1. when did you become interested in the genre, & how did you come to decide to make the movie slaughter tales at age 15 & did you make it in hopes for distribution?
I started watching horror films around age 12, when my friend joey forced me to watch A nightmare on elm street. I was hooked ever since. A couple of months later, joey, my friend brandon, and I, got together and made our first horror (And horror is right!) "I know what you did last weekend". Ever since, I have been making cheapie horror films, with the occasional action/comedy thrown into the mix. Slaughter Tales started as a proof of concept, "Could I make a feature, or semi-feature?" After 2 years of working away at it, I finally found my answer. Yes. Now to work on a GOOD feature!
2. What was it (that moment) when you realized you can make a movie & get it officially released on DVD?
I had distribution lined up with Briarwood Entertainment before the film was finished, basically. The biggest moment for me was when the film was 100% completed, and editing was over. I was so excited, and extremely relieved. Then I went to the mexican lunch truck down the street and got a burrito. Damn was that a good burrito.
3. Who are some of you biggest influences?
Tim Ritter, the Polonia brothers, Jon McBride, Joel D. Wynkoop, Lloyd Kaufman, and Peter Jackson.
4. Your a VHS collector, how did you interested in VHS & do you prefer over DVDS?
I first got interested in VHS when I purchased a copy of Body bags for 5 dollars on amazon. I couldn't put the tape down when I got it in the mail. After that, I started buying any horror movie on vhs, and would take them home and watch them one after the other. And to answer if I think VHS is better than DVD, I can't remember the last feature film I watched all the way through on DVD was.
VHS have made a big comeback in the horror genre, do you think someday all vhs will be collectible?
I really don't think so, because every hobby blows up at some point, but like any hobby, not everything is gold. You can't go to any vinyl collector and throw some beat records at them and expect them to bite. I think the craze will die down looong before a copy of Jurassic park sells for $700.
5. What is next for Johnny Dickie anything down the pike?
I'm currently in production of my next film, City of the Dream Demons, we are about half way done it. There is gonna be some neat gore in it for sure!
And I have a summer project lined up called The Cut Box Killer, but it's still in pre-production. I am also doing shorts and working on other independent films effects wise and acting wise.
6. What would you say to kids and adults out there who want to make movies but don't think they can, & what would you say to the struggling filmmakers out there?
Do it! Nobody becomes a hot shot award winning filmmaker over night. You can go to film school to act, run camera, light, and direct, but the only way you will actually get anywhere making films is if you, well, make films! Who gives a shit about the quality? Do you think all those award winning big wigs first movies were good? God no! That's why they make sure that nobody sees them! The only way you can get better is through trial and error, and seeing what you did wrong the first time around. So grab your camera and get crackin!
7. Do you make films because you love the genre or strictly for the money?
Strictly because I love the genre. Do you think I actually made any money off of Slaughter Tales? Haha! Money was the farthest thing from my mind when making ST, because I didn't even know it was going to be released at the time.
8. A lot of people have a lot of respect for you because you have your first film officially released on DVD at such a young age you must be pretty proud of yourself do you plan on sticking around & making a career out of this?
I have no plans on stopping. I would love to make a career out of it, but being realistic, I don't think I could make my living off of it. But I won't stop. Film making and horror are my passions, and I can't think of anything i'd want to do more with the rest of my life than make movies.
9. say something to the fans out there?
There are fans?
10. is there anything else you want to tell the readers?
Yes. Make your movies, write your books, perform those songs. If they turn out less than satisfactory the first time around, try and try again. Nobody gets better from quitting. If you truly love your craft, then put your all into it. I did, and look where it got me!
