When Making Films, Make Time For Philanthropic Work!

Reflecting back on my class and classes I’ve taken in my Entertainment Business program (I am a "serial student" with 2 Undergraduate degrees and 2 Masters Degrees), I realize that I’m on pare with my goals I’ve outlined for myself when I created a video timeline of what I wanted to accomplish. Why do I do video timelines? Well, the video part is so its fun to re-review every once and a while and creating timelines, lists and diaries is a way for you as a filmmaker to keep yourself accountable.

During one class in particular (as I'm currently taking a Project & Team Management Course), I wanted to learn how to effectively manage a team and include everyone in class exercises such as creating a team project while leveraging each individual’s strengths to get a project done even better than I would have originally imagined. Taking this class has also inspired me to continue building me team for my feature film and reach out to my mentors continually for feedback to make sure my project is on-track and have the viability it needs to return a profit once my team gets to the production phase of things. I also collaborated with a local film director in my home-town to get perspective from a filmmaker that I feel has great instinct for shots and would make a great assistant director on my feature. You can see him, Jamie Rivera, pictured above with one of our cast members and we shot at a historical site in downtown Phoenix. I let the site manager know that we were shooting for educational purposes as I was “auditioning” team members to round out my crew. You can save a lot of money on locations if you're a student! But then you have to worry about the paying the loans later. But hey, everything is an investment in your professional career. Even if your not making any money as an artist YET, you have to have full-faith that it will all pay-off someday.

Also, I’ve been keeping myself sharp and (as I promised myself in my goals and timeline), I’ve had Sales Agents cover my script to see if there’s anything I could add to the story to spice it up a bit and I also attended a 5K Zombie Run this month that went to a good cause titled “Hoofbeats With Heart” which helps people rehabilitate themselves by pairing them up with horses! I get excited about these causes because I love animals and can attest to the healing powers that these friendly creatures can have in our lives. While I love philanthropic work as I offered free news coverage as I work for horror-movie.ca, I also used this opportunity to take notes for my feature project as my story is about “a 5K zombie race gone bad”. Priscilla Barney, the event coordinator, has agreed to meet with me to see if we can bring more attention to the race and also do a collaboration that would help promote my movie “Dead Last” as we would love to interview people that come “dead last” during these races as its not about what place you come in, but how you finish and what your race represents.

My experiences so far during my class coupled with my drive to better myself outside my scholastic works is indicative of what I think my project represents. We’re all in this “human race” together and if I can eventually make my feature movie dream come true, my passions and marketing sensibilities that highlights teamwork will eventually come to the forefront.

Kids vs. Monsters: Interview with the Producer and Director!

I had the fortunate opportunity to get an exclusive look at this thrilling throw-back treat of a movie that reminds me of such classics like Monster Squad and the Gremlins movies from the 80s. What movie am I talking about, you ask? Well, none other than the best kept secret to what I believe will be one of the best come-backs to critter features with bratty kids put in the mix with a little hellish fun peppered in. While some can say this is like Willy Wonka held in the underworld, there will definitely be one thing you will be saying by the end of this story: Why haven’t I heard of Kids vs. Monsters before!?!
Here is the synopsis:

The six richest people in the world each have the same problem: their intolerable and very expensive children. Fortunately for them, there is a mysterious entity called Boss Monster that is happy to help. He has some terrors of his own and cannot wait to clash them against these insufferable kids during one night of mayhem and monsters.

Currently in the middle of post, the folks over at Dark Dunes Productions took the time to talk to horror-movies.ca to chat about what makes practical effects so great in horror films and why “old school” aesthetics is one of many nostalgic reasons why anyone who grew up in the 80s would love to make a movie like this.

Read at your leisure and take notes as any filmmaker or writer like myself just loves to learn “how they do it.” And, if you’re at all like me, get energized by the fact that there are people making cool, zany projects like this and taking their chance at the multi-billion spooks and scares business that surrounds Halloween. So get in on the fun, but read this first.

Q:  What drew you to Kids vs. Monsters? What influenced you to make this film? 

 A: (Sultan Saeed Darmaki – Director) I grew up watching a lot of monster movies, with my first being the original King Kong, and have always been an avid fan of the genre. However, monster movies weren’t the only influences on Kids vs Monsters, the other influences include: Roald Dahl, Monty Python and classic cartoons.

A: (Mallory O’Meara – Producer) The story. It’s as if Charlie and the Chocolate Factory crashed into The Cabin in the Woods. It sounded so crazy in the very beginning, with all the kids, monsters, parents and locations. But when we all sat down for the first script read-through, it was clear that we were all going to have a blast in the midst of the madness. Sarah Daly, our writer, really took the doors off in terms of satire, slapstick and fun. And what influenced me to be a part? What we always say at Dark Dunes Productions – we love monsters!

Q: What excites you about Kids vs. Monsters? What’s the most surprising part of story? 

 A: (Sultan Saeed Darmaki – Director) Apart from being my directorial debut, what excites me about KVM is that I got to work with a great cast made up of veterans of the genre and upcoming stars, an awesome crew and practical monsters, not to mention the amount of fun I had while I was directing it! It is very-lighthearted for a monster movie and yet, there are instances when you realize that this is very different from traditional kid’s movies. Also, they will be surprised by the amount of monsters we have in this film and all of them are practical (Puppets, Animatronics, Make-Up and Suits).

A: (Mallory O’Meara – Producer) The practical special effects in this film are the most exciting part for me. A lot of great strides are being made to bring PFX back to films, but the ones that get the most press are usually horror, or science fiction. It’s exciting to remind the world that practical make-ups, suit performers, and animatronics can all be paired with comedy for amazing results. With a film that doesn’t take itself seriously like KVM, it’s easy to forget that underneath all the mayhem, the story is a satire. It’s actually a pretty dark story, with the richest people in the world wanting to kill their own children to save themselves money.


Q: What was your favorite stunt or practical effect that you pulled off in the movie? 

 A: (Sultan Saeed Darmaki – Director) All of them, to be honest! There are a number of stunt scenes in this film and I enjoyed doing all of them. Capturing monsters and slapstick comedy on camera is probably the best thing that can put a smile on my face, any day!
A: (Mallory O’Meara – Producer) My favorite stunt, easily, is the atomic wedgie moment (that I won’t ruin for you)! Sitting down with a team to discuss the logistics of an atomic wedgie is one of the coolest things in the world. But favorite practical effect? Amalgamated Dynamics Inc. really outdid themselves with the diversity of the monsters in this film. Everyone will end up with a favorite, and mine is the tentacled, Cthulhu-inspired character of Rebecca. The team at ADI even had little motors in the tentacles to make them move!

Q: What was the most challenging/rewarding part of making this film? 

 A: (Sultan Saeed Darmaki – Director) The most challenging part of making this film was directing a feature film for the first time. Luckily, I was blessed to have an experienced crew that taught me a lot. By the time we finished filming, I had learned so much, all of which I will definitely implement into my future films and that itself was the most rewarding part of making this film.

A: (Mallory O’Meara – Producer) Keeping all the craziness contained and moving forward. With such a huge cast and crew, lots of monsters (suit performers, actors in make-up appliances, and puppets) and sometimes live animals, it was quite a balancing act. But the most rewarding part? We absolutely did it! And now we feel like can really do anything.

Kids vs. Monsters stars Malcolm McDowell, Lance Henriksen and Armand Assante. It is also produced by Adamo Cultraro of Taormina Productions and Lawrie Brewster of Hex Media, with special effects by Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc. Personally, I’m super excited to continue the chat with another female producer making it in the biz as I had the fun, fortunate chance to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with Mallory. Long story short, we were both guest speakers at a “A Bloody Good Horror Movie Screenwriter’s Party” panel at the Phoenix Comic Con just this past summer and it’s just great seeing another writer/producer “walk the talk”.

Since this movie is so fresh, the trailer hasn’t come out you, but you can bet your butts that horror-movies.ca will get our hands on it as soon as it’s sliced and ready to serve.

The Importance of Makeup and Production Design in Movies

I’ve had my fair share in working with special effects make-up and production design teams. And what do I remember the most about working with these people? They are the most fun and well put-together bunch of folks you will ever meet! No, really. If you ask Clive Barker what kind of nightmares he has at night he would say, “None. They are all out here in the world already.” Of course, he’s speaking to the characters that graces such movies like Hellraiser and Midnight Meat Train. This being said, this has a lot to do with why special effect make-up and production designers in the horror genre are so pleasant to be around.

In an interview with Variety, we get an in-depth look on how American Horror Story Makeup artist Christien Tinsley creates the chilling looks one of the most popular shows on TV. For Tinsley, creating characters is what it’s all about. “The actors try to create an arc with their character,” he says. “Makeup is there to enhance that idea. That’s what we do. And sometimes with makeup effects, you’re building who that character becomes. And who they are is the way they look.” A lot of people, when joining my crew for the first time, wonder why I put a huge emphasis on makeup and production design. When I ultimately reply “They are the funnest and easiest people to get-along and work with,” well, anyone can identify with that. And in the world of horror, good make-up and production design is kind. I mean, it practically sets the whole mood and tone of the film!

"Jersey Devil" in Dark Haul - Interview with Creators at horror-movies.ca

In an article for filmmakermagazine.com, the issue about making horror movie around design and makeup aesthetics is very succinctly addressed.  “Learning more about the psychology of fear and the design patterns that make these films work can really shed light into the darkness.” -It’s all based around what scares us, atmosphere, suspense and the monster (star of the film). To create a good horror movie takes one that is truly a fan of the craft. By study effective films in the department of “scare” and “gore” I’m admitted myself into the school of spooks and learning what scares on the screen as much as off - what we don’t see or know. But these two elements are built upon the real psychology of fear and are important for me as a filmmaker to respect and take notes on.

Compelling Characters in Horror Movies

The reason why I wanted to touch upon creating compelling characters for horror movies in particular is because it is the “creature” or “bad guy” who is often the star in these movies. For me, it is important to study what makes some of the memorable characters in cinema stand-out in the horror genre as I want to make sure my writing sensibilities are aligned with what people expect out of a good horror movie. And maybe, it’s important to equally observe the “unexpected” when it comes to the most enigmatic characters to ever walk on the silver screen.

In the article titled “How To Tell A Horror Story” by New Statesman, “A highly effective thriller, has the opposite effect of most action cinema: it encourages a suspension of belief, rather than disbelief, enabling the audience to forget temporarily that a happy ending is out of the question.” -In other words, we have to be “okay” with the “bad guy” winning out in the end which makes for some of the most compelling characters that have ever been written in a story. I have numerous examples, but I will point out characters such as Hannibal Lector in Silence of the Lambs. In an interview by Forbes, Wes Craven talks about how Hannibal is his favorite horror movie character as he states, “He showed me the level of sophistication that can be brought to a horror film. With a character like Lecter, who is articulate and intelligent…is amused by terror and who actually enjoys the process of dismantling you. That's the most primal demonstration of fear, isn't it? Something that can completely destroy you to the extent that it actually takes your flesh into its body. That's total ownership. Totally terrifying.”

One of my favorite horror movie characters is Patrick Bateman whose character personifies American greed in American Psycho. If anyone ask me why I love horror films and want to write/produce/direct them, my quick answer is, “Where else am I allowed to write such compelling characters without feeling compelled to let the “good guy” win in every story? Because the reality is, “good guys” don’t always win in real life and my chance to create a slice of reality in my cinematic pursuits helps me be authentic in the medium in which I work. I can identify the injustices of the world by pontificating and creating lasting visual emotions that can remind us “why” we must evolve as a species. But hey, that’s just me.

How Horror Movies Fare In The Box Office

In a New York Time’s article entitled “Why An 'Evil Dead' Remake? Because Horror Is Hollywood's
Only Sure Thing” we already get the idea on “why” horror movies keep getting made. The important factor that helps me identify with the horror genre more and more is that it rides the line between horror and comedy. It’s like the movie is very self-ware that it was made for cheap, so why not make fun of some of the cheesier effects?

Any truly great horror movie had some comedic relief peppered throughout the storyline. More importantly (as I outlined in my previous article), making horror movies is way cheaper than your regular film because you’re not depending on A-List talent which you often do rely upon in comedy movies. Also, high concept is always key in making a good horror movie and we see more and more horror movie directors move on the make blockbuster films. But it doesn’t take a lot of money to show “high-concept”. This is why I chose the horror genre to be my first debut in directing as there is a demand for it. The numbers don’t lie.

Don’t believe me? Check out my article on horror-movies.ca where I list my top 5 horror movie directors who made horror movies on the cheap who later went on the make block-buster hits trilogies like Spiderman and Lord of the Rings. We have here a model that works and spookily speaks to the human psyche.

How to Make Horror Movies Cheaply

One of the models I have been observing a lot in trying to emulate in my career is adapting Jason Blum’s recipe for success in making successful films which is based on making movies in-expensively and giving more control to the directors. While the directors don’t make any money up-front, they get more creative control and rights to profits once the movie is released in theater. He promises that everyone will make their money back by VOD and DVD release.

This “cheap” model with creator-control has worked for him and his team. In an interview with Total Film, Blum stresses that it’s all about making a film with a “high concept, but small budget.” -And by the numbers in the box office anyone can see that this is a successful model to follow as the top grossing films (which a lot are horror-related) are the most memorable movies of our time. Whether we particularly like the horror genre or not.

In an example that was pointed out in an article entitled “Big Bang, Small Cost” by The Hollywood Reporter, “Nearly everything about horror movies is less expensive than typical Hollywood releases: production costs, development and star salaries.” (Example: Insidious: Chapter 2 cost $5 million and is nearing $90 million at the worldwide box office.) Many of these movies include Jason Blum’s titles that fall under his very famous horror movie production house, Blumhouse Entertainment. Now anyone can expect that if there’s a horror movie coming to the theaters and it has Jason’s name attached, it will be a very memorable and bloody-good experience. The research I’ve done in the last year for my movie has been completely centered around “good horror move, for cheap.” -So it’s been important for me to acclimate myself with the big players in the business that got this model down to a science.

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Exclusive Interview and Stills: 'Dark Haul' - HorrorMovies.ca

In my latest interview, I caught up with a horror movie producer and some cast members to candidly talk about the rigors of making a movie (any movie for that matter), but of course I'm going to concentrate on the horror genre. Read at your leisure and let me know what you think!

Exclusive Interview and Stills: 'Dark Haul' - HorrorMovies.ca