Your upcoming movie Sorrow - in a few words, what's it going
to be about?
"Mila
is brutally attacked by evil psychopath serial killers, taken to a
decaying home where the torture and humiliation continue before she
manages to escape, seeking justice and exacting revenge on her aggressor
she refuses to surrender as local police are moving in closer."
What were your inspirations when writing Sorrow,
and is it true it's based on a true story?
I had this dream once and when I woke up I wrote it down, I had already
decided to move to Utah for the summer and making a film up there was the
main reason I was going up there. After 2 months my friend introduced me
to actor Eric Martinez after they both kept in touch while Eric was
visiting Moab. I made a conniption and wrote a 15 page script in 2 month
and began pre-production. About a month later we were in production and
shot that script in 3 days. My idea from that moment on was making a
feature film and this would be the inciting moment in the script and from
there It would be a start for a feature film. Writing for actors who I had
already worked with gave me a pleasant writing experience, I was more imaginative
when I sat down to write 76 more pages. I did research and it's based
loosely on a serial killer from Houston, this along with the criminal
element it has taken a large amount of time.
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You want your
film to be seen as a tribute to horror movies from the 1970's. So what do
you find that appealing about these films? The
cinematography, suspenseful moments, and the way they make you imagine
what's
going to happen. This film interweaves criminal insanity, so the drama
element you see in NCIS, CSI, Law and Order is there. But when we get to
killings and tortures the style I look for is 1970's. Nothing like Hostel
and Saw, not everyone likes horror films because of the gore, but
Sorrow
was designed to be appealing for all kinds of horror movie goers. From what
I've read, Sorrow will feature its fair share of violence. So what
can you tell us about that aspect of your film, and is there a line you
refuse to cross in that respect? Sorrow
has its fair share,
mainly because it's the way the serial killers communicate with their
victims. They don't know much more other than violence, which is really
what makes them enjoy torturing woman, they have grown fond of seeing pain
and suffering. The power of the audience's imagination is my approach to the
killing scenes, thats wher'e the 1970's style and my vision for the scenes
will envelop.
Vannessa Vasquez, Eric Martinez |
How would you describe
your directorial approach to your story at hand? Realism is
the key to making this film what I had envisioned, and the actors will be
guided to have a better understanding of the characters their situations
and bring that emotion to life. Please
do talk about your projected cast for a bit, and why exactly these people? Eric
Martinez who portrays the serial killer is a victim of a terrible past,
which at the end of the film we understand a bit more on the reason he
kills join this emsable. He brings a big fear factor to the film. His look
and previous work, along with his motivation on set and leadership makes
him a perfect candidate for Sorrow. The victim Mila Sweeney, portrayed
by
Vannessa Vasquez, has intensive background on the Forensic Psychology and
is using
that to her advantage to exact revenge on her aggressors, smart but in a
situation which calls for irrational actions, she is confronted by
detective Salinas portrayed by Mayra Leal (Machete). Vannessa has been
studying the script and preparing herself for the role which puts me at
ease with the direction she will get on set.
As
far as I know, the film is still in its fundraising stages as we speak. So
what can you tell us about your fundraising efforts? Right
now we are trying to create traffic on our page by sharing of link and
story behind it. TV stations and magazines are our next target. Being in a
fundraising campaign requires a community effort and we are seeking and
working on obtaining new fans who will help us carry out our vision
becoming as important as those involved and attached in the project. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sorrow/sorrow-kickstarter-campaign?ref=live
Once
the funds are raised, how do you plan to proceed, and any idea when the
film might be released yet (which I do realize is probably waaay too early
to ask)? We plan on beginning preproduction once we wrap up
the fundraising campaign. We have several investors interested and have
locked down and negotiated to have a studio, cinematographer, equipment, talent and
locations, which will secure our start of production in April
24th until May 23. The amount we are seeking through investors is to have
the film completed by September with deliverables. And our goal to raise
this money will secure our investors fortifying our production and the
future of Sorrow. Any future projects beyond Sorrow? Yes
I'm currently editing and doing behind the scenes for the feature length
film The Legend of DarkHorse County by Wellings Productions. I'm also a
cowriter for Larry Wade Carrell's western film The Sound of Thunder. Along
with running this fundraiser and overseeing the pre-production stage of Sorrow. Let's
go back to the beginnings of your career: What got you into filmmaking in
the first place, and did you receive any formal training on the subject?
I
started in the summer of 2011 at Houston Community College making my first
short film Risky Behaviour. Took several classes before I left to Moab,
Utah to work on Sorrow. A lot of the editing I have learned on my own,
actually a lot of the knowledge i have on filmmaking has been obtained
through making shorts and digging myself in books and YouTube Tutorials. What
can you tell us about your filmwork prior to Sorrow?
"... she has produced 5 shorts, Risky Behavior
(2010), Hell's Real (2010), Hell's Real II (2010), Khodahafez
(2011), and was a co-writer for the short film APPosition. All of this after a
few semesters in Houston Community College, workforce Film Program under
Mr. Rick Harrington curriculum. In May 2011, Millie edited a portion of
the feature film The Return of the Prodigal Son ..." Your
films never seem to stray too far from the horror genre - a genre at all
dear to you, and why? I love horror movies it happens to be
my favorite genre along with thrillers. Films with a unique structure are
also favorites of mine. I think the reason I like horror films is because
they can really get an emotion out of you, the fact that many can keep you
on the edge of your seat bringing you closer to caring for what's going on
in the story. How would you describe yourself as
a director? I know what I want. I'm also a pretty good
director, innovative and creative with patience and with the biggest
enthusiasm on set. Filmmakers who inspire you?
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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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Quentin
Tarantino, James Cameron, Richard Linklater, Rob Zombie. Your
favourite movies? The Devil's Rejects (of course), Crash,
Titanic, Avatar, Dazed and Confused. ... and of course, films you really
deplore? Really crappy, shaky ones. Can't think of one right
now Your/your movie's website, Facebook,
Kickstarter, whatever else?
www.facebook.com/sorrowthemovie
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sorrow/sorrow-kickstarter-campaign?ref=live
www.sorrowthemovie.com
Anything else you are dying
to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? Not at all. Thanks
for the interview! Thank you!!
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