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Only recently, a quartet of your very early S.O.V. movies, Burglar
from Hell, Jacker, Jacker 2: Descent to Hell and Tales
till the End, were re-released - so how did that come into being?
Chris Woods [Chris Woods
interview - click here] of Icon Film Studios -
http://www.thesleazebox.com/Profiles.html -
contacted me and wanted to re-release my older titles. He felt they fit
into what he was selling on his site - grindhouse favorites. It turned out
he was correct. He made new trailers and box work and promoted them like
they were new releases. He gave new life to these long forgotten classics.
They are selling very well and are also well-received by a new legion of fans. When
you made these movies back in the day, did you ever think they'd have that
long of a life in them? And your thoughts about the resurgence of old
S.O.V. movies as such?
I
thought they would have their run and that would be it. I always had soft
spots for these movies but thought they were friends having fun making
movies. We all loved making movies and gave our all. When they were
released, that was at the beginning of SOV. There was not much competition and
they did pretty well.
I
should have known because whenever I would be interviewed they would always
go back to my classics and be so interested in them.
Let's discuss each movie in a
little more detail: Burglar
from Hell - What's it about,
and how did it come into being?
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 [Debbie
D interview - click here] guest stars.
I
wanted to do a slasher movie with an Icon. I wanted to create a new Jason/Michael Myers character. We did that with
Frank the Tank, a
ruthless non stop killer. We had boobs, blood and terror. It was so much
fun making and introduced us to scream queen Debbie D in her feature
debut. The movie still pleases all new viewers and there are talks about
remaking it.
Jacker - do talk
about that movie, your character and your director Benjamin Stansky for a
bit!
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 [Debbie
D interview - click here] again
guest stars.
Ben
wanted to direct. I let him… he held the camera. Enough said. Jacker
was a good movie because it reflected the times. It was when there
was a rash of carjackings all over the US. It was the first time we took a
real life situation and turned it into a movie.
The
movie was a daring psychological trip. The car jacker was the main character
who was a killing machine. He was no monster but a regular guy next door
that was pissed at society and took his anger out on them. He went after
everyone, good or bad. He feared no one even the cops. It was true Falcon
Video, we did what we wanted and prevailed with a cult following and very
good reviews.
You return in Jacker 2: Descent to Hell
- so
of course you have to talk about that movie, and what prompted you to make
a sequel?
Jacker 2: Descent to Hell: 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 -
cklick here] and
Marilyn Ghigliotti (Clerks).
The
success of the original Jacker
had us thinking let's do it again. Barry
Gaines stepped up to direct and visioned a new tale. He made a tour de
force of hell and made the Jacker almost supernatural. He was bad in the
first one - this one there was no one stopping him. Hell didn’t even want
him.
We
went to hell and back on this one and it was grueling. The first movie was
made in a record breaking pace in about 14 days. This took almost 3
months. There was a lot of on-location in very dangerous settings that the
crew had to go to. Barry was a tough cookie but knew what he wanted and
made sure before the day ended everything was correct.
At
the end we had one of our best movies with many memorable actors and actresses. Joel D. Wynkoop, Debbie D [Debbie
D interview - click here] and Marilyn
Ghigliotti. It has our most impressive cast and story. We pushed the limits
and in the end it paid off. It was one of our best received and most
profitable movies.
Tales till the End: What's that one
about, and how did it come into being?
When
Armageddon is upon us, the only way to keep safe
is to find shelter. When three friends hide out
underground and wait until the end, they decide to
tell reach other tales from their past. Tales that include
murder, sex, maniacs, nymphos, sexy women and
crazed men.
Phil Herman (Burglar
from Hell) again to bring his 1996
shot-on-video cult classic Tales till the End
to DVD for the first time!
Three insane tales directed and starring Herman,
Barry Gaines, and Ben Stanski. The film also features
some genre favorites such as Joel D. Wynkoop
(Rot, Creep, Make Them Die Sleazy) [Joel
D. Wynkoop interview - cklick here] and scream queen
Debbie D (Burglar From Hell, Kill the Scream Queen,
Sickened) [Debbie
D interview - click here]. This was the
beginning of making anthologies. These were a lot easier and faster to do.
We were able to get a lot done in a fraction of time. We all wanted to
direct so this was the way to go. We all took a story and tackled it. It
was the best tome of our lives and was so much fun. The end result showed
when the movie came out everyone loved it. One can't help
but notice that even in these early movies, many people you have worked
with time and again during your career pop up - so do talk about them for
a bit? I lost touch with almost
everyone. With the exception of Joel D. Wynkoop [Joel
D. Wynkoop interview - click here], Debbie D [Debbie
D interview - click here] and Barry
Gaines everyone else dropped out of making movies. It was fun while it
lasted but it is a hard unrewarding life making these movies. Unless you're
really dedicated and want to pursue this as a career people get bored and
drift away. I have been blessed and able to continue doing this and tackle
a fulltime job. The three that I mentioned Barry, Joel and Debbie, I still
work with and we're still all in it together and will drop everything to
help each other out.
Looking back at those movies now, how do they
make you feel, and what can you tell us about your evolution as an actor
and filmmaker since?
I
wore so many hats in those days and did everything. I scaled back now for
the last 4 years and have just been writing. I have been shopping around
new scripts and have a few bites but nothing solid as of this writing.
I
would not give anything up and would do it again to go back to those care-free crazy days. It was so different, we lived, breathed and all we did was
make movies. Any free time and more was dedicated to doing this. We made
so many friends, met so many people and really thought we were big time
filmmakers. We were greeted at shows and premiers with kid gloves. But we
never really made that big score. But maybe we did. I have been making
movies since I was 14. I will be 50 this year and am still doing this and
still getting feedback.
My
resurfacing of my older features and the greeting and applauses I have
received have given me new light on the movies. I will not stop, I will keep
trying.
The $64-question of course, where
are these films available from? Icon Film Studios:
http://www.thesleazebox.com/Shop.html
Having made indie movies
for quite so many years, how has the filmworld changed, both in terms of
business/business models and technology? You
have to know somebody in the business and have a lot of money to back your
project. There are so many people running around with cameras that there
is so much competition. It gets harder and harder. It seems you still have
to do everything yourself to get these movies out there. There is a lot of
blood, sweat and tears and a little in terms of royalties paid back. But we
keep on going because we love making movies. Any future
projects you'd like to share?
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Tales till the End |
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I
am trying to get a remake of Burglar
from Hell from a new script starring
Joel D. Wynkoop [Joel D. Wynkoop
interview - cklick here] in the lead. I would love to get as many of the original
actors involved but that will be hard. I believe that a new version of Burglar
from Hell will do very well. There is a shortage of really good slasher
movies out. Once again we need an original script and will stand on top
again.I am also shopping around The Usher.
Logline: People
come from all around to see the grindhouse features playing at an
independent theater in Northern Pennsylvania … not everyone gets to go
home.
Synopsis: An
ancient theater in Northern Pennsylvania features contemporary grindhouse
movies every weekend. Patrons who travel the miles to witness these
celluloid excessive extravaganza of blood, carnage and mayhem have no idea
that within those walls life does indeed imitate art. Lurking in the
darkness, one man bears witness to the atrocities of youth as they pursue
their sinful desires within his hallowed hall. When the end credits
roll, most people will go home with their appetite for cinema’s dark
side fulfilled. Not so those who have the misfortune of coming in contact
with… The Usher.
A fast paced throwback to the classic slasher movies of the eighties.
Filled with violence, debauchery and creative kills, The Usher is
sure to please fans of slice'n'dice entertainment.
Your/your movies' website,
Facebook, whatever else?
https://www.facebook.com/phil.herman.969
I
had great news on a friend of mine that is going to re-re-release my
classics on VHS. All new artwork and masters will be made. Many fans have
been asking for the original VHS copies . They will be released in
glorious VHS soon. Tiltes will be announced in the near future.
Their
company page on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/saturnscoreaudiovideo7
And
on the web:
http://www.storenvy.com/stores/717456-saturn-s-core-audio-video
You
can find out all about it there!
Anything else you are dying to
mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? I
just want to thank everyone who helps me keep on going. Chris Woods [Chris
Woods interview - click here],
Franklin E. Wales, Barry Gaines, Joel D. Wynkoop [Joel
D. Wynkoop interview - cklick here], Ryan Cavalline [Ryan
Cavalline interview - click here], Debbie D [Debbie
D interview - click here], Gary Whitson [Gary
Whitson interview - click here], Joe Sherlock, Dustin Hubbard [Dustin
Hubbard interview - click here], Ross Snyder and Chris Kahler [Christopher
Kahler interview - click here], and of course you! Thanks for
the interview!
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