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An Interview with Adam Weber, Director of The First Date

by Mike Haberfelner

November 2018

Films directed by Adam Weber on (re)Search my Trash

 

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Your new movie The First Date - in a few words, what is it about?

 

The First Date is a quirky little 5 minute horror/comedy short about a man who gets far more than he bargains for whilst on a blind date.

 

Did you personally have any bad blind date experiences you'd like to share, and did any of those somehow sneak into your script (I hope not literally though)?

 

Haha. Sadly my life isn't that interesting! I've had a couple of dates with people I initially met on the world wide web, but nothing as lively as this particular date.

 

(Other) sources of inspiration when writing The First Date?

 

I wouldn't say any one thing directly inspired it. I'm sure sub-conciously there are certain ideas that crept into the back of my head, whether it be a home grown indie film like 100 Bloody Acres or  something twisted like Evil Feed. I think individuals inspire me more than their work. A few guys that come to mind are Chris McInroy, Drew Macdonald, Jason Kupfer and Richard Powell (just to name a few).

 

How would you describe The First Date's brand of humour?

 

Dark (haha). Dark is certainly the word for it. I'm well aware that it might not resonate with everyone (looking at my dear mother when I say that, haha) but the intention was certainly to make it graphic but to keep it fun at the same time.

 

You also have to talk about The First Date's gruesome bits for a bit, and how were they achieved?

 

Ooooo, tough one to answer without spoilers but I'll do my best. Everything fx-wise that you see in the film was conceived practically. Leigh Madden is a local makeup and effects artist where I live (in Adelaide, South Australia) and an absolute godsend. He has his own business called Madden FX (check out the Facebook page), and from early on I knew I wanted him and his team to be a part of the project. He's incredibly creative, full of experience and really easy to collaborate with. I was blown away by the quality of those effects.

 

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

 

As far as direction goes, I wanted to let the actors play with the idea as much as possible. I made a concentrated effort to keep the mystery of the situation front and centre. I want people to ask those questions after the fact. It's only my second time directing and despite having my shot listing and a feel for the general tone of the piece, the specifics weren't necessarily set in stone. Even down to the re-casting of The Chef at the last minute. That role was originally set to be played by my DP, Marc Clement (whose also an actor) but due to the logistics of it all we were forced to look elsewhere and thankfully the wonderful Anton Schrama came on board last minute!

 

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

 

I lucked out big time with both cast and crew. After writing and producing my debut short film After Hours in Florida in early 2016, I returned home to Australia and looked to get this second project off the ground. I used my powers of networking to reach out to the local film community here in Adelaide and I was fortunate enough to garner some interest from a number of really lovely people. From there I met Marc and my AD Stef. I cast Chad as the lead, and I'd previously worked with a couple of others from the cast and crew so I knew a few people. I was very fortunate.

 

What can you tell us about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere?

 

The shoot was actually quite stressful despite things appearing to run fairly smoothly. I'm sure everyone probably says that, but I sort of end up getting caught up in my own head at times (this is why we have ADs haha). The on-set atmopshere felt good and we were fortunate enough to be able to shoot in a well respected establishment called The House Of Chow. It was a city location that I had my heart set on from the outset.

 

The $64-question of course, where can The First Date be seen?

 

The First Date is currently doing the festival rounds (or at least we're hoping to). We've submitted to something like 30 different festivals so it's all pretty much a waiting game now. Hopefully we will have some reviews rolling in shortly and the world premiere of the film will be on November 25th in

Melbourne, Australia at MonsterFest. The wider release won't be for twelve months.

 

Anything you can tell us about audience and critical reception of The First Date yet?

 

You just so happen to be the first cab off the rank here at (re)Search my Trash, Mike! (Haha). I've put some feelers out there though and people definitely seem keen to check it out so I'll keep you posted on future reviews.

 

Any future projects you'd like to share?

 

Funny you should ask, I'm currently in the early pre-production stages for my next short film The Body. It ventures into crime/comedy territory and it's driven mostly by dialogue, which is something new for me. We're hoping to shoot toward the middle of next year.

 

What got you into filmmaking in the first place, and did you receive any formal training on the subject?

 

I'd like to say I was one of those people that knew from an early age that I wanted to get involved in film making, but that'd be a lie (haha). My only training comes in the form of watching and learning. Initially I started collecting films and memorabilia around 7 or 8 years ago, that led to AdamTheMovieGod (my five year long website) where I wound up writing about and critiquing films. So I guess you could say that venturing into the industry, albeit through dipping toes in the waters of short film making, is yet another extension of that initial interest. I can now safely call myself a cinephile though!

 

What can you tell us about your filmwork prior to The First Date?

 

My debut short was After Hours, a mystery/thriller starring the supremely talented Bill Oberst jr [Bill Oberst jr interview - click here] and directed by the wonderful Michael Aguiar (The Laughing Mask) [Michael Aguiar interview - click here]. That simply came about through sheer luck. I'd previously reviewed Michael's debut feature film and we got talking, he respected my constructive feedback, asked me if I'd written anything, I told him that I had, he read it and enjoyed it, and before I knew it casting calls were being held on the other side of the world for characters I'd written at the end of 2015 in my office in Adelaide, South Australia... pretty surreral stuff. The film can be found on the new horror anthology Welcome To Hell, distributed by Wild Eye Releasing. From there I got involved with some producing, namely on low budget creature feature Don't Fuck In The Woods by Shawn Burkett [Shawn Burkett interviw - click here], and more prominently Terrifier written and directed by Damien Leone. I also directed a couple of sixty second shorts that will be appearing on Tony Newton's anthology 60 Seconds To Die 2 which is due to be released soon.

 

How would you describe yourself as a director?

 

Haha... interesting, I actually have no idea how to answer that. I like to think I'm easy to talk to and that I treat everyone with respect on and off the set but I suppose you'd have to ask those who've worked with me in order to get to the crux of it.

 

Filmmakers who inspire you?

 

Filmmakers who inspire me hey? Wow, way too many to name so let's just go with the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, Mickey Keating and John Hughes.

 

Your favourite movies?

 

I have over 2,500 films, so how long have you got? (Haha.) Based on re-watchability factor let's go with anything Tarantino, American Psycho, Bully, Drive, Darling, Timecrimes, Tape, and Home Alone.

 

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

 

It takes a lot for me to throw out terms like “hate” or “despise” because most things have some merit in one way or another. I always try to find the positives though there has been a couple of films that I felt served absolutely no purpose, A Serbian Film is the main one that comes to mind. Certain micro-budget films can be deemed almost unwatchable I suppose, mostly due to inferior technical execution. I'd say I find certain films overrated if anything. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, Little Miss Sunshine, Silver Linings Playbook, The Ice Storm and the Harry Potter series are just a few.

 

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

 

My film related website is www.adamthemoviegod.com, please feel free to send my your films if you want them reviewed people! I have an IMDb page and my Facebook is under “Adam Paul Weber”, reach out and say hi.

 

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

 

I'm pretty sure you've covered everything Mike, very thorough and professional I must say!

 

Thanks for the interview!

 

Thank you for asking.

 

© by Mike Haberfelner


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Thanks for watching !!!



 

 

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

 

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

 

directed by
Eddie Bammeke

written by
Michael Haberfelner

produced by
Michael Haberfelner, Luana Ribeira and Eddie Bammeke

 

now streaming at

Amazon

Amazon UK

Vimeo

 

 

 

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

is all of that.

 

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

 

Tales to Chill
Your Bones to

the new anthology by
Michael Haberfelner

 

Out now from
Amazon!!!