IndieGoGo turned Super Troopers 2 from a long-gestating idea, into a movie. Can it do it for Bo Keister’s Finding Waldo? We talk to the horror alum about his new jaunt into comedy – and crowd-funding.
Are you still based in Virginia? Have all your recent projects being local ones?
I’m still in VA, but my work takes me all over the place. I guess the last thing I did here was Killing Kennedy, I played “Tony the Batender” in Jack Ruby’s Carousel Club.
What’s the attraction of making a movie there, in your opinion? Are they offering big tax breaks?
Well, the big attraction is the history here, and the close proximity to Washington DC. Many of the projects shot here are historical in nature, so it makes sense to come to Virginia. You also have a very broad geography, from mountains to beaches, so I think that’s attractive as well.
As for incentives, I wouldn’t term them as “big”, but Virginia is starting to see the light as to the benefits of having production happening here. The AMC series Turn has certainly helped raise awareness to the possibilities.
Hopefully, they’ll get on board the way Louisiana and Georgia have, and take it to that level.
And you’re producing a movie at the moment, Finding Waldo – is that going to be made in Virginia?
We’re actually shooting in Arizona. Our director, David Mun, is from AZ, so he has lots of resources to draw from there. And, of course, the majority of the film is set in the desert, so it’s a necessity.
At least we’re shooting in the fall, so I may be able to avoid heat stroke.
You’re also acting in that too, yes?
I am. I play “Chance Reed”, an ex pro football star, whose life is completely upended by his battles with alcohol and a fateful night of drunk driving.
When we meet him, he’s out on parole, working in a mail room of a Lloyd’s of London-like insurance firm. He’s miserable, drifting through life each day, and just can’t seem to pick up the pieces. It looks like he’s kind of at the end of his rope, until he’s summoned to the office of firm president “Cyrus Motley” (Richard Riehle, Office Space, Transformers: Age of Extinction), and tasked with interviewing eccentric novelist, “Waldo Greene” (Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who, The Emperor’s New Groove).
Waldo is claiming to be insane, and an $80Million insurance payout hangs in the balance. When Chance goes to interview him, everything goes sideways. Waldo kidnaps him and they launch head first into the road trip from hell. As the game plays out, it becomes clear that not everything is as it seems.
You’re going the crowd-funding route for Finding Waldo. Why did you decide to go that route?
We’re giving it a go with Indiegogo, and hoping people respond. I think that crowdfunding campaigns help, regardless of how close you get to the goal, because it raises awareness and interest in the project. It is very competitive however, so we are doing all we can to drive folks to the page.
We have a great story, an amazing cast – that now includes Tom Proctor from Guardians of the Galaxy, and Rachel Faulkner from Hillbilly Horror Show, and some terrific perks for those who choose to donate.
I encourage everyone to check out the link. Donate if you can, share with your friends, and leave us a comment of support. All of it helps.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/finding-waldo/
Was Hillbilly Horror Show produced the same way – via IndieGoGo?
No, we do the show out of pocket, but we’re pretty good at keeping the budget contained. We also have a solid team that gets things done quickly, so we are able to shoot a couple volumes in a weekend. Everyone works great together.
Congratulations on the DVD release for the show. Were you surprised at all that you were able to get a DVD release for a web series?
Thanks! We are really excited to get them out there. It was always our plan to take it from web to DVD, and hopefully we’ll get it to network/cable at some point. Just have to keep making each volume better than the last, and I think we’ve been doing that.
Do the DVDs offer anything different to the web series?
Volume 2 has some great extras on it, and we’re planning even more fun additions for future volumes. We really want to please our fans, so we are constantly coming up with fun new ideas.
Are you still filming the show, or is the movie career getting in the way?
Oh, the show marches on! We already have plans for two more volumes this year, possibly more. Luckily, we’re able to work around my other projects, since we can shoot so quickly. I just hope I continue seeing good fortune and have more projects come my way.
Thanks for taking time to interview me! It’s been a pleasure.
