Your new movie Another/Mark
of the Witch - in a few words, what is it about?
Just a family working out their inner demons.
How did the project get off the ground to begin with?
Another started out as a short film (completed at the end of 2011).
During the production we decided the story justified a feature length
treatment. So, upon finishing the short (and the birth of our second son), we
wrote a new ending and added the Aunt Ruth character and began feature
production.
The occult background of your film - did you put much research
into it, or was it pretty much all made up? And (other) sources of
inspiration then writing Another? Without giving too
much away. Some inspiration was taken from the Biblical account of the
Nephilim. The Nephilim (“Fallen Ones”) were the offspring of sexual
relationships between the sons of God or Demon and daughters of men in
Genesis 6:1-4. We played with this idea a bit, but we take it in such a
different direction.
How would you
describe your directorial approach to your story at hand, and what can you
tell us about the look and feel of your movie?
Another
has
some of the style and mystery of a giallo, but I think it is a unique film
unto itself. The film has a real unsettling feeling, before audiences know
it they are upside-down in the story just like Jordyn, sinking deeper into
the nightmare.
On the technical side,
Another
was shot with the RED ONE, and EPIC-X 4K
cinema cameras. Shooting RED is the closest thing to shooting film in the
digital realm. After years of shooting RED I am still in awe at the images
these cameras produce.
Another
doesn't look like it but it was made on a shoe string budget
($20K) I wore many hats during production, cinematographer, editor, colorist…
etc… etc. A lot of late late nights, and with the birth of
our second child I would pull double duties. After we managed to get
everyone into bed I would work on the film until the early early hours.
Sometimes sleeping in the editing chair. It's really a miracle this film
got completed. All the distractions and personal responsibilites in a way
kept me really focused on completing this film, and I couldn't be happier
with the way it turned out. Our newborn son even made it into the opening
scenes of the film. BONUS! With Another
being a horror movie - is that a genre you're at all fond of, and how
would you describe your film's approach to horror?
We all
love horror. The horror genre has such a rich history of experimentation,
and it is such a subversive force in cinema. I think this is what draws me
to the genre. It's constantly reinventing itself, and in horror anything
is possible.With
Another
we tried to show audiences things they have not
seen before. I think some of the visual images in this film will stick
with people for a long time. Do
talk about your key cast for a bit, and why exactly these people? We
were extremely lucky to have such a great cast. Paulie Rojas (Last
Resort)
plays the role of Jordyn. She brings such an innocence to the character,
which is in such contrast to where Jordyn ends up at the end of the film.
It's fun to watch.
Maria Olsen (Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief) [Maria
Olsen interview - click here] - what can be said, she's the hardest working woman in horror. I've worked
with Maria on a few projects now, and she's always such a pleasure. Nancy
Wolfe (Helter Skelter) - for me she steals the movie. I just love her
character. We added Nancy to the film when we decided to make
Another
full
length. She plays Aunt Ruth, the loving and caring stepmother to Jordyn,
but she holds a dark secret. Nancy really brings her to life on screen. We
truly had such a great cast for
Another. The
$64-question of course: When and where will the film be released onto the
general public? We've had a lot of interest in
distribution, but until we premiere at festival the release date is TBD. Any future projects beyond Another
you'd like to share? We have a few projects in development.
Can't really say much, but we will bring the darkness. What
can you tell us about your filmwork prior to Another? I
started my filmmaking career in 2004 with my directorial debut at the
Sundance Film Festival. The film was Loma Lynda: Episode II, it was a live
film and music project that tells the story of a Young Clair Prophet's
journey to Los Angeles and her eventual abduction into the doomsday cult
the Church Universal and Triumphant. Loma Lynda: Episode II
was the first feature of its
kind at the Sundance Film Festival. Winning much stellar praise from film
and music lover's world wide. Loma Lynda: Episode II screened and was
performed live alongside such greats as Radiohead, the Pixies, and the
Cure, at film and music venues such as Coachella, CMJ, Viper Room, the
MOCA.
After Loma Lynda: Episode II I made a a film called The Red
Door. It's a blood-drenched
psychological mystery. The Red Door went on to screen at many US and
international festivals, and garnered many festival awards.
"Jason Bognacki's The Red Door... the most horrifying thing I've seen
committed to film in a long, long time... Immensely stylish...
Unrelenting, astounding... -
DVDTALK.com (DVD review)
"A sensational visual style; beautiful floating camerawork... a
mesmerizing cinematic experience that swayed like a sensual dream
gone awry..." - Horrorphile.net (review)
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Feeling lucky? Want to search any of my partnershops yourself for more, better results? (commissions earned) |
The links below will take you just there!!!
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"The Red Door... part David Lynch psychological mind trip and
part Dario Argento blood-drenched giallo!"
Indie Film Chat (review)
"This film is art."
Shockfest (review)
Another
is my first narrative feature film. How
would you describe yourself as a director? I am at heart an
experimentalist. I love to play the role of mad scientist. I like to break
things, and see what's inside; Frankinsteining new creations, and watch
them have a life of their own. That's the biggest thrill, and I guess
that's why everyone creates. Your/your
movie's website, Facebook, whatever? Another
on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Another-A-Film-by-Jason-Bognacki/101104546640677
My production company page: fullframefeatures.com
- you can stream films here!
Filmmaker page:: https://www.facebook.com/bognacki
Thanks
for the interview!
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