What was the original inspiration for Rock'n'Roll Frankenstein, and how closely did the finished film turn out to what you initially envisaged?“The original inspiration came when I was in a bar late one night with my friend Vito Cannella. We were tossing ideas around and he mentioned the premise of creating a Frankenstein monster with the body parts of dead rock stars. I immediately was drawn to the idea and saw the humor if the monster was equipped with incompatible genitalia - and naturally, Liberace came to mind. I told Vito I was going to write a script and I'd give him co-story credit. The finished film closely resembles what I had written. As for the actual visuals, I give all credit to Jay Hillman, the DP on R&R F. I really like the look of the movie and I think Jay is incredibly talented.”
What sort of budget, shooting schedule and post-production period are we talking here?“The budget on R&R F was about $275,000. A significant portion of that went to the blow-up to 35mm (we shot in super 16mm). Our original shooting schedule was 23 days and a few months later we shot for five additional to get pick-ups and reshoot some out-of-focus footage caused by a defective lens. I edited the film at home on a D/Vision computer (couldn't afford an Avid). From the end of shooting until a final 35mm print was struck it took about a year.”
Clearly the film has received very mixed responses: why do you think festivals as far apart as Korea and Argentina have welcomed it while some of those closer to home have rejected it?
“The reason why R&R F wasn't screened at film fests in the USA? First of all, the USA doesn't have the tradition of festivals which screen horror and fantastic films as many European countries do. And I wasn't going to waste my time (or money) submitting to Sundance and that ilk. So what you have left in the USA for a film like R&R F is the ‘underground’ fests. While R&R F is considered offensive by a certain number (probably a majority) of people, I thought this would serve me well in getting accepted to underground fests. Ironically just the opposite happened. Why? Because R&R F unapologetically ridicules ‘the gay lifestyle.’ It turns out the people who organise these underground film fests are either gay or are politically correct types who are absolutely appalled by a movie like R&R F. None of these people have a sense of humour.”
Where did you find your cast and crew?
“I called individuals I knew and asked them to recommend crew people and often times these people wouldn't or couldn't work for the low pay I was offering so they would in turn recommend other people. It took a while, but eventually we were able to assemble a talented and hard-working lot.”
“For nearly 20 years I've worked mostly as a picture and sound editor (starting out cutting porn flicks.) I've also made a few bucks writing screenplays. And I was a director-for-hire on another feature, but it was such an unpleasant experience I won't even go into it.”
You can't live off one film forever, so when can we expect a new feature from you?
“I haven't a clue. I'm broke and no one's offering me any money to make a movie. If I do get a chance to make something else, out of the scripts I have sitting on the shelf the one I'd pick is called Dance with the Devil. It's about a nun who becomes a topless dancer in the course of investigating the murder of her wayward twin sister.”
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