*Ryan Scott Weber is easily one of New Jersey’s most up-and-coming directors. Formerly a member of the hit band Crash Romeo, Weber is now embarking on a journey into fame completely solo. Sure, Ryan has an expert crew behind him and a cast of talented individuals willing to work with him, but ultimately what we see on our screens is directly his own vision. For the last two years, Ryan has held the indie horror scene of New Jersey in the palm of his hand, with the hit film Mary Horror and the recently released sequel Sheriff Tom vs. The Zombies. With a special screening of the sequel happening this weekend at the famed Chiller Theatre convention, I figured now would be the time to talk to the Mary Horror franchise director himself, Ryan Scott Weber!
Can you give us some background about yourself. When did you decide to get into film making?
When I was younger – around 16 – I saw they had video production classes at my high school and I always loved movies and all of a sudden I was hooked on making short, fun stories with all my friends. I was in a band called Crash Romeo for many years and all of our touring around the globe made me put filmmaking on the back bummer, but now I’m back and ready to rumble.
How did you come up with the original concept of Mary Horror?
It started as a music video idea for my band. We never used it and every once in a while it came back to me and I decided to make it into a feature. I always thought finding your family dead in your house when you came home was an awful thing and I thought it would be a great film to explore what happens after that happens. It changes your whole life in a second.
When did you decide that a zombie-comedy would be the next progression in the franchise?
Well, Mary Horror is sort of a zombie already cause she came back from the dead. I always thought zombies were silly. So in the movie they are a little silly, but there are ALL kinds of zombies. Talking, driving, brain eating, yelling, roller skating, naked zombies. You name it, it’s in there. I thought Sheriff Tom hates Mary so he has to hate zombies.
What was it like starring in AND directing Sheriff Tom vs. The Zombies?
I loved every minute of it! This is a passion and a love and when you are focused and driven, making it is always the best part. I had a great, talented cast and crew and it made the set fun and easy and I felt safe to jump in front of the camera. I really love playing other parts than myself. It just allows you to jump into another world and it’s sort of like traveling to a different life for just a few months. The directing was not easy for this film since we had 150 plus zombies and 65 speaking parts.
What are some of your most memorable moments from filming?
Getting kicked out of a location by a drunk idiot was a great memory ha-ha. I just loved that we got everyone from this great indie horror scene that we are all in in one film. It was alot of fun making this and you can tell everyone enjoyed themselves. I really enjoyed seeing Joe [Parascand] (Sheriff Tom) in a tutu. That was a fun time.
Somehow you’re able to get dozens of celebrity appearances in your indie films. Why do you think this is and do you feel that it brings any real legitimacy to your movies?
I love conventions and I look up to a lot of actors and filmmakers and it’s my way of kinda showing the audience and the filmmakers out there that they are people just like us and that MOST of them are really great people. To just go up to someone and say, “Hey, be in my movie?” does not work. You have to show them that this is what you love to do and that you are trying hard to make something of yourself and I think they see that and they say yes. A lot of people say I have this way about myself but I think I am just a lucky son of a bitch that I get to even meet all these great people; let alone they take the time to say a line for me. I am grateful for that. I think what really gets them is that I treat them like a normal person, not like a celebrity, so you are on the same level as them.
If zombie Mary and big, bad Sheriff Tom had a battle, who do you think would win and why?
You might just have to wait and see because that might happen someday.
What is one thing that you’d really like to get across to viewers that you may not have gotten a chance to say yet?
I am hear to entertain. I make my films for that reason. To escape real life and enjoy a movie just like we all used to do or still do I guess. I also want people to know that if the talent is there anyone can make a movie for little money. It can be done so go out and start to shoot and get your project done!
Can you spill any early details about the third film?
I am writing two scripts right now and I plan on shooting them this summer back to back. I also am going to be in a number of projects coming up this summer; one being Pandamonia where I’m playing a sheriff. I am also working on a great idea for a web-series, but as for the third film… It will be the craziest of them all! I plan on shooting in September and October for the third and final Mary Horror film. There also will be lots of returning characters and I think a lot of gore and comedy and a combination of the two other films. I keep going and that’s the way I like it.
*Thanks for taking the time to chat with me, Mr. Ryan Scott Weber!
Ryan Scott Weber on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4599901/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Ryan Scott Weber on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ryanscottweber
