Dustin Mills is one of the few directors out there that makes me geek out and I truly mean that. His films are a blast from start to finish and his style is unmistakable. I never tire of his films even though my wife sure as hell does. After watching his films The Puppet Monster Massacre and Zombie A-Hole I sought Dustin out on Facebook where he graciously accepted my friend request. Ever since that day we carry on numerous conversations about random things but they are mostly movie based.
Like I mentioned before I am a huge fan and our conversations often end in metaphorical boners, at least on my end, from getting to talk to a man I would call one of my idols. I decided that if I was trying to improve my interview skills that it would only make sense to interview a man that I hold in high regards. I asked Dustin if he cared if I interviewed him for the site and he agreed so thank you Dustin for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions.
Before we get started I just want to come clean and admit that you are one of my favorite indie directors out there. I follow your career like a Twilight fan girl and geek out whenever I get news about your work. I know I am by far not the only one. How does that make you feel knowing you have such die hard fans out there?
Thanks, man! I think you might have a crack in your brain pan for liking my goofy shit that much, but it is much appreciated.
It means a lot to me actually. Probably more than I have words for. There are days where I question everything I am doing because I’m either in a bad mood, or there is no money coming in at the moment, or someone has just said something particularly shitty to me about my movies. On days like that I just have to remember who I am doing this for. I make these flicks for me and for people like me. I branch out and experiment a lot, but my stuff (I think) always has that certain flavor. Its a flavor I find rather delicious, and lucky for me there are at least a handful of other people who feel the same way. I’d be nothing without the support I get from my fans, and I mean support in just about every sense of the word. It keeps me going. This shit isn’t easy and it isn’t always rewarding, but I know I have a lot of people that I can’t let down. It feels good.
What you said about people talking shit about your films actually brings me to my next question. You are by far the most popular indie director I have came in contact with. Your fan base is rather huge compared to other indie directors. I’m sure with as many fans as you have some haters stick there heads out and make their complaints heard. What is the most common thing haters love to say about your films?
Just that my stuff is low budget garbage I guess. I love low budget garbage, though. I think what hurts the most is when people say that I am “just cranking out crap” or that I am “incompetent”. That kinda stuff can cut deep. I have high output, but I never intend to crank out crap. I also don’t think I am incompetent. My largest hurdle is and always will be that I am making these movies with no money and mostly on my own. Some folks just can’t appreciate microbudget cinema. Recently I was perusing the Manborg IMDB page because well… its basically my favorite movie at the moment. I saw people saying the same shit about Astron-6 as they say about me. If someone can talk shit about something as magical as Manborg then I imagine they can talk shit about anything. Seeing that took the edge off a bit.
I am curious to what films and television shows you watched as a child. Do they still hold up to you today?
The movies I watched over and over were Little Shop Of Horrors, Ghostbusters, Monster Squad, Tremors, Garbage Pail Kids, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. All of those films hold up for me except for Garbage Pail Kids. I watch the rest over and over and over. That’s as a young child. As I got older I got more into horror and exploitation films. From Dusk Till Dawn, An American Werewolf In London, Night Of The Creeps, Humanoids From The Deep, Forbidden world… the list goes on and on. Too many to name.
As for television: I was way into Reboot (still think its a cool show), I loved The Inhumanoids, Transformers Beast Wars, Mighty Max, Are You Afraid Of the Dark… typical 80’s/90’s kid stuff I guess.
Oh and Batman The Animated Series was by far the greatest thing on television. That show holds up too.
That brings me to my next question. Your films have a style of their own and I personally see a little bit of Sushi Typhoon in them as well. Did those movies and television shows you watched growing up influence your films now?
I am sure those movies and TV shows probably did influence me in some way. I can’t put my finger on the exact ways they influence me. I think it probably has to do more with story structure than anything.
The Sushi Typhoon movies… man… I just fucking adore them. Its just madcap off the wall crazy bullshit. I can’t get enough of it. Starting out I thought I knew where the boundaries of weirdness and imagination were, but movies like Helldriver, Tokyo Gore Police, Samurai Princess, Alien VS Ninja etc. pretty much redefined the game for me. I think they expanded my mind in unhealthy ways.
What did you do before you became an indie film maker?
I was a graphic designer from the age of 19/20 until a little over a year ago.
It was awful.
What does the future look like for you and your production company, Dustin Mills Productions?
It is constantly uncertain. I live check to check. The movies don’t pay much (if anything) so I am always hunting for work. I usually pay the bills by doing music videos. In the immediate future I have Kill That Bitch coming out in September, Skinless Pete coming out in October. Before all that I begin shooting Country Dark in August. When all of that is wrapped up I will be working on The Puppet Monster Massacre II for what will surely feel like the rest of my life. I will also be releasing episodes of my crazy anthology series DumpsterVision. There might be a few surprises along the way, but those are the things I can confirm right now. Still no offers from big time producers or studios. I don’t hold my breath, though.
Finally, is your favorite horror film or films?
That is such a hard question. Even to list them is difficult. Right now my current favorite movie is Manborg. Its amazing. I’ve watched it at least 12 times since I bought it.
