial in any of my projects. I found a won- we picked and chose finished songs from Paul derful selection of artists/bands from around and Mike, Scooter filled in the gaps and com- the world who excel in their type of music and posed directly to the picture, which made it was pleased to say that only one artist actually easier for him to find the “voices” for each didn’t want to include their music in Call of scene. the Hunter. We have friends in bands that have con- One of my hopes is that viewers of the tributed music as well. Jim Steinhoff and movie will take the time to also look at the Hotel 9 scored Severe Injuries with hard ’80s music section of our website and check out the guitar riffs, which suited that film. World- music we have used and enjoy these artists for renowned composer Mars of Deadhouse not only what they have contributed to the Music offered to score Demon Divas for a very movie, but [to hear] more of their material. reasonable price. This was the first time I’d Most of the bands are unsigned or with small ever had to finish a picture lock for a com-  Music 149 poser, as I’d been previously used to cutting have found it increasingly harder to find just to music, but Mars somehow read my mind the right music to create atmosphere in scenes, and found equivalents to my temp music thus, we are committed to using composers to tracks, though I hadn’t provided them. customize the music for our next projects. An- Again: network! It’s easier than ever now, other step forward for us as we continue to with Facebook, YouTube, conventions, clubs, improve our efforts and increase our quality. to find anyone and anything you need. I’ve We have found that there are just as many found that most artists — regardless of me- great composers as there are actors and crew dium — want to feel like working artists, so that are looking for showcase opportunities. make sure you set aside something for their Several award-winning composers from the hard work. Shamefully, I’ve gotten entire 2011 Indie Gathering International Film Fes- scores for a mere $50. Most artists will work tival have expressed interest in working on our with your budget. You can always start a Kick- projects after meeting us and finding out how starter campaign to raise a hundred or two for our films are made and what our goals are. We your starving artists and their services. are extremely excited about the prospect of Ritch Yarber: We have mostly used music adding this new tool to our arsenal. by local bands. It is great for both of us since Ivan Zuccon: It depends on the project. we get it for free and they get the visibility and I’ve been working both with composers and publicity of being in a movie. We always try using pre-existing music. I personally prefer and promote the bands that help us out by the second choice, as long as it’s excellent- being sure to mention them whenever we can quality music. This allows me to put the music in connection with the film. I usually always in the movie while I’m editing it, without hav- also include music from one of my favorite ing to wait for the composer to write it and local bands, The Lowlies. I work with one of synchronizing it while he’s watching the the members of the band and he always writes movie. It’s a question of time optimization — special tunes for me to use as I request. We this way is faster and you save money.  How Long Does It Take to Make a Movie? Some features I have worked on have taken however, took much longer than the genre as little as four months to shoot and edit while movies. At the quickest, it was nine months’ others took nearly a full year to complete. It time. At the longest, the most recent one, The always depended upon whatever else was going Life of Death, took two and a half years. This on in my life during that time that would in- was primarily because the first one was in- terrupt the filmmaking process. For example, tended for PBS—and I had to complete it first right after I shot my first film, Vampires & before I could even approach underwriters for Other Stereotypes, I shot and edited the anthol- funding. With the latter, it was much more of ogy Twisted Tales, primarily because I needed a personal project and I was in no rush. Half a break from that particular film. Then, I went of it was shot in Michigan, the other half in back, with more enthusiasm, and completed New York City. I went to New York City twice that first movie. Generally, the shooting would a year for other video production work (I ed- be done within a month and the post-produc- ited the New York Fashion Week shows!) and tion would take four or five times that long, just piggybacked my production on this, to as it’s simply a much more time-consuming save on expenses. process. This is especially true if you are doing Yet, however long it takes you to complete everything by yourself. Add to that doing your film make sure that you’re able to main- post-production visual effects, or waiting for tain your excitement and keep the momentum a film score, and time flies by. so that you don’t get weary of your project be- The documentaries I directed/produced, fore it’s done. The Filmmakers were asked: On average, how long does it take you to make a film? Talk about your first film and also about one of your more recent ones. Glenn Andreiev: Vampire’s Embrace took The Deed to Hell in the summer of 2007 and a few years. I only had the money to shoot, showed in April 2008. and edit a 16mm work-print in 1988. Other John Borowski: On average it takes me producers came in at that point and really gave about three to four years to make one of my it polish, but it took them nearly four years to documentary films. If I had a proper budget I finish it, in between their paying gigs. I wrote am certain I could complete them in a year. 150  How Long Does It Take to Make a Movie? 151 Sometimes taking years pays off, as during the I was finalizing the script to Lycian in 1999, process of making the film I am usually con- and IMDb is telling me that film wasn’t re- tacted by people interested in assisting in the leased until 2004, which sounds about right. making of the film. I have been contacted by The scale of the movie and the way that we descendants of the serial killers H.H. Holmes, funded it out-of-pocket made for a long pro- Albert Fish, and Carl Panzram, who are usu- duction period. I also moved out to California ally interested in the film and fascinated to in the middle of production — quickly learn- learn their family history. My first film, ing that you shouldn’t transplant yourself to H.H.Holmes, took three years to create a final California unless you have either a well- cut and about another year to complete the thought-out plan or a solid prospect for a job. post-production and DVD authoring. I self- Arcadium and ShE each took about year. released H.H. Holmes on DVD before I chose Because of the shooting style of America the Facets Video as the North American DVD Mental we shot it relatively quickly (three distributor. My third film, Carl Panzram, took months). Editing took about seven months, about five years to create as the scope was mas- because of computer setbacks. But still, churn- sive: Panzram was in numerous jails and pris- ing out a movie within a year felt good to do. ons as well as traveling around the world. It was over two years with Year Zero. I Keith Crocker: Because of the fact that started photographing test shots in October I’m a working-class filmmaker, which means of 2008 and, aside from some later revisions that you balance your film work with making before its world premiere, I had the 24-minute enough money to cover your life expenses, you animated film completed in the winter of split your time between working and making 2010. That film came with some notable chal- the film. The cast and crew are usually in the lenges, the most daunting of which was teach- same position. This tends to force us to shoot ing myself how to illustrate and animate dig- on weeknights and weekends. The first feature itally. In fact, I considered the project overall I made, Bloody Ape, was shot in a year and an experiment, because I didn’t have much ex- three months. Because my films tend to be perience with that end of production at all, epic in their scope, the time frame doesn’t and with it I was suddenly forced to confront really do much damage to continuity. It does the entire process. In the past, I had mostly much more damage to filmmakers’ nerves to acted as a writer/producer/actor until America carry on this way. I promised with Blitzkrieg the Mental, when I first took up a camera, and the shooting time would be shorter, but guess then assisted with some of the editing — but I what? It wasn’t. Blitzkrieg ended up taking one never learned Final Cut myself. So I had to year and a half to make, and one of the reasons mature as an artist quickly, as well as learn how was that we lost a month of shooting due to a to manipulate a bunch of computer programs personal emergency with the film’s main star. and formats. That, and the fact that I had to fire an actress That learning by trial and error develop- and bring Keith Matturro in to do re-writes ment really contributed to the animation style and fill in now-discarded material just made and unique look of the film, but I was forced that film drag on. But, again, the story is told to go back to the beginning several times over in flashback and takes place within a several- to revise the sequences, because my skill with year period, that really helped knock out major these tools were still progressing as I was mak- continuity issues. I keep promising myself that ing the film. I was also working on a computer the next film will be shot in a month. If budg- that was prone to crashing (teaching me effec- ets remain the same that will be a miracle. tively to routinely save my project). Richard Cunningham: Usually longer It took me about a year to photograph all than I assume it will in the beginning. the actors and props used in the film, though 152 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES that was interrupted for several months when this strange reel of low-budget Super 8 horror I took work as a stand-in on a television show rushes!” called Royal Pains, during its first season. Lady of the Lake took 30 days to shoot, but Though the rigorous schedule slowed produc- the shoot was split 15 days in 1993, then I ran tion of Year Zero to whatever free time I had out of money. Five years later I did another 15 during the weekends, it also afforded me a new days and finished the film. Not recommended. set-up: a Mac Mini and a good-sized screen Slashers was shot in 25 days and the whole for taking on animating and editing. I spent production from casting to end of post-pro- the next seven months animating, consistently duction was done in an insanely quick four working on it anywhere from 12 to 18 hours a months! It’s a complicated story. I had sold the day. This concentrated effort, I think, actually rights to my script to a producer, who then helped with the storytelling, because there was pre-sold the rights to a distribution company. a strong theme of isolation driving Year Zero, Then the producer went bankrupt, and a and sitting in front of the computer each day, completion bond company came to me and waiting hours and hours for a three-second said I had to deliver the complete film in one animated sequence to render, I was able to tap month to the distributor to honor the original into that disconnect from the outside world contract. But no actor was cast yet, no pre- somewhat. production work was done, nothing. I said, The real cost of going cheap comes in either “Are you guys insane?” and they said, “Either quality or time — I realized at the end of that you do it in one month or we’ll replace you as production. director, as we need to deliver this film.” I re- Maurice Devereaux: If were talking fused and they tried to find someone else, but number of shooting days, Blood Symbol was couldn’t. So they then backed down and of- about 60 days, spread over six years to com- fered me a four-month [extension]. As I did plete. We started by shooting weekends, when not want to lose the chance to do my film, I we had money for film. Then, at one point, accepted. They were supposed to give me a we did four weeks full time and ran out of $250,000 budget to do the entire film, but, money again. Then I started editing what I of course, two weeks into the shoot the com- had, all the while trying to find money to pletion bond company went bankrupt as well, finish the shoot and the film. Of course, the and I ended up putting back all my salary as actors changed in appearance throughout the producer, editor, director and writer of the movie. Since we were shooting in Super 8mm, film back into the production. I also put in we had many technical difficulties. Once we another $25,000 of my own money to finish had shot for two days, then two weeks later the film. Needless to say, I never made a dime we were eagerly awaiting to see our rushes (yes, on the film, as it was caught in a legal mess. it took that long for Super 8), but when we It’s a miracle it was even released, as the rights watched the reel, instead of images of my are all over the place. shoot, it was images of Timmy’s sixth birthday End of the Line took 21 days to shoot and party. So we go back to the lab to tell them 18 months from pre-production to finished about the mix-up, and they say, “Here’s a new film. cartridge.” I say, “No, I want to get MY reel Donald Farmer: Well, Demon Queen was back.” They said, “Sorry, nothing I can do.” a five-day shoot. Three days with the Ten- Since the lab handled Super 8 reels from across nessee crew shooting in Miami and Ft. Laud- Canada it was too complicated for them to try erdale, one day in Nashville for the video store and find my reel, so Timmy I still have your scenes and, finally, one in Miami shooting ad- sixth birthday film in a box somewhere in my ditional bits and pieces on half-inch VHS. But closet and someone somewhere in Canada got several of my movies have been shot on very  How Long Does It Take to Make a Movie? 153 loose schedules, usually getting together on as I could give directions. Doing everything weekends over a period of months. Cannibal handheld on that picture made it go even Hookers was shot over probably a four to five faster still — we shot the full script in three month period this way, but probably no more days, with one more day in New Jersey for sec- than 20 shooting days all together. Dorm of ond-unit interiors. With film you’re slowed the Dead is another project shot over a period down by checking the focus, checking the of several months. I flew to Los Angeles to do gate, reloading the camera, et cetera, but all the scenes with Tiffany Shepis in about there’s none of that with High Def. three days, but the Nashville shooting with Jeff Forsyth: The first one took about the rest of the cast dragged on for several week- three years, and that was two years longer than ends. I wanted it to be. Since I have started a family, Whenever possible, it’s obviously better to that number has more than doubled. shoot everything in a concentrated period, like Richard W. Haines: Most movies take the tight two-week shoots for Compelling Ev- about three to five years, from writing the idence, Vicious Kiss and Demolition. Two weeks script to the actual release date. All of my really is pushing it when you’re shooting a shoots are about a month long, although in script with lots of locations and scenes like every movie I ended up going back into pro- those movies had — I ended up having to duction to do pickups and additional scenes. really rush some scenes to get everything in. My shortest shoot was Splatter University, Deadly Run had a nicer four-week shoot, which took two weeks, although we did ad- without the pressure of doing so many setups ditional filming a year later to expand the run- in one day. And No Justice was six weeks [in ning time, which was too short. production], but it had the added complica- My later productions were a lot smoother tion of a 30-person crew. And it seems the than my first one. The trick in filmmaking is larger the crew, the slower everything moves! trouble shooting. No matter how carefully you That’s why I like to use the smallest crew pos- plan a production, many things go wrong. It sible, like we had on Deadly Run and The rains on the day of your exteriors, you run out Strike. Probably never more than five crew of time on set, an actor gets sick and has to be members on those movies, but they were shot rescheduled or you lose a location, which are on film and we moved very quickly. things beyond your control. During my first The longest schedule I ever had for a film movie I wasn’t prepared for these circum- shoot was 14 weeks for the back-to-back Civil stances, which made it very difficult. For ex- War movies Blood and Honor and Battle for ample, we were given permission to shoot for Glory. But that was a special circumstance two weeks at Mercy College, in New York. At where we had an elderly producer who couldn’t the last minute they limited us to one week, handle more than seven or eight hours on set so we had to work around the clock to get it a day. And since he wanted to be on set ALL done. My F/X artists, Amodio Giordano and the time, we had ridiculously short shooting Ralph Cordero, slept on sleeping bags in the days, and those movies took forever to finish. classroom so they didn’t have to return home But we were all getting paid weekly salaries, and lose preparation time. We were so late in regardless of how much we accomplished, so finishing our crew was still mopping stage knocking off after eight hours was a treat after blood and guts from the floor while students some of the 20-hour days I’ve done on other arrived for their classes. movies. Over the years I’ve learned to compensate The first time I used High Def was on An for these problems and have emergency rain- Erotic Vampire in Paris, and my two-person date locations lined up. I try to finish the wide French crew whizzed through shots as quickly shots with extras first and save the close-ups 154 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES for last since they can be faked in another lo- Rolfe Kanefsky: Well, the average from cation by painting a stage flat to replicate the the coming up with an idea, writing a script wall color of the original location. Close-up and then getting that script produced can take lenses have a shallow depth of field. Only the anywhere from a month to a lifetime. I’ve person’s face is in focus and the background written so many scripts, I know many of them is blurry. That makes it easier to simulate the will never be made, which is a shame because background. I’ve done this on several films. some of them are very good. William Hopkins: Both of my films took In terms of a movie getting made once the a fair amount of time to complete. Because of money is in place, I’d say usually a month or budget problems on Sleepless Nights the pro- two of prep. I’ve been working on an average duction had to shut down for several months of 15 days for production and then about three while additional funding was found. Then we to four months of post. Selling is a whole other continued to shoot a few days a month for the story. That can take years. But from start of next year or so. It was a terrible way to do pre-production to a final “answer print,” let’s things and the film suffered as a result, but we say — in my case —five to six months total. got it done and learned some valuable lessons. My first professional film, There’s Nothing On Demon Resurrection the entire shoot was Out There, was written when I was almost 18 completed in the scheduled time of 21 days. years old and still in high school. When I was But because I was handling all the post-pro- 19, in college, my parents decided to try to help duction work, and there was a huge amount me produce the movie. We spent a good six of work to be done, we didn’t end up with a months trying to raise the money from various finished film till over a year later. Farming out sources. Finally, my mother, who was in the the work to others really wasn’t an option, jewelry business, knew another woman whose since we had no money to pay anyone. On my husband was in the construction business and next film I’m going to try to avoid being so had some friends with money. They came on ambitious with the effects work so I’ll be able board and invested between $20,000–30,000 to complete the film faster. I think all the work into the film. That was all the money we could and time put into Demon Resurrection made it raise. But my father had made a promise to a better film, but I’d rather not have my next himself years ago that if he ever got any money film take so long to complete. It’s hard to keep to produce a movie, he would not give it back. everyone’s enthusiasm level up when a pro- So, my parents made a major sacrifice and duction drags on for years. mortgaged their home! This is the advantage Steve Hudgins: Writing a script and re- of having supportive parents and being an only writing it and revising it to the point where child. They put up the rest of the financing it’s ready to be shot usually takes three to six and we went into prep in the summer of 1989. months. Of course, a lot of the re-writes and We cast in New York City with a casting di- revisions can be taking place while other pre- rector named Bill Williams and found all of production duties are being done. Once we our actors through him, except for the lead start shooting, we do most of our shooting on who plays Mike, the horror buff who has seen weekends and normally take six to eight weeks every horror film on video and knows the rules to wrap shooting. Post-production normally of how to survive a horror movie. He was takes six months or so. played by my high school buddy Craig Peck. Our first movie, which I look at as a train- We had a nice three weeks of rehearsal and ing film, took six months to shoot as things then shot the movie in August. It was a 24- were not as organized as they needed to be. day shoot and, to this day, it is still the longest But you live and you learn and we run a much production schedule I’ve ever had. The shoot- more oiled and smooth machine now. ing was finished in early September just before  How Long Does It Take to Make a Movie? 155 college started up again. Craig had to get back Angeles. This was accomplished by four- to USC, but I was able to take off the fall se- walling the film. We actually paid and part- mester to finish working on the film. nered with the theaters to play the movie, There’s Nothing Out There was shot on spending our own money on prints and ad- Super 16 and actually edited on a Steenbeck, vertising. We didn’t make money, but the pos- the old film editing system. Now, it’s pretty itive reviews and good word-of-mouth led to much obsolete. My father had been an editor a sale. We sold the picture to Prism Entertain- for 30-something years and owned a post-pro- ment (no longer in business) and they released duction company, Valkhn Film and Video, it on video and laser disc (through Image En- based on Broadway in New York. Again, this tertainment) in the winter of 1992. We also was very helpful, for we knew once the film made a cable sale and the film played on was shot it would be finished professionally. HBO/Cinemax the following year. So, the The problem was that because there was so lit- first draft was written in 1987, film was shoot tle money, a lot of people worked deferred and in 1989 and sold and distributed in 1992. In gave favors. So, some of our optical effects short, it took four to six years depending on took a long time to get completed because they how you do the math. had to work around other paying jobs. The My parents said they would never produce film was completed in 1990 and screened for a film again ... but 15 years later we did. In the first time about a year after production had 2005, I made Nightmare Man, which had a ended. But that was also the time that the en- 15-day production schedule, a similar budget, tire horror genre collapsed. Horror wasn’t sell- and the film went through a similar exper- ing and I went on the big roller-coaster ride ience. This time the film was edited on the of trying to sell the movie. At that time, the Avid and we didn’t have to make film prints film festivals were very different than they are ... at first. We four-walled a theater in Los An- today. You could actually submit a low-budget geles this time and got a similar reaction. Hor- horror/comedy and get into festivals without ror fans seemed to dig it and we got mixed re- knowing anyone. We premiered the film at views, but few very positive ones. We hired a the IFP (Independent Film Project) in New producer’s rep to sell the film and got the same York City and it exploded, becoming the most response from the buyers: horror was dead. talked-about film of the festival. This got us There was a glut on the market and nobody a lawyer and film rep. We had some important wanted it, despite the good reviews and the screenings, but the studios didn’t understand word of mouth. Very frustrating. It seemed the movie. It was a horror film and a comedy like nothing had changed. After a year of try- that talked about horror films. “Too funny to ing to sell the film, I went down to Comicon be scary and too scary to be funny” was the in San Diego just to get away. Walking around response. I noticed After Dark had a booth there. A year However, every time we played the film, ago, they had started a festival called “Horror- the critics loved it and the audiences went fest: 8 Films to Die For,” where they picked crazy. At that point I knew that if someone up eight horror films and released them in 500 made a film like this with a decent budget and theaters nationwide for a week before Lions some name actors, it would make a fortune. Gate put them out on DVD and SyFy Chan- My theory was proven correct in 1996 with nel plays them on cable. For all the low-budget the release of Wes Craven’s Scream. But that’s independent horror filmmakers out there, this also another story. was like a potential golden ticket. So, I went Anyway, we did wind up getting the film up to them and asked how they select films. released for a week in January 1992 in New They go to the major festivals like Sundance York City and then midnight showings in Los and Toronto and have a deal with Lions Gate. 156 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES But they were willing to look at my film so I for Dolby Digital. After Dark doesn’t pay for gave them a copy of Nightmare Man with a this. Total cost: $50,000 dollars. Ouch! I asked, copy of our press release. I told my friends “Has anyone ever gotten into After Dark and what I did and most of them thought I was then turned it down because they couldn’t af- crazy, saying After Dark is looking for big, ford to make the print and remix the movie?” slick films, not my little supernatural slasher “Not that we’re aware of,” was the answer. movie. Even Tiffany Shepis, the lead of the Well, we did it and the film got released and film, thought I was out of my mind. But if it sold big-time on DVD. Unfortunately, be- you don’t try, you can never succeed. Two cause of the eight different films and advertis- weeks later I got a call from After Dark. They ing budget, even though I found out Night- lost my film. They still had the press kit and mare Man alone made almost $6 million, all wanted to know if I was trying to sell them a the films were still in the red (which means, script or what. I explained that it’s a press kit no profit for the filmmakers). That’s where to a completed movie. They then asked me to that MG clause comes into effect. So, a film send them another copy, which I did. At least that cost us now $250,000 and made six mil- someone was following up, which is more than lion did not make any profit and to this day what you usually get in this business. we have not seen a penny. This is [one of ] the Two days later, our producer’s rep quits, dangers of distribution. The kicker is that, last saying that horror is dead right now and we year, After Dark started their “After Dark should try to sell the film as a thriller, but she Originals,” where they are producing their can’t do anything with it. Sorry. Bye. So, I call own horror films. Hmmm... I wonder where MTI Home Video, a domestic distribution that money came from? Welcome to Holly- company based in Miami. They had released wood. a few of my previous films, like The Hazing, But it was great exposure, and my film was Pretty Cool Too, and The Alien Files. They liked everywhere. So, again, if we do the math, we me and they loved Tiffany Shepis. But even shot the film in 2005 and it came out in 2007. they turned the film down, saying that “horror Only three years this time. A little better. Too is a tough sale right now, blah, blah, blah...” bad we can never afford to do it again. But I’m telling you this is a tough business. The that hasn’t stopped me from making movies. next day I emailed After Dark Films just to I just don’t use my own or my parents’ money. see if they received the new DVD copy I sent Since Nightmare Man my films have been them. Ten minutes later I got an email. work for hire. Although I still write, direct, Sara Finder [the program director] had and care about everything I do. In fact, I’m watched it, enjoyed it and was showing it to very proud of one of my most recent flicks, a other people in the company. She said she modern film noir entitled 1 in the Gun starring would get back to me soon. I’m happy to hear Steven Man (an actor and producer who put it, and I go out to lunch with a friend. An up his own money to make this one), Kather- hour later, my cell phone rings. After Dark ine Randolph, Steven Bauer, Robert Davi, and loved the film and wanted it for their Horror- James Russo. MTI Home Video released it on fest 2007 line-up! No MG [money guarantee] November 8, 2011, and I heard they did really but a two-week run at 350 theaters, with a $10 well with it. Only time will tell if I ever see million advertising budget! A minute ago it any backend money on this one. Can’t count looked like my film was going to sit on a shelf on it. Word of advice: Never count on it. unreleased, and now [it was getting] theatrical Brett Kelly: My first movie was shot on play. Pretty amazing. We took the deal. weekends whenever I could afford it. It took There were a few catches. We had to now about a year to shoot and a few months to make a film answer print and remix the audio post, using rental houses to edit before the  How Long Does It Take to Make a Movie? 157 days of home-editing systems. Nowadays, I months to film. Lately it’s taken longer, shoot on six 13-day schedules, depending on though, since I’ve recently acquired an XBOX the budget. I’d love to shoot more days, but 360. Movies that were supposed to be finished it’s hard to afford to pay crews their day rates in a month have now taken years because of and take longer. The more days, the costlier that damn thing. However, the older I’m get- the movie. If money was no object and I could ting and the harder it is to get favors and the guarantee that actors would stick around for- more everything is costing right now, the more ever, I’d love to shoot at a more leisurely pace. I’m moving to simpler battle plans for movies. My last two movies were six-day shoots at the The last two films I did: Suicide Poet and Para- time of this interview. The post usually takes normal Inactivity, reflected this as well. Para- a few months. normal only took about two weeks to film, on Chris LaMartina: It generally takes a and off, and they were very easy days. A couple year to finish a feature for us. Sometimes it hours at a time. Not one day did we go over takes longer and sometimes it’s less. five hours. The rest of the time, we sat around Dead Teenagers, my uber-cheap first feature, bullshitting about comic books with the male was an anthology that took roughly two years lead in the movie. It was a very low-stress proj- to complete, because I shot it during breaks ect and a nice change of pace. at college, and I was still getting used to shoot- Jose Prendes: On average, about two ing longer narratives. month or so. Monster Man was shot sort of off- President’s Day, my fourth feature, was shot and-on. We shot all through October, with a in 19 days, and edited/scored in about two few pick-up shots before and after. With months. From script to screen, it was about Corpses Are Forever, I shot the black-and-white nine months’ total. All the while, I was work- sequences in a 14-day period, and then the ing a full-time job at the mayor’s office in Bal- color portion half a year later, in about 18 days. timore, doing video work. I like to shoot fast and loose, keep things or- Witch’s Brew was a 30-day schedule, and it ganic, which actors appreciate, so I prefer a was intense. The film contains over 40 speak- short shoot schedule. I thrive on the vicious ing roles, a dozen locations, and over 60 prac- chaos of filmmaking. tical make-up effects. The process of syncing Paul Scrabo: I did not have any deadline. up audio and transcoding the 7D footage took I think Dr. Horror took about two years from forever, in addition to some digital effects concept to the first showing. That’s too long. (magical zaps and whatnot). Adding post-pro- I did not have a complete editing system at duction, Witch’s Brew took about 17 months home, so I had to schedule time at outside from screenplay to screener DVDs. It was ex- places. I am my own editor and it’s my favorite hausting, but it was a larger film that deserved part of the process. The manic part, the shoot- the extra attention. ing of the film, is over, and post-production Jim Mickle: Both of my films have taken can be a more leisurely part. about 18 months from script to a finished film. Eric Shapiro: Rule of Three’s shooting In both cases the film premiered about a year schedule was insane. I think our longest day after the actual shoot. consisted of covering 11 pages of script. That’s Damon Packard: Often it takes FAR too absurd. Five pages is far more reasonable. Mail long, months become years because weeks and Order was 15 pages and we did it in three months go by with virtually nothing accom- days —five pages a day. Rule of Three took 12 plished. Why? What else? Paralyzed by pen- days, with miscellaneous page counts, most of niless pockets. them extremely demanding. Brad Paulson: About a year. A good four Anthony Straeger: This question sort of months to write, five months to edit and three comes back to things we have said earlier. The 158 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES length of time it takes to make a film is directly would anticipate a 13- to 26-six week post- related to the budget you have and type of film production schedule, once again depending you are making. on technical requirements. Realistically, we So how long did it take to make Call of the would like it to complete in a six-month turn- Hunter? From start to finish was a total of 18 around period. months. The idea for the story began in Feb- So, what’s the difference? Call of the Hunt- ruary, and the script was completed by the end er’s budget was $45,000 and Blue Green Yellow of June. During that time I put together the Dead’s budget is $500,000. [It’s that] simple. essential components of the budget and began Marc Trottier: It all depends on the type to look for interest in funding it. Thanks in of film you’re making and if there are many the main to John Slocombe we had the pre- visual effects involved. It also depends on and production money in place by the end of whether or not you re-edit your film three August. times and continue to add shots over a period Pre-production began in September, for a of seven years ... in that case, it’ll take at least total of six weeks. This included script revi- seven years to finish. sions, location scouting, budget refining, cast- I’ve never purposely filmed a feature film ing and crewing up. We had originally planned yet, so I can’t give any numbers on that sub- to shoot at the beginning of September, but ject. due to either cast or crew commitments we On average, my short films usually take finally went into production on Friday, Octo- three to four weeks to make. The first couple ber 17, 2008. We shot for 12 days, which in- of shorts that I made took about a day to film, cluded traveling time to a remote place called a few days to edit on the VCR, then I’d throw Ivybridge, in Devon, over 200 miles from a single music track on it from a CD and copy London. it to a VHS tape. It would be about four to Post-production took exactly one year to five minutes long, with no [special] effects, no complete. One of the main reasons being that color correction and no titles. Urban Saber is the second half of the funding came in dribs about two and a half minutes long, which we and drabs. In addition, I was doing the editing filmed in one night as well ... but then I spent and had to fit that around surviving. about three weeks doing digital effects (in- Delivery was made to RSquared, our agreed cluding titles and color correction), one night U.S. distributor, and was launched on No- for video editing (not much to do) and vember 19, 2009. The U.K. launch didn’t hap- another week or so doing the sound and music pen until September 2009. So, overall, it took mix (with already-existing music). After that’s a considerable amount of time to realize. De- all done, I spent another few nights making spite this, the learning curve for the whole pe- the DVD menu with already-existing music. riod has taught me that: So, as technology gets better and makes things easier, people’s expectations also be- 1. You can never rush things come greater and it takes much more effort to 2. IF you haven’t got the finances, you cannot keep them impressed. complete. Mike Watt: The Resurrection Game took For my latest project, Blue Green Yellow two years to shoot and another eight to com- Dead, we will have six to 12 weeks of pre-pro- plete. Demon Divas was filmed in seven days duction and a four-to-six week production and edited in three months. Razor Days was schedule, depending on whether it is shot in shot in 11, with the last day occurring seven 2-D or 3-D. As we intend to make this a big- months after principal wrap and real life has ger production, and it will not be set in gotten in the way of any significant editing. motion unless all the finances are in place, I A 90-second movie took us six hours over  How Long Does It Take to Make a Movie? 159 the span of two separate days and should have out of some really crazy footage. This was our been edited in 45 minutes were it not for some first wake-up call as to the value of a well- severe technical issues due to limitations I planned script. We were fortunate to be able didn’t know I had. to get notorious B-movie icon Conrad Brooks Really, it takes as long as it takes. to host the film. This would unexpectedly pay Ritch Yarber: In general, once the script off in the future. Our actors doubled as the is finalized, completion of the film takes at “crew” in this initial effort that cost about least a year from start to finish. TwistedSpine. $600 to produce. com Films is a group of working-class people Our latest film, Murder Machine! cost a that come together to create a film as a possible little over $5,000 to produce. Cast and crew doorway to their dream jobs of working in totaled about 50 people. Shooting occurred professional movies. This means that every over a period of 26 weekends, utilizing two project is subject to work schedules, personal cameras, monitors, microphones, lighting obligations, availability of locations, et cetera. packages, special effects, wardrobe, stunts, Coincidentally, each of our last two films took weapons, vehicles, locations, et cetera — a exactly 26 weekend-only shoots apiece to stunning comparison to our first film that fea- complete. The rest of the time was [spent on] tured about five guys running around with a editing, music and all the rest. consumer grade Hi-8 camera and no micro- The first movie that I made, Transylvania phone! Having evolved through a ten-year Police: Monster Squad, took about six months film school of hard knocks, our latest venture to create. I knew from the start that I would went smoothly, due to our well-planned script be working with friends and co-workers in- and dedicated preproduction efforts. Of stead of knowledgeable actors, so I purposely course, our micro-budget efforts were dealt a chose to forego a strictly scripted format and series of setbacks after principal photography just created a very loose outline of what was was completed due to computers and their in- supposed to happen in the movie. Since my explicable tendency to crash. This added two idea was to mimic the television show Cops, I years to the time it took to put the finishing felt that this improvisational approach would touches on the product as we had to wait until work nicely and give kind of the same feel. We we could come up with new equipment that would start the scene and just follow whatever could handle the job. Our luck was so bad that happened with our one camera and see what even an attempt to edit the film with equip- developed. This was the first of many hard- ment owned by the Cleveland Museum of Art learned lessons to come. Editing this hodge- resulted in another computer crash and an- podge footage into an entertaining and some- other start from scratch. Luckily, perseverance what intelligent story was rough, to say the pays off, and the film has not only quickly least. I later realized that, although the show made its budget back, but has been making Cops was not scripted, the events depicted un- its way into film festivals, with great reviews. folded naturally and told the story. Our scenes Ivan Zuccon: It usually takes from four to depended on certain plot points to be hit to five weeks to shoot and a couple of months for propel the story along. With untrained im- post-production. In the past I used to shoot provisational actors, these plot points often movies in three weeks, but I don’t want to do were totally missed or took way too long to that again. I think the right amount of time develop, leading to boring or inane gaps. With to spend on set is six to eight weeks, but a lot of hard work, our first-time editor Matt in low-budget movies this is very difficult to Ford was able to carve a decent Cops knockoff do. 160 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES The Filmmakers were asked: Is it easier or more difficult making movies now, as compared to your first movie? Glenn Andreiev: When I did Vampire’s tellers and outright liars than there ever were. Embrace the expensive-to-rent cameras had to On top of all of this, because of how easy and be constantly cleaned. You really needed to accessible the equipment is, everyone is a film- know what you were doing when threading maker. They [all think they are] Orson Welles film in a 16mm camera. It’s so much easier just waiting be discovered. And what they do now. You pay less attention to the physical me- is flood the market with a sea of shit, which chanics of the movie camera and more atten- means those of us doing this for years and tion to your film. Broadcast-quality cameras years on end have to work so much harder and are now easily available, as is the editing soft- be so much more creative to make sure our ware. I edited my last four films from my product shines heads and tails above them. For coffee table. instance, my attempt at being different in- John Borowski: Being an independent volves re-inventing Retro. With Bloody Ape, filmmaker never gets easier. It is easier in the the anti-hero is a gorilla, played by a man in sense that the more films you make, the more an ape suite. Ape suits made for the easiest popular your name and work becomes. I have monsters in the 1930s and ’40s. The film, at been contacted by people around the world, times, plays out like a slasher film, only with [who are] interested in my work or willing to the ape playing the slasher. And the plot itself provide assistance. When I was searching for is a re-working of The Devil Bat (1941) and someone to create the fake tattoos for Carl Phantom of the Rue Morgue (1954). Blitzkrieg, Panzram, I reached out and was contacted by while being hailed as “Nazisploitation,” is ac- many people who wanted a rate that was too tually just a reworking of Stalag 17 (1953) with expensive for my budget. I was contacted by elements of Mark of the Devil (1970) added to Matthew Aaron, who was a fan of my work, it, to spice up the proceedings. The one area and he agreed to work on the tattoos. The I excel in is making period pieces on a dime; added bonus for Matthew was that he fit into no one wants to be bothered [with] ever try- Henry Lesser’s jail-guard costume, so Mat- ing to do this. The worst type of film you thew was also in the film as the guard who could make now is a slasher film or a zombie beats up and tortures Panzram. So money is movie — they’ve been done to death and there not always the best motivator. Find people is no place to take them. that are excited about working on your films. In fact, thinking outside the horror genre Keith Crocker: This is one of those dou- is really the way to go. These days documen- ble-sided answers. Certainly the technology taries do really well; there are plenty of outlets has become so much easier and consolidated; for them and they are a great genre to stick with digital video, the camera can do so many with. Horror, in many ways, should have been jobs [whereas] with film you need so many buried years ago. separate pieces of equipment. On the other Richard Cunningham: That definitely hand, folks just seemed so much easier going depends on the movie and how much I’m re- years ago — now it seems that every actor or sponsible for on it. My last film was easily the crew person has the ego of dinosaur propor- most difficult film I’ve done [since] I was there tions; I find that the bullshit level has increased for every bit of its development. dramatically. There are more and more story- But, in general, it’s much easier for a film-  How Long Does It Take to Make a Movie? 161 maker now to produce a professional-grade to people that can assist them that they would film than it was ten years ago. The software [otherwise] never have met. used to make films has not only drastically im- Richard W. Haines: Making movies is proved, but has become more affordable and never, ever easy. It’s like managing a military user-friendly, as the technology has become campaign. It’s always challenging, and since I more mainstream. High definition is a staple try to expand my filmmaking techniques, each in camcorders already, offering even a beginner production offers new problems to solve. For filmmaker an image with quality resolution. example, when I decided to print Space Also, the internet now offers a vast amount Avenger in real three-strip Technicolor in of knowledge on how to make movies and you China, back in the ’80s, I had the Chinese lab easily can go on YouTube to learn how to technicians on the set giving me advice on how properly work with complicated equipment color was rendered in that process. Chris Con- and software, usually from a 15-year-old know- don was the technical advisor on Run for it-all who has grown up with computers. Cover, explaining to the crew how his Stereo- Maurice Devereaux: As I mentioned Vision 3-D lenses worked. We needed a sharp earlier, technically it is much easier today (dig- depth of field for the system, which meant a ital cameras and computer editing and CGI lot of light to generate higher F-stops. effects), but now financial realities have set in We had no advisors simulating the film noir and the cruel business side of filmmaking have look for Unsavory Characters. Cinematogra- made it almost impossible for me to make a pher Brendan Flynt and I watched old RKO new film. As I know now that barring being a movies to analyze the lighting design. For that miracle “lottery winner” (Blair Witch, Para- feature we shot part of it in black and white, normal Activity, Open Water) you will NOT which had its own set of issues. The stock had make any money if you finance your own film. a different thickness than color film, which The various sales agents, distributors, and pro- made the camera noisy, so we had to blimp ducer’s reps are mostly all scumbags and will it differently. Tom Agnello examined old rip you off in a million ingenious ways, and Hammer movies to try to replicate that look you will not get paid. And, even if you’re lucky for What Really Frightens You. He developed enough to find a few good people, the amount a method of cross fading the lighting transi- they will pay is now so small (because of DVD tions from normal color to the Gothic appear- piracy, et cetera) that unless you make your ance. films for almost no money, you will LOSE It’s been my experience that when you chal- whatever money is invested. lenge people by trying something different, Donald Farmer: For the reasons I just they’ll respond positively and have some fun described, High Def cameras have made it eas- figuring out how to create the visuals. Most ier than ever to shoot your film. And nonlinear crew members are used to working on low- editing clearing beats working on a 35mm budget movies with poor technical specs, so flatbed system or building your edit from the my pictures gave them an opportunity to be head of a three-quarter or one-inch master more creative than usual. I never believed that tape. Everything today is easier. I really don’t budgetary limitations were an excuse for bad see a downside to the today’s cameras and ed- photography or sound. iting software. William Hopkins: With the equipment Jeff Forsyth: Technologically it is MUCH and software that’s available now it’s certainly easier [now]. Now you can actually stay on easier to make a movie that is comparable in par, quality-wise, with Hollywood. I would image quality to studio productions. The have to say it is easier in every aspect. Social High Definition cameras are a great advance networking sites have opened filmmakers up over the equipment we used on Sleepless Nights 162 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES and Demon Resurrection. With the Standard Yes, the technology has made it easier and Definition equipment, it was a challenge just much more affordable. You can do a lot with to make the image look acceptable, to make a very limited crew and budget, but this is it look something like film. With the cameras what everyone expects now. I made a film that are available now, it seems even an inex- called Pretty Cool Too, right after Nightmare perienced user can get a startlingly good Man was shot. In fact, we stopped post on image. But, even with Standard Definition Nightmare Man so I could shoot this teen equipment, we certainly had it easier when we comedy in 12 days just before Christmas for were making our films than indie filmmakers $25,000, not including post. I told the pro- who were working back before digital video ducer that this was an experiment and I could became available. I can’t imagine how difficult not guarantee that the final result would be it must’ve been for filmmakers on tiny budgets any good. Well, somehow, we pulled it off, to have had to contend with all the difficulties going only $500 over budget, got the film re- that shooting on film creates. I love the look leased, and I’m sure someone made money off of film and would love to be able to afford to it. Being able to make something like that is a shoot on it. But the productions I’ve done so double-edged sword, because now that you’ve far wouldn’t have been possible if we hadn’t done it, they expect you to do it again and been using digital video equipment. again and for less and less money and time. Steve Hudgins: It’s easier, as we learned But unless you pull off something like the from a lot of the mistakes we made on the first success of Blair Witch Project or Paranormal movie. The main thing being that we are Activity, you aren’t going to impress anyone in much more organized in every aspect of the the studio system. Instead of them being process now. And, as is the case with most amazed at what you did for pennies, they say things in life, the more you do it, the better it doesn’t look like a $100 million film. We you get at it. want directors who can make $100 million Rolfe Kanefsky: Well, with the economy films and the only way we know if they can is the way it is, it’s getting more and more dif- if they’re already made one. I was told years ficult. You are now expected to do everything ago that the studios would rather hire a guy yourself, including editing and mixing your who made a slick music video or commercial films out of your own home. Producers are than someone who has directed ten B-movies trying to lower the budgets more and more. for Roger Corman. In the old days, those di- You really can’t do a film cheap enough. They rectors did get into the studios and became don’t want to pay for anything. Making any James Cameron, Johnathan Demme, Ron movie is a challenge, but when they want you Howard, Joe Dante, et cetera. Today, these to shoot it in five or six days for $25,000 total, guys wouldn’t be given the time of day because it should be impossible. Unfortunately, it isn’t everyone’s making movies and it’s all about because stupid people like myself will kill the bottom line. This is the sad-but-true na- themselves to make the film and make sure it’s ture of the business. However, that doesn’t good. Miracles are performed every day in this stop some young directors from winning the low-to-no-budget arena. I know some film- lottery and having that lucky breakout hit. So, makers who have made really impressive fea- we all just keep trying because you never ture films for $10,000 or less! You should not know. be able to do this. The fact that it’s happening Brett Kelly: It’s easier now, as I have a lot is why it’s very hard to make a living in this of old tricks to fall back on. However, every business. A year ago, I wrote and directed single movie provides a ton of challenges. I seven feature films just to pay my bills. It’s have yet to make a single film that didn’t chal- crazy. lenge me in some way, be it dealing with peo-  How Long Does It Take to Make a Movie? 163 ple, budgets, weather, locations or any one of lot more as well and don’t expect to get rich a million variables. tomorrow. We’re just doing it because we love Chris LaMartina: Making movies is it. And we’re much smarter about the way we never easy, so I hate to use that word, but it’s do things now. In the old days, it was a crap- definitely easier than it was. By the same token, shoot. But now we have a much better sense with every project, we raise our standards, so of what works and what doesn’t. technically it did get more difficult (mostly be- Jose Prendes: It is always difficult to cause we were challenging ourselves). make movies. I hear people saying how dif- I couldn’t have made Witch’s Brew at 19. ficult filmmaking has become and how they Hell, I couldn’t have made it at 23. Every fea- wish it was like the good old days. Well, guess ture was a learning experience. They were baby what guys, it was always tough. I read Charlie steps to bigger productions, each subsequent Chaplin’s autobiography and he was com- movie providing valuable lessons. plaining how hard it was to make movies back Completing a 90-minute movie is a mon- in the silent era! And that was even when he umental task and I give kudos to any individ- was a known commodity! I made my first ual who pulls it off ... no matter how bad it movie in a bubble, so that was fairly easy, be- may be. So many things can go wrong on a cause I was the god of that movie. Anything film set, so I say “bravo” to anyone with the out of that bubble, where I have to deal with gusto to make it to the finish line. producers, distributors, marketing strategies, Jim Mickle: It’s hard to say if it’s any test screenings, script notes, et cetera, would easier now. Since my first film we hit the eco- be much more difficult. nomic crisis and that’s made it a lot harder for Paul Scrabo: I know my next project will many people to get films (or anything, for that be easier, whatever it is, because I’d be smarter! matter) financed. But having made two suc- I actually outsmarted myself while shooting cessful genre films on a budget, many more Dr. Horror because I was, in a way, too effi- opportunities have come along, just not nec- cient. I knew how each scene would be edited, essarily great ones. Time will tell if the next how many close-ups, et cetera, so I cut down one is any easier, but in general, the process on coverage. I just shot what I absolutely of making movies is never, ever easy. needed. Damon Packard: I would say it’s easier We previewed the film to good response, now because of the tools. That isn’t necessarily but I could see the scenes that could benefit a good thing. The field is FAR too over-satu- from trimming. I graduated from “every frame rated now. In many ways the production is important!” to “I have a chance to make this process is more difficult, because people’s lives a better movie.” But I could only fix so much, are so much busier and more frantic. Getting due to not having extra footage to re-adjust people together on the same day, for example, those longer scenes. I won’t make that mistake and committed to a full shoot is extremely again. difficult, sometimes simply impossible. But it Eric Shapiro: It’s much easier. It’s a all comes down to the same thing every time. strange art form in the sense that you can ap- Money. proach it in a real simple, primitive way — Brad Paulson: It’s a little bit of both. It’s with very few angles and no camera move- more difficult because most of the favors have ment, and get a legitimate result. Much of run out. All the people we had hooking us up Clint Eastwood’s work is extremely basic, and are either making their own movies now, have he creates a sense of beauty from the simplic- given up and gotten real jobs, or came to their ity. At the opposite end, you have your Scor- senses and moved out of the madhouse that is seses and Kubricks and Oliver Stones, where Los Angeles. On the other hand, we know a the demands on the visual side are incredibly 164 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES intense. Once I got the basic, simple-coverage little short films. Cameras just weren’t as com- approach down, I didn’t find it very hard. It’s mon or easy to come by as they are today. Hell, physically hard because the days are long and I could technically film a 1080p HD feature you’re in nonstop conversation with people, film on my cell phone today if I wanted to! In but, aesthetically, it’s a very navigable form. the future, that’ll be normal ... but, right now, I’d say writing is 1,000 times harder. the fact that there’re apps for color correction Anthony Straeger: This is where the im- and editing available on a phone — and that mortal line, “If I knew then, what I know the cameras are as good as they are — is just now!” comes into play. You can’t beat knowl- incredible! It’s going to be really fun to see edge or hindsight. The film game is filled with what kind of new technology comes out, and things you cannot know until you have been how it will become even easier to make movies through it. The whole process of making Call in the years to come. Cameras implanted in of the Hunter as a first feature was a big learn- our eyes, anyone? You’ll just walk around look- ing curve. Previously, I have made two docu- ing at stuff, and then come home at the end mentary films and about 12 shorts and with of the day and say, “movie’s finished”! No big- every single one I have learnt something gie. new — that is the beauty of it all. Since com- As I mentioned before, I began my career pleting the movie and distribution has been editing on a VCR. I had figured out that if I placed, I have learnt even more about internet paused the VCR at the point I wanted to add marketing, video-on-demand, pre-sales, dis- the next shot. I had to move it back 14 frames tribution rights and have learnt loads about before hitting the record button, to have it the way my distributors have gone about busi- start where I wanted it. It was ridiculous! But ness and the way I would do it the next time I was making movies, and that’s all that mat- around. tered. With digital editing today, you can cut, I think one of the best pieces of advice that paste and move things around with ease ... and can be given is, step back and think. Some- if you don’t like the way it looks, you can just times the train rolls and you can’t stop it and change it around or modify things on the spot. you can’t keep a tight control of it. But, some- Back in the day, I had to instantly re-watch how, you need time to think and give yourself every cut that I made on the VCR to make time to breathe. sure it looked okay ... and if I missed some- Is it easier? I think bigger names than myself thing the first time or changed my mind later, would say the answer would always be NO! it was too late and I just had to live with it ... New problems occur, each film is an individ- or redo the entire thing! ual and it has its own personal needs that will I look at technology today and I say, “Jet- never compare directly to something you have sons!” Ok, so it’s more like I yell, “Jetsons!” But made previously. I find problem solving and it’s funny how the stuff we have now will look problems interesting. I am quite practical, but ancient in ten or 15 years. sometimes the whole thing can get so big you Mike Watt: There’s no easy way to answer just find yourself faced by a mountain. that because every film brings with it its own Marc Trottier: Nowadays, it’s easier than truckload of challenges, many of them hiding ever to make a movie because technology is in the wheel wells. To paraphrase Neil Gai- advancing so fast ... cameras are getting better man, “You never learn how to make mov ies; and cheaper everyday. Even young children you only learn how to make the movie you’re can (and do) make feature films because of the making.” To which I’ll add, “Usually by the equipment that’s available today. I know for a last day of production.” fact that if I had access to a video camera when As the “Second Wave” of independents in I was a kid, I would’ve made all sorts of fun the ’90s (the First Wave being the Ritters, Lin-  How Long Does It Take to Make a Movie? 165 denmuths, Bonks, Bookwalters and McCraes), available has not increased that much, we are we got into the business too late to take ad- constantly looking to push our standards to a vantage of the home-video boom and haven’t higher level. This means the scripts, pre-pro- yet figured out if there’s money to be made duction, casting — everything — has to be in Video On Demand. Making a movie is al- tighter and more demanding. With people ways going to boil down to writing a script, lending their time and talents to your produc- scrounging the budget, casting, shooting, ed- tion, you are obligated to do your part to make iting, scoring and finishing. That’s what a sure everything is in place and ready to go. We movie consists of and what it will always con- have managed to develop a small following for sist of, whether you have a cast of thousands our brand of film and we have to work hard or a team of yourself and a couple of hand to keep our reputation intact. In my mind, puppets. What you do afterward is always TwistedSpine.com Films stands for one thing, going to be the biggest hurdle: finding the au- quality entertainment, thus our logo: “Your dience and all that goes with that. premiere micro-budget film experience.” We Ritch Yarber: It is much more difficult pull out all the stops to make that logo mean making movies now since the expectations of what we say. the production are much different than when Ivan Zuccon: Not much has changed, we first started. After working and learning for compared to the past. The problem is not over a decade what it takes to make successful making movies, but distributing them. Dis- and entertaining micro-budgeted independ- tribution is the real obstacle. Finding honest ent films, you never want to go backwards. Al- and reliable distributors is the real trouble though the amount of money that we have nowadays.  Publicity, Promotion and Distribution If you self-produced a project you’ll most tributor interested in my recent documentary. likely have to self-publicize and promote that He called me and told me how much he like project. No one is going to be more enthusi- the documentary, then asked if I ever did any- astic than you are about your movie. Even if thing else (obviously he didn’t read any of the you get an eventual distributor who will get it info I sent him). I spoke with him for over a out to renters and retailers, you still have to half of an hour, after which point he said he’d obtain promotional quotes and some publicity email me over his usual contract so I could to get those distributors on board. look it over. The one thing that stood out was When I first started making the genre his wanting “worldwide rights” and that my movies there were dozens of print magazines, share would be 40 percent, minus his ex- from Samhain and The Darkside in England, penses. But there was no cap on the expenses, to Independent Video, Draculina and Fangoria so if I gave him the movie he could continually in the States. In the early ’90s this was the only say that the expenses were more than my share. route you had. You would have to physically I emailed him back, telling him my concern snail-mail VHS tapes to reviewers, along with about this. The next day he called back, saying slide photos and any other printed material. he understood my concern but that he couldn’t Nowadays, there are a thousand genre websites change this (he couldn’t give me an answer, for every print magazine that ceased publi- basically). Then, he proceeded to ask me a cation. You can send the entire movie and legal question about something related to his photos to reviewers digitally, either directly or distribution business. After 15 minutes, when on a shared download site. So, in a certain re- he said, “Since you’re a lawyer...” I stopped gard, it’s much more inexpensive to garner him and said, “Uh, I think you’re confusing publicity nowadays. with me with someone else.” He explained If you decide to sell and market the film that he got me confused with someone else he yourself, there are many avenues to do this, spoke with the day before but that he liked from independent film sites to megastore sites, my film and wanted to talk to me about it. like Amazon.com. You also have to create your But I already talked to him about it, at length. own website for the movie and maintain that, So it’s not a good sign when the distributor do all the duplication and fulfilling of orders. can’t get his shit straight. Least to say, I’m not It can be a full-time job, and expenses can run signing away my rights with him. high. While you may have dozens of positive I always recommend to filmmakers that reviews and links to your site for ordering, this they try to license their movie out and to get still doesn’t guarantee that you’ll sell any cop- money up front. The terms are usually for ies. three to five years. You simply have to supply Then there are distributors who will prom- a master copy and photos so they can make ise you the world — and they’ll want “world- up the box artwork. However, if the distrib- wide rights” as well. Just recently I had a dis- utor does not pay a license fee up front, and 166  Publicity, Promotion and Distribution 167 promises residuals, this almost always means in a hard-shell case, and drive around to local there’s not going to be any money whatsoever. mom-and-pop video stores to sell each copy You see, many of these sorts of distributors individually. It was fun meeting the store own- work it into their contract that they can sub- ers and interacting with them, especially with tract their expenses for your residual percent- a movie made right in their own back yard. age. If you do get a contract and are not sure Kind of a slam-dunk sell! Through the local what it says, get someone who can decipher video stores, you could connect with inde- it. pendent rackjobbers in vans that would buy So do you need to publicize and market copies to sell to mom-and-pop stores hun- your movie? Yes, you do. But how much work dreds of miles away and even to other rack- depends entirely on how your movie is going jobbers operating in different states. So things to be distributed. worked out quite nicely ... for a while. One filmmaker who has a great deal of ex- Of course, this scenario got a little more perience in self distribution is director Tim complicated when the mom-and-pop stores Ritter, who is probably best known for the went out of business or were bought out by Truth or Dare movies. the corporate chain stores. Gone was the in- teraction with the local proprietor. You had to Dare to Self-Distribute! submit your movie to a “committee” or a “chain buyer” to see if they were interested in (by Tim Ritter) picking up your flick. One of the biggest Once your movie is completed, what do problems was getting a buyer to actually watch you do with it next? How do you generate your movie, with literally hundreds of movie- money from it? Is it possible to make your makers and distributors continually inundat- budget back? Can a distributor help? These ing them with titles every week. It was so easy are the kinds of questions you should ask to get lost in the shuffle, and many good yourself before starting any new project. You movies never got decent distribution because should have some kind of rough plan in mind of this. Many times, even if your movie got for getting your movie out to the public when noticed by a corporate buyer, the chains would you finish it and actually start promoting it inexplicably pass on your project after months while you create it. No matter what kind of of negotiating, or make crazy demands like movie you’ve made, you’ve spent money on it asking you to change your box art (at great ex- (probably your own) and you’ll be looking for pense) or edit out scenes that might be “too a way to recoup some of that investment. You strong” for their customers. And even if you also want to get the project out there and have got a deal where they finally agreed to pick up people see it. a few thousand copies ... the price you ended I’ve been involved with both commercial up getting per unit was so low that you barely distribution and self-distribution of my own broke even on the costs of delivering the pack- movies for over 25 years now and it’s a con- aged goods (not to mention shipping!). stantly evolving challenge. To answer the big- As videotape renting evolved into DVD gest question right off the bat — do you need selling in the late 1990s, there was a brief a distributor? No, you don’t, at least not right period where if your title was with the right away. There are many affordable things you small distributor and part of a package deal, can do to get your movie into the public eye you could get into the big box retail stores sim- and generating revenue. ply because there was great demand for new It all started out pretty simply in the early titles at low price points. Profits were pretty 1980s: make a movie, dub off Beta or VHS slim in this era (again) and we all found out copies, create some passable artwork, slap it the hard way about corporate stores and their 168 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES return policies. Store terms allowed them six with the click of a button, you begin to see months ... or a year ... to pay for product and the single title $5 DVD bins as being way over- there was a very unfriendly clause in the agree- priced! Hence, we’ve entered the era of 20- ment, one that read, “If the merchandise movie DVD packs (for $5!) and quadruple doesn’t sell, we get to return it all (without pay- blockbuster studio packs for $3. While Hol- ment of any sort) and you owe us shipping!” lywood might be able to eek out a meager Needless to say, we all went through a rough profit by sheer volume of sales ... the indie patch here because the small distributor (or moviemaker and distributor just cannot com- moviemaker) was forced to take all the risk, pete. These days, the whole business of not the big corporate stores that could afford streaming is turning into a studio-dictated it. moneymaking machine ... with the independ- As the 21st century rolled in, Hollywood ents scrambling for crumbs that fall off the started offering its hit catalog titles at lower table. and lower price points (yep, those $3 and $5 So how does the small guy (or gal) with a DVD movie bins) and once again ... the small, finished movie and very little ’net and adver- independent guys were pretty much thrown tising money compete? Well, the first thing is, onto the train tracks again. The average con- you dare to do it yourself—you self-distribute. sumer would much rather buy a slick Holly- It’s almost like going back ... to the future. wood production over the latest shot-on-video This is the approach I’m taking with my latest “trashterpiece” by someone like yours truly. shot-on-HD movie, Deadly Dares —Truth or As the independent moviemaker dealt with Dare 4. You might end up signing with a dis- these blows, the proliferation of bit torrent tributor way down the pike, but in order to downloading added further insult to injury. get the ball rolling and get your movie expo- Suddenly everything you had ever released was sure, income, and larger distribution interest, posted on the ’net and available as an ab- you just have to get out there with your prod- solutely FREE download to anyone who really uct and HUSTLE, using little fragments and wanted it! (As I watched my catalog DVD bits of knowledge from nearly every era of dis- sales plummet, I noticed the number of down- tribution that I’ve just outlined. loads on my titles listed on bit torrent sites First, you should keep your budget as low were sometimes 10,000 or more! That would’ve as possible and pick a project that has an in- translated into a heaping load of nice DVD stant potential audience or niche market. For sales.) me, it was a no-brainer to pick my latest pro- With foreign markets drying up for small duction as the fourth movie in my fairly suc- video projects, Netflix offered a brief respite cessful direct-to-video Truth or Dare series. for independent movies when they first started There’s an audience that has seen the first three up (and continue to do so, though to a much movies and Netflix Streaming ran the original lesser degree). At first, they’d buy a respectable movie for three years straight when they in- amount of DVDs to rent out by mail in those troduced their streaming services, capturing snazzy red envelopes, and later, pay a decent interest from thousands of new viewers. So if fee to put your title in their streaming you have access to a small franchise name (or program. But the streaming model, while can get one affordably), this can help you gain gaining decent exposure to some smaller some instant market recognition. I also kept movies like my own Truth or Dare series, has my ENTIRE budget in the under–$5,000 had one major downfall — it’s devalued ALL range, and that may have been a little bit too movies in the eyes of the consumer. When you high, upon reflection. pay $8 a month for a smorgasbord of endless It’s still sound advice to stick to exploita- movies to watch as many times as you want tion, horror, or science-fiction–themed movies  Publicity, Promotion and Distribution 169 at this level because these are the type of proj- ects that, if you make them right, will usually find an audience. There are websites that heav- ily promote independent genre projects, con- ventions celebrating these types of movies year round all over the U.S., and it’s easier to book your movie in independent theaters if you have an exploitable angle accompanied by an outlandish poster of some sort. When you begin pre-production, this is the time to start promoting your movie, especially on all the FREE social websites where you in- teract with family, friends, and acquaintances. Have some snazzy artwork created to plaster everywhere and start posting short video teas- ers that spotlight storyboards, special effects, casting, and anything that might intrigue peo- ple. Be careful not to give away all of your pro- ject’s secrets, but at the same time you have to get people talking about it. This can be a fine line to walk! As you cast the movie, post in- terviews with some of the actors and actresses taking on various roles. It never hurts to hire a “scream queen” or a “cult actor” to essay a Deadly Dares poster #1 part for a day or two. With Deadly Dares I was able to wrangle both rising scream queen Jes- motion was done with print articles in various sica Cameron and original Jackass television trade and genre magazines — and you can still star Mike Holman into playing important send press materials and photos (via email) to characters in the movie. the remaining print magazines, but, unfortu- While you film, start a ’net presence for nately, most of them primarily cover studio your movie on the free social sites. Post fare these days. random “behind the scenes” teasers and still When your movie is completed (even a photos to entice interest. The term teaser is rough first cut), get it listed on IMDb.com key in all this—you’re TEASING people with and put some poster art and photos up. This brief, informative snippets of your work-in- costs under $50, and once you’re signed up progress, hoping they’ll want to see more and IMDb will also send you weekly information that good word-of-mouth will follow. The on film festivals going on all over the world videos should be no more than two to three where you can possibly show your movie. It’s minutes in length — people clicking around never been easier to pick and choose film fests on the ’net have limited attention spans and that might be good exposure for your project. an infinite number of viewing choices. You Critical acclaim can help, and distributors play can also release this info to the various websites close attention to the fests. You want to be that cover independent movies and provide careful not to break the bank here, though, them with links to your pictures and videos. because there are festival entrance fees in the This can help expand the potential audience low and high range, and you won’t always be that will hopefully be waiting to see your accepted. finished movie. In the “old days,” all this pro- While entering your movie into film fests 170 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES and hoping a big distributor makes one of of other similar theaters across the country. those “offers you just can’t refuse,” you can also Then it’s simply a matter of making some in- start booking it in small, independent theaters quiries, sending out press kits and copies of across the U.S. For starters, just look around the movie, and getting it booked. Of course, locally (or in the closest big city) and you’re not every theater will show your movie, so it’s likely to find an indie theater or two. Most all trial and error, but definitely it’s worth pur- of them are set up to project DVD or Blu- suing. You’ll be able to legitimately say that ray — and the resulting quality on the silver your project has had a limited theatrical release screen is usually quite excellent! Making while making a few extra bucks on the side. posters has never been easier- take the artwork Usually the theater owners will split ticket sales you’ve been hyping on the ’net and blow it up 50/50, but you won’t get any of the snack-bar to poster size at your local Walmart photo de- residuals — that’s where they make their real partment. You’ll spend under $50 for high money! quality one-sheet sized posters that you can Be sure to make 8.5" ¥ 11" photo paper take (or send) to each theatrical showing. lobby cards (pictures from the best scenes of Hype the movie in local press and news, set your movie featuring the title logo and cast up midnight screenings, and start letting peo- and crew info) and mini-posters for all the- ple pay to see your work! Take video of the atrical showings. These are a great way to pro- events and post it on your websites. mote the movie, and you can give them away Like the mom-and-pop video stores of yes- or sell them (with or without autographs) at teryear, independent theater owners are more various venues. With Deadly Dares, we did than happy to talk with you and give you lists nine separate poster designs and half-a-dozen lobby cards to have a variety of eye-catching material to offer. Fans seem to really enjoy simple novelties like this, along with T-shirts, hats, and bracelets. I’ve noticed that many times, you’ll make more money from mer- chandising tie-ins than off the movie itself. This is similar to the music business, where an artist’s latest album is usually a loss leader for concert ticket sales and merchandise. Everything you do and offer at theatrical showings also applies to the sci-fi and horror convention circuit, where you can show your movie in a large viewing room to fans. Also invite the cast and crew to assist you in selling DVD copies and autographing all of your merchandise at a table for the entire weekend. The best thing about conventions is that everyone attending is a potential customer be- cause they are ALL diehard fans of the type of movie that you (hopefully) made! Many moviemakers do extremely well at these events, and here is where you can offer “limited edi- tion” VHS (!) copies of your movie (which are now collected by the same sort of retro fans Deadly Dares poster #2 who enjoy vinyl records) and “special edition”  Publicity, Promotion and Distribution 171 DVD-Rs available exclusively at these shows. I am doing this with Deadly Dares, beginning with a polished rough cut subtitled The Un- derground Bootleg Edition (available exclusively on VHS tape with a choice of covers), which will be followed up by a DVD-R release and then a completely different HD cut (featuring extra bells and whistles, like alternate takes and all-new Virtual FX) suitable for stream- ing, pay-per-view, and Blu-ray. Each edition has to contain different “extras,” like bonus video footage, trailers, alternate endings, and interviews. It’s all about maximizing the sales potential of your project as many different times and ways that you can. Yes, remarketing and repackaging like Hollywood has done so well. Being an avid movie soundtrack collector, I decided to produce the music score for Deadly Dares, featuring composer Toshi Hi- roaki’s compositions interspersed with dia- logue cues from the movie. As a young newbie horror fan, nothing was more exciting to me than reading about an upcoming genre movie Deadly Dares poster #3 like Maniac, Phantasm or Escape from New York in Fangoria magazine, then running out By this point you’ll have a variety of dif- to purchase the vinyl soundtrack score at a ferent trailers posted on the ’net to hype your local record shop. Listening to that music ... movie, and maybe even entire scenes that don’t re-reading the articles and staring at the pic- give away too much of your story. With tures ... and letting my imagination soar ... Deadly Dares, the plotline intentionally dealt were all part of the experience leading up to with an odd assortment of crazy characters finally seeing the movie. I thought about that posting wild video dares on the ’net, so I part of my early fandom and decided it might played that up by posting some of these “dares” be fun to try recreating that excitement for onto video sharing sites, cutting away at the others — using today’s technologies — espe- moment when some outrageous or violent cially the technologies that have been tradi- event would take place. Right at that “money tionally causing more harm than good. So we shot” crescendo, I inserted a title card with the uploaded the Deadly Dares soundtrack (along movie’s name in huge letters while the action with some exclusive CD artwork) as a free bit continued to be heard on the audio track only. torrent download and promoted it heavily on The idea was to entice people into wanting to various websites. It didn’t take long for fans to see more, to seek the movie out to see what discover this “freebie” and start enjoying the visuals we had been forced to conceal! I tried music. This strategy worked out extremely to censor myself and keep things at a PG-13 well. People got something for free and were level, but this still didn’t stop a couple of my suddenly talking about the movie, anticipating videos from being banned from top video- when they’d get a chance to view it or buy a sharing sites. It wasn’t a big issue, though, be- copy. cause I simply re-posted the clips on different 172 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES sites and hyped the fact that they were be promoting your movie and getting po- BANNED elsewhere, gaining even more tential viewers to rent or purchase it in an viewers and additional word-of-mouth. overcrowded marketplace. That’s why, if you As you continue to hype your movie on the do well over time, you’ll probably consider ‘net, a time will come when you want to sell signing the rights over to a distributor and let- physical DVD copies to customers. These ting them take it to the next level. That’s part days, most people buy their movies and books of the goal of self-distribution: being able to through Amazon.com, and you can get your prove that you have a marketable product. But movie listed on Amazon through Createspace if that doesn’t happen, at least you got your (an Amazon affiliate). Once you send them a movie released and seen. DVD-R master and get your artwork set up, Amazon and Createspace are by no means they will make copies on demand, avoiding the only high-profile places to hawk your that distribution nightmare of having unsold movie on the ’net. In addition to Netflix and product returned. They will also print out the YouTube, there are countless new companies insert sleeve, package everything, ship it out with which you can negotiate deals if your and wire you a fair portion of the sale! Yes, it’s product meets their criteria. Sometimes you that simple — you retain all creative rights and might need an agent, but most times you can cancel the deal at any time. Your only job won’t. Many video-hosting sites will share rev- will be to continue HYPING the movie up to enue with you from advertisements that they generate additional sales. You can also concur- place below your movie as it streams. So if you rently get your movie listed on Amazon’s continually get an escalating number of view- streaming rental section and share in those ers, you will make back some cash. Again, it’s proceeds each time someone pays for a view. trial and error as you explore new cyberworld These are things that used to require at least a opportunities. small distributor to accomplish, but today it’s Even though the ‘net is oversaturated with simpler than ever to get your product out in tons of seemingly useless information and mil- the marketplace all by yourself. Even though lions of video clips that are competing for selling your movie relies entirely on modern viewers, it still remains the best and most af- technology and giant corporations, it’s very fordable way to garner attention and get your much like the old days, when you had to make movie hyped internationally. You just have to and sell your tapes, one at a time. The differ- be clever, spend a lot of time gambling with ence is now a big company is manufacturing different ideas, and never stop thinking out your discs and a potential global audience is of the box. Here are the rules: there are no just a click away! The real work continues to rules. The Filmmakers were asked: How do you tackle the publicity of your films? What is the best way to go about this, from your perspective? Glenn Andreiev: The simple “local guy bates. We hired Bernard Goetz, New York’s makes movie” is just not news anymore. You famous subway vigilante from the 1980s, to be need a unique angle, something that in one in our film Every Move You Make. Well, this sentence of explanation will get the public got us on CNN, The View, Court TV and in going “Oh, no way!,” or maybe even cause de- the New York Daily News. Also, when you  Publicity, Promotion and Distribution 173 shoot a movie, have a stills photographer on video business. A small art house label called the set. The publicity outfits require good Vanguard Video (now a big art house label), stills. acted as a sub distributor for The Bloody Ape. John Borowski: Grass-roots marketing The film’s official date of release was 1997, is the most cost-effective method of publicity though the film had been shot in ’93. Anyhow, for the independent filmmaker. I recommend Vanguard handled it until DVD started to be- the following: Create a website for your film come all the rage. Then the distribution rights (and for yourself as a filmmaker). Even if it is reverted back to me. Anyhow, for Blitzkrieg, just one page, it is better to have some web the job got even easier. I became partners in presence than none. You can always add on to a DVD distribution business called Wildeye the site. Create a blog. Create an email list of Releasing. The other half is run by a fellow people interested in your films. Basically, named Rob Hauschild. Rob has been working utilize every tool that you can online to pro- in advertising just about all his life, and he re- mote your work for free or cheap. Send your ally does know how to sell things. Rob does a films to reviewers. It is free publicity. I would lot of work with publicity on the internet, he’s not recommend paying for ads as I tried this really inventive with his artwork and copy, and once and found that it was a waste of money. comes from the same tradition of trying to re- My key to being a worldwide renowned film- invent the past, as I do. Rob went bonzo on maker is that I pretty much have done every- the Blitzkrieg campaign. His headline “A new thing myself. People appreciate the personal era of Nazi terror” can’t be beat, also his deci- touch and human contact. Sparzanza, a Swed- sion to forgo using painted artwork for the ish heavy metal band, contacted me and asked DVD cover and instead use the image of a to use Tony Jay’s audio from Albert Fish in one nude, booted and machine-gun–wielding of their songs. I approved, since they would Tat yana Kot makes this film a popular sell to mention my name and the film in their CD this day. He did the same thing for the DVD booklet. It is this type of cross-promotion that release of Bloody Ape with “400 Pounds of helps independents help each other. Fury Hungry for Female Flesh.” Honestly, you Keith Crocker: Back in the old days, I did can’t beat it. He also re-cut the original Bloody everything through mail order. I’d take ads in Ape trailer, added some different sound effects, the horror magazines, specifically target an au- et cetera, and we had a brand new sales gim- dience who was into what I was selling, and mick for an old film. He made up posters to that’s how I handled sales pre-internet. Giving be signed and given away at our New York review copies to the mag you were taking the premiere. He even made up lobby card sets to ad in always generated publicity, and you just be given out as door prizes. I came up with hoped you got some glowing reviews. The ads the idea of giving out a vomit bag during the were lots of fun to make in those days; every- New York showings, old-school gimmicks like thing was done by hand, cut and paste — they this go over like gangbusters. sort of resembled the old Paragon Video boxes, Richard Cunningham: When I was with additional blood and gore added by col- younger, I would either call up or go to local ored-pen ink! Those were the good old days. newspapers in person, and talk about my film I was very lucky, because after inventing a dis- to an editor or reporter for either the arts and tribution arm called Cinefear Video, I not only entertainment or the local section. It worked sold my product but I was also able to sell more times than not, and if it didn’t result in 16mm films that were quite rare and had been a cover story it was always a generous article transferred to VHS tape by either myself or featuring film stills, and it was promotion that one of my projectionist friends. Hence, I was was reaching a wide area of subscribers. able to supplement a living as a mail-order With Year Zero I started publicity much 174 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES earlier in the production stage. I still had work celebrity victim. I also adapted the film into a to do on the final edit when I released the first webcomic and posted it online for free, to two trailers online. Having little clout in the draw further attention to the film with online social media environment, which I was just comic book fans. entering into, I suspected that the earlier I In the promotion world right now there’s began getting the word out, the more antici- something of a gold rush going on with social pation I can build up for it. Because Year Zero media. A lot of independent filmmakers that is a zombie apocalypse film, the genre gave me had to rely on festivals or press, or expensive the opportunity to present it to a very large theatrical showings for exposure, now have the and enthusiastic crowd. I had a clear idea of capability themselves of both promoting and my target audience, so I sent press kits to var- selling their films on the internet, through ei- ious horror/zombie fan sites. Those websites ther a movie’s official website or via a number helped to generate the initial buzz surrounding of VOD services available that can print my short, posting the trailers on their websites DVDs on demand or download a digital ver- and backing the movie with positive com- sion to the consumer. ments. The venture in social media is not an easy These same websites helped Year Zero gain one. It can quickly turn into time-consuming, exposure when it premiered at Tribeca. The continuous contributions to gain notice in a festival itself helped Year Zero with publicity, highly competitive fast-paced medium, but it getting me articles and interviews in local New may be one of the best options available for York City news. In general, I’ve found larger an unknown filmmaker to target a specific au- film festivals have a press consultant on staff, dience. who is there to either present you with advice Maurice Devereaux: If you manage to or actual press coverage. However, if you’re get into a big festival this will help a lot. Con- not in the feature category, you can generally tact various film websites that talk about sim- assume there will be less of a push with your ilar movies. Have a website and trailer for the film, especially in larger festivals. Smaller film film online. festivals may feature you more, but they also Donald Farmer: When your new film is don’t attract the same level of press. It’s always completed, you’ve got two choices to promote best to be pro-active with publicity so you’re it. Hire a publicist or do it yourself. And since not lost in the shuffle, also because you might most of us don’t have the budget to hire a well- not get many good opportunities for it. oiled publicity firm, it’s pretty essential for For Year Zero and a multimedia book called filmmakers to know a few basics about self- Dead Land, that I’m also developing, each has promotion. If I’ve got a new horror movie I its own Facebook and Twitter accounts. For want the world to know about, first I’ll email Year Zero, I’ve experimented some [by] using a press release to the major horror websites, these outlets. With Twitter, aside from posting then do the same to the main genre magazines. information, reviews and articles of the film, I’ll usually upload the trailer or clips to You trailers and clips, I created a side character of Tube, then include a link in my press releases. the Year Zero story; the fictional character It’s also good to alert some of the online genre tweeted about surviving daily in a post-apoc- radio shows and offer a couple of your actors alyptic zombie-ridden New York City, pre- as guests. sented in the same general tone as the film. But don’t be shy about approaching main- On Facebook I started a weekly competition stream magazines and newspapers. When I for which I was drawing a zombified celebrity, was doing Cannibal Hookers, I got a nice arti- and whoever was the first to guess the identity cle in L.A. Weekly, then Variety ran a half-page correctly, could assign the following week’s with my Canadian distributor, where he  Publicity, Promotion and Distribution 175 talked almost exclusively about my movie. DVD distributor that specialized in low-bud- Chainsaw Cheerleaders got mentioned on both get fare. As I understand it, they had standing Playboy.com and in the New York Post, plus I arrangements with big rental chains like plugged it on a VH1 reality show I did (with Blockbuster, who would buy pretty much a viewership of two million plus). But my best whatever product they put out, so there was publicity coup was for Dorm of the Dead. little incentive to do any advertising of the film Jackey Hall was starring and told me her friend to the general public. It was only advertised Andrea was a regular on The Howard Stern in trade publications to rental chains and re- Show, where she was known as “Miss Howard tailers. The trailer and key art they created Stern.” Jackey promised that giving Andrea were slick enough but weren’t enough, appar- even a small part in Dorm of the Dead would ently, to make the DVD a particularly strong guarantee major coverage on the Stern show, renter or seller. Still, sales and rentals were and she was right. After we wrapped Andrea’s good enough for the distributor to make back scenes, a Stern producer contacted me to re- their expenses and make a small profit. The quest video clips for Howard to show on his producers of the film might’ve considered TV show. Then he invited Andrea to his New spending some money advertising the DVD York studio and basically plugged my movie while it was still available in stores, but I doubt for a solid hour. Howard even gave me a quote that would have had much effect on sales or we plastered over the DVD box and the rentals, so it probably would’ve been a case of movie’s trailer. His audience perfectly dove- throwing good money after bad. In the end I tailed with mine, so I’d call that a match made think there’s probably a very limited market in P.R. heaven. for low-budget films like Sleepless Nights, and Jeff Forsyth: The only publicity I have the original distributor probably made as used so far has been internet based. For the much from the film as could be made. No ad- newer projects I’m researching the idea of viral ditional amount of advertising would’ve campaigns. I’m still learning about all the pos- helped much. sibilities there are out there for getting your By the time we completed Demon Resurrec- project seen. Although I have been at this tion, the DVD business had changed consid- “part-time” for years, there is still so much to erably. Blockbuster and other rental and retail learn. chains were on the verge of bankruptcy and Richard W. Haines: That’s a difficult were closing stores and buying less and less question to answer now since I’m still ex- new product. In addition, file sharing and ploring new methods to promote my movies. piracy online had increased, further diminish- Internet exploitation is still relatively new and ing the DVD market, especially for low-bud- everyone is examining the best method of get entries like ours. So, while the internet reaching consumers. gives us a greater ability to do inexpensive ad- In the past I hired publicists to help. They vertising for our film, the chances of making placed ads in Variety and other trade maga- any great amount of money from DVD sales zines, but that might not be the most effective has diminished greatly. way today, considering how the markets have So, what is the best way to publicize an changed. Publicists were useful for theatrical indie film like ours? It seems these days you bookings, but many filmmakers are bypassing need a website and a Facebook page and that now and releasing their pictures on DVD maybe a Twitter account just to be in the and internet downloads directly without the- game. But what will actually work to sell your atrical exhibition. DVD or streaming video? I’m not sure yet. William Hopkins: Sleepless Nights was I’m going to keep working on that and I’ll let originally released on home video by a small you know when I find out. 176 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Steve Hudgins: It’s great to have a pub- our midnight run. Guess what? Not one licist or someone handling those duties for showed up. So, we had a private screening for you, which is definitely the way to go if you about five critics. Kevin Thomas of the L.A. can do that. However, for a lot of filmmakers, Times gave my film a rave review, calling the that is not an option, so you have to publicize film “fast, funny, and a fine calling card for yourself the best way you can. It’s very wise to Hollywood.” The following Monday, the get a website that you can refer people to or, phone never stopped ringing. Every studio at the very least, a social network page, like wanted to see the film RIGHT NOW. They Facebook. A combination of the two is even wanted us to send prints over to them. This is better. That’s a good starting point. what one great review in the Times meant back Rolfe Kanefsky: Well, here’s where a lot then. Of course, they didn’t end up picking has changed since I started making films in up the film or grabbing me as a director be- 1989. Back with my first film, the web was cause they were confused by the combination barely around. Everything cost money. To of comedy and horror and there were no stars open a film in New York, you had to do radio in the movie. However, the word was out and advertising and newspaper ads. They cost lots eventually we did get the film released. When of money. Television spots were out of the it hit video and cable, we sent out hundreds question because of the cost. We would hold of postcards, letting people know. It took a lot screenings for critics and hoped they show up, of work back then to do something like this enjoy the film and write a good review. Festi- and we weren’t a huge success. vals were easier to get into back then and you Cut to 2006; Nightmare Man is ready to could get some places like Variety or Hollywood screen. First, we set up a Hollywood screening Reporter to review the film there. All of this for some friends and reviewers of horror web- was to create enough buzz to find distribution sites and magazines to see if they would help and sell your movie. Today, all of this is still spread the word. Without distribution, they possibly but much harder. The advantage now wouldn’t. So, we went to Fangoria’s Weekend is the internet. Between Twitter and Facebook of Horrors and took a booth and had a panel. and Myspace and personal websites, links to We also screened the film that weekend. The genre sites, et cetera, you can spread the word response was great and a writer for Jane Mag- a lot easier. You still need to send out screeners azine was doing an article on Tiffany Shepis. and hopefully show your film on the big He saw the film and had a blast, giving us a screen, but with digital and Blu-ray screening great review in his article on Tiffany in Jane. rooms available that’s a lot more affordable as Good start, so my parents and I decided to try well. I’ll give you a “that-was-then, this-is- the four-walling thing again. We contacted now” approach. With There’s Nothing Out the theater chain that had released There’s There, we blew the film up from Super 16 to Nothing Out There way back when and got 35mm and held a cast and crew screening. We them to book it for a week in August. Again, then submitted the film to many festivals, both they helped us screen a digital copy for critics. domestic and abroad. This led to following Again, we got a very good review in the L.A. the film around and collecting reviews, hiring Times. “A for effort in B grade Man” the head- a PR rep to organize critic and agent screen- line declared. This time the phone didn’t ring ings. This was good and costly but didn’t get off the hook. Great reviews don’t impress the enough attention, so we decided to open the studios anymore because everyone is a critic film in New York and Los Angles ourselves now, thanks to the internet. They want to see with the theater chains. We held an advance box-office gross. In the middle of summer, screening in Santa Monica and invited dozens without much advertising, it didn’t make of studio people and agents before we began much money. We did take out a small ad in  Publicity, Promotion and Distribution 177 some papers, did a ticket giveaways on the net, screeners. This is very easy to do nowadays. started a web page for the film, but there is so Buy 100 blank DVDs and burn away. And much competition out there now it’s hard to then there are tons of ways to advertise on the stand out. Not that you shouldn’t try. Use the net. Clips, links, banners—hit all your friends ’net and every resource you have. Send out and all their friends. This is now common hundreds of protected screeners that read, “For practice. Have frame grabs or stills ready to Screening Purposes only,” so people can’t steal send out to genre sites. The cooler pictures it. They will anyway, but protect yourself as you have to accompany your articles and press best you can. Adam Green did a tremendous releases, the better coverage you’ll get. And job with this for Hatchet. He started the Hatchet even though it will cost you money, submit to army and it paid off in a successful career. Eli as many festivals that target who you think Roth is also a master of self-promotion. your film will appeal to. Have press kits ready Anyway, with all of the great reviews, week- to go with the screeners. Withoutabox is a fast long theatrical run, producer’s rep, great art- and easy way to submit to literally thousands work and trailer designed by the Ant Farm, of festivals. Make sure you have some adver- one of the biggest ad companies in Hollywood, tising money available, because this is going it still didn’t do much for us for Nightmare to cost you. Just submitting to 15–20 festival Man. We had a great poster, cool trailer, good will run you $1 or two thousand dollars. Try reviews and still could not sell the film until I to have a good trailer. Don’t do it yourself. stumbled upon After Dark at Comicon. So, Hire a professional. It has to be slick and grab it’s tricky but you must pursue every avenue peoples’ attention, just like the poster. If you you can think of. You never know what path don’t grab their interest, they’ll never even might work. You have to stick with it and watch your film. The festival game has become never give up. Remember, nobody cares as a real scam, but you still have to do it. much about your film as the filmmaker ... and Publicizing and marketing is a long, tire- it helps to have a little luck. some process. There are companies that can But getting back to the question. Once you help, but if you have little money you have to have a finished film, make sure it is finished do it yourself and be prepared for at least a before you show it to any potential buyers! It year’s worth of hard work. You never know needs to look and sound great, because if you what will pay off, so try everything. You have do get anyone important to watch it, they will to be aggressive, determined and stay in peo- only watch it once. Everyone says they know ple’s faces to make your film stand out from how to judge a rough cut, but they don’t! Fin- all the others. ish your film properly and don’t rush it. You Brett Kelly: I always send out a press re- only get one shot at impressing the powers that lease when I start production to drum up some be. early buzz. Usually I don’t spend a lot of time Then come in with a campaign. You need publicizing a film if it’s signed for distribution. good artwork (maybe the most important I leave that to the marketing people. Locally, thing if you don’t have any name actors in your I usually try to get a theatrical screening of film). You also need a trailer to put up on some sort and send releases to local press so YouTube and on the website for your movie that I can have some press clippings to send (get your domain name before you even make along with my screeners that I send to po- the film so nobody steals it out from under tential distributors. you). Have an electronic press kit ready with Chris LaMartina: A strong “high con- behind the scenes, interviews, bloopers... All cept” story is necessary to mounting a success- of this will be good for your eventual DVD/ ful publicity campaign. I’m sorry to tell you, Blu-ray release. Make lots and lots of DVD but your existential rants on love in the mod- 178 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Producer Jimmy George (left) and writer-director Chris LaMartina stand outside of the Charles Theatre in Baltimore for the Witch’s Brew world premiere. Photograph by Charles Zimmerman. ern world will not sell as many tickets as a distribution options before you drop hundreds splatter flick about a killer Easter Bunny. of bucks on mailing out press kits. Miramax Once a film is completed, we send out is not going to license your $300 Camcorder screeners to various websites that review horror epic, but a smaller horror distributor just films. Over the years, we’ve compiled a nice might. Do your research. Ask around with database of reviewers/sites that are friendly to other DIY filmmakers. It will save you a lot micro-budget flicks, and we send those folks of money and time. screener discs first. Jim Mickle: Publicists can be miracles for These reviews will start the buzz going and low-budget films without big stars. For Mul- will often lead to more coverage on third-party berry Street we hired a publicist for the Tribeca sites. After some decent press, we compile the Film Festival and they really helped to capi- nicest reviews into a list of sound bite–style talize on press opportunities, setting up press blurbs and, then, throw them into a press kit screenings, scheduling interviews and playing of movie facts, a synopsis, and a flashy-DVD up the recent rat outbreaks in downtown box. These packages are sent to distributors Manhattan at the time, which coincided with who have the potential to release the film com- our little rat creature movie. That made a big mercially. We sell to distributors so we can difference for getting interest in the film and focus on our next project. Speaking personally, was the beginning of a wave of grass-roots af- I feel that we are the storytellers, not the sales- fection for the movie that built and ultimately people. led to a distribution deal. However, it’s important to fine-tune your On Stake Land the distributor hired a pub-  Publicity, Promotion and Distribution 179 licist during the shoot and kept awareness on this. I was so relieved (and worn-out) when the project even before we started shooting. Dr. Horror was completed that I neglected to By the time the film was released there was a publicize the film as much as I should have. lot of press for it already. Eric Shapiro: The best way is to try to ac- If you’re going to be at a festival that has cess good festivals that have built-in press any size or influence, it definitely helps to hire awareness. Once you get into one of those, a publicist to help get buzz for the film. It can you can find out what publications are cov- get lost in the crowd very easily. ering it and make sure they’re aware of your Damon Packard: You’re lucky to get any film. If you don’t find yourself in that kind of publicity. Some are better at making that hap- environment, it’s all about directly contacting pen than others. I’ve always said, “Control the as many websites as possible and other publi- circles of reality and you control the world.” cations that are interested in your subject mat- It has nothing to do with how “good” or “bad” ter, then sending out review copies, offering something is, or “talent.” It’s all subject to in- to do interviews, pooling the results onto terpretation. You can influence those things IMDb and your own website, and trying to on the masses. generate a sense of “chatter” so your work is Brad Paulson: I think the best way to go relevant and on many people’s radars. about it is to have someone do publicity for Anthony Straeger: Tackling the public- you. This is something we’ve been doing a lot ity side of the film was also a learning curve for of lately. If you do this you look far less low me, especially as I realized very early on that budget than someone who no one has heard Call of the Hunter wasn’t “genre specific” and of that is trying to get their movie out there. didn’t fit easily into a box or category. It wasn’t There’s just too many movies floating around a slasher, exploitation flick, zombie, vampire, right now. My usual plan of attack is to hit up ghost, or a comedy. What it was a well-written all my favorite websites, send them a screener, story with good characters. It was a bit of hor- build up some good reviews, then send that ror, suspense and humor all rolled into one. to distributors. One mistake I made in getting the film out Jose Prendes: If you want your movie to there was that feeling I needed to prove I was succeed, then you have to make sure that working hard on the film for my private/friend EVERYONE knows about it. How do you do investors. So I jumped pretty quickly into get- that? Well, you start pumping out info about ting a distributor. What they made me do was it from the minute you get started. Casting put together important things like a press pack news, teaser posters, production diaries, what- that included production notes, cast and crew ever! Get the word out and start building buzz details, production stills, et cetera. This proved before you even have a product. Social net- really useful when I started looking at trying working is one thing, but you have to go out to get the film into festivals. These days you and make a big splash, or your film will dis- are tied with the festival circuit because it is appear on the video store shelves (if you are mainly run through Withoutabox in associa- lucky enough to be distributed). I know from tion with IMBd and Amazon. That being the experience, and if I had to do it all over again, case you need to have all the information to I would milk the shit out of my movies. You hand in order to promote and publicize in fes- have to be Barnum & Bailey if you want to be tivals. One problem of jumping into a distri- Spielberg. Just look at Lloyd Kaufman. He bution deal is that it restricts you from getting may not be Spielberg, but people know him into certain festivals. Getting a distributor for and his films. any film is really easy — getting a really good Paul Scrabo: Publicity must be one of the distribution deal is very hard. items in your budget, and it’s easy to forget One more point about festivals is to set 180 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES some money aside. Festivals are now big busi- ating a website is always a good idea as well. ness and with companies like Withoutabox Make sure that there’s a trailer available for running it, it’s $50 dollars an entry — that’s people to watch. I never entered Darkness not acceptance. It doesn’t take a mathemati- Waits into any festivals, but you can check out cian to work out the figures. the website www.DarknessWaits.com and The best way to go about publicizing your watch the trailer on YouTube. film is not to rush to get it out there. That will Another example of “get your stuff out not help you or the movie. You need to pro- there,” is my short film Resolute. After I made duce a whole list of things, such as a press pack it, it sat on the shelf for four years until I de- for festivals. The website has to be good and cided to submit it to its first film festival, you need help making it a site that will sell where it was publicly acclaimed and nomi- your product, not just show it. I think Call of nated best film at the Actra Montreal Short the Hunter has a good website, but it is not a Film Festival. It was so well received that they very good monetizing site and would do the changed the festival’s judging rules for the fol- next movie very differently. You have to have lowing year, to make sure that there could be good stills and a great synopsis. You need to no manipulation for audience voting from look at your social media, i.e., Facebook and other participating filmmakers. Moral of the Twitter, and you need everyone involved in the story: It’s fine to make things for fun ... but movie to be enthusiastic about promoting it. make sure people get to see it. Also, look for publications that may be Mike Watt: The best way to achieve pub- sympathetic to your type of movie so that you licity with your film is to hire a full-time pub- can send them a copy of your film for a review. licist who will spend every waking moment You can get some good reviews when promot- booking reviews, interviews, magazine, trade ing your film. If you have money then maybe and internet coverage. Since we’re forced to a few chosen adverts in the right place will also live in reality, that has never been an option. help. Every member of your cast should con- I have spent some time as a publicist over tact their local home radio station and get an the years and I know just what a Herculean interview. One of the best audiences you can task it is to sell anything in this economy, so get to is a radio audience. It might be people the odds are really against you and your movie at home, stuck in their car or in the work from the start. I can usually stack the reviewer place, but millions of people are engaged with deck in my favor at the beginning, but after the radio. The internet is over flooded. that, it’s really the word-of-mouth machine To reiterate, handling the publicity takes that will get your movie seen. The level play- time and thought. You need to get into festi- ing field for independents consists of the hor- vals, you need to get reviews, you need to get ror convention market and your own website. people to comment on your product. I have Amazon has made it easier to list your movie attempted to get entry into as many festivals on their service and you can even provide a as possible and have now renegotiated our dis- VOD version if you want, but unless people tribution of the film in order to try and put know it’s there, Amazon won’t do you terribly the post-production knowledge I have gained much good. Retail stores always treated inde- over the last year or so into action. I think it pendent films like bags of flaming dogshit on is better to sell territories individually rather their porch, and today, with fewer retail stores than that lovely phrase: worldwide rights in in existence, that prejudice has gotten worse, all media — hands tied. not better. Marc Trottier: I think a good way to get And Netflix? Once a bastion for indie publicity is to get your film into festivals, movies, it has virtually turned its back on the which will in turn promote your movie. Cre- micro-budget cinema, thanks to years of over  Publicity, Promotion and Distribution 181 saturation from small distributors, pressure Ritch Yarber: Unfortunately, micro-bud- from the Hollywood studios to release only get filmmaking does not lend itself to leaving their product at certain times, and, of course, much money for publicity once the film is the illiterate rat bastard publicly educated complete. I think that it is important to ex- mouth-breathers who pride themselves on plore every option to get the word out about only posting the most negative hyperbole they your film. Taking the finished product directly can. Follow a couple of Netflix or IMDb “cus- to your target audience is the approach I use. tomer reviewers” some time — you’ll find a Conventions, film festivals, the internet, social dozen that have listed every movie they’ve ever networking, word-of-mouth, begging, or any- seen as “the worst movie I’ve ever seen.” Netflix, thing else you can come up with, is a viable the company, doesn’t usually pay much atten- method for getting publicity. The main idea tion to those reviews, but their shareholders is to get the movie seen by the people that it do. So, once again, screw the indie rabble. was made to entertain. If the product is good, Even the IMDb has made it more difficult eventually things will take wing by themselves to get your film listed, requiring major cover- and the whole effort gets a lot easier. Trying age from websites or film festivals first. The to shove a bad product down this same chute star chamber judges at Wikipedia are even will be a whole different story ... rejection will harder to circumnavigate. So, in the world of be quick and brick walls will be found. Suc- self-promotion, you have to be creative. Judg- cessful publicity is made much easier by hav - ing from those I know whose movies have ing a great product to promote. done fairly well, their marketing campaign With firsthand knowledge of how hard it is seems to rely heavily on YouTube clips and for independent films to get screening op- 24/7 Facebook posting. Magazine ads don’t portunities and publicity, TwistedSpine.com seem to do anything anymore (I once traded Films has twice held The TwistedSpine.com a couple thousand words of journalism for a Micro Film Fest, a film festival dedicated to full-page ad for The Resurrection Game in one independent films made for $10,000 or less. of the major genre mags and netted a grand Selected films from around the world were total of zero sales). screened at our two-day festivals, and no ad- Film festival awards will help a movie in the missions fees were charged to view these films. long run; even those festivals run in someone’s The idea was to get asses in the seats to view basement, because very few people bother to some great independent films. The festivals check a festival’s credentials. The problem is were a great success and we hope to present that the bigger ones charge entry fees that can another event in the near future. border on outrageous (I want to get my movie Ivan Zuccon: Promoting your film is into your fest! I’m not applying to Harvard!) vital. The truth is that you should always in- and often you’re going to pay for a rejection clude the cost of publicity and promotion in due to a fest-runner’s best friend vomiting a a movie’s budget. In independent cinema you movie the weekend before and taking an avail- often have no money for promotion, so you able spot. But if they’re free, or within your use new media to spread the news about the budget, enter your movie into as many festi- movie. I learned by experience that one of the vals as possible. Get it to play everywhere. Be- best ways to launch a film is to work with ac- cause here is where the internet is on your side. tors who have a strong fan base. Working with Even the snarkiest blogger at least lists the Tiffany Shepis and Debbie Rochon helped movies playing at this fest or that. The more promote the movie a lot, not to mention the people that see your movie listed, the more fact that they both are incredibly talented ac- potential sales you have before you. tresses. 182 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES The Filmmakers were asked: How have you handled distribution? What are some of the horror stories you’ve encountered? To your knowledge, has anyone made money from streaming yet? Glenn Andreiev: Vampire’s Embrace got have learned this from my own personal hor- video distribution, but it was a nightmare rific experience of dealing with a worldwide quest. Most distributors wanted me to go back sales rep. No matter what happens, you must and shoot extra nude scenes, so we filmed have an advance because sometimes the ad- these soft-core scenes that really didn’t fit into vance is all you will ever receive. Streaming is the film. The nude stand-ins looked nothing such a new method of distribution that every- like the original actors. I heard of one person one is trying to figure out how to transition. who made money from online distribution. The good part is there is no up-front money I’ve become friendly with the man behind being spent on replicating and shipping YouTube’s highly popular Annoying Orange se- DVDs, since a master dub (usually Digibeta) ries. It’s a series of simple, funny, and clever is the only thing needed for digitization of short one to two-minute-long videos of a your film for streaming. Get your film stream- screechy-voiced orange who picks on other ing on the internet; there are many sites that fruits and vegetables in the kitchen. Okay, they can stream your film for a nominal monthly are not feature films, but the little shorts — to fee, and you receive the residuals from view- me—qualify as films, and he’s been quite suc- ers. cessful with them. Keith Crocker: Okay, I pretty much an- John Borowski: Be very, very cautious swered most of this question in the previous when working with sales reps and distributors. question’s answer. As far as the horrors of dis- I was sent many contracts when making my tribution goes, it’s always the same, the con- first film. I asked for changes to one of the con- cept of the middleman who is not needed. In tracts from a distributor and they refused, other words, though Wildeye Releasing is a telling me that I was “asking for too many distributor of DVD titles, we need a third changes.” The problem was that the changes company, in this case, MVD (Music Video would benefit me and not the distributor. Just Distributors) in order for our titles to be because you are a filmmaker, do not expect carried in stores like FYE (For Your Entertain- respect from distributors, because you will not ment), J&R Music World, et cetera. I had receive it. They are in business as well and they found this out years ago. I was trying to peddle want the best deal for themselves, which is un- one of my many titles that I sell through Cine- derstandable. But if the contract is not accept- fear to Tower Records. The guy at Tower kept able to you or seems fishy, move on. Ask other asking me, “Who’s the distributor?” I kept say- filmmakers if they have done business with the ing “I’m the distributor,” but he didn’t want distributor. The distribution waters are filled to hear that. He wanted to hear names like with many sharks. Foreign is very difficult, as Baker & Taylor and Koch Media. Unless you there is no way for you to check on the accu- have a catalog with a hundred titles in it, they racy of their reporting. Many times the sharks don’t want to hear from you. I found out the feed on first-time filmmakers and promise hard way that the only way to make money in them the world, but once the contract is this business is to have bulk. At Wildeye, we signed, then you never hear from them again are starting anew; we don’t have a hundred ti- and you never receive a penny from them. I tles to offer, hence the reason we need a sub-  Publicity, Promotion and Distribution 183 distributor, such as MVD. Luckily, they are a together to various distributors and just cross good, honest company, but like anything, too loop the amounts to all the films they have the many hands spoil the soup. It seems, at times, rights to (and are allotted expenses for to pro- like there is no money to be made in this busi- mote, etc.), so they always have nothing to ness. The real money was in theatrical distri- pay out. It’s legal robbery. So, let’s say a dis- bution and the early days of video and cable. tributor really wants your film and is willing DVD became sell through very, very quickly; to spend $25,000 for it. The sales agent will it had none of the shelf life like VHS did. throw in the deal four other films for next to Streaming online is utter nonsense, fucking nothing, but then will divide the amounts pennies; you have to be kidding me with that. between each film, always ensuring that they Then add that all the fans have become social- will each be under their recoverable expenses ist and want all entertainment for free. With amount. That way, films that would not have the deluge of illegal downloading, making sold anything will sell the total amount of the money in this business went from bad to recoverable expenses — but nothing more. So worse. Abandon hope all ye who enter here! they pocket all the money and the filmmakers Richard Cunningham: I’ve never actu- get nothing. ally handled distribution. In fact, for a long Most indie filmmakers are not business time I was shooting myself in the foot by pro- savvy and all the ones I’ve met, have ALL been ducing films out-of-pocket, with great passion screwed ... all of them. Here’s another anec- and sacrifice, and then failing miserably to ef- dote: I had also tried to get my film Lady of fectively promote the film and enter it into fes- the Lake on Pay-TV in Canada. I sent a tape tivals. to the biggest Pay-TV channel but they re- I do think though that online streaming is fused it (“not good enough,” they said). Then the way of the future for distribution of low- I met and signed a deal with a distribution budget independent films. There are already company, who, in exchange for 15 percent, several sites that offer filmmakers distribution promised me they would get it sold to Pay- and advertising services at a fee. The music TV. Since I had already been refused, I thought industry was assimilated into the internet, so I had nothing to lose. Well, lo and behold, I can’t see any reason people won’t be purchas- three weeks later the distributor sold the film ing the majority of their movies online in an- for $75,000 to the same Pay-TV channel I had other five years. initially contacted and it played in heavy ro- Maurice Devereaux: For Blood Symbol I tations for over two years (over 90 times, was so happy to have someone pay to help which is strange for a film that “wasn’t good finish the film that I gave all my rights away enough” before), but the distributor never paid (even if I spent about $27,000 of my own my share (85 percent) and went bankrupt. I money). They then sold it to a U.S. company never got a dime. for peanuts. Lady of the Lake cost me $125,000. Why did the Pay-TV channel take my film I sold the U.S. rights for $10,000. But then I, from the other guy and not me directly? Well, unfortunately, signed with a sales agent to the distributor probably packaged it with handle foreign sales — they then sold it to a other films he had that the station wanted. dozen countries for $39,900, coincidently, just And who knows, maybe he had a “relation- under the amount they were allotted for ex- ship” built over the years of brown envelope penses, which was $40,000. So, in the 12 years “kick backs.” Who knows? All I know is that they have had the rights to the film, I made my film played for two years on TV and I $0. Later I found out this a very standard prac- didn’t make a dime. tice by devious sales agents and their crafty ac- So, because of all these middlemen ripping counting. They basically sell a bunch of films me off, I decided in 2007 to rent a booth at 184 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES the AFM (American Film Market in L.A.) for Canada the company released a 4:3 completely End of the Line with a filmmaker friend to sell censored edition that not only cut out all the our films directly to foreign buyers. It was gore, but replaced the many gores shots in the pricey ($10,000), but still a better option than opening credits with spoilers on how each dealing with sales agents who would rob us character would die later in the film — which blind again (my filmmaker friend had similar is a live show! It was an absolute insult. And, nightmare stories with his films). At the AFM to be even more ridiculous, the jump to a scene we both made a few sales, but, unfortunately, menu was kept from the U.S. edition and fea- the market prices have dropped too much for tured little clips with the all the CENSORED international sales for this to be cost-effective GORE! As well as the “Making of ” that fea- now. Sales agents handle a lot of films and tured the gore NOT in the actual film, too. have not invested in the films themselves, so The reason is that they did not want to pay to they can still coast for a while. But for us indie have the film rated in each province (the film producer/directors, the game has gotten a lot was unrated in the U.S.) so they asked the U.S. harder. Also, for my U.S. DVD deal, a huge company to deliver an R-rated copy (which U.S. video rental chain had requested 6,000 then gives an auto rating equivalent in Can- DVDs for a rent-sharing deal. It was risky, but ada), so the U.S. distributor took out all the they were a huge, well-known, respectable gore shots to be sure to get an automatic R company, and this could really be a profitable (and not have to resubmit and pay more than deal. So, instead of paying the regular $5 a once). copy (yes that’s how much goes back per copy I contacted the Canadian distributor and the distributor, minus his percentage, and the pleaded with them to not release this butch- cost of shipping and fabrication, which leaves ered version. I even offered to PAY to have the about $1.83 per DVD coming back to the pro- film re-rated in each province. They told me ducer), we could make much more. But, of to fuck off! They had the rights and I could course, they went bankrupt as well owing us not do anything. I was so ashamed I actually a LOT of money. Also for End of the Line I replaced all the copies at my local video store finally managed to sell the film directly to Pay- (at my own cost) with the U.S. uncensored TV, this time for $90,000. They paid one- version. third on signature and the rest was supposed There’s not any amount that you could to be given in installments six months later. make a living from, from internet streaming. They also went bankrupt and defaulted on the The internet is still in its infancy as a money rest of the money. generator for filmmakers. Right now, it has But in the strange workings of Corporate hurt filmmakers more then benefited them. America (and Canada) they reopened for busi- Donald Farmer: The hard part in distri- ness, under the same name, weeks later (with bution is getting deals which pay the same just a change of ownership for legal mumbo rates as in the “video boom” days of the ’80s. jumbo). Once again, the little guy gets shafted. Back then it wasn’t uncommon for producers Having been on the bad end of many business to grab six home video figure deals for a 16mm frauds, I am a big Michael Moore fan! There or 35mm feature. These days you have to be is real need to change laws in both Canada and more inventive with distribution, and more America to prevent white-collar criminals producers seem to be getting into self-distri- from continuously raping the workingman in bution. Should you give your movie to a com- every field (not just the movie business). pany that won’t cover your budget but gets On a different note, for my film Slashers, you in stores nationwide? Or would you rather the U.S. release was a great DVD, uncensored sell fewer copies through self-distribution but 16:9 (widescreen) enhanced edition, but for actually make some money?  Publicity, Promotion and Distribution 185 Three popular routes for self-distribution play the “expense game.” While the profit split these days are: (1) place full-page ads in mag- may sound reasonable on the surface, they azines like Fangoria, Rue Morgue or Horror deduct their marketing expenses off the top. Hound; (2) purchase booths at the major hor- That’s where it gets dicey because many exag- ror conventions; and (3) make online sales gerate their expenses to the point where it available through the Amazon store, eBay et seems as if it exceeds revenue. If that was the cetera. Duplication is dirt-cheap, so lots of case they would be out of business. producers are opting to go this way and main- In the past I’ve seen all kinds of question- tain more control. Besides, turning your movie able expenses in the statements they sent me. over to a distributor can have plenty of pitfalls. One gimmick in the past was for the distrib- They reserve the right to change your title, like utor to place an ad for five pictures they were when MTI Video retitled my film Fighting representing in Variety, which is very expen- Chance as The Strike or E.I. Video retitled sive. Rather than pro-rate that cost between Vampire of Notre Dame to the embarrassing the five films, they write off the entire ad ex- An Erotic Vampire in Paris. And with Block- pense against each movie. In other words, buster, Hollywood Video and others closing they’re recouping more than they’ve spent. shop, there’s fewer and fewer stores that will There were ways around this. The best op- even stock low-budget titles. Now Redbox tion was to get an advance in excess of your seems to be taking over, but everything may budget, which enables you to recoup your be completely online in a few more years. negative cost and show a profit. That’s the Jeff Forsyth: I have not handled distri- most difficult type of deal to secure, especially bution myself, although I would like to learn. today. Another method was to cap distribution I’ve heard several horror stories of filmmakers expenses to limit the off-the-top deductions. receiving checks for about $14 several years A third was to give the distributor a higher later for a distributed project. I haven’t delved percentage that included their marketing costs. into the streaming issue yet myself, and I need It’s better to receive 25 percent of a deal than to research it. Eventually I would like to get 50 percent after expenses, which may not gen- to the point where, when I make a low-budget erate any revenue to the filmmaker if those genre film, I sell it outright. That way I know costs are padded. Other worries are when your what I have and I can divorce myself from the movie is packaged with lesser titles. In that way it is handled after. event you’ll only get a quarter of a four-picture Richard W. Haines: As any director will deal, even though your film was worth more tell you, distribution is the most difficult part individually. It’s advisable to separate domestic of the filmmaking process. Over the years cin- and foreign markets so you have two ways of ema has been classified as a producer’s medium generating income from separate distributors and a director’s medium, but the reality is that or sales agents. it’s a distributor’s business. They decide when, I’ve negotiated all kinds of deals with my or if, your movie will be available to the pub- seven features. I’ve gotten advances that put lic, under what terms and who receives profits. me in the black and profited on deals where I guess it’s better to discuss “collected rev- expenses were capped or recouped from the enue” rather than distribution itself. Collected distributor’s share. Other times I wasn’t as revenue refers to the money a filmmaker ac- lucky. I sold Run for Cover to a Pakistan dis- tually receives as opposed to what the picture tributor, but his check bounced. Every once grosses in theaters or how many DVD units in a while an indie movie becomes a “sleeper were sold. That all depends on what kind of hit,” but the odds are against that type of deal you’ve negotiated. windfall, so it’s wise to work out one of the I will say that, in general, many distributors options I mentioned. 186 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Some filmmakers are using the DIY option, difficult to find some of their other clients and which means “do it yourself.” It’s very difficult get the lowdown on their experiences with but not impossible to distribute your own them. As far as streaming goes, it’s in its in- movies. I’ve done it on and off in the past, de- fancy right now. Yes, I know people who have pending on the production. For example, I made money from streaming. I don’t know booked Space Avenger myself by calling up anyone who has made a whole ton off of it yet, every cinema I could get a contact number on but some have done pretty well with it. Every- until one chain agreed to play a seven-theater one is still trying to figure that particular run in the Washington, D.C., area. It’s a non- medium out. stop hustle, but if you don’t believe in your Rolfe Kanefsky: Well, distribution is the product no one else will. subject that very few people talk about. Every- In terms of advice I would tell aspiring film- one discusses how hard it is to make the makers to keep a reserve fund for an enter- movie, but once it’s finished, selling it can be tainment attorney in case you need legal as- twice as hard. Like I said, I’ve gone as far as sistance to collect on a deal. putting my films into theaters myself, but William Hopkins: As I mentioned, my since I don’t own my own distribution com- first film, Sleepless Nights, was originally re- pany, I have had to sell my film to others to leased through a small DVD distributor. That get them into stores and on cable. I have often arrangement ended some time ago and a recut, gone to the AFM (American Film Market) in remastered version of the film is now being Santa Monica, California. This used to be a distributed through Amazon.com on DVD great place for independent filmmakers and and video on demand. companies to find distribution for their films, Demon Resurrection is being distributed on both domestically and internationally. It now DVD by the producer and is available on occurs once a year, usually the first week in Amazon.com and a number of other web re- November. When you’re selling a film, there tailers. The film can also be streamed on the are many avenues to get it released. In the official web page and on its Facebook page. U.S., you have DVD, VOD, cable, television Whether or not streaming will ever come sales, and, now, internet streaming. Then you to represent any significant revenue source for have the same for all the foreign markets. This small films like mine remains to be seen. But, could be a lot of territories and money. You for now, it’s really the only way to go. Nobody can try to do it yourself, but buyers buy from seems to be making a great deal of money with people and companies they know. That’s why product like this in any format right now. But you need a foreign sales agent to get your film we’re going to keep trying different approaches out to them. Domestically, you hire a pro- and we’re hoping to have a breakthrough even- ducer’s rep or try to do it yourself. tually. A lot of companies want worldwide rights Steve Hudgins: We do self-distribution to your film. In the old days, a company and keep any agreements we make with dis- would give you money to handle your film. tributors, sales agents, et cetera, on a strict Those days are mostly gone. It is very hard to non-exclusive-rights level. If you’re not signing get any kind of advance now when it comes your rights away, you don’t have as much to to a rep. Because of that, you want to try to worry about. But, still, you have to be careful keep the domestic and international deals sep- when dealing with distributors or sales agents. arate, so if you’re not happy with your sales Some of them are shady and won’t pay you person, the whole film isn’t locked up with one after they’ve sold your movies. You definitely company. Now, it’s easier to go with one com- should research their reputation before you pany and let them handle the world, but if decide to deal with them or not. It’s not they don’t come through, you might see your  Publicity, Promotion and Distribution 187 film sitting on a shelf (meaning unreleased) the original Emmanuelle back in 1973. It made for years and years. So now, I’ll give you an a fortune and established his name as a top honest rundown of who has handled/distrib- producer/seller of well-produced, high-class uted my films and how happy/unhappy I am erotica. I have made a bunch of movies for about the results. The following is the stuff him in this genre since 1996. In the past he nobody talks about in this business, but I be- pre-sold his films even before he produced lieve knowledge is power, so here goes: them. Those days are mostly gone, but he has There’s Nothing Out There was sold to Prism a lot of foreign territories that still pay nicely Entertainment in 1992. They paid $75,000 for his product. So, internationally, these films just for domestic video. We then had a rep get are covered. The problem has been in the do- the film to HBO, who also bought the film. I mestic market. Alain has a sales rep named can’t remember how much they paid. I’m David Gil, who has a good relationship with guessing $50,000. Internationally, it was first HBO and has bought many of his films to handled by a company called Trident Releas- them. The current going price for HBO/Cin- ing (now gone). They did very few sales, but emax and their VOD channels for a late-night had the film for five years. When we got it erotic flick is $75,000 and they usually have a back, I gave the film to Alain Siritzky for a two-year window to exploit the film as much year and he actually sold to some important as they want. So, it’s a flat buyout deal. He does territories, like Japan. We made some money not see any more money unless they renew the from that, maybe $25,000. After Prism went deal after the allotted window. However, they out of business and we got the rights back, we do not take video/DVD/Blu-ray. sold it domestically to Image for it’s tenth an- In the past, Alain had deals with Roger niversary on DVD. I was very happy with the Corman, who released many of Siritzky’s films DVD, but the money was very little. Seven on DVD, like the Emmanuelle in Space series, years later, we got the rights back again, and Justine, Rod Steele and Misadventures of the In- through a filmmaker friend/connection, Ramzi visible Man. But then Roger folded his video Abed, got Troma Entertainment to pick it up. label and gave all of Alain’s films back ,so Sir- Troma had actually wanted the film when we itzky currently has all domestic DVD/Blu-ray first made it. They can get your film out there, rights to about 80 feature-length films. Hav - but don’t expect to see any money. However, ing all domestic rights to this many films could for it’s 20th anniversary, I thought Troma was mean a lot of money, but Alain doesn’t trust a perfect fit, and we did a great two-disc many of the companies. He’s tried to release special edition on DVD, in 2011, with the some of the titles years ago with Image Enter- hope of one day going to Blu-ray. So far, we tainment and he didn’t make any money. have not seen any money from this release, but Peach Video (an adult label) picked up a few it’s out there and its cult reputation continues of “Emmanuelle’s Private Collection.” I believe to grow. they paid a little and grabbed the title Em- My Family Treasure —a family film — was manuelle vs. Dracula. given to Arrow Entertainment, a company The funny thing was that, whenever Alain based out of New York. I don’t think the pro- gave or sold one of his films outright to a dis- ducers saw much money from them. I believe tribution company, the title did very well. But Arrow is out of business now. when Alain had a piece of the title, the movie Rod Steele 0014: Now, this is a case where was always in the red and never made any the producer is also his own foreign sales money for him. This is a common practice in agent, which is very smart. Alain Siritzky has Hollywood [known as] “keeping two sets of been doing this for years and he does very, very books.” Of course, I’ve never had any back- well, selling mostly erotic films. He produced end to these films, so it doesn’t matter to me. 188 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Anyway, after doing a few of these sexy late- be a crime if this film wasn’t seen. So, I proved night comedies for Alain, I convinced him to that the film was good and it was the sales produce a dark comedy thriller entitled To- company that just didn’t know how to sell it. morrow by Midnight. With this project he had I got Tomorrow into a few more festivals where foreign partners, so when it was finished, his it even won [for] Best Feature! French partner got the film to Capitol Enter- Meanwhile, the lawsuit ended with both tainment, a British company run by three producers winning ten dollars from each women. They loved the film and were given other, since they sued and counter-sued. At all worldwide rights (remember my warning that point, I tried to get Alain Siritzky to take about giving one company all rights). Well, to the film back from Capitol so at least we could put it nicely, they dropped the ball. I went to try to release the film in the States. Well, Capi- the Cannes Film Festival the year they pre- tol said they would give the film back, but they miered the film at the market (which happens had spent $40,000 on marketing costs, and, alongside of the festival), and it was a mess. since the film sold so poorly, they wanted Alain They got busier with higher profile movies and to pay the difference and cover their expenses. pretty much walked away from the film. He refused, saying that we can’t keep throwing When I went to their offices and asked about good money after bad. So, my film was dead my movie, the people working there weren’t in the water, being handled by a company who even aware they were handling it. Without didn’t want it anymore but wouldn’t give it going into all of the unfortunate details, a big back without being paid for failing to do their lawsuit resulted, with the producers suing each job. other over the movie. It got ugly, and the real Frustrated, I refused to give up. I started crime is, Tomorrow by Midnight is a good film. going online and Googled the movie every In fact, it is still the film I am most proud of. now and then to see if there were any reviews, Anyway, when a company can’t sell a film, they foreign sales, et cetera. One day, I stumbled naturally blame the film. It’s never their fault. upon a review in German for a film called So, this wonderful independent film star- After Midnight. Looking at the names, I real- ring Carol Kane, Alexis Arquette, and featur- ized that it was Tomorrow by Midnight, retitled ing Jorge Garcia (years before Lost made him for Germany. I had the review translated. It a star), sat on a shelf in distribution hell. Capi- was a rave and I asked Alain if he ever heard tol claimed that the film didn’t work, so no- of After Midnight. He hadn’t. I told him that body was buying and they stopped selling. it was Tomorrow by Midnight. He was happy That’s when I stepped in and started sub- to hear that. I then asked him (remembering mitting the film myself to festivals. I got it into the paperwork because of the lawsuit), “Isn’t a few, including “MethodFest,” a festival that there a minimum guarantee for selling Ger- used to be in Pasadena, California, that sup- many?” ported “outstanding acting in independent Let me explain this. When you give a com- films.” Some important critics reviewed films pany rights to sell your film, you can put some in this festival, but we got in late. So, I per- clauses in the contract to protect yourself. The sonally sent a screener to Kevin Thomas of the major international markets are Japan, Ger- L.A. Times, since he was such a supporter of many, England, France, maybe Italy and my first film, There’s Nothing Out There. He Spain. With these markets, Alain had a clause wrote back and said he couldn’t promise he based on the going rate for sales at the time would review it, but he’d try his best. His plate was “X” amount of dollars. Let’s say $75,000 was full. A week or so later he called me per- for Germany. (This was back in 2000, so sonally. He had watched the film, loved it, and prices have changed.) If the sales company had gave it a rave review. In fact, he said it would an offer for Germany that was below $75,000,  Publicity, Promotion and Distribution 189 they would have to get permission from the I had made two 35mm features that were producer before they could sell the film. This both good and both unreleased because the is a good clause to have so your sales agent just producer didn’t know how to sell a non-erotic doesn’t give your movie away in a package deal movie. And if the films don’t come out, they for a couple thousand dollars. So, that’s basi- don’t really exist. I didn’t know what to do. cally how it works. Luckily, I finally got Pretty Cool released in the Back to the story. I reminded Alain about States on DVD through MTI Home Video the minimum and asked him to find out what and that came about because of my next film. Capitol had sold Germany for. He did, and The Hazing: I wrote and directed this film guess what? It was way below the minimum for a different first-time producer, Tom Seid- guarantee — which means they breached their man. He raised the money through his father contract, selling the film for less money with- and some wealthy friends. It had a small but out getting permission. And that means Alain healthy budget of $750,000. It also marked could sue. So, they quickly gave us back the my return to horror/comedy. But before we film to avoid a lawsuit and waved their “ex- even shot this film, Tom hired a producer’s rep penses.” And there you go. All that work that company called Lantern Lane to handle the I had to do to salvage my film and I don’t even film domestically. When the film was finished, have a back-end deal, so I’ll never see money, we had a screening and then they sent out a whether the film is released or not. But every lot of DVDs. This is now 2003. The film was film is your baby and until it sees the light of well received, but the offers were low. Block- distribution, it’s hard to walk away. buster wanted the film, but was only offering So, Alain Sirizky now owns free and clear something like $25,000, so Lantern Lane sold all domestic rights to Tomorrow by Midnight the film to MTI for no advance, but MTI is and has still not made a deal to release the film one of the few fairly honest companies out because he doesn’t want anyone else making there. MTI sold the film to Blockbuster for a money off this movie if he hasn’t. One day I lot more money and Tom Seidman did get still hope the film is released here. It has never some of his cost back. With foreign there were been on cable, VOD, DVD, Blu-ray, and, per- a few companies that wanted the film. Main- sonally speaking, it’s my best movie. line Releasing made the highest offer of Well, after that “great” experience, I made $75,000, and they took the film to sell over- a teen comedy called Pretty Cool, also pro- seas. They didn’t do a good job on this title, duced by Alain. This was a good commercial which they changed to Dead Scared because comedy in the American Pie and Porky’s tradi- people in Europe don’t know what “hazing” tion. Alain, not wanting to be in the same boat means. with Tomorrow by Midnight, decided to hedge But MTI did do well and, because of this his bets. He would produce Pretty Cool, but I relationship, when they asked me if I had any also had to shoot a more erotic version for for- other films I said yes, and convinced Alain to eign markets called Emmanuelle Pie. I did, and sell them Pretty Cool. So, even though it took he sold that version in Europe immediately. five years, Pretty Cool saw the light of day in He didn’t even want to finish Pretty Cool, so America in its proper R-rated form. my father stepped in and deferred all the post- After The Hazing, I was hired by York En- production costs to edit and mix the movie. tertainment to write and direct a zombie com- Domestically, we screened the film a few times edy, called Corpses. Again, this was a produc- in Los Angeles, didn’t find any takers and the tion company that also sells their own product. film sat on the shelf, unreleased for five years. Despite endless problems and the worst expe- This is when I went through a bit of a depres- rience I ever had making a movie, it turned sion. out to be one of their better films. But Tanya 190 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES York, the head of the company, had no idea was only for domestic and was a good advance. what to do with the film. Just after we made They paid $100,000, which at the time was it, a film called Shaun of the Dead came out very good for a no-name sexy horror film. We through Universal. I loved that film and with- took the deal especially excited that Warner out knowing it had been trying to make some- Bros. would be releasing it. Internationally, we thing like that with Corpses. Anyway, after the gave it to a company called Shoreline. They film was finished and York was trying to sell did not give any advance and didn’t do very the film at the AFM, I went into their booth well with sales, either. We never saw another to see how things were going. She was very dime from Polychrome; eventually, they went unhappy. She couldn’t sell a zombie comedy. out of business with multiple lawsuits, having There was no market for it. I brought up to declare Chapter 11. Again, there are a lot of Shaun of the Dead, which was currently a crooks in this business. Now, Shoreline didn’t smash-hit in theaters. She had never heard of do a great job for us, but that’s not to say that it. This is a good example of having the wrong they can’t do a good job for others. It has a lot person selling your movie. to do with timing and luck. I know some peo- This brings up another issue worth dis- ple who have had good experiences with com- cussing. Try to find the right salesperson for panies and others that have had very bad your movie. Sometimes the best sales company experiences with the same company. Unfortu- is not the best for your film. When The Blair nately, ALL of the companies I’ve worked with Witch Project screened at Sundance, most of for foreign sales have been bad experiences the buyers passed on it. They didn’t under- thus far. stand it, which is good because, if New Line Next came Nightmare Man. You know what had picked up the film, it might have sat un- happened domestically so I won’t go into that released for years, been thrown out on DVD again. For foreign we tried American World with no fanfare and The Blair Witch Project Pictures, run by Mark Lester. He had handled would not have become what it became. Same my friend Jay Woelfel’s film Ghost Lake and goes with Warner Bros., who owned the rights they had done a good job with it. Decent do- to Slumdog Millionaire but didn’t like the film. mestic sales through Think Entertainment They were about to go straight to video with (not in business anymore) and good foreign it before the producers stepped in, showed it sales. They created a wonderful poster for the around town and got Fox Searchlight to take movie. So, based on his experience, we gave it, where it ended up making over 100 million Mark Lester a shot. They put together a ter- dollars and winning the Academy Award for rible poster and a bad trailer, which was really Best Picture. a crime because The Ant Farm had done a So, be careful who you get into bed with. great poster and trailer for us that they refused Make sure the people selling your film are re- to use. Unfortunately, this is standard for most ally excited about it and give it their all. It companies. They will always do their own doesn’t guarantee good things will happen, but campaign, if for no other reason than to charge you’re going to be with this company for you the $40–70,000 for expenses. But the awhile, so you want to be on the same page. worst part was with such bad artwork and bad Well, after Corpses, I was frustrated with bad trailer, you know the film won’t sell well ... producers and decided to start producing my- and it didn’t. So, once again claiming horror self with a friend, Gabriella Hall. We made movies weren’t selling well, American World Jacqueline Hyde together. Gabriella found a sold [to] a few territories and, to this day, we producer’s rep who got the film to a company only received about $20,000 for Japan and one called Polychrome Entertainment, who had or two other territories. an output deal with Warner Home Video. It Pretty Cool Too came next. Now, this is an  Publicity, Promotion and Distribution 191 interesting story. As I had said, Pretty Cool had tional salesperson, but maybe they will still sat unreleased for close to five years. I then got surprise us. Here’s hoping. MTI to take it. The movie had shipped 10– And that leads to Emmanuelle in Paris and 15,000 units. Not great. However, a year later, a new Rod Steele adventure called Today Is Yes- MTI told Alain (the producer) that the stores terday Tomorrow. Both produced by Alain Sir- that got it were doing great with the title and itzky again, these are R-rated comedies. One nobody knew why. It had become a modest is a musical fairy tale with nudity. I’m calling hit on video and it was all word-of-mouth. it “Naked Glee meets Disney on Acid ... For Pretty Cool was a cute throwback to the ’80s Children of all ages ... Over 18.” The other is with a good attractive cast, some funny slap- my follow-up after 15 years (!) to Rod Steele, stick, nice nudity, and a surprisingly whole- [the first in] my James Bond parody franchise. some romance. I was very proud of the film Siritzky is letting us run with Wonderland, and from day one and very upset when it never we’ve been submitting it to film festivals. It came out. Finally, the audience I made it for premiered at the Queens World Film Festival got to see it and they liked it. Upon hearing in New York in March of 2012. As of this writ- this, Alain suggested we make a sequel and lit- ing, distribution is up in the air for both these erally a month after we had that meeting with films right now but I’m hopeful. MTI, we were shooting Pretty Cool Too! Alain So, there you go. All the companies that I’ve made his own foreign deals like before and dealt with for the last 20-something years. It gave domestic rights to MTI again. This one never gets any easier, but if you work really got into more stores and I think did pretty hard you can probably get your film out one well. At one point, MTI said they would be way or another. interested in a Pretty Cool 3, but Alain had not As for the second part of the question, I made enough from either film to make it have not had much experience with “stream- worth his while. However, I have written the ing.” My only internet experience was with a script and would love to make it someday. short film I made, called Mood Boobs. It was Anyone interested? an 18-minute short starring Tiffany Shepis and So, then came 1 in the Gun, which was orig- Shaina Fewell. We shot it in 2005, just before inally called One in the Good. Once again, Nightmare Man, and sold the film online. We MTI took domestic rights and changed the did not stream, but instead shipped DVDs. It title from “One” to “1,” because it comes up took a while, but we made a little money from first in lists on VOD. Smart marketing ploy it. The problem is that once the film is out there. Numbers come before letters, so 1 is there in any form, people will illegally down- number 1. As of this writing, I hear the film is load it, putting it on sites for free. I’ve spent a doing great, having been bought by Redbox lot of time trying to get my movies taken (27,500 units) and Blockbuster (10,000 unit down. Mood Boobs was doing really well with or so). I think the producer (who isn’t me this orders at $23 apiece until it started getting pi- time) will make their money back and do rated. Then the sales just stopped. This is the pretty well. Unfortunately, international once risk of streaming, and people are still trying again has stalled. This time, we went with to figure out how to put an end to this. Cur- Artists View Entertainment, a company who rently, I don’t think there’s a good solution, so we heard great things about and has worked you have to be careful. with MTI on a lot of films. But, for reasons Brett Kelly: I’ve been very lucky and am still unknown to us, they have not been able sort of an oddball in the biz, in that all of my to sell the film abroad, which they were very features, except one (a teen comedy), have confident they would have been able to. We been distributed internationally as of the time are currently looking for a different interna- of this interview. I’ve been fortunate in that I 192 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES outlet for exploitation content. I agree with the comparison, generally. I do believe stream- ing and VOD will figure themselves out ... but as for now, we can just tell stories for as cheaply as possible and hope they return their invest- ments. We’ve gotten burned plenty of times by shady companies. I’ve read dozens of incon- sistent royalty statements where it’s painfully obvious a distributor was making money when I wasn’t. These aren’t big bucks, but when you make a flick for a couple thousand dollars ... you think you should easily make that back. Book of Lore, my second feature, got held hostage for two years by a distributor who was using it as part of a package deal with a dozen other titles. Empty promises were made. Lies flew fast and furious. Finally, we hired a lawyer and got the rights back. It was a fairly easy task, because of all the breaches of contract that the original distributor wreaked upon our deal. Brett Kelly with the publicity poster for his We eventually signed the film over to the newest film, My Fair Zombie. awesome gang at Pop Cinema, who consis- tently prove to me that they are the most hon- send screeners to potential companies, and est game in town. The only bummer was that someone contacts me to say that they want to Book of Lore came out YEARS after being release the film. complete. This is all too common for indies. I’ve got a friend who paid a supposed sales Distribution takes forever, and, in a climate agent to rep his film. He gave them $2,000 up where camera formats go out of date in six front and they did the minimal amount of leg- months, your movie has to be released as soon work possible. Sales agents get paid from the as possible so it looks fresh. sale of your movie and should not need money I’ve had plenty of comrades take the self- up front. In the end, his film got signed to a distribution route. It’s admirable, but very tiny company and he hasn’t got a prayer of see- difficult. You have complete creative control, ing a return on his 2k. but there are many downsides as well. You Chris LaMartina: Distribution sucks. It’s have to put in long hours and be willing to always sucked, but it’s been especially bad spend real money on promotion (magazine lately. Digital downloads and streaming are ads, web banners, horror film conventions). not there yet. DVD sales are over saturated in I’ve considered it many times, but at the end content and dwindling in revenue. Even the of the day, I’d rather be making movies and shittiest no-budget flicks are popping up on not selling them. Once you become your own torrent sites and there’s not much any of us distributor, you find most of your time will can do about it. be spent marketing an old title instead of pro- Recently, a friend compared the time we live ducing a new one. in now to the time between the drive-in days Jim Mickle: For Mulberry Street we hired and the VHS boom, where there was no real a producer’s rep who helped navigate the fes-  Publicity, Promotion and Distribution 193 tival/distributor/market stage of the film and these assholes to hide money. I mean, look at they wound up getting a sale with Lionsgate. how Peter Jackson had to sue New Line Cin- Lionsgate partnered with After Dark Films to ema over Lord of the Rings because they release the film through the Horrorfest 8 Films claimed they didn’t make any money. Some to Die For label. people, unfortunately, have absolutely no On Stake Land, the company that financed shame over taking all the profits over some- the film is also a distributor, so they held onto one’s hard work and not paying back the artists the rights and released it themselves, part- that brought them that great wealth in the first nering with IFC for a limited theatrical re- place. lease. As far as whether anyone’s made money It can a very stressful looking for distribu- through streaming, I haven’t run into that yet. tion, and a lot of people can get involved. It’s I don’t usually run into people with money. hard to know what the right decisions are. This would be a nice thing to change. Producer’s reps can make a difference, but if Jose Prendes: When I had Monster Man the film doesn’t work, they can’t do anything out there, people were telling me that you to get people interested. In the case of Mul- never make money with your first movie. It’s berry Street, most distributors passed on the true. I made some, but I didn’t recoup my film after the SXSW premiere, but then, after budget, which was barely anything anyway. a lot of great reviews and buzz came out of With Corpses Are Forever, my second film several European festivals and the hometown shot on 35mm and with an all-star cast of hor- crowd got to enjoy it at Tribeca, a deal finally ror’s best and brightest, I was hoping to make happened. some money, but I ended up making less ... I’ve heard of sales reps ripping people off or even though it got a wider release than Monster charging very high fees for doing very little Man. One company wanted to take on Corpses work. But I’ve heard of people with amazing for free and said they had a ton of places to films who never get distribution, because the sell it to, but when I asked for details, they got filmmakers decide to do everyone themselves pissed at me for enquiring and I hung up on and don’t trust a sales rep. I’ve had good ex- them. Another time, I got a voicemail from periences so far, but it’s up to each film to find Lionsgate, concerning Corpses. I excitedly the best way to get distributed. called them back, only to find out that the guy Damon Packard: Virtually everyone I had forgotten he had already watched it and know has had trouble getting a fair distri- passed on it. That was the most disheartening bution deal if they get ANY kind of distribu- phone call of my career. Distribution is tricky, tion. And, as far as money for streaming, I but if you just want to get your movie out and don’t know. Unless you are Netflix I don’t see don’t expect big bucks, it is actually fairly easy how, but I suppose there are others. Every - to land. thing is so easily and readily available for free I’m not sure about the streaming side of I don’t see how — but I imagine people are things, so I can’t comment on that. doing it. Paul Scrabo: Our movie is self-distrib- Brad Paulson: We’ve been corn-holed uted through Scrabo.com and Amazon. I royally through distribution. The BloodStained never considered even showing it to a distrib- Bride got out to quite a few of the big chains utor. For my DVD cover art, I hired a friend and had several thousand copies floating who is a professional artist. around. This doesn’t even include the deals Eric Shapiro: We were fortunate to have the distributor made with foreign territories. a good distributor, Big Screen Entertainment And, sadly, after all this, we’ve only made a Group, license Rule of Three. They released it couple hundred dollars. It’s just too easy for on DVD and got Netflix to license it, and it’s 194 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES being seen daily at a level that we once only your strategy from the moment you have the dreamed of. It’s heartening to know that many final draft of your script, which includes: people out there are interested in watching a 1. How are you pitching the script? strange film with unknown talent. The horror 2. What genre is your target market? stories are rampant. The worst one I’ve heard 3. Financing. You have to calculate and re- applies to my pal Hal Masonberg, who di- calculate what you have and will spend so rected a film called The Plague (2006), which that you get value for your money and that was seized from him in post-production and every cent ends up on the screen. recut in its entirety before release. That expe- 4. Take your product and aim it in the right rience pulverized him; he had no control, and direction of the market and festival circuit has never, to my knowledge, even watched the in order to stand the best chance you can final cut. at getting not only distribution, but max- In answer to the last question: yes, there is imizing the number of people that can and serious revenue in streaming. will see it. You will make or break your film Anthony Straeger: How have I handled on how you handle the distribution. distribution? Well, in the beginning, very badly. As I mentioned, I jumped into signing As far as streaming is concerned, and as to a distribution deal far too quickly. whether anyone has made any real money out In the United States there are a million and of it, I seriously doubt it. I seem to pick up a one distributors with a roster of films on their few bucks here and there. The documentary books as long as your arm. They will make I streamed has made about a hundred and fifty you pay for everything they do and then take dollars in two years. I certainly won’t get off 50 percent of the rest. You end up with very the bread line with that! little, whilst they at least make something on Marc Trottier: I’ve only ever attempted your movie. to get distribution for one title, which was I have not handled the distribution of Call Darkness Waits. I ended up letting www. of the Hunter at all right. I have to take blame ScreamKings.com distribute my film, because for rushing into the process because I thought I had lengthy conversations with them and I that gave us kudos —wrong. Patience is a vir- felt that I could trust them. tue, something I lack at times. But if you have I don’t know anyone who has made money spent so much time on your script and then streaming yet ... but I’d like to give it a try production and the problems of post-produc- when it becomes available to me. YouTube tion to come out with a product YOU think now does rentals (but only currently available is great, then why the hell would you give in the U.S.), so as soon as Canadian film- away your rights? My advice is to submit to makers can take advantage of this feature, I’ll festivals, especially the important ones where be sure to give it a try. I’d also like to look into you have a chance of negotiating a better dis- using iTunes, if possible. tribution deal. You have to find the right target Even if I get Darkness Waits available for audience for your movie, and that involves pa- digital downloading for $1 or $2, I think I’d tience. be happy. Hell, if the only way for people to There is, of course, an exception to this, and see my movie was to give it to them for free, I that is when a distributor offers to partly fund think I’d do it at this point. Sometimes you your movie in exchange for their territorial do things for money ... and sometimes you rights. Generally, this will be about 20 per- work so hard on something that money be- cent, and you will have had to secure the other comes unimportant. What’s the point of mak- 80 percent before they will consider. ing something if nobody gets to see it? What I have learnt is that you need to plan I think the days of walking into a store and  Publicity, Promotion and Distribution 195 renting a movie are coming to an end. All the still largely at the mercy of the consumer. Blockbusters in Canada are closing, in part Since indies have a lower overhead, it’s not un- because of a shift to digital downloads. Cur- heard-of to break even or even turn a modest rently, Netflix is kicking video store’s asses, profit just selling DVDs from websites or at and I think that’s the way of the future. conventions. It may take longer, but an indie Mike Watt: Again, we’ve been lucky has less to lose. enough to have avoided horror stories, thanks And, no, I know of no one who has made to many friends in the business. I know too any money off of streaming or VOD. In fact, many people who had to sue (if they could) many of the companies who have approached distributors to get their royalties and/or rights us for our content wanted us to pay up front back. Or filmmakers whose film was picked for conversion, or “set up” fees, or whatever, up and stuck on a shelf. Or they were screwed in return for a 50/50 split after expenses (their out of any profit, even when the movie made expenses, not ours, even though it would seem an ultra-rare fortune. that we’re covering all costs). I’m sure there are The majority of distributors we’ve dealt legitimate outfits out there, but whenever I with were ones with whom we already had see, “Get your content to stream on Comcast,” personal or professional relationships. Often I file it with all the email for penis enlarge- our biggest complaint has been lack of adver- ments and Nigerian money laundering. tising, particularly when an arm of the com- Ritch Yarber: We are currently testing the pany will take out a full-page ad on something waters to gain distribution for our last two fea- that (in our opinion) is garbage, while our tures, The Deep Dark Woods: No Witnesses and (amazing and commercial) movie is left be- Murder Machine! Interestingly enough, al- hind or relegated to a slug-line. though TwistedSpine.com Films was formed It’s nearly impossible to get an independ- to develop and showcase the talents of people ently made movie into retail stores any more, hoping to gain entry into the world of profes- and with Redbox and Netflix continually sional filmmaking, we have never had the throttled by the mainstream studios, forcing salesman-type person in our group. We would them to limit or even eliminate the number take our finished films around to screenings, of indies they pick up. Because of this, we conventions and film festivals for our intended came to the conclusion that we cannot get into audiences, and eventually make the film’s stores, without anyone’s help. We’ve recently budget back through in-person and internet taken to paying for our own run of a DVD sales. Then, we’d re-invest the money into our (which often means paying for authoring and next movie, totally ignoring and neglecting design as well) and then making an agreement the distribution process. Our lone film cur- with a pro distributor to wholesale the units rently with a distribution deal is Transylvania for us. This has been a beneficial arrangement Police: Monster Squad, our first film. This came for both parties. They don’t have to pay for about as I happened to meet Steve Kaplan, the any of the manufacturing and we don’t have head of Alpha Home Entertainment, at a hor- to beat down doors to [sell] the product. Mar- ror convention. During our conversation he keting is usually split down the middle and found out that I had a film that featured Con- the wholesaler takes a much, much smaller bite rad Brooks. He was looking for a product to than a distributor who had to handle the prod- pair with another Conrad Brooks’s film. He uct from start to finish. watched the film and quickly acquired the The internet has leveled the playing field rights from me. Bada boom!! We have our first very little, because everyone relies on word-of- movie in distribution! Money comes in on mouth. While the studios can afford to dom- a regular basis! Hey [I thought to myself ], I inate a top website with advertising, they’re like this! This was about nine years after the 196 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES film was completed. It was just sitting on the for the film — the tales run the gamut, none shelf. good. The control and returns that marketing We are getting great interest from distribu- your product yourself gives is well worth the tors for our last two feature films. The prob- effort. Why not? Nobody knows your film like lem is that the companies want to obtain all you do. Exploit this knowledge and enjoy the of the rights to the films and pay nothing up profits. front. All of our potential earnings are pro- There are so many options for your film on- jected at 20 percent of future sales after this, line. Streaming, pay per view, et cetera. More that and other things are paid for. When we ideas are coming down the pike everyday, but, sell our own movies we make 100 percent of so far, to my knowledge, filmmakers are not the profit. It just takes more effort on our part making any noticeable profit from these ven- to get the product in front of the buying pub- ues. However, I do believe that the internet lic. Thanks to some sage advice from a veteran will eventually prove itself as a valuable tool independent filmmaker, we are marketing the for independent filmmakers, as more and more films ourselves and keeping all of the profits people turn there for their entertainment re- from our work. Both films have already made sources. back their production costs and are doing Ivan Zuccon: I don’t deal with distri- nicely for us. Unless a distribution company bution personally. I sell movie rights and leave comes to us with a deal that knocks our socks it all up to the distributor. If you’re lucky, off, we will continue with this style of mar- everything works. But never choose a distrib- keting our films. We are also developing a new utor thoughtlessly: if you do, not only will you grass-roots marketing strategy that we hope not see a single penny, but your movie may will soon prove itself to be an innovative way never come out and you won’t be able to do for independent films to get a form of distri- anything about it because you’ll have already bution that will enable the filmmaker to keep sold the rights. most of the profits from their works. The world of distribution is changing; I have heard a few horror stories from fellow streaming is taking the place of home video. filmmakers concerning their experiences with This is the future, and the future is now. I’m distribution companies, particularly ones that sure big studios are already making money deal in acquiring small-budget films. Charging with movie streaming; it’s going to be hard for duplication and packaging costs, dishonest for small, independent productions to enter revenue reporting, lack of any real marketing the business without being absorbed.  Being an Independent Filmmaker I’ve worked professionally in the film/video on a project I had to love that project. I wasn’t business longer than I’ve been making my own out to “make a quick buck” (as if that’s even movies (by several years). During that time I possible with micro-budget films...). I made have met hundreds of people who say they enough money working at a production house were writing a script or trying to get funding in New York City. What I was going to do was for their movie. Years would go by and they’d make something that was specific to me, be in stasis. “Why aren’t you making your whether it be a vampire movie influenced by movie?” I’d ask. The answers varied from, “Oh, I’m trying to get the money” to “Oh, my wife just had her first baby.” Or, better yet, “If I can’t get the money I need then it’s not worth doing.” Well, only about 4 percent of these people actually made a feature-length movie in 20 years. The main reason I am an inde- pendent writer/director/producer is that I have a low-bullshit tolerance. I’ve always wanted to make movies, no matter what. My first movie, Vampires & Other Stereotypes, had the biggest budget and probably the best production value, but when that wasn’t realistic for the next one I made due with what I had avail- able. Only $2,000 to make an apocalyptic werewolf movie? Sure, why not? It was fun and adventur- ous finding creative ways to get these projects completed and dis- tributed. Fortunately, it worked so well for so any years. While a movie is always made for an audience, I envisioned that au- Producer/director Kevin Lindenmuth (left) and Tom Sul- dience to be a fan just like me. If I livan, effects artist of The Evil Dead, who was interviewed was going to spend months or years for the documentary The Life of Death (2011). 197 198 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES a childhood of watching the original Dark my style translated to a different genre, which Shadows (Addicted to Murder 1–3) or a docu- I thought was interesting. mentary about death (me dealing with the im- How do I want to be remembered? On one pending death of my maternal grandmother). hand it doesn’t matter to me if the films exist I was always going to do the best job I could in some future time. Some people get hung on it, considering the circumstances and bud- up on this; they are downright paranoid that get in which it was made. I like all of my films if their film vanishes a hundred years from and there’s not anything I would change in now that all semblance of them will vanish as any of them. They are what they are. well. Who cares? They’ll already be dead and Years ago, when I first started making doc- probably not care at that point. But if someone umentaries, a moviemaker friend who had does remember me, the filmmaker, I hope they only seen my horror movies said that he could recount that I was serious about the whole in- recognize that I had made it. It had the same dependent thing, that I did not tread lightly pacing and the same types of shots. Basically, in the matter. The Filmmakers were asked: How would you best describe your work? How do you want it to be remembered? Glenn Andreiev: That I made genre films different effect on just about every type of (thrillers, horror films) differently. member that constitutes my audience. You ei- John Borowski: Someone once called my ther love them or hate them. A real polarizing films “holistic works of art,” and I feel that is effect is achieved by my films, dividing audi- the best description. My films are true crime ences every time. docudramas based on serial killers from the Richard Cunningham: Wide-ranging, early 20th century. They are created with maybe; I’ve tried to diversify the genre and meticulous research and precise filming and style of my films and scripts. Engaging stories editing, to create a film that will have the au- and characters. I guess I’d like to be remem- dience holding their breath from the first bered as a prolific artist, one who’s contributed frame to the last. My intention is to make to and in some way innovated storytelling in timeless films that can be watched hundreds an age when books and films and video games of years from now and still be as powerful as are all forming closer and more symbiotic re- when they were initially released. lationships. But I also like to think that my Keith Crocker: I come from a family of real contribution to film is still ahead of me. I whom many members have worked in the so- have a lot of material yet to produce before I cial work field. I view my films as an extension can hope to reach that lofty of a goal. It’s a of that same type of work. My films are ther- continual process of learning and improving, apeutic, almost like a real good enema. They sharpening skills and gaining new perspectives. clean you out, unscrew your head, set it Maurice Devereaux: What I aimed for straight and screw it back on for you. My films was to make entertaining horror films with are designed to help people. They are steeped strong female lead characters (something I al- deeply in justice, activism, morality, and yet ways found lacking in mainstream films), but they are also very critical of society, have lots the only film I’ve made that I can truly recom- of dark humor in them and each film has a mend is End of the Line. For all its low-budget  Being an Independent Filmmaker 199 weaknesses, I do believe it’s still smarter, scar- Richard W. Haines: I think my “life im- ier and more original then 90 percent of all itates art” trilogy represents my best work so Hollywood horror films made in the last 20 far. Each film is about a writer whose real-life years. Blood Symbol and Lady of the Lake aren’t experiences influence his work. The trilogy worth anyone’s time. There are some good began with Space Avenger, which chronicled scenes in both, but overall they are very ama- the adventures of a comic-book artist whose teurish. Slashers is pretty funny, but only Z- fictional alien terrorists turn out to be real. movie aficionados, who can forgive all its low The picture featured real three-strip Techni- budget flaws, will get a kick out of it. color from China, which is where we made I want to be remembered as someone who the release prints. The vibrant primary colors tried and gave 100 percent of all he had to his simulated the look of a cartoon panel. I do- films and accomplished miracles with no nated a print to George Eastman House ar- money. And I hope one day some hotshot in chives as an example of the process and kept Hollywood will look at Slashers and End of the two copies for myself as a reference. The next Line and see that, with proper budgets, stars film in the series was Unsavory Characters. A and marketing, these could be successful films pulp-fiction writer picks up a femme fatale at and PAY ME for the remake rights (I’m too a bar, and she seduces him into murder. He jaded to believe I would be offered the chance uses his ordeal to finish the novel he’s com- to direct them myself ). pleting. I shot the scenes from the book in Donald Farmer: How do I want to be black and white, simulating the look of ’40s remembered? I tend to agree with Woody film noir mysteries. My last movie, What Allen when he said, “I don’t want to achieve Really Frightens You?, is about a monster-fan- immortality through my work. I want to zine author who asks the title question to a achieve it through not dying.” group of New Yorkers. After the article is pub- I’m probably more satisfied with my written lished, their primal fears come true. We used work, the issues of The Splatter Times and my a bizarre lighting design for the hallucination magazine articles, than with any movies I’ve scenes and expanded the sound field from made. With writing I’m not so handicapped front channels to the surround tracks, giving by a low or nonexistent budget. More money audiences a visual and audio cue that some- wouldn’t have made The Splatter Times any thing gory is about to happen. better or worse. But a bigger budget would I also think my technicolor movies book is definitely have helped my movies, so I’ll al- a useful history of the process for film buffs most always be dissatisfied when I watch them. interested in color cinematography. I wish all of my 16mm movies were 35mm. I William Hopkins: My films are meant wish all my two-week shooting schedules had to be escapist entertainment. On the budgets been tripled. I wish I could have had bigger we’re working with, we can’t hope to produce names, better effects — pretty much better product as slick as the stuff the major studios everything. put out. But every once in awhile I’ll hear from Jeff Forsyth: I really do not know how I someone who has watched one of my films would describe my work. My style is not fully and they’ll tell me how much they enjoyed es- developed. I have several genres I would like caping into the odd little world we were able to explore. It’s hard to pin something like that to create. That makes it all worthwhile for me. down. I would like to be remembered by It would be nice to be able to make money friends and family, mostly, but as a filmmaker on the films we’ve made so far, if only to be I would like to be remembered as someone able to make more films in the future. But, if with passion and as someone who never gave in the years ahead, my films are looked back up. on as enjoyable, reasonably intelligent escapist 200 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES fare that didn’t walk in lockstep with every- it, even if it’s a invisible mark. That’s impres- thing else being put out at the time, I’d be sive. happy. I hope my films are fun to watch. Some- Steve Hudgins: I’d like the films to be re- times scary, sometimes exciting, sometimes membered for original horror, told in fresh funny. I like to work in multiple genres and and interesting ways. I’d like to be remem- then twist them up. I always put a little quirky bered as one of the top horror/thriller film- feel to my movies and have surprised many of makers out there, offering something new to my producers with the final results. I think a the genre! good film should keep you guessing a bit. You Rolfe Kanefsky: Well, right from the be- should not be able to predict the ending five ginning I’ve always used “A Rolfe Kanefsky minutes into the film, or, at least, it should Flick.” I did this because I think the whole “A surprise you in how it gets there. I’ve always Film By...” or “A Picture” ... is a little egotistic. said a good movie should be designed like a It takes a lot of people to make a movie and good mystery. The ending should be one even though the director is the one who where you don’t really see it coming, but, usually gets the credit if it’s good or the blame when it happens, it all makes sense and you if it’s bad, I never liked that possessive title. can go back and see how all the pieces fit to- But I was told way back when that if a director gether. does not take that title it means that he/she is As for how I want my films remembered, I not proud of the film or something went think I’d be happy if they were just remem- wrong. Well, I was and still am very proud of bered. I’m delighted that There’s Nothing Out most of my films, so I decided to use “Flick.” There has stood the test of time. The film is Spike Lee had already coined the phase “A over 20 years old and on, the last release from Spike Lee Joint” so when I made There’s Noth- Troma, received probably the best reviews I’ve ing Out There in the late ’80s, I decided to use ever gotten. People like this movie and con- “Flick” and have used it ever since. tinue to like this movie despite the whole And I think the word “flick” is a good one “Scream” debate. It holds up. If all my films to describe my films. In my opinion, a flick is held up this well, I’d be very happy. I hope a fun, somewhat lighthearted movie that you some of my films that were dismissed would can sit back and enjoy. It’s not trying to change be re-examined again, because I think people the world, but is something you can have fun tend to overlook movies that have sexual con- watching. I have always been most comfort- tent. They immediately write them off as “sex able with comedy, and you’ll find a sense of films,” and I’ve tried very hard to reinvent the humor in everything I do. I can’t help it, and genre a little bit. I have never made a movie what’s the matter with lightening the mood that didn’t have my mark on it. Since I’ve writ- every now and then? But, being a filmmaker ten everything I’ve directed, each film and who also likes to challenge myself, I constantly every character is a part of me in one way or work in different genres since I love all movies. another. My movies are personal, and each one So, I’ve dabbled in horror, suspense, thrillers, does have something to say about the human film noir, musicals, dark comedies, and, at condition. I’ve gotten knocked for this in the times, drama. I love directors like Alfred past. In college I learned that all films say Hitchcock, who focused mostly on thrillers, something, whether you want them to or not. but I also respect the hell out of directors like So, I decided then, “Well, if people are going Richard Attenborough. I mean, who would to put meanings into my film, I might as well ever guess the same man who directed Gandhi put them in myself.” I try not to hit people also directed A Chorus Line and Magic? A good over the head with the messages, but they are director can do any genre and put his mark on there if you look for them. I’m proud of that,  Being an Independent Filmmaker 201 but in the long run I just hope that people find Jim Mickle: I make dark genre films with my films entertaining and a good way to spend a heart and an emphasis on character. I like to 90 minutes. think I’m helping to elevate the horror genre Brett Kelly: Jeez, I don’t know. I prefer above what most people expect from it. the title “genre filmmaker” to “B-movie Damon Packard: I don’t feel my best maker.” I guess history will be the judge. Ha- work has ever been realized because I’ve never haha. I like to make films about fantastic (in had the money to realize it. the classical sense of the word) subjects: mon- Brad Paulson: I make entertaining micro- sters, aliens, robots, creatures, et cetera. I’d like cinema that transcends budget. I want to be them to be remembered as fun. I’m not trying remembered as someone who was always try- to enlighten the world with a message. I just ing to do something different and never lost want to make people smile. the edge of what it felt like to not only exist Chris LaMartina: Generally, we produce on the fringes but also to make movies on the horror-comedies. There have been variations fringes. I don’t want to be a work-for-hire guy in tone, here and there. Some more atmos- who just makes standard shit you forget about pheric or darker than others. My recent fea- a week after you watch it. I really want to make tures have been more “high concept” (highly something people can get behind. I would re- marketable content ... able to be pitched in a ally love to make a living at making movies single sentence). I’m a huge fan of ensemble someday. Until then I’ll be known as that films and my work reflects that. I enjoy craft- weird but really nice kid in school who made ing a sense of community through mingling movies that showcased the unique. I’d like to story lines and characters. Coming out of a get people away from the CW crowd and all premiere screening and overhearing audience those people with horrible taste watching Twi- members discuss their favorite character is ex- light and reality shows and make them realize tremely rewarding. there are other people on this planet who are I’m drawn to inject humor in my films be- far more interesting than these douchey-look- cause I see horror flicks as basic escapism. Even ing Fabios who dominate TV and movies when I am alluding to real-world anxiety in a nowadays and, dammit, they deserve a look. narrative, I try not to bum out the audience— I’d really like to be the guy who spreads that the world is depressing enough. I’d prefer not joy of that which is different to the main- to rent a movie and mope around for 90 min- stream. I’d also like to be known as one of the utes. I want to meet some characters I believe nicest guys in indie cinema. There are way too are decent folks and see them excel against the many assholes making movies out there. horrible odds on screen. Jose Prendes: Oliver Stone said, “When For a long time (and still, I guess) the most you look at a movie, you look at the director’s important thing for me was just to get a film thought process.” This is very true, and you distributed. I wanted to make sure that one can quickly tell a shitty director from one who day a young horror geek could stumble upon gave a shit. I consider my films to be an inter- one of my flicks in a thrift store or bargain pretation of the world through my eyes. I want bin. That’s what matters to me: having an au- the audience to see the story through my eyes, dience find my films through self-discovery, and that’s why I love to operate the camera — just like when I sought out crazy low-budget because I can frame it the way I want to frame horror flicks in my youth. It’s a legacy of sub- it and shoot it the way I want the audience to versive culture that I’m honored to be an even see it and experience it. remote footnote in. If I die tomorrow, at least My first two films were formative, they were those stories will be around forever. Telling a learning process, and I don’t think I’ve ac- stories keeps me going. tually hit upon any of my major themes, so I 202 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES genre — which is something of a mystery- thriller — and you stay for the characters, who are stranger and deeper than you might have expected. I approached Mail Order the same way. It’s adapted from a Jack Ketchum story, which means realistic psychology is part of the package, and instead of focusing on the gore and sadism, I tried to focus on what the char- acters’ minds were like. I don’t care if I’m re- membered or not; I frankly just want to work actively in this medium while I’m here! Writer/director Jose Prendes Anthony Straeger: I would best describe my work as something that I would not nec- can’t describe my work based on my previous essarily choose. That sounds odd, I know. cinema. I will say that the themes of alienation What I love most in film, as a consumer, is and vengeance runs through most of my not exactly what I produce as a filmmaker! As screenplays, so I see a real gritty viciousness in a punter, I love out-and-out gore and action, my material and the way I interpret the world and anything that moves at a rapid pace. I that will become more evident in my later have a low-attention span and need to see films (of which I hope there will be many). things coming at me at a rate of knots. In the end, I guess I just want to be remem- What I produce tends to be psychological bered as one of the guys who really had fun thriller-based work. I like to describe my work with the medium. Everyone wants to be the as tight, lean and to the point. I hate having next big thing, and I want that too, I’m not something over explained to me or drawn out. going to lie. I’m too driven to say, “I want a So I hope that, when people look at my work backseat to the big show.” I want to make it [they never say], “That was a waste of two big. We all do. But I don’t want to do it alone. hours of my life.” What I want them to say is, I want to be remembered as a good man who “Wow, that passed quickly!” made movies like no one else and really I’m not sure that “professional” is a word brought something different to the world of that would be expected here. But I like to con- cinema. It’s a pretentious answer, but, then duct myself in a way that makes people want again, how the hell do you answer that ques- to work with me again. Everyone who worked tion any other way? under extreme pressure on Call of the Hunter Paul Scrabo: Since my only full-length said the following: “I had a great time and you feature so far has been Dr. Horror’s Erotic made hard work a joy.” That works for me. House of Idiots and it’s been described by a re- I would like to be remembered as someone viewer as “the first family-friendly erotic hor- who cares about what he’s doing, but not at ror movie,” I’ll have to be satisfied with that! the expense of the people involved. I’d like to Truthfully, I’m really not ready to be re- be remembered as a man that did what he said membered yet, let alone any movies I’ve done! he would do. Eric Shapiro: To date, my thing has been Marc Trottier: Even though I’m a huge taking well-known pop genres and placing fan of the horror genre, I’ve tackled different psychologically complex characters into them. genres and I think my work is very diverse. With Rule of Three, that was Rhoda Jordan’s I still have a couple of feature film ideas that achievement; she wrote a series of six-dimen- I’d like to make. I believe one of them is a great sional characters. The behavior in that film is idea, which has some very graphic content very resonant. So the idea is, you come for the with an amazing twist, that would be huge.  Being an Independent Filmmaker 203 But this film would require a lot of visual ef- of our first loves. Splatter Movie takes as much fects, and I think it would cost a lot of money from Performance as it does any slasher movie. to make. I almost feel like I’d need to make an I also drew from what I thought Inland Empire impressive lower-budget movie to convince was about before I’d seen it (and did a decent investors to fund this film. But I would love job pre-ripping off David Lynch, considering to get my idea from paper to movie screen and I’d only caught it from beginning to end about see people’s reactions to it. three months ago). Razor Days started off as a As long as I’m making movies that I like to “Chainsaw Massacre” entry but became vis- make, and people are entertained, then I can’t ually and thematically transformed by Bad- ask for anything else. lands and Persona. Hell, The Resurrection Game Mike Watt: “What kind of films do you is more L.A. Confidential than it is Dawn of make?” is actually the toughest question I’m the Dead. Horror is always the blanket we wrap asked. The short answer is usually the best — around the stories we want to tell. “horror”—but I don’t think that tells the whole I hope that if we manage to leave any foot- story of what our body of work is about. With- prints at all that we’re remembered for making out getting (more) pretentious, we tend to off beat, intelligent and largely original movies make hybrid movies, (blank)/horror movies, that give you something to talk about at the where the horror is just the jumping-off point end. I would not want our stuff to be consid- for the story we want to tell. Resurrection Game ered “disposable,” by any means. Regardless, we refer to as a “zombie-noir”; Severe Injuries you can tell we always gave a shit about what was a horror-comedy that I feel lovingly beats we were making and that we were having fun up on the slasher genre; A Feast of Flesh was playing with expectations. intended to be an unabashed sell-out movie Ritch Yarber: I describe my work as en- about, as Amy wanted, “lesbian vampires in a tertainment with a touch of quirkiness. I want brothel,” but it became something very differ- my works to be remembered as purely fun en- ent with no clear-cut heroes or villains. Splat- tertainment that took the audience to a com- ter Movie is probably our weirdest film, be- fortable place for a few hours and that featured cause it explores how horror movies are made characters and stories that are reflected on and why, and keeps drifting in and out of re- fondly long after the initial viewing is over. ality. It’s been referred to as “near-brilliant” Ivan Zuccon: I don’t want to be remem- and “not as smart as it thinks it is”— both of bered; I want my films to be. My work as a which I’m satisfied with. Demon Divas is an director is in the service of the movie. My pre- almost-pure ’80s horror-comedy, but we still sumption is to be an author. I always try to sneak in some satire. Razor Days is more a psy- impose my point of view, and, in the end, my chological thriller than a horror film, but it point of view becomes the movie itself. It’s like has horrific elements. being a son to parents — the child is the only Again, we rarely draw from actual horror thing that matters. The parents’ life, interests films as inspiration, though that genre is one and needs take second place. The Filmmakers were asked: What is your favorite film that you have made and why— and what is your least favorite and why? Glenn Andreiev: Let’s end this one on a the worst, the tie is between Vampire’s Embrace positive note. I’ll name the worst ones first. For and Silver Night. Both were unpleasant pro- 204 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES ductions. The first —looking back on it —was desire to dig out and watch my own films. We a very character-driven script. It was my first are always aware of the mistakes we made and film and I wasn’t quite yet an “actor’s director,” would love to repair them, but that is some- but more of a mechanical filmmaker. It was thing I would never do, as my mistakes speak like giving an avant-garde filmmaker a soap volumes for me, as well as my triumphs. So it opera episode to direct. I think that if I did all makes for a nice little road map to me. Vampire’s Embrace now, it would be so much Richard Cunningham: My favorite better. Also, it was my first feature, so I was a would have to be Year Zero, because I was so nervous kid shooting that one. On the second intimately attached to every aspect of the film, “worst” film, Silver Night, there was serious and probably also because it’s the most recent. hostility on the set. Both films got distribu- They’re all a little hard to watch for me after tion, and I watched the distributed copies of a while, but I think that’s a sign of progress, both films just once, and that’s going to be it! that my early work is no longer on par with My favorite is Sharp & Sudden. It’s a comic my current standards, and though I’m less paranoid nightmare that I think was nailed confident in my older material, those are the just right. The leads were so pleasant and were projects that helped train me for my next film. inventing funny stuff all throughout the film. Maurice Devereaux: My favorite film is The cast, crew (including my co-producer my short, PMS Survival Tips (on YouTube), Vernon Gravdal, who whipped up the greatest, because it is perfect for what it wanted to be wildest no-budget stuff on the film), the lo- (and only cost me $1,000). cation owners and the police, who let us use End of the Line is my favorite feature and two police cars, were all so nice, they were all the closest I have gotten to making a “real” like out of a nursery rhyme! movie that is watchable. My least favorite is John Borowski: Albert Fish is probably Blood Symbol, as it is the worst, but I have to my favorite, even though there is a shot or two say that all of them are my children and I still I would have liked to re-shoot. Carl Panzram love them, warts and all. is probably my least favorite because his story Donald Farmer: I suppose the one movie is on such a large scale, yet my budget was mi- of mine I’m most satisfied with is An Erotic nuscule in comparison. I wish I could have Vampire in Paris because it came out the shot reenactments, such as when he killed the closest to my original conception and has the six Africans and fed them to crocodiles, but production value of all those Paris locations. that scene alone would have equaled my entire Plus, Misty Mundae is at her best, so I’m budget for the film! happy with that one. In most of my other Keith Crocker: I love both my features, movies there are always individual scenes I Bloody Ape and Blitzkrieg!, because they are like, such as the first sorority house scene in both very different films. Bloody Ape is very Cannibal Hookers, Mal Arnold’s chainsaw crude and very Punk in its attitude (and Punk death in Vampire Cop, Melissa Moore’s demon is a word I hate to use, as I never had an ap- transformation in Scream Dream, and Tiffany preciation for Punk music or culture). But Shepis’s zombie attack in Dorm of the Dead. Bloody Ape is just that, Punk! Blitzkrieg! is But my goal is always to make a movie that much more me stretching cinematic muscle, works for me, from beginning to end. Ulti- taking my time and trying to combine some mately, I’m the audience I want to please. My fantastic imagery, interwoven with important least favorite would be my kiddie movie, Space dialog. Both films are loaded with production Kid. That was strictly a job for hire and I had mistakes, which, in the same breath, makes zero personal interest in making it. Fred Olen me dislike them. They are fun to watch for a Ray and Jim Wynorski have both made suc- retrospective showing, but honestly, I have no cessful kiddie movies, but it’s not for me.  Being an Independent Filmmaker 205 Dave Meyers, Tatyana Kot and photographer Jim Knusch get ready to shoot the infamous castration scene in Blitzkrieg: Escape from Stalag 69. Jeff Forsyth: The films I’ve worked on tioned, I think my “life imitates art” trilogy are kind of like my children. I love them all are my favorite movies. My least favorite differently. I think that Children of the Sky is would be The Class of Nuke ’Em High, which much more adult script. Much more serious. was a work for hire that I didn’t have creative And C.A.I.N. is a bit more “fun.” So in some control over. My original screenplay was much ways I like Children of the Sky a little better, better than the altered version used during the despite the limitations of the technical equip- shoot. For example, at the climax the mutant ment I had. fetus shouted “Mommy” before allowing the Richard W. Haines: As I previously men- teenaged couple to escape and blowing up the 206 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES school. The creature was their offspring, which My least favorite is the first movie we did, gave the story a Freudian twist. It was cut out which was called The 3rd Floor. Again, I look by the producers, making it a campy monster at it as a training film. The production values on-the-loose picture. The movie has a cult fol- are very rough, but the amount I learned doing lowing, but it’s not the film I wanted to make. that movie was invaluable. If you compare my subsequent feature, Space Rolfe Kanefsky: Well, I have to say my Avenger, you can see the difference in film- favorite is Tomorrow by Midnight, the film that making styles. The experience inspired me to still to this day hasn’t been released in America. create my own company, New Wave Film Dis- Isn’t that always the case? It’s my most personal tribution, Inc., after its release. film, it’s about four college students who take William Hopkins: Having only made a video store hostage for the night. I’ve de- two films so far, that’s an easy question to an- scribed it as Clerks meets Dog Day Afternoon swer. While I have a certain fondness for Sleep- or Breakfast Club with guns. It was the only less Nights, it clearly has many faults that will film that I had enough time and money to do prevent it from ever being embraced by a wide it properly and the final result is almost exactly audience. Even in its newly refurbished ver- the way I imagined it, so it’s closest to my orig- sion, it’s rather talky and slow, has some weak inal vision. It was well planned, and well exe- performances and a generally cheap look and cuted, with a fine cast, a good DP and the feel. It has its strengths as well — the story is proper support. That’s what makes what hap- solid and the film has a certain creepy atmos- pened to the film all the more tragic. It was phere, but it’s only ever likely to appeal to also, in many ways, the most challenging. To- fairly small audience. morrow by Midnight and 1 in the Gun are my Demon Resurrection, on the other hand, is a most serious features that still have humor but pretty solid piece of work, I think. We were also a lot of drama. Comedy comes easy for able to tell a pretty involving, exciting story me, but to have six people sitting in a room on a budget that was actually quite a bit and just talking for almost ten minutes about smaller than the budget we had on Sleepless the world and their lives without the use of Nights. The film touches all the exploitation fancy camera moves or even any music and film bases, with plenty of sex and gore, and still hold the audience’s attention is an accom- still manages to present a story that’s intelli- plishment I’m very proud of. It was a tight gent, well structured and satisfying overall. So script and the cast supplied great perform- Demon Resurrection would certainly be my fa- ances. TBM should have been the film that vorite of the two films I’ve made so far, though opened some doors in Hollywood and put me I hoping to top them both with my next film. on the map but, because of bad timing and Steve Hudgins: Hell Is Full is probably really bad selling, or non-selling as the case my favorite movie we’ve done. The zombie may be, that didn’t happen. But if anyone genre was in dire need of something different wants to come over to my apartment in North and I think we accomplished that with a very Hollywood and watch it, I’d be more than original screenplay. Maniac on the Loose is right happy to show it to you. It may not be my up there as well. It was the first movie we did most commercial film. That’s probably The under the Big Biting Pig Productions banner Hazing, but Tomorrow by Midnight is my fa- and definitely the one with the most twists and vorite. turns! It will always be one of my favorites. I My least favorite films are probably the ones expect our next movie, Spirit Stalkers, to be a I took my name off of, but I guess that’s a great one. Anyone who enjoys shows like given. So, if I disqualify those, I have to go Ghost Hunters or Ghost Adventures is going to with Corpses as both writer and director, and love Spirit Stalkers! as just the writer, Blonde and Blonder, because  Being an Independent Filmmaker 207 these two are the furthest removed from my the picture. If the writer and the director are original vision. Corpses was a nightmare expe- not Canadian, the film does not qualify for rience from beginning to end, with lack of the tax break, and this film was all about the money, a very bad producer, and a real lack of tax break. I met Bob Clark on the last day of professional crew members. The only saving shooting. He was a very nice man and a per- grace was the cast and meeting a talented script sonal idol of mine. His Black Christmas is a supervisor, Esther Goodstein, who ended up true groundbreaking slasher film and inspired becoming a good friend and my producer of many moments of my own in The Hazing and choice over the next couple of years. The film Nightmare Man. Porky’s is one of the great was sabotaged from day one and never recov- teen-sex comedies of all time, and my Pretty ered. I’m amazed the final result resembles a Cool and Pretty Cool Too! owe a hell of a lot to movie at all. it. And, of course, A Christmas Story is one the Blonde and Blonder was a script I wrote ten most beloved holiday films of all time. So, years before it was produced. I had hoped to what is his reward for a career of 40+ years of the direct it, but once it became Canadian making amazing movies? He and his son are content and since I’m not Canadian, I was out killed during post-production on Blonde in a of the picture. It was a funny script, destroyed car accident, at which point the producers re- by terrible rewrites, two actresses who were move his name from the film, giving him a either too old or too uninterested to be in it, slight “dedication” at the end so they can get and another bunch of horrible producers who their tax break. As they say, the show must go really shouldn’t be in the business. I’ve said on ... especially if the problem goes away by Blonde and Blonder suffered from too many dying! Lesson to be learned: money rules the crooks in the kitchen. It is not worth watch- film business. Friendships and loyalty can’t be ing. Corpses, with the right amount of alcohol counted on. Sad, but true. and the knowledge that it’s a “zomedy,” is al- Brett Kelly: I think my two favorites (as most fun. Blonde and Blonder is not, and, of of this writing) are Kingdom of the Vampire course, this is the most-seen movie of my ca- and Hell at My Heels. They convey my sense reer. I just want to say one thing for the rec- of humor and they also look exactly the way I ord. I was able to keep my name on the film envisioned them. At the moment, my least fa- despite the producers’ best efforts to remove vorite is Attack of the Giant Leeches. I had a lot it because I was not Canadian and they need of crew [members] drop out at the last minute enough Canadians on the project to qualify and rather than put the project off till I could for a tax break. Unfortunately, the real director find replacements, I shot it myself. I felt pres- of the film was not that lucky. His name was sured and rushed due to the lack of crew and removed and replaced by the producer, who the changing of the seasons. No fault of the was Canadian and who took the director writer, crew or actors, I just think I dropped credit. The true director of Blonde and Blonder the ball and should have waited. My total crew was Bob Clark, director of such classic Cana- was three people, if memory serves. It was also dian movies, such as the original Black Christ- a mistake to do a remake—I should have used mas, Porky’s, A Christmas Story, and many oth- the source as inspiration and come up with ers. my own story. You see, Bob Clark had been living in Bev- Chris LaMartina: Book of Lore is the erly Hills for a number of years, so they most personal, but it still has a million soph- claimed that his residency expired, so he di- omoric mistakes in it. It holds a special place rected the film with the producer’s name on in my heart, but I can’t call it my favorite. In- the slate as he tried to prove that he did still stead, it’s a tie between President’s Day and have residency so he could keep his name on Witch’s Brew. I love the characters and direc- 208 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES tion in Witch’s Brew, but also love the political much harder on and wanted to pull my hair in-jokes and tone of President’s Day. It’s like out over. picking a favorite kid ... you can’t do it. Jose Prendes: The Monster Man is my fa- On the flip side, my least favorite is Grave vorite, by far. It may not be the slickest or Mistakes, because we basically shot it to stay most expensive, but I had the best time, and busy. We’d wrapped up Book of Lore and didn’t the best memories, making that movie. I spent have a producible feature script waiting. So, $11,000 on that movie and it was worth every we began shooting shorts, with the goal of penny, even if I didn’t make my money back. finishing an anthology. It was a good learning The main reason was that I got to work with experience (writing shorter stories for effec- all of my friends. Everyone pitched in with tiveness), but in the end, I felt like I didn’t put music, to camera work, to acting, to stunt in the extra effort. Not necessarily a rush job, doubles, to carrying crafty, and everything in but it seemed like we weren’t challenging our- between. Plus, I got to work with the hilarious selves enough. If the film you’re making seems Conrad Brooks and Denice Duff, who I had too easy, you might be in trouble. been a fan of since her Subspecies days, which Jim Mickle: That’s like asking who your made the experience very surreal. I look back favorite child is! I cringe at my student films, on this movie and I smile. I wish every movie but I love them, for all their warts and for what experience could be like this. Everything I learned from them. pretty much went off without a hitch and I Damon Packard: I have a lot of problems got to share the experience with my pals. with Reflections of Evil, because it was the one Corpses Are Forever would be my least fa- and only time I had the money to make a fea- vorite. Now, I love it for what it is. But this ture. It makes me cringe now for various rea- $200,000 35mm project not only made me sons. I’m glad I made it, but there were some broke for a few years, but it severely winded bad editorial decisions and I should have me. I was dealing with a big crew and big cast spread the money out and made two films. But (Debbie Rochon, Brinke Stevens, Richard I had no interest in plunging into another film Lynch, Felissa Rose, and others), and I was not after completing Reflections, it took a couple only the writer/director, but the main star and of years. the only producer on it. I was so burnt out by Brad Paulson: To date, The Bloodstained the end of this movie that I almost gave up Bride is my favorite because I love the script filmmaking and didn’t even want to watch an- on that movie and think that all the actors, other movie again in my life! with the exception of myself, did a stellar job. But when you have a passion, a need for It’s just a great all-around micro-version of a something, it calls to you, and that’s when I Hollywood movie with an edgy indie sensi- was sure that making movies was what I had bility they’d never be able to bring to it. There to do, and not what I wanted to do. Also are flaws with that movie, of course, but I budget and time [limitations] killed me, and think overall it’s a very solid piece. My least I wish I could have spent at least a few more favorite is Paranormal Inactivity, not because days adding some more oomph to the picture, I think it’s a bad movie, not by any means. and fixing some very obvious mistakes that no I’m actually very happy with it, and our actors one on set brought to my attention. But it was were amazing. But it was so easy I don’t feel a learning experience and I am grateful for like I earned it. Blood, sweat and tears weren’t that. poured into that movie and that makes me feel Paul Scrabo: Certainly a love/hate rela- like I don’t have as much of a personal con- tionship with Dr. Horror’s Erotic House of Idi- nection with it. However, I feel like it’s better ots. I was ignorant of all the capabilities of the in many ways than the movies I’ve worked camera for the first few days and the result is  Being an Independent Filmmaker 209 some footage that could have been better look- opment someone came onboard and did ing. At least the film was shot pretty much in something surprising. It was incredibly hard sequence, so you can actually see the visual work for all involved and was completely re- quality improve as it progresses! warding for everyone concerned. Everyone had If I had held off production till the next a great time making it. In conclusion, the year, there would have been a wider range of product itself shows that we made good of affordable HD cameras to use, but the timing every cent we had, and that can be seen on is never perfect—you just have to start making screen. It also gave some new industry people, your film. A few years later, Mike Thomas, like Chris Reading and Sally Alcott, a good without whose participation Dr. Horror could baptism into the business. not have even been made, passed away. And My least-favorite film I have made is a doc- Debbie, Trent and Nate have gone on to umentary called A Day in the Life of Felix. It’s greater accomplishments and it would have not a bad documentary and has been well re- been tougher to get if we waited. And Zacher- ceived, but it deals with a subject I find dis- ley is not as spry as he used to be. It’s a miracle; turbing and, as such, felt uncomfortable with. you’ve captured time, and it was one of the I could not have an opinion because it was im- greatest experiences of my life. portant to stay neutral and let the audience Eric Shapiro: I have to punt on the ques- decide what is afoot and how they feel about tion, since my body of work is so tiny. For it. It deals with a very rare muscle disease and some reason, though, I generally come away the problems of integrating a child into normal proud of my work. That doesn’t mean I think society. It might sound like I am being shallow it’s perfect, but that I do my best to capture here, especially as it was and is a subject that an emotion, and if it’s in the final piece, I’ll should be discussed; it’s just not something I always feel a strong connection to it. I can’t go would have preferred to do. back and watch my work that comfortably, so I can’t really qualify my shorts as favorites I understand artists who are hard on them- or not. They are the backbone of your educa- selves, but, in general, I love my stuff. tion in filmmaking and, as such, each one has Anthony Straeger: This is a short an- merits, one way or another. The main thing swer, as I haven’t made a thousand and one is, at the end of each one I could step back and films and I don’t consider my documentary ask, “What did I get out of doing that and work in the same way as I do my movie mak- what did I learn”? ing. The choice is limited. But, for the sake Marc Trottier: Wow, you know, I’m going of the question, I will group all of the work I to have to give the same answer for both ... have done. and that would be Darkness Waits. I have made just one feature-length film It was my least-favorite movie to make be- and that is Call of the Hunter. I am proud of cause I’ve never been so stressed by something what we achieved in the making of this film. in my entire life. We had a lot of trouble with I’ve gained a huge amount of experience on so our microphones and with the audio during many levels. But the main thing is, I really be- filming. We had renovations and changes lieve it is a great low-budget British independ- going on at different locations that needed ent movie. I believe we have told a very inter- to be shot from different angles to hide these esting story in a very fascinating way. It will changes. We had a dirty lens that almost remain a favorite of mine, no matter what I ruined a scene. Also, during post-production, do in the future, because I didn’t go into it everything that could go wrong did go wrong. blind. But, despite all of my knowledge, I I had a corrupt file that resulted in losing learnt so much. At every level we had a new about 15 minutes of edited footage. I had to challenge and at every moment in the devel- re-edit the entire film and redo almost all of 210 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES the music when I decided to put the two short fect in every way. At the casting call, we in- films together. I had someone try to scam me, formed the auditioning actors of our goal and which left me wondering if I was going to lose what our expectations would be of them. We half of the film (which, luckily, I didn’t ... or I got great actors who were firmly committed would be writing this from prison right now to helping us reach our goal. We started shoot- if I had). I had technical difficulties when try- ing the first scene at daybreak inside a car and ing to get the color correction done at a pro- ended with the sun going down on the final fessional studio. And, finally, I had my hard scene, just as planned. It was a long, tiresome, drive stop working, with no possibility of re- crazy day, but, we went home with a deep sat- covery, which contained everything (with no isfaction and a knowledge that, from that backup). For about a year after completion, point on, we were going to be a filmmaking whenever I would discuss the movie I would force to be noticed. We could set goals and get this uncontrollable facial tick with one of make them happen. Looking back, certainly my eyes! I’m having heart palpitations right things could’ve been improved with more now just by writing these words. time, but this was the maturity point for our Ok, I’m all right now. group. Our next two films went on to win Surprisingly, after all that ... Darkness Waits awards at film festivals and help establish our was also my favorite film that I made, because reputation for quality films on a micro-bud- I have so many fun memories from the entire get, all because of the confidence we got from process. I had so many laughs and good times successfully producing The Deep Dark Woods during filming, and so much fun during sound on our terms. recording and music mixing with my buddies. My least-favorite film that I have produced It was such a long adventure that took up so is a short, The Tricky Treat. Not because it is much of my life that I have nostalgic memories bad, but because it represents, in my mind, all the time about moments that I’d love to re- the one failure of TwistedSpine.com Films. live again. The Tricky Treat was supposed to be one story Mike Watt: That’s a tougher question in a projected anthology movie that our group because there are elements of all of them that decided to produce around the theme of Hal- I’m immensely proud of, but only see the flaws loween. I am not a fan of doing short films, on the whole. I can sit through Severe Injuries but the group convinced me that an anthology more easily than the others, because it’s shorter film would be fun to do. Reluctantly, I agreed and tighter, with most of the cheesiness [being] to participate, and wrote and directed the the intended goal. Plus, I like that we have two short. Other members of our group were very likable psychopaths as main characters. going to write and produce their tales to add But I don’t think I have a most or least favorite. to the film. They never were developed or Who is your favorite child? It’s not really a fair filmed. The anthology idea was scrapped and question, because every one is an aspect of who the short that I produced quickly gathered we are as people and as a creative family. dust on the shelf. Recently, I was able to shoot Ritch Yarber: My favorite film that I have some additional footage and retrofit the short made is The Deep Dark Woods. The reason is, to fit the theme of another local filmmaker’s we approached the project with a crazy goal, movie, Welcome to Cretinville: Legend of the making a feature-length movie in one day. I Melonheads, produced by Brian Lawlor of wrote the script featuring the character of The Laugh-at-the-Law Productions. The short Ranger, a psychotic park ranger who killed looks great in this film and I am glad that it is to protect the “Law of the Woods.” I cast getting used, but it still reminds me of the time Michael Perzel, a fellow TwistedSpine.com when I let the ball get dropped. I am not a fan member, as the lead, which proved to be per- of that.  Being an Independent Filmmaker 211 Mike Trivisonno (left, actor), Ritch Yarber (writer/director), and Michael Perzel (producer) at The 2011 Indie Gathering International Film Festival, during which Murder Machine! won for Best Thriller and People’s Choice. Ivan Zuccon: I am very proud of all my (2001). It’s true that you learn from your mis- films since 2003, from The Shunned House on. takes and, for this reason, it is a very important My favorite is always the last one, of course, film for me. I had to make it in order to make so it’s Wrath of the Crows, because it’s the fresh- the mistakes I would have never repeated in est in my memory and the richest in recent the future. It’s visually powerful, sometimes events. Making a movie is like taking a wild visionary, and has interesting insights, but the ride. A strong bond is created among the peo- plot is muddled and often stumbles. It’s all my ple involved and when the shooting ends it’s fault, but I had to make all these errors in very hard to go back to your everyday life. It’s order to understand what direction to take in like getting jet lag — you feel dizzy and empty making movies. The films that followed are for a while after the end of the shooting. very consistent and I can say I’m proud of all The film I like the least is Unknown Beyond of them.  Working on Other People’s Independent Films If you’re not ready to take the plunge into about filmmaking and needed me to do every- making your own movie and want to gain ex- thing from writing the screenplay to coordi- perience, a way to do this is working on other nating the production to casting the actors people’s films as a crew person. I think the best and, ultimately, directing the movie. After we way to gain experience, such as with shooting worked out the details and what I was getting and lighting, is to work as a production assis- paid, I was on board. tant on some professional video or film pro- To put it mildly, this project went horribly ductions, where there’s an actual budget and awry and made me perfectly happy to just you have a specific role to fill. In this way, you work on my own projects from now on. These gain technical knowledge and know what it’s are examples of what NOT to do on an inde- like to work on a professional production. I pendent film: recommend you start with a “real” production company that works in the “real world.” This Dudley Does It can be anything from television to commer- cials to corporate videos. The skills you learn In 2010, nearly a decade after I directed my are basic and will be applied to your own pro- last genre feature, it looked as if I had landed ductions. a Michigan producer. I had been producing/ Another way is to work on someone else’s directing/shooting documentaries that were independent feature. However, keep in mind later broadcast on PBS, but I was itching to that these particular filmmakers may offer ab- do a narrative fiction feature. What this would solutely nothing in terms of the actual film- be exactly I didn’t know. This potential pro- making. You may be more knowledgeable in ducer said he had lists of great ideas and many regards. You may end up working with wanted to develop one of these into a script. idiots who will offer only frustration. This was Dudley, the Producer. Last year I was having the itch to work on This, of course, began with an email, which a new horror feature. When I was contacted I automatically take with a grain of salt. If I by someone, with money for a budget and had a nickel for every would-be producer who who wanted to produce a monster movie, I wanted to hire me to direct their movie I’d be was interested, to say the least, and it would set for life. This turned into a phone conver- be a novelty not having to worry about com- sation that escalated into a meeting about a ing up with the financing. Working on movies week later. He even paid for lunch, which con- was something this guy always wanted to do stitutes a big spender in Michigan. He had but had gotten sidetracked with his real-estate found out about me through some how-to in- business. He had a story/outline for a script, ternet videos I was paid to do some years be- and lots of enthusiasm. He knew nothing fore. Again, it was one of those things I did 212  Working on Other People’s Independent Films 213 for money, though I did put in all my two kills for revenge. It took me two days to read cents’ worth about making independent low- through the stereotypical, basic story, but it budget movies. And Dudley had purchased was something I could do and change it my first two books. So he seemed serious around enough to make interesting. The main about the endeavor. reason I was interested is that he planned on He explained to me how he’d written comic releasing a comic book around the same time, books in the ’80s, then got sidetracked with which would be written and drawn by Vince jobs and ended up in real estate. A big point Locke, who had done the Deadworld series and was made that he wrote a story that was fea- was the artist on A History of Violence. We’d tured in the very same comic book as the very both be basing our scripts on the same source first “Crow” story and that he knew Jim material — this 20-page outline, though it O’Barr, the creator of that character. As soon would be up to us what we did with it. I as he told me this he whipped out the very thought that was a great idea. Most important, same issue and handed it to me to read. Really? it would be something different. I went through it in about ten minutes and I also asked if he had access to video equip- did my best to hide my true reaction. It was ment, as he wanted to shoot this in high defi- awful and derivative. I guess the point is that nition. I did not have a HD camera. His an- he always wanted to make movies and didn’t swer: “Oh, I’m going to buy a camera and want to wait any longer. It was a mid-life cri- lights.” In fact, what he said he was going to sis — only he wasn’t going for the affair — he do was then rent it out as a “camera package” was going for the film. The most surprising to film students and make his money back on thing, though, was when he told me how old it quickly. he was — only three years older than me, and “Have you ever rented anything out I thought he was in his late fifties. Then he before?” I asked. added that he had three children in the past “No, but you just do it.” ten years, and that explained the rapid aging. It was a bit more complicated than that, I The one thing that convinced me to do this knew, as I had worked at video-rental places is that he was sincere. He really wanted to when I was right out of college. A bit more make an independent movie. This was his complicated ... but one thing at a time. I wanted dream. I understood that. It’s what I had al- to do his movie before I ran his rental empire. ways wanted to do when I was a kid — grow Anyway, if he was buying the equipment, that up and make movies, though it’s debatable if was $10,000 of the budget right there. I ever actually grew up. He also seemed to take What Dudley needed from me was a de- in what I was talking about — and if he had tailed budget breakdown and what I would watched all those how-to videos and read the charge. So I went with the amount he told me books he knew this wasn’t going to be a “Hol- he had and worked backwards from that, lywood Production.” Well, you know what working in my fee for my work naturally. This they say about “assume”... was six months’ work, full-time. Because it I got through the basics — what he thought was such a low budget, I was the writer, di- his budget was, and how, exactly, he wanted rector, shooter and editor. It’s not that I nec- me involved. This was $50,000, and with me essarily wanted to do everything, it’s just that as the scriptwriter/director. He also wanted to I knew I could. And the number-one rule of shoot it by the end of the year, which was six making a low-budget movie is to have as few months away, so this would be quick. He had crew people as possible working on it, in order written down a 20-page outline of a horror to get it done. The first movie I had done, tale entitled “The Pharmacy” (terrible title!), Vampires & Other Stereotypes, had over 30 peo- which was about a golem-like creature that ple working on it and it really slowed things 214 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES down and took about a month longer than I The building was cavernous and barren, thought it would to shoot. It turned out about and it would take a lot of props to make it use- half as well as I wanted it to be. Five years later ful for our purposes. I mentioned this. I did Addicted to Murder, with just me and a “Oh,” he waved, “we can just put a green sound-person, and that went right on sched- screen up and CGI all of the props in.” ule. That turned out almost exactly as I envi- I tried to explain that was probably more sioned it. work than actually getting the physical props. Dudley agreed to everything I said and as- “No, they do it all the time in Hollywood sured me that my getting paid would not be movies. I met a guy in Detroit who works for an issue. I wanted him to sign a detailed con- an ad agency and I saw his reel. He’ll be great tract, which listed everything we had dis- to do all this.” cussed, and he said he had to show it to his “Did you talk to him about this and find lawyer. In the meantime he paid me the de- out what his rate is?” posit for the script — and within two months “Oh, no, but I have his reel. I’m sure he’ll I had the entire thing completed, exactly when work on it, though.” I said I would. There were certain things he Oh, here we go... was hung up on, like having the main female I knew that if someone was working at a character dress like a school girl (it was some commercial agency they were getting paid real fetish he had that I’m not even going to go on rates, which was far above our budget. I didn’t about here...) and another scene in which it even bring this up to Dudley, since this was looks like a guy eats another guy’s eyeball. I outside his experience. I had to remind myself didn’t see the relevance of that to the scene, that this was going to be Filmmaking 101 for but I put it back in. These were little things, this “producer” and I’d have to treat it as such little hang ups. No problem. if I wanted this project to work out. Besides, The script was finished within two months I was too busy scouting the location. Later, I and he paid me on time. Then, I asked about would have to go through my list of special- that agreement. effects people who were willing to work on “Oh, I’m having my lawyer look at that,” “budget” films. he said. “He’s busy.” When we finally heard back from Dave, the Okay. Dudley wanted to go on to the next owner of the loft, and went up to the fourth step, which was scouting locations and finding floor, I saw that he was doing a great impres- a make-up person. The city of Detroit would sion of an effeminate homeless man. I think be the backdrop against which the story took he had just awakened. His loft was huge and place. He said he’d met someone at some De- ramshackle, and I wasn’t quite sure what he troit filmmakers’ meeting, who had a loft did, though there was a studio green screen on space in a building downtown, which he one side of it, and a lot of backdrops and thought could be used for the majority of the props. He explained, in a faint lisp, that he did locations which took place around an old a show (with producers and directors) that was warehouse. I went with him since I needed to on local cable. “Independent filmmaker” and see this in order to plan further. What should “movies” came up quite a bit, but I never have been an hour drive took two, as Dudley’s heard of him. When we went out for lunch, GPS was not working. Once we got to the because Dudley slyly whispered to me that building he could not remember the guy’s loft “once they agree to go to lunch with you, number or even the floor. Another hour went you’ve got them to work on your project.” I by, with Dudley calling on his cell phone every just think the guy was hungry since it looked ten minutes. While we were “waiting,” we as if he hadn’t eaten in days. We were also wandered around the place. joined by a woman artist who shared his loft,  Working on Other People’s Independent Films 215 this bald chick in a denim outfit. She was a wanted to redecorate the street to look like a local artist who kept on name-dropping other street in Detroit. It could be done, but that artists I’ve never heard of. And she had noth- would be a lot of trouble. “I can get all my ing at all to do with the movie we were mak- friends as extras,” he assured me. “And I can ing, as far as I could tell. The lunch went on charge them to be in the movie.” I didn’t say for two hours and nothing was accomplished. anything because I didn’t want to encourage Dudley didn’t bring up the fact that we were what would be a mess. In the back of my mind interested in shooting there, and, as producer, I thought this was something else I had to add this was his job. On the hour-long drive back to my workload. to the suburbs I asked him about this. Around the same time Dudley said he may “Yes, we’re definitely going to shoot some have found a make-up person, a guy named of the movie there.” Hills, and wanted me to meet with him. The “Do you need me to send you a location re- meeting was at this odd restaurant that was a lease so you can schedule all of this?” combination bar and family center. One half “That’s a good idea.” was the “adult” section, and the rest consisted “You should probably do it soon.” of games, pool tables and pinball machines. Twenty minutes later, he asked, “Do you Dudley explained that this was his favorite think Dave and that woman are an item?” place and that he frequently brought his family Was he really that clueless? “I think they are here. This time of day is was empty. Of both gay,” I said. course, I was the first one there and waited a His eyes widened in surprise. “What makes half hour for my producer to show up, un- you think that?” fashionably late. We sat at the booth and “I lived in New York and worked with the waited ten minutes before I asked where the fashion industry. I knew a lot of gay people. I make-up guy was. can tell.” “Oh, I have to call him. He lives close by, “No, I think they’re a couple.” so he said to call him when we got here.” I let him think that, since the alternative Fantastic. The meeting was already an hour was clearly too upsetting for him. behind schedule. After this “meeting,” during which nothing Surprisingly, when he did show up, he was accomplished, I was anxious to get home. seemed to know his business and had an im- But Dudley informed me that he had to take pressive portfolio. The thing I liked the best some photos of some buildings in the area. is that he has a grasp of the low budget — he What was this? I wanted to know. was accustomed to making something out of “I’m helping a friend of mine with locations nothing, which is exactly what we needed. for a movie he’s working on and told him I’d Later that night Dudley asked what I thought, take some photos of some rundown build- and I said he’d work out. He shrugged. “I need ings,” he explained. to see his work,” meaning he had to see it in Well, there was a plethora of ruins in down- person. So another meeting was scheduled at town Detroit, for sure. “Who is this guy?” I the guy’s apartment, where we could see some asked, already semi-knowing the answer. of his props. This confirmed what I already “It’s Jim O’Barr, the guy who created The knew — that the guy could more than do the Crow.” job—and we left after 20 minutes, since I told Of course it was. I think this guy was the Dudley I had an appointment I couldn’t get only minor celebrity Dudley knew. out of. I just didn’t want to waste any more In the following weeks, I went on a few time. more “scouts.” One was in his home town, Dudley was excited and wanted to shoot a about 40 minutes from where I lived. He trailer for the movie. 216 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES “But we haven’t even shot the movie yet,” I make-up guy donned the outfit. We shot sev- said. “It’s sort of backwards to make a trailer eral takes before Dudley showed up and a half- for something that doesn’t exist.” Actually, I hour went by as he ooed and ahed over the thought this would jinx things. Every time I’ve monster. “We can use this scene in the movie!” seen a pre-trailer, the movie never actualized. he exclaimed. This wasn’t even the finished Worse, it was the sign of an amateur film- monster and this “scene” wasn’t even in the maker. It was something I did not want to do. script. Hopefully he’d forget this grand idea. “We can use it to get investors,” Dudley ex- Dudley wanted to shoot the monster killing plained. someone and I reminded him that we didn’t Hmmmm. He had already told me that he have another person in order to do this. I asked had the entire budget for the movie set aside. if he wanted to get all bloody. He was taken Why would he need investors? “I thought we aback: “These are good clothes!” he said de- were all set with the budget?” I said. fensively. That answered that. “If we get more money, we can do more,” We did five more takes, although I already was his reply. “And I can use the trailer for had what I needed to put together the video. promotion at the convention next weekend.” I had to go. “What convention?” I said, somewhat “Send the video to me as soon as you get alarmed. back,” Dudley said. “I rented a table at Detroit Comic Fair. I’m “Don’t you want it edited?” having flyers printed up and I want to show a “Yes, you are going to edit a trailer.” scene from the movie.” (Perhaps he should Although I had already told him how long have mentioned this to me.) this would take, I repeated, yet again, “This “Well, this is going to take away some time is going to take me a few hours and then an- from pre-production, at least ten hours.” other hour or so to load up to the internet. So “That’s fine, that’s fine. This is more im- probably around 10 P.M. tonight.” portant,” he smiled, not having a clue. “You can’t do it sooner?” So by the end of the week it was arranged Maybe I could have, an hour, if he hadn’t that I’d go to the make-up guy’s apartment, been an hour late... “That’s the soonest,” I he’d have the mockup of the film’s monster stated. And that was quick. Everything was ready to go and we’d shoot a sort of generic done on schedule. scene. We shot in the garage of a friend of his, With that over, this was now preproduction since we needed a dark space. I must say that time. The script was broken down into scenes, the mask and hand prosthetics he made were locations and special effects needed and, of better than I thought they’d be. The creature course, the most important thing of all — the was basically a golem, made from a human actors. While the planning was happening I corpse combined with automotive parts (Hey, put ads for actors on a few Michigan actors we were shooting near the Motor City). The sites and also on Backstage, which is the way scene would be the monster walking in from to do it. The one thing I couldn’t do yet was a foggy/smoky darkness, looking at the cam- schedule the actual shoot of the movie until era, raising its hooked hand and walking by. we had locations. Dudley told me, “I’ll take All of one minute. care of it — don’t worry about it.” It took about an hour to set everything up. Okay. Of course, Dudley was nowhere to be seen. There was a whole slew of places he talked The make-up guy was concerned, but I told about shooting. I told him he’d have to get him that he was always at least a half-hour late, them to sign location-release forms, and also and that we should shoot the scene. As we had see if they wanted any money. no other person to play the monster, the “Okay.”  Working on Other People’s Independent Films 217 Weeks later, when I’d ask “Is that location ing, we did need some extra hands, at least five secure?” he would say “Yes.” I was relieved that other people who could work the entire film this wasn’t yet another job I’d have to do. shoot, for two weeks. Another meeting was However, when another month went by and held at Dudley’s favorite bar/restaurant. I I asked to see these locations, he said he hadn’t showed up, along with a 20-year-old guy who spoken with the owners. revealed that he was Dudley’s neighbor from “I thought you said you secured every- down the street, as well as the make-up effects thing... I’ve asked you this many times.” guy. Why was he here? He had nothing to do “Yes, we talked about this.” with crew decisions. But Dudley wanted his “I kept on asking you if you had secured the input, nonetheless. Dudley was excited about locations and you said you had.” Perhaps I the idea of getting all interns who maybe even wasn’t making myself understood, although I paid a fee, to learn on set so they’d be future had sent him specific instructions on how to workers. No, no, no, no. It was going to be a go about this. So I wrote an detailed email, challenge enough to shoot the movie with a again defining that “securing means you have small, tightly functioning crew who knew what it locked in, that we have permission to shoot to do. This wasn’t film school and I had no there on specific times and days.” The reply interest in worrying about students while I was was this: “No, I don’t have that. I thought you trying to get a movie done. This was bullshit. meant that we already talked about it.” I suggested we contact local colleges and put Oh, my head... ads for film students. They’d at least know As it was now fall, there was no way it their way around. And put an ad on the pro- would be possible to start the movie any duction websites. Something ELSE I’d have to sooner then February. I assumed I would have do as “ghost producer.” to help on locations, but the more immediate “We need an assistant director and a script task was to start searching for actors. On Oc- supervisor,” Dudley intoned. tober 4, the casting info was on several actor Yes, if we were shooting a million-dollar websites. Hundreds of emails came in, which movie. In this case those two titles were ab- translates to dozens of hours of downloading sorbed into “low-budget director.” their résumés/head shots and sorting through “No, we just need production assistants and them. I told Dudley that we would have to some gaffers — a few guys who know how to have auditions in three weeks, at the latest. set up lights.” His job was to find a place where we could Dudley looked around at the two other have the auditions, just a room where people people, then at me. He was frowning. “Kevin, could wait outside. I had done this many times we need to do this professionally.” when I lived in New York City, and it would Seriously? Two hours later I left the meeting be only $50 to rent a space for that amount of with nothing accomplished. I had offered to time. Every other day I emailed or called to search for crew but the producer insisted, “I’ll see if he had secured an audition space. The take care of it.” reply was always the same: “I have a call out I needed 30-hour days... to a hotel I stayed at a while ago — they’ll give What I could work on was the actor situa- me a good rate on a conference room.” Wasn’t tion. I contacted several genre actors I had al- this simply a matter of calling them up and ready worked with who would be perfect for reserving the room for a specific day? a few of the roles. I knew they would do this. And what about crew? This was something Dudley wasn’t sure they could act, although I mentioned from the very beginning, as it was he’d seen them in the movies I had done, and the backbone of the actual production. While demanded video auditions. Ron Ford, who I’d be doing the directing, shooting and edit- was up for the main role as the pharmacist, 218 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES emailed the YouTube link the next day and it bring a résumé/headshot and prepare a three- was great — exactly what I had in mind for the minute monologue of their choice and that role. However, when I told my friend, the they may also be reading a short scene or two “Scream Queen” actress that he wanted to see from the script. Auditions were from 9 A.M. an audition tape and explained if it was up to to 6 P.M., and they should show up during that me she’d have the part — I was just humoring time. the “novice producer,” her reaction was this: I emailed Dudley to make sure everything No, I have thought about it and I certainly was on schedule. I also emailed him explicit understand someone wanting to see an audi- instructions of how to behave during the au- tion, but, I mean, I just starred in Tom Sa- dition, such as sitting down and paying atten- vini’s movie and he didn’t ask me to do this. tion to them when they were performing, ask- I wouldn’t mind, but I don’t know how to do ing relevant questions, not spending more than lighting and don’t want to send something five minutes per actor. I did this because he that looks like crap out to anyone. was a yapper and I could envision him talking So I want to thank you SO MUCH for all endlessly about “his movie” with anyone who the trouble you have gone to, Kevin. I really walked in. I asked him to confirm that he re- appreciate it a lot!! THANK YOU. But I ceived all the info. When there was no reply I won’t be videotaping an audition for him. called his phone and left a message. He did Happy holidays I hope to see you soon!!! not call me back. Debbie Saturday morning was a severe snowstorm I completely understood that she didn’t and what would normally be a half-hour drive want to waste her time. Hell, I didn’t want to took an hour and a half. I left early, planning be wasting my time. I relayed this info to Dud- for this, and arrived at 8 A.M., dragging my ley and he thought it was for the best that she camera and tripod as we’d be taping the audi- declined, stating that she wouldn’t be right tions. I went up to the lobby check in counter. anyway. A few days later he brought up the “Hi,” I said to the clerk,” can you tell me which bright idea of “flying to Philadelphia and conference room is reserved for the auditions? videotaping her audition.” He explained that It should be under ‘Dudley Howard.’” he knew someone who had a plane and that The woman typed on the computer, we could get aerial footage along the way. frowned and looked up at me, saying, “No “Uh, how much will this cost?” I asked. one has reserved any conference room today.” “A few thousand dollars,” he replied. Uh-oh. “Are you sure there aren’t any audi- “Shouldn’t we just put that money into the tions here today?” production? She already said she wasn’t inter- “I don’t know anything about any audi- ested in the part. And why would you fly to tions. And neither of the conference rooms are Philadelphia? She lives in New York City.” scheduled today.” “Oh.” Oh. I quickly dialed Dudley and was promptly The audition space room was set for two sent to voicemail. I left three frantic messages months later, a week after Thanksgiving, for in 15 minutes. Meanwhile, actors started two days, a Saturday and a Sunday. He ex- showing up early, so I directed them to sit pected a huge turnout. I told him that my down in the front lobby. I called Dudley again. concern was that too much time had passed Dudley stumbled in, appearing sleepy. from the time of the original actor posting and “So, are we all set?” he asked, a questioning that the actors may not even remember the look on his face. posting they had responded to. It took two “The hotel doesn’t know anything about days to email all of the actors and send them the auditions, and they say the conference an “audition to do list,” which told them to room hasn’t been booked.” I stared at him.  Working on Other People’s Independent Films 219 “Oh, I’m just getting a hotel room. We can cared if it was in HD? The only two people do it up there.” who would see this were me and Dudley. Oh, no. One of the things you never, ever It began. There was a very sparse turnout. do when having auditions is to have them in I thought it was because of the horrendous a hotel room. Unless you’re doing a porn, that weather blowing outside the window — two is. It’s simply unprofessional and makes the feet of snow expected by the end of the day. actors uneasy, with good reason. But when an actor mentioned that they weren’t “I really think we should do it in the con- sure that the auditions were happening, I ference room,” I insisted. “I mean, the actors asked why. are all waiting here in the lobby...” “There’s a post on the actor’s website that “It’s too expensive. We’ll do it in the room.” says the audition was canceled. Someone called I shook my head and walked away. I really the hotel and they said there were no audi- had to take a crap now. When I came back out tions.” of the restroom he was getting his door card Someone must had phoned the front desk to the room. “So, where’s the room?” earlier, and since Dudley didn’t communicate “It’s up on the third floor.” with the hotel, they answered as best as they No, no, no. “Do they happen to have a could. So this actor or actress relayed this mis- room on the first floor here?” He wasn’t un- information on the website. The website itself, derstanding. “If we have it on the third floor, “Midwest Actor’s Resource” printed the hear- how are we going to coordinate the actors? say. And people obviously listened. I was ex- You’re going to have to keep on running up pecting over 200 people to show up, but only and down the stairs to get them.” 50 actors were taped that first day. Weeks of “That’s a great idea. I’ll see if I can switch work —poof ! the room.” While I did most of the talking with the ac- He did. However, there was a king-sized tors, answered questions and videotaped their bed, along with a just-as-large hot tub. I must bits, Dudley sat at the desk, typing furiously have stared at it for a full minute. Then, I at his computer, not paying any attention to moved out the desk, put it in front of the bed the performances. He’d get up in the middle and the hot tub, to sort of downplay it, then of a monologue or scene, read, go into the set up the camera and tripod in front of the bathroom or walk out the door, down the hall- desk. Hopefully, this wouldn’t be too much of way. There was no rhyme or reason other than an issue. that his ADD was acting up. Then, at five o’- While I was doing this setup, Dudley had clock his wife and three children showed up, disappeared. There was something he had to bearing bags and swimsuits. He neglected to get in his car. When he came back he had a tell me that they’d be coming because they new HD camera and tripod. “Do you want to wanted to use the hotel pool. This was not try out the new camera?” he asked. cool, nor was it professional. I was still mor- I looked at my setup and then back to him. tified we’d been doing this in a hotel room all We needed to start seeing actors in minutes. day. Why didn’t he mention this when he first The post was taken down that night, but walked in? “No, there’s not enough time,” I the harm was done. About 30 actors showed said sternly. up the following day. I turned to Dudley and “That’s a shame, I wanted to try out the said, “I think we’re going to have to do this new camera. The auditions will look better in again.” HD.” The disappointment was palpable. “Why? I think we found some great peo- “Seriously, it doesn’t matter, we’re just using ple?” the video to view their performances.” Who What the fuck was he talking about? He 220 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES hadn’t even witnessed half of the auditions; he later I tossed in the towel. I wasted enough was either internet surfing or talking on his time and energy on this no-go project. As phone. email wasn’t working I mailed him a letter say- I assured all of the actors that we’d let them ing, “Best of luck, hope it turns out exactly know our decisions within two weeks, by Jan- like you want.” After all, I had gotten paid for uary 7, and I reminded Dudley about this. He all my work. It’s just that the work did not and I had talked about this ahead of time, so culminate in anything. There was nothing left I thought we were on the same page. As it to do. turned out, we were on different chapters ... In April, three months later, I was emailed in different books. In different languages. by the make-up guy, who asked if I was in “Yeah,” he beamed. “This went well.” contact with Dudley. He was frantic because I wasn’t going to argue. “Okay. Well, I’m he had put his own money —$500— into all heading out of here. I’ll make a copy of the of the make-up supplies he had purchased and auditions on DVD and mail it to you in a few wanted to be reimbursed. Of course, Dudley days.” I did all of this, along with my recom- was not returning phone calls or emails. I was mendations, the three best actors for each part. curious: “When did you last hear from Dud- Over the next week I spoke with my producer ley?” a few times, though he had very different ideas “It was the end of January. He said he was for the lead characters. Basically, what deter- having some money problems.” Of course he mined the actresses for him was breast size was. rather than talent. “Well, I haven’t heard from him since De- “Well, let me know if we need to do more cember 12th. I emailed and called over a dozen auditions — we’ll have to adjust everything.” times. He never told me he had run out of “Oh, no, we’re fine,” he insisted, clearly money, and he wasn’t able to do the movie. pleased in his ignorance. There was no contact whatsoever, just silence.” The two-week deadline was nearing and he The make-up guy asked me if I wanted to buy would not give me the list of actors to contact. the props, that maybe I could do the movie. All contact stopped. Another week went by, “No, he hired me to write the script, it’s his during which he did not reply to at least one property. I was just a hired hand.” email and phone call every day. I emailed the One year later I was still receiving résumés make-up guy and he said he was supposed and emails from actors about this never-exist- to meet with the producer the following ing movie. It was the only — and last — time I week. ever worked on a feature that never existed. If Maybe Dudley had either decided he was Dudley had just given me the money for the going to do things his way, and ditched me, budget and let me handle everything, the or he ran out of money. The only thing I could movie would be completed and distributed at do was guess, as there was no contact. A month this point. The Filmmakers were asked: What is the worst thing that ever happened to you while making a movie? Glenn Andreiev: In 1993, we raised a brand new car) towards making a larger bud- large sum of money (let’s say enough to buy a geted film. The rest of the money was to come  Working on Other People’s Independent Films 221 from a South Florida “finance company.” That shoot as much as we needed. Thus, the benefit company stole that money using fraudulent of being diplomatic. But the lesson here is documents for funds that didn’t exist. I got simple: being a filmmaker does not give you the F.B.I. and the Florida State Comptroller’s the right to be disrespectful. Think about Office on them, and the scam artists went what’s going on around you and act accord- to jail. The money, of course, was never re- ingly. We could have easily shot that footage turned. One of the scammers fled and I believe on a Saturday and not risked offending the has yet to be caught. Other than that, I badly parishioners. I tell this story because it’s so rel- scratched up my back doing a fight scene for evant to using your head as a filmmaker. Silver Night. Richard Cunningham: A third-degree John Borowski: The worst experience I sprain to my right ankle. Out of all the dan- had while making a movie was when the first gerous stuff I did during Lycian, including interviews for Carl Panzram were shot. We fighting with a real sword for a sparring scene, were shooting with a Panasonic camera and the sprain happened pretty ingloriously. A re- utilizing the new P2 card technology. During porter had shown up to do an interview. I was the shoot we had to continually transfer the answering questions in the village we had con- footage to a master 1TB hard drive. After the structed, and at the end of the interview the shoot, I transferred all the footage to the hard reporter wanted to take some publicity shots drive. The hard drive crashed. What I did not of us on the set. We had built a guard tower know was that the hard drive was a raid con- out of rough pine and it was an ideal photo taining two hard drives. So half of the infor- op, so I climbed it, and when I hopped back mation was written on one drive and half on down off the ladder I landed on a block of the other. This made the retrieval of the data wood that twisted my ankle over. It instantly impossible. So, not only did I lose the footage swelled up like a balloon. I had to cut the in- from the weekend, but I also lost about ten terview short with the woman to go to the years’ worth of data that was on the drive. I emergency room. was ready to quit the Panzram film and film- I was also one of the lead actors in the film, making. Because I am so dedicated to my films and there are a few scenes where I’m noticeably I eventually reshot the interviews. I now shoot walking with a limp, because I was on still on on HDV, so I have a tape backup in case the crutches. data is ever damaged or lost. Maurice Devereaux: During the shoot Keith Crocker: When I was shooting the of Blood Symbol, my co-director and director 16mm short, One Grave Too Many, in 1989, I of photography Tony Morello, for some made the mistake of shooting the grave-rob- strange reason, decided to stock all of our bing scenes at what I thought was a deserted rushes into his big hockey duffel bag that he cemetery on a Sunday. Suddenly, the dilapi- carried around with him at all times. He had dated doors to the church burst open and out over 150 reels (two weeks’ worth of shooting) poured the parishioners. They came right over in his bag, and during an early 6 A.M. Sunday to us and started reading us the riot act for not morning, we were shooting in a deserted getting permission to shoot there in the first cemetery. We had brought the main char- place. Lucky for me, Paul Richichi was in a acter’s bedroom set into the cemetery for a chatty mood and decided to intervene, bab- dream sequence. We were busy shooting, bling on that this was a class project, that we when we looked around and Tony’s bag was had to shoot a horror-themed project and we gone and all our rushes with it. We spent the had no clue the church was still being used, et rest of the day looking for it, to no avail. We cetera. Anyhow, the pastor was a female, and were absolutely crushed. We got a call late that actually liked us and gave us carte blanche to night around 11:30 P.M., and it was the police. 222 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES They wanted us to go to a police station far money to do so, so after uttering many verbal from where we were. Confused, we asked threats to me, to no avail, they tried to bribe why. They would not tell us. We arrived at the my actors to leave the set and quit the film, police station and a cop pulls out Tony’s duf- with the promise that if they did, they would fel bag. I almost fainted. Then another cop receive full entry to be union members (some- approaches and, with a very stern voice, asks, thing that usually takes years). Luckily, the ac- “What were you doing in the cemetery?” tors didn’t quit. I’m all for unions, but in this “Shooting a film,” “What kind of film? A case, they wrongly though we were a BIG film porno? We can arrest you for that you know...” trying to circumvent the union and not pay Me and Tony look at each other baffled... people, when were basically trying to get by Suddenly the other cop starts laughing... They with next-to-no money. Later, I learned that were just teasing. What happened was a man the producer (the one who at went bankrupt was taking a walk in the cemetery and saw all and left the project) had shafted the union be- our stuff, and thought that we were robbers! fore, and they though he was still involved So he took the duffel bag and brought it to with my film. the police! Unfortunately, Tony’s wallet was But, hands down, the worst thing that ever also in the bag, with $100 bucks that myste- happened to me during a film was on End of riously disappeared. But, luckily, we got our the Line. You know, I always laugh when I hear rushes back. Also, a few years later, after about directors on big studio films that talk spending over $12,000 to transfer all my about “the pressure” they are under. Well, let rushes to videotape (to edit the film), I had me tell you, you do not know what real pres- them in a suitcase and was taking the bus sure is until you have sunk every dime you while reading Stephen King’s The Stand, so own and borrowed even more to make a film. I was distracted. Suddenly, I go to pick up That, my friend, is real pressure! When shoot- the suitcase and it is gone... The world spun... ing End of the Line, it was my first union shoot I looked everywhere, and retraced where I (no visits from goons this time) and I was get- had been... Nothing... I went home and was ting a discount from the Actor’s Union on the totally numb. Luckily, I had had the good rates for the actors’ salaries, but in exchange I sense beforehand to put my phone number had to pay the complete payroll of all the on all the cassettes. Someone called me who actors for the entire film before the start of the had found the suitcase. Ever since, I always shoot, and it was “non-refundable” (the amount put my name and number on everything im- was close to $100,000). So any canceled days portant. due to unforeseen circumstances, would be all On the shoot of Lady of the Lake, during a extra cost to me, as I could not afford the ex- sword fight scene between our actors Eirik pensive, “all-inclusive” insurance packages that Rutherford and Chris Piggins (in full armor), would cover various mishaps. Unfortunately, Eirik fell to the ground and hit his jaw against my father passed away during the shoot, and Chris’s armored knee and cut it deeply; he had I could not take any time off, as it would’ve to be brought to the hospital. I was terrified, cost me thousands of extra dollars that I did but he was okay, [although he] needed stitches. not have, to cancel or even delay shooting So for the rest of the shoot I had to shoot Eirik days. So I had to plan and organize the funeral from one side of his profile so as not to see his on my lunch breaks for the next available off big bandage or, later, the stitches. day. I think anyone who has ever directed a During Slashers we had non-union actors movie can empathize how hard it must have and, one day, reps from the unions sent big been for me to keep going and keep my focus. goons to push me around and try to make the Unfortunately, a week earlier, my girlfriend of film a union production. We did not have the four years left me, and my mom had died four  Working on Other People’s Independent Films 223 years before, so I was all alone to deal with this VH1 reality show Megan Wants a Millionaire. very difficult situation. I don’t think anything Jenkins murdered his wife just three weeks worse could ever happen to me during a shoot. after our show debuted, causing VH1 to im- But it’s now October 2011 and I haven’t been mediately cancel all remaining episodes. on a shoot since, so who knows... If ever I do Jeff Forsyth: I really don’t know. Maybe another movie, I’ll probably be in a horrible it’s like a mother’s experience after giving accident that will leave me crippled, disfigured, birth. It was difficult and painful but I don’t broke and homeless. really remember the bad in any of the experi- Donald Farmer: The dead body our ac- ences. And I know there was. But, generally, tress found during Cannibal Hookers was when I do remember those experiences, the pretty bad. Most of the other terrible movie memory is anchored with the memory of how incidents have happened after the fact. Like I overcame the issue and persevered. reading about the death of Margaux Heming- Richard W. Haines: The worst thing that way just ten months after she’d starred for me ever happened to me was losing creative in Vicious Kiss. The same with Dana Plato, al- control during the production of The Class of though that was a few years after we made Nuke ’Em High. Whoever controls the financ- Compelling Evidence. ing controls the content, which is why I pro- But one of the worst things to involve a duce my own movies now. I still subscribe to movie I made happened 15 years after we the auteur theory of filmmaking, even though wrapped production on Deadly Run. Our co- it’s fallen out of favor in the industry. producer, Samuel Rael, had apparently con- William Hopkins: As hard as both shoots sulted with a man named Gary Hilton to con- were, I don’t think anything was more depress- coct the plot about a serial killer who stalks ing than having the money run out midway victims in the woods. Hilton also helped Rael through production of Sleepless Nights. That find some of the out-of-the-way locations we was a low point. To have put that much work used in the Georgia mountains. Eighteen years into something and then have it be shut down, after that movie was released on video tape, with no way of knowing if we’d ever be able Gary Michael Hilton would admit to a real- to complete it, was as bad a feeling as anything life murder in the Georgia mountains. He is I’ve experienced on either film. But, in the now in prison, serving time for the kidnapping end, we were able to get the production back and murder of hiker Meredith Emerson, and on track and complete the film. And we [is also] a suspect in three other murders. Rael learned a lot from the experience, and were said that Hilton was never officially part of the able to put what we learned to work when we production of Deadly Run, but he claims that started on our second film. Hilton would stop by, and would even offer Steve Hudgins: I got poison ivy while advice to the main character. filming Hell is Full and we accidentally broke In a final twist to this very strange story, the window on the front door of a house that when a search party gathered to hunt for the someone was gracious enough to let us use in missing woman Hilton killed in the Georgia our latest movie, Spirit Stalkers. mountains, a member of that search team was Rolfe Kanefsky: Well, if I had been the a movie producer named Don Babb. Just a few one who died during Blonde and Blonder, I months earlier, Babb had produced my film guess that would have been the worst thing. Chainsaw Cheerleaders. So, basically, the story But since it didn’t happen to me I have to go of a real-life serial killer has intersected two of with my experience making Corpses. my movies. And, if that wasn’t enough, one Corpses was actually a never-ending series year later, in 2009, I’d co-star with future wife of worst things. I could write an entire book killer Ryan Jenkins when I appeared on the about this called “How NOT to produce a 224 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES movie: The Unmaking of Corpses,” but right who are in the news, because, that way, now I’ll try to give you just the highlights. you can have a name but not have to pay Hire the ex-boyfriend of the head of the SAG wages. And I’m talking a list of company to be the development person who names like “Monica Lewinsky,” “Siegfried has a personal grudge going on that has noth- and Roy,” “Pete Rose,” “Heidi Fleiss.” ing to do to your project. Oh, and make sure (NOTE: I went with the only actor on he is also a frustrated screenwriter. the list, Jeff Fahey. Thank God he agreed.) 1. Get the greenlight to write the script a day 9. To save money on locations, shoot in a before Christmas and make sure the dead- real funeral home with real dead bodies line for delivery is a day before New Year’s everywhere — and I mean everywhere! I Eve. That’s right. Give us a brilliant script will not talk about the smell. You don’t in five days in the middle of the holidays. want to know. Fun times ahead. 10. Flip your two-week schedule around the 2. Have the development guy call up the weekend before shooting begins so none writer (me) on New Year’s Eve, drunk, lik- of the special effects, props, or anything ing 90 percent of the script but upset about else will be ready in time. one point and then scream at the top of his 11. Make sure you don’t have all your loca- lungs that “I will never work in this town tions lined up so the night before filming again” so loudly that he pops a blood vessel you can still be wondering where you’re in his eye! going to be shooting the following day. 3. Make sure half the company quits or is 12. Make sure none of the cast is giving good fired a week before production of your film directions to get to the location the night begins, including the development guy. before so everyone gets lost. 4. As the head of the company, leave town for 13. Make sure there’s no film for the camera the entire production and bring in a new for the first two hours of the shoot. producer who has a personal agenda that 14. Hire a sound man who is narcoleptic. has nothing to do with the success of the (I’m serious. It happened.) movie he’s producing. 15. Hire a make-up woman who is so mean 5. Hire a director of photography whose wife she insults one of the leading actresses and is pregnant and expects to have the baby sends her off, crying. right in the middle of the production. 16. Find out a week into production that the 6. Make a zombie film with a wardrobe bud- lead actress is pregnant and it’s unsafe for get of $300 so there won’t be any duplicate an unborn baby to be around the chem- clothes when the blood and gore happen, icals they use in embalming rooms, espe- so you can’t do another take even if you cially when you’re shooting in a real, wanted to. working funeral home. 7. Force the director to shoot on 35mm when 17. Schedule the film around the funeral the budget is barely $50,000 so you can home’s working hours so the whole cast only shoot short ends (that’s the leftover and crew will be shooting nights, coming film that lasts five minutes — if your to set during rush hour at five to six P.M. lucky — but usually runs out in 15 to 30 and leaving at rush hour at 8:00 in the seconds into a take). Oh, and make sure it morning. comes from different film stocks because 18. Make sure you have one make-up artist it’s cheaper. (38,000 feet of film for a full who has to get almost a dozen actors into feature! Yay!) zombie make-up so that he isn’t done 8. Try to cast the movie with non-actors until two hours before wrap time.  Working on Other People’s Independent Films 225 19. Hire a new cameraman to take the place many of my lines to other characters. I also of the one whose wife had the baby to wrote new scenes on the set to make sure I shoot the other half of a scene that he shot my page count for the day. I would direct wasn’t around for in the first place. with hand signals, with my line producer call- 20. Have an editor cutting the scenes without ing out what I meant. Too weird. director input so rough cuts can be shown Chris LaMartina: It’s Murphy’s Law. on set that make it look like nothing cuts Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. together properly. We’ve seen it all: locations falling through 21. Don’t get permits for your location so you at the last minute, actors double-booking, get kicked out at midnight when you were one-of-a-kind wardrobe disappearing. props supposed to wrap at 5:00 A.M. and be- breaking, car problems, hard drives failing cause of this... and (my personal favorite) blood-stained car- 22. ...put together a secret second unit to pets. shoot a scene that was missed because A week into shooting Book of Lore, one of of the lack of permits and DON’T TELL our leads got mono, and our tight schedule THE DIRECTOR about it!!!!! Also, don’t was basically thrown out of the window. Our tell the cameraman, script supervisor or shoot was supposed to be a month long ... it sound mixer. Schedule it the next morn- ended-up stretching into four months (mostly ing in a secret location right after produc- nights and weekends). tion shot all night so the director won’t Three weeks before we shot President’s Day, be aware of it. (NOTE: The director did [the reps for] our high school location decided find out, threw a fit, discovered where a gory movie was not good for their reputation the shoot was taking place, and ended up and pulled their involvement. We’d written directing it anyway, after having worked the script specifically for that school, and we all night, all day and then another all- were screwed. The budget was already half nighter!) Also, shoot the scene without spent on props, wardrobe, and effects. We sound, even though there’s tons of dia- scrambled, but, luckily, found a replacement logue. at the last minute. 23. Don’t add any days to the production and How Witch’s Brew was even finished is an just cut out the 30 pages of the script that enigma to me. We faced every obstacle known weren’t shot. It’ll make sense, right? to man. Our budget (from Kickstarter), didn’t 24. And, in post-production, allow one hour get deposited until two weeks before shooting to color-correct an 85-minute movie. ... which meant our effects crew and costume department were self-funding and waiting to There’s actually a lot more I could add but be repaid. We had to fire an actor (a first for I think that gives you an idea of the worst ex- me); we had locations that weren’t found until perience of my career ... so far. I didn’t think days before we shot; and — the worst, for it could be beaten, but this past year it came me — was getting laid off from my job and re- pretty close. However, that will be another alizing my healthcare costs were going to jump book, this one entitled, “Making Seven to terrifying heights (damn my dysfunctional Feature Films Simultaneously: Do NOT try pancreas). After our first day of shooting, I at home ... or anywhere else!” was an emotional mess and almost called the Brett Kelly: I got laryngitis during the entire production off. Luckily, my partner, making of Pirates: Quest for Snake Island. I was Jimmy George, is a good friend, my number- directing and was also the lead actor in that one cheerleader, and a hell of a producer. He film, so to lose my voice was devastating. I saved that movie ... not just that day, but con- ended up thinking on my feet and giving sistently. He never let me give up. 226 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Jim Mickle: During the shoot for Mul- this? At some point this feeling occurs with berry Street, my girlfriend’s brother died. She any project I create for public consumption. was producing my film and another film at the Eric Shapiro: After we finished shooting same time. It was devastating for both of us, Rule of Three, the hard drive with all the foo- but also a complete shock to happen during a tage on it crashed, and we had to go through shoot because you live in a bubble when you’re a very painstaking, methodical, nervous- making a film and something like that can breakdown-inducing process to save it. Not a snap you back into the real world pretty quick. happy time, and I’m still somewhat shocked Hurricane Katrina happened that week, too, that we came out okay. and I knew nothing about it until weeks later. Anthony Straeger: The worst thing that It was a very emotionally complex situation to ever happened to me was realizing that after go through an intense, personal, emotional ex- two days into shooting Call of the Hunter, I perience like that while also making a first fea- hadn’t really given myself enough time for the ture. whole project. And the reason was simple Damon Packard: Can’t think of anything enough: I didn’t have enough money to pay truly horrible, but there was a disastrous day for an extra two to five days. of Foxfur shooting that never happened be- It was late on the Monday night and after cause of bad planning. dinner we returned to the main location/house Brad Paulson: There have been so many we were staying, and, after a nightcap, every- bad things. Where should I begin? one went to bed. Stephen knew I was worried Our lead actress had a father who had a and asked if he could stay up with me, but I heart attack a week into the shoot. Murphy’s needed some time on my own and time to Law really had it out for us on that movie. Ei- think. I sat at the table with a schedule that ther that, or it was the Fates testing me to see had already fallen behind, and I felt sick be- if I was really prepared to make movies for a cause I didn’t know what to do to makeup the living. Making it through that movie cured time. I already had a full schedule, and pulling my nerves for upcoming projects. back the scenes wasn’t so easy. I worked and Jose Prendes: On the first day of shoot- re-jigged the schedule, and the following ing Monster Man, I had assembled the cast and morning I announced a new battle plan. we headed out toward our location, which was From that night on I had less than two an hour away from anywhere in Homestead, hours of sleep per night and pushed myself to which is Florida farm country. When we get find the time and compress the schedule so there, we set out the snacks and the lunches that we could complete. We did shooting an and tripod. I grab the camera and set it up as average of seven minutes per day. The good I instruct my friend Javier Castineira, who was news was, I succeeded. The bad news was that my assistant director, to open up the new pack I had a migraine for about three days after- of tapes. He responds with, “What tapes?” It wards. turned out that I had had so much on my I do believe that [Murphy’s Law], “If it can mind that I packed everything ... except the go wrong, it will!” really exist in the world of damn tapes. We had to scrap the whole day filmmaking. It doesn’t matter how much you and the location, which was a major disap- plan, something bad will happen, and at that point and got me so mad that I ripped the point, as the director or producer, you have rearview mirror off of my car’s windshield. to make a stand and resolve it. Paul Scrabo: The worst thing is the sud- Marc Trottier: As I mentioned about al- den, overwhelming chill that overtakes you most being scammed... I hired someone to that you are making a complete disaster, and re-edit Darkness Waits, and they ended up try- why the hell am I involving other people in ing to renegotiate the fee in the middle of ed-  Working on Other People’s Independent Films 227 iting. I had paid half up front, with the other film on which the dialogue had been trans- half to be paid upon completion of the project, ferred degraded after years of shuttling back and they requested the second half to be paid and forth, so we were forced to retransfer all beforehand, which I declined to do. It began the original one-eighth-inch Nagra masters to be apparent how much of a problem their after the negative had, finally, been transferred social ineptitude was going to be to deal with. to digital. Every line of dialogue had to be first Then there were complaints about it being re-synced—and our camera logs were so woe- more work than they expected, saying that fully kept that I basically had to do this by they wanted to be paid more, which I de- both eye and ear to make sure I was laying in clined. Then they said that other jobs would the correct takes. After that, audio whiz Rich take precedence during the day, leaving a cou- Conant (whom I met through Absence of Light ple of hours at night to work on my project. director Patrick Desmond) was able to engi- This finally escalated to the point where they neer all the dialogue tracks for consistency. manufactured an argument as an excuse to not Still, there were a number of lines we simply finish the job, in which they said they’d keep had to loop, which required tracking down the money since half the job was completed. the original cast. At this point, with the conversations we were If I had to choose the absolute “disaster” of having, I realized that I was dealing with The Resurrection Game— as well as our entire someone who appeared to have mental prob- career —[that] came about due to a processing lems as well. After a stressful period, I was able error. Much of the negative of the film’s second to get the work that was done, but I have no reel suffered a chemical splash, resulting in doubts that I would’ve lost the second half of little amoeba-like burns floating around dur- the fee as well if I had agreed to pay it early. ing key sequences and permanently ruining The hardest part was trying to remain calm the original camera negative. I had to learn while dealing with this individual, because After Effects and Photoshop over the course after everything that had already happened, of a week in order to paint out the worst of the situation could’ve ended very badly for these burns, and, to this day, I’m not 100 per- them. The lesson learned was: You get what cent satisfied with the results. (I also dis- you pay for ... and sometimes when you deal covered that the lab had transferred the nega- with unstable individuals, you don’t get any- tive to DV tape on EP speed, resulting in a thing at all. slightly degraded and pixilated picture, but Mike Watt: On The Resurrection Game we not until long after the lab had gone out of were in over our heads from day one, but we business. Go figure.) rolled with whatever came our way. If a loca- All of those things were learning experi- tion fell through, we rewrote and made do ences, and, to date, we haven’t duplicated the with whatever we could get. The rock bottom mistakes or suffered the same indignities. of that particular movie’s production was We’ve been amazingly lucky during our 15 when our lead actress’s marriage fell apart dur- years in the “business” in that we haven’t en- ing shooting and she abruptly decided to move countered much disaster. Admittedly, only to Greece. This required a recast and a quick part of this is luck; the rest of it is anticipating rewrite of the character, and it set us back disaster. The worst things that happened were nearly four months. Which, of course, also usually on account of miscommunication. meant a huge loss in film, processing and time. One source of frustration on Splatter Movie Because of our limitations of equipment was due to shooting during the haunt’s off- and experience on The Resurrection Game, season in mid-summer. Also, it was one of the most of our biggest problems came during the hottest summers in Pittsburgh’s history. Since lengthy post-production period. The magnetic the primary haunt season is autumn, none of 228 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES the interior sets were air conditioned, natu- devoured over the course of two weeks, with rally. Which meant we had to up the water more money having to be scrounged for post. and Gatorade supply for all involved. Being On other occasions, though, limitations summer, volunteers and employees were also magically became advantages, as I’ve illustrated building and rebuilding parts of the haunt above. Throwing money at the problems on while we shot. We were able to work this into Demon Divas didn’t give us more time. Using the script and story, though, so we could only dedication, boldness and the sheer kick- always explain the sudden whir of a circular assedness of the cast and crew on Razor Days saw or frantic hammering on the tracks. But saved us time down the line and resulted in the best (or worst) was that entire rooms would magic. This is where being independent is disappear overnight, which made shooting truly the best direction. Hollywood demands pick-ups quite challenging. Sometimes the perfection and will pay any price to achieve rooms could be located (we’ve never needed it. The indie world rewards risk and persever- an “on set location scout” before or since), but ance. Fortune favors the bold and resource- most of the time, they’d been repainted and fulness begets art. redressed in the space of 12 hours. This also Ritch Yarber: The worst thing that ever prevented us from orienting ourselves to any happened to me while making a movie was great degree. We’d go down a familiar hallway the miserable experience of going through the and the door that was there yesterday was sud- computer crashes that plagued the production denly a solid wall the next! of Murder Machine! The frustration of getting On Demon Divas there was a complete mis- to a certain point and then losing everything understanding on our parts as to what bowling is indescribable. This happened more than alleys had to go through for “league play.” The once on this production and really caused the owners told us that they’d be closed through whole thing to grind to a halt. We did not the month of August, so when we began sched- have the means to quickly obtain new equip- uling, we were under the impression that we ment, and had to wait for an interminable had six good weekends to ourselves at the alley. time to finally be able to move forward with As it turned out, four of those six weekends post-production. The pressure from every- would be dedicated to reconditioning lanes, body who donated their time and efforts to retraining staff and machine maintenance. the film were overwhelming, as they pressed Which meant that our six weekends became to find out what the holdup was. I am ada- a mere six days of production time. Flights mant about my obligations and not being able were rearranged, hotels had to be rebooked to quickly fulfill my promises weighed greatly and a transportation chain had to be sum- on my mind every day, causing great mental moned from scratch. The resulting production anguish, like a dread that lies thinly disguised, felt so rushed and hectic that we were literally but never goes away, leaving an endless sick tearing pages from the script as we went along, feeling in the pit of my stomach. I hope to purposefully staging scenes in front of some never have to experience that again. easily borrowed backdrop that could be re- Ivan Zuccon: I don’t know if it’s the worst, located to another person’s wall in the future, but certainly the strangest and most disturbing and many, many cast and crew doubled thing was the first week of shooting of Colour (shemped) for others. On one day, two or from the Dark. We shot in an old and beautiful three different actresses wore Brinke Stevens’s farmhouse and had an incredible series of mis- costume and were shot from the neck down adventures. The first week was the most diffi- to transition from one shot (from last week) cult, not because of the shooting schedule or to the next (shot the following week). This the actors or anything like that, but because slight disaster resulted in our budget entirely of some (actually, many...) strange episodes  Working on Other People’s Independent Films 229 that dramatically slowed down production. out there was a mysterious guest on set; in fact, Within a few days we had to replace two HD through the smoke coming out from the cameras that mysteriously stopped working smoke machine we glimpsed a sulky face, the properly; the second camera was actually same in each picture. From then on we began recording and stopping by itself. Fortunately, thinking about the presence of a ghost or a the third camera did not give us problems. naughty poltergeist. Our visual effects super- Both of my cars broke down: the first had visor took a couple of mysterious photos, too. brake failure, the other had a broken engine! There’s an unbelievable photo sequence where And I could go on and on, telling about other you can spot a black, foggy substance taking accidents that happened almost everyday to human shape while rising from the ground of people and things on set. We were shocked! the yard in front of the farm: a really inexpli- After the first week we were so behind schedule cable and disturbing picture! However, after that we had to work on days off. The executive the first week, strange episodes became less producer of the movie, Roberta Marrelli, took and less frequent, so that we managed to finish some pictures during the shoot, and we found shooting the movie.  Your Career as an Indie Filmmaker When people ask me what I do for a living, movies and my library of titles grew. I even I don’t tell them I’m a “filmmaker.” Nowadays quit that staff job in ’97, to do the independent that’s a meaningless term and usually refers to filmmaking thing more than full-time. Be- someone who does this as a hobby or is still in cause it’s not just a job, it’s a lifestyle. school. I tell inquisitive minds that I’m an “in- When the horror/sci-fi market became over dependent movie producer,” and more re- saturated at the beginning of the 21st century, cently, a “television documentary producer,” and distributors were expecting movies for free to set me apart from someone who just posts (they promised residuals, and we all know videos on YouTube. While there’s nothing what that means) I switched gears and began wrong with doing that, that’s a beginning step making independent feature documentaries. and I’ve been doing this for over 20 years. And Money was obtained in a completely different while I’ve never made a Hollywood movie, I way. I wasn’t selling to individuals or stores. I am a professional. was getting underwriters (advertisers) for the Making the movies was always far more im- Public Television broadcasts. It took a bit more portant than the idea of being able to make a time and work on my part, but I was in con- living at it. When I first started making movies trol of all of this. And, as with the feature I was on the staff of a production house in films, it was sheer determination that got them New York City. A perk of that job was that I out there. I could never really dwell on how had access to their broadcast-quality cameras daunting a task it all was, from creating to sell- and could shoot on weekends. I spent my two- ing a project on which I was earning my living. week summer vacation in 1990 shooting Vam- But, after ten years, the funding for docu- pires & Other Stereotypes. The next movie was mentaries began to dry up. Even documentary shot on weekends, and the next was shot after cable channels want your film for free, saying work and on weekends. I made my income they’ll give you lots of “exposure.” With PBS from my “real job,” which I didn’t particularly no longer a factor, I decided to make a docu- like. It was a means to an end—to make mov- mentary that was a bit more risqué, and hear- ies. It wasn’t until my third movie, Addicted to kened back to my horror roots —The Life of Murder, that I began to make an income from Death. I’m still shopping that around. Many them. This was the first Brimstone title that distributors are interested, but not interested was distributed through Blockbuster video, enough to pay money for licensing or broad- which was a big deal in 1995. There were casts. Blockbuster rental stores on every few blocks So it was back to doing other sorts of video in New York City. Thousands of copies were jobs, like shooting/editing local commercials sold. Then, I started making sales to distribu- to supplement income and pay the bills. Does tion companies in other countries — England this make me less of an independent film- and Germany, to name but two. This influx maker? I don’t think so. It’s all a part of the of cash inspired me to continue to make more deal. I’m still making films a though each day 230  Your Career as an Indie Filmmaker 231 of not knowing where my income is coming There may not be much money in it, but that’s from is, honestly, a bit stressful. not the reason I’m making it. I need to satisfy In fact, because there’s no longer a paying the creative itch and get that “movie in my market for documentaries I’ve come full circle mind” on screen. After all, I can’t help it. I am and am planning on working on a new horror an independent filmmaker. feature, Cannibal Baby, in the next few years. The Filmmakers were asked: Is it realistic for someone to make a living making low-budget independent movies? Glenn Andreiev: Maybe up until the mid bution—it happens, and it happens to the full- 1990s; not so much anymore. I feel making est extent of the law. In other words, books can low-budget independent films can lead to sec- be fudged, figures fucked with, and you are ond-hand sources of money — being able to going to lose. But filmmakers should bask in teach filmmaking, screening your film to spe- the idea that their work is available for all to cial-interest groups, getting work on other see and will outlive the filmmakers themselves. people’s films — things like that. Making films makes you immortal, in a sense. John Borowski: It may be possible, but But it might not pay your bills, so be prepared the key is to make films in volume. I would to put your oars in many different waters. say an indie filmmaker may be able to make a Richard Cunningham: I think at first it’s living after having five or more films com- good to assume that you’re going to be spend- pleted. But less than that it is pretty impossible ing some of your own hard-earned money (and to survive making indie films. If you have the time) making low-budget indie films, while luxury of being able to devote all your time to you’re progressing from one film to the next. your filmmaking career and do not have to That being said, opportunities are opening work a nine to five job, then you may be able up in the form of crowd funding online, i.e., to make some progress. It is extremely difficult Kickstarter, where a good idea and some ag- to plan and make a film, publicize and pro- gressive outreaching can raise an entire budget mote it yourself, and seek other film work at for a small film, or cover the costs of distribu- the same time. Each of these aspects is a full- tion. Lately, I’ve also been seeing some of those time job. aforementioned zombie fan sites forming pro- Keith Crocker: No, it’s not realistic to as- duction companies that release indie zombie sume you’re going to make a living as an in- films, and they’re soliciting to a built-in fan dependent filmmaker. You’re going to need to base; so there are definitely new and creative be more than that. I teach adult education ways that you can go about making low-bud- courses on filmmaking and film genre. That’s get films. one way to supplement income. I still own and Maurice Devereaux: Not anymore. Years operate Cinefear Video, which also brings in ago even hack filmmakers could make a living money. I’m often hired to shoot and direct in- churning out bad B-movies, but the new real- dustrial training films. That’s extra cash in the ities of an abundance of films (now, anyone pocket. Films are a labor of love; you really can make a film) and the easily available pi- have to want to do them. And, as I said earlier, rated downloads have changed the dynamics you have to expect to be ripped off in distri- so much for the little guy. Yes, you can MAKE 232 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES a film now, it’s never been easier (or cheaper), one who wants to do filmmaking, it’s a good but you will NOT make a LIVING doing so. idea to have a day job. Maybe that day job Prices to buy indie films have plummeted. I’ll could be video production services... I know give you a few examples. My film End of the several guys who [make] wedding and indus- Line, after months of negotiating, finally sold trial films between movies. But, in today’s to the Sci-Fi channel/Chiller in the U.S., but, economy, it’s harder than ever to make a living unfortunately, the price was a measly $5,000, off just movie-making alone. It was different minus U.S. taxes of 30 percent and a 10 per- in the ’80s, when companies paid good ad- cent commission to a lawyer who arranged the vances for even the cheapest shot-on-video deal. I’m not going to retire on that amount. projects, but those days are SO gone! When I sold End of the Line at the AFM in Jeff Forsyth: You know, I am not really 2007 to Japan for $50,000, this was high-end sure. I see it being done, so I have to say yes. dollars, but ten years before it would have I want to say yes. been $200,000 minimum. Today you’re lucky Richard W. Haines: It was in the ’80s to get $10,000 for a quality low-budget indie. and ’90s, but the industry has changed so dra- One of my friends made three low-budget sci- matically, it’s much more difficult now. For in- fi flicks, in 2004, 2007 and 2009. Each film stance, in the ’80s, when I started my career, was better than the last, but each sold for less there were hundreds of independent cinemas, money as dwindling DVD markets crashed grind houses and drive-ins to book your movie and piracy and illegal downloads went up. So, in. They’re all gone and were replaced with today, unless a film is completely financed megaplexes, which only show studio product. through brokers using “investments portfolios” There used to be many video companies, like of many people (who will never get a dime Vestron and AIP, that gave advances to pro- back) and that you are PAID a salary to make ducers, but they folded, too. Many of the for- the film, this is the only way to not lose money eign sales reps I used passed on, like Walter as a filmmaker. To be hired with a guaranteed Manley who made lucrative deals on Splatter salary. Even Francis Coppola, who self-fi- University and Space Avenger. Indies always nanced his last two films, found out the hard worked on the fringes of the film industry, and way that, unlike his wine business (where he the marketing opportunities are more limited made the money to finance his last two films), today than they were years ago. It’s advisable the film business was a shark-filled ocean for to have another career, like teaching or writ- the indie producer, he lost huge amounts on ing, between productions. I’m a film historian both films. So all his previous experiences as and also give lectures at colleges between pro- a hired hand on Hollywood films did not pre- ductions. pare him for the shocking realities of being an William Hopkins: It’s not realistic for indie producer and then trying to sell your everyone who has a desire to make movies to film and make money. expect to be able to make a living doing it. Donald Farmer: For every filmmaker There just isn’t that big a market for low-bud- who supports himself strictly through low- get product for everyone who wants to be in budget movies, you can probably point to the business to make money at it. But the few hundreds more who don’t. And movie work who are willing to stick with it may find their can rarely be counted on for a regular income. work catching on over time. Sheer persistence When you finish a project it may be months is often rewarded in this business. or years before you can work again. There are Steve Hudgins: It can be realistic with always exceptions, like the people who made LOTS of hard work! I don’t think most people Paranormal Activity or The Blair Witch Project, realize the amount of work that has to go into but they’re very much the exceptions. For any- being an independent filmmaker. If you’re  Your Career as an Indie Filmmaker 233 going to make money, I think it’s more likely started ten years ago when DVD was fairly to happen off of a large body of work, span- new. Is it possible? Yes. Is it realistic? I honestly ning many years, as opposed to making money don’t think so. You need a second gig. off of one movie. Chris LaMartina: How you define “make Rolfe Kanefsky: Absolutely! Piece of a living” determines the answer to this. I know cake. All it takes is luck, hard work, luck, ded- plenty of folks that make cheap movies full- ication, luck, determination, luck, talent and time. They’re not ordering the lobster or living luck. And you might want to add “knowing like kings, but with everyone who produces the right people” to that list. In fact, you can low-budget content, they do it because they get rid of all of that list except for luck and love it. I’d be impressed with anyone who pays knowing the right people. But, seriously, is it their mortgage by doing what they love. It is realistic to make a living? No. But luckily, the remarkable that someone can function off film business isn’t realistic to begin with. It’s micro-budget film revenue, however. If that all make-believe and fantasy. The reality of is the case, they’re probably involved in their working consistently in the film business is like own distribution avenues. The basic problem winning the lottery many times over. There is the time it takes between finishing a film are no rules. To quote William Goldman, “No- and the arrival of residual checks from a dis- body knows anything.” I and many others tributor. Even if it’s a quick turnaround, some- have always said that if you can be happy times those residual checks never even show doing anything other than making films, do up. Hell, most of the time they don’t show. It’s that. You have to be 100 percent obsessed with a sad truth. movies and just can’t do anything else. If it’s To anyone who is living (in any sense) off a hobby then let it be a hobby and have an- of the fruits of their cinematic labor, I say other job where you can make a living. But “Bravo!” So what if they only eat bologna trying to have a family, a house, and work ex- sandwiches and sleep on a pull-out couch? I’d clusively in the low-budget arena, I believe, is still say they’re living the dream, and that is impossible. You might be able to start in low- highly commendable. budget movies and move up the ladder to the Jim Mickle: I’d love to say yes, but every studio level and then make a comfortable liv- indie director I know, including myself, has a ing. But to stay in the low-budget field and day job. Maybe as distribution evolves and be- get by ... highly doubtful. However, if you comes more democratized, more money will were to ask Fred Olen Ray or Jim Wynorski, go to the actual filmmakers, but for now it they might tell you otherwise. The only rule seems hard for anyone to make good money is that there are always exceptions to the rule. on a consistent basis without supplemental I’ve been in this business for over 20 years work. and some years have made as little as $14,000 Damon Packard: It depends on what for the entire year. My rent is $1,000 a month, scale you’re talking about. Low-budget indie so you do the math. But, in my case, with a movies that get distributed and released on little help from my parents when times get some scale? Like, for example, a Todd Solendz very tough, I’ve just managed to survive. I or Guy Maddin? Yes, they seem to manage. have squeaked out a living, but the things I’ve But, for the most part, absolutely not. sacrificed to do this makes me wonder if it’s Brad Paulson: Nothing is impossible, but been really worth it. Again, watch Tomorrow you’re looking at Han Solo odds from Star by Midnight for more insight on the subject... Wars. In other words, not even close. What’s Oh, right, you can’t. It never came out. realistic is to expect that you’ll be delusional Brett Kelly: It’s not easy, but I do. The in keeping that dream alive while you’re still odds are against it by a long shot these days. I broke. It’s realistic to expect you’ll be broke as 234 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES fuck for far longer than it’s hip to be below Anthony Straeger: NO, unless you get the level of the common man while you keep your small independent movie picked up and hoping it will get better one day. The truth is, have a successful company like Lionsgate be- only about 1 percent of people in L.A. actually hind, it you will spend more than you can get make a living at being screenwriters, actors or as a return in promoting your film. Then you directors. Sure, you may make a few dollars are hoping that you, as the filmmaker, will be here and there, but nothing you can quit that picked up and paid to do another project. shitty day job for. I have seen some films that have been made Jose Prendes: No, unfortunately not. for nothing more than a two or three thousand There is no money in no-money movie mak- dollars, but, still, I can’t see them making any ing. It’s sad, but passion isn’t a prerequisite for money either, because most of them are simply a paycheck. If you want to make movies, then awful. MAKE THEM! No one should tell you any If you can make money out of low-budget different. But don’t expect to get rich filming independent filmmaking, I think you need to your uncle dressed as vampire or your little have a film that WILL win festivals and gain cousin running away from a guy with a ma- acclaim, that is genre specific and that you chete. There is a place and an audience for have looked at and set in place every kind of this, but it won’t make you money. Hell, even marketing ploy under the sun. the big studios are going under with their For me, Call of the Hunter was a testing multi-million-dollar flops. ground, and is a fabulous calling card. It proves However, the one thing to remember when that I can produce a certain quality within a it comes to making movies is: THERE ARE certain budget—that I have a certain style and NO GUARANTEES. Nothing is written in can deliver exactly what it says on the tin. stone, and your little backyard opus could be- Ultra low/no budget films are nothing more come the next Blair Witch Project. So I say for- than that. If you get into the range of half- get the naysayers and just fucking do it. Pre- million budgets, then maybe if you can main- pare to starve, but stay hopeful. tain the quality —and we know how hard that Paul Scrabo: You can make money right is to do—you might be able to get by. But you away, but you are not going to make a profit sure won’t get rich doing it. right away! That’s two different things. My Marc Trottier: That’s hard for me to an- projects are self-funded. It’s silly for me to swer. I’ll say, “Maybe.” I would love to hear offer deferred payment to a cast or crew mem- what other people think; those who have con- ber. They showed up for me, they adjusted sistently put out content and successfully sold their schedule for me. Their pay is part of my their product. I, myself, am curious to know film’s budget. Some friends offered to work on how much of a profit there is to be made. the film for free. I took advantage of their gen- If you have good ideas and you have the re- erous offer and their talent and I made sure sources to be able to make your films in a cost- we fed them, and not fast food, but real meals. effective manner, in a period of time that Keep your budget low, and, hopefully, you makes sense, then why not? can at least get your money back. Mike Watt: No. Eric Shapiro: Sure. I know numerous That’s the short answer. The long answer people who do. The majority who try never is: absolutely not. But, strangely enough, with will — it’s not some big pie we can all take a that realization comes freedom. Knowing ahead slice of. Though if you create a viable piece of of time you will not make money or, even in work that sells to a healthy amount of territo- the best of circumstances, likely even make ries around the world and manages to play in your investment back, is comforting in its own perpetuity, you can make a great living. way. The best thing about being an independ-  Your Career as an Indie Filmmaker 235 ent filmmaker is that first word: independent. Ritch Yarber: At this time, I do not feel You’re not beholden to an audience or to any that one can make any kind of real living mak- sort of studio expectations. There is no film ing these types of films. There are just too by committee to undermine your base con- many people making movies these days to be cept, only what you and your handpicked able to get enough commercial exposure for partners bring to it. Independence has its own your films to pay the bills. Independent films myriad problems, of course, but at the end of are still an entertainment afterthought when production, the movie you made is 100 percent it comes to audiences watching movies. The yours, to pass or fail on the merit of you and big studios still have the upper hand with the crew that put its faith in your guidance. huge-budgeted movies backed up by slickly If you are lucky enough to find investors produced trailers and commercials that de- (which we refer to as “angels”), let them know mand your viewing dollars. Occasionally, an ahead of time that this is a risky venture and “independent” film will break the barrier and tell them (and understand yourself ) to never make a small fortune for a lucky filmmaker, invest more than one is prepared to lose. The but it is rare. I think that the reason to con- compromises you’ll have to make will either tinue to make these small-budget independent be budgetary, time-limited or conflict of sched- films is to experience the challenge of reaching ules (and sometimes personalities, but the big an audience and making them yours for a boys suffer those things, too). short while. The hope of being discovered and Don’t like a predictable three-act script actually getting any kind of steady income structure? Pitch it, but know what rules you’re rests like a lost treasure in each independent breaking. There’s no one to enforce any “rules” production, waiting to be discovered and upon you, such as having to have the plot in added to the mother lode. It’s all about the motion by page five. You can take the time to dream. establish characters, if you want. You can put Ivan Zuccon: Yes, it is, but it’s also a very in as much gore and nudity as you like, or have difficult dream to fulfill. You’ll have to make none at all. Let the story dictate the elements many sacrifices, more than you can imagine. of the movie and make the movie serve the The movie business is a tough one. Every story. You don’t have to pander to the demands morning I say to myself, “Okay, that’s it, of corporate sponsors and product placement, enough is enough. From now on I’m going to you don’t have to worry about a release date dedicate myself to something else. I’m tired, (in most situations) and you can truly make a it’s too hard, it’s a battle I can never win.” ... movie that’s an extension of you. If in the end, I feel like Don Quixote. My windmills are dis- the pacing seems slow to you, change it. Too tributors, and they are so huge and monstrous short? Shoot additional scenes or leave it the that they give you the creeps. You get scared length it is. about the fact that your movie might end up But, in order to do yourself and your art in a limbo, or in the wrong hands. The fruit the best service, make sure you know what of your sacrifices, of your biggest effort, the story you want to tell and give consideration blood of your blood could be thwarted by to who you want to entertain. Those are and poor film distribution. Then, I find myself should be your only restrictions. Be thoughtful flickering through my new scripts, so I start and make the movie you want to make. It’ll writing, reviewing dialogue, thinking about attract a large audience or a small one, but it the camera movements, and I finally say to won’t matter when no one is dictating to you myself, “I’m going ahead, but this time’s the what you have to do. last time. This is going to be my last movie.” 236 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES The Filmmakers were asked: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to be a “filmmaker,” whether as a producer or director or writer? What are the three top things to do (and why) that would set them in the right direction? Glenn Andreiev: Be yourself in your Keith Crocker: You have to love being an writing, filmmaking and producing. We don’t artist. A filmmaker should be coming from the need another Dario Argento tribute film, or a same intensity that drives a painter, poet, or Scorsese-like Mafia movie. Everybody has a sculptor. You have to let your desire to create good story to tell. Don’t try and do something art guide you, and you must not limit your like Hollywood, like your own low-budget dreams. Let that freak flag of yours fly high. version of Salt. Your car chase will never com- Always remember: (1) you can do it; never let pare to Hollywood’s. Just focus on telling a anyone make you believe you can’t live a good story, a unique story—your story. Third, dream. Of course you can, no one will stop on so many low-budget film sets I watch film- you if you have the desire; (2) Don’t get dis- makers [take great pains to be] Stanley Ku- couraged. Learn how to troubleshoot prob- brick–like perfectionists, that everything has lems at the drop of a hat. You need to think to be just 100 percent right. (For example, I and be on your feet at all times so don’t doze— saw one filmmaker repeatedly reshoot a night- not even for a minute, you might lose an op- club sequence because the light wasn’t just portunity; and (3) Be proud of your work, right on an actor’s face, or they found better warts and all. Do the very best you can. Don’t extras and want to do retakes, and so on) You’ll sell yourself short. Your voice matters in this delay production, eat up what little funds you over crowded world, you’re not insignificant, have, and possibly wind up with an unfinished you matter more than the next man. If you film. A good filmmaker makes the minor flaws have something to say, say it! And, last but not fly by unnoticed. least, have fun. Filmmaking is fun—it shouldn’t John Borowski: My advice is: DON’T be a burden. You can tire out, but if the energy DO IT! But if you feel you are strong enough, and the drive keeps returning, then you know then go ahead. Lighting and sound are the filmmaking is for you. most important elements when filming. If you Richard Cunningham: I think it’s impor- select a genre, then you will have a niche mar- tant to push yourself and the work you do as ket to exploit. You must have the drive to work hard and far as you can, however you go about on your films for years (and possibly the rest it, be it teaching yourself, working in the field, of your life) as you promote and sell them. You or attending film school; develop within your- must believe in your work. Keep the quality self an insatiable hunger to understand, master, at the highest [level] and never sacrifice story and appreciate all the art forms that serve to for modern equipment or special effects; they ultimately constitute a movie, because whether won’t make the film any better. My motto is: you’re a writer, a producer or a director, the I would rather watch a well-told [story] shot more perspective you gain on the process, the on the lowest [budget] available than a film better you can go about being a part of it. which costs millions of dollars, where there is Along those same lines, I think it’s good to no emotional connection between the audi- always keep moving ahead to the next project. ence and the film. Of course you want to give your finished  Your Career as an Indie Filmmaker 237 movie its due run of promotion. Enter it into 1. Write something tailor made for a low bud- festivals, maybe try online distribution, even get (few actors and locations). take the time to engage social media, so you 2. Make sure your script is ready and really can build up a targeted fan base. Do as much tight, as you don’t want to shoot anything as you possibly can to exploit the movie you’ve you will later cut out (that means time and toiled so greatly to make, but be sure, too, that money wasted). you have projects lined up, or your next script 3. Don’t spend your own money — you’ll is ready to go. There are invaluable lessons to never get it back. But if you absolutely have learn that only the experience and the struggle no other choice, make sure you budget an of making a film can provide; so every time amount you can easily [spend without see- you put yourself in that situation, you are ing a return]. And then think that you will hurtling yourself light-years ahead in useful probably have to spend about 40 percent filmmaking know-how. more for unforeseen expenses. Then look Last but not least: networking. Whether it’s at the amount, and be true to yourself. Can virtually via social media outlets, or passing you say goodbye to that money? ... If the your card or spec script off to someone in the answer is “Yes,” then go into pre-produc- business, producing with teams of like- tion. minded filmmakers, or just having a conver- 4. Get professional actors; whatever extra sation with people on other sets, the larger money you spend will be worth it. They your network of talent, the more tools you will will make your job easier and make you have available to put together a film when the look like a better director. Use a casting time comes to commit. agent, if needed, to find them. Maurice Devereaux: Kids, don’t try this 5. Get professionals for key crew (Lighting, at home ... seriously, don’t do what I did. Don’t camera, sound, costumes, sets, make-up) spend your own money. It’s better to work 6. Make sure your locations are easily acces- your way up to become a hotshot director of sible, with available parking and low noise. photography, shoot flashy music videos and 7. Once you start shooting, make sure you commercials and you’ll have a better chance get your film completely “in the can,” as of getting hired as a director (to do a remake you don’t want to have to run after people of a classic horror film) than I do. Because for reshoots or unfinished scenes. EVEN if you make a film, (like my award- 8. If you’re producing, do NOT hand over winning horror feature End of the Line that your film to a sales agent. Accept only up- premiered at the Toronto International film front cash deals. Because you will NEVER festival and then played 39 other film festivals see any royalties and/or back-end money. worldwide, garnered rave reviews and sold to No matter if it’s a prestigious name com- many countries), this route gave me no job of- pany or not. Look at it as you would a drug fers and left me thousands of dollars in debt. deal—both of you hold guns at each other, So, it’s not recommended. It’s unfortunate but the buyer holds money, and you hold a true that the people who fund big films would master copy of the film. Then you do the rather hire someone who never directed a fea- switch, never keeping your eyes off the ture but did a bunch of expensive-looking, other guy until you’re paid. It’s better to flashy commercials. Just look at the bios of the walk away from any deal, no matter how guys who made the remakes of The Nightmare good it seems, if they do not pay you up on Elm Street or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. front. You will always hear the classic ex- That’s the way it is and part of the reason why cuses, “Send us the master and we promise most horror films suck today. Keep the fol- we’ll wire you the money next week,” et lowing points in mind: cetera. Don’t fall for it. 238 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES 9. Don’t give up. You only have one short with people who are shooting. Learn from life. If this is something you need to do, them and gain skills. And when you can, grab do it! a camera and shoot — that’s how you’ll really 10. Don’t listen to what anyone says, espec- put your skills into action. ially me. Richard W. Haines: My first suggestion Donald Farmer: Here are a few basic tips will probably be ignored by the majority of for anyone who wants to get into filmmaking: aspiring filmmakers, but I hope a few consider 1. Know how to network. Filmmaking is what I’m about to say. I think the most im- definitely a team activity, and you want portant thing for anyone making independent to assemble the best team possible. movies is to preserve their work. That means 2. Try to know a little about the job of every either shooting in 35mm or outputting their crew member ... especially the cinematog- digital movie to a 35mm negative. They rapher. The more you know about the re- should retain either the camera negative or a sponsibilities of your crew, the better you duplicate negative of their feature and store it can supervise them. And know enough in a private temperature-and-humidity-con- about lighting so you can make specific trolled film vault. If they can’t afford that, do- suggestions and requests to your director nate it to an archive for long-term preserva- of photography, camera operator, et tion. You should never assume the distributor cetera. That’s the area in which I tend to is preserving your film. They aren’t archivists, become the most vocal... I’ve learned the they’re salesmen and have no proprietary in- hard way not to always accept what a cin- terest in the survival of your movie. I know of ematographer wants to give you. several indie filmmakers that can no longer 3. Learn the basics of promotion — make find their camera negatives, since the distrib- sure your target audience knows about utor and lab folded. your movie. Archival considerations aside, you cannot 4. Thanks to audio commentaries on DVDs, sell something that doesn’t exist. If you want everyone has access to a movie-making to have your film available for future sales you education that used to be the sole domain need a “hard copy” of the picture on film since of film schools. You can’t listen to too digital imagery is an unreliable long-term stor- many directors’ commentaries. age medium, subject to data loss and degra- 5. Visit the sets of other low-budget movies. dation. Never give your only master to a dis- Study how other directors and producers tributor without keeping a duplicate element cope with tight schedules and little money. yourself. Talk to any directors you can corner at My second suggestion is to shoot [using Al- conventions or fan gatherings and pick fred Hitchcock’s methodical approach] rather their brains. That’s basically what I was than trying to improvise the shoot. The more doing when I did magazine interviews pre-production, the better the technical specs with my favorite directors. I was picking will be. I know some people get away with their brains for tips I might be able to use making crude movies, and sometimes the later. For anyone wanting to be an indie crudeness is part of the appeal, but it’s a risky filmmaker, it’s a good place to start. way of making a picture. Technical ineptitude Jeff Forsyth: Besides seek therapy, I think can be a distraction for audiences who are less a lot can be learned just by watching movies tolerant about this than they were in the ’60s, and analyzing them. when directors were shooting in the cinéma The top three things I would say to do are: vérité style. I suggest creating storyboards for read, connect, and shoot. Read all you can every shot to make sure you have the coverage about the process and the equipment. Connect you need. Trying to “wing it” on your first fea-  Your Career as an Indie Filmmaker 239 ture film might prevent you from completing and it’s hard to get productions going — it’s a the movie or resulting in an amateurish pro- fight all the way. But you shouldn’t give up. duction that won’t be able to compete with Always be working towards your next film, al- more polished low-budget films. ways have something on the drawing board. My third suggestion is to make sure you ne- The only way to become a good filmmaker is gotiate a distribution deal that includes an ad- to keep making films. The more you make, vance that will recoup your production cost, the better you’ll get at it. So, keep writing or a deal where marketing expenses are either scripts, keep networking with people who capped or recouped from the distributor’s share your interests and goals and try to keep share of proceeds. If you sign a deal with un- alive in yourself the spirit of enthusiasm and limited marketing expenses recouped off the optimism you had when you were just starting top or out of your share, you’ll never see a out. dime. Or, take the DIY option by researching Steve Hudgins: how to sell your movie in the available mar- 1. Don’t expect someone to see your movie kets. and suddenly offer you a million bucks for William Hopkins: I feel you should learn it. If that’s what you’re hoping for, you’re to do as much of it yourself as you can. Learn setting yourself up for a big disappoint- to write a good, solid screenplay; learn how ment. That’s a fairy tale. It just doesn’t hap- to shoot it yourself; learn how to edit it your- pen. self. For the indie filmmaker working on a 2. Get a distribution and marketing plan in tiny budget, there’s no one you’ll be able to place before you even start making your afford to hire who will care as much about movie. your film as you do, so you immediately put 3. Get out there and start doing it. Don’t talk yourself in a better position if you hone your about doing it. Don’t work toward doing skills in as many areas of the filmmaking it, just do it! process as you can. That way you’ll never be Rolfe Kanefsky: Okay, let’s switch gears dependent on anyone else to get your film from all this bitching and moaning to some- done the way you want it done. And, nowa- thing positive. My father said that, in order days, with the cameras and software that are to survive in this business, you have to believe available, there’s really no good reason why everything and at the same time believe noth- anyone should shy away from learning these ing. That means you have to think positively things. but keep a reality check in the back of your It’s also important, I think, to carefully pick mind that it could all fall apart at any time. your projects. If you’re going to be taking a There’s a lot of bullshit in this business. It’s project from inception through production amazing that any movies get made. Many peo- and—eventually—distribution, that may rep- ple have said that if we knew how difficult it resent an investment of a couple of years of was to do something, we would never do any- your life. So you’d better feel strongly about thing. But, to make movies, you almost have the film you’re making. You’d better like the to have a kind of blind optimism. A kind of story and the characters and feel comfortable leap-before-you-look attitude. However, if in the world you’re creating, because you’ll be you have no sense of reality you can get hurt, living in it for a while. Finally, it’s important usually emotionally. for people looking to have a career as indie So, my advice is, if you have the drive and filmmakers to develop a thick skin and a stub- obsession to make movies, go for it. You know born attitude about things. It’s a tough busi- it’s impossible, but you do it anyway. It’s a case ness, and you’ll face a lot of discouragement of mind over matter. Now, once you have the from people. It’s hard to raise money for films right mentality to take a shot at the film busi- 240 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES ness and refuse to let anyone talk you out of more you’re on a film set — either your own or it, you have to work your ass off. Nothing is someone else’s — you will learn invaluable in- just going to fall into your lap, and if it does, formation. be prepared for it to jump back out again. You I worked as a production assistant in the must network and meet as many people as you summers on independent films from the ages can. This business is all about connections and of 16 to 21. Even after I made my first film, the people you know. Build relationships, and There’s Nothing Out There, I went back and don’t expect to be an overnight success. There worked as a production assistant on another are thousands of overnight successes that took film. The more you do, the better you get. You ten, 20 years to get there. Try to find a group learn from your mistakes. And there is nothing of friends who can give you an honest reaction that can compare to being on a movie set. All to your work. Everyone in Hollywood is afraid the theories and classes can give you some info, to tell you what they really think. They can but you must do it for yourself to really see be ultra kind or ultra cruel. The real response what making movies is all about. is usually something in between. So, find a Finish what you start. This is a key fact. If good sounding board of opinions you can you expect someone to give you money to trust. It will help keep your head on your write, direct, and produce, they need to trust shoulder so you don’t get too suicidal or too you. They have to feel confident that their full of yourself. Both are bad conditions in this money is in good hands. You have to show business. them you are responsible. So, I have always Next, you need to know what you’re doing. made a point to finish everything. If I’m writ- Watch movies and learn the names of the pro- ing a screenplay I will not stop until I reach ducers, directors, and writers. Many people in the end. Even if I’m not happy with some of the business—especially at the studios—really it, I barrel through to the conclusion. Maybe don’t know much about the movies. Most people start a project because they think it will memories go back about ten years or less. So, be fun. Then, when it gets difficult, they walk it really helps if you know what you’re taking away from it. Finishing something is what about and have the knowledge of film and makes the difference between a hobby and a filmmakers. Know your history. That way, career. Even if you start to hate it, finish it, when you’re in the room, you don’t have to because once you reach the end, you will prob- bullshit. You’ll know what you’re taking about ably realize it’s not as bad as you thought, and and can give references to what worked or you can always go back to fix the problems. didn’t work in similar motion pictures. Also, Prove you are capable of making a short, if you do run into a film buff, you’ll already script, feature, and you will win over all of the have something in common. If you want to be naysayers. People will always tell you it can’t a writer, read screenplays, both good and bad. be done. Well, if you do it, you win the argu- You’ll learn a lot about what works, why it ment hands down. works, and what to avoid. Compare the script And, finally, keep at it. If you’re serious to the final movie. See how it changed — what about making it in this industry, you have to they pulled off and what they blew. In many keep plugging away. Slamming your head into ways, this can be just as good as taking a that wall until it breaks down. Many have said film/writing course. that the one who wins is the one who lasts the Then you need to do the work. If you’re a longest. If you’ve got the stamina to put up writer, write. Every day. Set goals for yourself. with all the heartaches, rejections, insults, Force yourself to be productive. Make it a abuse, poverty, backstabbers, people with hid- habit. If you want to be a producer or director, den agendas, negative reactions, and boredom make movies any way you can. Basically, the that comes with this job, then you may just  Your Career as an Indie Filmmaker 241 make it in this town. It also helps to have a and play to them. If you have access to an little luck. Did I mention that yet? amazing location, write a marketable story Well, that’s about it. Good luck! around it. If you wail on guitar, maybe you Brett Kelly: My advice is to take a class should score the film, too. On the other and watch a lot of films, especially movies that side of the token, if your girlfriend or boy- you think you won’t like. You’ll be surprised friend can’t act to save their life ... do not where inspiration comes from. Lastly, make a cast them. Filmmaking, especially with no lot of short films, finish them, watch them and money, is about intelligent compromising learn from them — do all this before you try a and problem solving. Be smart. Work your feature. Good luck! advantages. Don’t ask me what yours are. Chris LaMartina: My first question for Everyone has their own. an aspiring filmmaker is: “What do you want 3. Filmmaking is collaborative process, and, to do as a filmmaker?” If someone just wants as someone who has written, directed, ed- to make goofy short films, then ... go for it. ited, and scored his own stuff, I know how Nothing is stopping you. Technology is get- easy it is to take all the credit. My co-pro- ting cheaper and cheaper, and anyone can ducer and co-writer, Jimmy George, has make movies now. If you want to make a liv - been a backbone that not many people have ing telling stories (features, web series, et cet- acknowledged in various articles about my era) ... then I’d sincerely suggest figuring out films. Similarly, you will have partners, and a business model while you hone your skills as mini-armies of folks who are going to help a storyteller. It’s show business, and in order your vision come alive. Most of them (if to keep making films on a larger scale, you’ll not all of them) will be working for pea- have to increase revenue. Plenty of folks I nuts. Say “Thank you” ... a lot! In general, know have full-time “boring video” jobs that we work harder for people who treat us fund their dream projects ... but it’s definitely with respect and dignity. Make sure you taxing. let people know that you appreciate their If I could break down my advice to three hard work. If I subtracted the time it takes things, it would be these. me express my gratitude each shooting day, I’d probably have an extra 40 minutes for 1. Respect your story. If you don’t have a coverage ... but it’s worth it to tell my cast/ strong, primal screenplay that is market- crew that I [appreciate] their efforts. Don’t able you’re asking for trouble in every part take anyone’s work on your film for granted. of the filmmaking process. A lazy, sloppy, or derivative screenplay will murder any It’s tough making movies, but nothing chance of great direction, solid editing, worth doing in life is easy. Just get ready to and, most importantly, distribution. Never sacrifice all of your free time, push relation- forget that. Distribution is everything. ships to their limit, and challenge yourself to Otherwise, no one will see the hard work be more creative. If you’ve got the fire in your you’ve put into this story. belly, you’ll figure it out. 2. Know what’s within your means. Don’t Jim Mickle: make your barbarian epic in your parents’ 1. Start making films right away. Don’t wait backyard for $237. You won’t be able to around for the perfect opportunity or for pull it off. I mean ... you can ... if you want Hollywood to hand you a budget. Make it to be a comedy ... or maybe I’m wrong, your movie your own way and give yourself and you can pull it off. The point is, you a chance to get a film distributed. You’ll need to become a good judge of your abil- learn from your mistakes and your voice ities. Figure out what your strengths are will evolve the more you do it. Use a Flip 242 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES cam, a DV cam, an HD cam or a RED. You must be completely satisfied with your Get iMovie or Final Cut Pro or Adobe Pre- work. The world outside of yourself will not miere and edit it yourself. Then go make necessarily gratify you. But then there are another one. many [others] who have better results on that 2. Shorts are a great way to practice and don’t end. require years of work to accomplish, but Brad Paulson: First and foremost, if you it’s also very hard to find continued success want to be a filmmaker, do it because you love making shorts exclusively. The finances are movies. Don’t do it because you want to be a hard to pull off and chances for distribution glorified frat kid and think you’ll get a bunch are very small. Also, the SHORTER the of Hollywood glitz and glam from the whole BETTER. I made a 22-minute senior the- deal. Don’t do it because you’re a narcissistic sis after most professors advised against it, asshole who wants to see your name in lights and when it came time for festivals it was or your face in front of a camera. Don’t do it very hard to get accepted anywhere. No because you think it will give you the attention festivals want to show a 20-minute film be- you never got in high school. Don’t do it be- fore a feature, and in a short film program, cause you think you’re God’s gift to cinema. it’s easier to schedule a lot of shorter films No one likes a pretentious ass, and, from what than to take up valuable time with longer I’ve seen in and out of school, those who talk films. And this was before YouTube and about how great they are and berate others Vimeo, so attention spans have only gotten usually make terrible movies. shorter. When making a short, try to re- Second, be ready to live, sleep, and breathe member what kind of an audience you’re movies. With the infusion of Netflix instant, hoping for. and all the ways to get our hands on movies 3. Work on as many films as possible. If you’re nowadays, people have no excuse to miss the interested in cameras, try to intern in the classics. As we all know, nerds make the best camera department. If you like lighting, movies. The names Martin Scorcese, Quentin talk to grips and electricians. If you don’t Tarantino, Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson and know what you might be good at, look for Stanley Kubrick are all household names, and production-assistant jobs or general intern these guys have one thing in common: they work. Spend as much time on sets as you are all complete movie dorks. I remember see- can and learn the workflow, so by the time ing an interview with Spielberg where he was you’re directing or producing, you have toading up The Shining and he talked about some idea how things work. Or get an how he had seen the movie 25 times. I loved office-assistant job and spend time in a pro- Spielberg after he said that. You really have to duction office, or be an assistant editor and know your shit. If you know your shit, it im- see how things come together in post. Be presses people. It legitimizes you in the eyes patient. A lot of people are looking for jobs of filmmakers. Don’t be the guy who has to and it helps to be in New York City or look up the answer to a question on his phone. L.A., but when an opportunity comes, be Be the guy who already knows the answer and on time and show a willingness to be help- is ready for several more. ful without being annoying. There’s a lot Third, learn to embrace failure. I think this of “hurry up and wait” times in filmmak- is why some people either work on movies for ing, but if the people that brought you on ten years or just, plain and simple, fuck up. enjoy your company, they’ll look you up Realizing that we’re all human and not perfect for the next one. Stay busy. is a terrifying reality but it’s a fact of life we’re Damon Packard: Just be prepared for a all going to have to accept sooner or later, so LOT of work and very few rewards or results. it’s best to fail as early on as possible and try  Your Career as an Indie Filmmaker 243 and learn from our mistakes. What I’m saying easy, so be ready to fight, be ready to get is, don’t be afraid to rush into new challenges pinned to the ropes, be ready to sweat and cry and take on overwhelming jobs out of the fear and bleed, but keep swinging and eventually you’ll fail. You will. You’ll endure humiliation they will have to let you win. But know how and question yourself with every decision you to swing, first and foremost. Most persistent make. But, that’s okay. It’s the name of the people fail because they don’t really know what game. You’ll get better and hone your skills they’re doing, so have a plan, know how to with time and practice. play, and come out swinging. Fourth, and most importantly, learn to live If there are three things you should know, like a broke starving artist for a long time. they would probably be: Being broke may be romanticized in the mov- ies. Hollywood loves a Cinderella story. It fuels 1. WATCH MOVIES. Watch all kinds mov- their machine. Living broke in real life, on the ies from all over the world. You can’t make other hand, sucks rotting donkey balls. It’s movies if you don’t know movies. I recom- nonstop war with the worst enemy you can mend a healthy dose of the Criterion Col- image: yourself. It’s a battle of quiet despera- lection for great foreign films. This is cru- tion that never seems to end. I recommend cial, and you’ll see that most well-known you live out of your car for a few weeks, just film people are film scholars, too. to get a feel of what the pursuit of filmmaking 2. UNDERSTAND FORMAT & LINGO. in Los Angeles will be like. Tony Scott filmed If you are a writer, have a solid grasp of this city through an orange filter several times screenwriting format. Once you have for- in his films, but, in reality, if you go a couple mat down to a science, then you can have blocks south of the Hollywood Walk of Fame fun with your scripts. If you’re a director, you’ll see drug deals in broad daylight and soak learn all the terms for things so you don’t in the unmistakable scent of human urine on look like an idiot to the seasoned pros. If the streets. If you can make your peace with you’re a producer, maybe take a business that and realize that it will most likely take course to understand financing and how to years of suffering and prayers for the sweet re- raise money and what terms go along with lease of death ... if you can ignore all the more- it, so you’re not left in the cold. No one than-wise warnings to stay away from any - will give you money if you don’t under- thing having to do with making movies and stand what they’re talking about. have a normal life before you end up killing 3. STICK TO IT. Most people give up when yourself out of sheer desperation and misery they realize how hard it is, or how long it ... then maybe, just maybe, you have what it takes. If you want it, then you fight for it. takes to be a filmmaker. Good luck, brothers Stick to what you love like white on rice. and sisters. Keep the dream alive. If you do Nothing worth doing is easy. Good luck. make it through the heartless, soul-sucking Paul Scrabo: Most important, SAFETY trenches in one piece, I look forward to seeing FIRST. your movies one day. We had a scene where Queen Exotica (Deb- Jose Prendes: If you want to make mov - bie Rochon) is blasted by a ray gun and be- ies in any capacity then JUST GO FUCKING comes stiff as a board. The villain shows up DO IT. I hear from a lot of people [say], “I’m with a hand truck, scoops the rigid queen up thinking of ” or “I’d like to” or “One day I’m and exits. It was a quick, inexpensive gag. gonna” ... but the truth is, talk is cheap. Like Debbie’s apprehension became apparent. Yoda says: “Do, or do not. There is no try.” I “Okay. Just ... wait a second... I’m just get- hold that as my motto, and I think you should, ting over a back problem ... and...” too. If you want it, then go for it. It won’t be “No. Forget it. Don’t worry about it. Give 244 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES us a second and we’ll figure out something else everyone I shoot with knows it, too. I love or- to do.” chestrating the visual side, but my obsession “No. It’s a funny bit. I can do it, but let ME is the text and characters, so that’s where I be in control of how to do it.” place my chips. So, instead of being scooped up in the hand Third, you need to get comfortable with the truck, Debbie carefully placed herself on it be- idea of failing over and over again. There will forehand, and it’s a funnier bit now, because be tons of rejection and negativity, even if you you just see her being carted away in the back- create a critically acclaimed masterpiece. At ground. It can be dangerous getting caught up least a third of the people who watch anything in any “big picture” and not being aware of will despise it. So don’t go chasing after some any potential danger to a cast or crew member. objective, unassailable form of acceptance, be- You are already taking a risk with your own cause it doesn’t exist for anyone. If you’re good, money, making your film. Let that be the only you’ll get enough people on your side to con- risk. tinue, and you should be grateful for whoever Listen to your cast and crew for any ideas. picks up what you’re putting down. We were finishing the final scene of the film Anthony Straeger: My advice is simple. where Debbie and Trent sail off into the sun- First, don’t take it personally. In this business, set. I was never really satisfied with the ending whether as an actor a member of the crew as because I knew it needed something extra. the filmmaker, you will always find someone Debbie was joking around, and she says, “And that will want to piss on your parade. Being this is when a hand should come out of the strong and having a belief in what you do and water, and everybody screams!” And we all are doing is very important. The other thing laugh, and I say, “Okay, that’s it, everyone. that you have to remember is that once you We’re done!” And we all pack up and go home. have made it, people might not like it. You And then I realize that she was absolutely find that someone on Amazon has called your right. The next opportunity to use the location film all the sons-of-bitches under the sun. But was in the beginning of winter, and I’m there I believe that, if you put your head above the in a rented wetsuit doing the hand-coming- parapet, then expect to get it shot off! out-of-the-water gag. Second, if you can’t stand the heat, get out Finally, try not to be a perfectionist. You’ll of the kitchen. This is a very hard process and drive yourself crazy, and you’ll also drive every- you shouldn’t go into it lightly. It is much body else crazy. Take your project very seri- easier to make a feature these days, but I would ously, but don’t take yourself too seriously. really hate myself if I felt I had wasted the time Eric Shapiro: The first thing is to get se- of everyone who had contributed to my proj- rious about the script. Don’t view it as a pro- ect. If you can’t be bothered to do it right, and cess that sets you up for a shoot. View it as the if you want others to carry the can, then stop most important part of the film — period. If before you start. you look at IMDb’s list of the most beloved Finally, you have got to give it everything films, all of them vary in terms of style and until you don’t want to give any more. This sensibility, but those are some great fucking business attracts lots of “wannabes,” but keep- scripts, across the board. That’s the most ing yourself motivated is difficult when your human and holy element, so don’t rush it or rent is six months behind. underestimate it. To conclude, what you have to do is be as The second one is to go where your strengths clear about your aims as is possible. You have are. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not. to include words like realistic — yeah, it’s bor- Don’t make comedies if you have a morose ing... But, being realistic doesn’t exclude you worldview. I know I’ll never be a techie, and from being artistic.  Your Career as an Indie Filmmaker 245 My three top tips for anyone wanting to get 3. Don’t be an asshole. People don’t do favors into independent filmmaking are as follows: for assholes, and the indie world is built on favors. 1. Planning is everything at every stage, be it Ritch Yarber: If asked to give advice to budgets or schedules. You have to take the someone interested in becoming a filmmaker, time and care to look under every stone I guess I would simply tell them the same and make sure you have checked, double- thing I was told 11 years ago by New Jersey checked, triple-checked. Why? Because the filmmaker Karl Petry (Ironbound Vampire, The less you leave to chance, the more chance Larksville Ghost). He said, “Quit talking about you have of succeeding. it and shoot something!” Conditions will never 2. The script: read it with an objective mind, seem perfect for the beginning filmmaker to not a false sense that you have written actually start a project, especially on the God’s gift to filmmaking. It doesn’t matter micro-budget level, making for a great oppor- whether this is your script as the director tunity to hide behind excuse after excuse as to or someone else’s work, as with Call of the what one would do if they only had the money, Hunter. Understand what it is about and the time, the crew, the equipment, and on and what it is you are trying to achieve with it. on. Get a camera and start shooting some- Rewrite it as many times as it takes and thing! Anything! Just take a topic and try to read-throughs to clear up any problems in tell a story with moving images. Once the the flow and understanding for the per- door is cracked open, the rest will come. Be- formers. Why? Because once you are in lieve me, I know. I talked about making films production, you want everyone quite liter- for over ten years ... the conditions were never ally on the same page, and rewriting some- just right. And they still aren’t, although I’ve thing on set can be a hell of a nightmare. now been making movies for over a decade. 3. Take advice from anyone who has more Writing, producing or directing, it all starts experience than you. Always remember with the very first step. Start stepping! good advice is always helpful but doesn’t I think the top three things to do in getting have to be taken. Consult anyone you started making movies are as follows: know in the business, from the shops you (1) obtain some type of camera; (2) come hire the camera from to going to studios up with a story that you are interested in tell- and asking editors for advice. Why? Fore- ing; and (3) take great care to use a script that armed is forewarned. I know everything is well-planned and complete. Once the ball about everyone’s job. is rolling, the other elements will come for- Making Call of the Hunter was one of the ward, or you will find ways to present the vi- best experiences of my life. It was some of the sion that is in your head. Filmmaking is like hardest work I have ever done and the most painting. You start with a blank canvas that is time I have ever invested in anything in my slowly filled with images, colors, music and life. I am proud of my work and hope that sounds. Everything leads to the unveiling. anyone who watches will enjoy it. Making a Only then, judged solely by the audience’s re- film is one of the best buzzes in the world. But action, is the payoff to your efforts rendered. you really have to roll your sleeves up and get It is a highly sought after, fleeting moment of your hands dirty. truth that will quickly validate or repudiate Mike Watt: one’s passion for filmmaking. If one has even 1. Feed your cast and crew. People don’t like an inkling of becoming a filmmaker, they owe to work when they’re hungry. it to themselves to give it at least one shot, on 2. Love what you’re doing. People don’t like some level. The true filmmaker will be quickly to watch half-assed movies. addicted. 246 HOW TO MAKE MOVIES Ivan Zuccon: “Wanna make movies? itive affect on your work, and the chances of Then start digging!” “This is what I’d like to making an interesting movie are many. say to budding filmmakers. I think art should, Secondly, “Never give up.” Even when first of all, make people think. I don’t like cin- every thing seems to be against you, even when ema without content, movies that are merely it seems that there’s no way out, never stop showy, even when I can’t deny that I some- believing in yourself and your ideas. If you times watch that kind of film in order to spend have dug deep enough to find them, you’ll a carefree and relaxed evening. But when I have ideas worth fighting for. As I often say, work I personally try to find a meaning in “The life of independent filmmakers is like a everything I’m doing. So, as long as I find it, struggle against windmills. We are the Don I begin to dig. Here, the term “digging” is the Quixote of movies.” But this isn’t a good rea- right one. At first I start digging deep inside son to stop struggling and fighting. Third, be myself until I find the right idea. From that picky. Never be satisfied. The more your work idea the entire movie will be born. If you dig improves technically and artistically, the more deep enough this is going to have a very pos- it will have commercial value.  Epilogue As you may have surmised by now, being of your shot footage from the camera’s mem- an independent filmmaker is not easy. You ory cards. The scariest part of all is that there may be an amazing writer, yet when you try is little support for independent filmmakers. to shoot a feature in your neighborhood, you YOU are the support and the glue so that come to the realization that your community things will not fall apart. theater actors are unable to do your script jus- Ask yourself, “Is making a film something tice. Or you may have the complete opposite I really want to do?” Well, if the answer is happen and see that your dialogue is crap “Yes,” do it. And perhaps doing it again if coming out of these great actors’ mouths. you’re happy with the experience... There is There are also things, like equipment failures, nothing quite like it! cast and crew showing up late, and losing all 247 This page intentionally left blank  Appendix: The Filmmakers and Their Films Glenn Andreiev Lady of the Lake (1998, MTI/Bedford Entertain- Vampire’s Embrace (1993, Camp Releasing) ment/Fangoria [U.S.]; Antarctic Video [France]; Night (1997, Joseph Green Pictures) Stax Entertainment [UK]; also released by un- Mad Wolf (1998) known distributors, through a sales agent, to Sharp and Sudden (2001) Germany, South Africa, Hungary, Benelux, Is- Every Move You Make (2002) rael, Spain, Greece, Latin America, Indonesia, Silver Night (2005, Echelon Pictures) Malaysia, Panama, Singapore, India. Also played The Deed to Hell (2008, Echelon Pictures) on Canadian Pay-TV, and had a one-week the- The Make Believers (2009) atrical run at the NFB theatre, in Montreal, in March 2000) Slashers (2001, MTI/Bedford Entertainment/Fan- John Borowski goria [U.S.]; Kaboom/49th Parallel Censored H.H. Holmes: America’s First Serial Killer (2004, 4/3 edition [Canada]; Ion New media [Ger- Facets Video) many]; Salvation films [UK]; Antarctic Video Albert Fish: In Sin He Found Salvation (2007, Facets [France]; also had a four-weekend theatrical run Video) at the Cinema du Parc, in Montreal, in Septem- Carl Panzram: The Spirit of Hatred and Vengeance ber 2002) (2012) PMS Survival Tips (2003) End of the Line (2006) Anchor Bay (Canada/Aus- Keith Crocker tralia/New Zealand); E1 (U.S.); MIG (Ger- The Cinefear Sampler (1992, VHS Cinefear Video) many); AMG (Japan); Opening (France); Noble The Bloody Ape (1997, VHS Vanguard Distributors (Scandinavia); Popron (Czech Republic); The DVD Wildeye Releasing) Entertainment Imitative (Benelux); International Blitzkrieg — Escape from Stalag 69 (2008, DVD Production Associates (Thailand, Vietnam) Wildeye Releasing) Donald Farmer Richard Cunningham (Director on these titles unless noted otherwise) Lycian (2002) Day of the Dead (1985) Actor The Seven Kings: Scene Selections from Arcadium Demon Queen (1986) Actor (2005) Cannibal Hookers (1987, Magnum Video) She (2006) No Justice (1989, Richfields Productions) Produc- America the Mental (2008) tion Manager, Casting, Actor Year Zero (2010) Scream Dream (1989) Vampire Cop (1990, Atlas Entertainment) They Bite (1991, MTI Video) Assistant Casting Di- Maurice Devereaux rector, Actor Blood Symbol (1991, Atlas Entertainment [U.S.], Invasion of the Scream Queens (1991, Mondo Video) also released in Russia and played on Polish TV Savage Vengeance (1993, Magnum Video) under the title Krwawe znami) Red Lips (1995, Video Vamp) 249 250 APPENDIX Deadly Run (1995, Stratosphere Entertainment) Demon Resurrection (Feature Resources, 2008) Di- Compelling Evidence (1995, Stratosphere Entertain- rector, Writer, Editor, Music, Special effects. ment) Vicious Kiss (1995, Stratosphere Entertainment) Steve Hudgins Demented (1996, Richfield Productions) Co-pro- The 3rd Floor (2007, Corn-O-Copia Productions) ducer Maniac on the Loose (2008, Big Biting Pig Produc- Demolition Highway (1996, Stratosphere Entertain- tions) ment) Goatsucker (2009, Big Biting Pig Productions) Space Kid (1999, Velli Entertainment) Widow (2009, Big Biting Pig Productions) Blood and Honor (2000, David Heavener Enter- Hell Is Full (2010, Big Biting Pig Productions) tainment) The Creepy Doll (2011, Big Biting Pig Productions) Battle for Glory (2000, David Heavener Entertain- Spirit Stalkers (2012, Big Biting Pig Productions) ment) The Strike (2001, MTI Video) Blood Feast 2 (2001, Shriek Show) Actor Rolfe Kanefsky Deadly Memories (2002, Brain Dead Films) There’s Nothing Out There (1992, Image Entertain- An Erotic Vampire in Paris (2002, E.I. Cinema) ment; Troma, 2011) Writer, Director Bollywood and Vine (2004, Stratosphere Entertain- My Family Treasure (1993, Arrow Entertainment) ment) Story, Director Red Lips: Bloodlust (2005, Sub Rosa) Red Line (1995, Orion/Triboro) Writer Red Lips: Eat the Living (2005, Sub Rosa) The Ultimate Attraction (1996, New Concorde En- Whose War? (2006, Indieflix) tertainment) Writer, Director Dorm of the Dead (2006, Under the Bed Films) The Alien Files a.k.a. Alien Erotica (1998, MTI Chainsaw Cheerleaders (2008, Stratosphere Enter- Home Video/Bedford Entertainment) Writer, tainment) Directorse Megan Wants a Millionaire (2009, VH1) Actor Restless Souls (1998, New Concorde/Click Produc- Country Strong (2011, Screen Gems) Actor tions) Writer Twi-Hards (2011, Suicidal Productions) Tomorrow by Midnight a.k.a. Midnight 5 (1999, Shark Exorcist (2012, Suicidal Productions) Hope Street Entertainment) Writer, Director Pretty Cool (2000, MTI Home Video) Writer, Di- Jeff Forsyth rector Rod Steele 0014: You Only Live Until You Die (2001, Children of the Sky (2000, Brimstone Productions) New Concorde Entertainment) Writer, Direc- C.A.I.N. (2013) in post tor What You Know (2012, short) The Misadventures of the Invisible Man (2002, New Concorde Entertainment) Writer, Director Richard W. Haines Shattered Lies (2003, Lantern Lane/Hart Sharp En- Splatter University (Troma, 1983–1986, New Wave tertainment) Writer Distribution, 1986–2011) The Hazing a.k.a. Dead Scared (2003, Lightning Space Avenger (New Wave Film Distribution, 1989) Entertainment/MTI Video) Writer, Director Head Games (New Wave Film Distribution, 1993) Corpses (2004. York Entertainment) Writer, Direc- Run for Cover (New Wave Film Distribution, 1995) tor Unsavory Characters (New Wave Film Distribution, Jacquelyne Hyde (2004, Warner Home Video) 2001) Writer, Director, Producer Soft Money (New Wave Film Distribution, 2005) Nightmare Man (2005, Lions Gate/After Dark What Really Frightens You? (New Wave Film Dis- Films) Writer, Director, Producer tribution, 2010) Pretty Cool Too! (2006, MTI Home Video) Writer, Director Blonde and Blonder (2008, First Look Entertain- William Hopkins ment) Writer Children of the Night (Columbia Tristar Home 1 in the Gun (2009, MTI Home Video) Writer, Di- Video, 1993) Writer rector Sleepless Nights (Open Communications, 2003) Di- Today Is Yesterday Tomorrow (2012, ASP Produc- rector, Writer, Editor tions) Writer, Director  The Filmmakers and Their Films 251 Emmanuelle in Wonderland (2012, ASP Produc- There & Back: Interviews with Near-Death-Experi- tions) Writer, Director encers (1997) Alien Agenda: Under the Skin (1997) directed seg- Brett Kelly ment “The Guys in Black” Addicted to Murder: Tainted Blood (1998) The Feral Man (2001, Tempe Video) Creaturealm: From the Dead (1998) segment “Eyes The Bonesetter (2002, Tempe Video) of the Ripper” Final Curtain (2003, Tempe Video) Creaturealm: Demons Wake (1998) Producer only The Bonesetter Returns (2004, Tempe Video) Caring for the Caregivers: Living with Cancer (1998) Spacemen, Go-Go Girls and the True Meaning of documentary Co-Producer, Co-Director (2000– Christmas (2004, Tempe Video) 2006, Films for the Humanities) Spacemen, Go-Go Girls and the Great Easter Hunt Walking Between the Raindrops (1999) (2004, Tempe Video) Rage of the Werewolf (1999) My Dead Girlfriend (2005, Tempe Video) Addicted to Murder 3: Blood Lust (2000) Co-Pro- Kingdom of the Vampire (2006, Tempe Video) ducer, Co-Director (with Tom Vollmann) Prey for the Beast (2007, Brain Damage Films) Beyond the Lost World: The Alien Conspiracy III Attack of the Giant Leeches (2008, Brain Damage (2001) Co-Director (with John Bowker, Tim Films) Ritter) Pirates: Quest for Snake Island (2008, Brain Damage Time Enough: The Alien Conspiracy (2002) Co-Di- Films/Black Flag Pictures) rector (with Ron Ford, Alexandre Michaud) Iron Soldier (2008, Maverick Entertainment) Grey Skies: The Alien Conspiracy (2002) Co-Di- Avenging Force: The Scarab (2008, Japanese release) rector (with Tom Nondorf & Les Sekely) She-Rex (2009, Self-distributed) Blood of the Werewolf (2002) Co-Director (with Blood Red Moon (2009, Brain Damage Films) Bruce G. Hallenbeck, Joe Bagnardi) Rockland (2009, undistributed) “But You Look So Well...” (2002, documentary) Thunderstorm: The Return of Thor (2010, TomCat Broadcast nationally on PBS 2003–2008 Films) Werewolf Tales (2003) Producer, Co-Writer Hell at My Heels (2011, Barnholtz Entertainment) Turning American: A German Immigrant’s Story Jurassic Shark (2012, Tomcat Films) (2004, PBS documentary) My Fair Zombie (2013, in production) “But You Still Look So Well...”: Living with Multiple Sclerosis (2005) Broadcast nationally on PBS, Chris LaMartina 2006–2011 [completely different from the 2002] Dead Teenagers (2006, Brain Damage Films) The Healing Prophet: Solanus Casey (2006) Broad- Book of Lore (2007, Camp Motion Pictures) cast internationally, beginning in July 2007 Grave Mistakes (2008, Camp Motion Pictures) “I’m Not Nuts”: Living with Food Allergies (2008) Faces of Schlock Segment: “One Foot in the Grave” Broadcast nationally on PBS, beginning May (2009, Independent Entertainment) 2009 President’s Day (2010, Spy Music Group) The Life of Death (2011) Lost Trailer Park: Never Coming Attractions (2010– Blood of the Werewolf II: Wolves & Zombies (2012) 2011, Web Series) Witch’s Brew (2011, unreleased) Jim Mickle The Underdogs (2003, senior thesis short film) Kevin Lindenmuth Mulberry Street (2007, Lionsgate/After Dark Films) (Producer/writer/director, unless otherwise noted) One Night in December (2008, short film) Stake Land (2010, Dark Sky Films/IFC) Vampires and Other Stereotypes (1992) ... a.k.a. Hell’s Belles Twisted Tales (1994) Co-Director (with Mick Mc- Damon Packard Cleery, Rita Klus) Afterlife/Amazing Stories (1983–84) Addicted to Murder (1995) Dawn of an Evil Millennium (1988) Alien Agenda: Out of the Darkness (1996) Co-Di- Apple (1992) rector (with Mick McCleery) The Early 70’s Horror Trailer (1999) Alien Agenda: Endangered Species (1996) Co-Director Reflections of Evil (2002) (with Tim Ritter, Ron Ford, Gabriel Campisi) Untitled Star Wars Mockumentary (2003) 252 APPENDIX SpaceDisco One (2007) Darkness Waits (2009, Screamkings.com) Nausicaa (2009) Resolute (2011, undistributed) Foxfur (2011) Mike Watt Brad Paulson Tenants (1997) Writer, Director, Editor The Van (2003, Brimstone) The Resurrection Game (2001) Writer, Director, Co- The Bloodstained Bride (2006, Brain Damage Producer Films) American Nightmare (2002) Production Assistant Evil Ever After (2006, Cryptkeeper Films) Weregrrl (2002) Writer, Editor Reservoir Drunks (2008, Aleheads Apart) Cannibal Aneurysm (2003) Camera Dead Harvey TV: Episode One (2009, Cape Fear Severe Injuries (2003) Writer, Editor Imageworks) Dr. Horror’s Erotic House of Idiots (2004) Actor Paranormal Inactivity (2011, FSD) My Demon Nights (2004) Director of Photography Suicide Poet (2011, Straight Stumble) Spicy Sister Slumber Party (2004) Director of Pho- Satisfied (2011, UBFilm) Screenplay tography Guns, Hookers and a Pound of Coke (pre-produc- Dead Men Walking (2005) Screenwriter tion, The Ford Austin Company) Screenplay A Feast of Flesh (2007) Writer, Director, Editor Zebra Room (pre-production, The Ford Austin Blood Bath: Blood Wrestling Volume I (2007) Pho- Company) Screenplay tographer, Editor The Screening ((2007) Screenwriter Jose Prendes Splatter Movie: The Director’s Cut (2008) Co-Pro- ducer, Editor, Photographer The Monster Man (2001, Brimstone) Writer, Di- Demon Divas and the Lanes of Damnation (2009) rector Writer, Director, Editor Vampire Resurrection (2001, Full Moon) Writer I Spit on Eli Roth (2009) Director of Photography) Corpses Are Forever (2003, Asylum Entertainment) The Night We Didn’t Discuss Myra Breckinridge Writer, Director (2009) Writer, Director Countdown: Jerusalem (2009, Asylum) Writer Countess Bathoria’s Graveyard Picture Show (2011) The Terminators (2009, Asylum) Writer (“Retreat” segment) Writer, Director, Editor Haunting of Winchester House (2009, Asylum) Razor Days (2012) Writer, Director, Editor Writer Tales of Poe (2012) Actor, Associate Producer Final Girl (2012, Aviator Ent) Writer, Director Ritch Yarber Paul Scrabo Transylvania Police: Monster Squad (1999, Alpha Dr. Horror’s Erotic House of Idiots (2004, self-dis- Home Entertainment) tributed) The Gobbler (2001, unreleased) The Deep Dark Woods (2003, self-distri