(Click on the pic for larger image)
(HorrorSociety): So, who are you and what are you doing here?
My name is Paul Michael Huntley but most people know me by SIKO MIKE.I am here because I am working on my first independent horror film CANNIBAL FARM which is getting a straight to DVD release in 2008.
(HS): Now that’s out of the way, let’s talk about Cannibal Farm. Tell us what the story is with this one.
The movie is about 8 college friends who are on their way to Country Fest in Nashville,Tennessee when they accidentally take a detour down a dirt country road.A young teen on a dirt bike flies out in front of them leaving a horrifying accident.Fear begins to set in untill 2 friendly farmers drive up agreeing to call for an ambulance.The farmers also tell the kids that they are invited to a family cook out and can stay the night on their farm while the 2 men repair their truck and can have them back on the road by lunchtime.The kids say yes and go to the old and popular Jenkins Farm about a mile up the road.Things are finally starting to look up for the kids staying with the farmer’s polite southern family,eating the best food they have ever eaten Country style.As time passes by the happy group of 8 decreases and the remaining survivors get a bad feeling about the family’s odd behavior.They soon find that under the Jenkins family’s friendly smiles lurks a dark menacing monster.The group has entered a place beyond anyone’s darkest imagination and will start to believe Survival of the Fittest is their only way out before becoming the next secret ingredient of the family’s sickly recipe.
(HS): I see that the script is almost finished. Is it difficult to get some of the ideas for a project out of you head and onto paper?
Actually it is really easy.I have been writing since I was younger and have always had a passion for imagination.My imagination in fact does get away from me which actually speeds things up but I always double check my work to make sure it will appear to me just like it will to my audience or readers.
(HS): What are some of the steps to writing the scripts? Do you take notes first, or just go at it Ed Wood style (all at once in one night!)?
Well this film being my first actual script,I usually write the story for my ideas usually running about 26 pages to plan out step by step what will happen in the film.Then after all the story planning is finished,I send it off to different people to get their opinions on it,change anything that wouldn’t fit in with the story.Then finally I would just sum it all together into a script taking one or 2 scenes at a time untill it is done.Then send it back to the readers and if I get alot of positive feedback on it then keep it how it is.
(HS): Dinger & Joe[fuctup] from Cinema Eulogies are helping you write the script I see. Is that a plus for more ideas, or do you butt heads about things sometimes?
Dinger and Joe are excellent guys and really respect the genre as much as I have my whole life so we basically add all our ideas together to max up the thrills and chills.
(HS): So as far as production is concerned, you said that is will begin in 2008. Have you got any locations scouted out yet? I’ve heard that is the hardest part for indie films.
Well I have a buddy of mine who lives in North Carolina where we will be filming the movie and he is scouting out locations as we speak. Basically we need of course the farm house with alot of land,corn field,huge barn,and back dirt country roads.Then have a strip club scene and another house for short scene towards the beginning of the film.The hardest part for a indie film is definitely locations/budgets.
(HS): How are you securing the budget for this project? Throwing any parties for money, or have you been in talks with anyone for sponsorships?
Well Dinger has been talking about making T-shirts,hats,and bags for the film which we could sell and get some money then I have some cash in my savings and basically everyone will chip in some kinda money because we all want to see this indie film become a big hit at the video stores.
(HS): Now you said this is going to be a gorefest, and by the looks of the pictures it seems like it! Are you doing the special effects yourself?
No,those pictures were actually stuff I through together with photoshop.I am on the look out for a special fx/make up guy and I also told the others to be on the look out and to let me know if they find a really good one.
(HS): Being so young do you find it hard for people to take you serious when you tell them you are making a movie? (finding cast and crew)
Well when I told Dinger and the rest of Cinema Eulogies about the film they immediately said yes to the idea and alot of people have been truly supportive.Now my parents on the other hand were doubtful at first untill they read my stories then they realized that I was born with a true talent in story-telling.
(HS): This is your first time directing but is this your first time actually making a movie? I mean have you made some shorts or anything before for school, or personal?
Well yes this is actually my first time getting into the movie making business.I have always been a horror movie fan since I was born basically since my birthday was like 2 days before Halloween.I will probably be making some shorts starting this school year in fact because my friend is starting a Film Club after school and we get to work on different aspects of film making.
(HS): Are you working on any other projects right now along side Cannibal Farm?
Yes in fact I have plenty of projects planned for my future which could possibly get me a front row ticket to HollyWood if the right person saw it. I am working on a film called PERFECTION after Cannibal Farm is done which is more of a sci-fi/thriller than a horror film but it still will have some gore then hopefully I will have raised my budget to work on the film HOUSE OF HORRORS which I attend to make both gory and absolutely frightening.
(HS): What kind of horror movies do you get inspiration from?
Well I got my inspiration first and foremost from Wes Craven with the Scream films and Nightmare on Elm Street.Then there was Tobe Hooper’s classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.John Carpenter’s classic Halloween.Eli Roth’s gory/disgusting film HOSTEL.Definitely Rob Zombie for bringing us HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES & THE DEVIL’S REJECTS.And of course my bud Tim Sullivan with my favorite horror film ever 2001 MANIACS.
(HS): Once the movie is done shooting, are you going to be editing it yourself as well?
Well if I get really good at editing then possibly but if not then I will get someone to help me with that while I tell them how I want the film to be.
(HS): Are you going to try to secure a distribution deal with someone when this is done, or sell the DVD yourself?
Distribution deal definitely which is what Dinger says he would help me out with.He said that he is going to try to get it into as many horror festivals as possible when complete to try and find a distributor.
(HS
): What do you think of the current state of horror at the moment? With all of the remakes out and coming soon. Are you a fan of the remakes?
Well I am not a huge fan of remakes/sequels/or prequels in the horror genre.I believe every horror filmmaker out there should stick with originality.Now as far as remakes go I did happen to see some that impressed me like 2001 Maniacs,Texas Chainsaw Massacre,Hills Have Eyes,and House on Haunted Hill but remakes such as House of Wax,Wicker Man,Grudge,and Pulse could have been alot better.Also another thing I don’t believe in is PG-13 horror films because they lack the potential and the thrill ride that R rated horror films can deliver.As far as sequels/prequels go I loved Texas Chainsaw Massacre:The Beginning and I loved the sequels to Scream and I know What you Did Last Summer as well as Urban Legend.
(HS): Are you going to be shooting on film, or is this going to be digital?
Hopefully we will be shooting on film.I guess we will know once we find the right cameraman.
(HS): How did you get started writing and making movies in the first place?
Well I started writing my own scary stories around when I was 11 years old.I read scary novels like the FEAR STREET novels by R.L.STINE and also read GOOSEBUMPS when I was like 9 or 10.I fell in love with the Goosebumps television show on Fox Kids along with Are you Afraid of the Dark? on Nickelodeon.My dad was the reason that I got drawn to the horror genre because one night he rented Scream and I was like 10 years old so I walked into his room and he let me watch it.I went nuts over that film and started drawing the killer hanging that girl from the tree and stabbing someone with a bloody knife in my notebooks at school. Horror became an obsession for me and a passion that I have been glued to ever since.
(HS): Do you have plans on going to film school after high school?
Hell yeah,I am hoping & planning to get into North Carolina School of the Arts and take all film courses in their department of filmmaking in Winston Salem.
(HS): Is there going to be a chance for a sequel to this movie?
I have thought about it and maybe basically all depends on how this film turns out and if there is in fact going to be a sequel I will try my hardest to have it not a copy of the original and unique all on its own.
(HS): Is there anything else that you would like to say?
Yes,for yall thinking about going into filmmaking;NEVER QUIT no matter what people tell you and you will go as far as you want to go.Be sure to check out my film CANNIBAL FARM coming to a video store near you in 2008. You can contact me for updates,questions,etc. on myspace so add us www.myspace.com/cannibalfarmmovie
(HS): One last thing…I try to ask everyone this. What is Horror to you?
Horror is a thrill ride with no endings,plenty of twists & turns,mind blowing,insane,disturbing,hate,passion,comical,romantic,and a way to face your fear.It can be a blur between fantasy and reality.It’s basically anything and everything we see in the world we live in and is the darker side of our imagination.
Thanks to SikoMike for the time out of his busy life to talk with us for a while. Good luck to him and the rest of his crew and we will keep you updated on the status of this film.
Links:
IFF Cannibal Farm
MySpace for Cannibal Farm
MySpace for SikoMike
