PRE NOTE: The interview by The Buck of Mad Angel Films you are about to read, can be read fully HERE . However, for some reason the transfer of my answers have resulted in numerous spelling errors. So below is the entire interview with marginal misspellings. Hey, I'm an awful speller, but not that bad. Enjoy.
Before we get started why don't you tell everyone a little bit about yourself and your movie.
My name is George Snow, and I am the writer/director/producer/editor/soundtracker of the horror DV (digital video) Us Sinners. Us Sinners took five
months of periodic shooting to complete. Another 6 months to edit and over a year with different sound technicians. Us Sinners had it's World Premiere
at the Spooky Movie Red-Eye Marathon in Maryland in Oct 07. I've been offered numerous distribution deals which I turned down, because I'd like to see
a little money for my hard work, and I found a perfect match with Victory Multimedia. Us Sinners had it's official release on August 11, 2009 and
I'm happy to say can be saved in your Netflix cue.**UPDATE** Us Sinners is now OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE at Netflix.
What's the deal with all the awkward close ups?
This is my first movie. I'm a musician, and I know nothing about actually making movies. I've always wanted to edit. So keeping that in mind, I set
out to make a movie. The singer from my band went to college for video and film and agreed to be my DP (unfortunately she dropped out early in
shooting) She hooked me up with a guy selling a Canon XL-1. As I was handing him the money, we started talking about DV getting a film look
(DOF), and he said "In order to make a room look 10' x 10', you need a 40' space. The biggest room I was shooting in was 10' x 10' (Tim and
Melissa's BR were the same room). Places to put the camera are extremely limited. That's why there's so many CUs. NO ROOM. Is it a mistake? I don't
think so. We did the best we could, with what we had to work with. I never expected Us Sinners to look like a big budget or indie budget production.
I expected the performances/story/gore to carry the movie. Did it? Half say yes, the other half, no.
Why do we see man parts and no lady bits?
It was a conscious decision on my part to not shoot any T&A. A few of the actresses agreed to go topless, and I chose not to have them do it. The
reason being, women are always getting naked in movies for no apparent reason. I took the high respectable road. Well, I found out the reason
when I was turned down by a high end distributor, whose President personally e-mailed me to say "This is the best grindhouse movie that's
passed over my desk this year. Unfortunately due to the lack of female nudity and it being shot 30fps will make it a hard sell." Great. So, my
next movie (Yes, there will be another) will contain female nudity. Though, I don't feel good about it.
How did you come about all those good actors?
mandy.com and nycastings.com both are FREE. If you're in or around any big city and are making a movie. It's inexcusable to have bad actors. Good
actors have to get their start somewhere. It's in these no budget features and shorts. We held numerous casting sessions and chose from the best.
This is the one field I have an edge, I'm a great spotter of talent. It comes from working as a stage manager at a repertory theatre for ten years.
The movie is a bit preachy at times, are you a big religious person?
I have my own private God and he's taken good care of me my entire life. I hold no religious affiliations. Like the song Tim listens to over and
over again"Does the Mother live within you" It's a metaphor for his entire existence, the Good Mother Mary, and his own Evil Mother. Of course it's
also literal later on. There's good and bad in all religions. Just don't start preaching to me, I know where I'm going when I drop dead. I'm stocking up on the suntan lotion.
Why did you make this film?
To see if I could. I've always done pretty much what I've wanted (no I have no money), and I wanted to make a movie. I think I did.
What was the worst part about filming?
Two things:
The biggest being there was no set shooting schedule. With the exception of the work scenes most scenes contain only two actors. But, in order to
shoot we needed those two actors, the DP, and the boom man. Everyone works, so people had to take days off and figure out train schedules, or
I'd have to pick them up. While it worked out in the end. There's time in between where I'm praying no one decides they don't want to do this
anymore. Or you suck George, you can't direct. Anything can happen when you're not paying scale to your actors and crew, and a long amount of time
passes. That was a big worry.
The second was, I'm not the most professional person when it comes to anything. So, getting signed releases was not a priority. We had this one
actress who was playing a prostitute. She had a full scene, lines, death the works. The first night, she doesn't show up. I call and she says she
got lost. The next night she shows up. She's good, not excellent. But more then passable. She's also allergic to cats. We have two. So, I have to run
out and get her allergy medication. Because she did a good job, I paid her for the night. It was the first murder scene I pieced together and it
looked great. I put it up at youtube for her to see. Later when we went to get her release she refused to sign it. She said she didn't like the way
her hair looked. In the end, I had to reshoot the scene. But, I cut out the dialogue and it's now the second murder that's shown in flashbacks
while Tim's scrubbing the blood from his trunk. This scene actually changed the entire cut of the movie.
Why did you pick deleted scenes over a commentary tack for the extras?
One day I plan on doing a commentary track. But, the DVD was put together using iDVD and I have no idea how to even add something like that (I don't
even think it can be done). I know you don't think so (because you didn't like the movie), but Us Sinners has a chance because of the numerous kills
(especially the ending) to have a following. If that ever happens, I'll do a commentary track and give away all the secrets that so many people miss
while watching.
Who are some of your movie idols?
Most of the people I love are dead. Lon Chaney Sr, James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Carole Lombard, Jean Arthur to name just a few. I did not know
this till I started writing screenplays, but my favorite writer/director team have to be Robert Riskin and Frank Capra. Mr Deeds Goes to Town, It
Happened One Night...
From modern movies one of the most BRILLIANT UNDERRATED actresses working today is Angela Bettis. She deserves to be on top in Hollywood.
Who do you dislike the most in the movie world?
It's not a person, it's CGI and special effects over story, character and acting. Oh, and stop the fucking remakes. Us Sinners might be an
unoriginal plot regarding a serial killer. But, the way it's presented and the kills are certainly original.
Have you shown this movie to your mom and if so what did she say about it?
Dead people can not watch movies. Plus her and my dad are sitting on my brother's shelf in VA. But, my mom was really cool. While the sex would
have put her off, she'd have enjoyed all the gore and just the accomplishment of her son making a movie.
If you had to drop a nuclear bomb on one city in the world, which city would you pick?
I can't think of any town or city that I'd like to annihilate. But, there's plenty of people I'd love to see drop dead. But, I don't want to name
them. The list is pretty long though.
What's the oddest thing you've put in your mouth?
I'm pretty careful about what goes in my mouth. I have had quite a few things most people wouldn't try, like: Crickets, Worms, Elk, Turtle,
Rabbit, Alligator. If there's something on a menu I haven't tried, I will. The stranger the better. BTW: That Japanese Beef that's extremely
expensive, not worth it. It's very good, but not so exceptional that it warrants the cost.
Ever jurk off to the tv _/The A Team/_ ?
Never jerked off to the TV. If I'm gonna jerk off, it'll all be in my mind. However, I do LOVE and own SHE SPIES and CLEOPATRA 2525, fuck Mr.
T., never watched The A-Team.
Any social or non-social websites you want to promote?
Nope.