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Your film Almost
Invisible - in a few words, what is it about?
It's
about a misfit girl trying to make some friends. At the same time, it's about
a bunch of party hungry teenagers trying to take advantage of her obvious
interest.
What were your main inspirations when writing the movie?
It
dawned on me that Gothic misfits, wandering American high schools since
the 70s, are still around. They have a sense of abandonment that hasn't
changed. Their look is even the same.
How would you describe your directorial approach?
My
approach was to micromanage success. My stars and costars have confirmed
that, while encouraging collaboration, I stuck to the vision I had when
writing the film just months earlier on set with a great deal of feedback
from them.
Your film is (intentionally) confusing, even labyrinthine in
structure. Have you ever had the feeling you might lose your story in the
non-linear proceedings? While
the story is at times confusing, the telling is for the most part linear.
Like a puzzle that I am delighted to explain to anyone who is curious, it
works without any holes. None found to date. And when you find out that
April is a ghost in the end, people are still shocked and frightened. And
on multiple viewings, they still find themselves frightened, coming out of
the labyrinth as you put it to once again find out that April was never
really there. It works again and again and again. I am very pleased that
it worked. And that it works at each sitting.
With Almost
Invisible being a horror film, is that a genre particularly dear
to you?
While
I have great regard and respect for that genre, supernatural horror is
something I have just touched upon. I learned a great deal about it by
making this film. My biggest lesson: it's very hard to scare with too many
people in one scene. Live and learn!
In a way, Almost
Invisible is about bullying and alienation. Is that
anything you have experienced first hand during your high school or
college years (or even after that)?
Abandonment
is one of my favorite themes. It's nothing I have personally
experienced, but it is one of the toughest forms of torture and abuse
that I see in society today. Parents do it to their children. Friends do
it to their classmates. It's cold and it's so often calculated. And when
it is part of the design, it is particularly frightening and cruel.
Among your cast of
characters, who do you identify more with, the "weird" girl or
the "normal", the popular kids?
The
outside of the box misfit that falls in love with her, Drew, I relate
with the most.
A few words
about your cast and crew?
Hard-working
and dedicated to my vision. Almost
Invisible is your directorial debut. How did the film come into
being? I
am a writer
1st and foremost. But I realized that I would only get recognition as a
writer if I directed something. I believe it worked. Now, I am delighted
to direct anything I write if the funding powers that be desired this.
Similarly, I am delighted to direct anything I haven't written. But, I
remain 1st and foremost a writer. I think that is my strength. I'm
delighted to do only that if necessary. Lessons learned from your directorial debut? The
value of sticking
to task,
solving problems without money, editing, not losing your mind throughout
the process,
The value of the 1st assistant director
-- just to name a few.
How
easy/difficult was it to get distribution for your film?
Very
easy to get low end distribution from fly-by-night companies that back
burner your film. Very
difficult and slow getting the right deal from better companies affiliated
with serious distribution channels. What
can you tell us about audience reception so far? People
are entertained throughout the film then shocked at the end. And then
there is the admiration I'm getting how much we did with so little. You
actually practice medicine for a living, so what made you want to go into
filmmaking in the first place? I
was raised in LA
and have wanted to write ever since I was a child. You have written or
co-written quite a number of scripts, several of which ar at various
stages of production right now. Could you talk about those for a bit?
Select
Services Films' option on my
romantic comedy Snap! expired late 2010. I passed on a
subsequent offer
by SJPL Films. Now,
Todd
Grodnick, Merrill Ent., is
presently
reviewing for financing.
Patricia Herskovic (Toy Soldiers) and Jack Freedman (The
Christmas Card)
are collaborating on the development of a completed full feature heist, The
Dead Hand. It rallies a following at the question: "How much do
you hate banks?" No formal option for it as of yet.
Jonathan Alter is retaining me to co-author a serial killer thriller.
Review of legal elements with counsel and contract pending.
And although the non-union version of Almost
Invisible secured a WEA
affiliate release, fundraising is underway to produce a union version of
the film.
When
writing screenplays, what are usually your sources of inspiration? My
dreams, current scientific literature, my family members and friends.
Writers
and directors who have influenced you?
Tarantino,
Coppola (FF), Rodriguez, Hitchcock. Your favourite
movies?
The
Godfather,
Go, The Graduate.
... and of course, films you really deplored?
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Golden
Compass (oh my God)
Lord
of the Rings (really?)
Your/your
film's website, Facebook, whatever else?
www.almostinvisible.com
And
I think I'm on Facebook.
Anything else
you are dying to mention that I have merely forgotten to ask?
Two
things:
One,
anyone you particularly wish to thank at this time?
Thanks
to WEA affiliate, Chemical Burn, for picking it up! Go Almost
Invisible! [Interview
with Chemical Burn's Warren Croyle - click here]
Two,
what is your most proud achievement to date is a filmmaker?
I
just won 1st place for best script in the 2011 Phoenix Film Festival.
Voted number 11 in United States, it is a highly regarded, more artsy
festival than most. I am most proud of that accomplishment because my
winning script is an ultra violent terrorist script that heightens our
awareness of what religion driven fanatics would actually do in this
country if they had a chance. I was surprised to see such an artsy
festival give such a powerful yet commercial screenplay such high
praise.
Thanks
for the interview!
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find David Allingham at adultvideouniverse.com
