You're currently shooting Camp Blood 4 and Camp Blood 5
back to back - so what are those two about, and are they actually
connected, narratively?
Camp Blood 4 and 5 loosely follow Camp Blood: First
Slaughter in that we reference that film and even show a few flashbacks from it. However, both films could be
considered non-cannon in that we spin-off into a new story at the beginning of
Part 4 that continues through Part 5. We also re-arrange the backstory to better fit this storyline, which overall makes the entries more
cohesive and easy to follow. Part 4 follows 6 friends on their way to a
rock
concert. They decide to stop off and party at "Camp Black Tree"
for the night (aka Camp Blood) - however it goes as you'd
expect. They are bumped off one-by-one in gory fashion at the hands of a killer. However, in an
interesting twist of events, a 2nd killer does most of the killing in this one, setting up the premise for
Part 5.
Part 5 follows the survivor of Part 4 as she recovers
from the events and tracks down the killer with the help of two female friends. Without giving too much away, let's
just say we end the film with a surprising and shocking scene sure to leave fans begging for more.
Now how
did you get involved with the project in the first place? I actually approached David Sterling online about
distributing some of my films, with the possibility of hiring me to direct some exclusive titles for him. We quickly
formed a friendship and after he released Blood Claws, Shockumentary,
Meathook
Massacre and Faces of Dying on VOD, I agreed to a
6-picture deal. The first two would be Camp Blood 4 and Camp Blood 5.
Shooting
two movies, albeit of the same series, back to back - where are the
advantages, where are the challenges?
We planned ahead by having the same story sort of
"spread" over two films. While they each are their own movies, with different actors and plot twists, I
treated it as a mini-series, spread over two entries. Since both films share a handful of the actors it made it easier
to get more shot for each one when I had an actor available to shoot. The challenge was trying to not be
overwhelmed with the daunting task of creating two stand-out sequels that fans would love and remember without
seeming repetitive or rushed. I really tried to make both films unique while still keeping them closely together in theme.
So
to what extent are your movies connected to the original Camp Blood
from 2000, and your thoughts about that movie as such? And will there at
all be guest appearances from the earlier movie and/or its two sequels? It's only connected to the first 3 films in that it
takes place at the fictional "Camp Blood" and features a killer with a clown mask. It's more directly related to Camp
Blood: First Slaughter as we actually reference events and scenarios from that entry. I have the upmost respect
for Brad Sykes and the original films. I'd seen them growing up, as Hollywood Video carried them all and I
remember them having a small cult following. They are great "bad" films, but have heart and are
full of fun homages. I wanted to capture the spirit of the original films
while still adding my own "Dustin Ferguson"
flavor to the series. And David Sterling hired me for this job, so it's my duty to make the best
Camp Blood films
that I can, that are strong enough to stand on their own while still
paying homage to the others.
What can you tell us
about Camp Blood 4 and Camp Blood 5's approach to horror (as
in suspense vs sudden shocks, atmosphere vs all-out gore)?
It wouldn't be a Camp Blood movie without
boobs and gore. So rest assured, there's plenty of that in both films. However, unlike Camp Blood: First
Slaughter we aren't using any digital effects. Everything is real,
physical gore, with loads of oozing blood. But I'm
actually aiming to make "scary" films with these. The previous
entries had a more "body count" approach, and
while that certainly still applies here, I wanted to add a little
substance to the characters and meaning behind
everything. Something with awesome cinematography, beautiful colors, a rockin' soundtrack, sexy actors and
actresses and dripping with atmosphere. Not to discount anything in the other films, as they all have their
charm and positive qualities, this is just my own take on the films, and my chance to do something a little different with the series.
With
Camp Blood 4 and Camp Blood 5 being slasher movies (I
suppose at least), and these movies usually demand quite a few bloody bits
- what can you tell us about the gore effects in your movies, and how are
they achieved? Wetworks SFX out of Omaha, NE handled our fantastic
opening scene. Everything is 100% prosthetic. For the remaining deaths I handled them myself (as if I didn't
wear enough hats already). I've had some experience with gore effects on films like
Theatre of the
Deranged and a handful of my own films, but it was important to open
with a bang, so it was Wetworks all the way. The
hardest thing about making low budget horror films is actually having the budget to do what you really want. For both
films pretty much the entire budget went to the effects and scoring the choice naughty bits needed to make the
distributor happy ;) So fans should expect a fun, old skool bloodbath.
Anything you can tell us about your
cast(s), and why exactly these poeple? The star is Schuylar Craig. She had a starring role
previously in Shockumentary and also appeared in Blood Claws and
Night of The Clown. She is
a model-turned-actress. We have had great chemistry since we first worked together on a pair of
Dragonsclaw
music videos and now she's become a staple in the films. 42ND street films
veteran Jennii Caroline has a co-starring
role. She's starred in a lot of films like the Die Sister,
Die! remake with Brinke Stevens as well as Gloved Murderess and the
Black Tree Forest films. Breana
Mitchell has a bit part in Part 5, she starred in Doll
Killer as well as Invitation To Die. And YouTube
sensation Shawn C. Phillips [Shawn
C. Phillips interview - click here] actually has a role in both films as
Schuylar's brother. Nearly everyone else is a newcomer like Kyle Slack (who is also providing the score) and Alicia
Rockefeller. Christopher Christiansen, Michael Booton, Doug Mill and a few others appear as well. I tend to only
work with people I know and trust, as we form a bit of a "community" when working on these films and
it all boils down to us being able to get along and get the project done. Not to mention making it a film that is
entertaining and enjoyable for fans. Our good chemistry shows on film. And that bit of "charm" remains in most
of my movies, as I usually work again with those who prove they are dedicated and proud of their work.
What can you
tell us about the shoot(s) as such, and the on-set atmosphere? No matter what, my shoots tend to go really fast. I
couldn't slow down if I tried. Most of my movies are made in a very short amount of time, unless I have a larger
budget, allowing for more days to be spent on the film. It's important to me to have a fun, relaxed and easy shoot
for my actors and crew. Because let's face it, at this point, none of us are doing it for the money. So I try and not
make anyone sacrifice any more time than is really needed to get the footage shot. But we love what we do
and try and make each film a new "experience" and "adventure" to reflect back on, and the movie
itself sort of serves as a a reminder of the fun time we all had together.
Both Camp Blood 4 and Camp Blood 5 will be
released very soon - so when and where can the general puclic be able to
see them, and why this very short gap between shoot and release? And does
this put any kind of strain on you as a filmmaker? Yes, they are aimed for a February 21st, 2016
release and pre-sales are already in effect thru
Sterling Entertainment (you can PM David Sterling on Facebook to
reserve your copies). While it may seem like a "short gap" between filming and release, remember that we
live in the digital age, and I typically make movies pretty fast anyways. I usually edit my footage the same day I
filmed it, so when we wrap filming I can just "snap" the footage together, render it and it's pretty much done.
When you make between 4 and 8 films a year, you get used to the pace and I treat it like a full-time job. I'm
working everyday on movie stuff, whether it be meetings, writing,
planning, scheduling, hiring cast/crew, negotiating
distribution deals, artwork, promoting, filming, editing, rendering, etc. It's a never ending job that should
only be done if you truly love it. And luckily, I do. I'd be lying if I said it didn't put any strain on me, but I do work
best under deadlines, and I've never failed to meet one so it hasn't been a problem yet. It makes it exciting, more
than anything. I know David is trying to get it in stores and available thru some other outlets as well, so follow
him or myself on Facebook to stay up to date on when and where that will all go down.
Any future projects
beyond Camp Blood 4 and Camp Blood 5? I signed a 6 movie deal with David Sterling for this
year, so after these I have 4 more films left to fulfill this
obligation. However, after both Camp Blood films I'm
actually directing The Amityville Legacy, and then jumping back into this. Also, I'll be doing another
film for Screamtime Films later in the year as well, rounding out a whopping 8 movies this year! Not to mention I'll
have several films hitting distribution in 2016 that are already complete like
Tales For The
Campfire, Night of The Clown, Gloved
Murderess and Halloween Doll to name a few.
Your/your movie's website, Facebook, whatever else? You can find me on Facebook, or follow
42ND street
films here:
https://www.facebook.com/42ND-street-films-451815011576883 Anything
else you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?
The Amityville Legacy
begins filming March 6th ! We currently have a
GoFundMe campaign going to raise
the $2500 we need to cover the remaining f/x and actor
expenses. Here's the link, please consider a donation or sharing the link! Great perks for donors!
https://www.gofundme.com/xxkwgsqs Thanks for the
interview!
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