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CHRIS WATSON
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CHRIS WATSON
Writer, Director and Producer of ZOMBIEGEDDON. For more info on Chris please go to IMDb
came along at a time when any idiot can make a movie so I decided to become one of those idiots. How'd you get started on your filmmaking journey? I tried to get a short done for something called "Mob Daze". I lived on a dorm floor with a couple of video production students but they all flaked just with the meetings. In true idiot brilliance, I decided to turn the short I couldn't get anyone to direct into a feature. The script got a good reaction but it was a pain in the rump to produce. It should have been the movie that told me not to let others direct what I'm producing but it took a few more jabs to the scrotum before I figured that one out. Tell us how "ZOMBIEGEDDON" got off the ground? I had been planning a comedy for that summer but the reaction to the script was really bad. I had kind of planned on doing a no budget film where I'd throw around some blood and that'd be it. That became the main project and slowly became ZOMBIEGEDDON. The only "horror" movies I enjoyed at the time were the cheesey B movie ones so that's the route we went. Are you a big zombie fan? What is your favorite zombie film? It's still about the film so if it's good, I will like it. If "Cemetary Man" counts, that'd be my favorite. Care to relate some of your fun on-set horror storries from that film? I don't know that I'd say fun. It was a ton of work filled with rookie mistakes on my part. I just remember going from one place to another non stop, getting very little sleep, etc. A lot of people put a lot of effort into their parts in the film but it only took a few to make it a sour experience. How'd you round up your b-movie cast? Each one has a different story. Most of them I tracked down via email and asked them to do a part in the movie. Ed Neal I met at a convention, one of the few successes I've had with meeting someone at a convention. Linnea happened to be in Kansas for another shoot so we shot her part then. Tell us how "EVIL EVER AFTER" came about? I was bored and asked a company I knew if they would be interested in us doing something for them. We came up with a synopsis, got it approved and had money to play with. Was it your intention to make the film as vile as possible? lol The problem with micro films is that most of the people doing them make no budget versions of studio movies. If the viewer is not seeing something they can't see in a theatre, then why waste time watching it? I wanted to be a part of something that people would not easily forget. I think we accomplished that. You've just returned to directing with a romantic ghost comedy. How's "DEAD IN LOVE" coming along and why do a comedy? "DEAD IN LOVE" is something I wrote back in college, while I was waiting for my "MOB DAZE" writing partner to finish doing rewrites. I wanted to do something simple that I could easily direct and work my chops on. I ended up doing some rewrites before filming but it's mostly the script I wrote ten years ago. We started talking about filming it on the "Slaughter Party" set. We were putting up with a really bad special effects guy, then went in and filmed some scenes of a midget getting tortured. It felt good to talk about a romantic comedy. The actors were more interested in it than they were torturing that midget. As it turned out, it was easier to get actors on board the project. We ended up with a really good cast for such a tiny movie--Margaret O'Brien, Tony Todd, Joshua Leonard, Kristin Minter, Eric Edwards, Richard Norton, Joe Estevez... Do you enjoy horror or comedy filmmaking the most? And why wait so long to direct again? My taste changes with what mood I'm in or perhaps how grown up I am. I regret not directing "MOB DAZE"--I think at the time it was a perfect script for me to learn on. I would say comedy is the most fun to direct. It's fun on set. Then you get to see it on the screen and hearing people laugh at what you wanted them to makes for a great moment. At this point, though, I'd probably prefer straight drama. As for waiting so long to direct again, I never really stopped. I did some stuff under pseudonyms and I took 2nd unit credits on some movies I probably should not have. I did want to concentrate on producing since no one else wants to do it but all you get then is no credit and complaints. There's one movie I produced where the director took credit for all these things I did--kind of negates all the hard work you put into a project. I'm really proud to be returning in people's minds with a good little movie in "DEAD IN LOVE", though. You've done a ton of stuff with Troma studios. Do you plan on rolling anything new out with them? Lloyd and I have talked about some stuff but nothing has materialized. I love Lloyd and would do anything within reason for him. I might even blow him again. If you could remake one horror film out there, which one would it be? If I ever did a remake, it'd be for the money. Any advice for future micro-budget filmmakers out there? I have tons but I'll keep it short. Stay away from LA. Be original. Don't listen to people who haven't made a movie. Make what you want--people who say horror sells better just don't know how to sell anything else. Interview conducted by: - Jose Prendes |
