With Frightfest Glasgow 2014 a couple of days away I'm starting to feel like a kid just before Christmas. Savaged will be opening the event on Friday and based on the trailer and some word of mouth courtesy of festival goers around the world I'm sure it's going to kick things off in fine fashion. Director Michael Ojeda was kind enough to let me ask him some questions. Here's how it went:
AOTD: Savaged is a very dark tale. Tell us a little bit about where your mind
was at while you were writing the script?
Are there any elements of the script you feel uncomfortable about having
written?
Michael Ojeda: I started watching horror films at an early
age and even went to midnight shows with my dad, so for me horror films have
always been an escape from the mundane everyday life. The horror I write always derives from a
positive place. Usually good versus
evil. I desire to see a protagonists
triumph over dark forces, because I like to be able to think I can. I think we all do. So, to answer your question, no, it's not hard
for me to go a dark place to write tragic things, because I know in the end the
goal is to make my character stronger and strengthen their resolve. I think in any great story, the more the
character suffers, the more the audience demands a justified and equally strong
response.
AOTD: The budget on Savaged was surely very tight. What difficulties did this present or did you
write the script with a low budget in mind?
MO: When I write, I don't hold back my vision because of
budget. I would not recommend any writer
to work within that confined space.
Writing should be organic and flow from ones experience and
desires. Once the script is finished,
then yes, I go back and modify details to fit the budget.
No, it was not easy to make Savaged on such a low
budget. It's a big movie with lots of
action. All I can say is, a filmmaker
needs to be extremely clear on their vision, from everything down to the
script, choosing locations, talent, cinematography, editing... EVERYTHING. IF NOT, you better surround yourself with
a hell of a team.
AOTD: Tell us a little bit about how the movie made its way
from script to screen. Was it an easy
journey?
MO: After writing Savaged, I spent three years trying to
raise the money and get the movie made.
Nothing evolved. It was
frustrating, because I knew I had a good script and that it was extremely
marketable. Then it hit me, nobody was reading the script. Maybe they'd read
the first ten pages and assume it was just another slasher film, even thought
the story is so much deeper than that.
So, what I decided to do was shoot a short film to get people excited,
and quite honestly... to get people to read the script. So, my producing partner Jason and I raised
$20,000 and shot what ended up being the first act of the film, and a few
scenes to wrap it up in a nice tight package.
About a month after showing the short around, Raven Banner Entertainment
a sales company out of Canada stepped up and offered us a third of our budget
to get started.
AOTD: How did the shoot go?
MO: It went as well as any ambitious low budget film goes,
it was crazy hectic as hell. But we got
everything we needed. It was both
exciting and painful, but the cast and crew were very supportive and gave
100%.
AOTD: The central concept of Savaged is pretty cool and ticks a
lot of horror boxes. Was there anything in particular that served as
inspiration?
I can't say there was ever any one inspiration. When an idea for a film comes to me, it comes
from a void in the market. It's a
craving I feel, something I want to experience that I can't because it hasn't
been made yet. That's the place my story
ideas come from. But definitely films I
have loved over the years make their way into my ideas by way of mood,
character situations, actions, style and execution. Some movies that I feel have influenced me
when writing Savaged, were "The Exorcist", "The
Terminator", "The Crow,"
"Near Dark." "The Fly." Maybe a few others that weren't conscious.
AOTD: The central role of Zoe is quite demanding. How did
you end up casting Amanda Adrienne and what did she bring to the movie?
MO: Amanda is amazing.
She deserves to be a star. Aside
from her incredible talent and unstoppable work ethic, she's always striving to
be better. Always wanting to learn. As an actress for me, playing Zoe, she brings
a certain duality to the role which was very necessary. Amanda is beautiful, without having that
beauty infringe on her inner being.
That's what I love about her. I
honestly don't think she knows how lovely she is, and that modesty, and even
vulnerability, is what I felt Zoe needed for the audience to fall in love with
her. At the same time, Amanda's a
fighter. I think her life's been a bit
turbulent, so at the core she's tough.
I think Amanda tapped into that strength to bring the warrior out.
AOTD: I imagine that shooting the rape scene in the movie
must surely have been an uncomfortable, emotional, possibly traumatic
experience not only for Amanda but also the actors playing her assailants. What
was the vibe like on the set that day?
MO: That kind of scene is always tense, but the entire cast
and crew are professionals. So, we all
just dive in and get it done.
AOTD: Savaged is your first foray into the horror
genre. Are there any past masters of
horror cinema, or just cinema in general, whose work you particularly respect
and who have had an influence on your approach to film-making?
MO: Savaged is a horror film yes, but at the core it's a
love story. It's about two things, it's
about evil men destroying something innocent and beautiful and creating a
monster. And it's about, love
eternal. Love that reaches beyond the
grave. The films I like are ones that
effect me on every level, stir up every emotion. I enjoy the adrenalin rush of fear, yes, but
after the scare ends, I want to feel hate, joy, love, sorrow. That's the kind of roller-coaster I want to
ride. And that's what Savaged is.
To answer your question, as far as filmmakers go, as a kid I
loved John Carpenter, William Friedken, then as I grew older James Cameron,
Michael Mann, Tony Scott, Ridley Scott.
So, I'm not influenced by horror filmmakers, just great filmmakers. But I do love the horror genre.
AOTD: Do you have any new projects on the go? What should we
expect from your sophomore effort? Do
you intend to stick with horror or are there other genres you wish to explore?
MO: I'm writing a Scifi/Horror/Action hybrid. Very cool.
And like Savaged it has heart.
AOTD: Savaged is by all accounts a violent movie. What do you think of the common criticism
that violence in movies begets violence in society?
MO: Again, it depends on the vantage point of the writer and
director. I believe if a film comes from
the perspective that good triumphs evil and the audience is made to connect
with that, then it's a good thing. I
loved James Bond movies growing up.
Still do. I wanted to be James
Bond. I'd like to see James Bond have to
face some kind of a mutant monster, that would be cool. Some horror buffs and fans may not like me
saying this, especially fans of films like Saw or Hostel. But if the horror is torture for the sake of
exploitation, without any redeeming factor or greater message...I just don't see the point.
AOTD: Where horror is concerned mainstream Hollywood has
been largely creatively bankrupt for quite some time with most of the interesting,
challenging movies emerging from the indie scene. Why do you think this is the case and what
movies and/or directors from that scene have made a real impression on you?
MO: Making movies cost a lot of money and studios don't like
to gamble. It's the new wave of
filmmakers who gamble every day with their lives trying to make it in this
business, that are bold enough to take the chance to do something
different. It's quite simple,
Hollywood's full of pussy execs who are afraid of losing their high paying
jobs. If a few would grow some balls and
take some chances, maybe we'd see groundbreaking films and directors like in
the 1970's and early 80's.
AOTD: Savaged will be enjoying its UK premiere at Frightfest
Glasgow 2014. Do you have a message for
the audience?
MO: I've been to Scotland once. It's a lovely country with beautiful people,
so I am honored to have Savaged playing at Glasgow Frightfest. And I hope everyone enjoys the film.
AOTD: I just want to finish up by saying thank-you for taking the time to do this interview. We're really looking forward to Savaged and wish you all the success for the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment