Your upcoming movie The Shadow Hunters: Rise of Lylith - in a
few words, what's it going to be about? The Shadow Hunters:
Rise of Lylith movie is going to be about how a supernatural group of
girls and a government secret group the 00 come together to stop a villain
from hell who has returned to take over both worlds of human and
supernatural. With The
Shadow Hunters: Rise of Lylith being based on a comicbook by Jason
Dube, how close does it remain to its source material, both stylistically
and narratively, and what can you tell us about your collaboration with
Jason?
The comic books Jason created have a style that is between anime, GI-Joe,
cosplay, and darker movies. When I first came on the project to
help design the movie idea I knew I had to go a little outside the box
from the comic style. Now when you look at the comic some of the outfits
the main girls wear are short and tight with boobs popping, but the
stories are very girl strong to who they are and what they fight for. I
knew that I liked the stories and the characters he has made in them both
male and female and I have two choices on how to design this. One would be
do a Tokyo Gore Police crazy style or go more deeper and make it like a
Blade movie. After countless hours and months of thinking how I really
wanted to do this I came up with a style that would be more mixed between
a bunch of films I really like from lighting, production style, and visual
looks. So the difference between the comic and the film is really not
going to be that much, the changes I made are mostly more film-friendly
costume fixes, some of the characters are still close to the ideas from
the comics, but I did change some of the characters with new make up looks
and also monster designs. The film script is based off all the ideas,
comics and a thing called the bible which is all the comic's stories and
characters. The film script is its own story based off the comic stories
with changes to make it the style I want and also to make it film friendly
in the designs.
art by Benny Jordan |
The visual design of the film is going to have this dystopian gritty
city which will be downtown LA. The lighting and style will be a punk noir
mixed with the serious anamorphic design. It's hard to explain in full
detail, but I basically took the interest I have in certain films and
mixed it to get the idea I want. It's something I have been wanting to do
for a long time and design and this project is the perfect start point. So
if you watch a movie like Blade Runner and see the shafts of light are
white, I want to use that but add some unique color and also keep the
films design solid from beginning to end. I also want the visuals to be so
impacting and interesting to the audience they enjoy the ride during
viewing.
As for the costume designs they will be very good, and we already did
some test to see how they resonate on the screen. I'm basically going for
a more darker look than silly cheap looking. To make it easy just take Blade,
Blade Runner, and some Japanese films like Scorpion Jailhouse and
make them have sex and the baby comes out to look like this. I'm mostly
using lighting and visual concepts from films like that to inspire this. I
know it's a small budget but visuals are always super important and I
always will go for the best I can when it comes to a project I have full
control with no bad apples on board.
Jason is a big part of helping with the making of the movie. He
basically helps out with getting concepts drawn up and doing so much in
the art area which helps me get to the resources so we can move ahead with
the film designs and structures.
How did the project fall together in the first
place?
As for how I came on board to try and make this movie, Jason contacted
me about 3 or 4 years ago and pitched to me would this be something we
could make. Jason mailed me a bunch of comics and I read them and really
liked what I saw. I knew that if I made this film I wanted to make it
really good and not some shit show that would be torn apart by critics or
fans. Jason is a super guy who helps so many people and this is something
I want to do for him and his comic fans. Jason has been doing indie comics
and helping so many people and it's a huge task to be able to let the
world hear your voice when your a small indie company. So for the last two
years Jason has been working hard to keep the comic going and promoting as
much as he can. So the only way for me to be able to make this is with the
help of the people.
I also want to talk about how I had 10 grand to shoot a trailer and
that the producer was changing everything for the worse. It's something I
couldn't let happen. I understand making changes, but just cause you are
someone with money that wants to play GOD then go do it somewhere else. I
need a supporting producer that understands the right way of film making
and not someone who has no experience and just is a self made monster
cause they have money.
From the sound of it, The Shadow Hunters: Rise
of Lylith does require some quite elaborate sets and effects and stuff
- so how do you plan to go about those?
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Yes you are very
correct on that. Movie magic is a wonderful thing when you know how to do
it. I basically will be using some really awesome sound stages and
locations in downtown LA that will help achieve the looks we want. So when
in certain locations we will be able to use the art of matte paintings to
enhance scenes, also all the effects will be practical and look so good. I
know at first I was worried I would have to get into major green screen or
cgi, but after reading books from the 1950's and 1960's on camera tricks
and how they did it back in the day that's what I want. So doing some
research made me feel even more confident about my plan. I don't want to
make a green screen film, I want to make a film that has more practical
uses that look real and fit the setting. I already had some ideas and how
it could be done I just needed to map it out in my head and on paper to
see how much easy it is to do old school design's that could really be
effective in a film. The sets will look awesome. I also feel good about
how the sets that I will create are better than trying to use a location
that is used in everyday life. I do have locations that are normal but
most of the sets will be movie magic. What can you
tell us about the overall look and feel of The Shadow Hunters: Rise of
Lylith?
The film I want to bring the audience into the moment of the now. So
when the film begins your entering into their world without any major
backstories to build up and explain who they are and the flow of the story
lets the audience figure it out as it moves. I wrote the script to bring
more excitement and the audience will be able to figure it all out on
their own without any long boring dialogues and backstories to explain
ever single thing. You'll learn who each character is and their
personality as the film moves. Also I love action films from the 1970's
mostly Kung Fu action films and just gritty crime action films. I added a
lot of hand to hand combat and also gun play which is going to be fun.
The film has monsters and supernatural beings in it and that will
just add to the fun. The look and overall feel of the movie is like I
explained in some of the above questions, it's going to be a motion ride
from start to finish. I want the audience to never feel bored or left half
happy. It's going to have a really dark but punk/goth noir feeling but
tons of action, dark moments, characters that are devious, and monsters
that will really be exciting during the times they are shown. I'm trying
to make a indie film that has everything fans want and more. Sure it
sounds like it can't be done, but I spent a long time working this out and
I know I can do it. Plus this will be the first film I have made with full
control and a team I fully trust to do the jobs needed without issues.
I've worked mostly on other people's films the last 5 years and this has
been something building in me that I want to get out and really show what
I've been holding inside for many years.
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The Shadow Hunters: Rise of Lylith is
to star one of this site's favourites, Debra Lamb [Debra
Lamb interview - click here], as Lylith - so what makes her
perfect for the role, how did you get her even, and how did she end up on
the production side of things as well?
Debra Lamb was in my head about 3 years ago when Jason and myself did a
horror convention and promoted Shadow Hunters as we first announced the
film idea. Debra was at the convention and I knew she could do something
in the film and at first there was the idea of the Vampire Council which I
wanted to use a bunch of actors I know. I then went into re-writes and
thought of a grand idea of changing the comic ideas of Lylith and using
Debra for that role. There is more to it but I'll stop there cause then
I'll give away to much. So after speaking to Debra and explaining the make
up design and who she would be in the story, I sent her the new script and
she really liked it.
I worked with Debra before on a film called Disciples. I was doing the
cinematography. Debra sent me a reel she had with some of her noir style
and it also showed her acting on 35mm film which she was really talented.
I knew she would fit this role perfectly and understand exactly what I'm
trying to do with the hours of explaining the character. Debra is a very
talented actress. I'm using her completely different than most people
would normally see her in recent horror films she has done. I also have an
amazing make up design for her that is really going to be creepy and show
the power she holds as Lylith. It will be very imposing and her face with
the make up design will really stand out scary beautiful.
Debra is also friends with a lot of people from North California who
are a part of this so it's got some friends all connected in being able to
work together on the project. As for Debra as the producer she is working
on areas of promotion, casting, and small production needs.
What can you tell
us about the rest of your cast, and why exactly these people?
So
I haven't list the entire cast cause I never did a campaign or fundraiser
before in my entire career. So I have some really awesome cast choices
that have agreed to do the film if we reach the budget. Sure it would help
big if I could post them and it would be funded, but the problem is if we
have locked dates and they can't be on board cause they are stuck on a TV
show I don't want to break fans' hearts. Some of the smaller cast is
basically working industry people that are so perfect for the roles and
also we have one girl named Victoria Augusto who has been a big help to the
promotion and has Firewire down so good I decided to give her the chance
to prove she can kick ass. As
far as I know, The Shadow Hunters: Rise of Lylith is still in its
fundraising stages - so what can you tell us about your campaign?
The campaign was a risky choice for me cause I've always been trained
to build the proper pitch to seal movie money. I mostly been doing
cinematography the last few years since living in Los Angeles and my old
NYC days when I worked for producers who created film pitches for obtain
real money was a long tasking event and I still agree to do that way. I
just came to the point that if I can't ask the public for help this film
would take years to obtain the money and I would lose the op's I have now
that could be used and also the cast I want, even the team of people I
want. So I'm very good at managing budgets and how to use them proper with
what resources I'm connected to and what is needed.
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So this campaign is our only chance to make this film. Otherwise it
will take 2 to 3 years to obtain a large budget and go the bigger route. I
want this film to be a mix of people that are industry people, cosplay
people, and just very talented people that I have now. So it's important
for us to really try and hope people will give us the chance to make a
really good film from a fund raising campaign. I also am pretty much
straight to the point, I don't like to bullshit people to believe it will
be a awesome film and brag how great it will be. I just think I would like
to share the more tech side and how much I want to make a film that
someone who donated can say I really am glad I helped those guys out. I'm
making a film just like I would want to see this type of film as a fan. I
cut the boring and went straight for the fun roller coaster ride.
I've been working a lot and I'm going to keep adding more to the
campaign as we go. I have videos, pictures of concepts, and more perks to
add.
The one great thing I want to do is people that donate feel more part
of the production and we decided to have behind the scenes special videos
made from pre production, shooting, and post production which they will be
able to sign into a special password and view the videos. So it makes them
feel more part of the team than just getting a bunch of stuff on the mail.
Also the special Kickstarter DVD will have special behind the scenes
which will not be on the distribution DVD. They will be getting more. The
distribution DVD will have extras, but the Kickstarter DVD offer will have
even more to offer. I have been in talks with distro but I haven't made a
solid choice to who I would be going with cause I feel the film needs to
be finished so the best choice is made then.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1996585420/the-shadow-hunters-rise-of-lylith
Once
the budget's raised, what's the schedule ... and any idea when and where
the film might be released onto the general public yet, however
tentatively?
Okay so this is a great question which I would like to explain. If we
succeed with raising the money the pre-production would be 3 months for
prep. That is molding our effects, building our monster suits,
construction set pieces, printing out the large mattes, costume prep, and
just everything it takes to ready this film.
I want to shoot asap early March of 2016 and have the film ready for
October 2016. The post production is not a issue, I have a solid team which
I'll be leading.
I would like to able to show the film at some events around the USA and
world before I totally lock it with distro. I want to be able to show this
for the Halloween season.
Depending on the first one's success, are
there any plans for any more The Shadow Hunters-movies? And other
future projects you'd like to talk about?
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I'm not going to really say there will be more or success is already
there. I would like to say that is the film comes out the way I have
planned and fans are happy then at that time we can go from there with my
answer more. I think if I make this film and it does great and we get
the support then that's up to them. I would like to open the door maybe to
other people taking on the next one or if the right support comes and
demands I make another then great. For now I just want to get the first
one done and see how far we can take it.
As for the future I've been mostly writing and working on some really
heavy films I've always wanted to make. I've been mostly working on two
films that would be shot on 35mm and one is a action film dealing with
Yakuza, Ninja battles, and some 1970's style lead hero. It's a project
that I've been working on for 5 years with a partner writer Adam Vargas
and the script is now perfect. I would like to also talk about another
35mm film that is a crime story based off a true story from the 1950's.
It's a film I also have spent a long time on. These productions are my
more serious works that I want to make as a director.
Other than that I've just been working on film 35mm again as a loader,
AC, and really happy I'm getting back to the area I want to be in. I still
work as a cinematographer and I won my first award for Best Cinematography
for Model Hunger directed by Debbie
Rochon [Debbie Rochon
interview - click here]. I just love making movies and
working on them. My main dream is to keep going and never stop. It's been
11 years and I look forward to the next 10.
I'm just now finding a new path that has connected me to some really
talented DP's which I'm working under on 35mm and it's been a great
experience. This past weekend I just worked on a film which was shot on
Arri 435 35mm and I worked as a loader and third AC. It was hard work but
well worth it. The DP is super talented and being there was like opening
up a toy on Christmas.
Your/your
movie's website, Facebook, Kickstarter, whatever else?
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1996585420/the-shadow-hunters-rise-of-lylith
https://www.facebook.com/shadowhuntersfilmcomic
Anything
else you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? Yeah
I would like to thank you and the people who support me. Thanks
for the interview!
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