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Your new movie My
Neighbor Wants to Kill Me - in a few words what is it about?
The
movie is about distractions, and the fear and frustration of not
accomplishing a goal before death.
What
were your sources of inspiration when writing
My Neighbor Wants to Kill Me,
and is any of this based on actual
experiences with bad neighbors or the like?
From a writing standpoint I was very inspired by the structure of
the film Run Lola Run, where the main character is tasked with a mission
and fails, but is given multiple chances to get it right. The world and
style of
My Neighbor Wants to Kill Me
was inspired by Twin Peaks: The Return and the films
of Harmony Korine such as Gummo and
Julien Donkey Boy. The first Resident Evil video game is a huge inspiration on the story
and structure as well.
But
the main source of inspiration was what I was going through at the time.
The apartment we shot
My Neighbor Wants to Kill Me
in was my actual studio and the real life
neighbor in the next studio would pound and kick at my door every other
day threatening to kill me. He had to be either on drugs or was
schizophrenic, but he was convinced that I was talking shit to him through
the wall, so at random he would come next door and start banging on my
door, attempting to break it down. Through these random outbursts the
story and concept of
My Neighbor Wants to Kill Me
was conceived, and I decided to write and
shoot the movie quickly before my lease was up.
Narratively
speaking, My
Neighbor Wants to Kill Me isn't 100% linear and seems to bend the
perceived reality a bit every now and again - so what can you tell us
about that narrative choice of yours, and how easy or hard was it for you
to not lose the plot telling your story like that?
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I have a strong passion for experimental and surrealist
storytelling and always try to find ways of developing a story without
dumping a bunch of exposition on the audience. For this film, I wanted to
make something that played out like a video game rather than a typical
survival horror movie. I wanted the audience to witness the Tenant go
through this obscure puzzle as if they were watching a friend play
through a video game. The original script I was writing was very linear,
but it was a drag trying to write out a weird, experimental tale and try
to make sense of it. I had the concept of the video game idea, I knew that
the Tenant would repeatedly die and wake up in a chair, and I had written
notes on all the different ways the Tenant would die. So rather than
finishing the script, I picked out the best deaths from my notes, and
worked with Eric Willis to improvise the scenes leading to each death
sequence. It wasn't difficult to lose the plot, because the plot was
being developed as we were filming it and improvising the direction and
acting of the scenes. By the time we finished the third or fourth death
sequence, I had a decently clear idea of how to end the movie. And Eric
came up with the idea of the film ending on the Tenant laughing, through
his improvisation. Do
talk about your movie's approach to horror!
The movie was never intended to be scary. It's more of a dark comedy. But
through the humor, there is a desire to put the viewer into a state of
anxiety and claustrophobia just like the main character. This is so with
the tight close-ups on Eric, and the exaggerated sounds of the door
pounding. I can't say if the attempt was successful, but through horror
tropes, there was always an attempt to put the viewer at unease.
You've
chosen a retro VHS-look for your movie - why is that then?
I always wanted to shoot a movie on VHS. I really like the gritty, vintage
look of it. I decided to give
My Neighbor Wants to Kill Me
this look because it was a silent,
gothic horror movie, and every silent movie is shot on film. I wanted my
silent film to be on VHS because it hasn't been done before or as often as
I would like to see. I fell in love with the idea of this movie being some
trashy obscure "thing" you would find in an old box of VHS
tapes. What
can you tell us about your overall directorial approach to your story at
hand?
It was very improvised. I went mostly off of the notes I had written and
felt it would be a more unique and authentic story if I were to work out
the story as we went along incorporating improvisation from Eric Willis.
Do talk about My
Neighbor Wants to Kill Me's cast, and why exactly these people?
Having moved into that studio in a new part of town, I found Eric lived
very close to me. We would be hanging out every week and I had been giving
him constant updates on my neighbor's shenanigans and felt he would be a
great fit for the lead character. Having worked with him before, I had an
understanding of his improv capabilities and knew he would deliver on the
humor and horror aspects of the film. I was thinking of playing the
neighbor myself, because I wanted the neighbor to be a quiet, lurking
force that is unseen. Earlier that year, I met Scott Mitchell and
collaborated with him on the soundtrack for the film and realized he would
be a better fit for the neighbor primarily because he is a lot taller and
more muscular than me.
A
few words about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere?
The shoot was fun but the atmosphere was very tense as we had to stay
quiet as not to disturb the real-life neighbor next door. Anything
you can tell us about audience and critical reception of My
Neighbor Wants to Kill Me?
The reception has actually been split down the middle. I knew going in we
were making a genreless, plotless, trashy art piece that would divide
audiences, and that was definitely the outcome. There's viewers who admire
surreal and experimental movies who appreciate the film, and then
there's viewers who dismiss it as pointless and unwatchable. Despite the
negativity, I'm really pleased with the whole of the reception overall. Any future projects
you'd like to share?
I am currently writing the script for my next feature. It's another
surrealist horror film that will hopefully be a little more
frightening than My Neighbor Wants to Kill Me.
What got you into filmmaking in the
first place, and did you receive any formal education on the subject?
My whole childhood I would daydream about my own movies and video games,
creating stories in my head. It wasn't until I was 17 and had no direction
that filmmaking could be an option for a career since I wasn't doing
anything else. My sister got me started on collecting DVDs and I knew from
that point on I wanted to make films. I started off by writing
scripts. From there I attempted to get into film school, but was rejected.
This caused me to drop out of college and start teaching myself how to
make movies, using an old Flip Camcorder my dad gave me.
What
can you tell us about your filmwork prior to My
Neighbor Wants to Kill Me?
Before My Neighbor Wants to Kill Me
my resume consists of various experimental short
films and a feature length documentary called Lazy Stoners Descending. How would you
describe yourself as a director?
As a director, I try what I call a "hippie approach" to
filmmaking where even if there's a script, I give the actors freedom to
bring whatever they want to the table and work the scene off of their
actions and ideas. I'm also very collaborative as I listen to any ideas or
suggestions the actors have and try them out. Filmmakers who inspire
you?
There's so many to mention, but if I had to give you 5, they would be Kubrick,
Lynch, Spike Lee, Tarantino, and Jim Jarmusch.
Your favourite movies?
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I have about 200 favorite movies. IF I were to give you my top 5, they'd
be: Pulp Fiction, Boyz N The Hood, Hausu, Fish
Tank, Easy Rider. ... and of
course, films you really deplore?
I'm really unimpressed by modern Hollywood films. I'm not a fan of DC/Marvel movies (love the comics though). I really hate video game
movies. I think it sucks we have yet to see a good Mortal Kombat or
Resident Evil movie. They really shouldn't make these adaptations if they
can't do it right.
Your/your movie's
website, social media, whatever else?
Nick's
social media:
facebook.com/gatsmentafilms
instagram.com/ngatsby303
Movie
link:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08DD7MYVM/
Anything else
you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?
Nothing more to add. I really had fun answering these questions! Thanks
for the interview!
Thank you, it's my pleasure!
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