Interview w: Fatal Pictures

Fatal Pictures, based out of Toronto Ontario, have brought us several fantastic short films such as   CONSUMPTION (2008), WORM (2010) and most recently FAMILIAR. These films have screened internationally at a wide range of popular genre festivals including Dark Bridges Film Festival, Screamfest, Oklahoma Horror Film Fest and The Sydney Underground film festival.

Co-founders Zach Green and Richard Powell  are responsible for nearly every aspect of the filmmaking process from initial concept to marketing. Producer Zach also edits and is heavily involved in post, with hopes of writing and directing in the future. Writer/Director Richard also takes an active role in the editing room alongside his producing partner. Together they work to create original and challenging independent films of high quality and artistic value.

I’ve been corresponding with Zach about the upcoming festival screenings and he was able to put me touch with Richard who kindly answered a few questions for us.

BT: The two of you met during film school and went on to form Fatal Pictures almost 5 years later. What was it that drew you together?

RP: We met during final term when I needed an editor for my short film assignment. I posted an ad and only Zach replied. We bonded over the making of the film and really grew to respect each other as filmmakers and friends and eventually we decided to combine our abilities to a greater effect.

BT: Your body of work thus far has been predominantly genre films, do you plan to continue in this direction?

RP: Genre filmmaking is fun and has a freedom to it but I would never bind myself creatively to anything at the exclusion of all others. I love film and think in terms of story and character before genre and other kinds of classification.

BT: Considering your history together, and your continued working relationship with actor Robert Nolan, would you say that you enjoy working with a familiar team? No pun intended… okay maybe it was.

RP: I feel at an independent level it is a necessity, when you have enough money you could hire your worst enemy to work for you but guys at our level survive on favors and relationships. Personally I love knowing as many of my collaborators as possible and establishing relationships that span films. We have worked with the same Fx team the Butcher shop on all three shorts as well as our composer Bernie Greenspoon. I like having a team I can trust and grow with. I feel it adds something to the process that is missing in the more mercenary side of filmmaking.

BT: What is the tone usually like on the set of one of your films?

RP: Hectic but fun. We genuinely love making movies but there is an immense pressure to create great work. We have fun but take it very seriously. We also tend to schedule too much into our days which is a great recipe for stress. Hopefully with more success and resources we can make our days a little lighter and make time to appreciate the moment.

BT: The effects in this film are pretty fantastic, were they true to your original vision?

RP: Very much so, and all thanks to the butchershop run by Ryan Louagie and Carlos Henriques. I gave them my sketches and they realized them beautifully. They are great artists and I can’t wait to work with them again.

BT: What is the most difficult effect you’ve ever had to shoot?

RP: I feel the scene in Familiar where John discovers some very nasty things on his torso was the most difficult of all due to the mirror,  the confined space of the room and all the little tricks we had to employ to make the lumps move. It looks simple but special fx require so much prep, planning and choreography in order to be successful. I really had to be on my toes to make those scenes work. Fx are fun to use but can become a pain in the ass very quickly, that said I look forward to using them again and again and learning along the way.

BT: Being that you are both involved in each stage of production, what would you say is the most enjoyable part of the process for you?

RP: I personally love the writing stages as there is a freedom to create and destroy with out consequence or cost. Once a crew, budget and schedule becomes involved the cement begins to dry. That said I really enjoy all of the technical aspects of filmmaking but I feel most at home when writing.

BT: Looking back on this film what is one thing you were most proud of upon completion of the project?

RP: Just being able to pull the project together on little more than favors and good will is what I’m proud of most. We couldn’t have done this a few years back but being able to make it happen now means we have progressed and that’s always the objective.

BT: What is your favorite genre flick?

RP: The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Dawn of the Dead, Demons, Suspiria.

BT: What is your favorite thing about filmmaking?

RP: Creating characters and stories that haven’t existed before and sharing them with the world.

BT: Since this is Canadian Content, if you could work with anyone within the Canadian industry, who would it be?

RP: David Cronenberg by far, he’s made so many classics and continues to make daring and original films. He managed to make  genre films in Canada and reach a global audience in a way no other Canadian has.

BT: What advice would you give to aspiring filmmakers?

RP: Quit and get a Business degree. You can make a nice life for yourself as mid level management with a salary and benefits.

Please follow Fatal Pictures on Twitter for all the latest news & content @FatalPictures

Check out the FULL LENGTH review!

Interview w: The Corridor Cast Members

I had the opportunity to speak with actor Glen Matthews who portrays Jim or “Huggs” in the film. He is currently in Toronto acting in THE NUNS VACATION, a new play from Tom Walmsley. He is appearing alongside his CORRIDOR co-star Stephen Chambers (Tyler) and actress Sandy Duarte (THE CORRIDOR’s biggest fan – she was the one with all the facebook updates). While busy with rehearsals and their big opening this past weekend, both Glen and Stephen were still able to take the time to answer a few questions for me about their experience on THE CORRIDOR which I am extremely grateful for.

BT: There are some very interesting make-up effects in this film, one in particular involving you Glen, can you tell me a bit about shooting these scenes?

GM:  Most of the film was done using practical effects, including the scene you’re referring to, and I really love that, as a viewer, and as an actor. Practical effects just can’t be beat.

The first take we did, I knew that the blade was dulled and safe, but my brain was still sending me danger signals. It was such a weird sensation. Every impulse in my body was telling me to scream “Cut!” and start weeping, haha.

Tyler Crawley (Chambers) in The Corridor

SC: Luckily, I didn’t have to undergo any of the make-up stuff aside from a tiny scar they gave me under my eye. My big deal was simply reacting to these effects. I liked that the majority of effects on THE CORRIDOR were practical and not CGI which meant I didn’t have to react to nothing but rather something I could actually look at. The day they did Glen’s big effect, I refused to see how any of it was applied. I didn’t want to know the technical stuff behind it. I wanted to see it “live” while they shot and have a genuine reaction to something that actually looked quite real. Glen’s effect (and others) truly did affect me and what you see on camera is pretty legit. The effects were really happening and so were the reactions to it. I recall being pretty damned shocked when I saw the scene involving Glen. I can’t remember but they probably did it like 3 times which involved quite a clean up each time.

BT: What was your most enjoyable scene to shoot?

GM: I honestly can’t single one scene out. The cast was so wonderfully stacked with likeminded performers; every day was an absolute pleasure.

SC: Most enjoyable scene to shoot…depends. I always got the most amped up any time I got to charge through on the snow mobile. I suppose anything to do with that thing was my favorite as I’d never ridden one before and got pretty good at it.

On another level though, I think the first day of shooting was my favorite. The first day we had a blizzard and were almost shut down. We shot pretty much in sequence and I was really keyed up on day 1. I remember just doing a bunch of walking through this beautiful canvas of snow that was so surreal. We were shooting all the stuff of Tyler’s arrival back at the cabin and it simply entailed me just trudging through the white snow. That was purely magical for me; probably my favorite moment of shooting the film.

BT: The film centers around male bonding, having a predominantly male cast did you find that bonding occurring off-screen as well?

“Huggs” (Matthews) in The Corridor

GM: We all knew that the chemistry was going to be a big part of this film going into it, so I think there was a bit of a concerted effort to “bond” in the first week of rehearsals, but after that, it didn’t need to be forced, whatsoever. All of them are great performers who I hope to work with again someday (well, me and Stephen are doing a play together now, actually).

SC: I’ve said this before and it still remains true to me. Whether it was art imitating life or vice versa, I found myself quite separate from the other fellows. I got along fine with all of them but preferred to sort of do my own thing in a separate place. Maybe being the only Torontonian in a group of Haligonians had something to do with it. I felt that I bonded just the way Tyler would have. I loved them all but also felt quite alienated and that truly made my job on screen that much easier. Hell, it wasn’t till like a year later that I actually stopped being afraid of these guys….especially Glen! I’m working with Glen and he still scares me!

BT: From auditions to festival appearances what has been your fondest memory of this project?

GM: Receiving the call from my agent, telling me that I had been cast in the film was unbelievable. In this case, I read the script, and really fell in love with it. If I hadn’t been cast in the film, it still would haunt me to this day, I know it, especially after seeing what Evan (Kelly, the director) was able to accomplish. I’m incredibly proud of this film and feel so fortunate every time we get a chance to share it with an audience.

SC: Fondest memory? First week in Halifax, no doubt. I got the role while doing a play in Toronto. Finished the play and was flown out to Halifax, a city I’d been to about 10 years before and always loved. Week one entailed a breezy rehearsal schedule, so for me, I just got to wander the city most of the time and do my own thing and take in the fact that I was about to embark in a pretty big deal of a film. I just felt weird that whole time but in a good way. Just being in a new town on a new project was a Twilight Zone-ish feeling that I enjoyed. Same with the first day up in Wolfville where we stayed at the Old Orchard Inn. It was like THE SHINING. A big ol’ empty hotel in the middle of the desolate snow. I loved the surreality of it all. Once the actual work started, it all went to hell. Kidding. Maybe.

BT: Other than THE CORRIDOR, what is your favorite scary movie?

SC: THE EXORCIST, hands down. Best film ever and not just for horror. Watch it, watch it again. There’s a lot of stuff happening in that film. It inspires everything I write in one way or another. I also have to say POLTERGEIST and ROSEMARY’S BABY. Best horror films and you can’t argue with that. I won’t let you. I swear, if Glen says something like Saw, I’ll scalp him.

GM: I really hate being scared. I sit through scary movies holding my breath. For me, I love THE THING, it’s the perfect mix of scares and strong characters. Oh, and gotta love those practical effects.

BT: Rock, Paper or Scissors?

SC: Paper, all the way.

GM: I’ll never divulge my secrets.

We would like to thank Stephen and Glen for a great interview and send a big thank you to their stage co-star Sandy Duarte for putting us all in touch. We wish you all the best with your current show!

Follow them on twitter!
Stephen Chambers: @dhrproductions
Glen Matthews:  @GlenJM
Sandy Duarte:  @SandyDuarte

Check out our official GUIDE TO GORE  review for the film!