An Interview with Richard Powell, Director of Familiar

by Mike Haberfelner

February 2012

Films directed by Richard Powell on (re)Search my Trash

We have talked about this before [click here], but could you quickly bring us up to speed: Your short Familiar, in a few words, what is it about?

Familiar is the story of John Dodd, a man who hates his family and will do anything to be rid of them. In the course of trying to escape his suffocating domestic situation John comes to learn a horrifying truth about himself and perhaps humanity as a whole.

How did the project come into being in the first place, and what convinced you your audiences would need a film like Familiar?

After the completion of my previous short Worm I thought it might be fun to explore similar territory but with a new direction and very different end game. Familiar is really the flip side of Worm. It takes the same critical look at social constructions but rather than exploring career and failure it delves into family and obligation. In terms of an audience I don't think they need Familiar, but it exists and if they respond to it that's great, if not that's great as well. If everyone likes what you're doing you're doing something wrong, you're riding the middle of the road and I don't want any part of that.

 

Richard Powell, Robert Nolan, Zach Green

How would you describe the producer/director relationship with Zach Green [Zach Green interview - click here] on this project in particular?

Like always the relationship between Zach Green and myself was awesome and enriching. We are both always learning and growing as a team and have managed to distribute the filmmaking tasks in a way thay compliments our respective strengths. Zach is great at networking, promoting and planning, this frees me up to concentrate on the creative issues. We will always work together and share in tasks that ensure we get the best products possible.

Without wanting to give away too much, Familiar is also a sort-of monster movie. Is this a genre you're at all fond of, and your genre favourites?

I love a good monster movie, The Thing comes to mind as one of my favorites in the monster/sci fi horror genre. I love Aliens, The Fly, Demons and so on. My all time favorite horror film is the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre however.

Familiar features quite a few special effects in its finale. What can you tell us about the effects as such and what are the challenges of doing special effects-scenes, from initial planning to actually shooting them?

The FX team The Butcher Shop did the effects and were amazing. That said it was a large learning curve working with such a large degree of FX for the first time. I did sketches and story board for everything but it was still a difficult task, fx are a complicated matter and require so much planning and prep but are very worth it in the end.

 

Robert Nolan in a promotional photograph for Familiar

Special effects aside, your films more often than not revolve around a person's inner anger. Would you like to elaborate on that?

I think my films to date focus on the unsaid, the repressed urges and yearning and fear we all face. My shorts deal with these themes in extreme ways, sometimes in bloody, violent and disturbing ways but the root of it all is the examination of our hidden lives. These films are about men who are crushed and alienated by their failures, fears and life choices and must now face up to them.

What can you tell us about audience and critical reception of Familiar so far?

Feeling lucky? Want to search any of my partnershops yourself for more, better results? (commissions earned)

The links below will take you just there!!!

Find Richard Powell at the amazons ...   amazon.com   amazon.co.uk   amazon.de Looking for imports? Find Richard Powell here ...   eThaiCD.com Your shop for all things Thai Something naughty? (Must be over 18 to go there!)   find Richard Powell at adultvideouniverse.com

So far the reaction has been positive which is great. We have yet to screen the film for an audience but will be soon thanks to Fangoria who is presenting Familiar along side Battle Royale March 2nd in Toronto. I'm really looking forward to seeing the film on the big screen with an audience.

Any future projects you'd like to talk about?

We are currently polishing a feature length Worm screenplay which we plan to make Fatal Pictures debut feature film.

Your/your film's website, Facebook, whatever else?

Please visit fatalpictures.blogspot.com, find us Facebook and IMDb!

Anything else you are dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?

Thanks for taking the time to check out our films and for your support! I want to thank our cast and crew as well led by Michael Davidson our DP, Robert Nolan [Robert Nolan interview - click here] our star, The Butcher Shop and everyone else who took part in the film! The film wouldn't be without their help! Also big thanks to Zach Green [Zach Green interview - click here], without whom I couldn't do any of this.

Thanks for the interview!

© by Mike Haberfelner

Legal note: (re)Search my Trash cannot
and shall not be held responsible for
content of sites from a third party.

Thanks for watching !!!