Gathering some scholarly data...

[Steve503]

Hi there,
I'm working on a paper for a class (although I hope that it might get published) in which I argue that low-budget horror filmmakers are a folk group. Not a folk group like The Kingston Trio or anything, but a group of people bound by similar interests, culture and artforms. I was hoping that anybody on this bulletin board who happened to stumble across this post might be willing to reply back with answers to a few questions. Here they are:

1) How did you become interested in horror films?
2) Have you made your own horror film(s)? If so, how many have you made?
3) What format do you prefer to work in? (i.e. miniDV, super-8, 16mm, Pixelvision, etc.)
4) What are your goals as a filmmaker?
5) What is your recipe for cinema blood? If you consider it proprietary, let me know.
6) Who are your influences as a filmmaker?
7) What's your favorite low-budget horror film?

Answers to any or all of these would be great. Thank you very much for helping me out!

Steve

[Mommy's Little Monster]

1) I became interested in horror basically because it was the only type i movie i did not despise! Sure i like comedies and drama and what not but in horror the story telling never seemed to be watered down and dumbed down so that the average person could understand it.

2) I have worked on some horror films as an FX artist but have yet to make my own horror film, though i am in the process of writing a few scripts. I have however made some shorts for school projects.

3) From purely a monetary and expirence standpoint, when i do film my movies i will be working in miniDV. It's cheaper and i know how to edit on a computer. I have no real film school training so i do not know how to work with film or edit it.

4) To make a good movie. I don't wanna be famous, my movies are for myself, if other people enjoy them then that's great too. I chose horror bacause there are no boundries in horror, you can do whatever you feel like doing, in fact people expect it.

5) just the standard karo syrup and red & green food colouring mix. Sometimes a bit of corn strach to thicken it up.

6) That question for me would be better suited a what are my influnences. I know this answer might sound like the stock "artist" answer but it true. There is no one person who influnces me and there is no one facet of human life that influnces me. Influnce comes in many fomrs from a stranger on the street to a song lyric to a particular scene in a movie. The mark of a great filmaker, or any artist for that matter, is to include everyday mondane events and make them extrordinary.

7) It's hard to choose just one but i would have to say, for what it is, Evil Dead would have to be right up there on the list.

[Superheidi]

1) When I was 6 and my parents took me to see "Nightmare on Elm Street part 2" in the theatres, I was in awe. Also, The Howling franchise and Elvira practically raised me, since all i did was watch videos and television. There was no censorship in my home at all, so I got really used to gore and violence and learned to love t.

2) I have produced two horror films, and have acted in 7.

3) As a producer, I prefer 16 or 35 millimeter, though DV can be acceptable if you have a talented cinematographer and will convert to filmlook.

4)MY goals are to: be a woman making horror films ( a rarity), to help others make their horror films (as a producer. I am not a writer or director), and to continue making cameos in low budget indie horror flicks. My long term goals include bringing decent independent horror back to studios. (it seems that we've been succeeding lately with open Water and Saw, and I hope to make sure it continues)

5) I never make the blood myself, but here is a tip as an objective person (and the girl who gets drenched in it:) It should have more of an orange-red color than a violet-red color. I've noticed in an effor to keep the blood real, filmmakers tend to go overboard with the violet undertones.

6) I have been influenced by artsy and interesting-looking films (cause I'm a chick). So, Argento, Jackson, and to a certain extent, Carpenter have influeneced my horror ideals. In general, Sergio Leone is my biggest influence. His filmmaking techniques can be translated successfully to any genre.

7) Mulva, Zombie Ass-kicker, by Low Budget Pictures.

[CrawlingKaos]

hey. I'd like to see you explore the kingston trio angle .. but for what it's worth:

1. I grew up watching a show called 'Sir Graves Presents ...' in Michigan which was a vampire who showed old Universal films. That got me hooked.

2. I made a few short video films. The shortest one running at 2 minutes, the longest at 25 minutes. Also worked as a grip on a few films.

3. I've never worked in anything besides miniDV or video.

4. to get a full length film of quality made, distributed, and seen.

5. I go by the very simple corn syrup with red and yellow food coloring.

6. Godzilla, Sam Raimi, Alan Moore/Frank Miller/Bernie Wrightson comics, anime and manga, insanity, Tsui Hark, supposedly true tales of the occult, German expressionist films, Hammer studios, Pulps and the small press.

7. Evil Dead 2. But really all of the great films made in the late eigthies, early ninties: Gordon, Jackson, etc.

[opengravefilms]

1) How did you become interested in horror films?

Way back, my stepmom turned me onto 70's stuff like Legend of Hell House (Shimizu did not invent ghost stories) and Omega Man, stuff like that on Sunday afternoon TV. Once VCRs came around I just gravitated towards zombies and slasher flicks. I always read sci-fi and horror novels growing up.

2) Have you made your own horror film(s)? If so, how many have you made?

Yes. One so far...

3) What format do you prefer to work in? (i.e. miniDV, super-8, 16mm, Pixelvision, etc.)

Only used hi-8, I think most filmmakers would say use what you have.

4) What are your goals as a filmmaker?

Have fun being creative.

5) What is your recipe for cinema blood? If you consider it proprietary, let me know.

I have not used blood yet.

6) Who are your influences as a filmmaker?

Tarantino, Kubrick, Raimi, Zemeckis, Burton & J. Stephenson!

7) What's your favorite low-budget horror film?

Evil Dead

[* Dullahan *]

1) I became interested in horror because as a child I was EASILY scared. Then I got older and got addicted to the RUSH of being scared by horror movies. Then it developed into LOVING to scare friends and family members. Now I want to scare the world. lol

2) I have not made a "REAL" film as of yet, but am currently working on converting a story of mine into a screenplay. I am not going to sell it however, because I want to make it myself, as I envision the movie.

3) I had planned on using 35mm, but am throwing around the idea of using DV. (maybe a Cannon XL2 ?)

4) I want to make my first movie, have it turn out like I want it to and have people see it. Hopefully after the first, get a chance to make many more.

5) I have an idea in some shots to use REAL blood from the butcher shop, but other than that there are many cool blood recipies at this site: www.shades-of-night.com/painneck/blood.html

6) My influences in horror are F-N clowns! I hate them! Oh, but I do like Wes Craven and John Carpenter. ( I know, big names, but hey it's the truth )

7) I actually liked the 1974 Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

[Gunslinger]

1) As a young child I saw all the Frankenstein movies, and Hammer Dracula movies. I slowly grew to like more mature horror movies (House on Haunted Hill remake, Living Dead trilogy..etc.)
2) Not yet, currently in pre-production for one.
3) I apologize, but I don't know as much about cameras as I wish I did. I use a Panosonic VHS formatted camera however.
4) To make movies for enjoyment of others, and not personal profit.
5) Karo syrup and food coloring.
6) Bruce Campbell, Sam Raimi, Sergio Leone, and Clint Eastwood
7) Same as everyone it seems: Evil Dead.

[Randy Robinson]

1. I grew up watching "A Nightmare on Elm Street" mainly because I have uncles who are big horror fans. I remember peeking into the living room late at night and watching the films that were considered "taboo" to/for children. Mainly, they were "A Nightmare..." or "Friday the 13th."

2. I have made three short horror films, which were just for practice. I am stuck in production hell with a feature and we just completed two horror/psychological shorts which will be online soon.

3. I have the most experience in MiniDV, which I love. I recently got the chance to work with 16mm film which is also great. These are, sadly, the only formats I have worked in. Right now I am more into MiniDV since I am still learning.

4. To make, or at least be part of, films that are original and bring something new to film and video. To make things that people can really enjoy.

5. Very simple recipe of light corn syrup, red food coloring and a little green food coloring. Depending on the lighting, I may add more or less of colors. I also have another recipe for great looking blood but its really long and complicated.

6. Tim Burton. Everything he makes is outstanding.

7. The Blair Witch Project. Amazing idea and really well handled, just blew completely out of proportion in the media. Another low-budget film I enjoy is Pieces of April. I know its not horror, but it shows what you can do with no money.

[Brown Stained Abyss]

1) When i saw Evil Dead and thought it was well bangin'

2) I've made about 20 horror films, of which 3 are good and well made.

3) Mini Dv all the way, baby

4) To cater for everybody's filmic needs

5) Tommy K

6) Raimi and Romero. And Ralph Parfait.

7) Bad Taste, and my own film, Attack of the Brainworms, a tour de force which pushes the boundaries of low budget cinema.

[crunchydave]

1) When I was introduced to my filmic companion Moonbather. He showed me Evil Dead. I orgasmed.

2) Yes. I have made three and am in the process of another. It will be scrumptious.

3) Mini DV

4) To make ze money, than to get ze power than to get ze women. And to grow provocative facial hair. Mmm.

5) Open a vein into a bottle.

6) Brick Majors and Mega-man.

7) Kiss Cannibals. Uh-huh!

[Steve503]

Thank you to everyone who posted a reply to this topic! The information you provided was very helpful. The paper is now finished and if it ends up getting published, I'll post the name of the publication and let you know where you can find it.

Thanks again,
Steve

[Superheidi]

I look forward to it!

[DWhots]

1) How did you become interested in horror films?
Like most, as a child staying up late and watching films on tv when I shouldn't. It was Hitchc*ck's The Birds that really got me into the genre. Ever since seeing that film I could never look at a sea gull the same way.

2) Have you made your own horror film(s)? If so, how many have you made?
Not yet, but I will be starting one in a few months.

3) What format do you prefer to work in? (i.e. miniDV, super-8, 16mm, Pixelvision, etc.)
MiniDV because I have no choice, I would love to use 16mm.

4) What are your goals as a filmmaker?
To tell stories and captivate people, even if it is only one person who likes what I have to say, I will be happy.

5) What is your recipe for cinema blood? If you consider it proprietary, let me know.
Like everyone else, corn syrup with red and yellow food coloring, I will never get everything red in my kitchen and mix it to make blood again, the smell, the taste was horrible, although it looked pretty nasty.

6) Who are your influences as a filmmaker?
Mario Bava would be the first, his skill with lighting and shooting on the cheap is something to be said, then Dario Argento for being a nut behind the camera and coming up with some amazing set pieces. Frank Capra, Sergio Leone, Akira Kurasowa, and Jack Hill.

7) What's your favorite low-budget horror film?
Pretty much all of Mario Bava's films and The Evil Dead, wow that's all I have to say.

cheers