1. What film did you see that made you want to get involved in directing?
You wouldn’t believe me if I told you…Home Alone. I remember being 11 and sitting in the theatre just watching this little kid running around on screen, and the audience’s reaction to him. I was thinking I could do that. That was until I found out I have no acting ability. Somehow from that movie, I was able to harness an appreciation for being behind the camera, instead of in front of it…and a collective sigh of relief was heard everywhere.
2. What were the movies you won awards for about?
The most recent one was “Ghost Hunters, Inc. Presents: The Graveyard Shift”. At the time, I went the artsy-fartsy route and decided to infuse documentary footage within a wraparound story. The film itself is about Ghost Hunters, Inc. A group of teens in Northeastern Pennsylvania who were stirring up the paranormal communities with their unorthodox methods for seeking out the supernatural. Part of the film’s success has led them onto bigger, and more exciting things. The film has been praised and criticized for the style of filmmaking, but you can’t please everyone.
3. What’s your favorite horror movie and why?
That’s a tough one. I like several for different reasons. If I had to pick one…maybe two, I’d say the original Dawn of the Dead. I am a big fan of George Romero’s work and I haven’t seen any film quite match it’s excellence, despite how much the film has aged by today’s standards. I also enjoy Pet Semetary, for the simple reason, it’s still the only horror film that genuinely gives me the creeps, and it was well put together.
4. Why do they call you Spot?
I wish I could lay down some ground-breaking story, or at least something halfway cool. I have a patch of silver hair, that started growing when I was three. In Elementary school, my much older brothers (bless them) told me to tell everybody that I stuck my genitals in a light socket. I earned every one of those discipline slips. There you have it. Phenomenal.
5. You have directed over 20 shorts and two features, do you have a favorite out of all of them?
They all have their own charms, but honestly I’ll have to go with the cliche’d answer and say “Clown”. Not only has it been the most impressive based on it’s tiny budget, but remembering all of the challenges, and everything that has come to be from it, it’s got a special place in my heart…right next to the Doritos and Molly Ringwald.
6. You are also musically inclined. Have you ever contributed your music to your films?
As much as possible actually. When you’ve been stuck with low-budgets and having to use all of that for cam rental and feeding your cast and crew, there usually isn’t much left for music licensing. It’s tragic, because there is a lot of good music out there I would enjoy having in one of my films.
7. You sing, play guitar and bang on the drums! Are you in a band?
Only in my head…I’m not kidding.
8. Clown was a pretty nifty little film. Are you pleased with peoples reaction to it?
I have had some damn good reviews, and there has been nothing better than sitting at the premiere and second screening in a full house theatre, and watching people laugh at the right moments and jump at the right moments.
9. Are you in the middle of filming anything now?
Right now we are in talks to reshoot the beginning of The Graveyard Shift with a much bigger budget as well as splicing in all new interviews, 5 years after we wrapped filming, and then re-releasing it.
10. Any exciting plans for the future?
Well besides Clown being released on DVD next month, and reshooting parts of The Graveyard Shift, I’m working on two different scripts. One being a possible sequel to Clown, and the other being a “road” comedy. We’ll see which one gets to be made first.
https://www.theclownmovie.net/index.html
