1. YOUVE DIRECTED DEADLANDS AND DEADLANS 2 TRAPPED WITH DEADLANDS 3 IN THE WORKS WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL THE FANS ABOUT THE PROJECT?
GARY-Deadlands 3 takes place about 10-12 months after the zombies have taken over the world. When comparing it to other zombie films I would say it would sort of be like Romero's DAY of the DEAD but all above ground and in the mix. So the humans dealing with zombies while also trying to maintain communication with survivor camps. I liked Romero's idea in Land about Suicide runs for food and other supplies, so there is a bit of that too, but the main theme is dictatorship, and the positive message in the film is family and respect, plus trust in friends to be there for you even in your darkest hour.
Deadlands 3 is probably going to be the largest zombie film we have done in terms of scope. Since I refuse to use CG for Zombie hordes the goal is to get 1000 extras to play zombies for the opening and end of the movie. The films finale will be the bloodbath I have yet to provide in any Deadlands film to date. All the FX will be 100% real, as I said no CG for anything unless it is a last resort, but I am making sure that we don't need a lick of it period.
2. OBVIOUSLY YOUR A ZOMBIE FAN DO YOU PREFER SLOW OR FAST ZOMBIES?
GARY-Slow or fast... that seems to be the ongoing debate these days. I am a zombie film fan through and through, but I do prefer faster zombies. I use fast zombies in Deadlands 1 & 2, not so much track stars, but they move quick, like the zombies from Return of the Living Dead. Now my zombies only run when they see food, otherwise they shamble about just like a Romero zombie. in fact if you watch the DAWN remake, ROTLD, and some other films, those zombies shamble as well, until a tasty morsel happens by, but I will proudly admit I like me some Fast Zombies. It ups the tension level a bit.
Now people argue that the slow ones get their strength in numbers... no argument there, but what if there were just as many fast zombies in the horde as slow ones, now you have twice the amount of trouble. So the argument about strength in numbers for shamblers doesn't work for me because I just say ok... you got the same number of fast ones... now what? You know what? You're still fucked either way. =)~
3.YOUR THOUGHT ON GEORGE ROMERO?
GARY-
I love George, or as hard core fans call him... Uncle George. I grew up on his movies. His work inspired me to want to make movies too, and I will always thank him for that and of course the fond memories of late weekends with friends watching Night, Dawn, and Day, and the endless nights of bad dreams involving zombies... his handy work. =)
4. WHEN DID YOU START MAKING MOVIES AND WHY?
GARY-I started making movies in 2005 after doing some media coverage on the Dawn of the Dead remake, which led to me playing a zombie in Land of the Dead. It was the atmosphere of both movie sets, interviewing Zack Snyder, touring the Dawn remake mall with Universal executives, heading to the DAWN world premiere in Beverly Hills, CA all the way to getting invited to play a zombie on Land, having my make-up applied by Greg Nicotero and Francois Dagenais, and being directed by both Greg on 2nd unit and George himself on 1st unit. Those experience finally lit the fire under my ass to make my own zombie movie, although I had the passion to do it for over 20 years just never had the guts to say screw it I am doing it, then it just all clicked and WHAM... here I am with two films in the can and one in pre-production.
5. YOU ARE AN INDIE FILMAKER THAT HAS ACHIEVED GETTING HIS STUFF DISTRIBUTED WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO OTHER INDIE FILMAKERS OUT THERE WHO MAYBEE AIRENT SO LUCKY.
GARY-
I know I will probably get booed for this but, the indie genre is strange. You have to do something well known and really good or doing something very original and really really good in order to get picked up and make money. However, it isn't always sunshine and rainbows. Deadlands 1 was lucky enough to end up in the hands of J.R. Bookwalter at TEMPE, the only distributor willing to give it a chance and put it out... even he was skeptical because Deadlands 1 is a weak film, I see that now, but for some reason it just took off and has been TEMPE's best seller for 3 years.
With Deadlands 2 I tried to go with someone in LA, a larger distributor, and it back-fired big time. they didn't know how to market it, sell it, or anything... and they claim it only sold a 168 copies, which just about everyone I talked to thinks is Bullshit, but that is what the statements say, so after some squabbling and the super long delay getting the movie out on HD DVD, which BTW... Deadlands 2 was the first disc to be released on the format since it went defunct in 2008, the HD DVD release came in March 2010 (Almost 2 years to the day when Toshiba pulled the plug on HD DVD.) I was able to part ways and took it back to J.R. at TEMPE, we are working together to do this massive re-release and just so it would have a little more punch I put in over 2 minutes (almost 3) of extra footage... including an extra zombie attack to help make the release sell a little better. Once it hits the street on October 19th 2010 we will find out if our gamble works.
So far there has been more press about Deadlands 2 since J.R. stepped in, than the previous studio drummed up for Deadlands 2 in its original release. A lot of the press Deadlands 2 did get in its initial release was from me constantly asking horror sites to post something about the movie... sort of getting off topic here a bit, but here are the fundamentals I go by.
A. DO NOT OVER USE GORE - Over used gore in indie films looks cheap, and really brings down the whole production. Get inventive with your gore, but don't spray blood everywhere. Someone having skin peeled off their face by a zombie for 2-3 seconds is more effective than 20-30 seconds of showing fake intestines and poorly mixed Blood.
B. NUDITY - Unless it benefits the story, drop it. the only reason INDIE films sell is because of the T&A factor. lets face facts and I am not trying to be a dick, most indie productions suck, and the only reason they get picked up is because they have tons of T&A. Drop the T&A and work on an exciting story with action and good characters.
C. STOP USING YOUR FRIENDS FOR LEADS IF THEY CANNOT ACT - I learned this lesson the hard way, and swore I would never again try and act. At most i would do a walk on walk off cameo or maybe, maybe one line of dialogue at best.
Get on craigslist and post you will be holding auditions for a movie, ask people to send you there headshot and resume. if they don't have a headshot or resume and have never acted you probably don't want to waste your time but if making a zombie film keep their name in your contacts for Zombie extras. Also explain to them it is nothing personal but sometimes they just have to build experience. People with no experience who really want to get into biz will show up to every shoot and watch and learn as the movie progresses during production. Also do not cast just basing it on the Head Shot and resume... yeah the chick trying for your female lead might have a nice set of tits and looks hot, but can she act? Get everyone in front of the camera and watch their performance... when you go home and re-watch the footage you will find your stars.
D. STOP THINKING YOU HAVE THE NEXT PARANORMAL ACTIVITY OR BLAIR WITCH... You might, but chances are you don't.
E. MARKETING - while making your movie and after it is done... PR and Marketing is what gets you out there. I work a normal 9-5 job, but on my breaks and lunch hour I work on promoting my flicks, and when I get home, after the dog is walked and the cat fed I sit down for 4-6 hours searching and looking for new avenues to promote the movie. Marketing can make your film the next Paranormal Activity or Blair Witch... that is what made them such a success... marketing man... sell the hell out of your film. Explain the hurdles, find the good stuff to focus on, hell talk about strange shit that happened during the making of the movie... people find that shit intriguing and so much so they will actually go buy your movie to check it out, but don't go over board praising your film as the next SHAWSHANK either... that will earn you a shit load of backlash.
F. DON'T WORRY IF YOU END UP WITH A SMALL DISTRIBUTOR... Guys Like J.R. will work with filmmakers to get their films out there and he won't make promises he can't keep and he will be up front and honest with you about the potential of your flick. Stay away from anyone asking for money upfront... Some indie guys may ask you to press your own discs, that is ok, but if they say "oh to sign with us you need to pay us X amount of dollars for posters marketing whatever..." tell them to go get fucked. They are shysters and will just take your money.
The same thing applies to Sales Agents. any respectable sales agent will not ask for any money up front. If they do HANG UP or just send their emails into the recycle bin. A true agent will sign with the expectations to make money on the back end. Negotiate
G. NEGOTIATE - With Sales agents you can sometimes work on their fees, it is not always going to happen, but it can. Anyone asking for more than 20% for getting you a distribution deal is crooking you. Honestly 10% is the market standard. ome guys charge more to indie guys because the movie is harder to sell. Just don't go above 20% and only give them a year to do it. if they can't get it done in a year, they will never get it done. Also make sure they leave you an out clause.
H. FILM FESTIVALS and CONVENTIONS - SUBMIT YOUR FLICK and buy a vendors/filmmakers table to promote and meet and greet fans. Even if you can't afford the fees make sure you at least attend the cons and festivals. take promo material with you and lay it out for people to grab. It works. When you go to a fest don't be afraid to have some giveaways... not DVD screeners but posters... really nice printed ones, not run off your ink jet printer on 20lb copy paper... that is just fucking tacky. Save that stuff for flyer to announce your screening time. Good promo materials should be professionally printed and should look like a real Movie poster. Crappy photo shop work is a sure sign a movie will most likely suck, but there have been a few times I have been duped but not many. When building your crew to make your movie ask what other areas they specialize in... such as graphic design and see if they are willing to help you out. it doesn't hurt to ask.
I. Like the last statement... IT DOESN'T HURT TO ASK... SAY IT WITH ME... IT DOESN'T HURT TO ASK... SAY IT AGAIN... HIS NAME IS ROBERT PAULSON...oops =) I mean IT DOESN'T HURT TO ASK!
6.YOUR RAISING MONEY FOR DEADLANDS 3 ON KICKSTARTER WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COOL THINGS YOU CAN GET BY PLEDGING? GARY-
Deadlands 3 and Kickstarter... Well I think i will let the project speak for itself. Click Linky - http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/DjfunkmasterG/deadlands-iii-the-new-world
7. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANNA SAY TO THE HORROR FANS OUT THERE? GARY-
To the horror fans... you guys are some of the best people I have met. Seriously I have been to quite a few conventions in the midwest and east coast and everytime I go to one I meet another great fan of horror. I am proud to be a horror fan, and I am proud to have met other horror fans. To my fans and the fans of Deadlands 1 & 2. Thank You so much for your support. You guys have stuck by me for 5 years now and helped me elevate both films to get a lot of attention and press, for that I thank you and if we get to make Deadlands 3... horror fans and my fans will have the film dedicated to them.
THANKS FOR TALKING TO THE DEADLY INDIE DRIVE IN GARY WE & THE FANS APPRECIATE IT.