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What
were your sources of inspiration when writing Suicide
Trip?
I don’t quite know how to answer that. I know at the end of the
movie, I said thank you to Q.T, D.A, and K.F. Guess if you can decode
those names (not that hard), then maybe those were my influences at the
time.
Suicide
Trip tells the same story from different perspectives - so what
was the idea behind that approach? We’re talking about
something I wrote so long ago, it’s hard to really figure out what my
line of thinking was. I guess I wanted to make it a fun movie and telling
it as I did felt right. What can you tell us
about your directorial approach to your story at hand? Well,
every film is different. Been a while since I made one, but that’ll
change soon. But that being said, I think that a director’s relationship
with the actors is very important. It starts there. Actors are these
vulnerable human beings who are opening their ribcage and saying “have
at it,” so if they don’t trust you, you’ve got nothing. You
also play one of the leads in Suicide
Trip - so what can you tell us about your character, and what did
you draw upon to bring him to life?
Well, part of what I was making fun of in Suicide
Trip was the films of the day.
The high school films with all the archetypes. I wanted to take the angry
loner and make him as angry as possible. I wanted to take the popular guy
and make him so popular it would be comical. Playing Tommy wasn’t
something I’d want to do again, but it was cathartic in a way. He was
just a ball of rage and unchecked feelings. I’m not sure where it came
from.
Have you actually
written Tommy with yourself in mind, and to what degree is the character
autobiographical? I wrote him with me in mind, yes. No, not
at all. Though everyone has a combative side of themselves. What can you tell us about the rest of
your cast, and why exactly these people? Well Chris Clark
has been my friend since 13. He has a funny relationship with the truth
sometimes, so since day one I wanted to work with him. He’s not an actor
by training, just by experience. I think a lot of people start off that
way. Mike Mandell is just kind of a one-of-a-kind guy, a special dude. Eco
and I met right before the film was made and she had the part instantly,
even after we did a good amount of casting for Sasha. If I could locate
her, I’d work with her again. Sean Galdo… well he’s a legend. Do talk about
the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere?
Fuck. The shoot was a nightmare. I didn’t know what the Christ I was
doing, none of us did (not knocking the gaffer, etc—who was
amazing—just speaking from a general standpoint). We were making shit up
as we went along. Here’s a quick, but good example. We needed a keg for
the party scene. When Trent is doing a keg stand in the movie, that
wasn’t fake. He did a keg stand and then after we were done shooting, we kicked the keg. It was a sloppy night. Most of the
crew was staying at the house and people were puking in the grass. It was
bad.
Anything
you can tell us about audience and critical reception of Suicide
Trip?
I mean it never really got noticed by critics. The company that agreed
to distribute it was a clowncar. This movie hasn’t really ever seen
daylight. That being said and knowing them, they probably would’ve hated
it. Roger Ebert was the only critic I care about and he’s gone. Miss him
and his writing. Wish I’d known him.
As far as I know, Suicide
Trip was your first movie - so looking back at it now, how does it
make you feel? Nostalgic as can be and uncomfortable (when
I’m on screen). I love what it represents in my life, which is kinda a
creative birthing of sorts. What made you want to go into filmmaking
to begin with, and did you receive any formal training on the subject? Some.
And you know what did? Probably Troma movies. As a kid, they were the
equivalent of exploitation movies. I loved the Class Of Nuke ‘Em High
movies. What
can you tell us about your filmwork since Suicide
Trip? And any future projects on the horizon? Kalamity
and Wild Seven are the two other films I’ve made. I’ve written a
bunch. Rarfland, K.A.D, Moonshine Clover, etc. Working on one now I’m
probably gonna make this year. How
would you describe yourself as a director? Shit, that’s
kinda a personal question. JK. I just wanna make the film true to what I
set out to do. Music speaks to me a lot, I guess. I don’t know, it’s
been a while since I’ve made a film, but I’m sure I’d better answer
this question after making the film I’m writing. Filmmakers,
actors, whoever else who inspire you?
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Robert Forster is my
man, he’s the best. He finds his way into anything I write. Otherwise,
my heart broke beyond repair once Phillip Seymore Hoffman died. It was the
moment my idea of the world changed. I always said—when watching him on
screen—that if this guy would be okay, so would everything else. If a
person can be that genuine—that honest on screen—and be okay?
Everything else will be okay. Well it wasn’t and I cried horribly when
he died. I like a lot of directors, but that’s an overshare that’s
important to me. Your favourite
movies?
Battle Royale has always been my favorite film, as
I state it. But I’ve kinda let go of that over the years, haven’t
watched it as much. I love different films for different reasons. I love
the Babadook cause it’s one of the most brilliant metaphors I’ve ever
seen. I loved Rampage cause it’s a silly, fun action movie. Playing
favorites is never a good idea. ... and of course, films you really deplore?
Shhh,
I’m not talking shit about others’ work. I’ve had it done about my
own and it stings. Your/your
movie's website, Facebook, whatever else? Haha, I don’t
do social media. Off the grid. If my films have accounts, that’s a shrug
for me. Anything else
you're dying to mention that I have merely forgotten to ask? Well,
I hope you enjoy my other films. Your review of Suicide
Trip was awesome.
Written by a movie fan. I can tell you’re a dude. Stay real! Thanks
for the interview!
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