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Your new movie Cryptid
- in a few words, what is it about?
When Dr. Nannoc's assistant transports a dangerous new creature to a
scientific facility for disposal, the creature escapes and begins a
rampage of DEATH! A secret government agency is called in to clean up the
growing mess. That’s Cryptid’s synopsis; which is a monster movie in
the vein off the low budget creature movies of the 80’s. Watching
Cryptid,
I couldn't shake the feeling of being reminded of old Charles Band movies
- at all an intentional/inevitable effect, and (orther) sources of
inspiration? I’m glad you were reminded of Charles
Band’s movies. It was not intentional. It was the product of me being a
fan of his movies and others like him, wanting to make a fun low budget
monster movie. I admire the work of movie makers like Charles Band,
William Castle, Roger Corman [Roger
Corman bio - click here] and Lloyd Kaufman. Their movies are fun to
watch and I come back over and over to watch them. This is what I want
people to do with my movies, repeat their viewing experience. As far as I know, you have designed
Cryptid's
creature yourself - now what thoughts went into the creation of this? And
maybe you can also talk about the film's overall effectswork for a bit?
I did create the basic design and look of the creature and it was
refined, detailed, molded and cast by an Albany NY area FX artist, Jared
Balog. What I wanted was a mouth and stomach on two legs. It eats
people whole which is why it has a gaping maw with dozens of jagged,
snaggly shark-like pin teeth. I also thought the backward bent legs
added a bit of weirdness to Fluffy.
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This was not an effects heavy movie. Whenever a person gets eaten it is
off camera to allow the viewer’s imagination do the work. What effects
there are, are pretty simple. Some Karo syrup/food coloring blood being
sprayed and splashed around, hair gel and food coloring blood being
dripped on the floor. One of my actors, Ward Benoit built a severed arm
out of gelatin, wood sticks to simulate bones and a pressurized system
to spurt blood. I am pretty simple and basic when it comes to the
effects but make them realistic enough to fool people into thinking a
plate of mushed bananas and red food coloring is a skull full of brains
or that panty hose filled with cotton balls and soaked with Karo blood
are intestines.
Do
talk about your key cast, and why exactly these people?
My
cast consisted of local actors from the Glens Falls and Albany NY area.
There are many talented people in this area willing to act in low budget
movies. The main cast consisted of Michael J Cannon (Dr. Nannoc), a
“darn good actor” who has been in most of my movies and is a fixture
in many independent films in the Albany and NYC areas. He was cast for his
“mature, seasoned” look as a mad scientist. Josh Harrington (Agent
Lindsey) was originally an extra but he has acting experience and was
young enough to pull off being a newbie FBI agent. My beautiful wife
Jennifer played Dr. Olzak. I wanted a woman whose look screamed that she
meant business and, with her bangs and hair pulled up and wearing a pant
suit, she effectively pulled off that look (especially when she’s mad at
me). Other key cast members were people I had previously worked with, such
as Aaron Lambert and Frank Palangi, or had met through a casting call like
Ward Benoit and Kevin Ira Miller, both of whom played the pot heads. What
can you tell us about the actual shoot, and the on-set atmosphere? The
shoot revolved around everyone’s regular work schedule and took place on
weekends. I keep my sets casual but I like to get in and out as fast as
possible so there aren’t any unnecessary multiple takes and no dilly
dallying as far as the set ups and rehearsals go. I think, from what cast
members have told me, they have fun which is what I want. They aren’t
being paid other than being fed so it is a priority of mine to make the
experience enjoyable for everyone since most of the cast have no
experience being on a set and may be nervous as to what to expect. The
$64-question of course, where's the movie available from?
Cryptid is available on the merchandise page of my website:
www.archangelproductions.org
Signed DVDs are available as well as online versions.
Could
you ever be tempted to make Cryptid II, and what would that movie
be like? I would very much like to do Cryptid II. I’m
thinking it would need to be set in New York City with Fluffy the creature
having a rampage on a subway car. Even though I love practical effects and
the fact that Fluffy was a puppet, I think some CGI, especially for wide
shots of Fluffy walking around, would be needed. (Other) future projects you'd like to share?
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I always have a project running through my head desperately trying to
make its way out. One is a killer clown movie using miniature clown that
have special powers to kill people, going back to my Charles Band
inspiration. I also have a monster movie that involves an ice creature
that I would be able to make on a low budget. There are also some horror
and sci-fi screenplays I’ve written that would need a larger budget
that I would like to sell too, so if there are any agents out there that
would like to sign with me... wink wink, nudge nudge.
Your/your
movie's website, Facebook, whatever else?
Cryptid can be found though my website:
www.archangelproductions.org
Archangel Productions’ FB page is: www.facebook.com/pages/Archangel-Productions/128144606469
Cryptid and my other titles are also listed on IMDb.com.
Anything else
you are dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? Just
ask your readers to support low budget indie filmmaking and check out all
my films that are available on my site. Thanks
for the interview!
Thank you for reviewing my films and having an interest in asking me
questions about them!
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find Michael Kazlo II at adultvideouniverse.com
