Is An American Terror a horror movie with a message? If so, what do you think that message is?
The message is that darkness is all consuming, that we do not emerge by becoming dark, but by seeking the light.
How did you initially pitch it to financers and so on?
It’s never easy to pitch such a controversial subject matter, but the idea of making a great commercial horror film with a subject matter that was timely and actually might have meaning seemed to really appeal to the producers and financiers, we were blessed with above the line folks who had vision and who seek to make both commercial and relevant films.
Have you any filmmakers or films that significantly influenced the direction and tone of the film? Obviously Van Sant’s Elephant?
I had not seen elephant until after. It’s a great portrayal, very intense. But I should say that most of the influence came from being a Colorado native and actually living through the seemingly never-ending aftermath of the Columbine massacre. It was a concept that had been lurking in my mind for quite sometime.
Graham Emmons is great. Where did you discover him?
He was a Denver local that came in strictly based on look for the casting. He absolutely blew us away. He is one of the most profession, giving and collaborative actors I have ever met. In fact all of our cast was a joy. We got really lucky. I truly believe someday Graham will be a star. He has something about him that just draws you in.
The film features some pretty graphic torture scenes. Is it difficult shooting such stuff?
It can be yes, in today’s market with trends shifting as they do, it can be hard to know what to show and what not to. We tend to shoot it in its most graphic essence in order to procure coverage, then bring it down in edit. Sometimes not showing things can be much more effective. But this project specifically needed some graphic shots, it was not really for the audience, but more for the characters. These kids were pretty desensitized going in, we had to create real feeling situations that would cause the type of about face for characters like that.
Did you pull an Alfred Hitchcock and cameo in the film yourself?
No way… the film was scarry enough already.
What are you working on next? Something in the same genre?
I write screenplays for a living so I am always working on something. But for my own directing efforts, I just finished a zombie film that I and my producers believe will set the Z genre on its ear. I wish I could talk more about it, but its hush hush. Other than that, as an indie, I always have a few things floating around trying to become real. Fingers crossed!
