You new film is called Into the Woods. Can you tell us in a
few phrases what the film is actually about? Danielle is
stuck in a dead end relationship with a married man. It takes a turn for
the worse when he leaves her and then comes back and brutally rapes her
after she tells his wife what is going on. Her life has turned upside
down. She mysteriously turns up in a place unfamiliar to her, in a
lonely stretch of beach near an equally desolate unrecognizable forest.
Stripped of everything, she wakes up, drugged and lost in the woods, with
only a few clues and constant torments. She runs from an unseen character
who, little by little, reveals his intention and who he is. When she
returns to reality, an explosive climax ties up all the loose ends and
conflicts.
How explicit is Into the Woods in terms of violence and
nudity?
The movie is not explicit in either categories. The movie itself is not
a slasher movie. There is blood and violence but only to detail the story.
It is not overdone and filled with buckets of blood. As for the nudity,
yes there is a lot of nudity in the movie but it is used to express the
humiliation and vulnerability of the character. What worse scenario can
you think of or imagine being in, than waking up naked in a strange place
with no recollection of why or how you landed up there? Reading the film's synopsis, labels like survival
horror and torture porn immediately come to mind. How happy are
you about labels just like these? Well if that was the type
of movie I was making I would be proud to have it labeled like that. But
to put this movie in that category would be unjustified. The movie is
more of a suspense movie. It is not your typical color by numbers let's
kill everyone type of movie. This movie has the viewers watching and every
time they think they have it figured out, the movie goes in a different
direction. Once again the viewers have to retrace their steps and resolve
the situation. When the viewers finally can't take it anymore everything is
resolved and the viewers are not disappointed.
What were your inspirations for the film?
I always liked the claustrophobic feel you got when watching Open Water
and Blair Witch
Project! I wanted to do the same but with a different
twist. There is nothing better than being terrorized and not knowing were
it is coming from. Woods and the Ocean are the scariest places when given
the right setting. I decided on having both in my movie and was able to
create my own world of terror.
A few words about your star Nancy Feliciano [Nancy
Feliciano interview - click here]?
Wow! I first met her when she auditioned for my movie Arena of
Death. I thought she was great. She was a real trooper. It was very hard
to get her to film and she only did cameos. It wasn't until Into The Woods
when I presented the script to her. She was mesmerized and agreed to do it. It was a real different direction that the roles she usually did.
But she really pulled it off and surprised her fans and is getting praise
for her role. It was daring and revealing and very demanding but she was a
real trooper and shot in all types of weather and conditions. What you
will see is a true actress who really got into the role and did not back
down and will be recognized for her daring portrayal! The
film's website, mySpace, whatever else?
Into
The Woods: http://www.geocities.com/pharmpon/INTOTHEWOODS.html
Falcon Video: http://www.geocities.com/pharmpon/Falconenterpage.html
You worked on Into
the Woods (as well as on earlier projects) as director, writer,
producer, actor - which part of moviemaking do you like best? Tough
question! It has gotten to the point were I wear so many hats that I can't
really tell anymore which I favor. I work so hand-in-hand on doing everything
that I can't imagine not handling all the jobs. I really love the steps it
takes to get these movies out there. Starting off with writing them and
then casting. Then directing and always finding time to act. It is tough but
I always pull it off and get a lot of good feedback, that is what keeps me
going. I am focusing on writing cause of budgeting on these movies. It
takes a lot to just make the simplest projects and money adds up quickly.
How did you initially get into filmmaking?
I always loved writing when I was young. I was a big fan of the old
Hammer films. Then the 70's came and horror movies were coming out. They
were dubbed slasher films. Then in 1978 Halloween came out. I was blown
away and was so into making movies after that. I said hey I can do that
and lil by lil I had coaxed my parents into getting me a video camera in
the early 80's. The rest is history - and no one was safe in my
neighborhood. Some of
your movies prior to Into the Woods?
The Burglar from Hell: A
burglar is killed by an old lady who then buries him and takes her secret
to the grave when she has a sudden heart attack. Years later a group of
kids accidentally disturb his rest and bring him back to life! And the
horror begins! Scream Queen Debbie D guest stars.
Jacker: Philip Herman stars
as Jacker, a troubled man who takes out his frustrations with society on
unsuspecting motorists. Hot on his trail is Officer Jackson, whose own
sister was a victim of the sadistic killer! Will Jackson triumph or will
the Jacker rule the roads. Debbie D again guest stars.
Hell on Earth 2: The Arena of Death: The time...the
future. The place...hell. Everything's been destroyed in the Great War. A
vicious control gas has been released into the atmosphere, turning all but
a few survivors into monsters! The meanies, created by the gas, rule the
East under the control of a crazed mutant named Balrog. Balrog uses
Zorack, a surviving serial killer, to rid him of dangerous humans. But
once his job is done, Zorack is betrayed and thrown into the Arena of
Death, where it's kill, or be killed!
Tales
till the End:
Sex, violence, and mayhem in three tales of terror starring Scream Queen
Debbie D, Nancy Feliciano, Barry Gaines Phil Herman.
Jacker 2:
Produced by Falcon
Video. Barry Gaines, the cinematographer from the original Jacker
takes
over directing and turns out a superior sequel to the cult classic, Jacker. Mike Rivers (Philip Herman), believed to have been killed in Part
1, returns. This time, nothing can stop him as he knocks off anyone in his
way! The only persons who can destroy him, James (Barry Gaines) and the
Crotch brothers (Ben Stanski), are back to try to do good. They are met
with his furious wrath and are brought to hell for a confrontation between
good and evil. Will their descent into hell be worth it or will the Jacker
continue to rule the roads? Special cameos by Joel Wynkoop (Creep) [Joel
D.Wynkoop interview - click here] and
Marilyn Ghigliotti (Clerks).
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Horrortales.666
Featuring shorts by:
Wave Productions
Morbid
Wet Floor
4th
Floor Pictures
Falcon Video
... a burglar (Joel D. Wynkoop) breaks into an author's house and stumbles
onto files secretly stored on the guy's computer for his upcoming novel.
Stories that amuse him at first, start becoming all too real to stomach!
You'll be shocked by the end! Starring Nancy Feliciano, Pam Sutch, Phil
Herman, GW Lawrence, Davie Keye, Adam Berasi, Bill Casinelli, and Joel D.
Wynkoop. Cameos by Julie Strain and Kim Lynn Cole.
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Before I Die...: A writer with
writers' block has to come up with 3 stories to meet a deadline. Thre tales
of terror are spun with a mixture of sex, vilolence, bugs and more. Dawn
Murphy in Last Resort is breathtaking in a role of a
lifetime.
Nancy Feliciano is sure to please all her fans with a very revealing and
demanding performance in the creepy nightmarish story Someone's
Sleeping in My Bed.
Cathy Holseybrook is looking for love and finding it. She really blows the
minds of her lovers and you will not believe the twist ending! Cameos by
Joel D. Wynkoop!
Also starring: David Lee and Phil Herman!
Around
Midnight - Hosted
by Suzi Lorraine [Suzi Lorraine
interview - click here].
After Midnight - Hosted by Nancy Feliciano.
The exciting sequel from the makers of Around Midnight. More vampire tales to chill your spine
After Midnight with
Laura Giglio, Delilah
Levay, Isabelle Stephens, Cindy Osborne and Gina
Garcia. With Phil Herman and David Lee.
Always Midnight - From
The Minds of Phil Herman and Joel D. Wynkoop!
More Vampires! More Sexy Girls! More Midnight!
The final chapter of the Midnight Trilogy. Laura Giglio, Nancy Feliciano,
Tone Dragon, Catherine Holseybrook-Wynkoop, Micheal Green, Gashley
Darcane, Tom Oswald, Ed Walker Jr. and Bachus Logan. With special
appearences by Phil Herman and Joel D. Wynkoop as your
host The
Reaper.
Any future
projects you'd like to talk about? There are early talks
about a sequel to Into the Woods. There has been interest in a script
already written but we have to see the receipts form part 1 and also if
anyone is interested in financing it. I am also shopping around 2 scripts
that have been getting some buzz overseas but no serious takers yet. They
are called The Usher and Shellville. Have you ever thought
about leaving what I would call the unterground and go more
mainstream with your movies?
I always think that but it seems I only do. That is
everyones dream at this level to be discovered and given a real budget to
make a movie. You see some of the crap on late night TV and say wow how
can they get a budget and playtime for that. But it is all about who you
know or being in the right
place and the right time.
But I keep making movies. I hope someone will say, "Hey look
this guys makes these movies and generates such a fan fare at this level,
imagine if he had money behind him."
Your thoughts about the
American (and internatinal) horror movie on both the mainstream and the
independent level? Americans don't have the balls
international films have. Just look at any movie from Japan or any foreign
market. They are so much bolder and daring. They have no limitations or
boundaries. Not saying all American filmmakers are like that (Eli Roth
and Rob Zombie to name a few). But on a grand scale who wants to see
a PG-13 horror movie? Such a disappointment.
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Your favourite directors, writers,
actors, ...?
My favorite directors are who got me in this. John Carpenter and George A.
Romero. There are too many new ones out there, but as I have mentioned Rob Zombie
and Eli Roth kick ass! Some movies you really like?
Halloween (1978)
Dawn of the Dead (1979)
Maniac
Friday the 13th (1980)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Race With The Devil
...
and of course some you hate? Most or the remakes and
sequels. They never hold up except for a few exceptions. Texas Chainsaw
Massacre and Halloween. Anything else you would
really like to talk about and I've just forgotten to ask?
I am so appreciative that after all these years of making movies that
everytime I put one out I get a ton of feedback. There are so many fans
and reactions I just wish it would finally translate into $$$$! But hey I
love making movies and will keep creating as long as the fans are there
asking!
With the exposure of Into The Woods I am hoping it will generate enough
interest in a big budget deal. I have tons of stories but don't have the
budget to make them. I believe if you keep the faith and keep creating
things will turn and start looking brighter.
Thanks for taking the time to interview me and look forward to talking
again next time.
Thank
you for the interview!
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