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Talking With The Dead: 17 questions with Rob Avery |
Posted on 23 May, 2007 by
Dedman13
SPECIAL NOTE: This was an interview I conducted on my previous site in February of last year. Please enjoy! 
Please visit http://www.worldparody.com/ to see the Official Site, join the World Parody Yahoo! Discussion Group, and purchase your copy which will be ready in April! 1. There is a very anti-litter/pro environment message amongst the carnage and culinary delights of this impressive film. How did you marry the concept of serial killers and environmental issues?
In real life there are environmental terrorist groups. The real ones try very hard not to kill people when they burn down buildings and blow things up. As much attention that the environment has been getting lately, it wouldn't surprise me if some radical group formed and started hurting people. I saw an article that there is a forest in Mexico that is guarded by armed soldiers. The soldiers will shoot dead anyone who illegally cuts down trees or harms the eco system there. My movie is not that far of a stretch.
2. Lloyd Kaufman of Troma Studios has for years been a voice calling for environmental changes. Did you contact him about your film, or did he hear about it and get in touch with you? I met him at the Twisted Nightmare Weekend. He was really fun to work with and is a really nice guy. It's sad that his scene got cut from the final release. It was replaced by a parody of Girls Gone Wild featuring Heather Leigh Davis. I thought Lloyd's cameo was hilarious and I hope to use it in the extra features DVD.
3. While I thought the cast was terrific, two people in particular stand out to me. Can you tell us a little bit about Robyn Griggs and Jack Bowman, and what motivations you gave them in order for them to achieve the manic levels their characters displayed?
I met Robyn online a few years ago. She is a professional actress having appeared in popular daytime soaps like ONE LIFE TO LIVE and ANOTHER WORLD. She has a real taste for horror movies and has many independent features under her belt. She was a lot of fun to work with. She loved the character Alicia and did a wonderful job at bringing her to life.
I have known Jack for over 10 years. He is a performance artist and is known as Dayton's greatest poet. I based his character off of a performance piece he had that featured a character named Nursery Rhyme Jack. He also had a short play called ED GEIN X-MAS. Those two ideas were merged together for his segment in SLASHERS GONE WILD. I asked him to give the camera an evil toothy smile. He is a natural when it comes to acting and his characters along with Robyn Grigg’s character Alicia are convention favorites.
4. The whole concept of "Reality" television being what it is today, do you think that somewhere and sometime in the not to distant future somebody may try to make a TV. show based on this premise?
Reality tapes that show actual death are available everywhere. If such an event happened it would be on pay per view.
5. As I kind of see this as a newer vein in the genre, there are not that many films like this out there. One of the first was of course Paul Michael Glasser's The Running Man, but the film I think that has the same tone and approach of SGW is Maurice Deveraux's Slashers. Have you seen his movie, and did it have any influence on how you made your film?
My character Loonitic Rob has been killing people on his Game show TRUTH OR DARE since 1991. The song Slaughter-rama by GWAR is the actual influence. I did like Slasher's, though. It was quite bloody and the slashers were pretty cool.
6. I thought that a lot of the special effects hit their mark very well. With lip lacerations, eyeball removal, amputation of limbs and the nastiest scrambled egg scene on record, could you give us a little background on your effects crew on the film?
Thanks! I went to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and learned most of my special effects there. I then taught myself CGI and other fun stuff. Mandy Keith and Raz also helped out with the make-up for the reanimated demons. I absolutely love gore effects and I spend a lot of my spare time trying to figure out new ones.
7. The scene with the chainsaw to the face is a piece of work! Was that all make-up or was their any digital foolery involved? In either case, how long was the set-up for that shot?
That was a combination of gore F/X and CGI. I shot much footage of Missy and then took it to my computer and altered it. Raz did a good job of keeping her nervous with the chainsaw. Over all I worked a few days on that effect.
8. Are there any thoughts of doing future editions of SGW with new characters, or would you be interested in doing a solo project for any of the serial killers in the film? I would love to see Jack Bowman's character in the kitchen again! This is only the beginning for all of the characters in the movie. There is a story to tell. Think of SGW as issue #1 of a live action horror comic.
9. Was the music video a nice change of pace for you, or do you prefer the film route?
I love music videos! I grew up in the time period where music videos were popular. Josiah Bennet (BRAILLE KORP) is very talented and I was happy to do a music video for him. I also killed him in Truth or Dare; he is the guy that gets his lips torn off. If I had a choice between the two I would stick to making horror movies.
10. How long did it take you from pre to post production and was there anything that you wished you had done in a different way?
Roughly about two years. I am absolutely satisfied with this movie.
11. Where did you first here about Morphic Resonance, Braille Korp and FREQ, and how did you get them involved in the project? I have been friends with them for years. I am surrounded by talented people. If there is anything I want out of this movie, one of those things is for everybody to hear their music.
12. Will you guys be looking to make any kind of merchandise based upon the characters in the film? I think a 187 Show t-shirt would be great for any horror fan!
Thanks! There might be t-shirts in the future. The buttons are very popular at conventions.
13. The independent scene relies heavily on word of mouth and partnerships, so are there any independent films or directors you know that we should keep an eye on?
Chris Seaver, Speedfreak Productions, Stephanie Aldridge, Andy Kopp, Mike Watts
14. Do you like working with a lower budget where you can make the type of film that you want, or would you like to take a crack at a Hollywood type movie with a bigger budget but content restraints?
I someday hope to make a multi million dollar horror flick. For now, I really do enjoy the freedom of low budget horror. I like being able to create an idea and then bring it to life.
15. What can we look forward to as a follow up to Slashers Gone Wild? Is there a dream project that you would love to do?
The next movie I have planned will be a ghost story, a very bloody, hyper violent, guts on the wall ghost story. My dream project would be to make a big budget Toxic Avenger movie. That is one of my all-time favorite characters.
16. What advice can you give other aspiring independent film makers that will encourage them to keep going?
Never give up. Many eggheads in your life will tell you cannot achieve your dreams. They are full of crap. Ignore them and make your art.
17. Are there any final words for your fans and fans of the genre?
Thanks for having wonderful taste in movies! Keep an eye out for World Parody Productions and our future projects! There will be many of them!
REST IN PEACE!
"Because I am the Dedman, and you're not!"
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