Your upcoming film A Blood Story
- in a few words, what's it
about?
A Blood Story is a dark and twisted blood-drenched love story of sorts
that starts with three strangers who meet on their journey to find the
truth of an age old legend seeking the fountain of youth but uncovering
much more. The evil that follows is delved in the deepest of bloody
historical secrets… BATHORY! What were your inspirations when writing
A Blood Story? A few of
us have had multiple discussions over doing a lower budget film between 10
and 20 thousand dollars. A film that could be shot and edited and right
out the door. Can it be done, yes, but for those like Wolfgang Meyer [Wolfgang
Meyer interview - click here] and
myself, there has always been the issue of the look and value of the film.
It's easy to shoot a film for a few grand and end up with a film that has
no lighting style or design and no value with talent, so, the film makes
no money. They are a dime a dozen in this business. They get deals and
sit. Netflix and Amazon are great but it wont pay the bills alone or even
get back what you put into the film. So we had many challenges and they
were met. Working with Wolfgang Meyer now on back-to-back films has given
life to so many possibilities. Our passion and commitment in making a
beautiful film has grown to another level and we've become very good
friends at the same time. We have the same expectation level and we both
work very hard. Then of course
there is Tim Hays [Tim Hays
interview - click here] and Debra Lamb [Debra
Lamb interview - click here]. A combined effort of cooperative
investing with our skills and money. With all these inspirations around me
I was able to find a way to shoot the film with the same expectations we
had for the cinematography in our last film, Disciples. All this comes into
play when writing the script. Knowing the strengths around you and seeing
the structure and its potentials. All this gave me that fuel to dive into
this thing and it just kinda took off. It allowed me to really make the
script what I feel is something special and at the same time something we
can shoot with this budget. I talk a bit about Camden Toy below and he as
well as Debra Lamb are both inspirations. Their talents gave me tools. You
cant paint without colors! And of course Tawny Amber Young. As a producer,
Tawny was involved heavily in the early talks about this film. So I think
this particular writing has many inspirations and all these elements I
mentioned contributed as inspirations. None of the ideas or creativity was
spawned from another film or creation. This painting came from my head
with a selection of colors to work with. How do you plan to approach your
subject matter on a directorial level?
Joe Hollow, Debra Lamb |
This is an area I
can't
discuss too much yet. The style of the film is being designed as a whole
now. I have a pretty solid idea of the direction we are going in but since
I've written the script and talking more and more with Wolfgang, the vision
is not so much changing as much as it is developing. The script was
written smart and I was able to connect with Wolfgang on this creatively.
With that it raises the bar. So yes there is an approach but in lieu of
saying too much, I can say that we are storyboarding now and the design is
very original. Wolfgang is on a mission!! All this then trickles down to
the talent. So my job as a whole here is pretty extensive and when we
finish designing the film I'll be able to talk more about this area. As far as I know,
you have recently started a fundraiser for your movie. So what can you
tell us about your fundraising efforts, and what will these funds go into?
We were able to raise the
budget for the film but I felt we could do a little more for the film by
bringing in a few people who can help in the films production office, PR
and marketing. So these are the areas the funds will go. I have never run
an indieGoGo campaign before. I've supported them and donated a ton but
never ran one myself. It's a really good opportunity for honest projects
whatever they may be to get a little help. So I figured for the first
time, go ahead and run a campaign to bring a few of these people aboard
and at the same time raise some cash for the many who are working for free
on so many levels to see the project through including people like Debra,
Tawny and myself. It's an honest campaign for all the right reasons, and I
was able to offer some really great prizes for donations. Outside the
average poster signings and such, we have one that gets you in the film as
a dead body, and there are seats for producers as well. It's a low campaign
raising $3000 and after a few days it has raised $1800. I expect it will
simmer until the end and hopefully rise at the end and raise all its
funds. It's guaranteed to be a film that will get done quickly and picked
up quickly. I know you will never please everyone but for the most part I
can say you certainly won't throw it in the trash or hide it at the bottom
of your DVD collection, I can promise you that. If anyone wants to help
out a really ambitious film with a lot of talent and beautiful people,
please donate to our campaign on indiegogo.
www.indiegogo.com/projects/255761?a=20237 Once
the fundraiser is done, how do you plan to proceed, and even the faintest
idea when the film's going to be premiered/released? It's so
early to even really touch on this. The project is literally a month old.
I can say there have been discussions with distributors and after the
campaign is over and we secure those who will be taking the reigns in
production management, PR and marketing areas, we'll then be able to move
forward with discussing the premier and related topics.
Debra Lamb |
According
to my information, A Blood Story
will be produced by you in tandem
with genre veteran Debra Lamb's Lamblight Productions, and Debra
will also play a part in your movie [Debra
Lamb interview - click here]. So how did that collaboration come
into being, what part will she playing, how did you and Debra first meet, and the like?
Debra Lamb
plays the role of Erzsebet
Bathory. Better known as Elizabeth
Bathory. She
is a powerful character actor. This role following her epic performance in
Disciples will be a good example of what "the return of Debra
Lamb" will be offering filmmakers. Debra and I are also the greatest
of friends. It was primarily Debra and I who gave this film life at the
start. At least the vision of it anyways. We had been talking about doing a
film on this budget level for quite a few months. So one weekend we did
some writing. We both decided to each write a story. On that weekend A Blood Story
was born. It just came together fast and we decided to run
with this one first. It's guaranteed that Debra and I will do at least 2
films together in the very near future. So in the executive office is
where we share a seat. Debra and I are the executive producers on the
project and Michael J Schaefer is the films co-executive producer. We
do have a little promo out that says "Joe Hollow Films and LambLight
Productions Presents" but in the end I'm sure it will be more formal
with "Joe Hollow and Debra Lamb", since we are actually funding
the film and not our production companies. This here is another area
currently being discussed. You've got some fresh off-the-press info here. Besides
Debra Lamb, A Blood Story
will also star genre veterans Linnea
Quigley, Robert Z'Dar and Camden Toy, most of whom you've already worked with
before. What can you tell us about them, their contributions to the movie,
and about working with veterans of their ilk in general?
Camden Toy |
I can't
speak highly enough about Camden Toy. We worked together recently on Disciples
and this will be our 2nd film together. He is just a wonderful
talent and a true class act. I always had a high regard for his talents
but after one particular day on Disciples
that high regard escalated. It was a very complex day. The set
hosted 11 actors including Brinke Stevens, Tony Todd, Debbie Rochon, Angus
Scrimm, Debra Lamb and Camden, so the pressure was on. I saw something that
day with Camden I'll hold close to my heart for all my days. He is just
tremendous. When I was writing A Blood Story, I had certain actors in mind
as I was writing it soon became apparent to me the character was being
inspired by Camden Toy. It was Camden the whole time. I can say that
revision gave the script a bigger life. It allowed me to pursue areas and
challenges I was now comfortable with taking on. I experience somewhat of
the same with Debra Lamb and Linnea Quigley on set. We have all grown up
to them and used to the cliche term "scream queen". But a man
like Angus Scrimm will tell you the same thing and on a few occasions he
and I discussed this, they are much more than just scream queens. With Disciples
I was committed to giving them something they have never done
before. Wolfgang and I were committed to making them look better than we
have ever seen them. Why? Because I feel this is how legends are born!!
Not with just another stereotypical role but by seeing them in something
epic!! Something bigger and making their fans proud! Taking the next step
and going to the next level. These roles were not written and then cast,
they were written specifically for them. Working with them is a tremendous
honor for me. We've all grown to become wonderful friends and together now
taking on some exciting projects. When it comes to contributions, well,
the list goes on and on with Debra and Linnea. Disciples
owes a lot to
both of them. They were vital in giving the film life in so many areas, and
now A Blood Story. Robert Z'Dar who was recently inducted into the
Independent Films Hall of Fame is obviously a very familiar face in both
the indie world and mainstream. Famed for Maniac Cop and Tango
& Cash with Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell. The move to bring Robert in was
made after discussions of the films value and a need to artistically sew
the film together. This is where the brilliant character "Gerry the
Jaw" was created and again it was written specifically for him.
Robert offers the film a unique character with hall of fame-credentials. I've yet to work with Robert and Im looking forward to our time together.
He's a legend and I'm honored.
A
few words about the rest of your cast?
Mark Hanson |
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Tawny Amber Young |
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Melanie Robel |
The rest
of the cast is solid!! Starting with Mark Hanson. We first met on Cut. One
of the many changes in Cut that I didnt touch on above was that I was
originally the lead and I replaced myself with Mark Hanson. I was the
casting director so its unfair to say "Mark Hanson stole my
role" - but here again with A Blood Story
it happened again. At first I
had a lead role in this. For many reasons. It was designed around my
strengths and to help save the film money. Well, the expectation level had
risen and I felt I needed to keep my eyes behind the camera. So in short
"Mark Hanson took my role again". I spoke with Mark after he
read the script and we just about immediately began discussing ways to
make it happen and of course, we made it happen!! He's an intense
character actor and an intelligent actor. Mark and I have a strong
chemistry and like Cut and A Blood Story,
we're certainly going to do a few
more films together. In another lead role I'll be introducing Tawny Amber
Young. She is no stranger to the indie film world and a former Playboy
model. I think for Tawny, this is the one. Its a lead role built and
designed around many of her strengths. I've worked with her on both Cut and
Disciples. She had smaller roles in those films but our time together has
developed into this working together now on a feature film where the
roles are bigger for both of us. I'm proud of Tawny and proud to be working
with her on this. I think the same goes for fellow cast member Melanie
Robel [Melanie Robel
interview - click here]. I worked with Melanie on Disciples
as well. She is perfect for her
role in this film and I think for her this could be a statement film. This
will allow Melanie to dig deep into a complex character and show her
talents to the indie film scene. She's a talented and dedicated actor. It's
a really solid cast all around. The film will also see Wolfgang Meyer, Tim
Hays and myself among others. Your
cinematographer will be Wolfgang Meyer [Wolfgang
Meyer interview - click here], whom you have worked with before
frequently. What can you tell us about him, and what's your collaboration
usually like?
Wolfgang Meyer |
Well it's everything I said
above about him and so much more. Wolfgang and I met on a set a few years
back and then again shortly after on another set. He was doing the same
thing I was, contributing his time to help a film. We were both working on
our own films at the same time as well. Difference was that I was just
getting started and Wolf had already a number of years under his belt. We
hit it off right away and I'm sure it was purely the cooperative passion
at first but it grew to become much more. I soon started working on Cut
and I wanted to take a big leap and shoot the film on the RED camera. It
was a level of filmmaking I had yet to take on myself. The film was to
feature high end talent such as Tony Todd, Kane Hodder and Michael
Berryman. I myself at the time had a small role in the film as well. I
wanted to do it right and I couldn't do it alone. I needed his help to
direct camera and work with our cinematographer to meet the level of
expectation. Wolfgang helped me get to that next level. Thankfully so, as
it turned out, the film faced many obstacles that forced rewrites and it
was a tough learning experience for me. As an actor, my role became much
bigger through all of this and in the end to a success and I owe that to
Wolfgang and a fantastic cast and crew. That film has a soul from the
blood and craftsmanship that went into it. Long 18 hour days, freezing
weather and multiple locations that included a 7hour road trip in a
blizzard from upstate NY to the West Virginia State Penitentiary. Disciples
on the other hand was a fantastic project from start to finish
with a surreal high end cast of horror icons and legends, again, done
with Wolfgang. He is a producer and the cinematographer on that film as
well as A Blood Story. Working with him is a reflection of everything
we've discussed in this interview. Together Wolfgang and I have done some
amazing things and we've experienced a whole lot of magic in the process.
Moments to last a lifetime with beautiful people, and it's only the
beginning.
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Since "blood" is already
mentioned in the title - how much gore and the like are we to expect from
your movie? Its not a splatterfest or
the typical gore flick. I love those films yes, but this is not that. Will
there be blood? ABSOLUTELY!! It's everything you want from a horror film.
It's ALL there but it goes back to some of what we've already discussed.
The quality of the film, the cinematography and the level of talent and
worth. So I don't want to say this is a statement film but ... it's a
statement film. For an ultra low budget just over 10 grand it's going to
look as good as Disciples. The film offers more than what today's
distribution asks for. The guts of the film, the heart of it, the story
itself. All this is what I feel makes the difference on this budget level.
It's very challenging and we look forward to meeting that challenge as
artists. It's a smart film that I think will offer much more than just
blood and guts. Without saying too much, I can say it has epic qualities.
It has moments that were meant to "live forever" as I like to
say. It's certainly not the typical "fast forward until you see blood
or boobs" film. Again, all these elements are there and plentiful but
the style we are designing altogether with the level of talent cast for
the project will make for a classy film with lots of blood that's both
beautifully stylized and original. Then driven home with a powerful score
from the great Harry Manfredini! Any future projects beyond
A Blood Story?
As of right now Cannibals is
targeting the summer of 2013. There is a page at my personal website for
that. No website or anything yet because its still early on. Wolfgang and
I are discussing shooting Cannibals on super16. I've talked with various
talent about this project and able to secure many I've worked with already
including Bill Moseley, Mark Hanson, Priscilla Barnes, Michael Berryman,
Lynn Lowry, Brinke Stevens, Debra Lamb [Debra
Lamb interview - click here], Linnea Quigley, Greg Johnson,
Tawny Amber Young and a few others. It's a big cast!! Just too early to
talk about this one but it's a very ambitious project to say the least.
There is also the script written by Debra Lamb I cannot discuss at all yet
but yes, absolutely, future projects have certainly been discussed.  
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The links below will take you just there!!!
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Your/your
movie's website, Facebook, indieGoGo, whatever else?
Yes
yes, thank you, there are quite a few websites indeed:
">A Blood Story: www.abloodstory.com
A Blood Story Facebook:
www.facebook.com/abloodstory
A Blood Story IndieGoGo campaign:
www.indiegogo.com/projects/255761?a=20237
">Disciples: www.disciplesthefilm.com
Cut: www.cut-thefilm.com
Joe
Hollow: www.joehollow.com,
www.facebook.com/hollowbethyname Debra
Lamb: www.debralambfan.com,
www.facebook.com/debra-lamb-extreme Wolfgang
Meyer: www.facebook.com/wolfgangmeyer Anything
else you are dying to mention and I've merely forgotten to ask? I think we did good. Thank
you for the opportunity to talk a little about A Blood Story. Thanks
for the interview!
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