Interviews

MTV interviews Hostel director Eli Roth

erisa — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:23:52 -0700

In more Hostel 2 News, MTV got the chance to interview Eli Roth at the New York City: Comic-Con.

Eli spoke about the rating system for Horror movies, what to expect in Hostel: Part 2, his trailer for the upcoming Grindhouse, and the Splat Pack vs. The Rat Pack.

MTV really put together a nice interview with Eli. He's candid, and funny, and apperently isn't only about the gore. As a member of the splat pack, he does want "to bring back really bloody, violent, disgusting, sick horror movies", with lots of "sex and violence" mixed together, and he talks about this pursuit a ton, but he also discusses something I find to be much more noble, the desire to be independent as a writer/ director. When asked if he'd rather direct bigger budget movies, he said this, "It's interesting, because I've had opportunities to do franchise movies. Once your movie opens at #1, you're offered everything. There were movies like "Halo," and they're remaking "The Hulk" again, and "Die Hard 4," and I just thought I'd rather write and direct and do my own thing. I don't need to jump to a $100 million movie. There were some books I was interested in. I was like, "I'd love to do 'The Phantom Tollbooth' or 'In the Heart of the Sea.' " But the truth is, right now I love writing and directing my own stories."

I personally would be very interested to see what Eli Roth, someone who, in my opinion, is starting to pigeon-hole himself as a one trick gore-hound, could do with the beloved child-hood story, The Phantom Tollbooth. Even mentioning that he would love to do it makes me think that there might be more to him them meets the "guaged-out" eye.

So check out the article. After reading it, I don't know how excited I am to see Hostel:Part 2, but now I hope it's sucessful enough for Eli to be able to stretch himself a bit.

King "approved" Roth's Cell

skyhawk — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 11:36:59 -0700

SCIFI Wire sat down with Eli Roth (The Show's favorite director) to discuss Grindhouse, and revealed his concern on taking on Cell due to King's track record with hating the movie adaptations of his books.

"My first question when I adapted it was, 'Can I deviate from the book?'" Roth said in an interview in Beverly Hills, Calif. "It's Stephen King. Am I going to piss off Stephen King? He was mad at Stanley Kubrick [who adapted King's The Shining], I don't want him mad at me. And, finally, Stephen King was like, 'Do whatever you want.'"

Um, that doesn't sound like an endorsement to me. The sound I hear is a cash register. I'm sure King heard it too.

Roth said that he would necessarily change elements of King's book, while maintaining other elements. "I love the opening [scene]," Roth said. "But I also want to keep, ... not necessarily that same chaotic tone, but I want to keep the tension of the opening 40 pages of the book going throughout the whole film and introduce other elements. Because I think the book, for me, where it loses tension is where suddenly you don't feel like the phone crazies are trying to kill them. ... I find that it's finding other ways to make it so you still feel the tension that any second you could get killed [and] carrying that throughout the whole film."

There are few phrases that strike fear in to fans of books more that "introduce other elements." Most of the time it involves a kid that saves the day. Not saying it will happen here, but, seriously, this could go horribly wrong.

Jennifer Shindledecker - Winner of Horror Makers Script Writing Contest

Reel Horror — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 09:10:10 -0700

A Horror Maker's 'script to production' update: As things are beginning to heat up with the production of A Dish to Pass, Horror Makers caught up with writer Jennifer Shindledecker. Jennifer's short script was the winner in Horror Maker's short script writing contest and once finished the film will be available for purchase. A Dish to Pass just might make you not only give up eating meat, but you might just give up eating anything that has an...ah...should I say... an 'odd' texture. Q: Jennifer, how did you start writing? A: I always wanted to be a writer since I was little. And I always loved movies and films. One day it occurred to me that I should combine the two. I got some ideas for a character and a storyline and I just started writing. It took about five years to finish it but I fell in-love with writing. Q: Is this short (A Dish to Pass) your first piece? A: No, actually I wrote a full-length screenplay but this is the first short that I wrote. Q: How scripts have you written? A: I've written two full-lengths and two shorts. Q: Are they all within the horror genre? A: Yes, but I have other ideas that I wanna play around with. Q: What is it about horror that attracts you? A: My grandfather and my aunt really introduced me to a lot of the horror stuff. My grandpa had horror records that he would play for me when I was little and they used to scare me. And later on, my aunt kinda introduced me to some of the horror movies, the classics, and it just kinda stuck with me. My grandfather would play the records and they'd scare me to death. One day he sat me down and taught me that there's nothing to be afraid of and it just stuck with me. I was scared, but it was really fun at the same time. It was something I always liked. Q: The other scripts that you've written, what are they like? A: The first one that I wrote and it's probably my favorite, just probably because it's my first one and I worked really hard on it. I always liked the slasher-genre, but I got tired of the masked man running around in the woods, it's been done so many times, so I took what I liked about a slasher movie and put a different ending to it. It's more like A Dish to Pass in that sense that it's cannibals and not a slasher. Q: Do you pull from your dreams when you write a horror script? A: Not really. I usually get inspired from a song or music. Or somebody that I see on the streets who seems like they might have an interesting story or background and I kinda make it up in my head. I go from there. My nightmares are too weird to even understand. Q: But they might make in interesting script. So you've never taken your nightmares and try to de-code them visually and put them into structured form? A: I haven't yet. I might do it sometime, but I don't have that many anymore. Q: That's good. (both chuckle) Q: What inspired you to write A Dish to Pass? A: I like the stories of those people who just kind of snap one day, from the pressures and disappointments of life. I wanted to explore that idea. I also like to use ideas that people have grown to trust and won't normally give a second thought too. Like in A Dish to Pass, -- a church picnic is pretty innocent. Q: Now the cooking of a family member and serving that person, that is pretty gruesome. What is that based on? A: I get into a zone when I'm writing. I'll know the character, I'll know the basic idea, and I'll sit down and this other part comes out and for some reason, that's what came out. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Q: So there's no family member that you're getting back at? A: No It's definitely not. Q: How is writing horror different from writing in other genres? A: It's a lot harder in some ways, because there are so many expectations. It's got such a fan base, that people expect to be scared and if you can't deliver you don't really have much. The expectations are higher when it comes to horror. Q: So you'd say that's the most difficult thing about writing in that genre, the scare factor? A: Yeah, trying to think of something new and fresh that would be scary, yet, believable. Q: So why do you think that we as a culture are attracted to that aspect? Do you think we need to be scared, and real life can be scary, but why do you think that we need it in art? A: I think it's kind of, that rush you get when somebody jumps out at you at the movies, it's fun. It's something that you can laugh at. It's a thrill. It's like the roller coaster. People like those too. Q: What do you think of today's horror films? What are your favorites? Which ones scare you the most? A: If it wasn't for Rob Zombie, I'd say they are pretty lame. Some independent horror films have been really good, but Rob gave the genre the kick that it needed. He took us back to the old 70's, where they were pretty gruesome and terrifying. But all of these remakes that have been coming out are just kind of ridiculous. They are an insult to the filmmakers who struggled so hard to make them. They seem so rushed that they don't have any plot or character development. Q: What are your three favorites? A: The Evil Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and An American Werewolf in London. Q: Have you ran across many female writers who do horror? A: Not really. It seems what might be frightening to a man is not the same as what might be frightening for a woman. Q: How so? What do you think might frighten one group and not frighten the other? A: I guess we're the one's always getting killed -- Q: You're not kidding. So the safety issue -- A: Yeah, so I think that has a lot to do with it. In my movies I try to have both man and female characters in the same amount of trouble. I try to get a little more universal that way and not just the women running around half-naked and getting killed. Q: That's good. Q: What advice would you give a beginning writer in the horror genre? A: I would tell them to write about what scares them and not to be afraid of a constructive story and interesting characters. Because that's what I think is interesting in a film -- when you actually care about what's happening to the people on the screen. That's what all the classics are. Also keep writing and try to make it fresh and original. Q: Good, okay. How has the ReelHorror website been helpful? A: I go to that website everyday. It's very helpful with the information that they have on there. I get a lot of my horror news information from that website. Q: Has Hitchcock been of an influence in any of your writings? A: I love him. Actually my grandfather had a record that he used to play for me and it was narrated by Hitchcock, so it was kind of introduced to me at an early age. It was definitely one of my favorites. "Vertigo" and the others are all great movies. Q: Hitchcock was a person who used little 'slice n' dice,' (except for in Psycho) yet he had a tremendous impact on the viewer emotionally, whereas nowadays we're loaded with effects. So besides the times -- it was certainly different times -- what made his films so special? That he didn't need all of the mechanics. A: He just had a way of making suspense with the characters. Like a movement they'll do, or the music or just implying things that are happening can be much more scarier than seeing it. I've always been a fan of movies like that. Like The Haunting -- the original. You hear what's going on, but you don't see anything. You can just have your imagination run wild. That's an interesting way to write a film. Q: We've certainly gotten away from that in Hollywood. Do you wanna take a stab, a play on words, do you want to take a stab as to why we've gotten away from the implications, the suspense, and using one's imagination. Why is it so blunt now? A: It seems like Hollywood has a movie machine and they keep pushing these movies out. They don't take the time. It used to be where it took a few years to make a movie, and now they're done in a couple months. They think that the viewers just want to see blood and guts -- sometimes that's fun -- not every time. I miss the days when you could go and see a scary movie and actually be scared. I like the gory movies, but they don't necessarily scare me any more. Q: What are the future plans for your writing? A: I want to keep writing. I love it. It's my favorite thing in the world. And I love writing movies, it's a lot of fun. It's a lot of hard work too, but the end product pays off. Thanks Jennifer and bon appetite! Horror Makers will keep ya' posted on the developments of A Dish to Pass!

Staci Wilson talks to Tamara director

Goldenwarrior — Thu, 11 May 2006 23:43:45 -0700

Stacie Wilson from horror about..had a chance to talk with the director of the movie of Tamara which just recently hit the DVD shelfs on Tuesday.

The director of the horror hit Tamara talks about the newly released DVD. Staci Layne Wilson: I understand that your movie was initially set for a direct-to-DVD release, but then internet buzz got it in theaters. Do you believe there is a stigma attached to disc-only horror movies? Jeremy Haft: I think there absolutely is, even though you and I both know that good movies do go straight to disc, and bad ones get theatrical releases all the time. People, rightly or wrongly, if they see a movie didn't have a theatrical release, it immediately takes it down a notch in their heads. I don't think it's always fair, but the audience does sometimes need that stamp of approval that a theatrical release gives. Check out the rest of the interview http://horror.about.com/od/movierelated/a/int_haft.htm

HorrorChannel to chat with Kane

Goldenwarrior — Wed, 10 May 2006 21:12:56 -0700

Horror Channel is having a chat with Kane from See No Evil, the movie opens up on May 19th and aside from Hills have eyes its the only horror flick that I am looking forward to this year...Step aside Jason ....Kane is in town!

Lionsgate is preparing to raise Kane on May 19th in the first horror film starring the WWE superstar, See No Evil. Kane plays a murderous, chain swingin' psychopath who terrorizes kids from a correctional facility sent to clean up an abandoned hospital. rest of article http://horrorchannel.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4893

George Wilbur (Michael Myers) Interview

Goldenwarrior — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:43:24 -0700

I had the pleasure of interviewing George Wilbur...you know him as Michael Myers in Halloween part 4and 6....but he has been in numerous other films as a actor and a stunt man.Check it out!

George is a great guy and treats his fans very well...It was a real treat to have a oppurtunity to chat with him.First of all I want to thank George Wilbur for agreeing to this interview for Reelhorror.com 1. My first question to you is probably without any surprise, is your role as Michael Myers in Halloween parts 4 and 6 can you comment a little on what you thought about the role and how did you go about getting it? When I first got the role for H4, to be honest, I didn't think much about it in terms of the character I was going to play. I was just thrilled to have a guaranteed job. Being a stuntman, the only thing strange or different was the fact that I would be doing stunts with a mask on. I got the part after an interview. Fred Lerner was the Stunt Coordinator for Halloween 4, and he told me to come in for the interview. I met with Fred and Moustapha Akkad, and what can I say, Moustapha liked me...probably because I'm a likable guy, lol. When I was asked to reprise the role for the second time, I was surprised and flattered that they liked me enough to ask me to play the part again. For the entire Interview go here http://www.reelhorror.com/interviews/

Eli Roth Interview

Goldenwarrior — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 00:32:35 -0700

The very talented Staci Wilson from abouthorror had a chance to speak with Eli Roth click below for the interview.

It's all about Eli Roth right now! Hostel, one of the best horror movies of 2006, is now on DVD in a super-cool widescreen (pan-n-scan would be sheer torture!), unrated edition that's packed from end-to-end with additional release material. The release of the disc coincides with the writer-director's birthday, and I plan on being on hand at the bash — I'll bring you the latest scoop as soon as I have it, but in the meantime you can read a brand new, exclusive interview with Roth here: Staci Layne Wilson / Horror.About.com: This year so far, I have to say that Hostel is definitely in the top three favorites that I've seen. I'm curious to know what your favorites are that have been released this year? Eli: Well lets see, The Hills Have Eyes I really enjoyed, and I loved Slither.Apparently I'm the only one who saw it, but The Hills Have Eyes was fantastic. I'm trying to think what else has come out this year... Rest of Interview http://horror.about.com/od/movierelated/a/int_roth.htm

Ethan Dettenmaier (Sin-Jin Smyth) interview

Goldenwarrior — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 13:36:46 -0700

Here is a great interview with Ethan Dettenmaier......you know him as the writer,director of the upcoming movie Sin-Jin Smyth

Ethan Dettenmaier Writer and Director of the film, Sin-Jin Smyth an interview by Justin Berger "Every Halloween at midnight, THE DEVIL simultaneously appears in two places....the high plains of India and....a quiet little cemetery in Kansas."Recently I had the pleasure of talking with Ethan Dettenmaier. It took some time to finally get this interview completed as Ethan is quite busy at the moment with his upcoming feature film. "Sin-Jin Smyth" starring Roddy Piper, Jonathan Davis, Richard Tyson, Jenna Jameson and many other talented actors, but as you will see it was very much worth the wait.Many thanks to Ethan for taking the time to answer these questions and for being very candid and honest. I found him to be a very funny, cool and down-to-earth kind of guy.What follows are Ethan's words in their raw form. There has been no editing or cutting of any of his remarks. Enjoy!ETHAN: How are you Justin?JUSTIN: I'm great! Thanks for taking the time. I know you are extremely busy and it means a lot to me and I'm sure everyone reading this that you took the time to do this.There is alot of information easily available on the internet regarding who you are and where you have come from.ETHAN: There's nothing special about me, I'm just a guy off the street making a movie-JUSTIN: Is there anything a little dark within your past that people might not know off hand? ETHAN: You mean like a prison record or...history of mental illness, that sort of thing?....Maaaaayyyybe. JUSTIN: Jonathan Davis of KoRn plays a main character in this movie. Are you a KoRn fan? ETHAN: I have respect for the band! And---of all the people we met with to play SIN-JIN SMYTH---Davis was the best man for the job! He's bullet proof! Rest of interviewhttp://www.hypokritical.com/ethan.html source http://www.hypokritical.com/Ethan's Sin-Jin Smyth site http://www.sin-jinsmyth.com/

Robert Englund Interview

Goldenwarrior — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 03:33:04 -0700

Pit of Horror just posted their interview with Robert Englund, great interview so go check it out!

Robert Englund interview by John Gray (30 March 2006) What can you say about Robert Englund? The man who brought dream killer Freddy Krueger to life has also had an extensive career as a character actor, often inventing inimitable new characters along the way. Today, the Pit is honored to present an exclusive interview with the man himself, conducted by John Gray. Our highest regards to Mr. Englund for his time and witty manner, and from all indications, his communications with The Pit may only be....just starting! Just click (Robert Englund) to read the restTo check out the rest go to the Robert Englund interview at pit of horror

John Leguizamo Talks About Killing Zombies!!

Reel Horror — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 23:45:02 -0800

IGN had a chance to sit down with John Leguizamo of the Romero's Land of the Dead.

"It was amazing, man. I felt blessed... I just finished… I'm hoping that that's his masterpiece, man. I've really got a lot of high hopes for that flick. I love the man. He's incredible. He's 68 years old and he's [got an] ageless career. He's at the top of his game. We do all-night shoots, exteriors… He's smoking, drinking tons of coffee...

"I play a zombie killer. It's an apocalyptic world. It's very political too. It's very operatic, man. It's a very ambitious piece. It's an action movie, it's political. It's got a little bit of comic relief as well. The zombies have taken over and there's only certain patches of right wing people controlling everything… Then there's the working class people, which is me and Simon Baker coming in to try and help to get supplies from the zombies. [We are] minimum wage men. (Laughs) It's a weird thing. I've got my own hypothesis too about [the politics]. I think it all has to do with, in that situation with the war in Iraq and all that and our sense of, it lightens things up, when you can't take death so seriously, it lightens it up. It plays with that, sort of, our anxiety. I know I've got a lot of anxiety. I think it has to do with right-wing, neo-conservatives controlling things and corporate power..."